Summer 2023 Transfer Rumours

Spot on Jon.Morecambe have serious money troubles,and dropping down to league 2 wont help.

 

Given how many ex Boro lads we brought in this season, I would be shocked if Ripley doesn't get linked to us at some point.

Also worth noting Ryan Delaney who Morecambe have released, left footed 6'5ft centre back was at Wimbledon on loan while Hodges was the manager. Jan window came around and on deadline day Bolton were in talks with his parent club about a permanent move, Hodges made him an offer too but he picked Bolton. As his parent club was Rochdale, I imagine he just might have fancied better prospects at Bolton and moving back to greater Manchester where it looks like he's set up home.

He was the main left sided CB until Adams came in and he's barely started since. But as there's that past link that we used so much this year, we might try again with Delaney.

 

To be honest, I'm sick of us fishing in the same pool all the time and would like us to cast our net a bit wider this summer. We are severely limiting ourselves if we are basing much of our recruitment on players that have some kind of former link to Hughes, Hodges or Gent.

 

Yeah i agree, but i also think they'll look at it as a pool thats worked for them until now. I think Delaney would get an offer in L2, as we'll need to bring in another to replace Critchlow who i dont think we have a chance of bringing back in if we are in L2.

Of the permanent signings we brought in that haven't worked with them before, we have Osadebe, Young, Odusina, East, Platt, Oliver & Kelly with only Platt being one to get a good amount of first team time.

 

Could you please tell me what a prototypical Gent profile is, cheers.

 

Fair point, but Osadebe has been injured most of the season and if he hadn't suffered a broken leg in the first game, I dare say we'd have seen a lot more of him. Platt has been steady away, and I've been impressed with East when he's played and think he's been a tad unlucky not to get more game time. Kelly was only brought in in January and it was said at the time he was one for the future but in the handful of cameos he's had, he's looked ok.
As for the others, I was disappointed when Young went out on loan as I thought he deserved a chance, but his time at Barrow has shown that I was probably wrong about that. I was a bit 'meh' about Oliver when he signed and I've not seen anything from him to change my mind - yet. The one I'm most disappointed about though is Odusina. Just goes to show that you shouldn't get over excited about a player just because they had one outstanding performance against you in the previous season.

 

I remember at the time looking at the Hartlepool forum when he left, and they were saying when they plays a back 3/5 with 3 CBs he looked incredible. When they played a back 4 he looked lost. Given pretty much all of our wingers are on loan and we have 4 CBs already on the books for next season, i wonder if we bring in a 5th and maybe try a 5 at the back?

 

Whatever League we're in next season, I think we have a good base to approach the summer, such that there can be an emphasis on a smaller number of targeted, quality additions rather than an overhaul. I think there are a handful of obvious areas we need to make some changes.

Keeper - we're sorted, assuming Lewis stays.
Defence - Halliday and Ridehalgh are fine. We probably need another option at RB, assuming Hendrie go's. Foulds is a decent option at LB, if he stays. Stubbs is excellent, Platt a reliable squad option and Kelly will be understudy. I think what we need is a better version of Crichlow - someone with pace and physicality but who can also play from the back. An Omar Beckles type.
Midfield - We badly lack a quality playmaker. Smallwood ain't it. We really need a Moncur type - a real shame we never got to see Watt next to Smallwood. By all means keep Gillead and East as squad options, maybe Clayton too. But a quality playmaker is a must.
Forwards - The biggest area we need to address. Walker and Chapman are good squad options, and Oliver will still be here, as will Derbyshire. But we may need to replace Cook, and we need someone with more mobility. Agyei could be perfect. Then we need a couple of strong wide forward options. 2 quality players to replace the combination of Banks, Perreira, Young, Eisa, Costelloe. I wouldn't be against Banks coming back, but we'ld still need 2 of real quality. Wright (or similar) and Dan Kemp would be perfect.

Slightly smaller squad with another quality CB, proper playmaker in midfield and more quality up top would see us either top 3 in this league, or comfortable in League 1.

 

Early to mid 20's, Northern lad from a good academy, lots of game time but with a injury in the past that potentially held back their development (possibly meaning they're more available to us than if their career had gone smoothly), someone who while ticking a few boxes won't cost the earth, and someone who isn't a massive 'name' but more of a worker.

That's what I'm getting from Gent so far.

 

Early to mid 20's, Northern lad from a good academy, lots of game time but with a injury in the past that potentially held back their development (possibly meaning they're more available to us than if their career had gone smoothly), someone who while ticking a few boxes won't cost the earth, and someone who isn't a massive 'name' but more of a worker.

That's what I'm getting from Gent so far.

 

Always like Ripley - best keeper in L1 a few years ago while at Oldham. I do not see him coming here as a number 2 though.

 

I think we need to improve at LB if we get promoted. I don't see enough in Ridehalgh to see him anymore than a capable understudy.

Id take Critchlow and Banks back. Agree on the rest.

 

Definitely. Despite Morecambe's woeful season he has still managed 11 in 39 at L1 level this term. A player of that calibre on a freebie shouldn't be ignored.

 

Definitely one I got wrong a few years ago.

He won't be coming here though. Even if we go up I still think we probably wouldn't match the offer of clubs like Charlton.

 

I read an interview a week or so ago saying he was going to pal it all in until he found some form this season. For that reason, I can't see him going anywhere as number 2.

 

A

Ash Hunter has given us a few problems in the past,but I suspect his best days are behind him now.

 

I'd have Stockton in a flash, because he could fit into that co-striker role that Hughes demands, with Cook (who I'll be amazed if he doesn't stay).

Other than that, we need a Clayton type in central midfield. Otherwise, with a fit Chapman and Osadebe - I don't see many holes, assuming the others in the first team that are out of contract re-sign. Ridehalgh has been superb in his two seasons and regardless of age can do another season, regardless of where we are.

 

Now that Plymouth have gone up, I wonder whether we could get Tyreik Wright, back on loan?

He only made six appearances, although I think he's been injured some of the time.

 

Or Wrexham . They're shelling out £4.5k a week for Mullin in the national league. You'd suggest they'd be ging north of That in league 2. Their remit appears to be signing Higher calibre players than the league there in, on wages akin to the league the players should be playing in

 

Stockton is definitely a northern boy - Tranmere, Carlisle, Morecambe. Not sure I see him moving down south when he is fast approaching 30 years old..