Official January Window Including Speculation And Rumour Thread

[POGGYWELL]

O’Kane Countdown.

I understand #barnsleyfc are likely to make one more signing this window. It’s a midfielder on loan.
They have tried for another striker but it hasn’t happened.

[POGGYWELL]

The best smile on him since joining Millwall lol

[perkytyke]

As it stands 4 out 2 in not counting Flavell as the other 4 have played first team football.
We have strengthened the defence and weakened the midfield although I’m glad Styles has fecked off.
The front line stays the same Cole and Macatee with two duds to come on after 70 mins!
God help us if Cole, Kane, Connell and Macatee pick up injuries! The other midfielders are Phillips and the slug, we can count Benson out through permanent injuries, less said about Watters and Cosgrove the better.
Iseka, Shepherd, Lopata and Styles off the wage bill, with Pines and Earl coming in looks like the board have managed to reduce outgoings, so pleased for them!

[Young_Nudger]

Has it been good or has it been poor or is it something in between ???

[NerfHerder]

Has it been good or has it been poor or is it something in between ???

I would say somewhere in between. Though reserving a bit of judgement as there could be another one in this morning.

We kept Roberts here, that was good as I reckon he’s one of the best in the league.

Defence I would say we’ve improved. Earl should slot straight in. Pines I guess we’ll have to see how he adapts to the country/league but given his height, physical prowess and that he’s represented his country, I have a feeling he’ll be decent. This should hopefully push Williams to right wing back, which improves us.

Would’ve liked to have seen midfield cover in but rumours are that we could announce that this morning. Let’s hope Connell, Kane and Phillips stay fit for the rest of the season. Those 3 are right up there with the best in the division as a collective.

Up top, again, let’s hope Cole and McAtee stay fit as they’re both getting goals now and link up well together. Cosgrove is decent off the bench but not convinced on Watters. Would’ve liked to have seen someone in on loan to cover the (rumoured) Jalo injury as impact off the bench.

Would’ve liked to have seen Styles leave on a permanent basis. Not that I don’t like him, I think it’s just better for all parties if he left now. Hopefully he does well during his loan spell and they take up the purchase option.

Hopefully we put in a decent performance tomorrow and get something to then make a push for the top 2. Although personally I do think it will be playoffs for us this season. Too many heavy defeats at home in the early stages will cost us.

[SBRed48]

See Post 264 on Rumour Thread.

My summary which probably should be on this thread but can't be arsed typing it again

[Young_Nudger]

See Post 264 on Rumour Thread.

My summary which probably should be on this thread but can't be arsed typing it again

Sorted

The club seemed to have learnt from the Genius James summer recruitment window that you cannot get away with recruiting for nothing from non league/ lower leagues and putting them straight in the first team. The clubs original attempt at this strategy has fallen apart with the players being sent out on loan-

Lopata--Port vale
Shepherd--Cheltenham
Lofthouse--MK Dons
Dallas--Oldham
Shaw--out to Motherwell, now recalled

Fishing in a slightly different pool hopefully Pines (free) and Earl (undisclosed) will prove more experience having played at a higher level.

We have lost on loan Styles, whose heart wasn't in it, and failed in the attempted replacement with Byers.

Upfront no changes. I would have like to have seen an "old pro" in the Norwood/ Scotland mould.

I'm fairly neutral on this window but pleased to see no extension of the fishing in the lower league/ non league pond for freebies.

[EthelRed]

See Post 264 on Rumour Thread.

My summary which probably should be on this thread but can't be arsed typing it again

I’ve done exactly the same SB in response to your message.

Like you can’t be chewed to type it again

[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.