January 2024 Transfer thread.

Critchley doesn’t seem to rate Weir , so he could be sent back to Brighton in January, with possibly a new loan player in .
 
We have a strong squad for L1. Rhodes staying and not being forced to sell those out of contract at the end of the season will be key. The other factor is injuries. We need to make sure we are covered in all areas. I'd prefer we look to tie-down the likes of CJ, Husband and Ekpiteta to new deals. I can see a couple of tweaks, if Weir is deemed surplus, maybe he should go back and we bring someone else in. A couple of fresh faces always helps.
 
Any talk of standing still where the squad is concerned does worry me slightly. I’m not sure whether Critchley is trying to temper expectations, having perhaps done the opposite towards the end of the last transfer window.

If we are serious about promotion and survival in the Championship, then we must up the quality at every opportunity.

January doesn’t need to be about quantity fir us this time, but it would be naive to stand still imho.
It will be a good test for the current recruitment team.
I agree that standing still is not a good option but worse than that of course is bringing in someone for the sake of it.
The situation is made more difficult by the distinct possibly of promotion. I do think the current squad can get us there, with the minimum of recruitment in January, but like many others I'm not sure if its good enough to keep us there.
So can we recruit Championship standard players in January on the promise of promotion??
That would be an achievement notwithstanding the wages committment.
 
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Dougall was dreadful in the Chanp but granted has found his form in the last few games. Ekpiteta is the same, dreadful last season in the Champ and had a rocky start to this but has found his form in the last few games. Both have at least one big error per game in them and as good as they have been if we get promoted and want to at least consolidate in the Champ, we need upgrades.
Nobody played well in the Championship last season but both played well the previous season. If we upgrade Marv and Kenny we upgrade everybody. Probably the two best players at Pompey.
 
below is a link to those players who's contracts expire at the end of the season (including those on loan). How many of the 15 players would you keep for next season. (we have options for a years extension on Hubby, Carey & Chapman).

I would let one of the keepers, Tharme, Virtue, Wier & Lavery leave. Would love to keep Dembele and Rhodes but that may not be an option for us.

Contracts due to expire at end of season
 
Give over.
Dougall was very good under Critchley in the Championship. He was in the top 10 in the division for tackles won.
And Ekpiteta was the unanimous player of the year.
We can’t use last season as a stick with which to beat our best players.
In the first year in the Champ Dougal was average at best and always liable to a mistake which led to goals. Time moves on and looking forward we need better and younger if we are to progress and thrive in the Champ
 
In the first year in the Champ Dougal was average at best and always liable to a mistake which led to goals. Time moves on and looking forward we need better and younger if we are to progress and thrive in the Champ
We would struggle to find better with our budget. In the championship you are up against multi million pound players. Dougall had a good first season there and is playing superbly at the moment.
 
The goals for this upcoming window should be (in this order);

1. Retain Rhodes
2. Extend Hubby, CJ, Dougall, Dale, and Lavery
3. Sign cover in the 10 role for Kaddy

Anything else is a bonus
 
If CJ did depart we have a ready made replacement in Jordan Gabriel, who is just as rapid and a better defender, particularly in the air!
The worry with Gabriel is he's potentially one more knee injury away from retirement. Hope we use him very carefully because he is a very good player.
 
Dougall was dreadful in the Chanp but granted has found his form in the last few games. Ekpiteta is the same, dreadful last season in the Champ and had a rocky start to this but has found his form in the last few games. Both have at least one big error per game in them and as good as they have been if we get promoted and want to at least consolidate in the Champ, we need upgrades.
I know we're playing the Cobblers tonight, but that's no excuse to talk a load thereof. All our players were dreadful last season in the Championship but strangely not the season before. I think we all know the 2 reasons for that but just in case you don't, here's a clue :-

M_c_a_l _p_l_t_n
M_c_ M_C_r_h_
 
1. Dembele too?
2. Marv too?
3. = Apter!
1. Brest are 7th in Ligue 1 currently, I highly doubt they'll even consider recalling him considering the development he's already had for us. Even if a Championship team came calling they'd be stupid to uproot him.

2. Thought he had a +1, but checked and he doesn't so he is a priority as well, although I think with Casey's emergence the club may feel less inclined, but I would hope they do..

3. No! Recalling him would be foolish for the same reasons Brest would be foolish to recall Kaddy.

He's finally getting into a groove at Tranmere and should be left there to continue to develop, although his contract runs down this upcoming Summer so extending him is a priority too.
 
Honestly did not realize how many out of contract players we had this upcoming Summer...

Hubby
Marvin
Carey
Dale
Dougall
Apter
Lavery

Our best business in January will be tying those players down to extended deals. Our squad is finally starting to click and it would be a huge boost to reward that improved performance with some extensions.

It won't be sexy and many will want us to splash that Yates money on new players, but extending even half of the players listed in January would be HUGE.

Connolly, Virtue, and Tharme are out of contract too, but content with letting them walk.
 
