January 2023 - Transfer Talk - Stick or Twist

Cut cloth accordingly.

That's what happens when we're out of the cup.

 

I wouldn't mind us trimming the fat.

Squad is massive.

 

Make no mistake losing yesterday is a massive blow to the clubs finances. With a very large squad already,which Hughes demanded and was given by Sparks ,I would think we will have to unload a few before recruitment in January .That won’t be easy although I’m sure Songo’o will go to Morecambe as he’s clearly not wanted by Hughes. Not sure if we can offload any more though as they will hardly be in demand from other clubs.

 

Hughes is slow in finding his feet in this division, not helped with a spell out of the game I suspect. However he needs to be surely aware of the skills his squad possess and it is somewhat worrying he's not showing a flexible approach in marrying their skills with tactics to achieve a more consistent progression in terms of performance. Effort, passion and high levels of energy, especially at home should be a given for me. I was really pleased with his appointment and the initial effect of raising the Club's profile, but the glitter is becoming tarnished and the fans frustrated at what is looking stale performance wise. OK Rome wasn't built in a day, but I hope whatever backroom expertise he has, can have a big influence on Tuesday and following on from there. The Club are in a good league position but need to step up a gear..if they can't then we need to ship out and ship in to regain momentum.
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The window opens up in just under 7 weeks' time. From the current points we've gathered, if we stay at that rate until the end of the season, we get to 84 points which is the same total FGR had to win the title last season. Do we think there are areas we need to improve on? As there's always a sleepy contender that recruits well along with a few teams that rally at the back end. Only one team in the top 3 by the start of the Jan window of the last two seasons, actually ended up with promotion.

For some recent history at this level, it seems to point out that sticking with your squad or making just one or two additions has done the trick. FGR & Exeter did last year and it worked, Bristol were down in the dumps and signed well to go up whereas Vale signed a lot, and it didn't really change anything. Year before, Cheltenham, Cambridge & Morecambe stuck with largely the same squads, and Bolton had to sign big to make up the difference.

21/22 top 3 on Jan 1st (team in bold went up)
FGR - no signings, were 9 clear of dropping out of the autos, ended 4 clear as champs.
Northampton - 3 strikers & 2 wingers came in, missed out on promotion on goal difference.
Sutton - no signings, finished 8th and missed out on the POs by a point.

Teams promoted that season
Exeter - were 8th, finished 2nd - just one loan striker in, trusted their squad.
Bristol R - were 18th, ended 3rd - brought 4 first teamers into the spine who made the team click.
Vale - started Jan in 6th, won POs - made 8 January signings and didn't drop or improve standards.

20/21 top 3 on Jan 1st
Newport - brought in 8 players to attempt to stay top, changed the dynamic of the team and finished 5th.
FGR - 3 new faces in, finished in 6th and 6 points off autos.
Carlisle - 3rd in January, brought in 4 players and ended up 10th and 13th points off 3rd place.

Teams promoted that season
Cheltenham - started Jan in 4th, signed a couple of young loanees, went up as champions.
Cambridge - 8th on Jan 1st, 3 young loanees in with mixed game times but finished 2nd.
Bolton - 15th going into the window, signed 8 to get them back up and going into 3rd place.
Morecambe - 5th into the window, finished 4th after bringing in a keeper on a free.

 

With a settled starting 11 and the return of Eisa, Walker and Osadebe I think we’re fine as we are. Possibility a quality box to box CM to partner Smallwood but for once we’re going into January not needing a complete overhaul

 

If we were in September I’d have said we need a strong focus on recruiting full backs, but Foulds and Halliday have gone from strength to strength and form a key part of the second best defence in England at this moment plus they get forward well.

As Tolly above I’d say a CM, I think we need to reduce numbers a bit if anything. I’d love to see us go all out and bring in a quality box to box who can pull the strings, even if we had to lose 3 or 4 squad players it’d be more than worth it.

It’d be good to try make one or more of Rom, Wright and Banks permanent if possible. I’d rather that than any new players as it stands.

