Summer 26 Transfer Rumours

Metcalfe and Bailey are measured by different metrics

Metcalfe was seen as someone worth spending 7 figures on due to his age and potential. He has the ability to develop as a player that can establish himself in the Championship and maybe even the prem one day

Bailey is valued by Donny based upon the season he had, in which he was excellent, the fact he is in the peak of his powers, and the importance to his team.

so the argument of “well Metcalfe was worth this, so Bailey must be worth XYZ” is moot. They may play in the same position but as far as similarities go, it pretty much ends there

 

I think we have enough in the bank to fund a competitive squad. The first two signings indicate a gradual shift more towards quality over quantity

an Established LG1 striker who will lead the line

A top quality attacking midfielder who can play as an 8 or a 10

we have free’d up significant funds. 15/16 players left in the summer, some of the loans we paid a significant contribution towards their wages, others were high earners i.e. Cook. The sales of Power and Metcalfe give us more than enough flexibility to spread our funds around

there will be others to leave. Tilt, Swan, Humphrys, Neufville may go if there are suitors. It does also seem we are spreading the funds around evenly around the squad, in comparison to putting all of our eggs in one basket, like we did with McClean when we sold Wells all them years ago

 

Which is why I am not sold on this one. Why did it take him so long to break into someone's first team. Keepers generally go out on loan to be first choice, or whats the point?. Even his first season at Dundee he rotated with another keeper and wasnt convincing by all accounts.

Like I say, hope if he comes in, he proves me wrong and provides better competition than Walker has had these past 2 years

 

No. I don’t think Metcalfe is worth that and I wouldn’t be happy to spend it on Bailey to replace him either.

I was simply making the point (or trying to at least), that if our fans believe we “got a great deal for Metcalfe”, then why should those same fans believe Bailey wouldn’t get a similarly good deal for Donnie.

 

I do agree that we should upgrade on Tilt this summer but we shouldn't ignore how important his recovery pace was at times last season. Touray is equally as quick which is why he also did a good job in that role but whoever we bring in needs to have that style about them due to the way we play. Gillesphey doesn't sound like that sort of player despite his other attributes.

 

No you mentioned it so thought it must be for a reason. Bailey played CB against us last season covering for injuries when we beat them 1-0 and far from excelled. TBH I’ll take your word on it that you watch an opponents career so much that you can judge them on more than basic stats, but when Baileys played against us he’s been no world beater. In fact look at my old comments on him I think it was in January, I said Metcalfe would play at a higher level than him and I’m already being proven correct.

And no, I wasn’t one of those fans critical of Metcalfe. He did a fantastic job in a two man midfield at a club that were playing a lot of hoofball. As someone else said Bailey played in a three man and I bet was given a lot more of a free licence than the discipline GA expects from his team.

 

The rating and value of a player, as always, is subjective and usually dependant as to how badly a club needs or values said player. In my subjective opinion with Jenson, if you were basing it on his early form and the potential he showed i'd say that Millwalls bid was a no brainer. February onwards i'd be hesitant to stumping up the money that has been mentioned. That said, Millwall have stated they have followed the lads projectory for a few years so have done their due dilligence. As for Bailey i know little about him but would seem a decent signing for any league one club judging by his stats. What value that puts on his i have no idea.

 

Maybe not, but he’s very good on the ball and has a good left foot. We saw how important Baldwin was with his passing etc.

 

This is not aimed at you, but why fans say his form/performances dropped off when Jenson wasn't alone with regards poor performance during our run in, Walker, Tilt, Neufville, Humphrys was hit and miss most of the season, Power wasn't the player we saw most of the season maybe because he was worried about getting another yellow.
Metcalfe struggled early doors but once he got going the kid showed his ability, I prefer to judge players on their performances over the season, I'd suggest once he got going he would have been one of the first names on the starting 11 sheet.
I'm a little disappointed he's gone, but we know once teams make it known they are interested especially a team like Millwall who were so near getting into the Premier League I say good luck to the kid, the plus being we made money from his time with us and if he does go on to develop we could have more money from his transfer sometime in the future.

 

I know it won't happen as Alexander likes to rotate his squad but once we get a settled back 3 (if that's the way he wants us to play) let them get an understanding by playing together regularly.

 

A reminder this could be our team next season if deals go through. Dempsey seems to have gone quiet recently but still think we can do better than him. He would still be a quality player off the bench though I can see us challenging for promotion again if this is our team.

 

And that’s the reason he will be out of our price bracket. But if we had that kind of money I would go for Charlie Webster instead

 

That midfield two ain't happening.

 

No chance we will get Bailey.

 

No way does Baldwin play in the midfield nowhere near solid enough. Joe wright is our best central defender

 

It’s got nothing to do with who is the better player at 6 minutes past twelve in the here and now . If it was why do Prem clubs invest millions into 14 year olds, instead of buying Odin Bailey at 28 ?

 

If Baldwin plays centrally again next season then recruitment in that area has been a failure.

Perhaps he gets that RCB slot but ideally we bring in better defenders and Baldwin/Pennington will be back up options.

 

Baldwin was our best and most consistent defender last season and has earned his place next along with Wright

 

Sorry Park, no one has earned their place yet. They need to earn it through pre-season.