Simon Sadler, BFC and January......

Martonmosser

Well-known member
....... could be very exciting I reckon. Because as many clubs in our division and the Championship start to struggle financially then to survive they will have to sell their better players at knock down prices. Clubs like ours that thanks to the financial security Simon has given us could pick up some of these potential promotion winners for nothing 👍🏼😀 The future is bright, the future is certainly tangerine 🍊😀
 
9 games to go until the halfway point of the season - we're about 9 points off automatic and about 6 off the Play Offs - if we can get that down to say 6 points and 3 points by the time we get to Boxing Day then, in current form, you'd say we'd have to go for it. There are no stand out sides in this league and the fact Lincoln are second prove this.
 
I'm hoping for our first "normal" transfer window.

Think we've had our fun now with double figures in and out. A couple of additions to strengthen for our end of season promotion push, just like the old days!
 
9 games to go until the halfway point of the season - we're about 9 points off automatic and about 6 off the Play Offs - if we can get that down to say 6 points and 3 points by the time we get to Boxing Day then, in current form, you'd say we'd have to go for it. There are no stand out sides in this league and the fact Lincoln are second prove this.
Anything is possible from a young group that are improving but I've been around long enough to know, just when you think you've cracked it, Rochdale beat you 3-0 at home.
 
i think we may let a couple go out on loan if we bring anyone in the likes of lubala seem to be struggling at this level at the moment.
 
I'm sure we will loan out Howe and Thorniley if we can find clubs to take them. Enabling us to bring in a couple, potentially, but it is down to money, the salary caps and finding clubs for them. If those two leave, a striker and a central defender would be the priorities I think.
 
Weren’t we upto squad capacity when he realised that we needed 2 new central defenders and he brought in Ballard and the Viking? We were also upto squad capacity when he needed a commanding central midfielder and we brought in Dougall. If Critch needs the tools for the job then Simon will provide them and financially we are in a position to cherry pick other squads to improve our own. The players of a lesser ability will be moved out to bring in better quality 👍🏼
 
Ballard would be the key signing. Get him extended and I'm not sure we need to do too much unless we get bad injuries. Virtue and Sarkic haven't contributed at all yet and we're not short of forwards unless you want a second target man and I can't see Critchley going with that.
 
What was the point of signing Teddy Howe?
Getting games at Reading so was surprised when he chose to step down a division, not seen sight nor sound of him since!!!
 
As others have said, get Ballard extended (has to be the number one priority) then maybe a striker to give cover/another option up front. Beyond that I’d loan Howe and Thorniley and leave it at that (unless a loan player became available who was going to be head and shoulders above whoever we already had in his position)

I think we’ve got strength in depth and we recruited for the season and beyond with the business we did in the summer.
 
....... could be very exciting I reckon. Because as many clubs in our division and the Championship start to struggle financially then to survive they will have to sell their better players at knock down prices. Clubs like ours that thanks to the financial security Simon has given us could pick up some of these potential promotion winners for nothing 👍🏼😀 The future is bright, the future is certainly tangerine 🍊😀
Very interesting point this, that I hadn’t really considered before.

I personally thought we should wait till the summer for any big changes but if someone outstanding becomes available due to the club’s financial situation we have everything in place now to move on these targets.

Ballard needs to be extended, past that we do have a lot of players on the books so I don’t think we actually need much else. I believe Keshi could fill in the strike role. We have plenty of midfield options in Williams and Virtue to come back.

Howe and Thorniley really need to leave if they’re not in the plans.
 
Ballard needs to be extended, past that we do have a lot of players on the books so I don’t think we actually need much else. I believe Keshi could fill in the strike role. We have plenty of midfield options in Williams and Virtue to come back.

My head says we need a big striker as cover for Madine, my heart says Keshi and Yates could be a really good alternate pairing speed against bulk.

