January window?

Ash88 said:
Smith / Lenihan / Bangura / Gilbert all have long term injuries presumably going beyond January, so nobodies going to sign them... and it's very rare we de-register a player.
Engel... Nobody really knows what's happened there.
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I don't think we will see Smith in a Boro shirt again. Engel I think he will miraculously find fitness in january and go on loan somewhere.

Bangura out for the season.

Lenihan it's all gone very quiet, again, I wouldn't besurprised if we don't see him again and he is released/sold in the summer

Gilbert, think he needs a loan for game time. he's 23 next month and started 9 games in his career. His Boro career isn't gone, but he needs to play.
 
Ash88 said:
We could still have that in ELL - He's not going to hit Akpom's 28 goals... but he could easily get close to 20 which puts him in that "star forward" category in my opinion.

It's the first time I've ever went into a January transfer window thinking we don't "need" anyone...

I'd like cover at left back (or for Engel/Bangura to be fit again and be that cover for Borges)... I'd like a backup for Azaz... Maybe a third choice big target man up front to offer something different...

.... but I'd also be fine if we didn't sign anyone.
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I'd only sign to

a) cover a serious injury
b) a kid for the future
c) some top top player is available and we can afford him
d) to replace an outgoing

I agree we don't really need to buy
 
BoroMart said:
I don't think we will see Smith in a Boro shirt again. Engel I think he will miraculously find fitness in january and go on loan somewhere.

Bangura out for the season.

Lenihan it's all gone very quiet, again, I wouldn't besurprised if we don't see him again and he is released/sold in the summer

Gilbert, think he needs a loan for game time. he's 23 next month and started 9 games in his career. His Boro career isn't gone, but he needs to play.
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I agree - we probably won't see much from any of those in January, but we might see a lot of transfer activity the summer.

Smith and Howson will retire.
We'll sign Edmundson and extend Clarke's contract... Leaving either Lenihan or Fry with a difficult route back into the team... so one will be sold.
Dijksteel's contracts up too but I'm assuming he'll be given another year. I think we'll keep Gilbert too, although he might go out on a season long loan next year.

Glover, Hoppe, Finch, Hemming and possibly Silvera will all go.
One of Engel or Bangura will go (both will go if we sign another LB).
If Forss gets back to a decent level of fitness... I can see Isiah Jones going back to a London club too, wouldn't be surprised if it was Millwall.

- Leaves us needing a LB (to replace Engel/Bangura), RW (to replace Doak/Jones) and potentially just a few decent young kids to fill the gaps.
 
Tom Glover - nearly went out on loan in the summer.. think he might be more likely to go out on loan in January.

Tommy Smith - great right back, terrible injury.. if he can come back he will play his part.

Dael Fry - back from injury, Boro through and through.. can’t see him pushing for a move or particularly wanting one. He’ll fancy his chances and put in the work.

Darragh Lenihan - still injured I think, a few setback which are a worry.. maybe an area we want to strengthen with another loan?

Lukas Engel - overly criticised for an awkward start.. played a ton of games, kept out bangura.. multiple MOTM performances and more points per goal contribution than Giles. I think he might have been playing through an injury.. he’s around the squad during match days. fan whispers.. question marks. I’d like to see him back to his best.

Anfernee Dijksteel - hasn’t disappointed every time he has played.. easily worth a new contract.. whether he takes that option is another question.

Hayden Hackney - clearly attracting attention.. would be tough to replace and would defo put a ding in promotion hopes if he was sold.

Marcus Forss - working with the U21s to get back to fitness.. maybe a loan could be on the cards?

Alex Gilbert - another who was rumoured with a loan.. picked up an injury.. then impressed.. then picked up an injury. Maybe a loan to would be back on the cards.. but it would need to be for a big baller. Would be great to see him pushing for a start.

Riley McGree - injuries have cooled the interest and rumours. will be integral to our success if he can remain fit.

Emanuel Latte Lath - Ipswich went for a last minute move in January.. we might see a return.. but only if a heavyweight of a replacement can be brought in.

