(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

Just now, tomski said:

Sheehan has signed a new deal till 2027

Superb news, fully expected him to be leaving end of the season. 

2 minutes ago, tomski said:

Sheehan has signed a new deal till 2027

Wow. Great news. 

I’m very surprised, nicely surprised about that.

While there could details on release clauses etc, there’s no way he’s doing that if he’s not happy at the club and enjoying playing football under Evatt.

2 minutes ago, Mounts Kipper said:

Superb news, fully expected him to be leaving end of the season. 

Yeah happy with this. I suppose he’s 30 next and it was time to make a home or try to move up the leagues. Good stuff he chose us

5 minutes ago, tomski said:

Yeah happy with this. I suppose he’s 30 next and it was time to make a home or try to move up the leagues. Good stuff he chose us

For me it sends a powerful message about the direction the club is going in and that we are still on an upward trajectory, let’s hope the knees hold up for the next 2 years. 

Edited November 22, 20241 yr by Mounts Kipper

Pleasantly surprised and a well timed injection of morale 

1 hour ago, tomski said:

Sheehan has signed a new deal till 2027

Good bit of business even if we don’t go up we possibly could get a decent fee for him if other clubs come calling. 

24 minutes ago, Rizlar said:

Good bit of business even if we don’t go up we possibly could get a decent fee for him if other clubs come calling. 

I can imagine that’s the exact thought process. 

30 minutes ago, Rizlar said:

Good bit of business even if we don’t go up we possibly could get a decent fee for him if other clubs come calling. 

Fair point. 

As I've just said elsewhere, we've not have major offers (or maybe any) for him, so from his perspective it's a no brainer.

 

Sheehan looks great for Wales in a 4231. Admittedly the opposition is a bit varied and not clogging him every 2 seconds but in that formation he has another midfielder alongside him and 3 midfield options ahead to pass to.

A similar set up would suit him here. On his day he runs the game so I'd gear the team around him this way.

1 hour ago, Stig said:

Sheehan looks great for Wales in a 4231. Admittedly the opposition is a bit varied and not clogging him every 2 seconds but in that formation he has another midfielder alongside him and 3 midfield options ahead to pass to.

A similar set up would suit him here. On his day he runs the game so I'd gear the team around him this way.

Indeed.

Maybe reflective of the team's inconsistency.

I'd still like to see him, in physical game when the opposition clatter him, move more into other areas and take his markers with him, and for the rest to utilise the space more.

Just seems formulaic, and again, I see the coaching as being a touch inflexible. 

1 hour ago, Tonge moor green jacket said:

As I've just said elsewhere, we've not have major offers (or maybe any) for him, so from his perspective it's a no brainer.

 

He was in a very strong bargaining position. PotY, getting international game time and could walk away for nowt in the summer, and get a big signing on fee elsewhere.  I'm sure there'd have been championship sides interested in a player of his quality on a Bosman.

Great news.

Our best/most important player.

I'm happy he's signed, but if we don't go up and he's getting regular international football, he'll be off to the Championship next season. I suspect there are clauses in the deal.

Good. Now let's use him properly. 

1 hour ago, Dr. Feelgood said:

Good. Now let's use him properly. 

LWB ?

2 hours ago, Duck Egg said:

He was in a very strong bargaining position. PotY, getting international game time and could walk away for nowt in the summer, and get a big signing on fee elsewhere.  I'm sure there'd have been championship sides interested in a player of his quality on a Bosman.

Maybe.

But none seem to have been interested before.

It wouldn't be a top team there if one did offer him a deal, and that would have been his quandary. 

He has chosen not to wait and see come January which also suggests he feels this is best for him.

2 hours ago, Tonge moor green jacket said:

Maybe.

But none seem to have been interested before.

It wouldn't be a top team there if one did offer him a deal, and that would have been his quandary. 

He has chosen not to wait and see come January which also suggests he feels this is best for him.

Yes, I like Sheehan and he's clearly our best midfielder and great news we won't be losing him on a free. But it's a bit like when there was talk that championship clubs would be in for Charles. Both players would struggle physically in the championship and if we're in it next season I'd be hoping for upgrades to make us competitive.

I'm not sure Charles struggles physically- he's not as big as some of these centre halves, but has pace on his side instead.

