(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

2 hours ago, masi 51 said:

You have Included the two loan signings in, but omitted the three loan signings out

TSL and Crozier-Duberry are streets ahead of Murphy, Matete and Etete.....If we also got Kenny in on the last day on loan i would say yes a improvement

Schumacher/Harkin have also significantly reduced the wage bill 

 

The suggestion was that we'd clearly improved on quality, so I used the better players we've lost that came to mind. If the forwards we've got are better than Etete but worse than Collins, we've not improved.

I agree it's not a fair question until we've finished our business, but I'd say as individuals the outgoings have been players of greater ability. Three have signed for Championship teams and another went for £750k.

But, having good individuals didn't make them a good team. And if you work on the basis that we want to be playing wingers then I suppose we've improved by default.

What the fuck do I know, but my guess would be that we're still quite a way short of the quality and experience required to be challenging the top two. Hopefully that'll be rectified over the next couple of weeks.

10 hours ago, Casino said:

Im wondering if theyve looked at it and decided the way to create funds is to sell those we think we can get good (possibly best) value for

Atm youd be selling CMG, Randall, McAtee at a loss, but SS may back himself to get use/reduce the losses

It makes more sense to me than getting shut, just because

GT is all profit, Collins isnt increasing in value (plus he doesnt want to put the work in)

Id be tasking SS with getting max money for JM and JR even if he wants rid

No doubt that selling decent players on is part and parcel of the development of the squad.

Like any system, there is an element of risk, and it is imperative that they are replaced with other players who are coming through and are expected to become decent players in their own right.

There is also SS desire to build a team that plays a certain way, means some will go.

31 minutes ago, Lt. Aldo Raine said:

I don't think the decision to move Collins on was tactical

He'd have fit in perfectly wide left in a 4-2-3-1

SS said it was.

He told Collins that he wanted to play a certain way, and that it would mean he wouldn't necessarily be starting. 

Like you, I feel he could have played a role for us, but its done now.

7 hours ago, DirtySanchez said:

Hull fans i know reckon Simons is a very good signing for this level 

And so he’s shown so far, been a standout for me in the games played, cool and composed.

1 minute ago, Whitesince63 said:

And so he’s shown so far, been a standout for me in the games played, cool and composed.

He has, as have a number of others.

Pre season, 45 minute games though- we'll see more in a few weeks.

14 minutes ago, Tombwfc said:

 

The suggestion was that we'd clearly improved on quality, so I used the better players we've lost that came to mind. If the forwards we've got are better than Etete but worse than Collins, we've not improved.

I agree it's not a fair question until we've finished our business, but I'd say as individuals the outgoings have been players of greater ability. Three have signed for Championship teams and another went for £750k.

But, having good individuals didn't make them a good team. And if you work on the basis that we want to be playing wingers then I suppose we've improved by default.

What the fuck do I know, but my guess would be that we're still quite a way short of the quality and experience required to be challenging the top two. Hopefully that'll be rectified over the next couple of weeks.

Baxter, Jones and Santos from the season we lost the play-offs never got back to that level last season and rightly they never received contract extensions and got moved on.

The three loan players were simply dreadful and not one was good enough

Collins and Thomason have simply been moved on because they are players who will bring the most in to complete the re-build

Are we better than the 23/24 squad i have my reservations. Are we better than the 24/25 squad certainly

Bring in two quality forwards and another midfielder we will be ok.......I hope Keane at Preston is not one we are looking at

6 minutes ago, Whitesince63 said:

And so he’s shown so far, been a standout for me in the games played, cool and composed.

He'll be running that midfield.

Best signing we've made by a mile and will plug that massive gaping home where teams just bully their way through us.

1 minute ago, gonzo said:

He'll be running that midfield.

Best signing we've made by a mile and will plug that massive gaping home where teams just bully their way through us.

Agree and if the deal for Ceesay is still alive then even better.

Wonders why anyone is comparing Simons with players not playing in Simons position???

 

He has replaced Matete and not Thomason

4 minutes ago, masi 51 said:

Wonders why anyone is comparing Simons with players not playing in Simons position???

 

He has replaced Matete and not Thomason

Aye if we are going with a two infront of the 4 one of those spots is his then it's up to Sheehan and Morely to battle it out for the other.

With GT leaving we will still need another CM . 

4 minutes ago, Rizlar said:

With GT leaving we will still need another CM . 

Simmons

Dempsey 

Morley

Sheehan

Sharples

 

....you're probably right.

I look at that list and think we're very light on midfield runners

We have Dempsey but he's currently out injured and can't be relied on to stay fit

11 minutes ago, Rizlar said:

With GT leaving we will still need another CM . 

