Transfer Gossip

[Traf]

6 hours ago, Wanderlust said:

We know that the club... seems to be asking top dollar for the players they want to move on or loan out

?

[Zog1]

59 minutes ago, thebells said:

There’s a lot to unpack here

Firstly, I can assure you that the back up centre back is most definitely not here to be a back up. I think you’re assuming that to be the case because he’s on a free. He will at times play instead of Santos, and he will at times play either side of Santos. Check in with me at the end of the season but he’ll have played 30+ games

Goalkeeper - let’s see, but he’s an upgrade on Coleman. As for Lolos, I expect he’ll be an impact player off the bench. None of them are ‘back up’. 
 

Regarding the rational plan, unless you’re privy to the meetings at the club, how can you know what the plan is? Similarly, how many league one teams, in your opinion, have now done all their business and are ready to go?
 

I think you need to accept now that the ‘plan’ won’t be complete until August 31st. 
 

I can assure you there won’t be many (I doubt any) clubs in league one that have a plan as detailed as us, or a football department as well organised as us! Be patient, and enjoy the ride. It’s kinda fun when you just sit back and see what happens. 
 

… And as for administration, I’d be surprised. Sharon and FV might well leave the club at some point, but the way it is now structured makes administration very unlikely. Happy to explain why if you’d like me too. 
 

Don’t worry, be happy!

Backup/impact/Squad players call them what you want but they don't out and out improve your main starting 11, that's my point. Ps this: "I think you’re assuming that to be the case because he’s on a free." is also wrong, some of our best players have been free agents. The point is when you sign them you typically want to sign them from teams that are better than your own. Like we did with Stelios from Olympiacos and Campo from Real Madrid. Players like them are the reason we went from 17th in 2003 to 8th in 2004. They elevated players like Nicky Hunt and Ricardo Gardner.

I just find it maddening that we've got 8 centre backs if you include Iredale and Jones (IE does) for 3 positions. Especially when we have currently no left back/wing back for the start of the season and Cogley who was initially brought into be a squad player. The squad is crying out for some quality, how much of a lift would Alan Browne or Sam McCallum be? and yes they're just two random examples before the nitpickers come out four foot snake.

[radcliffe white]

If the season started tomorrow I’d certainly feel underwhelmed with our recruitment (that’s not calling the lads he’s brought in). Personally I won’t expect much more now priority being LWB and the use of the loan market I think 

[gonzo]

[Rival Son]

53 minutes ago, radcliffe white said:

If the season started tomorrow I’d certainly feel underwhelmed with our recruitment (that’s not calling the lads he’s brought in). Personally I won’t expect much more now priority being LWB and the use of the loan market I think 

You are making an assumption that we’re setting up the same, next season. Evatt has always maintained that 4-3-3 is his preferred system; I.e. no wing backs.

Thus far, we have done nothing but release players who play in this position. Of the two wing backs who remain on the books, one is long-term injured, while the other is rumoured to be attracting interest from a recently promoted rival.

if we’re switching systems, we already have the personnel to put out a strong back four; perhaps another left footed defender is required. The recruitment of Lolos has improved our options to play three up top, with one central and two wider.

I may be barking up the wrong tree but releases and recruitment to date, lends itself to a switch to 4-3-3. It also suggests that bids would be encouraged for Santos. We have a surplus of central defenders and I don’t believe Santos would be suited to a back 4; he certainly wasn’t in League 2.

Edited July 9, 2024 by Rival Son

[tomski]

1 minute ago, Rival Son said:

You are making an assumption that we’re setting up the same, next season. Evatt has always maintained that 4-3-3 is his preferred system; I.e. no wing backs.

Thus far, we have done nothing but release players who play in this position. Of the two wing backs who remain on the books, one is long-term injured, while the other is rumoured to be attracting interest from a recently promoted rival.

if we’re switching systems, we already have the personnel to put out a strong back four; perhaps a second left footed defender is required. The recruitment of Lolos has improved our options to play three up top, with one central and two wider.

I may be barking up the wrong tree but releases and recruitment to date, lends itself to a switch to 4-3-3. It also suggests that bids would be encouraged for Santos. We have a surplus of central defenders and I don’t believe Santos would be suited to a back 4; he certainly wasn’t in League 2.

I’ll guarantee we’ll start with wing backs

[Rival Son]

If you’re correct, Radcliffe is right to be concerned. I go further than him and say we need to recruit 2 x LWBs and 1 x RWB.

[Dr. Feelgood]

21 minutes ago, Rival Son said:

Evatt has always maintained that 4-3-3 is his preferred system; I.e. no wing backs.

Now I'm confused.

Do you have evidence of this because it's 100% not what he's done since he's arrived & has persistently tried to convert wingers to wing-backs.

[Zico]

1 hour ago, radcliffe white said:

If the season started tomorrow I’d certainly feel underwhelmed with our recruitment (that’s not calling the lads he’s brought in). Personally I won’t expect much more now priority being LWB and the use of the loan market I think 

Aye 

We had a L1 shopping list ready, and we moved pretty quickly on the lads we brought in and I like the look of them 

But thinking that can't be it and hoping we bring in midfielders and WBs 

I really don't want to do with what we've got in that respect because I don't think it's good enough

[desperado]

14 minutes ago, Dr. Feelgood said:

Now I'm confused.

Do you have evidence of this because it's 100% not what he's done since he's arrived & has persistently tried to convert wingers to wing-backs.

