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+----- Thread: 2023: January Transfer Window (/showthread.php?tid=11100)
RE: 2023: January 31st Transfer Window - derbybaggie - 31-01-2023
Marc Albrighton
Grant to Swansea
Hutchinson from Chelsea
Possible last minute deals
RE: 2023: January 31st Transfer Window - drewks - 01-02-2023
Chalobah and Albrighton in then, not done are the Grant and Hutchinson deals.
These 2, plus the cancellation of Zohore's contract, seem to be pretty good business. Just a shame that our owner didn't come up with the money that he'd promised to allow us a little more of a free hand.
RE: 2023: January 31st Transfer Window - Blue Baggie - 01-02-2023
Kelly to Wigan
RE: 2023: January 31st Transfer Window - Slick_Footwork - 01-02-2023
If I had any expectations at all, I'd say it was a thoroughly disappointing window...
But at this point my expectations are zero, so it is what it is.
I expected that the owner would not return the cash that he's "borrowed" from the club. And therefore, I knew the only chance of us spending any money would be if Grant was sold. Something that wasn't super likely, considering he's absolutely dreadful and like playing with a man down...
As a result, all the exciting links, such as Cho Gue-sung were always likely to be non starters.
I was hoping for a right back, which we've been crying out for since Bilic was here; as well as a central midfielder and a young exciting winger who could beat people, create and chip in with goals...
Chalobah should be an improvement in midfield and IMO is a better option than Mulumby and Jake, but Albrighton is scraping the barrel as far as I'm concerned. The last time he scored more than 2 league goals was back in the 2010/2011 season and that's not good enough for a wide player IMO. I hope I'm wrong, but I just don't see what he offers.
As for the club not recognising we need a replacement for Darnell Furlong, after 4 years, it's just beggars belief.
The only positive is that we've managed to find someone to pay at least some of Martin Kelly's wage. Which is a positive surprise. That's an extra £20k per week in the owners pocket.
Shipping Kelly, Jake and Reach was always unlikely, as I suspect they are pretty high earners. Kelly going is one more than I expected.
Glad to see the back of Zohore but the fact his contract was cancelled on deadline day suggest we've probably had to pay him up in full (or close to it) as we couldn't get anyone to take him on loan. On the plus side, his deal makes the £30m spent on Grady and Grant seem like "reasonable value" at least. Every cloud.
RE: 2023: January 31st Transfer Window - Minizin - 01-02-2023
I think given the budget and given some of the players we’re stuck with, it was a decent window. Moving on Kelly and Zohore is handy, plus Chalobah and Albrighton add depth and quality. Albrighton will be a good “defensive” winger to cover Phillips.
Yet again the summer is important. Bryan (remember him?), Livermore, Pieters, Rogic all out of contract and unlikely to be extended so we have space for full backs, centre back, winger, Swift cover. With luck we might get something for some of the under performers too.
I’ll say it cautiously, but with the lack of money, we’ve done okay for signings this season…
RE: 2023: January 31st Transfer Window - Blue Baggie - 01-02-2023
I'm trying to stay positive, without signing a FB - CH - CF maybe this could give several of our youngsters a chance.
Without any money our younsters will need to be our get out of jail card free.
I've a feeling with money in short supply our owners will take an offer, because if they don't without promotion this season
the administrators will be knocking on the door.
RE: 2023: January 31st Transfer Window - Devongone - 01-02-2023
I had never realised Karlan Grant was quite so unpopular with you.
Handicapped by a dimwit manager and sub-standard and very confused squad he still got 18 goals last season, didn't he? At Huddersfield what was it 23 goals in 50-odd games? Another decent strike rate. This season amidst upheavals, he's hardly scored. But surely when a player is not-performing to his best that isn't a one-way pendulum? Surely he has shown enough not to be some kinda write-off? Equally his time at Charlton showed it took time and the right loan for him to show what he could really do. He is obviously not the easiest character. But getting the best out of difficult people is surely part of what management is about. Would Ronaldo have showboated out on the wing forever without Ferguson having a serious word with him and pointing out his potential for sticking it in the onion bag?
Are the forwards at the rest of the challengers in the Championship that much better than Karlan Grant? Make him unhappy and keen to move and he'll not be the player he could be until he reaches a new environment. He won't be trying to fail, or failing to try. He won't be able to help it. Remember Joni Mitchell's words, "Don't it always seem to go that you .......................................................................... " You've got no money, if you sold him, could you get anyone as good for that money?
RE: 2023: January 31st Transfer Window - drewks - 01-02-2023
(01-02-2023, 19:24)Devongone Wrote: I had never realised Karlan Grant was quite so unpopular with you.
Handicapped by a dimwit manager and sub-standard and very confused squad he still got 18 goals last season, didn't he? At Huddersfield what was it 23 goals in 50-odd games? Another decent strike rate. This season amidst upheavals, he's hardly scored. But surely when a player is not-performing to his best that isn't a one-way pendulum? Surely he has shown enough not to be some kinda write-off? Equally his time at Charlton showed it took time and the right loan for him to show what he could really do. He is obviously not the easiest character. But getting the best out of difficult people is surely part of what management is about. Would Ronaldo have showboated out on the wing forever without Ferguson having a serious word with him and pointing out his potential for sticking it in the onion bag?
Are the forwards at the rest of the challengers in the Championship that much better than Karlan Grant? Make him unhappy and keen to move and he'll not be the player he could be until he reaches a new environment. He won't be trying to fail, or failing to try. He won't be able to help it. Remember Joni Mitchell's words, "Don't it always seem to go that you .......................................................................... " You've got no money, if you sold him, could you get anyone as good for that money?
