Summer 2025 transfer rumours

You could do one which was merit based, if he plays under a certain amount of games then Stoke have the right to recall, but if we meet that threshold he remains.

 

Harratts spell at Port Vale was prior to his spell at City, he has gone downhill after.
Mellon had a good spell at Morecambe prior to us.
Costello has had 2 decent spells since leaving us, Accrington (L2) and Northampton (L1)

The point I'm making (I cant believe I even have to explain this again, but as it is you I probably have too) is all 3 were shite for us but they have had decent spells at other clubs. It merely supports the argument every young striker loan we have had fails.

Its ok banging on about how great we were with Banks, Adaramola etc and how Crystal Palace should be bowing at our feet, but we have also failed miserably in helping to develop other young players.

 

Looking at it, best young loan striker we've had on the books was when we loaned Jordy Hiwula, his 12 in all comps (9 in the league) is currently our best return for a young lad on loan. Next best was George Miller with 6 in all comps (3 in the league)....... WOOF!

 

Thats the point I am making, our record with strikers, young or old, bought or loaned- in general is absymal.

 

You have to explain it again because it’s a weak argument . Costello scores 6 goals , half of his career total at one club , the rest has been abysmal .


Years Team Apps (Gls)
2018–2020 Galway United 16 (0)
2021– Burnley 4 (0)
2023 → Bradford City (loan) 11 (0)
2023 → St Johnstone (loan) 12 (1)
2024 → Dundee (loan) 16 (0)
2024–2025 → Accrington Stanley (loan) 17 (5)
2025 → Northampton Town (loan) 15 (6)
International career
2023 Republic of Ireland U21 1 (0)

59 games at 5 clubs where he scored ONE goal. Let’s not make him out to be great everywhere and poor at BCAFC , because the facts speak otherwise.

 

Never said he was great everywhere. I said he has had decent spells elsewhere, despite been dross for us.

Next.

 

Couple of things there about Costello before coming to us at 20 years old he had hardly played any first team football and prior to joing Accrington a good proportion of his games were from the bench. Not to mention at both St Johnstone and Dundee especially he didn't play as the main striker he played more out wide. It wasn't until he went to Accrington he was pushed into more of a forward where he averaged 1 in 3 more or less and that included games from the bench. Burnley then extended his contract and loaned him out to Northampton to see if he could step up and tbf to him 6 goals in 15 games isn't a bad return at all.

Unfortunately he came to us very raw and struggled like alot of young untried players do and let's not forget we had Cook Oliver and Walker all ahead of him so he wasn't going to get enough game time anyway.

I am not saying he is going to be a star to play alot higher but he is definitely improving as he plays more.

 

The goals per games stat is always iffy i think, certainly with young striker or not first choice strikers as they rarely play 90 minutes. Jake Young a good example of that this year, he scored 4 or 5 in the league in 35/40 appearances, but his goals per minute average was pretty impressive because he only managed 90 minutes once or twice all season and mainly came on for 5 minutes at the end of matches.

Costelloe this season averages a goal every 248 minutes which is really good for someone A) who isnt an out and out striker and was floated out wide often at Northampton it looks like and B) played in struggling sides. As a reference point, Kav averaged one every 226 mins for us in a promotion side.

 

Yeh thats fair, could have been a timing issue. I just don't think we have had any success with young, striker loans since Hiwula.

Id love us to sign Lowe, but if I am Stoke and Lowe I would be looking for a club that has a good track record developing strikers. Maybe they will consider our recent record with loans, albeit other ends of the pitch.

One thing that is pretty certain is City have had alot of misses, and not much success with strikers over the years. The German era has seen Wyke and Cook as the only real success stories, unless I am forgetting someone?

 

I agree and I haven't looked but what are Lowe's stats before joining Walsall as I would say 90% of us hadn't even heard much if anything about him. His he really as good as he is being made out or did he have that one half season before being recalled where everything fell into place.

 

That’s natural progression . It’s not because we failed him has a kid which is what is being attempted to prove a point.

 

This season………… ! And prior to that it’s not harsh in the slightest. He was a young lad growing up . It had nothing to do with any failings on our part as is what was being claimed.

 

I live over near Burnley and I can tell you Burnley weren't best pleased with how he was used at city. If it hadn't have been for the Kompany and Hughes friendship I am sure things would have been said.

I know when Mellon signed Burnley were unsure if it was the right move for him but it was Mellon himself who said he wanted to come here rather than go Chesterfield or Walsall and Burnley sanctioned the move at the end.

 

Youngsters or experienced VP is a strikers grave yard
Mclean, Mcginley, Doyle, Vaughan, Young, Ward,Boulding
The list is endless, far more misses than hits.
If we do come across a decent one, we generally cash in pretty quick .

 

I think Kavanagh deserves to join them now as a success story

 

I like Kav, but hopefully he steps up more next season
We need to stop lumping the ball at his head though and he needs to learn better close control of the ball.

 

Were “they” upset with multiple other clubs or just Mark Hughes ?. Who are “they” ? Fans , the Academy staff , Vincent Company ….? Surely context would help so we can form an opinion.

I / we had high hopes for Mellon, but the fact that GA thought he wasn’t good enough to replace Kav, says all we need to know. Probably MH thought the same about Costello in that period of time?

 

Absolutely. He’s a 21 year old with room for improvement and was asked to do more than anyone at the club probably expected due to cooks injury. He’ll benefit from having more support next season rather than being virtually our only option, but leading the line week in week out as we secure promotion is something most young strikers can only dream of

 

We were all upset with Hughes, especially after that substitution
ii's alright saying Burnley were unhappy , but the player has to do his bit and earn that match day squad place and Costelloe didn't do enough just like Mellon.