January 2024 Transfer Window

If Halliday gets injured we surely need someone to step in? Oyegoke will be sent back to Brentford wont he? Injured until February. Gilliead is doing great at CM so no reason to disrupt that.

 

GA confirmed Oyegoke is sticking around the squad but wont feature for a few months at least but we've re-negotiated the loan to free up some budget, which tells me we must have been paying a fair whack if not all his wages to feel the need to create a gap. Or, we were spent up.

I reckon we get some 19 year old wing back on a cheap youth loan from the champ who might be on the bench occasionally, probably have about 4 appearances to his name by the end of it just in case anything happens to Halliday whilst Oyegoke recovers. Moving Gilly out there would be a "break glass in case" type scenario for me.

 

For me, the ideal January window would be:

Departures (either full sale, on loan, or extension of existing loans)
Hendrie
Odusina
Ridehalgh
Taylor (or Stubbs)
Cousin-Dawson
Osadebe
Derbyshire
Send Tulloch and Afoka back

Bring in
Recall Young
Bring in a backup RWB
Strong LWB (not convinced by Richards beyond him being a development option)
Mobile CB
Retain Tomkinson
Dominant Central Midfielder

 

On the bench as perfect back up for Gillead with his energy or even as a wing back if needed

 

Cant see East coming back as he'd be at best 4th choice CM and likely won't even make the bench. GA has already said that the squad is too big, so bringing back East to occasionally make the bench seems like a waste of time. Think the same will be said for Odusina, can only see him coming back if we lose a CB.

But as East is out of contract in the summer, couldn't break into the squad here and has now only started to get games at the age of 25. If I was him, I'd want to stay at Rochdale for the sake of my career as he's actually playing football to put onto the CV for the summer, rather than coming here and maybe coming off the bench another 8 times. Also, East takes up a registration slot in the squad, which we are in short supply of.

 

Derbyshire should do the decent thing and hang up his boots. Keep him on as coach and free up a playing spot. Possibly McDonald too.

 

I think they both will at the end of their current deals , unless they are willing to be paid off early?

 

I don’t think it would work but I can see him wanting to return as his mate Young might be rejoining the coffee club with Lewis and Walker

 

You been busy playing with your early Xmas present?

 

TBF Odusina could be that mobile CB. Well thought of at Hartlepool and prospers in a 3.
He has found it tough at Woking but a fresh start under GA perhaps.

Tomkinson looks like he can shift and defence doing well at the mo anyway.

 

Found it tough here, finding it tough at Woking, why would we bring Odusina back when we are stacked out with CB's and he would be nowhere near the match day squad.

No point recalling East either, he has found his level with Rochdale in the 5th tier.

Send Tulloch and Afoka back.

The only incoming I can see is the recall of Jake Young.

 

As that 5th place cover. I can see a CB leaving in Jan. Tomkinson may go back if Norwich demand it, Stubbs is out of favour and out of contract. Taylor is very hit and miss...more miss.

And Woking may cut short Timis deal...

 

GA recently said we have too many players (or similar words to that effect).

I think Young might get recalled and that will be it. Oyegoki is coming back when fit so no need for Hendrie.

We’ve got Osadebe as sixth choice CM after Pattison, Walker, Bobby, Smallwood and Gilly. Possibly seventh choice with Odour. So no need to recall East to struggle to get in squad.

Stubbs and Taylor kicking their heels at CB now Tomkinson and Platt are doing well alongside Kelly. So can’t see Osudina being recalled.

GA seems quite happy with the squad he has and if anything Jan will be an opportunity to try trim numbers, not add go them.

 

I’ll go for one in , plus Young and quite a few exits.

 

Not sure pal. It's just after seeing Oyegoke I'd prefer what we already have in the squad.

 

According to the bottom of the Width of a Post page, where they post the current playing squad contract expiration dates, he is only on loan until January 2024. If he is struggling at Woking, then they are unlikely to request to extend it.

For me though, I'd have him back in our squad. He could add pace to what is currently a very immobile back 3 if he can force his way into the first team.

 

Yes, he was only loaned until Jan. Trying to find some info on his loan and it appears he had a bit of a knock which kept him out of a game or two. Out of 15 possible matchday squads, he's been in 13 of them and had 5 starts all at CB in a back 3, was thrown on once with a minute to go to play as a 3rd striker for long balls chasing the game. They had 4 defeats in 5 and then moved to a back 4 and he's been on the bench since.

Reading their forum, they are making 4 or 5 changes to every team and seemingly they have told players they are fighting for their shirt and they are expecting a lot of change soon. One poster said "Odusina wouldn't struggle to find a club again at this level" and that's about all they've said on him, in a thread going through squad members on who'll likely leave. It doesn't look like a Timi thing, as all their loanees aren't making the squads as often as they were. They sacked their manager a month ago which lead to formation changes and a lot of rotation, they hired a new guy 4 days ago so things might settle and Timi might get some more games? But all their loans are until Jan so he might think whats the point and start fresh.

 

Unless they are helping out with coaching I would offer McDonald and Derbyshire the option of a pay off to possibly find new clubs in the window and as others have said send some of the loans back, Alexander will know by now which of the loan players won't be in the starting squad.
Maybe offer the likes of Pointon and Wilson to a National League club for game time.

 

New gaffer, new start. Slate should be wiped clean.

There is obviously a player in there somewhere but he needs to rediscover that form he had at Hartlepool.

 

I wouldnt be against either of them been paid off. McDonald probably has something to offer mind...

Ridehalgh and Osadebe are 2 more that can go for me - with Tulloch and Afoka too.