Jan transfer window

rlb999 · Dec 22, 2012

I think we need to worry more about staying solvent than adding new faces. There's an argument that last January's transfer activity hindered as much as it helped. The key players are the less glamorous ones such as Mkindawire - compare his arrival with our run of form. The challenge we face is paying wages until the end of the season.

united we stand · Dec 22, 2012

Rattus Norvegicus said:
Errrhhh, well .... both Philipps and Prosser have had periods of injury this season and that would leave the cover we have for central defence as possibly Barker ... and that would mean moving him from left back and putting Straker there ....... not the end of the world, true ..... but not ideal either because it means 2 changes to the back four.

I really cant see us signing a 'quality' center back who is going to be 4th or even 5th choice- it defies logic. Equally I can't see us signing anyone better than what we have already.

Personally if we could keep everyone for the rest of the season that would do me

rlb999 · Dec 22, 2012

united we stand said:
I really cant see us signing a 'quality' center back who is going to be 4th or even 5th choice- it defies logic. Equally I can't see us signing anyone better than what we have already.

Personally if we could keep everyone for the rest of the season that would do me

It's also nice to see a player like Prosser come good. With experienced pros around him he's done ok, and will have a career at this level.

Angell Delight · Dec 22, 2012

Rattus Norvegicus said:
Errrhhh, well .... both Philipps and Prosser have had periods of injury this season and that would leave the cover we have for central defence as possibly Barker ... and that would mean moving him from left back and putting Straker there ....... not the end of the world, true ..... but not ideal either because it means 2 changes to the back four.

That's exactly why I said we can use the loan market if we need to due to injuries, the options we have at CB are very good for this level and (as "united we stand" said above) no quality centre-back is going to come here permanently to sit on the bench. IMHO we're absolutely fine defensively and if we encounter any issues we can pick up a decent cover CB on loan fairly easily, it's good quality defensive midfielders that are incredibly hard to find and that's why if Tam leaves it's imperative we find a quality replacement in the same mould. In comparison to players like Tam CB's are ten-a-penny, if we need one there is no-one better than Sturrock to find good quality on loan as cover.

maninasuitcase · Dec 22, 2012

rlb999 said:
It's also nice to see a player like Prosser come good. With experienced pros around him he's done ok, and will have a career at this level.

Yes, he was awful at the start of his career with us. But now he is a dependable enough player at either centre or left back.

Clohessy also seems to have improved his positioning over the last 18 months and doesn't caught upfield so often.

I do think Sturrock has the ability to improve a player through coaching. I don't like knocking Tilson, but that didn't appear to be something he had in his locker.

rlb999 · Dec 22, 2012

maninasuitcase said:
Yes, he was awful at the start of his career with us. But now he is a dependable enough player at either centre or left back.

Clohessy also seems to have improved his positioning over the last 18 months and doesn't caught upfield so often.

I do think Sturrock has the ability to improve a player through coaching. I don't like knocking Tilson, but that didn't appear to be something he had in his locker.

Knock away. You're quite right.

Silencer · Dec 22, 2012

Not too worried about the Jan transfer window, however what I am worried about is a few of our very decent players are out of contract in the summer - Tomlin, Clohessy and Timlin spring to mind!!!!

I know it may depend on budgets, what league were in etc it would be nice to tie down our stars nice and early for once... Would hate to lose them in the summer a la' Grant, Gower, Cort, Constantine etc

Massimo Giovanni · Dec 23, 2012

Angell Delight said:
That's exactly why I said we can use the loan market if we need to due to injuries, the options we have at CB are very good for this level and (as "united we stand" said above) no quality centre-back is going to come here permanently to sit on the bench. IMHO we're absolutely fine defensively and if we encounter any issues we can pick up a decent cover CB on loan fairly easily, it's good quality defensive midfielders that are incredibly hard to find and that's why if Tam leaves it's imperative we find a quality replacement in the same mould. In comparison to players like Tam CB's are ten-a-penny, if we need one there is no-one better than Sturrock to find good quality on loan as cover.