Whether he will be as prolific higher up is obviously a different question. 

6 hours ago, Stig said:

Sheehan looks great for Wales in a 4231. Admittedly the opposition is a bit varied and not clogging him every 2 seconds but in that formation he has another midfielder alongside him and 3 midfield options ahead to pass to.

A similar set up would suit him here. On his day he runs the game so I'd gear the team around him this way.

Significant changes and questions for Bolton to switch to that formation.

4 at the back requires proper full backs. Jones and Cogley fulfill that brief (in the latters case, better than RWB). However, we’ve got rid of our only left backs (Iredale and Ashworth) so investment needed. Can Johnston and Santos manage as a two? I’d say Johnston yes, Santos no.

2 x 6s. Sheehan and Morley would be ideal, as in 22/23. Thomason could also do this, so (assuming Morley returns) we’re covered.

However, the 3 is what? Dempsey is an 8, and we have McAtee, Collins, Lolos and CMG as 10s. So, no cover for Dempsey (as we’re currently experiencing). But my main concern is that the two out wide should be regular wingers. That gives us Schon on the left (possibly with Williams and a returning Conway as cover). The right only has CMG (currently injured) and, maybe, Lolos.

So, who’s the one striker?

Such a switch is too fundamental a change for this manager and squad, IMO.

Sheehan could probably get away with being abit weaker, if we played differently.

Having a shadow who's aim is to win the ball and play simple passes to Sheehan. Like we did with Holden and Muamba would probably work, in a team that played 4231/442 or something like that.

Holden could tackle. 

Sheehan can't.

Imagine how he would play with a good physical minder in midfield.

1 hour ago, Rival Son said:

Significant changes and questions for Bolton to switch to that formation.

4 at the back requires proper full backs. Jones and Cogley fulfill that brief (in the latters case, better than RWB). However, we’ve got rid of our only left backs (Iredale and Ashworth) so investment needed. Can Johnston and Santos manage as a two? I’d say Johnston yes, Santos no.

2 x 6s. Sheehan and Morley would be ideal, as in 22/23. Thomason could also do this, so (assuming Morley returns) we’re covered.

However, the 3 is what? Dempsey is an 8, and we have McAtee, Collins, Lolos and CMG as 10s. So, no cover for Dempsey (as we’re currently experiencing). But my main concern is that the two out wide should be regular wingers. That gives us Schon on the left (possibly with Williams and a returning Conway as cover). The right only has CMG (currently injured) and, maybe, Lolos.

So, who’s the one striker?

Such a switch is too fundamental a change for this manager and squad, IMO.

Agreed. Our transfer business this summer has left us with a very inflexible squad. Letting Iredale go in a free removed our only out and out left back option, and the attacking mids and striker aren't a natural fit for the 3-1 part of the formation.

It could work with this, but there's no depth to keep it going if an injury or suspension happened:

Baxter

Jones, Santos, Toal, Johnston 

Sheehan, Thomason 

CMG, Dempsey, Collins 

McAtee 

Charles and Vic don't really fit naturally into this formation, and Johnston is out of position. 

1 hour ago, Rival Son said:

Significant changes and questions for Bolton to switch to that formation.

4 at the back requires proper full backs. Jones and Cogley fulfill that brief (in the latters case, better than RWB). However, we’ve got rid of our only left backs (Iredale and Ashworth) so investment needed. Can Johnston and Santos manage as a two? I’d say Johnston yes, Santos no.

2 x 6s. Sheehan and Morley would be ideal, as in 22/23. Thomason could also do this, so (assuming Morley returns) we’re covered.

However, the 3 is what? Dempsey is an 8, and we have McAtee, Collins, Lolos and CMG as 10s. So, no cover for Dempsey (as we’re currently experiencing). But my main concern is that the two out wide should be regular wingers. That gives us Schon on the left (possibly with Williams and a returning Conway as cover). The right only has CMG (currently injured) and, maybe, Lolos.

So, who’s the one striker?

Such a switch is too fundamental a change for this manager and squad, IMO.

Don’t forget we have Desmond on the right too who is now fit.

1 hour ago, Tonge moor green jacket said:

Holden could tackle. 

Sheehan can't.

Aye 

Remember a spell where his opta stats had him as both the best PL passer and tackler