Other than that I wouldn’t want to upset the apple cart to much but I suppose a lot can change still between now and January.

 

We have a huge squad and with Walker back soon and Eisa now playing, a few more are going to have to accept not even making the squad. Losing in the FA cup to Harrogate was a costly blow to the club and with the late window signings of Pereira and Wright I think we got our January signings in early. Might be the odd tweak but I wouldn’t expect major incomings. A lot will depend on wether any of our loan signings are recalled of course.

 

Yes, we are in 4th. Are we running away with the league? Clearly not.

It’s important we make improvements in Jan because and think we will be going up to get players in that are a better standard than league 2.

If we can get a few more more players in Jan and maybe get rid of the likes of Sutton then for me we have more of a chance of getting into them automatic places which now should be the aim for the club.

We know that Lewis, Platt, Smallwood, Wright are certainly better than league 2 and maybe 1 or 2 others but we still need better.

 

Pereira might go back but Eisa is hopefully fit and Osadebe due to be back along with Walker means we should be fine.
Centre mid is a must and I wouldn’t mind Anglo leaving and another forward coming in

 

You improve and get players in who are better if free or want a loan.... Banks/Critchlow/ Wright are all going back to their clubs much better. Loans work when you dont have... Bowyerorange man and Derek of the dark Ages involved in their development.

 

I don't see us being particularly busy unless we lose someone to a longterm injury. Walker's return seems to be imminent and all the indications we've had about Osadebe suggest that he's expected to be back for the run in.

Hughes mentioned the possibility of sending players out in Jan to get game time so I wouldn't be surprised to see Young or Sutton get loaned out if they've not forced their way in to the matchday squad by then.

Not sure what the deal is with Joe O'Shaugnessy but maybe some movement for 3rd choice keeper if he's ready to move somewhere else for the next stage of his development.

 

If any players who are available are deemed good enough for the 1st team then yes we need a few players in January.
Think 99.
We are top 6 in the old div 1.
We sign Windass and Sharp.
Sees us over the line.
Harratt going back automatically leaves us a forward short of where we started so imo a striker, tough midfielder and a right back are where we should be looking.

 

If the players are available to improve us then we try to sign them. Whilst we have a full and quality squad we are still very much light in who partners Smallwood. If we only make one signing, then an experienced box to box midfield player who can break down teams and link the front four with the back four is what we need. Other than that, assuming we keep everyone who is on loan, then I think we have a squad who can raise their game still further.

Orient and Stevenage don't worry me. They both have much less talented overall squads than us, and I think Stevenage in particular will drop off badly once the winter and injuries set in. Orient need to keep Smith fit as he is the key to them.

 

I think it will depend on if we get offers for squad players. The squad is probably too big at the moment but I suspect Hughes is happy with the numbers and wouldn't force anyone out against their wishes.

 

Bowyer didn't do bad with Sean Longstaff or Lewis O'Brien or even Paudie O'Connor. Adams has had Adam Phillips, Jamille Matt, Hiram Boateng and Remi Mathews on loan which have all improved under him.
All managers will have successes and failures and Mark Hughes is no different. Harrett has been a failure and Pereira can hardly be classed as a success. How many of the loan players last season improved under Hughes?

 

Standing still is not an option even though we know we have squad numbers and injuries to return. There are players in there that need moving on in Jan for sure. A top class L1 centre mid is No 1 priority because our cover for “the two” is poor imho. East will remain one for the future imho, leaving Sutton. A Smallwood injury or bookings we have a problem.

 

I think a bench striker and a CM will be all we look for. Unless Young gets a look in as a forward option, but it sounds like Hughes isn't too impressed with him. Think we are short this Saturday one bench forward, fairly certain Angol is suspended for Northampton after picking up another yellow on Saturday.

Weird how the calendar plays out too, only 4 league games between now and boxing day, so chances for players to get back into the squad plans or push for game times is pretty limited until the days before the window.

 

I liked Mansfield’s Boeteng… They don’t need him He’s wasted there!