I did love to see the bulk of Madine and the waif like Kaikai down in the corner in the last 5 minutes playing out the game, an intelligence that has been missing for our teams for years.
 
My head says we need a big striker as cover for Madine, my heart says Keshi and Yates could be a really good alternate pairing speed against bulk.

I did love to see the bulk of Madine and the waif like Kaikai down in the corner in the last 5 minutes playing out the game, an intelligence that has been missing for our teams for years.
I also think Keshi and Yates could be good together.
Let’s face it Madine isn’t going to be here past June.
it’ll be interesting to see what type of striker we bring in.
 
We have kept one place free for a Marquis January signing. Plus Thorniley will surely go out on loan at least freeing another place.
 
We've touched on this before.
I'm pretty sure without any outgoings we still have one place in the squad available.
What is far less clear is where we stand in relation to the wage cap.
I'll bet my last Hong Kong dollar though that Simon is crystal clear on what options are available come January.
 
We've touched on this before.
I'm pretty sure without any outgoings we still have one place in the squad available.
What is far less clear is where we stand in relation to the wage cap.
I'll bet my last Hong Kong dollar though that Simon is crystal clear on what options are available come January.
I am almost certain Critch said in an interview the last place has been saved for a keeper if Maxwell gets injured.
 
Do we really need any more new faces?
The present team are getting into NCs style, as shown last night.
He'd have to train any newcomers into that style.
 
That Tom what's his name at knob end looks tasty 🤞.
There will come a time in the next few years when we regain our rightful place as the top team in Lancashire and we can just go and cherry pick whoever we want from our lowly neighbours both up the coast and down the M55
 
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Agree about Ballard and the end of the season. Consider this as well, if Ballard is the gem we all think he is, I still don't think he will be ready for Arsenals squad for next season. So depending on our own divisional status might encourage both Arsenal and him to stay with us for a further period of time beyond this season. Just a thought.
 
Agree about Ballard and the end of the season. Consider this as well, if Ballard is the gem we all think he is, I still don't think he will be ready for Arsenals squad for next season. So depending on our own divisional status might encourage both Arsenal and him to stay with us for a further period of time beyond this season. Just a thought.
I hope so too. I think the chances would be enhanced a fair bit if we get promotion. Otherwise he'd be likely to want to go up a league for his development.
 
When does his Arsenal contract expire????
If fairly soon he might sign for us.
The big problem of course is salary, we couldn't compete with Arsenal.
 
I Agree that a striker would theoretically help but it’s hard for strikers to slot in mid season, especially the way we play.

I’m sure we will have players in mind and expect at least 2 ins and outs, but I also think we can do well with the squad we have.
 
Think January will be more about trying to clear out some non contributing squad players, the names previously mentioned, rather than looking to recruit large numbers, maybe just one or two incoming to freshen things up. I’m sure some of the lads not getting a look in could do a job somewhere and for the sake of their own careers they need to move on. Feel for Thorniley in this, I’m sure from the massive reviews I wasn’t the only one expecting big things (funnily enough I was expecting a Ballard type player) but, for whatever reason, it’s not worked out. Needs to play games in a similar way that Nottingham has, I’ll certainly be pleased if he comes good even if it’s for someone else
 
I would love to see us go for Joe Piggott or Jepchott from Plymouth in January they would be my targets of I was Critch
There’s going to be the pick of up to 20 teams best players in my opinion. Some of them will be Championship standard and will boost the squad for a promotion push. Hopefully after years of underspending by the Oystons we have hit a bit of luck with Covid and an owner who I believe is doing well business wise out of the crisis.
 
There’s going to be the pick of up to 20 teams best players in my opinion. Some of them will be Championship standard and will boost the squad for a promotion push. Hopefully after years of underspending by the Oystons we have hit a bit of luck with Covid and an owner who I believe is doing well business wise out of the crisis.
Is he doing well out of the crisis? Great if he is. He is certainly spending a lot on the club.
 
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