1. Brest are 7th in Ligue 1 currently, I highly doubt they'll even consider recalling him considering the development he's already had for us. Even if a Championship team came calling they'd be stupid to uproot him.

2. Thought he had a +1, but checked and he doesn't so he is a priority as well, although I think with Casey's emergence the club may feel less inclined, but I would hope they do..

3. No! Recalling him would be foolish for the same reasons Brest would be foolish to recall Kaddy.

He's finally getting into a groove at Tranmere and should be left there to continue to develop, although his contract runs down this upcoming Summer so extending him is a priority too.
You're probably right about Dembele. Unless they recall him and loan him to a Championship club, or another French club or something.

Disagree about Apter. Not even slightly foolish. It would be foolish to have him ripping up L2 if we lost players he could replace to injury. Will Dembele play 90 minutes every game? No. Will CJ? No.
 
You're probably right about Dembele. Unless they recall him and loan him to a Championship club, or another French club or something.

Disagree about Apter. Not even slightly foolish. It would be foolish to have him ripping up L2 if we lost players he could replace to injury. Will Dembele play 90 minutes every game? No. Will CJ? No.
It's best for Apter's development at this point to leave him be, we recall and give him a couple hundred minutes of League 1 football to rotate with Dembele and take away crucial development from him while not really getting a huge return.

Could he contribute? Absolutely. Is it worth derailing his development for? Absolutely not.

Extend his contract, cancel Weir's loan, bring someone else in to rotate with Kaddy and we are good.
 
It's best for Apter's development at this point to leave him be, we recall and give him a couple hundred minutes of League 1 football to rotate with Dembele and take away crucial development from him while not really getting a huge return.

Could he contribute? Absolutely. Is it worth derailing his development for? Absolutely not.

Extend his contract, cancel Weir's loan, bring someone else in to rotate with Kaddy and we are good.
Nah!

He'd get more time than that. He's U21 too. And covers more than just one position. He's our player. He can continue his development with us. He's good enough for L1. Described as gold dust on their forum at the weekend. I think you are underestimating him.
 
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Nah!

He'd get more time than that. He's U21 too. And covers more than just ne position. He's our player. He can continue his development with us. He's good enough for L1. Described as gold dear st on their forum at the weekend. I think you are underestimating him.
I might be, but I don't think disrupting a player's development when it's going along so well is ever productive unless we REALLY need bodies.
 
I might be, but I don't think disrupting a player's development when it's going along so well is ever productive unless we REALLY need bodies.
We really need our most talented players playing for us. I think. By January Rob will have had a few months at Tranmere. He's made 14 appearances and they have 6 games before January. His development will quite likely be better served by moving up. Their forum has even worried about this, people saying Blackpool could well want to place him at a club higher up in L2 or in L1. Or take him back. Because of his performance level.

But all said and done, the club is monitoring him and will make a call closer to the time. They've judged most things right this season. Signings have nearly all worked out, CJ has come good, Beesley is contributing etc. They'll decide on Apter and whatever they decide will have been thought through. Critch wants ammunition for his first team so will bring him back if he feels he's ready.
 
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well i will be a happy birthday boy on the 30th if we keep the vast majority of our squad. Critch said last night on Lancs they already had some ideas. in Critch we trust.
 
We really need our most talented players playing for us. I think. By January Rob will have had a few months at Tranmere. He's made 14 appearances and they have 6 games before January. His development will quite likely be better served by moving up. Their forum has even worried about this, people saying Blackpool could well want to place him at a club higher up in L2 or in L1. Or take him back. Because of his performance level.

But all said and done, the club is monitoring him and will make a call closer to the time. They've judged most things right this season. Signings have nearly all worked out, CJ has come good, Beesley is contributing etc. They'll decide on Apter and whatever they decide will have been thought through. Critch wants ammunition for his first team so will bring him back if he feels he's ready.
Agreed, if they call Apter back then I will back the decision.
 
We really need our most talented players playing for us. I think. By January Rob will have had a few months at Tranmere. He's made 14 appearances and they have 6 games before January. His development will quite likely be better served by moving up. Their forum has even worried about this, people saying Blackpool could well want to place him at a club higher up in L2 or in L1. Or take him back. Because of his performance level.

But all said and done, the club is monitoring him and will make a call closer to the time. They've judged most things right this season. Signings have nearly all worked out, CJ has come good, Beesley is contributing etc. They'll decide on Apter and whatever they decide will have been thought through. Critch wants ammunition for his first team so will bring him back if he feels he's ready.
Apter is settled at Tranmere, playing and by all accounts doing very well. I see little point in recalling him to sit on our bench or be moved to a different club slightly higher up the table. Obviously the rumours around CJs future could have a bearing, if someone offered silly money and he refuses to extend, that may change things.
 
Apter is settled at Tranmere, playing and by all accounts doing very well. I see little point in recalling him to sit on our bench or be moved to a different club slightly higher up the table. Obviously the rumours around CJs future could have a bearing, if someone offered silly money and he refuses to extend, that may change things.
What if CJ got injured in Feb? Or Dembele?