This wasn’t the link I was looking for. I was after the one he did on GMR, where I remember him talking about 4-3-3 being his preferred formation.

https://footballleagueworld.co.uk/bolton-wanderers-must-retain-ian-evatt-on-one-condition/

“Ian Evatt, an apparent disciple of Pep Guardiola, has been on record stating that the 4-3-3 is his preferred formation, and it is what eventually got Boltonautomatically promoted from League Two in 2021.”

[Lt. Aldo Raine]

6 hours ago, Zog1 said:

Backup/impact/Squad players call them what you want but they don't out and out improve your main starting 11, that's my point. Ps this: "I think you’re assuming that to be the case because he’s on a free." is also wrong, some of our best players have been free agents. The point is when you sign them you typically want to sign them from teams that are better than your own. Like we did with Stelios from Olympiacos and Campo from Real Madrid. Players like them are the reason we went from 17th in 2003 to 8th in 2004. They elevated players like Nicky Hunt and Ricardo Gardner.

I just find it maddening that we've got 8 centre backs if you include Iredale and Jones (IE does) for 3 positions. Especially when we have currently no left back/wing back for the start of the season and Cogley who was initially brought into be a squad player. The squad is crying out for some quality, how much of a lift would Alan Browne or Sam McCallum be? and yes they're just two random examples before the nitpickers come out four foot snake.

We can't always sign players when we want to, or in the order we want to

Sometimes their club wants to hold out for as long as possible in the hope they might get a better offer from elsewhere, or if a player is a free agent they might be asking for a salary we can't currently afford but then lower their demands later in the window if no-one's willing to pay them want they want

Also, three of our very best players - Collins, Charles, Sheehan -  weren't signed from clubs better than us

Have some patience

[Lt. Aldo Raine]

44 minutes ago, Rival Son said:

It also suggests that bids would be encouraged for Santos. We have a surplus of central defenders and I don’t believe Santos would be suited to a back 4; he certainly wasn’t in League 2.

We got promoted from League Two with him playing in a back four

[Rival Son]

@desperado This one?

https://x.com/BBCRMsport/status/1686359121589575680

[desperado]

2 minutes ago, Rival Son said:

@desperado This one?

https://x.com/BBCRMsport/status/1686359121589575680

Nice one, cheers. 👍

Yes, that’s the one I remember

[desperado]

On 03/06/2023 at 21:26, Zog1 said:

i tend to focus on things most normal fans wouldnt even think about.

 

Beware @Lt. Aldo Raine 

[masi 51]

Evatts preferred formation is 4/3/3...........Wow he even tries to convince himself

[gonzo]

Ah so maybe this was Evatts master plan all along.

Stick to a rigid 5 at the back wing back system through thick and thin, rain or shine, sell Dapo in the meantime but along it's a big ruse and he secretly likes 4 at the back. 

Feels like a Scooby doo moment this. The mask is off.

Just wait till teams come and sit deep this season we blow em to pieces with our wingers.

[thebells]

2 hours ago, radcliffe white said:

If the season started tomorrow I’d certainly feel underwhelmed with our recruitment (that’s not calling the lads he’s brought in). Personally I won’t expect much more now priority being LWB and the use of the loan market I think 

You’ll be surprised! Be patient! 

Loans? One, maybe two

There’ll be a few in and out too. 8 more weeks. ALOT can and will happen 

[Farrelli]

27 minutes ago, gonzo said:

Ah so maybe this was Evatts master plan all along.

Stick to a rigid 5 at the back wing back system through thick and thin, rain or shine, sell Dapo in the meantime but along it's a big ruse and he secretly likes 4 at the back. 

Feels like a Scooby doo moment this. The mask is off.

Just wait till teams come and sit deep this season we blow em to pieces with our wingers.

Yeh feels a bit surreal and I’m not having it.

[radcliffe white]

27 minutes ago, thebells said:

You’ll be surprised! Be patient! 

Loans? One, maybe two

There’ll be a few in and out too. 8 more weeks. ALOT can and will happen 

That’s why I put if it started tomorrow just assessing the current situation, yes time to go 

[Lt. Aldo Raine]

Iles pours cold water on the back four conspiracy this morning by claiming we're in the market for wing-backs on either side

Maybe it's all smoke and mirrors 🙂

[Whitesince63]

Signing good players always takes longer because they’ve more options and obviously clubs need to line up replacements before allowing players to leave so it’s no real surprise that it’s taking time. Hopefully the players IE is negotiating for are better quality and that’s why it seems to be taking longer but there’s still 7 weeks to the end of the window so there’s no reason to get concerned just yet. I’m more interested in those going out as there doesn’t seem any interest in any of ours so far now the Pompey rumour has been dismissed. It’ll be reet. 

[Dr. Feelgood]

31 minutes ago, Lt. Aldo Raine said:

Iles pours cold water on the back four conspiracy this morning by claiming we're in the market for wing-backs on either side

Maybe it's all smoke and mirrors 🙂

So if Evatt bids for players to fit a system he's not really taken with does he think he'll get them at a lower cost or something ?

[Wanderlust]

23 minutes ago, Lt. Aldo Raine said:

Iles pours cold water on the back four conspiracy this morning by claiming we're in the market for wing-backs on either side

I wish he hadn't. As much as I like wallowing in all the rumours and speculation, I'd much prefer our recruitment to be done under a blanket of secrecy with zero information coming out until signings and departures are officially announced.

There's a fair bit of skullduggery in the transfer window and I hate the idea of seeing targets hijacked - or players, clubs and agents hiking prices based on the media bigging up our need to fill certain positions.

I hope that we are actually looking further afield than the UK market on the quiet.

[Dr. Feelgood]

He does let his mouth run.

I'd prefer no comments than hearing bullshit.