January Window - Who do we go for ?

I think it depends on where we are in the table come Christmas.

If we're mid-table (say 10-15) then we're probably looking at permanents to bring in and develop for next season. Probably a centre midfielder and a right back. Maybe a centre-forward from the lower leagues or continental Europe. The aim would be to give them the second half of the season to adapt and prove themselves. Several of our players are likely to be underwhelming if we're in this position so I would expect quite a lot of loans out and maybe McNair and Dijksteel to be sold to free up the budget.

If we're around the play-offs (say 6th-9th) then it will be a mix of loans and permanents. Possibly looking for a premium goal scorer on loan and and a top class championship permanent ready to go straight into the first team. The aim being to ensure we make the playoffs and maximise our chances of promotion that way.

If we look to be seriously challenging for the top 3 then it's time to rocket boost the team with a couple of premium loans and a top class Championship player who looks like he could step up to the Premier league. If we're doing this well, at least one of our buys this summer has been a break-out star for us so it will be tricky to improve the team without ruining what is making it work.

My prediction is that we'll head into Christmas somewhere around 6th-10th so it will be a question of plugging the weakest spot in the team with a premium loan (or, ideally, loan to buy) and looking for 1-2 permanents of the Dan Barlaser level who can push for a 1st team spot and cover for absences. I wouldn't want to see us with more than 3 first team places taken up with loans unless we're really tearing up the league and serious about 2nd to 3rd.

What we don't want are any "gifts" from Gibson.
 
The squad is massive, our bench is looking increasingly strong. Crooks is starting to look like more than a stop gap 10.

I am sure we have a list of long term targets and if one of those is available then we would try and get them. Apart from that I don't think we need to sign players for the sake of it.

Even with Smith's injury, we have Dijksteel and RVDB to compete for the right back slot, maybe if neither grabs the place then we'd look at a right back on loan.
 
I am with colgate on this. If we have long term targets that become available in January at the right price we would be interested.

Whoever suggested a January window like last year are nuts. We had to replace too many players in the summer and the club won't want to be in that situation again.

Akpom, I wouldn't want him back on an exorbitant loan fee and wages. There was never a garuantee that he would reproduce last year's form and it's less likely now given his lack of game time.

We have a deep squad with talent on the bench. We won't be chasing anyone in January
 
For me I think the only imperative spot to go out and get in January is up top. A third striker and I'd be happy.

That also does depend on what the club do on the Paddy McNair front although it looks like he's very much important and probably won't be sold regardless of contract situation.

Come January should be around the time O'Brien is back to do that will be a huge boost.
 
There's a few not-so-hidden gems in the lower leagues I'd add to the squad, even if they don't go straight into the first team...

McNair is probably on the way out in the next year or two. Clarke is still in an unknown situation, and we don't have any CBs coming through the youth ranks.
So we need to add a CB as cover for Fry/Lenihan...

Zac Williams - Crewe - 19 years old. Left footed. 6 foot. Strong. Good in the air. Played 60 professional games in L1/L2. Scored his first senior goal a couple of weeks ago.

I love Howson in CDM, but surely this has to be his final year? - Hackney will be on a lot of bigger teams radars - Barlasar has been okay but not convincing...
We should probably be looking at at least one, maybe two, new players in that position...

Ehan Erhahon - Lincoln - 22 years old. Signed from St. Mirren for 400k after playing over 120 games - 80+ in the SPL - Now an ever-present in league 1.
Became one of Lincoln's youngest captains ever, when they beat Sheff Utd in the cup in August.

Nohan Kenneh - Shrewsbury (loan from Hibs) - 20 years old. Former Leeds U21 but only ever made the PL bench. Liberian international (former England youth). Can also play CB and RB.

---

If we want to add to our Australian crew... Nestory Irankunda. - Adelaide - 17 years old (yes, 17) - Right winger.
Fast. Strong (for his age). Something completely different and the next big thing out of the A-league in my opinion.
 
Red n White Dreamer said:
As strange as it sounds I wouldn't touch Akpom. 6 month period of stagnation will take him a while to fire up and his confidence will be shot. Don't think we need too much but an extra striker and mobile number 10 would be on my list to Santa.

As I don't play football manager I wouldn't have a clue who this players would be unless To Maderia or Cherno Samba are free
Click to expand...

Cherno Samba scored two goals for my Boro team against Chelsea, in the FA cup final. He was still 15. Dead realistic that Football Manager!🤣

Is Langstaff from Notts County worth a punt? Could be our Jamie Vardy….
 
12 Striker - Julián Carranza from Philadelphia Union.. Chubba Akpom on loan from Ajax or maybe a permanent move for Jay Stansfield from Fulham?

13 Goalkeeper - Caoimhin Kelleher on a short term deal from Liverpool.. maybe? we’re gonna be short on goalkeepers.

20 Defensive Midfielder - Ardon Jashari was whispered a while back.. I wonder if we are still keeping tabs on him?

30 Central Defender - Nat Phillips to be snatched away from Celtic? If Paddy McNair leaves maybe?

31 Right Back - Ben Johnson on loan from West Ham? If the injury to Tommy Smith is more serious than expected..

4 players from the squad to go out on loan?

I can’t see it myself.. probably bring in a striker on loan.. decent pedigree.. maybe with an option for a permanent transfer?
 
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I`m very surprised Newy hasnt went to the stairs - taken 10 steps at a time, went in to his wardrobe and tore the door clean off and put on his boxing gloves.

How dare somebody other than Newy ! compile a list of names I have never heard of, and now it seems there are two or three of them doing it. Its an absolute outrage. 🚀 🤖
 
mercury_redstone7 said:
I`m very surprised Newy hasnt went to the stairs - taken 10 steps at a time, went in to his wardrobe and tore the door clean off and put on his boxing gloves.

