Summer 26/27 Transfer Rumours

League games this season was my benchmark , Cookie didn’t score . None of them did . Although yes he scored three in the “ cups” . Which ever way we look at it he wasn’t going to get game or subs time in L1 according GA and Andy’s desire to drop a division to get game time proved it . Not knocking the fella , just adding realism to the debate . Historically yes he was head and shoulders better than both Mullin / Wheatley , no question, but in the here and now is where we are at.

 

What we have to improve on is scouting. We need to find players before they cost (Big bucks) There are players out there and we need to improve in signing them

 

Will Harris? Scored 25 in 46 for Halifax Town this season.

 

I agree. We need to be looking more at Jenson Metcalfe type signings. I know thats a very hard ask, but thats where David Sharpe and the recruitment earn their corn.

 

Are there any young PL/championship loanees who played 30+ games in L2 this season? Must be someone ready to take the next step at Bradford City.

 

It's fine saying "cups" as if it's weakened or lesser sides though Kev but he still scored in limited game time, away against a very good PL side.

It's definitely more difficult to net away at Newcastle than it is scoring at home to Rotherham and Northampton.

But yes, I'm not disagreeing that we probably needed to move him on, I'm just not agreeing that he couldn't have been either more or at least as effective as his replacements.

 

I know he ain't the answer but the style we played second half of the season of hoofball and crosses into the box he'd have been an option. Definitely need a new number 9 as Jackson isn't the answer, he's more suited to running the space that Sarcevic and Pointon operate in. If we persist with 3-4-2-1 which i think we will then the 9 needs a decent goal return

 

It's the reason I asked the question about Powell. He's the type we need with the quality required but clearly it also has to be someone that's available and can physically last for 90 minutes and there's certainly more than a few doubts about that at the minute.

 

He would be a great option on a rotation basis and perhaps to help develop whoever comes in as a the main number 9.

I quite like the look of Kabia at Grimsby. He's had 2 great seasons for Truro and now Grimsby. Can he make the step up into L1 and score 15+? Into the last year of his contract there as well. Suspect there will be plenty looking at him though.

 

It’s time to draw a line under Cook and move on
He was fantastic for us and I thank him for that
Powell has the qualities, but not the fitness, so it’s a no from me
We were not that far away this season.2 or 3 quality additions would have helped in Jan, rather than the poor loans we got
I am still not certain on Jackson, he definitely can not lead the line and Humpries can go,Swan after good start fell away
We need more options for the midfield two and a couple of decent centre halves, Tilt was shocking in both play off games
It feels like we need 9 or 10 new players of better quality and I include goalkeeper in that

 

Are you putting in the extra £4M required for that?

It's absolute fantasy to think we'll have almost a brand new 11, all of better quality to start next season. We aren't Wrexham and we can't just throw a load of cash at it so we'll need to build slowly and that will include either making do with a few already here or taking gambles on offering new contracts to previously injury prone players such as Nick Powell.

 

Id take..

Shepherd
Banks
Harding
Fletcher
Elliot Lee
Conteh
Iorfa

Bin off All those out of contract except ty and Sarce and put Leigh and Humps up for tender maybe use Leigh in some sort of swap for Conteh. Unsure about Baldwin he had a run of being the best defender in the league but either side of that he was how he played last season.

Definitely need a GK who knows how to cover his front post correctly and have better distribution.

Unfortunately the new rules coming in mean we're going to be cutting the cloth yet again so im not expecting much in the way of a promotion push. More than likely a Julian Rhodes style summer

 

The thing is, the bar has been set so high this season that anything less than a promotion push will be seen as failure and will run the risk of season ticket renewals dropping off next year if we are 'just there to make up the numbers'. We have to go for it again and I think we will.

 

Well all the loans will go back, so that’s 5 Evans and Powell take it to 7.half a dozen out of contract and I am not certain I would offer any a contract and I include Sarcevic in that as good has he has been, time and injury not on his side
We could be looking at 12 to 13 new players and if we want to advance, money has to be found from somewhere
We have sold more season tickets at a greater price, more sponsorship, higher finish means higher prize money from the EFL.extra income over the season including the playoff game and hopefully a little bit more from Rupp if he wants us to continue the upward trajectory

 

I accept that there will be a high turnover, what I'm questioning is your statement of moving on players that have made a real impact this season, including our player of the year and talisman and signing 9 or 10 players of better quality. It just won't happen.

 

It think with Sarc there is a significant doubt about fitness over the course of a season. I'd expect him to miss 10-15 games, maybe more next season as he ages. There's a chance he plays 40 league games, but I really doubt it.

With Powell it's not really doubt, its fact. He will be missing for extended periods, 23+ games a season, every season. He will miss more than he plays without a shadow of doubt.

He should and probably will be moved on, nothing against him as a player, but time to target a proper replacement as you say.

 

I wonder why Steve Evans wants rid of Conteh?

Sent him out on loan to Lincoln in the winter window and made just the one appearance for Lincoln in the last game of season.

 

On Powell it depends how cheap you can get him tbf, if you can get him for a £1500 p/w you probs don’t get the same quality player anywhere else for that and if you can get 30 mins a game out of him he’s worth it.
Shepherds option also activated at Barnsley so I don’t think I’d be paying for him