(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

21 minutes ago, Stig said:

It's nothing against him in particular. We just already have the "off the striker, skinny, no shin pads" role well covered.

Hold up player up front, big physical athlete in midfield and no nonsense ball winner in defense is what we need.

He's been brought in as a Maghoma replacement according to Evatt

The kind of player to get us up the pitch

If that's right (big if I know), then no other player we have is similar

26 minutes ago, Johnnyrotten said:

Spot on

Not for me.

We've had to "attacking" midfielders in the three before, and we were over run at times.

The best we've been is when Tomo has had license to press quickly. 

If there is only one other midfielder or two forward thinking ones alongside, then it becomes a struggle.

There is a reason he's not been so good (as indeed none of them have), and I don't see Matete on his own there necessarily making a significant difference. 

If we went 4 at the back, with an extra body in front, then no problem with two creative/lighter types.

 

5 minutes ago, Johnnyrotten said:

I wouldn't have put Pollock above Henry in the hardman pecking order?  Pollock could be a bit of a loose cannon in a Joey Barton type of way but he wasn't one of them players the opposition were afraid to foul surely, Henry seemed harder to me.  

A modern version of what we're missing, whether they are hard men or just can look after themselves physically, is Cameron Branagan.  Always seemed a shame he went to Oxford (not exactly a dream move) when he's from Salford and came through at Liverpool.  If he ever wants to return to the NW hope he comes here.

Yes you don't have to be a midfield hard-man in the old Tommy Hutchinson/Graeme Souness/Steve McMahon mold to have the ability to put your foot in. You only have to think back to Per Frandsen - skilfull and athletic but wasn't without the ability to tackle. You need a decent amount of that in the make-up of a midfield.

4 hours ago, Casino said:

i spoke about this last week

i THINK theres no squad thing goes on during the transfer window

No squad limits til the window closes. Even then can de register Dempsey if he's out for the season making space for Morley and Randall.

Any one else over 21 would require folk to leave though.

15 minutes ago, Johnnyrotten said:

I wouldn't have put Pollock above Henry in the hardman pecking order?  Pollock could be a bit of a loose cannon in a Joey Barton type of way but he wasn't one of them players the opposition were afraid to foul surely, Henry seemed harder to me.  

A modern version of what we're missing, whether they are hard men or just can look after themselves physically, is Cameron Branagan.  Always seemed a shame he went to Oxford (not exactly a dream move) when he's from Salford and came through at Liverpool.  If he ever wants to return to the NW hope he comes here.

I’d put Pollock over Henry all day long. Wasn’t at the time but would be seen as a psycho nowadays 

2 hours ago, Eddie said:

Sheehan and Matete with Randall in front would be by far our best midfield (admittedly with little actual knowledge of Randall). But he won’t drop his captain.

But that's not how we play. In Evatt-speak you're talking two 6s with a 10 in front.

We play one 6 and two 8s.

Superb signing. Finally a player that can recurve the ball on the half turn and unlock a defence, potentially a fantastic partnership feeding Collins. 

38 minutes ago, Lt. Aldo Raine said:

He's been brought in as a Maghoma replacement according to Evatt

The kind of player to get us up the pitch

If that's right (big if I know), then no other player we have is similar

Exactly.

We all want a system/philosophy change, but that's not happening.

This is the best we can hope for. Get that pissing ball up the pitch quicker.

9 minutes ago, VividDreamer said:

Superb signing. Finally a player that can recurve the ball on the half turn and unlock a defence, potentially a fantastic partnership feeding Collins. 

don't think we've had anyone who could re-curve the ball before. I'm excited now 😁

1 hour ago, tomski said:

Bit sad to see a disappointing response to the signing. The lad has come in and deserves a clean slate with the hope of him creating great memories at BWFC. Welcome Randall.

If you mean me, he has got a clean slate and I do hope we can help make him into the real thing. Like Conor Bradley last night. It’s not him I’m worried about it’s whoever is making the decision.

6 hours ago, Whitesince63 said:

I thought with Morley back our squad was full at 22 players so who’s been either moved out or deregistered to allow the Randall signing or am I misunderstanding the system?

 

5 hours ago, Casino said:

i spoke about this last week

i THINK theres no squad thing goes on during the transfer window

Match-by-match basis during January

So effectively the same thing

4 minutes ago, FrancisFogarty said:

If you mean me, he has got a clean slate and I do hope we can help make him into the real thing. Like Conor Bradley last night. It’s not him I’m worried about it’s whoever is making the decision.

Loads of comments mate so no singling anyone.

Dont need to sell your thoughts on the decision maker mate 

56 minutes ago, Tonge moor green jacket said:

Not for me.

We've had to "attacking" midfielders in the three before, and we were over run at times.

The best we've been is when Tomo has had license to press quickly. 

If there is only one other midfielder or two forward thinking ones alongside, then it becomes a struggle.

There is a reason he's not been so good (as indeed none of them have), and I don't see Matete on his own there necessarily making a significant difference. 

If we went 4 at the back, with an extra body in front, then no problem with two creative/lighter types.

 

I can't disagree with your comments on formations/numbers in midfield, and even the (unachievable under IE) 4 at the back option.

I was mainly referring to Eddie saying Tomo isn't ball winning and that Matete is far better at that skill, as well as being more athletic/strong.  TBH he's just stating the obvious on that, I was just agreeing with it.

I'm less agreeable about our best midfield being Sheehan, Matete, Randall - I've no idea about Randall's ability, and Sheehan goes missing if the other team is half decent or too physical.  Ideally for me it would be Dempsey, Matete and one other but that looks very unlikely unfortunately.

Joe taylor to uddersfield allegedly apparently.   

1 minute ago, W.cramp said:

Joe taylor to uddersfield allegedly apparently.   

Condolences @Rizlar @thebells

4 minutes ago, W.cramp said:

Joe taylor to uddersfield allegedly apparently.   

An excellent signing which should cement their top 2 ambitions 

4 minutes ago, Lt. Aldo Raine said:

Condolences @Rizlar @thebells

Disappointed ☹️ 

Just now, jmjhb said:

An excellent signing which should cement their top 2 ambitions 

If he is that good why isn't he getting a game at a lower championship team?

Is it that much better than top end league one?

Can't say I know anything of the fella, but I'm more than happy to have Dion as things stand.

Just now, Tonge moor green jacket said:

If he is that good why isn't he getting a game at a lower championship team?

Is it that much better than top end league one?

Can't say I know anything of the fella, but I'm more than happy to have Dion as things stand.

It's more a case of them signing what they need, ie. A goalscorer

2 minutes ago, jmjhb said:

It's more a case of them signing what they need, ie. A goalscorer

Fair enough. 

That's not our greatest weakness/need though, so I'm not arsed.

A grizzly-Adams for midfield will do for me!

 

Hope we don't sign Hopkirk. 

‘Joel Randall, he’s our man,

with the ball, he’s got a plan,

Rim-Wolf, Rim-Wolf, hear us roar,

Joel Randall, we adore’

Surely if Taylor goes to Udds, they don't need Dion too?

Odd signing for me, but if he's better than McAtee and Lolos in that role then hopefully it will improve us.

Looking forward to seeing how the Rim Wolf plays.

48 minutes ago, Tonge moor green jacket said:

If he is that good why isn't he getting a game at a lower championship team?

Is it that much better than top end league one?

Can't say I know anything of the fella, but I'm more than happy to have Dion as things stand.

I saw him as a kid in the lower leagues in Norfolk and wrote a bit about him when we were linked with him last year - basically he’s an excellent finisher but he’d need the right kind of service - the kind we currently don’t give our strikers.

Very talented lad though.