2, 3.. 4?

DIJKSTEEL new deal
DOYLE in on loan
BIG WILLY LANKS on loan
TAMAS on a permo
 
Areas for concern i would say are left back all though ayling could play there for me until January we should get someone top draw if possible . Back up for doak if he gets injured is a worry, if forss can get fit he would be my back up on the right not jones.
 
The fullback areas are probably out weakest. Although think it's harsh to give Ayling stick. He's played at RB / CB and LB this season.

He's been pretty invaluable. I get he's not been the rampaging Cafu of last season. Yet still been a terrific signing.

That said RB is still an area we will need to look at long-term. Ayling is 33. Also Smith may never play again. That and hardly a long-term solution

Then we have Dijksteel. He will leave in the summer for free. It will be interesting to see if we offer him a new deal. Also would he sign it ? I think he's done enough for a new deal. I'm not sure we could sign 'as good' or better for the price of a new 2-3 year deal.

The left back conundrum continues. It seems to be a real issue. So no doubt the Giles link will start all over again. He's on big money and will still cost a few quid. That said a loan probably wouldn't be out of the question.. It would probably suit both parties.

That said I'm not overly convinced by throwing everything at Giles. He was sensational under Carrick. Yet he's not remotely reached those heights since.
 
Glover_elbow said:
Areas for concern i would say are left back all though ayling could play there for me until January we should get someone top draw if possible . Back up for doak if he gets injured is a worry, if forss can get fit he would be my back up on the right not jones.
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agreed.

Forss fitness issue is a problem. Problem with getting a backup to a player as high class as Doak is they'll need to be a very decent player to not be a massive drop off, any player good enough not to be a massive drop off would want to be playing for someone week in, week out. It's a conundrum, hopefully Forss can get fit as he can play that role for now.
 
BoroBourneNBred said:
Could Gilbert potentially replace Hackney, if the Redcar Iniesta is sold?
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No not really, got the vision, but off the ball he's a big drop off. If we sell Hackney in the summer, we'll have 20m to re-invest. We'll also likely sell Lath for 15-20m so maybe have 40m to re-invest while already having a decent squad. I'm sure the club have their eyes on several midfielders in the 8-10m bracket that could replace Hackney
 
BoroMart said:
No not really, got the vision, but off the ball he's a big drop off. If we sell Hackney in the summer, we'll have 20m to re-invest. We'll also likely sell Lath for 15-20m so maybe have 40m to re-invest while already having a decent squad. I'm sure the club have their eyes on several midfielders in the 8-10m bracket that could replace Hackney
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Hackney is an 8, Gilbert is a 10..
I don’t think we’ll be looking at players whilst in the championship in the 8-10m bracket.
 
newyddion said:
Hackney is an 8, Gilbert is a 10..
I don’t think we’ll be looking at players whilst in the championship in the 8-10m bracket.
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Gilbert could possibly play in a midfield 3. Azaz frequently played on the left of a midfield 3 for Plymouth. A midfield 3 selection could work but it's not going to happen
McGree/Azaz/Gilbert Morris/Howson Hackney/Barlaser

Our current midfield 2 is Morris deeper and Hackney higher but I don't think Gilbert or any of our attacking midfielders/forwards have enough defensive ability to play Hackney's role.

I think we do need a third midfielder who can replace Morris or Hackney without being a significant drop off. I don't know if Howson is going to be able to hit the levels we need this season. Really hard to persuade a loanee who would be good enough to replace Hackney and/or Morris to come here and potentially sit on the bench for 1/2 a season. Ipswich did it last season with Lewis Travis but he couldn't displace Luongo or Morsy.
 
Bruce said:
Gilbert could possibly play in a midfield 3. Azaz frequently played on the left of a midfield 3 for Plymouth. A midfield 3 selection could work but it's not going to happen
McGree/Azaz/Gilbert Morris/Howson Hackney/Barlaser

Our current midfield 2 is Morris deeper and Hackney higher but I don't think Gilbert or any of our attacking midfielders/forwards have enough defensive ability to play Hackney's role.

