Most liked posts in thread: January 2023 - Transfer Talk - Stick or Twist

Top tweet here. Bravo, whoever you are!

 

Whatever fans think of him, looks like Rupp did do due diligence here and made the best decision for City. Believe it or not this was a over a year ago now!

 

There are some serious questions to be asked about our recruitment when you look at the players we've signed this season. I'd say the duds far outnumber the successes, and those given 3 year contracts have barely featured. In addition, we've signed many wide players and yet end up with Sutton and Gilliead as the current wide players, two who were here before Hughes. Meanwhile, our midfield is terrible and understaffed, but there seems to be no urgency to improve it. As soon as Wright leaves, however, he's immediately replaced with yet another winger.
We started the season wanting to play a particular system yet signed a number of players who don't fit into it.
We've eventually changed to some sort of new system but don't seem to have the players for that either.
One could be forgiven for taking the view that our management and recruitment team don't seem to know what they're doing.

 

A lot of pretty wild ideas here. Shipping out half our squad in the middle of the season when things are generally going well is crazy. Moving on both our backup fullbacks who are as good as you’ll get as a second fiddle fullback at L2 level. Getting rid of our 3rd choice CB also seems pretty insane. Whilst Pereira hasn’t done great so far this season, we know he can be a quality player so I’d keep him. Again, if we let him go and get rid of Eisa we start to look pretty light out wide, especially if you want to move Banks in CM (which is another pretty wild move).

All in all, I wouldn’t quit your day job to take up a role in football.

 

I think Foulds is playing his best football at the moment. He's tall, athletic and calm on the ball. He's also doing better with the attacking phase of his game and has as many assists this season as a certain midfielder has since he returned to the club.

Can we do better? Probably, but unless we move Ridehalgh out and the right option is freely available then I don't think it's the biggest problem area at present.

 

He’s signing for someone 5 points clear at the top of the league above . Not sure the club can do anything here .

 

Signed another forward / winger. not saying that isn’t the right thing to do but WE NEED A DYNAMIC CENTRAL MIDFIELDER!!!!

 

They are men playing mens football, why does calling it man of the match make any difference in the real world. Just like in a women match, heck they even call it the womens super league, so why not woman of the match. In the real world, where most people live, no one gets offended by 'man' of the match, regardless of what inclusivity they bang on about.

 

If it was a case of replacing Wright's pace and only his pace, this would be as close as we could get.

However if we want to replace Wight with an actual footballer who is going to score and create, then this would be truly terrible.

 

Wait until it gets announced Billy Bantam submitted ours.

 

3 games since Critchlow has been back, we've conceded one goal from a last minute penalty. Think that puts that one to bed.

 

Wright has 4 goals in 16 appearances, Young 4 in 10 appearances. Not sure why there is reluctance for one of our own players to be given a chance to show what he can do, now that an opportunity seems to have presented itself.
Also, I'm not suggesting he should be a 'slot in' as you call it, but does he deserve a place on the bench? I think so.

 

Dieng was always steady enough for us but since going to Exeter he's developed into one of the best players at this level. Would've taken him back as when you look at his attributes, it's pretty much everything our midfield lacks.

 

Apparently he's been in several 'team of the week' sides, this season.

I also think we write off Odusina too soon (like we do with a lot of players). He could easily be someone who suffers when they miss the early part of a season and so just hasn't got going. Although he impressed in one match - so i still see him as a decent signing who could potentially come good.

 

It feels like we are still in pre-season, not January.

While we’ve answered a few questions since August and ascertained Lewis is decent, Crich-Platt is our best CB pairing and Halliday is our best RB, we’re still dicking about elsewhere.

- what is our best formation
- is Bola up to it at LB now Foulds has gone
- what is the best defensive midfield option
- who are our best wide men? eisa, Chapman, Banks, Nevers? Nobody knows
- Do we start Cook or Oliver

it’s disappointing to have so many unanswered questions when we are almost into February.

 

Sounds perfect for us.

Our biggest need going into the window was for a technical, ball playing, creative midfielder. Ideally one who could chip in a few goals and be better on set pieces than Smallwood is. We're going to sign someone for every position except that one.

 

I don’t think it should be turned around easily. Six years on, we’ve not turned it around, what do you think is acceptable then, 10 years? 12 years? 15?
It’s not a big club mentality at all. Are we a big club for the level we’re at? Absolutely. A huge club for the level in fact.
Do I think we have a stronger squad than most at this level? Yes
Do I think the management are making the most of that squad? Far from it.
Do I think we’re had a successful transfer window that has improved us having made 8 signings?Absolutely not
We’re changing the squad in high volume transfers but with seemingly No joined up thinking.
We won’t get promotion from this point in the season without an attacking mindset.
And I don’t believe Hughes has even come close to demonstrating that.
All I want is for us to give it a bloody good go - if we fail trying then I can accept that.