What do we need in January

You'd hope with Sharpes experience at Wigan, that he'd know how to navigate the boom and bust mentality of the championship. I fear that unless we find massive sponsorship, or new investors to fund multiple thousand pound a week salaries, then we'll either drop straight back down or be saddled with multi million pound debt that won't be sustainable.

 

Or as I said earlier, a new owner. Going back it was said that Rupp would happily sell up as he isn't a football man. Several clubs have changed hands recently but there has never been a word anywhere that City had been speaking to them.

 

According to Nixon, we are watching Benn Ward, centre half at Accrington.

 

Story out there that Barrow want to bring Cook back to the club next month.

 

he's called Lewis Orford

 

I'm sure they would as will most clubs in league 2, if they couldn't come to an agreement with Tyler Smith in the summer I don't see how they would come to an agreement with Cook.
Assuming Cook doesn't suddenly get a run of starts in the next month it's inevitable that he's going to be linked with at least 10 different clubs. Tranmere, Grimsby, Salford and Oldham are high up on my bingo card and I wouldn't be surprised if teams like Port Vale are mentioned.

 

I think he was on the summer list but not sure what happened - if we decided not to put in an offer or first choices signed

 

That one could make sense for all parties. Imagine he’s still one of our highest earners and it frees up that space for the striker we’ve all been asking for in January. Cook is guaranteed a league 2 move given his record and hopefully it allows him to squeeze everything out of his last playing years

 

If we can bring in a good quality striker, CM and wide attacker with a bit of pace to offer an alternative option to Pointon/Sarcevic then I think we have a real chance to go up.

I can see a few players going if the offer is there Cook, Kav, maybe Pattison, Kelly now that Tilt is coming back.

 

Eh? He got absolutely rinsed at least 3 times on Saturday.

Yes he can play a decent ball sometimes but his defending can be a liability far too often. Let's not forget, he's a central defender and his primary role is to defend so we shouldn't get all pie eyed if he plays a few decent balls but purple run past him like he's not there going the other way.

 

Hey up Monkey. He's just come back from injury. I bet you couldn't wait for him to have a poor game. Must feel like your birthday has come early.

For the record my post was referring to the flip flopping on here. I've always thought it would be a bit of a ride with Baldwin, he will give us those horror moments but also some memorable ones. I still think that. Do I think he is top league one standard. Probably not, but he's not as bad as you make out.

 

https://footystats.org/england/efl-league-one/xg

xG suggests over the season as whole we create a decent number of chances (6th best) but that defensive figure of 1.40 xGA is worse than average.

we really do need to be offloading the likes of Byrne and Kelly and strengthening in that area if we are to hang on to a top six spot.

 

Been the same story for around 3 years.

 

For balance....the 2nd time he recovered and tackled for a corner. He also made a superb interception for a very dangerous ball into the box.

We have looked more solid in recent games with him back in the back 3.

 

If Kav, Richards, Byrne and, sadly, Cook went how much budget would that free up for a CB, CM, cover for Sarc/Bobby and a centre forward?
League one level?
Would need additional investment, perhaps a loan or 2 but surely worth the effort?

That said, how many suitors would they attract?

 

That lad who scores the goals for Plymouth might be worth looking at, couldnt play against us

 

Hes only just gone there and for 1.2 million.... think of another

 

I just don’t see Cook pushing for a move.
I get he wants to be playing games, but unless we invest in a striker that can fill the role he offers from the bench, I don’t see neither player or club wanting him gone.

From a player prospective, it’s half a season at the highest level he’s played and potentially even the opportunity to be part of a promotion push. Likely there are contract incentives amongst this also.

He is 5 goals of Hansons record (2nd all time top scorer) and 6 goals will beat him.

Appreciate he hasn’t got time on his hands, so equally why spurn the chance of being part and potentially achieving something he’ll very likely not get another opportunity to do?

This could all be thrown out the window if we sign someone in Jan and he’s told he is surplus to requirements - but as it stands right now, I just don’t see him leaving until the summer.

Kavanagh will be the fall guy up top IMO….

 

An off the wall one……Jatta.

His deal runs out in 6 months I understand ?

May need managing but scores a few! One every two games this season ?

 

I'd have Powell on the outs list way before Cook.

It depends on how they leave. If we sell then fantastic there should be enough budget. But if we loan and the clubs in L2 (their level) cant afford their L1 wages, we might be in a position where financially we're looking at 2 out for 1 in if we are still paying a fair chunk of the loaned out players moneys. Cant imagine that Grimsby are paying 100% of Odours money at the min, probably don't want a lot of folk in that boat.