I think we do need a third midfielder who can replace Morris or Hackney without being a significant drop off. I don't know if Howson is going to be able to hit the levels we need this season. Really hard to persuade a loanee who would be good enough to replace Hackney and/or Morris to come here and potentially sit on the bench for 1/2 a season. Ipswich did it last season with Lewis Travis but he couldn't displace Luongo or Morsy.
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we’ve been playing what looks like a 4-3-3 recently with McGree on the left hand side of midfield.

Luton was different and I think Ayling at left back allowed us a lot more freedom.

we might bring in another central midfielder.. even thought with Morris and Hackney as a two we look good.

Take one of them away and we start to maybe lose something.

Howson has been injured and Barlaser seems a bit slow when it comes to decision making… although I do think he looks ok with Morris.
 
I think our priority is to keep Doak. Chiesa at Liverpool doesn't seem to have been a success, hopefully Liverpool appreciate Doak getting regular games at a competitive level rather than sitting on the bench and playing the odd minutes against Premier League opposition where he won't grow as much.
 
Bruce said:
Gilbert could possibly play in a midfield 3. Azaz frequently played on the left of a midfield 3 for Plymouth. A midfield 3 selection could work but it's not going to happen
McGree/Azaz/Gilbert Morris/Howson Hackney/Barlaser

Our current midfield 2 is Morris deeper and Hackney higher but I don't think Gilbert or any of our attacking midfielders/forwards have enough defensive ability to play Hackney's role.

I think we do need a third midfielder who can replace Morris or Hackney without being a significant drop off. I don't know if Howson is going to be able to hit the levels we need this season. Really hard to persuade a loanee who would be good enough to replace Hackney and/or Morris to come here and potentially sit on the bench for 1/2 a season. Ipswich did it last season with Lewis Travis but he couldn't displace Luongo or Morsy.
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Well the carrot for that player would be either a bump up to prem wages in 8 months or replace Hackney when sold to a prem side
 
Pretty happy with the squad to be honest and it's probably not often I would think that. In an absolute perfect world I think we would get a 10 to compete with Azaz and maybe another centre mid as this will likely be Howson's last season but you can always do that in the summer.
 
newyddion said:
we’ve been playing what looks like a 4-3-3 recently with McGree on the left hand side of midfield.

Luton was different and I think Ayling at left back allowed us a lot more freedom.

we might bring in another central midfielder.. even thought with Morris and Hackney as a two we look good.

Take one of them away and we start to maybe lose something.

Howson has been injured and Barlaser seems a bit slow when it comes to decision making… although I do think he looks ok with Morris.
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Matt Smith CM at Wigan is my suggestion, pass it on Newy .
Kwame Poku , Hector Kyprianou and Malik Mothersille at PUFC are worth considering , but I would love us to go for proven.
Zavier Simons CM
Louie Barry LW
Mason Bairstow RW
Thelo Aasgard no10
Milan van Ewijk is the best RB I have seen but Cov unlikely to part.
Alex Cochrane bcfc LB is decent.
Luke Thomas back ? Giles ?
Erik Botheim CF Malmo or
Kasper Hogh CF bode look good.
 
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Simply red said:
Matt Smith CM at Wigan is my suggestion, pass it on Newy .
Kwame Poku , Hector Kyprianou and Malik Mothersille at PUFC are worth considering , but I would love us to go for proven.
Milan van Ewijk is the best RB I have seen but Cov unlikely to part.
Alex Cochrane bcfc LB is decent.
Erik Botheim CF Malmo or
Kasper Hogh CF bode look good.
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I was very impressed with van Ewijk for Coventry. If we were to get promoted he’d be a good signing for us.
 
Along with most I think a right back and a central midfielder will be our main targets. Id expect us to try and find a club for Barlaser which will free the squad place and wages up in midfield.

We need a long term right back bringing in and developing in how we play. I'm sure Scott has someone lined up.
 
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