I agree in theory - absolutely, Devongone, but there again I don't see him on the pitch. Those that do are very scathing about him and the effort he puts in, if I understand it right.
But I do certainly agree that he's obviously a proven talent/goalscorer at this level, and good management should be able to bring this side of him out again.
Heaven knows we could do with that!
RE: 2023: January 31st Transfer Window - Blue Baggie - 02-02-2023
(01-02-2023, 23:55)drewks Wrote:(01-02-2023, 19:24)Devongone Wrote: I had never realised Karlan Grant was quite so unpopular with you.
Handicapped by a dimwit manager and sub-standard and very confused squad he still got 18 goals last season, didn't he? At Huddersfield what was it 23 goals in 50-odd games? Another decent strike rate. This season amidst upheavals, he's hardly scored. But surely when a player is not-performing to his best that isn't a one-way pendulum? Surely he has shown enough not to be some kinda write-off? Equally his time at Charlton showed it took time and the right loan for him to show what he could really do. He is obviously not the easiest character. But getting the best out of difficult people is surely part of what management is about. Would Ronaldo have showboated out on the wing forever without Ferguson having a serious word with him and pointing out his potential for sticking it in the onion bag?
Are the forwards at the rest of the challengers in the Championship that much better than Karlan Grant? Make him unhappy and keen to move and he'll not be the player he could be until he reaches a new environment. He won't be trying to fail, or failing to try. He won't be able to help it. Remember Joni Mitchell's words, "Don't it always seem to go that you .......................................................................... " You've got no money, if you sold him, could you get anyone as good for that money?
I agree in theory - absolutely, Devongone, but there again I don't see him on the pitch. Those that do are very scathing about him and the effort he puts in, if I understand it right.
But I do certainly agree that he's obviously a proven talent/goalscorer at this level, and good management should be able to bring this side of him out again.
Heaven knows we could do with that!
Some fans are unforgiving, some say Grant is lazy other say he always puts a shift in. The very idea that be is just "not very good" is comical. A player who gets 18 goals in season certainly has an eye for goal and will score given the chance. IMHO nobody else will get anywhere near his goals ratio. It's for our management team to get him back in the team and scoring goals. Dropping him, playing out of position and picking players ahead of him who hardly ever score achieves nothing. Were far too quick to criticize players. Grant has been taking extra training to see how he can fit better into CC system. Now that's the type of player we should be encouraging not trying to get rid of.
RE: 2023: January 31st Transfer Window - Slick_Footwork - 03-02-2023
(01-02-2023, 19:24)Devongone Wrote: I had never realised Karlan Grant was quite so unpopular with you.
Handicapped by a dimwit manager and sub-standard and very confused squad he still got 18 goals last season, didn't he? At Huddersfield what was it 23 goals in 50-odd games? Another decent strike rate. This season amidst upheavals, he's hardly scored. But surely when a player is not-performing to his best that isn't a one-way pendulum? Surely he has shown enough not to be some kinda write-off? Equally his time at Charlton showed it took time and the right loan for him to show what he could really do. He is obviously not the easiest character. But getting the best out of difficult people is surely part of what management is about. Would Ronaldo have showboated out on the wing forever without Ferguson having a serious word with him and pointing out his potential for sticking it in the onion bag?
Are the forwards at the rest of the challengers in the Championship that much better than Karlan Grant? Make him unhappy and keen to move and he'll not be the player he could be until he reaches a new environment. He won't be trying to fail, or failing to try. He won't be able to help it. Remember Joni Mitchell's words, "Don't it always seem to go that you .......................................................................... " You've got no money, if you sold him, could you get anyone as good for that money?
I'm not sure Karlan Grant is unpopular with all fans on this forum, but personally I think he's a dreadful footballer. I'll explain why...
I have an expectation that every footballer should be able to do the basics first and foremost. That is control the ball, pass accurately and put a decent shift in. Grant's can't play and he's lazy to boot.
He's the type of player who passes the ball and you think "who was he aiming that at". And it happens far too often.
On the wing he has no skill or creativity. The guy couldn't beat an egg, let alone a full back. And on the occasions he's played up top, his first touch is so bad it's like we are playing with 10 men.
To his credit, he's got a good shot on him that's why he scores goals. But that's about it really.
His negatives far outweigh that positive. The number of times he gives the ball away. The number of moves that break down in good positions when he gets the ball because he can't see the simple pass.
It's not a coincidence that our upturn in form and style of play came when Grant got injured. He came back into the team for the cup ties away at Chesterfield and Bristol and we were dreadful. He scored against Chesterfield, so another good performance "on paper". In reality, he was anonymous against a non league team for 80 minutes. His goal was a poor finish when one on one, but it went through the keeper, so another goal that make his statistics look decent.
Whoever sanctioned spending £15m on him was an absolute lunatic. £15m on a player who couldn't control a bag of sand. The irony is, at the time we were linked with him and Ivan Toney, who went to Brentford for about £4m
Our scout wasn't sure Toney could make the step up, but was happy to leave sanction a deal for Grant that would leave us paying for years to come. That decision just about sums up our transfer dealings in the last 3 years. Presume it was the same guy that recommended we spent £9m on Keneth Zohore.If we sold Grant I doubt we would get much, so you might be right that we might not be able to replace his goals for whatever fee we receive. But we could almost certainly get a better alround player that can contribute in other ways.
Thomas-Asante cost less than £1m and he's a much better player than Grant. Better touch, can pass, can head the ball. Grant is a decent player "statistically". But the problem with stats is you don't get stats for how many times someone has given the ball away under no pressure, passed it into touch when there's an easy ball on or the amount of times you've left the full back exposed.