Summer 26 Transfer Rumours

Let’s be honest, if we want to progress then an upgrade is a must, not a nice to have any longer. My conclusion is Walker needs to be a no 2 until his deal expires.

 

The problem with waiting until January to see how he does is that we will be in the same position as we were this January when we phased out previous big players for us in Cook, Halliday and Pattison and weren't able to bring in better without breaking the bank, which as a club, we are never going to do. Better to get ahead of ourselves and sort it now if we can.

 

100%

 

Harsh, I think he still has more to offer at our level ...

 

Talking about Mark Prudhoe he was part of Sunderlands goal keeping set up and attended regular home games to watch Jordan Pickford and was very happy with his progress at Valley Parade, I'm sure the season loan under Parky helped his development.
Maybe a phone call to Sunderland pointing out Pickfords time at City and Prudhoes comments may help if the kid is an option.

 

Definitely need a new keeper. Walker conceded too many soft goals. Also, his kicking is woeful.

 

Harsh maybe , I’ve said whilst he pulls off the occasional wordie he’s getting slower on the ground , doesn’t command his box or dare I say the first 25 yards , and is becoming beaten at the near post too often in the last couple of months . How long before he becomes a liability ?

Personally I wouldn’t hang around to find out, too much of a risk If quite a number of supporters see it , then the management can too? We always say a central spine makes a great starting point . Weakness in two areas of that spine isn’t affordable if we want to progress Tony?

 

Need and want are very different.
The problem is if we start sniffing around for a new number 1 and Walker feels he’s been sidelined, he may start seeking a move and/or start causing unrest in the dressing room.
Andy Cook didn’t want to be a bit part player coming off the bench and made his feelings known. It’s even worse for a keeper as he’ll only ever play in the Vertu trophy if he’s lucky.

 

His communication or lack of it, is another weakness that seems to have crept in, certainly since the turn of the year. Whether it's been late calls, the wrong call or no call at all, it has led to confusion on quite a few occasions which has ending up costing us. I don't know if that's a concentration issue and he's starting to switch off a bit at times or whether it's just that his responses aren't as quick and sharp as they used to be but either way, it won't be filling his defence with much confidence.

 

If we bring in a new number one who is an upgrade on Walker, what's the problem with him wanting a move?

 

A Blackpool fan on Twitter reckons we are getting Ashley Fletcher

 

is that good? Ashley ?

 

He certainly won't be the worst keeper in league 1,but something suggests a younger keeper,who is a bit more mobile,might be the way forward.

 

They are all pro footballers and know exactly what transpires . They aren’t stupid . Responding by “ sulking” is poor, responding with grace is professional .

 

Walker doesn't strike me as a sulker or someone that would let his personal disappointment impact on the rest of his team mates.

 

Cripes if football managers feared dropping players as they age we would still be playing Bruce Bannister and Bobby Ham . It’s a weak meaningless argument to suggest we would hurt a players feelings .?

 

Nothing at all but ideally we’d have 2 capable keepers in the squad and if Walker moved on to keep playing regularly then need to find another reserve keeper.

 

Me neither, but he might want to keep playing as long as he can.

 

Apparently Alan Nixon has news on us tomorrow, it will be interesting if he's picked up on this, or if it's more Beesley news.