January Ins / Outs

[hogesar 10,762]

I am of the belief that Wagner is here for the season now. I don't think there's any guarantee he his here next season, though. So, based on a Wagner style of play, who do you think we are likely to sign and what is feasible? And who can we move on in Jan?

For me, I think we're looking primarily at loans. Players Wagner would be happy with but with no long-term commitment in case he doesn't say beyond this season.

For Ins, a simplistic solution to lack of ball-playing defenders would be to get Omobamidele back, on loan, from Forest. He's not made an appearance for them yet, I believe. 

Another option, potentially, could be Nathaniel Phillips. He's a Liverpool CB who was on loan last season at Bournemouth. He's been on loan at Celtic but barely played and should be getting recalled. He could be an opportunity to improve our CB position. Of course, both of these are right-footed CB's and I'm sure in an ideal world Wagner would be looking for a left-footer.

The easy out's are to try and cut our losses on signing Danny Baath - he is no good for how Wagner likes to play and with a contract only until the end of the season, is very unlikely to be kept on anyway when we already have enough ageing CB's like him. Another one is getting Springett a decent loan. If teams are desperate and willing to spend money, we could even perhaps see Placheta move on? 

We'll also need to know Gianoullis / McCallum intentions vs our own. Will they sign a contract in Jan? Do we want them to?

I'd remove Sorensen's wages too by moving him on but with his injury record recently I'm not sure that's feasible, and he's decent utility in being able to cover a number of positions when he is fit.

I also know a lot of us will be crying out for a CDM. I'm not sure we'll go for a natural one whilst Wagner is here and perhaps we might go for a more defensively-minded midfielder but not an out-and-out destroyer. This may not be enough to make the difference but as we've seen, Wagner want's both his deeper mids to be capable of driving into space with the ball, taking it in difficult areas, spreading play and a bit of everything else. 

I'd also like to see a winger in on loan especially if we can offload Placheta / Springett in different directions. Or a more traditional 10 option. 

January is difficult to do business in and unless it's a player we are relatively certain on improving and selling on in the long-term, I can't see us making any permanent signings.

[king canary 8,754]

I can't see much happening to be honest.

Clubs aren't going to loan us players unless they are getting regular starts and I'm not sure I see that happening anywhere other than midfield.

I'd hope someone has the common sense to sign a defensive midfielder. This would also allow us to push Sara a bit higher up the pitch. I think the Kenny shift to central defence should be a long term thing so I don't actually think a new central defender is that key, especially when Hanley and Gibson are due back soon-ish- at that point Batth would be 5th choice.

Winger I can't see a need for either. Rowe and Sainz should be the starters and we've got Fassnacht and Onel in reserve. I'm not a huge fan of any of them but I'm also not a fan of a loanee taking game time off the starters so they'll do as backups.

I could maybe see the club moving on Batth or Sorenson in a similar way to what happened with Hugill last season- no fee but get the wages gone early. 

 

[Graham Paddons Beard 2,789]

Assume Knapper may persuade a fringe Arsenal player or two? We have to hope he has some contacts around the game and that he has some low hanging fruit available.  SD’s or equivalent tend to trade on connections - we’ve seen two good examples in McNally and Webber . 
 

 

[Conrad 235]

I think that it is as important to keep those that we want to keep rather than just who we may want to bring in. This could be determined by where we find ourselves in the league come 2st January. 

[Google Bot 3,929]

I don't think we can do a great deal in January if i'm honest, if we go for some short term fixes it's going to screw us up longer term I fear.   Trouble we now face is that when the window re-opens we've also got majority of our players back, which creates the problem of bloating the squad and breaking longer term players progression.

I think what's most critical to know is whether Kenny is seen as a CB moving forwards, as so much revolves around that decision and who and what we need.  I'm not sure we can just bring in a ball playing central defender better than Kenny?  He's not the fastest midfielder, but he's quick for a CB, very experienced and will walk through walls for this club.