How many loan players are we allowed then?

southend4eva · Dec 23, 2012

Silencer said:
Not too worried about the Jan transfer window, however what I am worried about is a few of our very decent players are out of contract in the summer - Tomlin, Clohessy and Timlin spring to mind!!!!

I know it may depend on budgets, what league were in etc it would be nice to tie down our stars nice and early for once... Would hate to lose them in the summer a la' Grant, Gower, Cort, Constantine etc

If we go up, I think it there is little chance of loosing them; if not, we probably will at least loose a couple of these. But hey that's life at football clubs all round. As much as it can work against you, it can also work for you: just as Luggy has shown quite a few times now. While no manager's record is perfect in bringing in the right player every time, surely we would have to acknowledge that Luggy hits more than he misses. :thumbsup:

dan_mays · Dec 23, 2012

First thing to do is try and snap up Laird and Tam to the end of the season on loan or maybe on permanent deals.

But going out we should look to loan out Benyon, Woodyard and maybe Leonard - on current form these guys wont get back in the side right now

Massimo Giovanni · Dec 23, 2012

The FLS spent almost as long talking about PS's loan deals and his "black book". They seemed to be suggesting that he/we would need to freshen it up in the window. Is their knowledge based only on the 20 seconds of coverage they show us?

silentshrimper · Dec 23, 2012

I think we need to worry more about keeping the players we have. With Britt on board I think we will reach playoffs, with laird and tam we can push for autos.

Someone might take a punt on cressy but it would have to be a lot for Ron to accept. As others have already mentioned, Tomlins age and goal history are against him, plus he has a chance of really making a name for himself here, he could break 20 goals which is something I'm sure he would like to do in his career once... Plus he has a great partnership with Britt!

Massimo Giovanni · Dec 23, 2012

I like the quote from Sir Alex f about how to get a good team/squad, said to david Braisford.
"get rid of the c***S".
Seem sensible enough, have we any left to go?

Tangled up in Blue · Dec 23, 2012

Blue & Pink Army said:
The FLS spent almost as long talking about PS's loan deals and his "black book". They seemed to be suggesting that he/we would need to freshen it up in the window. Is their knowledge based only on the 20 seconds of coverage they show us?

Actually, it was PS's "big black book",wasn't it?
Always thought Tilly did pretty well for us in the loans department but hat's off to PS for getting in some excellent loan players this season.

chapperzUK · Dec 23, 2012

Blue & Pink Army said:
I like the quote from Sir Alex f about how to get a good team/squad, said to david Braisford.
"get rid of the c***S".
Seem sensible enough, have we any left to go?

I'm sure there is one left .... :whistling:

rlb999 · Dec 23, 2012

How's about getting Freddy off the wage bill in Jan, assuming we can find someone to take him, and moving on?

McNasty · Dec 23, 2012

rlb999 said:
How's about getting Freddy off the wage bill in Jan, assuming we can find someone to take him, and moving on?

With the stadium plans being deferred for 3 months let's hope there will be enough in the kitty to pay the wages, with or without Freddy.

shrimpfan · Dec 23, 2012

mcnasty said:
With the stadium plans being deferred for 3 months let's hope there will be enough in the kitty to pay the wages, with or without Freddy.

lets hope for a bumper crowd v gills and a good cup run in both cups that would help.

OldBlueLady · Dec 23, 2012

rlb999 said:
How's about getting Freddy off the wage bill in Jan, assuming we can find someone to take him, and moving on?

Bloody leave him alone!!! There are others that are more expensive to us than Fred! :angry:

Jam_Man · Dec 23, 2012

Get rid of Freddy and that leaves us with Corr who is hardly reliable, and Benyon who has done less than Freddy. Still 5 months of the season left, we need all the strikers we have but if we were to get rid of anyone it would be Benyon.

Our priority this window should be to keep the squad as it is, not move players on.