January Transfer Window

Sounds like a pre-emptive apology for not bringing him home.

Wellens has potentially screwed our club over by 'revealing' the clause at this point - despite the non-disclosure agreement - perhaps City hoped the clause would never have been revealed, and he'd have stayed at Swindon as was initially agreed.

If that's the case, it was all very naive on the club's part to expect that. Swindon regard Wellens as a mastermind in the press conference arena, and if he can force things his way, he's going to. If he can add to the disquiet at VP, his team are far more likely to get promoted. We're one of a handful of legitimate contenders. If we've intimated to him Doyle can stay, he's just potentially hurt us. If finances are the reason, it won't now be good enough for posters on here clamouring for his return (if only to hurt Swindon).

But look, we've got to be realistic. If we agreed to write off thousands of pounds to bring Doyle back just to derail Swindon, would we also be prepared to spend thousands to write off Exeter, Crewe, and Forest Green's chances?

Of course not.

Whether he comes back or stays, I don't care - he's one player at one club, what matters is we achieve promotion ourselves, and we do that by strengthening our team with players that suit Bradford City.

 

https://www.shropshirestar.com/sport/football/shrewsbury-town-fc/2019/09/02/anthony-grant-leaves-shrewsbury-town-for-swindon-on-loan-until-january/

https://www.shrewsburytown.com/news/2019/september/grant-joins-swindon-town-on-loan/

He's on loan until end of Jan. Swindon are currently negotiating to extend / sign permanently. We should at least be leveraging any Doyle deal to basically make Swindon decide who they want most. Can't afford to let them have everything their way.

 

Does Bowyer suit Bradford City?
Does Rhodes and Rupp suit Bradford City?

If the manager doesn't suit the clubs then we will be going through a lot of players.

 

If we wanted to keep it secret we would have let him play for them in the FA Cup.

 

No idea. Literally, no idea.

 

I wish the Doyle situation gets sorted ASAP. There’s a small matter of offloading the dross that are Akpan, Anderson, Devine, Gibson, McCarten and Longbridge before the end of the month.

 

Agreed. I don't mind Gibson though, one to keep IMO.

 

I dont mind keeping Gibson. As long as he's a 7th pick for the bench and never has to play.

 

Agreed, Gibson's not bad but hes not particularly good either. Not a player youd want to bring on if we were desperate to change a game. In my opinion we need better. Add him to the list of Devine, Anderson, Akpan Patrick, and Longridge all to get rid of....

 

To be fair to the lad, he did ok when he was used in the first few games of the season and is an adequate squad player for this level. If Ismail stays fit, it's unlikely his services will be called upon but I say keep him until his contract is up in the summer as he's probably on peanuts.

 

Love it! It's so true!

Ok, what Bradford City fans need to understand is to improve you need to think ahead.

Gibson can't cut it in league 2 yet alone league 1. So what's the point in keeping him? Seriously, why?

We urgently need to improve on players like Gibson who are just collecting a wage.

 

We've also got Staunton.

 

For all I agree in principle with most of that ........ A little unfair on Gibson to say he's 'just collecting a wage'.. A fairer point would be he's costing a wage (to the Club). Afterall, he's yet another lad chasing a dream, and wanting to hit the 'big time' in football. However, a few make it ........ most don't.

 

Think Devine will be off.

 

The lad has featured in 5 league games for us this season Fordy, 2 as a sub. We drew the first two games he started in, lost the third (but we were drawing at the point he was subbed off), and we were already losing against Crewe when he came on as a sub for the last 9 minutes. He came on as a sub against Carlisle in the 76th minute which was the first time he'd played since the end of August due to his inury. He's hardly set the world alight agreed, but he's done ok when called upon.

 

Exactly. Gibson is very much a squad player, particularly at our level. Not good enough to feature regularly - But without 'Fringe players', most of league 1 and all of league 2 would be screwed, and cancelling games left right and center.
Players in this category are very much hit and miss - IF they don't grab a rare chance when it's given to them ...... Their days are numbered. And I think this is where mental strength comes into play ....... Each one of them dreads the coming of their first 'mistake' in a game ........ It's how each deals with that, which will map their immediate future.
As an example - I offer Devine - For about a half dozen games (initially) he stepped up, and justified his selection. But was then dropped to his former status of 'squad player'. THAT change affected him (mentally) more than anything else which went on at VP, IMO. At the time, I felt the boy had earned a longer 'stay' in the team, on merit. It also told me that the 'fight to get your shirt back' didn't fit in this instance - once other players were fit - Devine was out.

 

Behave. We can't bin off 7/8 players half way through the season as suggested by the loons on here. We aren't playing football manager.

We are doing well, it's not all about squad quality, it is also about squad harmony. It is important we keep a core group who Bowyer believes in and can trust.

Gibson will be on peanuts, he can accommodate a few positions when required. Makes no sense to bin him off when he hasn't done anything wrong this season apart from get injured.

Thank God some of the folk on here aren't in charge. Think ahead in the summer - not now. We need to get a few CM off the books and add 1 or 2. Wholesale changes would be ludicrous.