NEWYDDION'S DEADLINE DAY: JANUARY 2025 EDITION

newyddion

newyddion

Well-known member
1731689266464.png
With a mere 47 days until we can open up the books and bring some extra talent into the squad to boost our promotion charge. A few things need to be taken into consideration.. 'The Morgan Rogers Money' - clearly already burning a hole in our pockets.
Our remaining loan spots, our weaknesses, our long term injuries, our number of registered layers, our promotion battle and perhaps even our future in the premier league.

First off our mind should be focused on 'Survivorship Bias' - Abraham Wald and the Missing Bullet Holes
1731690169970.png
We strengthen where the bullet holes haven't hit.. our engines. The planes that returned in WW2 were peppered with bullet holes in every place that was not vital to the aeroplane returning and the crew remaining alive. In our case I think that is the midfield. We are strong in midfield but will suffer greatly should we have to go into battle without Hayden Hackney or Aiden Morris.

36 Ethan Erhahon - Lincoln - 23yo - Defensive Midfielder - £1.4m
images

He looks like an absolute machine, he covers a lot of ground and is left footed. Would go well with Morris imo

Next up we it should be no surprise that every January window clubs are looking to improve in the striker department. We brought in Conway to replace Coburn.. but he does play much deeper and even tooks tidy coming in from the left ala Karanka era Bamford.
We have three loan spots that might very well be taken up in this window. We have been linked with this lad before and it would be canny if we could have some sort of option on him at the end of the season.. if not go for a full permanent transfer in January should one of our strikers depart.

29 Will Lankshear - Spurs - 19yo - Striker
1781647600.jpg

Similar to Ben Doak.. he is on the very cusp of premier league football. Hopefully with our reputation for developing players now.. we can push this one to another level.


39 Harvey Vale - Chelsea - 21yo - attacking midfielder, left fullback/wingback
F3lmnB_WIBgK9z8.jpg:large

We appear quite stacked in the attacking midfield department.. although I think we need to go for quality players when they become available. He did really well on loan at Bristol City playing the whole season (very important to us) and contributing with important goals and assists. Seemingly not fancied by Chelsea which doesn't really say much. Out of contract in the summer.. thankfully a move to Al-Ettifaq was knocked on the head. He can play left back and left wing back.. which brings something very interesting and exciting to the table for me. Permanent move with a sell on clause for Chelsea?

AND THEN THE PHROPHESY WAS UNVEILED THE ONE WHO THEY CALLED 'DOYLE' HE WEARS THE 86

86 Callum Doyle - Man City - 21yo - Centre Back, Left Back
Currently on loan at Norwich from Manchester City.. if there is any chance we can sign this lad then we should take it imo.. the left sided counter for RVDB very decent numbers in the championship.
images


29 Will Lankshear 21yo from Spurs
36 Ethan Erhahon 23yo from Lincoln
39 Harvey Vale 21yo from Chelsea
86 Callum Doyle 21yo from Man City
 
32 Max Johnston - Sturm Graz - 20yo - Right Back, Right Midfield, Central Midfield
Almost forgot the cheese on the bech.. the fifth element. Scotland international currently plying his trade in the Austrian Bundesliga. 2 assists in 8 appearances this season.. BORN IN MIDDLESBROUGH

IMG_6383.jpeg
#BringHimHome
 
Last edited:
Ash88 said:
Born in Middlesbrough but left when he was 1 year old.... when his dad, Allan Johnston, left Boro on a free for Kilmarnock ;)

Great shout though - I'd love to sign him as backup/potential future replacement for Ayling.
Click to expand...
It still counts!! Why wouldn’t he want to pick up his dad’s shirt number and do the business on the pitch with Doak and Conway?!?

I think we have a few positions where players might be released, go out on loan or be sold. The ‘wiggle room’ that we would need to bring players in.

ST Matthew Hoppe/Marcus Forss
RB Tommy Smith/Anfernee Dijksteel
MF Law McCabe/Dan Barlaser
AM Alex Gilbert/Fin Cartwright
DF Tom Glover/Darragh Lenihan

29 Will Lankshear 21yo from Spurs L
32 Max Johnson 20yo from Sturm Graz £
36 Ethan Erhahon 23yo from Lincoln £
39 Harvey Vale 21yo from Chelsea L/£
86 Callum Doyle 21yo from Man City L

It should go without saying that this is not ITK or anything like that.. just a few players we’ve been linked with and a few that I think might be a good fit.

