Summer 2022 - Transfer Talk

Most, but not all, were happy . Hands up!

On that basis I won’t single out Sparks. One of life’s lessons.

What’s gone is gone and MH ALONG with Sparks and our owner are trying to rectify and so far, seem to be making a good job of it. Whether it’s a success….we will know in 10 months!

 

Kelleher and Songo’o are reasonable emergency back up. What if Critchlow is recalled in Jan, and we see an injury hitting the centre of defence? A big hole !!

Huddersfield withdrew him from a promotion chasing team at a critical time, they are more likely than not to do it again?

 

https://www.printfriendly.com/

Use that to get behind the paywall Serg.

 

What proportion thought he was also “the perfect fit”…75-80%? Hindsight, I know, but let’s face it , a massive majority at the time agreed. How wrong most of us were.

Onwards and upwards.

 

CITY anticipate growing interest in those players who may feel pushed out by the influx of summer recruits.

With 12 new signings already, Mark Hughes expects the emphasis to shift towards more outgoings in the next phase of the window.

Oscar Threlkeld and Fiacre Kelleher are two likely to be on their way and other departures could follow as the City boss reworks his squad numbers.

Chief executive Ryan Sparks revealed there has been contact from other clubs – although nobody will be pushed out the door.


He said: “We’re not going to force anyone out. We’re not that kind of football club.

“But there is naturally interest now gathering in certain areas of our playing group because they see other players coming into those positions.

“We’re looking for quality in numbers but there will be certain players who will want to play week in, week out and may feel their chances are being shortened.

“Agents start to work, clubs keep a close look at things and there are a lot of eyeballs on us at the moment. They are asking us if players are available.


“There will be movement and some players will be leaving the club. You can only pick 18 and we’ve got 26-27 at the moment.

Fiacre Kelleher, left, competing in training with Matty Platt. Picture: Thomas Gadd

“Sam (Hornby) has gone to Colchester on a permanent and good luck to him. He wants to fight for his number one shirt and we’ve made changes from the very top of our goalkeeping department.

“I do expect some movement in the coming days and weeks. Some of that will be more immediate and others in the latter stages of the window after the season has started.”

Right back Threlkeld played only once under Hughes - and went off at half-time in City's 3-0 loss at Colchester on Easter Monday.

Kelleher made two sub appearances and started against Scunthorpe at the end of the season.

Elliot Watt joined Salford earlier this week after rejecting a new deal to stay at Valley Parade. His exit followed that of Paudie O’Connor and Charles Vernam, who both turned down offers to sign for Lincoln in League One.


“Both Paudie and Charles were very fair,” added Sparks. “They were speaking to us regularly about what they were doing but I knew from the start they had a desire to play in League One.

“We made them good offers but I would never stand in someone’s way wanting to progress themselves.

“I think it would have been different if we’d made them offers earlier in the season, probably before Christmas. But there wasn’t a desire for that to happen.

“As a consequence, the players probably start to look in a different direction. Once that happens, it’s very difficult to turn it around.

“Paudie O’Connor served the club for three-and-a-half years and he’s one of the most professional athletes I’ve ever been involved with.

Elliot Watt left City for Salford earlier this week. Picture: salfordcityfc.co.uk

“He rang me the night before he was announced as a Lincoln player and was very straight and honest about it. I wish him the very best and hopefully we’ll be playing against him in 12 months’ time.

“Charles is very similar. He came to us at a difficult point when we were in a relegation fight and he helped us get away from it.”

But City will be up against Watt, who opted to stay in the division with the big-spending Ammies.

“That’s Elliot’s choice,” said Sparks. “We had moments within conversations but we didn’t speak all that much, if I’m honest, until we got towards the official end of his time at the club with the move.

“It became very clear the player saw himself elsewhere and if he believes that’s the move that’s going to better him then again, I wish him luck.

"He's made nearly 100 appearances for the club in one season that was good in the second half and another that, I'll be honest, was a bit of a disaster in terms of our initial plans not working out. We're moving on from that.

“We would have been looking to keep Elliot as well as Paudie and Charles but his decision was to move elsewhere. That's up to him."

 

I agree, certainly don't see both of them leaving but could potentially see 1 going. If Critchlow is recalled we do have the January window to replace. If we start the season with Odusina, Platt, Songo'o and Critchlow as our 4 CB options then I'm absolutely fine with that. FCD and Staunton will possibly be sent out to NL on a month to month basis like previously - that gives us an option for a quick recall and get another body in if injuries occur.

Like I said, the squad has 28 members. We are apparently chasing another RB to replace Threlkeld and need another winger.

If the FCD, Staunton and Scales leave on loan then that is a squad of 26...minus Richardson and Wood who are kids. That's still 24 - so 6 senior players will be missing out on match day. Competition is healthy, nice to have options but its a big squad for a L2 side!!!

 

Well if Adams had worked then we wouldn't have Hughes right now so a beautiful mistake perhaps. Thats my spin anyway.....

 

Thanks Dave, much appreciated.

 

If the T&A are naming Kelleher and Threlkeld, you'd think that deals are nearly done for both.

 

We'll have to take it in turns from amongst us lot on here to have a go...?

 

Yep, you'd think so. The only other 'senior pros' who could possibly leave are Ridehalgh, Songo'o, Gilliead, Eisa and Cook - plus FCD, Staunton and Scales.

 

Yeh a dig there at Watt, not too cutting but just enough to let us know he wasn't interested. Nothing we didnt work out, I think the majority of fans understood Paudie and Vernams reasons for going.

 

Giggle.

 

You would , because if not it’s not fair and disrespectful.

 

Something certainly in the pipes
“I do expect some movement in the coming days and weeks. Some of that will be more immediate“

 

T&A haven't got much wrong this summer. They speculated on Odusina and Smallwood - both happened. Don't remember seeing anything on Sol Bamba, Charlie Adam or Matt Derbyshire though.

 

Possible Match Day Squad...

GK - Lewis, Doyle
RB - TBC (assuming new one comes in)
LB - Ridehalgh, Foulds
CB - Odusina, Critchlow, Platt
CM - Smallwood, Songo'o, Gilliead, Sutton
AM/WG - Walker, Chapman, Osadebe
FW - Angol, Cook, Harratt,

That would leave - Hendrie, East, Wood, Eisa and Young left out. Maybe Odasebe if Dion comes back too.

Not included Threlkeld and Kelleher as looks like off.