(That long since we've had any, couldn't find the thread)

Alan Nixon: "Top Liverpool starlet Cameron Branagan will Ben allowed out on loan in Jan.

Bolton lead the race for the 20 year old midfielder"

Edited December 11, 20169 yr by Ratwhite

I'm not too sure he's in the top 5 of 'Players called Josh who have played for Bolton Wanderers since 2014'

 

I think he was decent for us in his early years. Decent finisher and was good in the promotion season.

Career didn't kick on and maybe has regressed a bit since, but when we were suffering under kunterson, you could perhaps understand it.

Anyway, he's not ours now, and is highly unlikely to be wanted by Evatt, so return isn't happening.

1 hour ago, ZiggyStardust said:

I'm not too sure he's in the top 5 of 'Players called Josh who have played for Bolton Wanderers since 2014'

 

Still above Magennis

10 hours ago, ianofcleveleys said:

The main reason for us being in top six nearly all last season was a sound defence built, at various times, on Santos, Johnston, Toal and Aimson. Only Toal of those likely to be on a pitch for us in next few weeks so anything that happens between now and Friday night you'd think would be focused on that area. Aside from that I'd still like to see Evatt getting in a genuine screening DM. 

Much as it'd be fun to be thinking of JCH plus Charles and Vic as scoring options I can't see it. Evatt's nailed his colours firmly to the Nlundulu project, not suddenly going to ditch him and I can't see him loaning Jerome out unless he himself pushes for it. 

 

If Santos is out for any length of time then we've got a problem that needs addressing. You can't cut corners with central defence. 

3 hours ago, paulhanley said:

If Santos is out for any length of time then we've got a problem that needs addressing. You can't cut corners with central defence. 

Hopefully Rico won’t be out for too long Paul and with Toal back tonight and looking good we may get by without having to sign anyone but I agree if the prognosis on him isn’t good we’re pretty much down to the bones and would probably need reinforcements, possibly a loan until January?

BBC's gossip column is linking Holding with a move to Luton and Nat Phillips with one to Middlesbrough.

According to Evatt's interview on Bolton FM last night we won't be doing anything incomings-wise apart from maybe a keeper. 

Better prognosis on Santos may be influencing that but still think we're short at the back and base of midfield 

We don’t seem to have done so much with our transfer pot?

6 minutes ago, ianofcleveleys said:

According to Evatt's interview on Bolton FM last night we won't be doing anything incomings-wise apart from maybe a keeper. 

Better prognosis on Santos may be influencing that but still think we're short at the back and base of midfield 

If this is the case then I genuinely believe this is the 3rd window we’ve gone backwards rather than forwards in strengthening.

That said league is far worse than it was and this doesn’t necessarily say we are in for a bad season. 

I’m surprised we’ve not secured a prem loan or 2 from the massives considering traffords spell. 

Plenty could happen though. I suspect we have to move a few out for any new in, whether to finance or squad space.


 

 

 

6 minutes ago, globaldiver said:

We don’t seem to have done so much with our transfer pot?

Extended and improved contracts would have devoured some of the pot.

Been a couple of underwhelming transfer windows imo 

12 hours ago, paulhanley said:

If Santos is out for any length of time then we've got a problem that needs addressing. You can't cut corners with central defence. 

I’d say Toal is Santos’ direct replacement - he’s more comfortable centrally but has obviously had to prove he can play LCB or RCB because he’s never displacing Santos. I’d not be worried seeing Toal start there for any length of time although would prefer Santos back obviously.

Left wing back is my concern. Williams started the season well but is already regressing to his form of last season and with John frozen out again and Ashworth not a natural wing back (as far as I’m aware) I don’t think we are strong enough on that side. A Prem loan is obviously a risk (Beck vs Bradley) but would at least add another option there.

Disappointing if true, we're beginning to look short on bodies in a couple of areas. 

Despite what Ian says I’d be amazed if we don’t have at least a couple in before the deadline. Surely now they know they’re not going to play Sads and Declan must be certain to move on which frees up a couple of places and I wouldn’t rule out Jerome moving to pastures new. I think Ian’s just keeping his cards close to his chest rather than alert anyone to potential targets and Friday might yet be a busy day?

1 hour ago, Mounts Kipper said:

Extended and improved contracts would have devoured some of the pot.

Evatt did say also at the start of the season he didn’t want to be bringing payers in on more wages than the ones here and causing friction. So not sure what sort of wages there now getting 

if he thinks this squad is good enough for automatic which is the aim I am surprised he isn’t bringing in at least a couple of young loan prem players to bolster it we have looked weak in a couple of areas 

Surprised and a bit disappointed to hear evatt interview saying no more incoming (apart from maybe a keeper)  but some outgoing .

4 hours ago, globaldiver said:

We don’t seem to have done so much with our transfer pot?

dunno how much was earmarked for players, but those that have commanded a fee are Nlundulu, Mendes Gomes and Forrester

which have set back what, somewhere between £1m-1.5m?

maybe we are saving some for January

which do we reckon is the better answer

 

wanderers manager said this morning

'i reckon ive gota few important gaps in the squad that really need filling before friday'

or

'im not bothered about adding to the squad'

29 minutes ago, Zico said:

dunno how much was earmarked for players, but those that have commanded a fee are Nlundulu, Mendes Gomes and Forrester

which have set back what, somewhere between £1m-1.5m?

maybe we are saving some for January

wheres this idea come from that we have 4 or 5 million to spend?

 

not saying you are saying we have...just a question

12 minutes ago, Casino said:

wheres this idea come from that we have 4 or 5 million to spend?

 

not saying you are saying we have...just a question

Assume it's that investment fund thing that raised around £4.5m

Given that's essentially a windfall then people are assuming it's the transfer budget 

3 minutes ago, DirtySanchez said:

Assume it's that investment fund thing that raised around £4.5m

Given that's essentially a windfall then people are assuming it's the transfer budget 

ah, a windfall that rightly or wrongly is being spent on tellies and those dreadful illuminated boards and needs paying back

its obvs* not all there for transfers

 

* not obvs, i guess, but very, very unlikely

2 minutes ago, Casino said:

ah, a windfall that rightly or wrongly is being spent on tellies and those dreadful illuminated boards and needs paying back

its obvs* not all there for transfers

 

* not obvs, i guess, but very, very unlikely

That's the only thing I can think of as the money is similar 

People probably assume the tellys etc come out of the day to day stuff and this is a bonus so it goes on players 

I'm sure a wise old sage on the BN comments section could explain it 😃

6 minutes ago, Casino said:

ah, a windfall that rightly or wrongly is being spent on tellies and those dreadful illuminated boards and needs paying back

its obvs* not all there for transfers

 

* not obvs, i guess, but very, very unlikely

I think they stated that it was a mix of player investment, training facilities and ground improvements

But surely there must be some player investment by the owners as well as the bond money raised and if so the million or so already spent doesn’t seem like the kind of investment I’d expect if the ambition is automatic promotion. We claimed to have £4.5m from the bond so surely that leaves some latitude for signings?

8 hours ago, Mannyroader said:

BBC's gossip column is linking Holding with a move to Luton and Nat Phillips with one to Middlesbrough.

Imagine contract negotiations for most Prem clubs might be "you get £80k a week, but if we happen to go down that gets reduced to £30k".  At Luton it will be "you're on £30k a week from next season, but you can have a nice fat lump sum for playing 8 months in the Prem".  Would be a  logical for Holding as he needs to prove himself again and that will probably be in the championship realistically.