Our forward line with Idah, Sarge, Barnes and Hwang is plenty decent and offers some flexibility.  I think the biggest problem we face there now is giving them all game time to keep them fresh - adding a fifth face in isn't going to help that, unless there of proper proven ability, as you'd never turn that down.

Wide positions we're now looking at going into each game with Rowe and Sainz, and they're both players we actively want to invest in and improve, we don't want to break their progression. So I think anyone you bring in wide would be as a secondary option really, unless we can magically lean the squad in Jan and move PP, Springett etc. on

Full backs, could probably do with one more - but it's not all that critical really.   On reflection I think Mumba leaving was unfortunate, he'd had a taste of being the main man and you wouldn't expect him to then sit on the bench for us so it's understandable, but when hearing of Dimi injury on Saturday how great would it have been to have Mumba waiting to go up against the scum?  McCallum done well though.

Centrally Sara is a given, and then i'm back to this whole Kenny situation;

Nunez & Gibbs seem to be the ones to fit in to the spare midfield position, and to me that's the weak spot as our midfield has been pretty non-existent.  It feels like we need a midfield general to come in and drive the heart of this team, someone who can find time and get their foot on the ball.

The concern is that most of our football is being played in our own third, and we're losing the ability to play around midfield without losing the ball.  I think Knapper's desire will be for us to progress upfield with sideways movement, stretching the opposition, so anyone that comes in has to more aligned with that style of play than what fits with the current system (imo).

The other big question of course, is whether our current style of play is something that Wagner wants or is using to deliver results.

[Robert N. LiM 6,277]

Can't believe Knapper is happy with the number of goals we are conceding. Given that the issue is in midfield rather than the back four, and given Wagner doesn't seem to be able to remedy the problem with the current squad, surely a defensive midfielder of some sort has got to be on the list for January? No idea who, though.

Edited December 18, 2023 by Robert N. LiM
typo

[NCFC-Palmer 4]

I have been told that Sam McCallum has been informed that we will not renew his contract 

[Satriales 993]

I was kind of hoping M Attanasio would be opening his cheque book in January.

[Big O 287]

It’s going to be an interesting window for sure. The club are on the verge of losing parachute payments but somehow are only 5 points off the playoffs despite looking very average so far. The run of games between now and the FA cup game could be quite telling. If we get 8-10 points I think we may think about investing and giving it a crack, however lose 3 of them and it’s pretty much over which I would think focus our attention to getting rid of high wage earners and potentially selling our best assets if any desperate clubs throw money our way.

For me I would look to try and find the midfielder who you are going to base the next 2-3 years around. They need to be strong, defensively aware and able to play for a passing team. Even if there is investment required this seems like a no-brainer as on the assumption that Sara goes we can play them with Nunez or Kenny and have a better balance. I would also be looking for an emerging number 10 we may be able to take a punt on. It’s pretty clear to me that the Ashley Barnes experiment is only going to be short lived in that we might get another 12-18 months max from him,so bring in a youngster who can grow into the role and bed them in during the second half of the season with no pressure and regular rotation. 

in terms of loans for me, it would be a right back as I think fisher looks a good way short at this level just now and I think a loan would be great for his development. Centre half with Hanley and Gibson back gives us numbers (with hills, Warner allowed to continue their development) so the other loan I would bring in is a creative wide player so we could rotate Sainz and Rowe with Hernandez as a back up.

if there is any chance of shifting players then for me it has to be Placheta, baath, Fassnacht, Sorensen and Springett. Just don’t see any of them in our future at all so let’s act now. 

 

 

Edited December 18, 2023 by Big O

[GodlyOtsemobor 2,830]

A CENTRAL DEFENSIVE MIDFIELDER!!!!! 

 

oh and a number 10 would be nice 😉 ( ilias Chair? ) 

 

I'd also be looking at trying to pinch Whittaker from Plymouth if MA would put his hand in his pocket, the kid has an eye for goal. 

Edited December 18, 2023 by GodlyOtsemobor

[S_81 1,101]

48 minutes ago, hogesar said:

I am of the belief that Wagner is here for the season now. I don't think there's any guarantee he his here next season, though. So, based on a Wagner style of play, who do you think we are likely to sign and what is feasible? And who can we move on in Jan?

