Transfer Window January 2024 Transfer Window Thread

[billyturleyscurlywurly]

Not sure MPH was a direct replacement by any stretch, or that we even have two players of Poole and Robertson’s quality to lose.

It’s the volume that’s the issue for us more than the quality. We’re can’t just go and sign half a dozen more replacements and carry a squad of 35.

It would be nice if we picked a formation and recruited the players for it though. Then only signing a couple more might not be such an issue.

Another thing to add regarding MPH.

He was signed and went straight in to their side v Port Vale Saturday and made a real difference.

 

[tatabanya]

You don't think we'd have performed better in the last two games (and tomorrow) with a stronger squad?

I don't think signing players early in January always results in better performances, no. What % of new sigings are actually deemed a success? Charlton have brought Ladapo in, who most on here would have celebrated had we done the same, but by all accounts he has been poor and they've picked up 1 point in the 3 games he's played.

I'd much rather we brought in the right players late in the window than just get bodies in early.

 

[tatabanya]

My point is that in a promotion battle you can't afford to write games off.

Who is writing games off?

 

[SteMerritt]

Yet they have maintained a top 2 position whilst we have dropped from 2nd to 7th

Weren't they seven points clear at the top though?

 

[westyorkshireexile]

Would you rather the club had signed a striker that was available but not deemed good enough on Jan 1st?

No, we'd rather have signed one that was available to start immediately and was also deemed good enough on Jan.1st.

 

[Andy1505]

Agree, DB doesn't seem to know his favoured formation it seems, tho some will argue did KR?!

It seems it may be a 4-2-3-1 or 4-3-3 in which case we do need wingers, but with the awful recruitment of KR we are now in a position where we have to try 3 at the back to suit our best three central defenders (CB, EM, SN) but unfortunately Stevens, Bennett or Long are not really wingbacks - it seems Leigh can play either role? But again it comes back to the fact that with no tackling midfielder in the side we get steamrollered in the middle of the park and no manager has done anything about it!

McEachran is not the answer, Henry is gone I'm afraid and Cam can't do it all on his own even though he tries to! If MM is not performing then we are woefully short in there. Smyth will get a chance in there maybe but is he the answer? Guess we'll find out if no one else comes in.

 

[westyorkshireexile]

Weren't they seven points clear at the top though?

Does that excuse our significant drop to 7th.?

 

[YellowsForLife]

Does that excuse our significant drop to 7th.?

No, but it shows that they've had as steep a drop off

 

[tatabanya]

Does that excuse our significant drop to 7th.?

No but it's a false equivalent that you drew given their form has also dropped off

 

[WRox]

Agree, DB doesn't seem to know his favoured formation it seems, tho some will argue did KR?!

It seems it may be a 4-2-3-1 or 4-3-3 in which case we do need wingers, but with the awful recruitment of KR we are now in a position where we have to try 3 at the back to suit our best three central defenders (CB, EM, SN) but unfortunately Stevens, Bennett or Long are not really wingbacks - it seems Leigh can play either role? But again it comes back to the fact that with no tackling midfielder in the side we get steamrollered in the middle of the park and no manager has done anything about it!

McEachran is not the answer, Henry is gone I'm afraid and Cam can't do it all on his own even though he tries to! If MM is not performing then we are woefully short in there. Smyth will get a chance in there maybe but is he the answer? Guess we'll find out if no one else comes in.

It’s exactly this. I’m amazed a holding midfielder isn’t the no 1 priority this window. We absolutely need wingers but can at least muddle by there, we don’t have anyone who can play that deeper midfield role effectively. We’re wide open with Cam in a 2 in a 343. MM’s wasted in a 4231 or 433.

 

[werthersoriginal]

I don't think signing players early in January always results in better performances, no. What % of new sigings are actually deemed a success? Charlton have brought Ladapo in, who most on here would have celebrated had we done the same, but by all accounts he has been poor and they've picked up 1 point in the 3 games he's played.

I'd much rather we brought in the right players late in the window than just get bodies in early.

Charlton and other teams probably already had forwards, we are *so* short that we can't afford to let games go by without signings.

 

[westyorkshireexile]

No, but it shows that they've had as steep a drop off

Which they have halted. We have not!!!

