January 2024 Transfer Window

And there's me thinking we were the only dumb ass football club, when it comes to transfer policy.

 

Not a bad shout that. Grimsby or Sutton would be my guesses.

 

Let’s hope it’s someone we’ve played twice already so he can’t rip us a new one, like previous ex players seem to do.

 

I am not for calling out players as I don’t think any of them are not hard working. I whole heartedly blame the club and its recruitment policy for the sheer lack of quality.

However Osadebe is very poor and I will be gob smacked if it’s a league club. My exits would be:

Osadebe
Derbyshire
Oliver
McDonald’s
2 loanees
Chapman
Wilson
Stubbs

Chunk of wages saved and some poor players dropped.

 

We have 29 at the minute in training dont we, including loanees? He also said in the article it was 22 outfielders he is after, so taking Doyle and Lewis out and we are at 27 outfielders training with the first team. Which will mean 5 out but as you say with a few new faces in it will likely be 7 or 8 out in the end. Article has said that Afoka & Tulloch are going back, which leaves the 25 below.

Halliday, Ridehalgh, Taylor, Platt, Smallwood, Walker, Osadebe, Cook, Pattison, Gilliead, Odour, Smith, Stubbs, Kelly, Oliver, Chapman, Oyegoke, Pointon, Rowe, McDonald, Derbyshire, Young, Tomkinson, Richards & Wilson.

Sounds like Stubbs and Osadebe are closer to leaving. Then it's probably a pool of Ridehalgh, Oliver, Chapman, Pointon, Rowe, McDonald, Derbyshire & Wilson where 4 or 5 will either leave or be loaned out and the rest will be bench players for the season.

Edit: Also i think Odusinas loan is up some point in Jan, probably loaned out or moved on though, but another to add the the pile above when he gets back.

 

I wouldn't personally put Chapman on the scrap pile, but he might actually attract the most interest.

Getting rid of Stubbs only makes sense if we're committed to direct ball for the foreseeable future.

Of course, we don't think like that as a club, so as soon as Alexander leaves and we're playing passing football again we'll be desperately searching for a similar centre back.

Sunrise, sunset.

It's one reason we end up hiring the same players over and over

 

If Taylor leaves I'm having a party.

 

There is also Freddy Jeffers and Dylan Youmbi , 2 of our youngster part of the first team squad.
So the squad is technically 31
They will not be on much money though.

 

Mmmm
It is understood there has been interest shown in Emmanuel Osadebe and Sam Stubbs, while the likes of Adam Wilson and Harry Chapman have not been included in the squad recently.

 

Ahh, I wasn't sure if Jeffreys was actually on a pro contract or if he's still part of the youth setup. Youmbi seems to be doing well out on loan, not sure how full time Farsley train. I'd imagine he reports in for basic training with us when he is on his off days with FC?

 

Worth remembering that Walker, Smallwood, Halliday & Platt are out of contract in the summer too as well as some of the usual names banded out to leave this winter. All first teamers, all I'm sure GA wants to keep and play a huge part in this seasons team. But if they get a good offer for 18 months or 2 n half years on the table, they might consider a move if it's more security.

Thinking particularly Smallwood now he's 33, this next contract in the summer is probably going to be his last one on good money. If someone offers him a deal until he's 35 on comparable money to what he's currently on, he might be tempted. Walker is now 30 but injury prone, would we offer him a similar deal again? Maybe not knowing he always misses at least a quarter of the season, plus with his young family, if a club comes in back closer to home on comparable money he might think it's worth it. I don't expect any of the 4 to go this winter, but something to keep in the back of the mind I suppose.

 

We have a one year option on Smallwood

 

I’m sure Smallwood signed either a 3 year deal or an option deal, it certainly wasn’t a standard 2 year deal as you’re suggesting. The others are correct however. We must offer Halliday a new deal asap, but Sparks has a stupid policy of waiting until the end of the season.

 

Afoka has returned to parent club.

1 down.

 

“Initial” which means there are options I assume Wilsden?

https://www.bradfordcityafc.com/news/2022/june/city-swoop-for-smallwood/

 

Stubbs has been poor for perhaps four matches this season - including his last two.

I'm puzzled why anyone would take the less skilled and a lot older Taylor over a player that still has to hit his peak.

It would be a big big error to let Stubbs go. We only need an injury and / or suspension to any two of the current and he'd needed, i.e. five centre halves is not a big issue if you're playing three at the back.

 

Whilst Osadebe has been largely poor, I do think we're been very harsh on a player who has never been allowed to get going following his bad injury.

He needs to go to a club that are going to give him a run of games as currently he's far too over anxious trying to prove himself. Add on that he'd not got match sharpness, because he's not had a run of matches following the pre-season and it's no wonder he's struggling.

I wish him all the best, as it cannot be easy - numerous players all over the league's who've had bad injuries take a while to get back to themselves. But, yes he needs to go.

 

I think Wilson was showing some good form, until the system was changed. Frankly he's no chance in a team that doesn't have wingers. However, I'd like to see him go out on loan as there is a decent player in there.

I did wonder if he could perhaps play LWB as he's quite hardworking - but now's not the time for experiments.

 

He played there for his last club so it's not an experiment as such although the step up is obviously clear.

He'd be one I'd perhaps have tried there though, especially as Ridehalgh isn't exactly pulling up trees going forward.

 

He’d do well as somewhere like Rochdale?