January Transfer window

[pick32]

Always thought Bamford was a shocking player robbing a living, scores one worldly a season 

[roversfan99]

4 hours ago, bluebruce said:

I'd agree...I mean, at most I'd consider offering him a one year extension, if he stays fit and moderately consistent til March-ish (when I'd start negotiations). Depending on what he's on, and what our budget is likely to be. But if he wanted a raise or more years I'd end negotiations right there (if I even started them). He's been ok in spurts, but there's never been a run of form where he has felt like a matchwinner more than very occasionally. Quite frankly, we can do better, even on the cheap if we're smart.

If he was a symptom of that, he'd be a lot more expensive. He was a very small fee (not free as RF99 said) and will be on a fairly low wage for a Championship player. He's a symptom of cheapskate ownership and a dried up transfer budget for years now.

By free sorry I meant to give him an extension as opposed to signing someone new.

I wouldnt activate it but there is a year option in his deal in our favour.

[Atko's Engine]

I'm happy with the Hedges extension. If you're going to have a squad of 25 players, not all of them are going to be nailed on first 11 quality, especially at this level.

He's a great squad option; he's a grafter, committed, a team player. He's inconsistent yes & has had injuries, but he fits in perfectly with Eustace’s ethos & we're less reliant on him now than when we signed him so hopefully this helps his fitness. His won't be an expensive extension.

And for those querying his end product, he was heavily involved in both of our last 2 away goals (at Sheff Weds & Hull), providing the assist for the assist with some decent approach play; both goals have been worth an extra 4 points for us, the difference between playoffs or not at this moment in time.

 

Edited December 19, 2024 by Atko's Engine

[Tyrone Shoelaces]

1 hour ago, RevidgeBlue said:

I wouldn't touch him with a bargepole personally. If you need someone to miss a sitter - he's your man.

Also exceptionally injury prone if memory serves me correctly.

I watched him against Rovers and I watched him against Preston last week. Not for me, he’s going through the motions now. If Leeds, who are really desperate for a goalscorer, are prepared to let him go, that tells me all I need to know.

[Emerald Isle Rover]

1 hour ago, Paul Mani said:

I think Bamford is the type of player who could do great at Rovers. Has obvious talent, and pedigree. Has scored lots of goals in the past and at 31, still has a couple of good years in him if he gets back on track.

If JE can put an arm round him then who knows…

70k per week - no thanks 

[KentExile]

8 minutes ago, Emerald Isle Rover said:

70k per week - no thanks 

I would have thought that was his wage when Leeds were in the Prem, but its still likely to be somewhere between £35K & £40K per week now, (his contract was signed whilst Leeds were in the Prem and would have included a relegation wage reduction clause)

so still no thanks 😉 

Edited December 19, 2024 by KentExile

[Forever Blue]

19 hours ago, roversfan99 said:

Fuck sake. Not the move a club with any shred of ambition would do. He has achieved very little year on year and has also had issues with injuries in the last 18 months. 

The manager rates him which is what matters. 

[Forever Blue]

12 hours ago, roversfan99 said:

What does he offer aside from trying his hardest and being selected?

The manager sets out in every game to get a clean sheet. That’s his MO. Hedges is very good at providing defensive cover in front of the full back on either side of the pitch. That’s his value, and so he meets the manager’s requirements.

I also think he’s generally a waste of space going forward, but he seems to be better when he’s on his natural side of the pitch. He’s actually started putting a few decent crosses in recently. 

[Emerald Isle Rover]

19 minutes ago, KentExile said:

I would have thought that was his wage when Leeds were in the Prem, but its still likely to be somewhere between £35K & £40K per week now, (his contract was signed whilst Leeds were in the Prem and would have included a relegation wage reduction clause)

so still no thanks 😉 

Yea it’s probably halved which is still double and more than we can afford for a very unreliable striker 

[Dolly blue]

A friend of mine is a mad Leeds fan , quote …” If we’d have had Szmodics last season and you’d have had Bamford we’d be in the Premier League and you’d be in League One “ 

Enough said …

[Emerald Isle Rover]

Who do we think would be ‘realistic’ signings in Jan for the positions we require

winger

striker

cb 

Ps I’m aware we’re run by idiots and the history of the Jan window but let’s live in hope 

[Mashed Potatoes]

6 minutes ago, Emerald Isle Rover said:

Who do we think would be ‘realistic’ signings in Jan for the positions we require

winger

striker

cb 

Ps I’m aware we’re run by idiots and the history of the Jan window but let’s live in hope 

I don't usually contribute to this sort of discussion but based on newspaper chatter :

Winger Ethan Ennis on loan from Manchester United

Striker Louie Barry on loan from Aston Villa

CB Tyler Binfield from Reading

[KentExile]

 

1 hour ago, Mashed Potatoes said:

I don't usually contribute to this sort of discussion but based on newspaper chatter :

Winger Ethan Ennis on loan from Manchester United

Striker Louie Barry on loan from Aston Villa

CB Tyler Binfield from Reading

Barry more of a wide forward than a winger or striker, but would take him on loan.  Ethan Ennis also looks quite useful

Rovers have a history of returning to previous targets, so Godo on loan from Fulham may also be under consideration.  He seems to have fallen into the same "trap" of too good for the U21s, not quite good enough for the first team situation (albeit in the Prem) that Duru is currently in here,

Bindon (presume you mean) looks a decent young player, but I would be amazed if we are paying transfer fees, especially at centre back, I think it will just be loans

Nathan Butler-Oyedeji - 21 year old  forward with 7 goals and 6 assists in 9 games this season at PL2 level may be worth a look.  More of a wide player, but is very pacey, out of contract at the end of the season and will be 22 by that point, so may be able to do a permanent deal there

Striker, probably a loan for some 20/21 year old who is having a decent season in PL2 

Edited December 19, 2024 by KentExile

[bluebruce]

6 hours ago, roversfan99 said:

By free sorry I meant to give him an extension as opposed to signing someone new.

