(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

3 hours ago, radcliffe white said:

Wrexham going in for Humphrey apparently 

that would be fantastic 

i'm already shitting brown water thinking about the bumming we'll get there 

Could be an exciting few days in the transfer market, 2 or 3 look likely

19 minutes ago, desperado said:

Could be an exciting few days in the transfer market, 2 or 3 look likely

does that indicate there have to be some de selections or they are youngsters?

Well Ashworth and Maghoma are loanees so they could be dumped fairly easily I’d have thought?
plus there’s one or two wouldn’t break my heart if they were sold.

Signings now would surely have to be Championship standard - or we’re looking at more loan deals.

Edited January 25, 20242 yr by Wanderlust

35 minutes ago, Wanderlust said:

Well Ashworth and Maghoma are loanees so they could be dumped fairly easily I’d have thought?
plus there’s one or two wouldn’t break my heart if they were sold.

Signings now would surely have to be Championship standard - or we’re looking at more loan deals.

I agree lusty, neither Ashworth nor Paris have shown to be what we need and whilst both are young and still learning, right now they’re not contributing enough. We know we don’t have much money so send them back and use whatever funds we do have to bring in better who can deliver now.

All the challengers have brought in reinforcements and we have a small and depleted squad but yet to sign anyone; do we actually pay Markham?

13 minutes ago, RUREADY2ROLL said:

All the challengers have brought in reinforcements and we have a small and depleted squad but yet to sign anyone; do we actually pay Markham?

Really?

How do you know its down to Markham, or any one individual?

No one knows what we're up to and until the window shuts there's no point complaining etc.

14 minutes ago, Whitesince63 said:

I agree lusty, neither Ashworth nor Paris have shown to be what we need and whilst both are young and still learning, right now they’re not contributing enough. We know we don’t have much money so send them back and use whatever funds we do have to bring in better who can deliver now.

Crikey - send Maghoma back when we’ve just lost Dempsey and Thomason. CMG probably won’t be thrown in yet.

He’s probably the first midfielder on the team sheet Saturday.

Added to that he brings qualities that none of our other midfielders have; pace, skill to run at defenders, breaks through the lines quickly, not afraid to shoot on site. 

He may not be at the top of his game every game, but I’m not having it that his form has dropped off a cliff. He had a great game against Luton at home. Looked back to his best for me. That run down the left before he put the ball across the box was sublime.

I think it would be bonkers if we sent him back - and I’m fairly confident Evatt will have the same opinion

2 minutes ago, Tonge moor green jacket said:

Really?

How do you know its down to Markham, or any one individual?

No one knows what we're up to and until the window shuts there's no point complaining etc.

Who is complaining? I asked if we pay Markham; it’s obvious we need recruits even before these last injuries. Of course we don’t know what’s going on behind the scenes but in comparison our competitors have already strengthened.

2 minutes ago, desperado said:

Crikey - send Maghoma back when we’ve just lost Dempsey and Thomason. CMG probably won’t be thrown in yet.

He’s probably the first midfielder on the team sheet Saturday.

Added to that he brings qualities that none of our other midfielders have; pace, skill to run at defenders, breaks through the lines quickly, not afraid to shoot on site. 

He may not be at the top of his game every game, but I’m not having it that his form has dropped off a cliff. He had a great game against Luton at home. Looked back to his best for me. That run down the left before he put the ball across the box was sublime.

I think it would be bonkers if we sent him back - and I’m fairly confident Evatt will have the same opinion

Agree with that but he does seem to have an attitude 

Maghoma has his faults but he’s the only midfielder who wants to drive at the opposition 

9 minutes ago, RUREADY2ROLL said:

Agree with that but he does seem to have an attitude 

Well that would be a different debate then. IE, as we know won’t stand for any indiscipline/poor attitude (AKA Declan John)

But purely from a football perspective he’s a key member of the squad who can make a big difference in the 2nd half of the season.

Just think of those games in the past where we’ve fallen short and we’ve needed someone to do the things Maghoma can. He could be a massive player with a big influence.

Can’t believe we are actually discussing getting rid of him! 

Edited January 25, 20242 yr by desperado

1 minute ago, desperado said:

Well that would be a different debate then. IE, as we know won’t stand for any indiscipline/poor attitude (AKA Declan John)

But purely from a football perspective he’s a key member of the squad who can make a big difference in the 2nd half of the season.

Just think of those games in the past where we’ve fallen short and we’ve needed someone to do the things Maghoma can. He could be a massive player with a big influence.

Can’t believe we are actually discussing getting rid of him! 

I agree with you; he is needed. Might only have three midfielders available for the next two league games. Only three CB’s and two wing backs

18 minutes ago, RUREADY2ROLL said:

Who is complaining? I asked if we pay Markham; it’s obvious we need recruits even before these last injuries. Of course we don’t know what’s going on behind the scenes but in comparison our competitors have already strengthened.

Markham plays a key role. He’s been responsible for identifying a large part of our successful squad

Theres been loads of podcasts and pre season interviews where he’s outlined his role, how he works with IE, all the data and intelligence he uses/accesses. He’s got some good experience behind him too, all at the top level. If you were interested I could source out some of the podcasts, they are a good listen.