 

[SteMerritt]

Does that excuse our significant drop to 7th.?

What a bizarre leap. You were using it as a way to bash us by saying they had the same problems and only dropped a single place, whilst ignoring they were a long way clear at the time. They started their drop off from a stronger position than us, although they haven't had as big a fall.

 

[YellowsForLife]

Which they have halted. We have not!!!

Because they won their last game?

 

[Oxy]

Agree, DB doesn't seem to know his favoured formation it seems, tho some will argue did KR?!

It seems it may be a 4-2-3-1 or 4-3-3 in which case we do need wingers, but with the awful recruitment of KR we are now in a position where we have to try 3 at the back to suit our best three central defenders (CB, EM, SN) but unfortunately Stevens, Bennett or Long are not really wingbacks - it seems Leigh can play either role? But again it comes back to the fact that with no tackling midfielder in the side we get steamrollered in the middle of the park and no manager has done anything about it!

McEachran is not the answer, Henry is gone I'm afraid and Cam can't do it all on his own even though he tries to! If MM is not performing then we are woefully short in there. Smyth will get a chance in there maybe but is he the answer? Guess we'll find out if no one else comes in.

Des likes 4-3-3 with a 6 & two 8s which push into 10s rotationally..

So in an ideal world it’d be Marcus as the 6, Brannagan and Ruben in the 8s.

He’s gone to 3 at the back because the lack of wingers that are effective in that 4-3-3 formation.. he like them high and wide with the ability to beat a man. (Murphy,Brown,Edwards) but he hasn’t got that available atm. (Tyler likes to cut inside and play in half spaces)

So he’s resorting to 5 back to try get Stevens and now Leigh to hold width, which should allow Ruben and Tyler to play in those tigger spaces.

But unfortunately it’s not paying off atm!

With Burey it’ll help, and I think some Fellow on the right would also help and we’d see a more “Des” style of play

 

[westyorkshireexile]

Because they won their last game?

When did we?

 

[greatunclekip]

Our only forwards available are Harris, O’Donkor, Goodrham & a half fit Burey.

I doubt there’s a side in the other top 7 league one sides with a weaker set of options.

It does tell it's own story of what we are up against mind when Bolton with their absolutely nuts array of talent up front are looking to add Aaron Collins to it.

Charlton also. Ladapo, Collins, May, possibly JCH.

 

[werthersoriginal]

Des likes 4-3-3 with a 6 & two 8s which push into 10s rotationally..

So in an ideal world it’d be Marcus as the 6, Brannagan and Ruben in the 8s.

He’s gone to 3 at the back because the lack of wingers that are effective in that 4-3-3 formation.. he like them high and wide with the ability to beat a man. (Murphy,Brown,Edwards) but he hasn’t got that available atm. (Tyler likes to cut inside and play in half spaces)

So he’s resorting to 5 back to try get Stevens and now Leigh to hold width, which should allow Ruben and Tyler to play in those tigger spaces.

But unfortunately it’s not paying off atm!

With Burey it’ll help, and I think some Fellow on the right would also help and we’d see a more “Des” style of play

I don't know if 'tigger spaces' is a typo or some new football geek jargon!

 

[tatabanya]

Charlton and other teams probably already had forwards, we are *so* short that we can't afford to let games go by without signings.

Could they? They were basically losing every game, so I'm not sure their fans would agree. Same with Carlisle.

 

[MustardYellow]

Des likes 4-3-3 with a 6 & two 8s which push into 10s rotationally..

So in an ideal world it’d be Marcus as the 6, Brannagan and Ruben in the 8s.

He’s gone to 3 at the back because the lack of wingers that are effective in that 4-3-3 formation.. he like them high and wide with the ability to beat a man. (Murphy,Brown,Edwards) but he hasn’t got that available atm. (Tyler likes to cut inside and play in half spaces)

So he’s resorting to 5 back to try get Stevens and now Leigh to hold width, which should allow Ruben and Tyler to play in those tigger spaces.

But unfortunately it’s not paying off atm!

With Burey it’ll help, and I think some Fellow on the right would also help and we’d see a more “Des” style of play

If that what he wants then he can do that with the players available