For me, I think we're looking primarily at loans. Players Wagner would be happy with but with no long-term commitment in case he doesn't say beyond this season.

For Ins, a simplistic solution to lack of ball-playing defenders would be to get Omobamidele back, on loan, from Forest. He's not made an appearance for them yet, I believe. 

Another option, potentially, could be Nathaniel Phillips. He's a Liverpool CB who was on loan last season at Bournemouth. He's been on loan at Celtic but barely played and should be getting recalled. He could be an opportunity to improve our CB position. Of course, both of these are right-footed CB's and I'm sure in an ideal world Wagner would be looking for a left-footer.

The easy out's are to try and cut our losses on signing Danny Baath - he is no good for how Wagner likes to play and with a contract only until the end of the season, is very unlikely to be kept on anyway when we already have enough ageing CB's like him. Another one is getting Springett a decent loan. If teams are desperate and willing to spend money, we could even perhaps see Placheta move on? 

We'll also need to know Gianoullis / McCallum intentions vs our own. Will they sign a contract in Jan? Do we want them to?

I'd remove Sorensen's wages too by moving him on but with his injury record recently I'm not sure that's feasible, and he's decent utility in being able to cover a number of positions when he is fit.

I also know a lot of us will be crying out for a CDM. I'm not sure we'll go for a natural one whilst Wagner is here and perhaps we might go for a more defensively-minded midfielder but not an out-and-out destroyer. This may not be enough to make the difference but as we've seen, Wagner want's both his deeper mids to be capable of driving into space with the ball, taking it in difficult areas, spreading play and a bit of everything else. 

I'd also like to see a winger in on loan especially if we can offload Placheta / Springett in different directions. Or a more traditional 10 option. 

January is difficult to do business in and unless it's a player we are relatively certain on improving and selling on in the long-term, I can't see us making any permanent signings.

Nathaniel Phillips is a good shout. I’d add young centre back Charlie Creswell to that from Leeds. Not in favour under Farke, but played well on loan at Millwall last season. Got injured (eye socket fracture I think) just before they missed out on the play offs. He was solid for them and is England U21 capped. There will be a few Championship clubs in for him in Jan as Leeds have signalled that he’s available - some perhaps looking to buy. I’d be happy if we bought him, but realistically we could get a six month loan and run the rule over him. He’s got more experience than Warner but is still young. 

[ged in the onion bag 961]

At CB, there's this lad at Norwich City called Jaden Warner..... might be worth trying to loan him in and see if he can help us out till we can get the old boys back in for more goal fests!   

Another one we could get is Liam Gibbs, he might be worth a crack at CDM, you never know, might be better than any other loanee.    A few games and he might start to develop.   Otherwise, how about letting him go too!    We aren't going down, may as well develop now.

Apart from that I'd replace the recruitment team before looking for outside options.

[Pyro Pete 2,353]

These are the players whose contracts expire this summer, according to Transfermarkt. I could see them all going, apart from Dimi, if we can still afford his wages.

* Indicates further one-year option

Ui-jo Hwang (loan)
Dimitrios Giannoulis
Ben Gibson
Sam McCallum
Przemyslaw Placheta
Jacob Lungi Sörensen *
Adam Forshaw *
Danny Batth *
Jon McCracken
Daniel Barden

I'd be surprised if we had any significant funds for incomings, aside from loans and free-transfers.

Unless we can pick up someone cheap, who has only 6 months left on their contract.

[nutty nigel 7,902]

I don't see a central defender coming in. We have Duffy, Gibson, Batth, Warner and now Kenny.

I don't see a striker coming in. We signed Hwang because Sarge was injured so we have Sarge, Bashley, Idah and Hwang. If all four stay fit it will be like having two new signings anyway.

Maybe a quality, fit central midfielder if the franchise/organisation has any dough...