I wouldnt activate it but there is a year option in his deal in our favour.

Ah, then I'd just consider whether to activate it dependent on what happens between now and the end of the season. More than likely I wouldn't bother. It seems stupid to me to be in negotiations with him now, but I guess Eustace clearly likes him as he has been involved in every game and played more minutes than the others in his position.

Edited December 19, 2024 by bluebruce

[smiller14]

Bamford turned into an absolute machine for a year during Covid, but reverted to type after Covid with his usual assortment of missed chances.

However, maybe that largely empty Darwen End will trigger his Covid form given his prolific goalscoring in front of empty seats?

In all seriousness, we need a more clinical striker. We don't create loads. I don't have the footballing knowledge to name names and know how hard a goal scorer can be to find. 
 

Barry will be top of a lot of wish lists I'd imagine. 

[KentExile]

7 minutes ago, smiller14 said:

Barry will be top of a lot of wish lists I'd imagine. 

A loan for him would be the closest thing I would expect to a marquee signing in January, but competition will be very stiff

[roversfan99]

25 minutes ago, bluebruce said:

Ah, then I'd just consider whether to activate it dependent on what happens between now and the end of the season. More than likely I wouldn't bother. It seems stupid to me to be in negotiations with him now, but I guess Eustace clearly likes him as he has been involved in every game and played more minutes than the others in his position.

The approach you mention makes sense. We have the security of a years extension should he unexpectedly show something he hasnt in the years he has been here, at which point he would be 31 at the end of it so he isnt an asset. He has suffered a hamstring tear twice in the last year and a bit. There are players in the squad who we could do with getting to sign a new deal, he isnt one.

You look in his position, we tried and failed to get a wide man in on deadline day and seemingly plan to try again so Eustace must not be totally happy. Weimann has had injury problems, Dolan was often played centrally especially when Cantwell wasnt fit, Sigurdsson has been a write off and ACD had built his fitness up to start, then got injured and was put in when deemed ready to start again above Hedges, with a left back on the other side.

[KentExile]

Eustace - "We don't want to bring lots of players in, we don't need to. All of us connected just want one or two top-quality players to really help the group and they will want that too."

 

If its just one or two, then I would imagine it is one centre forward & one wide player, both on loan, unless they can manage a free transfer

Edited December 19, 2024 by KentExile

[J*B]

I think I'd give serious thought towards a Ross Stewart gamble in January. He's been out ages and is on 20K / week at Southampton, but I wonder if they'd be open to a loan, he's clearly not going to be able to play for them. If we could get him fit he's proven he can lead the line at this level.

[KentExile]

Just now, J*B said:

I think I'd give serious thought towards a Ross Stewart gamble in January. He's been out ages and is on 20K / week at Southampton, but I wonder if they'd be open to a loan, he's clearly not going to be able to play for them. If we could get him fit he's proven he can lead the line at this level.

Isn't he injured? (again)

[J*B]

1 minute ago, KentExile said:

Isn't he injured? (again)

Probably. I'm not sure what with, or how long for. He's been out for ages and only made 4 appearances this season. 

[islander200]

45 minutes ago, KentExile said:

A loan for him would be the closest thing I would expect to a marquee signing in January, but competition will be very stiff

The competition won't come from sides as high as us in the table though. 

The likes of Derby ,Swansea etc will be the clubs in for him

I don't see us being in the race for him.Eustace will be wanting a more experienced striker bringing in.If Nixon was correct in the summer that Eustace was a fan of Dykes and wanted to sign him then I wouldn't be surprised if we make a loan effort for him,he hasn't started many games for them 

 

 

 

[KentExile]

Just now, J*B said:

Probably. I'm not sure what with, or how long for. He's been out for ages and only made 4 appearances this season. 

yep

https://www.premierinjuries.com/teams/southampton

been injured since early October, "hopefully back some time in the new year"

[KentExile]

6 minutes ago, islander200 said:

The competition won't come from sides as high as us in the table though. 

The likes of Derby ,Swansea etc will be the clubs in for him

I don't see us being in the race for him.Eustace will be wanting a more experienced striker bringing in.If Nixon was correct in the summer that Eustace was a fan of Dykes and wanted to sign him then I wouldn't be surprised if we make a loan effort for him,he hasn't started many games for them 

 

 

 

Boro, Sheff Utd, Sunderland & Leeds (amongst others) apparently

https://www.yorkshirepost.co.uk/sport/football/leeds-united-sheffield-united-and-sheffield-wednesday-dealt-blow-as-rivals-lead-race-for-15-goal-marksman-4912675

 

https://www.sunderlandafc.news/transfers/sunderland-handed-january-transfer-window-boost-with-latest-louie-barry-update-aston-villa-want-one-thing/

Edited December 19, 2024 by KentExile

[islander200]

1 minute ago, KentExile said:

Sunderland, Sheff Utd, Boro & Leeds (amongst others) apparently

https://www.yorkshirepost.co.uk/sport/football/leeds-united-sheffield-united-and-sheffield-wednesday-dealt-blow-as-rivals-lead-race-for-15-goal-marksman-4912675

He wouldn't get minutes at those clubs even  Boro he won't play ahead of Latth or Conway and even if you put him as a wide forward they are stocked there too with Doak etc 

Villa will be looking for a team where he will play most weeks to get him in the shop window to be sold in the summer.He has done well lower down and looks a talent but  il be shocked if he joins one of them