January 2024 Transfer Window

I wonder if a deal has been offered but Pointon is aware of interest from clubs higher up the food chain and hasn't therefore signed.
I have no information on this, but it seems a plausible scenario.

 

He's not that good. He's a 19 year old who's scored 1 goal and started 10 games in his career.
Who are all these clubs who are queuing up?

 

Not sure a lot of higher up clubs would be interested in him yet really, just because there isn't that much tape to scout from. Like most bright young talents, there probably isn't a 90 minute performance you can pin on him yet, more 10-20 minute bright spells, maybe the Grimsby second half was his longest effective spell. When he's only had 8 league starts, it would be odd if clubs higher up the chain had him targeted from 668 minutes of L2 football.

Obviously could well have had some fans up the ladder, not discounting that, but feels a bit premature.

 

I don't see why he wouldn't have been scouted. Clubs higher up take our players from the youth team when they've played a total of zero minutes for our first team.

 

As long as they arent on silly money and will cost a lot to get off the books then I dont see why they cant be moved on.

We brought in Clayton 12 months ago, same scenario. We moved on Songo relatively easily.

 

True but youth scouting is very much a thing and it's probably easier getting deals done for players in their mid teens not on professional deals, so easier to scout and approach. Whereas a lad who's nearly 20, having his breakout season after a few local loans in the last 12-18 months might not have been as visible.

 

Could well be, a player putting motm performances will be garnering interest elsewhere and his agent will no doubt be looking to get the best deal for himself and his client. Unless the club come in with an offer that can't be refused his agent is right to wait.

 

Some clubs follow players way before they hit the first team and then wait and see their progression. With potential also comes risk and if you are willing to take a punt with less information then both risk and reward are greater. A chance of signing a flop versus the chance of nabbing a future bargain. If you wait till a player looks ready for a level above its usually too late as someone else moves in, usually with a bigger wallet.

 

He's a good age and profile for a club in the Championship to take a low risk punt on for their U21s. I wouldn't be too worried about him not signing an extension yet, we've seen in the past players sign long term then go down hill. Also the only way he is currently leaving is if someone buys him, even if we get to January only clubs outside England can approach him on a pre-contract.

 

As long as we do offer him a deal don’t we get a development fee if he moves on anyway?

 

Not in the slightest , we haven’t a clue what is going on , which is how it should be.

 

Clayton and Songo were okay players.. the ones we are trying to get rid of Wibsey under 4 s dont want them....

 

GA's already intimated that January will be more of an opportunity to trim the squad as opposed to several new signings.
We've several players of our own that we're no doubt keeping close tabs on their contributions to their current clubs, that we may choose to bring back into the fold.
Derbyshire won't be finding any other club, in June his contract expires and that'll be the time he hangs up his boots from the professional game.
His knowledge and experience will be invaluable to the likes of Smith, and I'm sure on the training ground this is being passed on. Therefore it's more prudent to keep him here, than paying up his contract, we've nothing to lose financially only gains from his knowledge.
Similar sentiments for McDonald
Ridehalgh is needed to compete with Richards for the left win-back slot.
The trimming as you say is more likely to be a couple of the loanee's
And I wouldn't be too surprised if a tempting offer for Young came in from a championship club, ( although a loan) last season Plymouth soon noted the form and potential of Wright.

 

On Wright, he's been made available to leave Plymouth this January. I get the move from a financial perspective for the player, don't get the move for Plymouth. He had what maybe 10/15 good games in L2 under his belt? Then moved to the top of L1 and couldn't break into the side. They tried him as a wing back at one point which was a failure. Unless they thought someone would offer good money for him? Seems a weird gamble.

Plymouth have been playing a 433 which might suit Wright with 2 attacking wing slots, but he's failed to even make the bench fairly often. Just 1 start and 3 sub appearances in the Champ equalling 50 minutes of league football. Again, cant see him fitting into the GA tactic so far, cant imagine we'll be in for him.

 

On Pointon, at this point in time he is potentially the next Danny Forrest. A couple of MOM performances and one goal aren't going to have clubs fighting for him at 19. Plenty of time to offer him a new deal.

Derbyshire could be invaluable for development/ coaching of strikers and with six months left I'd keep him.

All of the loans can go for me, McDonald I'd keep if he is on a 12 month contract, if it's longer I would try shift him on. Ridehalgh wont fit the WB role, but is a steady enough FB so I would keep him.

Young has to come back, Odusina I would be watching and assessing before making a call. Despite initially thinking we should have kept East, I can't see him getting into this squad so would try to move him on.

I would also give Doyle a run out in the first team more often just to make sure Lewis knows he has genuine competition. If he can still perform, which I believe he can, then we don't need the extra goalie.

 

I get why a lad has ambition, however, I thought at the time of his move to Plymouth he'd have been better off cutting his teeth with us for a little while longer, particularly as he seemed settled.

 

He made the right choice, even if it some judge it as failure. Its a learning process, of which he now knows the standards required to play at that level, something he didn't know playing in league 2. I wish the lad well.

 

I think that understates him tbh. He's also been in a struggling side who for the most part, has played static and defensive football. Technically, he's better than much of what we've got and a decent side would back themselves to turn him into a good Championship level player over the next 2 years. He wouldn't be expensive for a Championship side to consider a 'decent punt'.

 

He's totally one footed. He'll struggle to go any higher unless he can attack the fullback on both sides.
It's too easy to crowd his left foot now.

 

I think we need to see a lot more of him before we can judge him fully. For now he's a "prospect" but we've had plenty of those that haven't lived up to it. Give him a full season before declaring him the league two Messi.