January 2027 transfer window

[trousers]

Just one objective for Spors and Sport Republic in this coming transfer window...

Sign another Larin and we'll be favourites for automatic promotion....

Fail to sign such a player, and it's the play offs....

It's as simple as that...

Edited yesterday at 22:18 by trousers

[Patrick Bateman]

Proper number 9 backup

Proper centre back starter (alongside Schlotterbeck)

Get Jay Robinson back

Thank you.

[Harry_SFC]

I would

- Sign a Larin alternative and send Mubama back to Man City

- Recall Robinson and bin off Edozie

- Sign another CB if the opportunity is there

[RedArmy]

I can understand the calls to bring Jay Robinson back (do we even have a recall on him?) but for whatever reason Tonda doesn’t rate him. Pointless to bring him back for 3 minute cameos.

I would rather try and get Brooks again. A winger that can play on both sides and likes to play direct with the ball. I know he’s a bit older now but he’s the perfect fit for me and not getting much of a game this season. 

[SNSUN]

Striker is obvious and if that's the only position we strengthen then fine. If I were being picky then another winger with pace would be nice. Roerslev is nowhere and Bree can't play every game as the season goes on so perhaps improvement at RB too. A better CB would be the icing on the cake.

We're looking at promotion, we need to have one eye on that to improve the team/squad for when we get there, and if we don't then, heck, we are stronger next season even though we could potentialy lose Jander, Fin and Leo over the summer if bids come in. 

[bangkoksaint]

A striker,  yes but who? 

[Kenilworthy1959]

2 hours ago, bangkoksaint said:

A striker,  yes but who? 

We could try for Chris Wood on loan from Forest

[Kenilworthy1959]

How about Kyle Wootton from Stockport County?

[saintant]

10 hours ago, RedArmy said:

I can understand the calls to bring Jay Robinson back (do we even have a recall on him?) but for whatever reason Tonda doesn’t rate him. Pointless to bring him back for 3 minute cameos.

I would rather try and get Brooks again. A winger that can play on both sides and likes to play direct with the ball. I know he’s a bit older now but he’s the perfect fit for me and not getting much of a game this season. 

Not sure that's true.

[AlexLaw76]

It another Larin, in style and ability, or playoffs it is. 

[Teamsaint1]

if money is tight, we can likely get away with an adequate CF back up. Anybody even  half decent should score plenty with the chances the rest can create, and give Larin the time off that he needs in three game weeks. 

 

[Rebel]

A centre forward to cover and compete with Larin for a starting slot is a must.  I'd probably keep Mubama if we can afford to but relegate him to 4th choice behind Dobbin. 

A times I feel we need another more physical defensive midfielder to provide cover and an alternative in some games  -  but with Downes, Jander, JWP, Bragg and possibly Williams in the mix I am not sure we'll bring one in despite rumours we are looking for another CM.

Dobbin it seems can provide cover all across the front three but also gives us the option of playing a second striker in a 4-4-2 but I think we could do with another option out wide as neither Fellows or Edozie seem to be good enough at the moment or real alternatives to Scienza and Matsuki. Plus Dobbin looks much better as a striker.

I still don't see that we really have any real cover for Azaz in the Number 10 position apart from Matsuki who is needed out wide on the left at the moment.  Dobbin looked out of place as a number 10 so maybe that is something else they need to look at.  

Could they find an Attacking Midfielder who can cover 10 and out wide?

The other must is finding some proper cover at right back - whether that is re-integrating Roerselv, giving Abbot a proper go there or bringing in someone else.

I have a feeling we will see some player go before anyone comes in though.

 

 

[saintant]

Wonder if Chelsea would consider loaning us Emmanuel Emegha. He's from the Netherlands and is a 23 year old 6'5" striker who joined them this season but is getting no game time. They paid 25m Euros for him so might be up for loaning him out to give him some games.

[Lighthouse]

If DM doesn't get his arse in gear in the next couple of months, I'd certainly be on the look out for someone to replace him, if there's a player available who offers a bit more. That said we're the best team in the league results wise so far this season, so if we do go the full campaign with what we've got, there's absolutely no reason it's, "playoffs at best". We've got the best GD in the league, have only failed to score in one game and are the third top scorers, which is heavily skewed by West Ham winning a couple of 6-0s.

[Fabrice29]

3 hours ago, AlexLaw76 said:

It another Larin, in style and ability, or playoffs it is. 

 Variety is much more important than clones. Can’t just sign players who are like another in style and then only drop them in when someone is unavailable. They have to have their own qualities and can be a point of difference when everyone’s fit. That was the beauty of the Stewart/Larin thing. Same with Azaz/Dobbin. Different players so Dobbin is able to contribute when Azaz is available too. 

[Jaime]

15 hours ago, Patrick Bateman said:

Proper number 9 backup

Proper centre back starter (alongside Schlotterbeck)

Get Jay Robinson back

Thank you.

