January window, 2026.

[ramAnag]

Well it’s that time of year again and the rumour mill is beginning to rumble into action.

First name in the frame appears to be Joe Rothwell, formerly of Leeds and currently seemingly surplus to requirement north of the border at Rangers.

Apparently we face competition from Sheff. Utd. but some strengthening and experience in midfield would be welcome.

[Ram Pant]

Football League World the source perchance?

[ramAnag]

Football League World the source perchance?

Indirectly maybe, but a DT headline via Alan Nixon.

[Ram Pant]

The permitted 25 man squad is currently full. We have to get rid (or remove a player from the squad if we can't get rid) before we can sign any incoming players.

Beck has gone back to Liverpool which has allowed nelson back in nw he's recovered from his op. Of the other loanees:

I'd keep Sanderson, 2 dodgy games early season, grew into a steady player, slight form dip last 2 games but you don't become a bad player overnight.

Bobby Clark has grown into the side and has been very good of late. Keep him.

BBD has been, unfortunately, our best option wide right at the moment. Now Brewster seems to be fit again, I'd let BBD go and look for a replacement. He's not set things alight and there has to be a better and cheaper option out there.

David Ozoh. Love the fella, he's good and he's got the potential to be a top player. However, he missed much of last season with injury and has missed 8 of our 21 League games (inlcuding today's) and is still a few weeks away from being ready for selection. Despite all that, and the fact that he's already played more games for us this season than he did in the whole of last season, he's managed (incl today) 23 of 67 League games. I would seriously think of sending him back to Palace if that's possible within the terms of the loan deal. It would be great if he was available for the last 20 games of the season but it's a gamble, especially with his availability record thus far.

CBT. Another with huge potential but I'd let him go. He was injured when we bought him and has stayed that way for much of his time with us. 28 appearances in the 23 months he's been with us and just the 1 goal last season and 1 assist this season. Sorry CBT but you need to make way.

Might Nelson be let go? Looking forward, it has to be a possibility.

Who else might be let go? Nyambe if we continue to play a formation that doesn't require full backs?

The one guarantee to stay is Tommo as he is our only "one of our own".

Be interesting to see what others think of possible January exits that will allow incoming of, hopefully, stronger, fitter and better replacements.

[ramAnag]

The permitted 25 man squad is currently full. We have to get rid (or remove a player from the squad if we can't get rid) before we can sign any incoming players.

Beck has gone back to Liverpool which has allowed nelson back in nw he's recovered from his op. Of the other loanees:

I'd keep Sanderson, 2 dodgy games early season, grew into a steady player, slight form dip last 2 games but you don't become a bad player overnight.

Bobby Clark has grown into the side and has been very good of late. Keep him.

BBD has been, unfortunately, our best option wide right at the moment. Now Brewster seems to be fit again, I'd let BBD go and look for a replacement. He's not set things alight and there has to be a better and cheaper option out there.

David Ozoh. Love the fella, he's good and he's got the potential to be a top player. However, he missed much of last season with injury and has missed 8 of our 21 League games (inlcuding today's) and is still a few weeks away from being ready for selection. Despite all that, and the fact that he's already played more games for us this season than he did in the whole of last season, he's managed (incl today) 23 of 67 League games. I would seriously think of sending him back to Palace if that's possible within the terms of the loan deal. It would be great if he was available for the last 20 games of the season but it's a gamble, especially with his availability record thus far.

CBT. Another with huge potential but I'd let him go. He was injured when we bought him and has stayed that way for much of his time with us. 28 appearances in the 23 months he's been with us and just the 1 goal last season and 1 assist this season. Sorry CBT but you need to make way.

Might Nelson be let go? Looking forward, it has to be a possibility.

Who else might be let go? Nyambe if we continue to play a formation that doesn't require full backs?

The one guarantee to stay is Tommo as he is our only "one of our own".

Be interesting to see what others think of possible January exits that will allow incoming of, hopefully, stronger, fitter and better replacements.

It’s an open secret that Eustace would like to strengthen.
Of the names you mention, Bobby Clark has been decent, never outstanding imo, but is, or was, strongly linked with Celtic in the window.
Agree with you on BBD and Ozoh.
Would happily move CBT and Jackson on if possible. Two poor signings imo.
Nyambe I’d be more reluctant to let go. Good and unlucky player but doesn’t really fit the preferred system.
Nelson is very saleable. Great addition for someone. Be sad to see him go. Been a top signing, but how many CB’s do we need?

Strange and unfamiliar position to be in. If Eustace can reproduce last season’s return for the last three or four months of the season then we’ll be top six candidates. More likely, and even without more additions, we’re arguably on target for mid table mediocrity. What’s the aim? Nothing worse, imo, than fluking promotion when you’re unprepared.

[Ram Pant]

Not a change in personnel but a possible change of status, Derbyshire Live reporting that we will make Sanderson's deal a permanent one for the princely sum of 350K in January.