As fans we are impatient, we want to see immediate results/action. In his role patience, detail and processes are the priority.

Edited January 25, 20242 yr by desperado

2 minutes ago, desperado said:

Markham plays a key role. He’s been responsible for identifying a large part of our successful squad

Theres been loads of podcasts and pre season interviews where he’s outlined his role, how he works with IE, all the data and intelligence he uses/accesses. He’s got some good experience behind him too, all at the top level. If you were interested I could source out some of the podcasts, they are a good listen.

As fans we are impatient, we want to see immediate results/action. In there role patience, detail and processes are the priority.

I am not comfortable potentially playing this Saturday with CB’s WB’s and midfield with no proven substitutes and the likes of Morley having to play 90 minutes when he has been very poor recently. We have been slow strengthening the squad

2 minutes ago, RUREADY2ROLL said:

I am not comfortable potentially playing this Saturday with CB’s WB’s and midfield with no proven substitutes and the likes of Morley having to play 90 minutes when he has been very poor recently. We have been slow strengthening the squad

I think we’ll have enough Saturday. Morley/Maghoma/Sheehan in midfield, 2 out of Cogley/Matheson/Ashworth at WB should be fine. Even if we did get replacements in I’m not sure they’d get thrown in before those Saturday. 

The cup team can rest 7 first teamers; Charles, Vic, Maghoma, Dempsey, Sheehan, Cogley, Baxter.

So for me, yes we need squad additions, but let’s get the right ones in for the right price and if that means deadline day on the 31st then we should accept this. 

48 minutes ago, Whitesince63 said:

I agree lusty, neither Ashworth nor Paris have shown to be what we need and whilst both are young and still learning, right now they’re not contributing enough. We know we don’t have much money so send them back and use whatever funds we do have to bring in better who can deliver now.

Let’s dissemble our squad in January during an injury crisis then bring some better players in just like that. Moonman!

1 minute ago, desperado said:

I think we’ll have enough Saturday. Morley/Maghoma/Sheehan in midfield, 2 out of Cogley/Matheson/Ashworth at WB should be fine. Even if we did get replacements in I’m not sure they’d get thrown in before those Saturday. 

The cup team can rest 7 first teamers; Charles, Vic, Maghoma, Dempsey, Sheehan, Cogley, Baxter.

So for me, yes we need squad additions, but let’s get the right ones in for the right price and if that means deadline day on the 31st then we should accept this. 

Couple of injuries early in the game then we are fucked; my point is we have left the bringing in replacements too late.

hopefully the 16 available Saturday including 2 goalies; 4 strikers and a playing coming back from the ACON will get through Carlisle 

If any additions are for cover for existing first choices then, especially as we may or may not be at a higher level next season, these would be best as loanees, possibly high level loans of players not expected to get many minutes at their current club.

Otherwise, buying a player because Jones is in Asia, or Williams has a hammy gone.

41 minutes ago, RUREADY2ROLL said:

I am not comfortable potentially playing this Saturday with CB’s WB’s and midfield with no proven substitutes and the likes of Morley having to play 90 minutes when he has been very poor recently. We have been slow strengthening the squad

It's not just up to us though

Players we may have targeted (buy/loan) Their current clubs will want a replacement as well unless we pay top wack which we probably don't have the funds for 

2 hours ago, RUREADY2ROLL said:

All the challengers have brought in reinforcements and we have a small and depleted squad but yet to sign anyone; do we actually pay Markham?

 

1 hour ago, RUREADY2ROLL said:

Who is complaining? I asked if we pay Markham

No, he loves the club so much, he works for free.

Personally, I think he's done a decent job so far, even if we're a little stretched right now.

I feel like I've just walked in the common room at a home for the clinically insane and listened to a brief conversation.

Wheres that Abe Simspon gif.

It would be great if we could strengthen now but it's not easy to find available players who are fit enough & good enough to fit straight in. There's no point saying that others have strengthened when we don't know if their signings are any use or just panic buys.

My guess is that our best "signings " will be the return of Gethin Jones (whose value to us becomes clearer when he's missing ) & Mendes-Gomes who, at worst, will become our 3rd best forward.

This site is turning into a BEN readers comments page.   

Cull ?  

2 hours ago, desperado said:

Crikey - send Maghoma back when we’ve just lost Dempsey and Thomason. CMG probably won’t be thrown in yet.

He’s probably the first midfielder on the team sheet Saturday.

Added to that he brings qualities that none of our other midfielders have; pace, skill to run at defenders, breaks through the lines quickly, not afraid to shoot on site. 

He may not be at the top of his game every game, but I’m not having it that his form has dropped off a cliff. He had a great game against Luton at home. Looked back to his best for me. That run down the left before he put the ball across the box was sublime.

I think it would be bonkers if we sent him back - and I’m fairly confident Evatt will have the same opinion

Agree with every word of that!  If we send Maghoma back we may as well pack up for the season given the depleted squad currently, we've seen how long it takes new players to bed in and get established, he's one that's going to play some part in every game if available.