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

Just missing a Kieran Agard link and the bingo card is complete.

 

Another loanee to join the other batch of loanees,and people wonder why Bradford City can’t build a team. A scattergun approach to building a team. Next summer another batch of about 15 signings to replace the clear out at the end of the season.

 

It’s like January 2007 again with a stack of loan players to try and keep us up after losing Doyle, Windass and Johnson. They were a bunch of half hearted disinterested players who succumbed to a miserable relegation. Fans are actually saying we’ve done well this window by getting our players early. We’ve signed a veteran striker who’s spent the last few years in Cyprus and India and currently not fit enough for the bench,a couple of untried kids on loan ,an Irish defender whom supporters of his team can’t believe he’s got a contract at an EFL club and now another loanee left back to compete with our two existing left backs. We’ve midfield players who don’t score goals, stacks of wingers who also don’t score goals and a leading scorer who is now on the bench. It’s becoming a scattergun shambles of transfer activity and Stoke fans warned that this is what Hughes does.

 

A lot more going on than I think many anticipated, and probably a sign that we (as fans) are not alone in thinking we have slightly underachieved so far this season.

I have just got a feeling that the biggest things might yet be to happen

 

Clearly they have taken a look at the side and decided it wasn't good enough to be certain of promotion. As the title of this thread they have decided to Twist. As with all decisions there is risk associated with it. I along with all other City fans haven't a clue whether the changes are going to be successful or not. All we can do is keep faith and hope that the rollercoaster get us to journey end. City supporters aren't the best for being calm amidst uncertainty and change.

As far as Cook is concerned I dont think keeping him is the element that would guarantee promotion. Clearly if we dont get promotion he wont be here next, and if we do get promoted he is not a L1 player. So if we get an offer that allows us to get the people we need to drive us forward - take it.

 

What a sad indictment of what we've become.

 

Hughes said the reason he didn't bring Cook on until the 82nd minute was he thought Oliver was doing O/K, I'd say the majority who watched the game would disagree, some posting on the forum Oliver was blowing out of his backside in the last 15/20 minutes.
Playing Clayton was the correct call with regards making us solider in midfield but for the life in me I don't understand why the kid Costello got another start after the Wimbledon game, if we were going to try and catch Stockport on the counter surely a lad like Nevers would have been a better option.

 

How was he ever getting in to the"best midfield three in league two" though?

 

Sadly Bronco I don't think there is a lot that is as convincing about Hughes right now - muddled recruitment, stodgy playing style, average results, fans starting to lose a bit of the initial hope, MH getting more prickly etc etc
Just need to put a couple of back to back wins together, and hopefully a performance of intent to go with it, to restore the belief

 

Sorting out a deal for Billy Sharp obvs

 

Not really. That'll be the 5th centre back Hughes has signed in 6 months despite having a fairly solid and consistent pairing all season.

That makes it either very poor recruitment or a continuation of the "scatter gun" approach whereby we end up with 3 or 4 signings some weeks not even making our bench. It's bizarre.

 

Ok, I dread deadline day. The only type of player I would be happy signing is a creative/dead ball specialist. That is our real problem.

 

Here you go. I’m stunned people can argue Cook shouldn’t be starting as a given! It’s madness.
To put into context…..Cook was dropped having gone 2 (TWO) league games without scoring

I’ve done some number crunching

I don’t buy City are better for having Cook out of the team because he doesn’t offer anything other than goals. League games only

With Cook starting
18 games
24 goals
12 Cook goals
32 points
1.78 points per game

Without Cook starting
9 games
9 points
8 goals
1 Cook goal
1 point per game.

Pretty emphatic

 

Cook isn't a line leader he's a goal scorer who will put a shift in. Why we aren't playing him beggars belief.

 

The big question is are they polishing the klaxon or oiling the wheelchair?

 

He said on live TV we were getting promoted to avoid Wrexham next season. If we don't he can walk for me.

 

Foulds has backed his own ability by making the move elsewhere. Would have been sat on the bench for the rest of the season watching Bola get game time.

 

Its not, but its not something that jumps off the page and screams stronger either.

Nevers - doesnt appear to have hit great heights at Newport
Clayton - Looked good at stockport, was out of favour for reasons unknown at Donny
Bola - Awful at stockport, barely played all season due to injury
Costelloe - Has looked lost so far, not sure on his role, barely played all season due to injury
Stubbs - Thought to be good defender, fair enough, barely played all season due to injury
Derbyshire - last seen playing for bengal brasserie. 36 year old. Lacks height or Speed, both attributes at this level
Kelly - Fifth choice centre half, swapped for fifth choice centre half


The jury is out, and whilst its not mirrored the frantic nature of the last few windows with people being bedded in over the month, its still a very odd window.

We havent seemingly strenghened, we havent balanced the books (or have we), we havent trimmed the squad. Im not entirely sure, what the methodoligy and thinking behind it was