[Ram Pant]

Several rumours of Joe Rothewell arriving from Rangers. IMO, his arrival would see Ebou depart. Love the guy but he seems to have become a bit of a liability at times this season. IIRC, he's already 2/3 of the way to his next ban.

[Geoff Parkstone]

Another former Blackburn player, albeit pre Eustace era

[Ram Pant]

Several rumours of Joe Rothewell arriving from Rangers. IMO, his arrival would see Ebou depart. Love the guy but he seems to have become a bit of a liability at times this season. IIRC, he's already 2/5 of the way to his next ban. 20 apps in the League and 2 in the EFL cup. 7 yellows in the League and 2 in the EFL Cup. That's 9 yellows in 22 apps. Way too many to be good for the team.

[swaledale]

It’s an open secret that Eustace would like to strengthen.
Of the names you mention, Bobby Clark has been decent, never outstanding imo, but is, or was, strongly linked with Celtic in the window.
Agree with you on BBD and Ozoh.
Would happily move CBT and Jackson on if possible. Two poor signings imo.
Nyambe I’d be more reluctant to let go. Good and unlucky player but doesn’t really fit the preferred system.
Nelson is very saleable. Great addition for someone. Be sad to see him go. Been a top signing, but how many CB’s do we need?

Strange and unfamiliar position to be in. If Eustace can reproduce last season’s return for the last three or four months of the season then we’ll be top six candidates. More likely, and even without more additions, we’re arguably on target for mid table mediocrity. What’s the aim? Nothing worse, imo, than fluking promotion when you’re unprepared.

Its an interesting to concept, but one I don't buy into, the simple fact is whenever a team gets promoted, most of that team are going to be below the standard required for todays premier league, even the serial yo yo teams, i.e. Burnley, Southamton, Norwich, Leeds etc. have shown this.

Whats required on promotion is a planned and well funded building of a squad able to compete with the well funded lower half teams in the prem. Sunderland are a case in point, some shrewed acquisitions and a manager who knows his stuff, but they spent north of £150 million last summer.

In terms of Derby, they have some players who could cut it at prem elvel, but would need serious money spent on the squad, but I'd think Clowes would be able to attract investment in if we got promoted.

It was a shambles last time Derby went up, Davies hadn't a clue and we were buying cheap dross to fill the squad.

SO if we did fluke promotion, I'd not be unhappy, but we won't so no worries there.

[ramAnag]

Its an interesting to concept, but one I don't buy into, the simple fact is whenever a team gets promoted, most of that team are going to be below the standard required for todays premier league, even the serial yo yo teams, i.e. Burnley, Southamton, Norwich, Leeds etc. have shown this.

Whats required on promotion is a planned and well funded building of a squad able to compete with the well funded lower half teams in the prem. Sunderland are a case in point, some shrewed acquisitions and a manager who knows his stuff, but they spent north of £150 million last summer.

In terms of Derby, they have some players who could cut it at prem elvel, but would need serious money spent on the squad, but I'd think Clowes would be able to attract investment in if we got promoted.

It was a shambles last time Derby went up, Davies hadn't a clue and we were buying cheap dross to fill the squad.

SO if we did fluke promotion, I'd not be unhappy, but we won't so no worries there.

I suspect you’re right Swale, but don’t rule it out entirely. We’re only four points off the top six and five off third. A minor miracle considering we didn’t really start performing until late October.

I’m not sure who we’ve got who’d cut it as a starter at Prem. level, possibly JWZ but, keepers are a little bit different.

Your example of Sunderland is interesting and encouraging. They were certainly outsiders for promotion last season and I’d have had them down as relegation favourites this season. That’s not going to happen and they seem to be a great example of how to bridge the gap between Championship and the top flight without buying massive ‘names’.

[SithHappens]

I think we should just invest in bubble wrap.

[Ram Pant]

Following Wembley, Billy D went off, according to the press of the day, on a 2 or 3 week holiday. We started enquiring about players when he got back. By then most, if not all, of the players we could afford had been snapped up. Just before the season started, the board, well aware of the fans angry mood at the apparent lack of decent signings (it was very apparent), the board, without talking to BD, went out and paid 3 million odd for Earnmore. BDs "revenge" was to not pick him very often and sat him on the bench.

22 League apps (mostly from the bench IIRC, esp in BDs time, 16 of the apps were as a sub), 1 goal. 2 FA Cup games, 1 goal. 1 League Cup game, 0 goals. Total disaster of a signing.

[macstheman]

Thanks for reminding about that season, I thought I had erased the Poisoned Dwarf from my memory! 😡

[SithHappens]

It really was a **** show. Didn't help with Davies refusal to commit to staying immediately after the final.

I remember us being in for a 6 million striker but I don't remember his name, then when we signed Eddie Lewis it was obvious we were doomed.

When he said after he wished it had been Preston it was disrespectful.