(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

This article on the BBC today about the Red Scum caught my eye. Not interesting because it’s them, but because it highlights where most of the prem clubs are with loans. They need all their fringe players this week, next week they can dump them. A bit of patience needed with possible loans.

“Manchester United's pre-season friendly against Atletico Madrid in Stockholm on Saturday will be the final time manager Michael Carrick's travelling party will feature academy players.

Bruno Fernandes, Diogo Dalot and Matheus Cunha are anticipated to return to pre-season training next week, while Belgium pair Senne Lammens and Youri Tielemans will step up the work they began at Carrington on Thursday, so next weekend's encounter with Paris St-Germain is likely to have a more familiar feel.”

I.just hope the team and manager don't set their stall out just to finish one place above the drop zone.

A recipe for disaster, and an excuse to underperform.

So long as the team is gowing total commitment, and a touch of quality, we ought to be able to set sights a touch higher than that.

Clearly, we're still waiting for a striker, and another wide man, but I still have a sense that central midfield may be a weakness defensively.

Would like to see a big, bullying fucker available.

A Faye type beast. Yes, he played in defense a lot, but was also strong in advance of them.

Still hope we bring a keeper in. One or two Centre backs, another central midfielder as above.

And two number nines. In other words a new spine. Not too bothered on wingers ACD apart or would be quite happy with the lad from Liverpool on loan

Cue the happy clappers

I'll have two number 9s, a number 9 large, a number 6 with extra dip, a number 7, two number 45s, one with cheese, and a large soda.

Still not worried and am looking forward to the role of underdog this season. Loads of other clubs in the same boat. World Cup being loads later this year has had a knock on plus us not knowing what division we were in till a month after everyone else. Is what it is.

In all seriousness, was looking at the squad and this is who we've not replaced:

ACD

Kenny

Burstow

CBT

Cissoko (could argue Dong is Apter's replacement)

Forss

So 3 wingers and 3 forwards.

Then there are a couple of players not in plans (Taylor, Randall) who need to be replaced longer-term. For now, Inwood and Ritchie are fine in this role but once the above has been sorted that should be next

12 minutes ago, tomski said:

Still not worried and am looking forward to the role of underdog this season. Loads of other clubs in the same boat. World Cup being loads later this year has had a knock on plus us not knowing what division we were in till a month after everyone else. Is what it is.

Exactly where I am.

At the moment SS must be really concerned where the goals are going to come from. If it's Dalby up there on his own, not him against Championship defenders and limited service from the wings. They knew the situation before the playoff final as they said two budgets had been planned for and the loans would return, so how come that planned budget has not kicked in and acquired some forwards? No wonder he's frustrated as a poor start can mean a season long struggle

But equally, I think some of it is by design. It's not by chance we've brought in all defenders and midfielders and still have most of the budget to play with.

The players we are after are all with top clubs whose players were at the World Cup. ACD the lad from Liverpool plus Kenny had been injured. These clubs won’t release them until a few weeks. It may be we go into the season without the back up quality but by Lincoln at home the team will look a lot different

Panic ...

... Fannies.

But what if we don’t get Kenny and/or ACD? I think ACD is a long shot but. It’s clear that Kenny is our main target but if he’s now back in full training and Celtic have covered the striker positions and indicated they’d let him go, what’s holding it up if he wants to come? Is he waiting for better offers assuming he has us as a backstop? It seems to be taking a long time and I just hope it’s not time wasted if he chooses a Millwall or other promotion challenging team over us who will be likely be fighting relegation. I’m sure we have other targets but waiting too long for one can leave you losing the others too. It’s a tough old time for Fergal and Schuey as they wait for clubs and players to make up their minds so we just have to give them some latitude to get things done.

2 hours ago, Tonge moor green jacket said:

I.just hope the team and manager don't set their stall out just to finish one place above the drop zone.

I agree with this.

Because there is a massive difference between fan expectation and what the ambitions and targets are in-house for the management and squad.

Need to be kept in-house those conversations though - fans would have thought BSA was delusional talking about qualifying for Europe after avoiding relegation in the prem league.

