Official January Window Including Speculation And Rumour Thread

[POGGYWELL]

Opportunity lost unless a very good loan midfielder comes in late this morning.

It’s looking like Jalo will be out for the rest of the season with a knee injury so the striker department needed freshening up.

Enough to possibly make the playoffs maybe but nothing generated here to demonstrate ambition in making the top two.

Edit: Are we waiting for the EFL judgment day I wonder.

[Young_Nudger]

My thoughts are these:

It’s been neither good nor bad.
But that in itself could be significant.

We don’t know exactly what’s going on behind the scenes - we only can gauge on what we see and hear.
And something Collins said as a passing comment in my view could be revealing.

We are in the playoffs a few points off the top two.
We have at least £8 Million owed to the club.
And yet we have a transfer window that hasn’t really given the team that extra zip.
Two things:

1) January windows are notoriously difficult to get players over the line - so the club could have worked their socks off and still not been able to sign players - but they have.

2) isn’t it easier to sign players when you know you can spend a bit knowing that there’s money coming in from previous players sales?

My view is the club has gone for the middle ground.
That is to say - they are keeping their powder dry for the summer.

But why when we are a few points off promotion ???
I think this is because the directors are not totally convinced about Collins.

Then we come to the comment Collins said after the Earl signing - “we haven’t got a proper left back”.
What did he mean by that ???

We don’t have full backs - the club for years has signed wing backs.
Wingbacks are obviously players that can get forward and deliver crosses.
They also have a duty to defend the flanks.

A full back is predominantly a defender with added incentive of getting forward if they can.

Is Collins saying he doesn’t like the role of wing backs???
If he doesn’t then there’s a question mark against the future of Cadden, Cotter and O’Keeffe.

And more importantly if Collins thinks that wing backs are something that can be used on occasions - eg switching from 3412 to a flat back four 442 formation - then that’s going against the philosophy of the club and how James Cryne recruits for the club.

As said in another initial thread - it was a bit of a coincidence showing Dikes goals for Barnsley on Twitter during the last day of the transfer window.
The Dike team showed that Barnsley can get into the playoffs of the Championship - with the smallest budget - playing against far better players in opponents teams - but getting to the playoffs by playing a certain power style.

If Collins wants to change that - then watch this space.

[NerfHerder]

My thoughts are these:

It’s been neither good nor bad.
But that in itself could be significant.

We don’t know exactly what’s going on behind the scenes - we only can gauge on what we see and hear.
And something Collins said as a passing comment in my view could be revealing.

We are in the playoffs a few points off the top two.
We have at least £8 Million owed to the club.
And yet we have a transfer window that hasn’t really given the team that extra zip.
Two things:

1) January windows are notoriously difficult to get players over the line - so the club could have worked their socks off and still not been able to sign players - but they have.

2) isn’t it easier to sign players when you know you can spend a bit knowing that there’s money coming in from previous players sales?

My view is the club has gone for the middle ground.
That is to say - they are keeping their powder dry for the summer.

But why when we are a few points off promotion ???
I think this is because the directors are not totally convinced about Collins.

Then we come to the comment Collins said after the Earl signing - “we haven’t got a proper left back”.
What did he mean by that ???

We don’t have full backs - the club for years has signed wing backs.
Wingbacks are obviously players that can get forward and deliver crosses.
They also have a duty to defend the flanks.

A full back is predominantly a defender with added incentive of getting forward if they can.

Is Collins saying he doesn’t like the role of wing backs???
If he doesn’t then there’s a question mark against the future of Cadden, Cotter and O’Keeffe.

And more importantly if Collins thinks that wing backs are something that can be used on occasions - eg switching from 3412 to a flat back four 442 formation - then that’s going against the philosophy of the club and how James Cryne recruits for the club.

As said in another initial thread - it was a bit of a coincidence showing Dikes goals for Barnsley on Twitter during the last day of the transfer window.
The Dike team showed that Barnsley can get into the playoffs of the Championship - with the smallest budget - playing against far better players in opponents teams - but getting to the playoffs by playing a certain power style.

If Collins wants to change that - then watch this space.

I disagree about the board not being convinced about Collins. Given the defence we’ve had since the summer, I think he’s worked near on miracles in all honesty. Yes, some matches haven’t been great but we grind results out incredibly well. I think if they are being hesitant to look to the summer it’s due to the sheer number of changes we could be dealing with in regards to players out of contract. It would be nice to have gambled a little this month as the league appears to be more open this season but given how much money they’ve put in over the last 12 months, I can’t blame them for not being overly aggressive.

The full back comment I believe was made for us to be able to mix it up a bit with formations. I like Cadden but there’s not a chance in hell I would want to see him as a left back or Cotter as a right back. Now, if we need to switch to 4 at the back for whatever reason, Earl could go on the left (with Cadden further up the pitch) and Williams at right back.

Again, I think you’re barking up the wrong tree with the Dike thoughts. Pretty sure he was mentioned/shown as he did well for us, it was a singing that worked out and we signed him very late in the January window. No hidden agenda.

