Summer 2025 transfer rumours

There have been a few mentions recently .

 

He's a talented footballer. Technically very gifted. I don't think there's much point reading into friendlies too much but on that showing I agree with your assessment.

 

I think these first few games are going to be huge for him and a big learning curve going up against a higher quality of players, if he struggles Alexander won't hesitate to drop him to the bench especially if Swan or someone else makes an impression off the bench.
I question I've had about Pointon for a 12 or so months is why hasn't there been any interest and bids from clubs higher up who might see him as a potential and bring him in and either as an U21 player to develop or loan out similar to what Swansea did with McBurnie. If he has a good season then I think that changes and we are looking at a much more in demand season but for that I think he needs to be looking at 15-20 goal contributions.

I certainly wouldn't be ruling out him improving a lot over the next year or 2 but he's got to keep it going as we've seen in the past with the likes of Colbeck and to a lesser extent Devine that it can all go downhill very quickly.

 

I think Pointon is at his best as an impact player where his enthusiasm seems to lift everybody. We don’t seem to get a that when he starts

 

Not sure where the sudden criticism of Pointon is coming from. I thought he did very well last year and was a big part of the reason we went from looking like an average mid-table side to title contenders. He more than justifies his place on the side.

 

It's hard for young strikers/forwards to break in, there's a massive gap between u21 and any EFL/EPL standard, very few make it mainly as they rarely get starts or even 20 mins

 

He looked lethargic right from the off but so did Pattison. The preparation for friendlies is likely to be different so maybe they were just tired.

 

That’s why I have largely laughed at some of the “ valuations” some of our fan base place on him . They aren’t remotely realistic and could inadvertently put pressure on him . Yes you are right plenty of scope for improvement, however this season will be his make or break in some respects ie he needs to push on otherwise he will be destined to be a L2 player beyond? . It’s a fine line . It’s up to him at the end of the day.

 

Yes. I've said this several times. GA has said himself that he makes them play friendlies while fatigued to stretch their mental states and put them under more stress so they learn to cope and are prepared for being tired whilst in a game situation.

 

He does but not in the last 2 games it’s preseason some players are still building up their sharpness

 

In the last few matches of last season I thought the whole midfield struggled due to recovering from various injuries. But I think Pointon struggled the most. I thought we faired better in the one match Wright played there. However for his first full season he did really well overall

 

He has the talent. Brum away showed that. He will be fine..

 

So where are we short? Certainly have the numbers. Not included wilson or smith.

GK - walker, hilton, hadi
RWB - halliday, neufville
LWB - richards, touray
CB - wright, byrne, baldwin, pennington, tilt, kelly, huntington, goodman
CM - power, metcalfe, pattison, leigh, oduor
AM - pointon, wright, sarcevic, lapslie
FW - cook, humphrys, swann, kavanagh, ibbitson

 

I dont think Huntington has been offered a contract yet?

It looks quite bloated in some areas, this is without Wilson and Smith

 

Might need him with Kelly and Byrne missing the start of the season. Is Baldwin still suspended too?
Who plays centre half against Wycombe?! Joe Wright, Pennington, and one of the full backs? All of a sudden we look short in that area already and the season hasn’t even started yet.

 

Tilt

 

Ah yes of course. A completely new back line for the first game then.

 

I think Baldwin misses first 2 games.

I think Huntington will be offered short term contract, 6 months perhaps?

 

I would like another midfielder.

Up front is difficult. We are banking on Andy Cook regaining fitness and contributing at some point. To bring in another L1 quality forward now would likely mean , down the line, we are overstocked up front. Similarly, any loan forward coming in will know that they are not necessarily getting much game time.

Unless we have a specific player in mind, I think we might go with what we have and then use the first couple of weeks of the season to assess what else we need.