Matthew Foulds signs

We are signing a few Bradford born players too. I like that idea.

 

I think this could signal Wood is departing.

 

I hope its Longridge instead of Wood, but if they were moving wood on you'd think they'd want to get someone secured for longer than the end of the season?

 

Or the great Jackson Longridge

 

I was worrying that... if it was Longridge we'd probably have shipped him out already. Staunton maybe? Apparently a few were after him

 

Strange one this signing. The management team obviously know him. It does look like a replacement for Wood. Lets hope we have picked up a decent player.

 

Wood is out of contract in the summer and I doubt he will be signing a new contract.

 

I hope its Longridge instead of Wood, but if they were moving wood on you'd think they'd want to get someone secured for longer than the end of the season?

He only signed for them 14th October 2020 though, I'm not sure what's happened in Italy with Covid and tier 3 football, or how many matches there's been since 14th October.

 

Got to be Longridge back to Scotland once Jimmy Cranky Sturgeon opens the border.

 

The lad has been in for a week's trial before signing. I might be reading too much into it but it suggests to me there has been an offer for Wood and the club have been considering it. The fact they haven't got a contract extension sorted out yet points to Wood potentially leaving for nothing in the summer and they might be thinking it's better to get something for him now if they can get a suitable replacement in. Maybe they have their sights on another player to join in the summer and they see Foulds as a stop gap until then and if he does well, he can be given an extension as back up to whoever the potential target is in the summer. All hyperthetical and I hope I'm completely wide of the mark and there will soon be a tweet from the club confirming it is Mr Longridge that is on his way out of the door.

 

Is it just me who thinks Wood isn't all that?

He's decent, yes. And he's been one of our better performers over the last 18 months. But he's no wonderkid and I don't think he'll reach comparable levels to say Meredith.

He's just a decent lower league full back.

 

I think Sparks was asked about Wood the other day and he said contracts would be sorted with existing players once the January window was out of the way. Wood has indicated he would like to stay. In any event giving Foulds till the end of the season makes sense. His bio says he can play left sided central defender as well

 

Just had a look at the lads playing record, which is pretty non existant. Half a dozen first team games at 22 years old ,between Bury , Everton and Como. I hope he is not woods replacement but longridge's.
It also highlights the total waste of time these under 23 academy squads are. Lots of young players, who could be gaining valuable experience in the lower divisions, wasting their time at premier league clubs.

 

Wood isn't all that I agree.

He stood out last season but this season been a bit rubbish.

If he doesn't stay its no big loss. Better LB's out there.

 

I just think he’s solid for this division and maybe the one above . Probably the first name
On the team sheet so we don’t want to be losing him for nothing really when we have other areas to worry about

 

Obvious that immediate reactions go to the concern of Wood leaving, which might be true. However in relation to this signing, it very much feels more a back up than a starter - or else you’d hope it is.

I’m happy us signing a local lad and one with premier league youth experience, however to come in as a starter with very little experience doesn’t sound like the practical approach Trueman and Sellars have shown so far.

Here’s hoping an announcement of a new contract for Wood in the near future and Longridge moving on for his own sake.

 

Agree that if you compare him to the likes of Meredith he’s not in that league. However as @Fools Gold says, he’s solid both defensively and going forward. In a stronger team I think you see more from him and at a young age, he’s one I’d like to see stay and focus investing in newness in other areas of the pitch.

 

I remember the same opinions about Meredith though. If its that easy to replace these players why do we keep getting it so drastically wrong.