January 2025 Transfer Window

GA clearly takes contradiction lessons from RS and SR. All as bad as one another. Time for proper and meaningful change

 

T'was me....

 

But are they , from recollection all our “ majors” were during game time? Some were of course “ set backs” during recovery but the original injury was during a game .

Frankly Jordan, we have all lost track ?

 

The “ Spin” always unravels !!

 

2 positions we should be improving the most in January is a LWB and better partner to Cook.

 

Centre midfield is the priority for me. Young, mobile and box to box.

 

Alexander sounded very sheepish and subdued to me in latest interview

 

I think Sanderson has 10 goals in him for a season but he was dropped for whatever reason.

It doesn't look like Oliver, Smith or Kavanagh will get 10 between them.

Alexander has a decision to make in January, and even then it's arguably too late because replacements will be too expensive, but if he wants something better than scraping into the play offs he has to ask the board to come to an agreement on ending Smith and Oliver's contracts or a further investment to bring in forwards and let them sit in the stands because they aren't good enough based on what we've seen this season.

 

Here's a cracking post from someone back in July before the summer transfer window opened.

Oh, wait....

 

Another one edited for accuracy!

 

If Richards can stay fit he can do the LWB job in this division, but we now have no cover. I'm sure many have said we need a partner / alternative to Smallwood

 

Richards needs to stay fit at the minute. I think that was his biggest problem last year, he had 5 starts then missed 9, had 6 starts then missed 5 games, another handful of starts then a handful missing and it seems after that GA gave up on him as a starter and went with Wright and the good run boomed on.

He had injury issues during both loans at Harrogate and looks to always have had issues at Wolves too. I think that's maybe why GA doesn't fully look to put faith in Richards? He has rarely been consistent, either in fitness or form. He's a capable defender at this level for sure, he just needs to stay fit.

 

If he doesn't fully put his faith in Richards then why didn't we bring in a natural LWB/LB instead of forcing two wingers or young Bobby there? Alexander is just as much at fault as our recruitment team. What sort of manager with any backbone would be happy to have only one left back at the whole club who has injury issues

 

Yep 100%. Not the only one player per spot we started the season with, we also had just 1 DM in Smallwood. A shed load of midfielders who play advanced roles but just one sitter and lads who can cover it, similar to LWB. But we have 4 strikers on the books who's roles aren't to score either apparently? Odd feeling on this squad, odd recruitment, little balance.

 

Richards if fit is a very good LWB/LB at this level. His passing statistics must be very high. He always does well under pressure and rarely gives it away.

I really don't see what wright has over Richards (pace? maybe?)

For me we need some pace in the middle and a partner for Cook. Or we hope that Smith/Kav/Sanderson come into form.

 

GA's reasoning for not bringing in someone to challenge Smallwood in the summer was because he felt players like Pattison and Sarcevic could cover there if needs be. Both players with injury issues who surprise, surprise, have been out of contention since early in the season with *checks notes*, injury issues. To address this, we brought in a free agent as cover who has an appalling record with injuries and is currently *checks notes again* unavailable for selection due to injury issues. If you didn't laugh you'd cry.

 

You could ask the same question about another forward versus Olivier/Smith and there are only two answers;

1. He genuinely believes they are good enough and worth a spot
2. The club do not want to end contracts early and replace them (because clearly trying to transfer them didn't work)

Can't think of another reason.

Bobby shouldn't play LWB - I think the most recent match showed how he performs there versus further advanced/more central.

 

Hell I’d forgotton about Sarcevic….