January 2023 - Transfer Talk - Stick or Twist

I think nearly all other strikers look more athletic and mobile than Oliver or Cook. That's not knocking them both, it's just a fact that they are target/hold up men, rather than quick agile strikers. I'd love to see a striker like that play for us. Haven't had one since Wells!

 

Cook looked pretty Mobile to me when he scored that goal v mansfeild

 

As they say... Use me as the bull$hit button...

 

Noooo

 

We had this conversation the other week , most teams look more mobile than City ... I think a couple of midfielders and a striker and we'll be fine

 

Another question is do we plan now for next year and do we have to risk another rebuild in the summer.

Let's say we just do the minimum, and add a midfielder and replace harrett and/or Angol.

How comfortable are we in league one with this squad, how many realistically can step up a level next year

 

That's a really valid point coupled with the fact money for recruitment will be tight surly after early cup exits.
I personally don't expect much January window business,if at all.

 

I'm quite surly after the early cup exits....

 

I think we can generate whatever funds we need with a few exits tbh. The squad is too big but lacking in quality in a couple of areas. With Walker and Eisa back to fitness and Osadebe apparently due back in the new year, I'd be very inclined to send Perreira back and if Young isn't featuring he should go out on loan. I don't think we need another forward unless Angol or Oliver leaves.

The focus should be on adding a quality, ball playing midfielder, especially if Hughes is firmly wedded to the current playing style. And probably another decent Centre Back.

 

Oliver has really turned out to be a strange signing. A player that won most aerial duals in league one, only to find out Hughes seems more scared of crosses than Dracula. Our wingers or defenders very rarely get the ball in from out wide, now whether that is down to instruction or ability I don’t know. Maybe the return of Walker will prove the unlocking of Oliver’s talents. After all, the two of them were selected in the first game of the season.
My priority though has to be the ball playing dominant midfielder. Whether we can afford the right one is another thing. Whether they’d want to come after seeing the size of the squad and limited rotation is anyones guess.

 

I'd go with Angol, Young, Gilliead & Pierara out. Pay off Threlkeld. Make sure we can keep Banks, Critchlow & Wright. Sign another CH, a ball winning midfield player and one more striker. To progress we have to play two upfront at home.

 

I don't agree about the lack of crosses.

The crosses have been there this season, most often from the full backs.

Our wingers sometimes cross the ball, too, but they're clearly instructed to cut inside and have a go.

How does Walker, who would play behind Oliver, help Oliver with crosses? I don't see the correlation.

I'm more hoping Walker comes in and shows Chapman how to finish.

Personally, I wouldn't mind if Oliver wanted out in January, he hasn't even come close to dislodging Cook - while Oliver does have some pace, I think we need something a little different coming off the bench. Those defences that were able to deal with Cook were also largely able to deal with Oliver in his cameos.

I agree with you that we hardly play to Oliver's strengths, but we definitely don't avoid crosses.

 

I think Smallwood is fine as a ball winner. What's lacking is someone who can play next to him and control games with purposeful possession, instead of the sideways and backwards sh*te we have now.

 

Spot on.

Smallwood is a fine defensive midfielder, what's obviously lacking is a playmaker.

Gilliead definitely isn't it, and East isn't good enough to get in ahead of Gilliead.

I'm not too surprised by East not starting much - he didn't start much last season, either.

Think he's just a squad player.

We need someone next to Smallwood who can play football.

I wonder if it will be Chapman, once Walker returns...?

 

I think this the issue really, both banks and Wright appear to play on the wrong side. Whenever taking on an opponent they will feign or go outside but then always cut back in for floated ball or shot on the other foot.

Oliver has scored two goals this season, both of which were put away following two whipped in first time left footed balls, from foulds and young I believe

 

I don’t recall that many crosses to be honest, but that could me. With the Oliver/Walker combo, there were signs in the first game (before the injury changed the whole atmosphere), that Walker was able to link up with Oliver. Maybe it’s Jamie’s intelligence to read him better than Chapman who isn’t a 10. I would keep Oliver because we don’t want Cook being in the same situation as last January, knowing he had no competition to push him.

 

I'd wondered whether Chapman could do that job too. But I'm not convinced. What we need is a better version of East.

 

Would you like a £10 bet that Gilly goes nowhere. BBU ?

 

As in, we won't be able to get rid of him, or we won't WANT to get rid of him?

 

Hughes won’t let him go. I was responding to USG Jon. I don’t think he’s willing to back up his statement .