It's Tranmere or us, for me. Stay there or come back. I'd bring him back.
 
It is a difficult call regarding Apter, the club don’t have a considered replacement for Dale or CJ. Yet fans want Critchley to change things during a game, if CJ leaves for a better contract we have to bring in a recognised winger who offers another option. A lot will depend on what Apter wants, the club will know if he is ready for this division. Getting a LCB and another midfielder are gust as important in view of the 15 out of contract.
 
It is a difficult call regarding Apter, the club don’t have a considered replacement for Dale or CJ. Yet fans want Critchley to change things during a game, if CJ leaves for a better contract we have to bring in a recognised winger who offers another option. A lot will depend on what Apter wants, the club will know if he is ready for this division. Getting a LCB and another midfielder are gust as important in view of the 15 out of contract.
I believe we will be a better side when we start with Gabriel & Lyons over CJ & Dale. leave CJ to come on for last 25 against tired legs. Both Lyons and Gabriel bomb forward but are also far better at defending than Dale & CJ. I see Apter as a Dembele replacement going forward, but i think he is better served playing regularly at Tranmere and then becoming a first team regular with us next season.
 
I believe we will be a better side when we start with Gabriel & Lyons over CJ & Dale. leave CJ to come on for last 25 against tired legs. Both Lyons and Gabriel bomb forward but are also far better at defending than Dale & CJ. I see Apter as a Dembele replacement going forward, but i think he is better served playing regularly at Tranmere and then becoming a first team regular with us next season.
The way Dembele keeps getting hacked down with little protection from the referees a suitable replacement might well be needed. Apter would be a drop-in alternative plus he is our player!
 
The way Dembele keeps getting hacked down with little protection from the referees a suitable replacement might well be needed. Apter would be a drop-in alternative plus he is our player!
Yes I agree , with the same low centre of gravity , I can see him being successful in Dembele’s position.
 
The Boss of Goss has a story on Blackpool in the Sun on Sunday. It will probably be about a departure if it follows the trend of his last few Pool disclosures!
 
We absolutely need a quality left sided centre-back in as back up/competition to Hubby. It is the one positon we are especially vulnerable to if there is an injury or the inevitable suspension.
But Andy Lyons has played that position before for his former club
 
I would bring Young Rob Apter back as having watched our player's this season I think he would actually improve the team.
We also have no ready made replacement for either CJ or Dale.
I also think Gabriel and Lyon's would make us a more solid as a team. But would we lose something in the final third?
Play Apter and we would definitely not lose anything, if anything we would probably score more!
 
Inside pass & go move as CJ pins his ears back creates chaos.
Play to his strengths and he's a weapon.
I can see why some sides would fancy a bit of that.
 
It’s more likely that HTFC will simply recall Rhodes in January as well as buying another forward. That’s according to a mate who is a ST holder at HTFC who says they only have one fit striker at the moment.

Unless, of course, JR does not want to return and it’s all a ploy to get CJ on the cheap.
 
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In the first year in the Champ Dougal was average at best and always liable to a mistake which led to goals. Time moves on and looking forward we need better and younger if we are to progress and thrive in the Champ

He won almost double the amount of tackles resulting in Blackpool regaining possession (61) than the next best in the squad Ekpo (32). He was our top assister and was 15th in the championship for successful tackles per game, that's out of every player in every squad in the whole Championship and miles ahead of our next best.

That's the kind of average I can live with.
 
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He won almost double the amount of tackles resulting in Blackpool regaining possession (61) than the next best in the squad Ekpo (32). He was our top assister and was 15th in the championship for successful tackles per game, that's out of every player in every squad in the whole Championship and miles ahead of our next best.

That's the kind of average I can live with.
He won the most amount of tackles that resulted in possession gained in a team that was utterly rank and got relegated. He was mid table at best in the Champ for successful tackles - my point made right there, if we want to progress in the longer term we need a midfielder who is in the top two or three midfielders in Lg1 and who goes onto be in the top five or six in the champ. Not easy to find granted but if Critch is the coach he is made out to be we must be able to find someone and develop them
 
He won the most amount of tackles that resulted in possession gained in a team that was utterly rank and got relegated. He was mid table at best in the Champ for successful tackles - my point made right there, if we want to progress in the longer term we need a midfielder who is in the top two or three midfielders in Lg1 and who goes onto be in the top five or six in the champ. Not easy to find granted but if Critch is the coach he is made out to be we must be able to find someone and develop them
No, those stats are from the critchley season where we comfortably stayed up.
 
He won the most amount of tackles that resulted in possession gained in a team that was utterly rank and got relegated. He was mid table at best in the Champ for successful tackles - my point made right there, if we want to progress in the longer term we need a midfielder who is in the top two or three midfielders in Lg1 and who goes onto be in the top five or six in the champ. Not easy to find granted but if Critch is the coach he is made out to be we must be able to find someone and develop them
Morgan & Carey could develop into some of the best midfielders in the championship over the next 2 seasons.
 
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