I don't think any team looking for promotion and willing to spend £1.5m+ in a week on players would be happy with only one fit right back and one inexperienced loanee playing out of position. I think we'll have to find someone this window. The question is are we looking for a back up or are we looking for a first choice?
I'd be looking for a centre-forward as well if I were them. Udoh is a fantastic back-up to Kone, but then we're onto an only recently fit again Vokes who's a completely different kind of striker.
I suppose we are lucky in a way that aside from King Kone we have goal threat elsewhere in the squad to worry opponents (even more so potentially with the new signings) so I think the defence might need a bit of strengthening for the final push.
Still not convinced we should rely on Harvie to play every single minute of the rest of the season at left back. If Leahy picks up a knock that poses a big risk in that position. Fred at left back? No chance Woodhouse plays in the run in.
The two positions I’d be looking at are both full backs. But at this point I’m asking for a 10/10 window. We’ve done great business so far. Already very pleased.
Gids playing as a serviceable emergency right back has helped a bit hasn’t it? I’d much rather rotate he and Jack than sign someone who is going to limit Jasper’s playing time. Much more important to develop our players than someone else’s.
I think between Dec, Fred, Gids we can probably cover RB. Jasper out for a while by the sound of it. Left back cover I think should be a priority, the drop off from Harvie is pretty big if we lost him to injury.
Whatever happens I am very excited to see how the final squad shapes up from Feb onwards. I assume the 2 new guys will be announced this week if being reported by the very reliable Pete O’rourke.
The biggest question now is whether the spending was to complement the squad or using funds that were always likely to come in (from Low or Kone presumably). I hope it was to complement but a late sale of a key player is still a possibility and our current spending is obviously not sustainable from a revenue perspective.
The squad is interesting in that there are definite segments in relation to the takeover last summer:
GA holdovers: Grimmer, Taffs, Scowen, Wheeler, McCleary, Vokes etc.
Blooms pre-takeover: Leahy, Low, Ravizzoli, Pattenden, Lubala, Kone, Sadlier etc.
Blooms first takeover summer: Udoh, Fred, Harvie, Hartridge etc.
Current window: Bradley, Dane 1, Dane 2, two incoming
I would think that the current regime will not have any attachment to a player brought in before last summer unless they are absolutely in line with the data approach. Even with regards to last summer, there was likely at least a mixed approach if not mostly the old approach, as Scott Mitchell was still with us.
That's not to say players are going to start getting shipped out the door mercilessly in this window, just to point out that this window is the first that really belongs to the new regime. It would not surprise me if the squad looks extremely different by the end of summer 2025 even if we don't go up.
…,and Kone spends a helluva lot of time wide right, a fair bit of time wide left and also heads clear from our own box occasionally at free kicks and corners.
I wouldn't look at the absolute goal figures - I'd look at how clinical they've been, and they both fare well in that respect. Maybe we've got enough to get by.
I have been more concerned about the level of service from the wide areas dropping off. With Sads out, I continue to be baffled that we don't put Fred on the left and GMac/Kodua on the right for specialist service into Kone/Udoh/Lubala, with Udoh as a backup to Fred if he is not getting on to replace Kone.
Excludes Goalkeepers & any player born on or after January 1 2004 (exc. loanees)
Squads must include a minimum of 8 "homegrown" players - i.e. that have been registered with any club affiliated to the FA or the FA of Wales for at least three seasons or 36 months prior to their 21st birthday (or the end of the season they turn 21).
In terms of match day squad, there must be a minimum of 7 "homegrown" players & a maximum of 5 loanees.
Our current squad has
21 players over the age of 21 plus 4 loanees including Bishop not sure if he counts or not - the regulations are unclear on this.
By my reckoning we need to de-register/sell/loan out at least 3 players from
Taf, Wheeler, Vokes, Butcher, Bakinson, Hanlan in order to get down the ceiling of 22
but may need to dispose of 2 more if the proposed incoming 2 players are over 21.
I think Taff, Wheels, Hanlan and Hartridge are all going to struggle for minutes. Butcher and Bakinson are quality, and I hate losing them, but those first four are going to face an uphill battle.
Thanks for the clarification posts - the rules are a little opaque about whether the loanees count to the list is just in the Championship or all 3 divisions
Comments
I'd agree that Jasper is more than ready to rotate with Jack in terms of ability. Just depends on the fitness of them both!
I don't think any team looking for promotion and willing to spend £1.5m+ in a week on players would be happy with only one fit right back and one inexperienced loanee playing out of position. I think we'll have to find someone this window. The question is are we looking for a back up or are we looking for a first choice?
I'd be looking for a centre-forward as well if I were them. Udoh is a fantastic back-up to Kone, but then we're onto an only recently fit again Vokes who's a completely different kind of striker.
Then again, I suppose Bez can play through the middle and we're probably more in need elsewhere with limited squad space available.
I suppose we are lucky in a way that aside from King Kone we have goal threat elsewhere in the squad to worry opponents (even more so potentially with the new signings) so I think the defence might need a bit of strengthening for the final push.
Still not convinced we should rely on Harvie to play every single minute of the rest of the season at left back. If Leahy picks up a knock that poses a big risk in that position. Fred at left back? No chance Woodhouse plays in the run in.