How dare somebody other than Newy ! compile a list of names I have never heard of, and now it seems there are two or three of them doing it. Its an absolute outrage. 🚀 🤖
Click to expand...
Imitation is the highest form of flattery!

Hopefully we will have Matt Clarke back by January and Lewis O'Brien on the road to recovery. Could we see Matthew Hoppe return? Sam Greenwood at £1.5m would be a canny bit of business. Three loan spots still available.. Hayden Coulson back to the SPL? Anfernee Dijksteel moving on for game time? Daniel Nkrumah could do with a loan move..

I don't expect much movement.. but there could be..

Paddy McNair <> Nat Philips
Anfernee Dijksteel <> Ben Johsnon
Hayden Coulson <> Ardon Jashari
Daniel Nkrumah <> Julián Carranza
 
Red n White Dreamer said:
As strange as it sounds I wouldn't touch Akpom. 6 month period of stagnation will take him a while to fire up and his confidence will be shot. Don't think we need too much but an extra striker and mobile number 10 would be on my list to Santa.

As I don't play football manager I wouldn't have a clue who this players would be unless To Maderia or Cherno Samba are free
Click to expand...
Given we've spent the start of season adjusting to playing without Chuba, completely agree with this, we'd have to start playing a different way and I doubt he'll ever hit the highs of last season again in his career
 
t4tomo said:
what? why? are a couple going to shot over christmas or something? The are goalkeepers not turkeys. Although you do only need 1 of each.
Click to expand...
thought Dieng and Glover were going to be away on international duty? Leaving Jamie Jones & Nathan Fisher
 
Ash88 said:
There's a few not-so-hidden gems in the lower leagues I'd add to the squad, even if they don't go straight into the first team...

McNair is probably on the way out in the next year or two. Clarke is still in an unknown situation, and we don't have any CBs coming through the youth ranks.
So we need to add a CB as cover for Fry/Lenihan...

Zac Williams - Crewe - 19 years old. Left footed. 6 foot. Strong. Good in the air. Played 60 professional games in L1/L2. Scored his first senior goal a couple of weeks ago.

I love Howson in CDM, but surely this has to be his final year? - Hackney will be on a lot of bigger teams radars - Barlasar has been okay but not convincing...
We should probably be looking at at least one, maybe two, new players in that position...

Ehan Erhahon - Lincoln - 22 years old. Signed from St. Mirren for 400k after playing over 120 games - 80+ in the SPL - Now an ever-present in league 1.
Became one of Lincoln's youngest captains ever, when they beat Sheff Utd in the cup in August.

Nohan Kenneh - Shrewsbury (loan from Hibs) - 20 years old. Former Leeds U21 but only ever made the PL bench. Liberian international (former England youth). Can also play CB and RB.

---

If we want to add to our Australian crew... Nestory Irankunda. - Adelaide - 17 years old (yes, 17) - Right winger.
Fast. Strong (for his age). Something completely different and the next big thing out of the A-league in my opinion.
Click to expand...
1698153326083.jpeg
I hope Nobby is taking notes..
 
newyddion said:
thought Dieng and Glover were going to be away on international duty? Leaving Jamie Jones & Nathan Fisher
Click to expand...
ah there is ANC in Jan / Feb, Glover is an Aussie though and that isnt in Africa. We can probably cope without Dieng for a month
 
t4tomo said:
ah there is ANC in Jan / Feb, Glover is an Aussie though and that isnt in Africa. We can probably cope without Dieng for a month
Click to expand...

Australia compete in the Asian Cup in January/February too.

So we'll probably be missing Glover, McGree (if fit) and Silvera (if picked).
 
TeaCider said:
Australia compete in the Asian Cup in January/February too.

So we'll probably be missing Glover, McGree (if fit) and Silvera (if picked).
Click to expand...

Both Dieng and Glover will miss 4 games - Millwall and Birmingham away, Rotherham and Sunderland home.
They'll miss a 5th game (Bristol home) if they get to the final - but that's unlikely for both teams.

I assume we already prepared for that when we brought in Jamie Jones as our third choice - He played 17 games in the championship last season, so I'm sure he'll be able to handle 4 this season.
 
I’d absolutely go for a couple of quality loans of the calibre of Archer and Ramsey in January if we can find any.

It’s different to last season in that we’re 12 months further on with our policy of buying our own young players for the squad, so we have plenty of our own “assets” and won’t need to be buying 10 players next summer again to replace all the loans
 
TeaCider said:
Australia compete in the Asian Cup in January/February too.

So we'll probably be missing Glover, McGree (if fit) and Silvera (if picked).
Click to expand...
Asia cup - WTF?!? cant they just run that as a simulation on football manager and bet on it that way instead of disrupting the football calendar??

they should play that at same time as the Euros in the summer. Africa is supposed to move their but then keep pulling the weather card and switching it back to winter
 
newyddion said:
Imitation is the highest form of flattery!

Hopefully we will have Matt Clarke back by January and Lewis O'Brien on the road to recovery. Could we see Matthew Hoppe return? Sam Greenwood at £1.5m would be a canny bit of business. Three loan spots still available.. Hayden Coulson back to the SPL? Anfernee Dijksteel moving on for game time? Daniel Nkrumah could do with a loan move..

I don't expect much movement.. but there could be..

Paddy McNair <> Nat Philips
Anfernee Dijksteel <> Ben Johsnon
Hayden Coulson <> Ardon Jashari
Daniel Nkrumah <> Julián Carranza
Click to expand...
Ahh that's better.
 
I doubt chuba would repeat his form from last season sold him at the right time.Squad is fine as it is be nice to bring in an archer type not sure who.Saying that I think Coburn with go on a decent run of goal scoring once he scores the next one.I think this squad is stronger than this time last year.
 
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