Loans from Man City, Chelsea & Spurs have worked in the past. Plus everyone loves a league one hidden gem and who could resist signing a boro lad from the Austrian leagues!!
 
newyddion said:
36 Ethan Erhahon - Lincoln - 23yo - Defensive Midfielder - £1.4m
images
Click to expand...
Never heard of him to be honest. I know he’s a defensive midfielder but even so, I’d have liked a few more goals / assists in his stats, but I guess that’s being greedy.

Just turned Sky on to have a look as they are playing live. Wouldn’t you know, he’s on the bench! Typical…

The player who’s caught my eye so far (admittedly only over 15 minutes) is an Exeter centre back (formerly a defensive midfielder) Tristan Crama - on loan from Brentford. 23, 6’4”, looks good on the ball too. Brings it out from the back, just had a really good run forward. Looks a useful player.
 
Unless we sell Latte Lath I don't see us getting another striker. If we do sell Latte Lath, I think we would be in the market for an elite level loan of a striker rather than a punt. Probably also more likely to be more of a #10/second striker with Conway as the main #9 if that happens.

I think the injuries to Hackney and Morris do put a fire under our need for someone who can cover for them without being a severe drop off. We're going to be hoping Howson can roll back the years and Barlaser can step up a level. We haven't shown much interest in League One under Scott so I don't see us being in for Erhahon. If we thought odds were against us promotion wise I could sorta see Erhahon as a potential punt for a Morris back up in the Championship but I doubt it.

Don't know anything about Johnson, Vale or Doyle.

I don't see us making much room with exits in January. Possibly Gilbert or Hamilton on loan but that's about it. Means we don't have much wriggle room for new players without deregistering some of our long-term injured. I saw Smith geeing on players in the latest Inside Matchday so I don't see us deregistering him or Lenihan. About all that's left is potentially selling Forss or Engel but I don't see anyone being interested in buying them given their injury records. Maybe if someone's interested in Jones we would let him go. Possibly same with Fry but again, I don't see anyone offering much or offering them enough of a pay packet to make it worthwhile leaving. I could see Barlaser heading off if we have a replacement in mind.

Historically, in the winter we have gone for 2 loans as immediate 1st 11 starters and one purchase to start on the bench. Last 3 winters that has been McGree / Barlaser / Azaz. I think this season will be much the same except if we do loan 2 players then anyone we buy is going to need to be under 21.

I'll continue banging the drum for Tyler Morton and/or Cesare Casadei as elite loans if we can make room. Other than that, it's probably just going to be replacing players who leave and I don't think we're actively trying to move on anyone other than Hoppe, and he doesn't count.
 
Bruce said:
Unless we sell Latte Lath I don't see us getting another striker. If we do sell Latte Lath, I think we would be in the market for an elite level loan of a striker rather than a punt. Probably also more likely to be more of a #10/second striker with Conway as the main #9 if that happens.

I think the injuries to Hackney and Morris do put a fire under our need for someone who can cover for them without being a severe drop off. We're going to be hoping Howson can roll back the years and Barlaser can step up a level. We haven't shown much interest in League One under Scott so I don't see us being in for Erhahon. If we thought odds were against us promotion wise I could sorta see Erhahon as a potential punt for a Morris back up in the Championship but I doubt it.

Don't know anything about Johnson, Vale or Doyle.

I don't see us making much room with exits in January. Possibly Gilbert or Hamilton on loan but that's about it. Means we don't have much wriggle room for new players without deregistering some of our long-term injured. I saw Smith geeing on players in the latest Inside Matchday so I don't see us deregistering him or Lenihan. About all that's left is potentially selling Forss or Engel but I don't see anyone being interested in buying them given their injury records. Maybe if someone's interested in Jones we would let him go. Possibly same with Fry but again, I don't see anyone offering much or offering them enough of a pay packet to make it worthwhile leaving. I could see Barlaser heading off if we have a replacement in mind.