Only point I would make, is that I actually want the striker to improve the team - not just a back up.

[Patrick Bateman]

1 minute ago, Jaime said:

Only point I would make, is that I actually want the striker to improve the team - not just a back up.

That's a good point. And depending on our points / league position, we would need that striker ideally to be someone else who could make the step up. Unless it was another loan of course? 

[Football Special]

15 hours ago, Patrick Bateman said:

Proper number 9 backup

Proper centre back starter (alongside Schlotterbeck)

Get Jay Robinson back

Thank you.

We play so many games i dont see it as a number 9 back up. 

Just sign a number 9, tell them they compete with Larin for the spot. 

Plenty of games to get minutes, but at Larin's age a few knocks can rule him out with longer recovery times, to be honest this spell on the sidelines now is a warning to Spors 

[Saint Mikey]

How's that Serbian lad got on this season? The one at Lazio we were linked with. Could we go back in for him?

It looks like we had a bit of cash kicking about for a CB or Striker, but we couldn't attract the right calibre, so kept our powder dry to a certain extent and got Abbot & Mubama in on loan. Hopefully, we'll use that in Jan if we get the right level of player in.

[Fabrice29]

5 minutes ago, Saint Mikey said:

How's that Serbian lad got on this season? The one at Lazio we were linked with. Could we go back in for him?

It looks like we had a bit of cash kicking about for a CB or Striker, but we couldn't attract the right calibre, so kept our powder dry to a certain extent and got Abbot & Mubama in on loan. Hopefully, we'll use that in Jan if we get the right level of player in.

He went to Spain and hasn’t scored I don’t think.

[Fabrice29]

21 minutes ago, Football Special said:

We play so many games i dont see it as a number 9 back up. 

Just sign a number 9, tell them they compete with Larin for the spot. 

Plenty of games to get minutes, but at Larin's age a few knocks can rule him out with longer recovery times, to be honest this spell on the sidelines now is a warning to Spors 

Our third choice striker since Eckert has been here has really not got many minutes. Archer/Mubama. So I’m not convinced there’s plenty of games to get minutes, at least not without reducing Larins or Dobbins (or moving him elsewhere on the pitch)

[Midfield_General]

1 hour ago, Fabrice29 said:

 Variety is much more important than clones. Can’t just sign players who are like another in style and then only drop them in when someone is unavailable. They have to have their own qualities and can be a point of difference when everyone’s fit. That was the beauty of the Stewart/Larin thing. Same with Azaz/Dobbin. Different players so Dobbin is able to contribute when Azaz is available too. 

True, but the Larin/ Stewart rotation worked because both could hold the ball up, meaning we didn't need to completely change our style of play when one went off and the other came on.

At the moment, if Larin's not playing, we've got nobody who can do that and we look a bit lost up front without a physical presence as it's so central to how we play. Dobbin's a different type of player, and Mubama just doesn't look up to it. Same as when we had Archer standing in - he's clearly a half decent striker, he just didn't fit that approach. 

Azaz looked the most capable when he moved into that role after the red against Pompey, which surprised me. Which shows they don't necessarily need to be an exact clone/ lump but we do need an attacking focal point who is strong and knows how to use their body properly to put themselves about a bit if Larin's not there. 

Edited 8 hours ago by Midfield_General

[Willo of Whiteley]

Leave Jay Robinson out on loan.

Get another striker in.

Get a pacy winger in that has even half an eye to goal, an ability to dribble without staring at the ground, and someone that contributes more than a bland stepover.

Bin off Tom Fellows.

[Midfield_General]

Did make me smile last night when Fellows came on for his four minutes at the end.

The first (only?) thing he did was that 'head down > run down the outside > one stepover to put the ball onto his right foot > stand up a floaty one to the back post' sequence that he does pretty much every single time, and which presumably every single one of his former WBA teammates who trained with him week-in week-out would have known was exactly what he was going to do, because it's basically the only move he's got. 

They gave him a nice clap when he came on though, which was sweet.

Edited 7 hours ago by Midfield_General

[Fabrice29]

1 hour ago, Midfield_General said:

True, but the Larin/ Stewart rotation worked because both could hold the ball up, meaning we didn't need to completely change our style of play when one went off and the other came on.

At the moment, if Larin's not playing, we've got nobody who can do that and we look a bit lost up front without a physical presence as it's so central to how we play. Dobbin's a different type of player, and Mubama just doesn't look up to it. Same as when we had Archer standing in - he's clearly a half decent striker, he just didn't fit that approach. 

Azaz looked the most capable when he moved into that role after the red against Pompey, which surprised me. Which shows they don't necessarily need to be an exact clone/ lump but we do need an attacking focal point who is strong and knows how to use their body properly to put themselves about a bit if Larin's not there. 

We don’t look that lost, we’ve scored goals, won games etc. We’ve just adapted and utilised what we do have. 