Think numbers wise we are ok in midfield if we are to play only two there this season

If  We change system and play with three or four in midfield almost certainly yes

Think more could still be going out if we get bidders

Just now, masi 51 said:

Think numbers wise we are ok in midfield if we are to play only two there this season

If  We change system and play with three or four in midfield almost certainly yes

Think more could still be going out if we get bidders

Just think we are light in midfield Dempsey is injury prone and Sharples Ahmed don’t think he’s ready to step up. 

11 minutes ago, gonzo said:

 

Dempsey 

There's a flaw in this plan

Just now, Zico said:

There's a flaw in this plan

Aye I'd get rid tomorrow. He can go play for Barrow or summet.

2 minutes ago, Rizlar said:

Just think we are light in midfield Dempsey is injury prone and Sharples Ahmed don’t think he’s ready to step up. 

Dempsey does not fit in and yes Sharples need to be loaned out

Forget having wide midfielders this season

it will be  two only central when we have the ball with the full backs moving up

when we are defending the full backs drop back and the wingers move into midfield

Specialised wide midfielders are not needed in that system

Let’s be honest, we’ve currently got 3 midfielders for the 2 spots. Dempsey is upside when he’s fit, but he’s more of a number 10 then one of a midfield 2, and Sharples Ahmed needs to head out on loan to National League / League 2.

We’ll bring 2 more in in my opinion. One a direct replacement / challenger to Simons and probably one young loan.

If you’re looking purely at the starting line up

Morely / Thomason

Morely / Simons + £1.2m

I know which one I’d prefer.

Edited July 22, 2025Jul 22 by Eddie

Sharples showed more against Hearts, than he did in his few previous games, he timed two tackles to perfection. But agree maybe a loan for him this year, good one for the future though.

4 minutes ago, nantwichwhite said:

Sharples showed more against Hearts, than he did in his few previous games, he timed two tackles to perfection. But agree maybe a loan for him this year, good one for the future though.

Sheehan had better watch out then!

 

10 hours ago, Whitesince63 said:

Hardly, I think they were worth reportedly £65m and £125m respectively and whilst they have put money in I would imagine it’s the Disney money that’s funded most so far. It’s ok going from National League to L! but the further up you go the deeper the pockets you need. Even the Championship will be a stretch for them and unless they get bigger investors I don’t see them going any further. I somehow feel it might be bust bubble time.

Not true re the money from Disney. The club gets nothing from the documentary, not a dollar and never has done, they keep all of that. What the club has benefitted from is the exposure its brought.

They (Rob and Ryan) did initially loaned the club money, I think as of last season it was to the tune of 15 million in total but the club has now paid back (announced in the last set of accounts) and is now debt free.

They are not funding the club, pre season tours, sponsorship money, commercial, shirt/merchandise sales do that. Of course all this is directly because of them and the success they brought(bought) and it goes hand in hand.

But what they have done is very clever and they are no mugs, they managed all this and basically all they've spent is £2 million to buy the club. Which I'd imagine the Documentary has repaid them for several times over.

We've already got in bigger investors too, the Allyn Family. Happened last October. They are next level in terms of wealth. 2 billion odd.

But I don't want to hijack your thread. So I'll leave it there.

Good luck next season and I hope Dalby does well for you.

8 minutes ago, Only In Welsh said:

Not true re the money from Disney. The club gets nothing from the documentary, not a dollar and never has done, they keep all of that. What the club has benefitted from is the exposure its brought.

They (Rob and Ryan) did initially loaned the club money, I think as of last season it was to the tune of 15 million in total but the club has now paid back (announced in the last set of accounts) and is now debt free.

They are not funding the club, pre season tours, sponsorship money, commercial, shirt/merchandise sales do that. Of course all this is directly because of them and the success they brought(bought) and it goes hand in hand.

But what they have done is very clever and they are no mugs, they managed all this and basically all they've spent is £2 million to buy the club. Which I'd imagine the Documentary has repaid them for several times over.

We've already got in bigger investors too, the Allyn Family. Happened last October. They are next level in terms of wealth. 2 billion odd.

But I don't want to hijack your thread. So I'll leave it there.

Good luck next season and I hope Dalby does well for you.

The finance guy was on talksport other day on about it all.

Said you are self sustainable they've built a proper product and not just throwing millions in to a pit.

Fair play.

What you lot reckon about GT?

 

Wrexham and Huddersfield are getting money from very rich property investors who have put big money into the football team but their main reason is they see potential in major investment in the town.   The Allyn family have said they will invest 600m$ into Wrexham and Huddersfield chairman investing £1b into the town of Huddersfield.......Somebody must be interested in putting £50 into our town centre

Tbf We've got a massive retail park, Bolton arena and a hotel.

We are already in front of them.

Middlebrook is our town centre.