Historically, in the winter we have gone for 2 loans as immediate 1st 11 starters and one purchase to start on the bench. Last 3 winters that has been McGree / Barlaser / Azaz. I think this season will be much the same except if we do loan 2 players then anyone we buy is going to need to be under 21.

I'll continue banging the drum for Tyler Morton and/or Cesare Casadei as elite loans if we can make room. Other than that, it's probably just going to be replacing players who leave and I don't think we're actively trying to move on anyone other than Hoppe, and he doesn't count.
Click to expand...
The past three windows we’ve went for a permanent transfer for an attacking midfielder from a lower championship side. Sometimes players that are on loan.
If Ben Doak goes back to Liverpool in January I could see us maybe going for Karamoko Dembélé who is on loan at QPR from Brest. (ex Blackpool too)

Our two loan players are always from premier league teams and U21

We have sold or loaned out fringe players to league one sides and again this has included attacking midfielders. If we went purely of the last windows I could see Alex Gilbert being loaned out to a league one side and possibly seeing Harvey Vale coming in on loan in his place.

(I’m purposely avoiding mentioning the possibility of Hackney and Latte Lath here btw Tyler Morton is a good shout btw)

I don’t think this would happen.. but again a fringe player going on loan to league one or championship and us bringing a premier league U21 to take their place. Dael Fry going out on loan with Callum Doyle coming in from Man City via Norwich would fit what has previously happened in January windows.

Doak <> Dembele L
Hackney <> Morton L
Latte Lath <> Lanskshaer L

That would be closer to the realms of reality based on what we’ve seen previously imo
 
MidlandsBoroFan said:
Agree with most of your post but not this. No way would we (or should we) sell Jones.

Doak will 100% not be here next year, maybe not even in January. Jones is then still the obvious 1st choice down our right which is where we score a lot of our goals.
Click to expand...
I tend to agree. It might just be that we desperately need to make room and the only interest is in Jones. In that case, maybe something happens. At the moment, Jones and Barlaser may be our only two sellable squad players. The rest are either injured (Engel, Forss, Lenihan, Smith, Fry, Bangura) or we would want send them on loan (Hamilton, Gilbert). I could see us accepting a sale for Gilbert because I just don't see Carrick ever willingly starting him.
 
MidlandsBoroFan said:
I have family friends whose son was in the Villa academy at the same time as him. Hasn’t quite developed into the player everyone thought, but still very young of course. Scored today.
Click to expand...
As at Barcelona wasn’t he? Getting rave reviews this season in League 1, got double figures I think last season in L2.

Someone will take a gamble on him, would love it to be us but with the way our squad is at the minute, don’t think it’ll be us.
 
TheYorkshireTerrier said:
As at Barcelona wasn’t he? Getting rave reviews this season in League 1, got double figures I think last season in L2.

Someone will take a gamble on him, would love it to be us but with the way our squad is at the minute, don’t think it’ll be us.
Click to expand...

11 goals in 16 games this season in L1.
9 goals in 15 games last season before a hamstring injury, including 7 goals in a run of 7 games - Could have easily had 20-25+ if he didn't get injured.

Will definitely be in the championship next season.
 
TheYorkshireTerrier said:
Louie Barry

Remember the name.
Click to expand...
Given our links with Villa and that it looks like he has only played for Stockport on loan this season I wouldn't mind betting that we try to take over his loan in January. Or even some sort of buy and buy-back deal. Like Rogers he's had 3 years of being loaned but probably isn't getting into the Villa team any time soon. With Hamilton maybe needing to go on loan for more pitch time, Gilbert seemingly not favoured, Jones lacking confidence, Forss permanently injured, Barry feels like an option we might be exploring.
 
Bruce said:
Given our links with Villa and that it looks like he has only played for Stockport on loan this season I wouldn't mind betting that we try to take over his loan in January. Or even some sort of buy and buy-back deal. Like Rogers he's had 3 years of being loaned but probably isn't getting into the Villa team any time soon. With Hamilton maybe needing to go on loan for more pitch time, Gilbert seemingly not favoured, Jones lacking confidence, Forss permanently injured, Barry feels like an option we might be exploring.
Click to expand...
Yeah that was my thinking as well with the Villa links, would like to think he's on one of Scott's many lists.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top