The two positions I’d be looking at are both full backs. But at this point I’m asking for a 10/10 window. We’ve done great business so far. Already very pleased.
It depends who is deciding if Hanlan is up to the job of being a squaddie striker.
Bloomy definitely fancied him. But will the new manager / Rice continue to?
Gids playing as a serviceable emergency right back has helped a bit hasn’t it? I’d much rather rotate he and Jack than sign someone who is going to limit Jasper’s playing time. Much more important to develop our players than someone else’s.
I think between Dec, Fred, Gids we can probably cover RB. Jasper out for a while by the sound of it. Left back cover I think should be a priority, the drop off from Harvie is pretty big if we lost him to injury.
Whatever happens I am very excited to see how the final squad shapes up from Feb onwards. I assume the 2 new guys will be announced this week if being reported by the very reliable Pete O’rourke.
The biggest question now is whether the spending was to complement the squad or using funds that were always likely to come in (from Low or Kone presumably). I hope it was to complement but a late sale of a key player is still a possibility and our current spending is obviously not sustainable from a revenue perspective.
The squad is interesting in that there are definite segments in relation to the takeover last summer:
GA holdovers: Grimmer, Taffs, Scowen, Wheeler, McCleary, Vokes etc.
Blooms pre-takeover: Leahy, Low, Ravizzoli, Pattenden, Lubala, Kone, Sadlier etc.
Blooms first takeover summer: Udoh, Fred, Harvie, Hartridge etc.
Current window: Bradley, Dane 1, Dane 2, two incoming
I would think that the current regime will not have any attachment to a player brought in before last summer unless they are absolutely in line with the data approach. Even with regards to last summer, there was likely at least a mixed approach if not mostly the old approach, as Scott Mitchell was still with us.
That's not to say players are going to start getting shipped out the door mercilessly in this window, just to point out that this window is the first that really belongs to the new regime. It would not surprise me if the squad looks extremely different by the end of summer 2025 even if we don't go up.
Not that fantastic a backup, statistically at least.
Apologies to @Shev for being unable to squeeze in his full post.
To be fair, without Lubala’s 4 goals in the BS Motors trophy, he, Hanlan and Vokes would all be on a par statistically with Udoh.
In Udoh's defence, he's often played out of position in a wide role
In Lubala’s defence, so has he. When it comes to the all important regular goal scoring they’re all very much second fiddle.
…,and Kone spends a helluva lot of time wide right, a fair bit of time wide left and also heads clear from our own box occasionally at free kicks and corners.
I wouldn't look at the absolute goal figures - I'd look at how clinical they've been, and they both fare well in that respect. Maybe we've got enough to get by.
Stick Bradley upfront and hoof it to the big man.
I have been more concerned about the level of service from the wide areas dropping off. With Sads out, I continue to be baffled that we don't put Fred on the left and GMac/Kodua on the right for specialist service into Kone/Udoh/Lubala, with Udoh as a backup to Fred if he is not getting on to replace Kone.
2024/25 Season League One Squad Limit is:
22 Players
Includes ALL Loanees
Excludes Goalkeepers & any player born on or after January 1 2004 (exc. loanees)
Squads must include a minimum of 8 "homegrown" players - i.e. that have been registered with any club affiliated to the FA or the FA of Wales for at least three seasons or 36 months prior to their 21st birthday (or the end of the season they turn 21).
In terms of match day squad, there must be a minimum of 7 "homegrown" players & a maximum of 5 loanees.
Our current squad has
21 players over the age of 21 plus 4 loanees including Bishop not sure if he counts or not - the regulations are unclear on this.
By my reckoning we need to de-register/sell/loan out at least 3 players from
Taf, Wheeler, Vokes, Butcher, Bakinson, Hanlan in order to get down the ceiling of 22
but may need to dispose of 2 more if the proposed incoming 2 players are over 21.
Interesting times...
For reference here are the squad lists submitted in September.
These do not include goalkeepers.
These also do not include Fred Onyedinma (signed later) and Brandon Hanlan (registered November).
Aaron Morley and Jason McCarthy from the main squad have since left.
If you see my post above I believe it is currently 22.
19 registered in September with Onyedinma and Hanlan since added making 21.
McCarthy and Morley have left making 19.
Bradley, Hagelskjaer, Westergaard have been added making 22.
Contrary to what I said earlier in thread, think Lowry will be in Under 21 list but Berry will be in main so we will need one removal.
I think Taff, Wheels, Hanlan and Hartridge are all going to struggle for minutes. Butcher and Bakinson are quality, and I hate losing them, but those first four are going to face an uphill battle.
Thanks for the clarification posts - the rules are a little opaque about whether the loanees count to the list is just in the Championship or all 3 divisions
At our level, loanees only count if they're over 21
Thanks Tom @flymofrank
So far in this window we have "lost" from the EFL squad
McCarthy, Taylor, Morley,
and "gained"
Bradley, Marcus W, Anders H, Lowry
Have I missed anyone?
Did you count Taylor going back to WBA @Midlander ?
Taylor is u21 so doesn’t matter
Is Imray joining today @kipper ?
And James Berry?