[perkytyke]

Underwhelmed at the least!
This window has shown that they have absolutely no ambition for this club, a little investment would have got the fans buzzing a bit and may have pushed us on.
There is no guarantee that Pines and Earl will make the defence any better, although it couldn't be worse than it was! Having seen against Exeter (who are having a poor season and beat us) what our team can do without Kane and Connell, not bringing in cover is stupidity at the highest level.
They obviously think the striker department needed bolstering but failed with Ennis, so we are stuck with Dud and Dudder.

[Arblasterfromthepast]

There are still 2 issues in the background that may explain the club's approach to the transfer window.

1. Possible EFL action, possible points deduction, for the ownership issues which won't be resolved until March/April. Could this have influenced the club's thinking.
2. Conway and Lee still own part of the club. As I've said a number of times before, Parekh is unlikely to provide any large investment until the other two have gone.

So until these issues are resolved, I believe we're unlikely to see the club do any more than the minimum they need to. Don't blame them if this is the case.

It will be interesting to see what happens when these issues are resolved. I have no real feelings for which way things will go then though.

[Young_Nudger]

I disagree about the board not being convinced about Collins. Given the defence we’ve had since the summer, I think he’s worked near on miracles in all honesty. Yes, some matches haven’t been great but we grind results out incredibly well. I think if they are being hesitant to look to the summer it’s due to the sheer number of changes we could be dealing with in regards to players out of contract. It would be nice to have gambled a little this month as the league appears to be more open this season but given how much money they’ve put in over the last 12 months, I can’t blame them for not being overly aggressive.

The full back comment I believe was made for us to be able to mix it up a bit with formations. I like Cadden but there’s not a chance in hell I would want to see him as a left back or Cotter as a right back. Now, if we need to switch to 4 at the back for whatever reason, Earl could go on the left (with Cadden further up the pitch) and Williams at right back.

Again, I think you’re barking up the wrong tree with the Dike thoughts. Pretty sure he was mentioned/shown as he did well for us, it was a singing that worked out and we signed him very late in the January window. No hidden agenda.

Probably putting 2 and 2 together and getting 27.
But Collins specifically said we haven’t got a full back and Earl will enable us to change the system - or words to that effect.

My point is - he can’t change the system - because the recruitment of players is based around that system - the 352 or 343 system.
It’s there to allow freedom of wingbacks and also central defenders to run forward with the ball knowing there’s cover at the back.

If we see a 442 then either it has been agreed that the playing style can change - or there is friction between James and Collins - as Collins is wanting to move away from the system.

So I’m expecting when everyone is up and running:
Williams - Mael - Pines - McCart - Earl

Pines pushing Mael to centre right.
Mael pushing Williams to wingback.

I’m sorry to see Lopata and Shepherd leave on loan - especially to teams struggling in the relegation zone.
Losing more than winning.
I wouldn’t have thought that will give them a confidence booster.
IMO they would have been better staying here.

Re: Dike.
Yes it was just a chance to show what he did.
But it was a reminder what can happen if the right players are brought in that ideally fit the system.

[Arblasterfromthepast]

And one other thing to bear in mind, there's no point in employing a new sporting director and signing a large number of recruits before he even takes up the post.

I agree with others' analysis though. On the face of it I'm pretty neutral on the January signings but at least we appear to have strengthened our back 4.

[perkytyke]

One thing to come out of this is that Collins will need to put Yonganathan on the bench until Benson s fit in 2027! hopefully he will take the chance with both hands if he gets on the pitch ahead of the slug?
As for the two Duds, when it gets to 70 mins and Cole and Mcatee are tired I would sooner he tried Phillips as a striker or brought Marsh on than either of those two!

[Shadrack the Red]

I disagree about the board not being convinced about Collins. Given the defence we’ve had since the summer, I think he’s worked near on miracles in all honesty. Yes, some matches haven’t been great but we grind results out incredibly well. I think if they are being hesitant to look to the summer it’s due to the sheer number of changes we could be dealing with in regards to players out of contract. It would be nice to have gambled a little this month as the league appears to be more open this season but given how much money they’ve put in over the last 12 months, I can’t blame them for not being overly aggressive.

The full back comment I believe was made for us to be able to mix it up a bit with formations. I like Cadden but there’s not a chance in hell I would want to see him as a left back or Cotter as a right back. Now, if we need to switch to 4 at the back for whatever reason, Earl could go on the left (with Cadden further up the pitch) and Williams at right back.

Again, I think you’re barking up the wrong tree with the Dike thoughts. Pretty sure he was mentioned/shown as he did well for us, it was a singing that worked out and we signed him very late in the January window. No hidden agenda.

A very good post to which i agree with everything you have said, we now have the players to either start with a flat back four or switch during the game should the situation require it , I think it gives Collins some more flexibility . One thing I will say is that I mentioned before the window that I did not think we would lose many players , there were mentions of mass clear out & fire sales but apart from one occasion this rarely happens in january , unlike the summer where recruits are usually for the long term january deals are usually done to effect the current season, whether our deals turn out to be positive only time will tell , personally I am pleased to see a couple of defenders recruited which in my book confirms that our defensive recruitment last summer was indeed disappointing & may well have cost us a crack at going up but Collins has worked miracles with the hand he was dealt, lets hope the board have backed him enough to keep us in with a shout , I am not confident but you never know,

[Young_Nudger]

I agree Shads.
A very good post.
We need to hear more from NerfHerder.