Rival Son

This is where sell-on clauses kick-in. Based on what we’ve seen £500k is a fair price, but if he turns out to be a superstar, you can have 10% of any profit. Sell for £5m and Celtic get their full £1m.

That is fair enough on the height question. There are lies, damn lies and the internet! However, I do feel Morley has developed strength, tackling and controlled aggression attributes, to complement his existing vision, ball playing and set piece skills over the last 12 months. These I attribute to his time with Wycombe and latterly with Schumacher. I have confidence in him, especially, and Simons for the 2 x “6” roles.

Morley is 6’ and has definitely bulked up over the last 12 months, so much so that we even used him as an centre half/mid hybrid in the latter part of the season. How bloody big do you want the midfielders to be? Even scrapper midfielders need to have a bit of poise, dexterity, speed and ability. Regarding Thomason, my only doubt about whether he’s a backup, is whether he’s here at all. I believe he’s one for whom we’ll listen to offers (accepting that’s a long list!).

If the two is strong, which it promises to be with Morley and Simons (and Thomason? as backup) the three doesn’t need to be 6’ scrappers. Moreover, the centre of the three doesn’t need to be a 10. It could be an 8. A fully fit and firing Dempsey would be ideal, but this might also be where Sheehan’s future lies … and he does hold the 8 shirt!

Right winger is interesting. We might be sorted and we might not. Charlie Warren has been brought in, but he’s unlikely to be an immediate first choice, given the large step up. Schumacher stated in an interview a few weeks ago that CMG would be given pre-season to prove his fitness and show what he can do. To be fair to CMG, he’s suffered with unfortunate injuries and was never given the opportunity to play as a right winger under Evatt (same could be said for Schon on the left wing). If CMG has a good pre-season, we may go with CMG and Warren on the right. If not, look to move on CMG and bring in an experienced right winger, with Warren developing as understudy.

They do. They also know the season starts in five weeks time, with a tough set of opening fixtures, and it’s good to get a bit of pre-season in with the new players. Personally, I don’t think we’re a million miles away from a decent XI, but would sooner get the last couple of pieces in, sooner rather than later.

And Stockport, et al, will think the same.

We saw with Evatt that Sharon is not a hire and fire type of owner and chairman. While promotion will be the aim, I don’t think Schumacher will be sacked next season, unless we absolutely bomb: bottom half and more looking over our shoulder than upwards.

Agree @Zog1. I’m less worried than others. PS: I think they’ll be an expectation that both wingers score goals, as well as the 8/10.

I worried because Dalby’s only record of scoring goals was in the Scottish Farmers League. Costelloe scored 1 in 28 appearances in this league during 2023/24. Makes Nlundulu look prolific. Nice waste of £500k by the piemen. Happier with Dalby as a freebie.

And Ricardo Santos!

We do not give a two year contract to a 22 year old who’s not in plans. An 18 year old: yes.

We’ve just given Hutchinson a fresh two year deal. We have two keepers without Southwood and can always loan a keeper in an emergency. A few positions where we haven’t got two options to be sorted first.

How and who determines if something has legs? The title of this thread is gossip, which is made up of rumour and speculation. It’s a recipe for bollocks! If it comes from the club and it’s employees, it’s probably got legs. The BN tend to be a little circumspect, so their stories probably have legs. Treat everything else with a pinch of salt, and embrace the fun of speculation. 😀

Actual rumours? Actual facts or rumours, most of which are bollocks!

@noxid While I agree that most of those players should leave before Sheehan, I find it fascinating that, after a season where we conceded 70 goals - more than two of the relegated sides - no one seems to be clamouring for defenders to leave. Ok, we have released Baxter, Santos and Jones, which will be part of a defensive rebuild, but are the others up to the required standard?

Sheehan also has a good shot and finish, which was woefully underutilised under Evatt’s defensive midfield role. A more advanced role, with Morley and Simons behind him, would likely see the best of him. in a list of players to leave, Sheehan is quite low down for me.

Sorry to hear of the loss of your mate @desperado RIP Chris

I’ve a feeling we’re sorted for left back. We know we have Conway and the interview with Schumacher earlier this week (can’t find it right now) emphasised that Taylor has been playing as left side of a back three, and was as much bought for left back as left centre back. Given we’ve already got Johnston and Inwood as left footed centre backs, we’re pretty well stocked with left footed defenders.

Only one other BWFC manager since the 1880s - Phil Neal - has spent two seasons or more as our manager in the third tier, and failed to deliver promotion to the second tier. Phil Neal managed the club through years when finances were dire - we had to build a supermarket over more than a third of Burnden’s capacity to avoid going under. In contrast, recent finances were robust enough to allow significant spending by Evatt; with no better return. Neal also a delivered an EFL Trophy win - by a bigger margin - and a play off final defeat - which at least went to extra time, and Comstive missing a sitter just before 90 minutes to win it really wasn’t Neal’s fault! Think what you like of Evatt but, for me, he’s the one of the worst managers I’ve seen at Bolton in over 50 years of watching the Wanderers.

Perhaps 125 to each team for management, support staff, non-involved players, squad wives/partners, sponsors and guests. Around 100 for the venue owner and sponsor representatives, and 30 for media and journalists.

A few things I’d change here. Inwood is a left sided defender, and a starting candidate for me. Warren is a winger. Right side, but left footed, which is why he both creates goals and scores them when he cuts inside. Left footed Schon, in contrast, doesn’t look comfortable on the right. That said, I’d take Schon on the left, over Tutu. Tutu, like Collins, looks a class above in small doses, but is largely anonymous. Schon, without the defensive role of a wing back, may just thrive as an out and out left winger. Certainly, that’s where he always seemed to be on the highlights reel I watched, when we signed him.

Oh shit! Shows how a name can permeate the brain! My apologies to Charlie Warren. 🤭

We’re also missing youngsters from the above thoughts. The most glaring is Inwood, who has always been highly rated by the club, which now seems to be mirrored by Schumacher when he saw and played him. I don’t think Curtis Warren has been brought in to be a B team player. I think he’s a serious contender for one of the wing roles. And I think some of Jules’ youngsters will be banging on the door, as B team players. A lot more to leave, in my opinion, with some only going when they realise they’ve not made the squad.

Because it was stated in reports, at the time. Cogley took up his option of another year on his contract.