[Fabrice29]

1 hour ago, Willo of Whiteley said:

Leave Jay Robinson out on loan.

Get another striker in.

Get a pacy winger in that has even half an eye to goal, an ability to dribble without staring at the ground, and someone that contributes more than a bland stepover.

Bin off Tom Fellows.

This isn’t FIFA, you can’t just do this so easily. Fellows has to want to leave and you’ve got to find somebody who wants him and willing to pay whatever it takes in fees/wages. It’ll take Fellows agreeing to a cut of some sort I assume. At the same time you’ve got to convince someone better than him to come in and convince them they’ll be used more than the guy they are replacing who just got 5 minutes off the bench. 

[Turkish]

1 hour ago, Willo of Whiteley said:

Leave Jay Robinson out on loan.

Get another striker in.

Get a pacy winger in that has even half an eye to goal, an ability to dribble without staring at the ground, and someone that contributes more than a bland stepover.

Bin off Tom Fellows.

Good luck getting someone the level of Scienza and Matsuki to come here to play on the wing. Same goes for a striker, who we going to get to come here to share the position with Larin & Dobbin? Its going to be someone on loan from a premier league club *checks notes* we've got one of those already.

Im not sure what sort of level of player people think a championship team will attract. We've got one of the top 3 starting 11s, even our 3rd choice keeper would be one of the best 3-4 in the league. 3 of out 4 CMs would get into every other top 6 team, Fellows, Dobbin, Bragg, Wood, Wellington and Abbot are all decent championship players. We got a decent result last night without 3 key players, thats the level of depth we've got already.

Edited 6 hours ago by Turkish

[saintant]

30 minutes ago, Fabrice29 said:

This isn’t FIFA, you can’t just do this so easily. Fellows has to want to leave and you’ve got to find somebody who wants him and willing to pay whatever it takes in fees/wages. It’ll take Fellows agreeing to a cut of some sort I assume. At the same time you’ve got to convince someone better than him to come in and convince them they’ll be used more than the guy they are replacing who just got 5 minutes off the bench. 

You'd think transferring players in and out was impossible.

[RedArmy]

7 hours ago, AlexLaw76 said:

It another Larin, in style and ability, or playoffs it is. 

Let me guess….Kieffer Moore? 
 

[Fabrice29]

26 minutes ago, saintant said:

You'd think transferring players in and out was impossible.

Not impossible but I’d be a little surprised if Fellows suddenly gives up his chance of a promotion/PL bonus so easily and I’d be surprised if you find someone better than him willing to come off the bench for 4 minutes every few weeks. It’s not impossible but it shouldn’t just be done to appease people for a week or two in January, it has to make you better.

As Turkish has pointed out…we’re actually doing alright at the moment. But that doesn’t appease the transfer for transfer sake crowd. 

Edited 5 hours ago by Fabrice29

[Turkish]

40 minutes ago, Fabrice29 said:

Not impossible but I’d be a little surprised if Fellows suddenly gives up his chance of a promotion/PL bonus so easily and I’d be surprised if you find someone better than him willing to come off the bench for 4 minutes every few weeks. It’s not impossible but it shouldn’t just be done to appease people for a week or two in January, it has to make you better.

As Turkish has pointed out…we’re actually doing alright at the moment. But that doesn’t appease the transfer for transfer sake crowd. 

I get the need to improve but we aren’t going to go out and spend another £8-10m on a striker when we’ve already got Larin and spent that on Dobbin. So if we get a striker in it’s going to be a loan who will want game time. Same goes for the wingers, we’ve got 2 decent ones, Fellows is better than hes give credit for the weak link is Edozie. As for everywhere else we’re pretty strong apart from potentially an improvement on Stephens but with Wood and Abbot in the squad unless it’s someone very good at good value I don’t see us bringing someone in there either. As for selling then as you say theyve got to want to leave as well. With a promotion possible and the money that’ll go with it why would you leave unless its to go straight to the premier league and the ones we want to go won’t be going there 

Edited 5 hours ago by Turkish

[Oisin]

The one thing I will say is that with Spors in charge I have at least some confidence that the right areas will be analysed and addressed in a sensible manner, with signings made if viable. 12 months ago none of us had heard of Larin or Schlotterbeck, or Peretz or Scoenza 6 months before that.

Of course, DM and Dobbin haven’t been a success (yet?) but point stands - before Spirs I had zero confidence in our recruitment; now Iat least have some.

[jarhead5]

Does anyone know Robbie Ure? Young striker at Sevilla. Similar size as Larin. Has a few Scotland caps. Isn't getting a lot of minutes, but plays most games.

Less realistic: Conrad Harder. Strong striker at Strasbourg. He is getting more minutes as the season goes on. Chelsea seems to be sniffing around. 

[ally_uk]

I'd try a loan for Tyler Dibs

And put a cheeky one in for Andri Guðjohnsen