Similarly if SS is telling the likes of Dalby, Sheehan, Forino and Rodrigues that they are the spine of the team that can propel this squad to becoming an established champ team and beyond, then that’s great, I’m all for it.

But imagine that out in the public domain with fans so quick to criticise and hold managers and players accountable. One bad game and they are all ridiculed by the fan experts.

54 minutes ago, Whitesince63 said:

But what if we don’t get Kenny and/or ACD? I think ACD is a long shot but. It’s clear that Kenny is our main target but if he’s now back in full training and Celtic have covered the striker positions and indicated they’d let him go, what’s holding it up if he wants to come? Is he waiting for better offers assuming he has us as a backstop? It seems to be taking a long time and I just hope it’s not time wasted if he chooses a Millwall or other promotion challenging team over us who will be likely be fighting relegation. I’m sure we have other targets but waiting too long for one can leave you losing the others too. It’s a tough old time for Fergal and Schuey as they wait for clubs and players to make up their minds so we just have to give them some latitude to get things done.

IMO, I think Kenny wants to come, I think the issue is.how much we want to pay for him, Celtic probably want more than we're prepared to pay, I still think we'll get him eventually.

Stay off twitter folks

2 hours ago, noxid said:

At the moment SS must be really concerned where the goals are going to come from. If it's Dalby up there on his own, not him against Championship defenders and limited service from the wings. They knew the situation before the playoff final as they said two budgets had been planned for and the loans would return, so how come that planned budget has not kicked in and acquired some forwards? No wonder he's frustrated as a poor start can mean a season long struggle

Maybe it has-the budget will be there, but we've got to wait until parent clubs are ready.

The same record sadly.

Worry when the window shuts.

That twitter bollocks may well be trolls anyway.

Fans of other clubs.

Fuck em.

41 minutes ago, gonzo said:

Stay off twitter folks

Can't be many homosexual Reform supporting Bolton fans around.

Or any, for that matter.

"One of the worst owners we've had".

Fck me. Is he 12 years old ???

1 hour ago, gonzo said:

Stay off twitter folks

Bunch of absolute fannies

I’m not on Twitter. So if you could pass that message on I’d be grateful ☺️

Drama queens aside, I think we’re finally calming down from the Wembley buzz & realising that this will be a huge step up. Especially for a side that in all honesty wasn’t that good last season & never really found their rhythm. Certainly showed our spirit in the playoffs.

We had a positive start to the transfer window but it’s not looking great at the moment. SS shares our anxiety & I’m confident we’ll have an influx. Ideally we’d have more by now though.

Reality is for me that it’s likely to be 1 or 2 more seasons before we’re challenging for a top half finish.

A comfortable 14th with a chilled end to the season would be perfect.

The beauty of this league is that we may surprise everyone & be pushing higher up.

But it’s unlikely. So much depends on new signings - on how our players adapt & how the gaffer performs & learns from his experience in this league.

The optimist in me thinks we’ve some Championship ready players & still have the rest of this window & January.

Also need to remember that some teams in this league will be much worse than us.

1 hour ago, Marc505 said:

Can't be many homosexual Reform supporting Bolton fans around.

Or any, for that matter.

I mean Reform supporters tend to think everything is terrible and a conspiracy so it's no surprise that extended football.

42 minutes ago, Dr. Feelgood said:

"One of the worst owners we've had".

Fck me. Is he 12 years old ???

Someone on there today saying they can't remember us ever going into a season so under prepared. 19/20 must have slipped their mind I guess.

Where we're currently at is far from ideal and we're going to be right up against it as it stands. But some of the stuff trying to out-doom eachother on there is mad.

2 minutes ago, Marc505 said:

Someone on there today saying they can't remember us ever going into a season so under prepared. 19/20 must have slipped their mind I guess.

Where we're currently at is far from ideal and we're going to be right up against it as it stands. But some of the stuff trying to out-doom eachother on there is mad.

Elsewhere, Lincoln are losing their best player to Cardiff having already lost their manager, and PNE are selling their captain to Wrexham. Not just us.