[S_81 1,101]

25 minutes ago, Pyro Pete said:

These are the players whose contracts expire this summer, according to Transfermarkt. I could see them all going, apart from Dimi, if we can still afford his wages.

* Indicates further one-year option

Ui-jo Hwang (loan)
Dimitrios Giannoulis
Ben Gibson
Sam McCallum
Przemyslaw Placheta
Jacob Lungi Sörensen *
Adam Forshaw *
Danny Batth *
Jon McCracken
Daniel Barden

I'd be surprised if we had any significant funds for incomings, aside from loans and free-transfers.

Unless we can pick up someone cheap, who has only 6 months left on their contract.

Don’t know much about the latter two but bar Dimi I really don’t see it as a loss in talent terms to lose all of the rest of them this summer. Albeit depends which McCallum we are talking about - the one at Portman Road in the 1st half or the 2nd. 

[Creedence Clearwater Couto 1,633]

I'd like a young and athletic CDM, plus a credible alternative to Rowe and Sainz to give us better attacking depth. Sara could then play more advanced and Barnes can be back up to him and Sarg. 

[sgncfc 1,330]

I don't think we need much at all to make our plan A team quite good. Assuming Sargent and Hwang recover well, we're well covered up front. The Kenny at CB experiment appears to have legs (so credit to Wagner for that) and alongside Duffy (who was excellent on Saturday) or Hanley that weakness should be fixed.

Wide areas are sorted - I don't like Fassnacht or Hernandez as back ups but they're here and they're not going anywhere. Fullbacks are a problem for me - I'd like to see a loan in both positions as none of our current options are good enough. I'd let Giannoulis and MaCullum go as neither can defend or have good enough engines to be wingbacks.

We have the creativity in midfield in Nunez and Sara. We have to get them further forward. Whether that means a CDM or a more defensively minded CM is debatable. But we need someone - Gibbs may be the future here, but he's not there yet.

I liked the Barnes signing at the time and I still think he can bring something we don't have.

[repman 752]

I don't think we're in a position where any short term addition is going to change any outcomes. For me anything we do in terms of ins and outs needs to be thinking about next season at the earliest. That means that pretty much all loans are off the table. Of the players who are out of contract in the summer, if we aren't planning on keeping any of them we'd be better off letting them go now so we can plan ahead. The only position where I'd be hesitant is LB, but a new deal for Dimi would be my preferred choice.

As it stands I think you could let go of Batth and Forshaw, not first choice and not good long-term options either. Same goes with Hwang once Sargent is fit. Gibson could be another if we decide the Kenny CB experiment is here to stay. 

[Capt. Pants 5,008]

1 hour ago, Satriales said:

I was kind of hoping M Attanasio would be opening his cheque book in January.

Perhaps I was dreaming but I thought I heard in that post AGM video that Knapper (and Wagner) had worked on a list? Likewise Wagner was getting 'excited'. Attanasio was to review what capital is required, as he put it.

The only way I would consider loans is if we get offers we can't refuse, and/or as immediate cover should we get offers for some of those who will be leaving in the summer.

It seems a bit daft to me if Wagner says I want XYZ and Knapper turns round and says it's loans only as you might be here next season!

Let's hear Knapper's strategy first. I suspect we won't be doing much at all.

[Thirsty Lizard 3,215]

2 hours ago, hogesar said:

 

I also know a lot of us will be crying out for a CDM. I'm not sure we'll go for a natural one whilst Wagner is here and perhaps we might go for a more defensively-minded midfielder but not an out-and-out destroyer. This may not be enough to make the difference but as we've seen, Wagner want's both his deeper mids to be capable of driving into space with the ball, taking it in difficult areas, spreading play and a bit of everything else. 

I'd also like to see a winger in on loan especially if we can offload Placheta / Springett in different directions. Or a more traditional 10 option. 

January is difficult to do business in and unless it's a player we are relatively certain on improving and selling on in the long-term, I can't see us making any permanent signings.

If we are looking for a player of this type I would be trying to get in Tim Iroegbunam from Aston Villa. I've floated his name on here before. He's big and strong, and more of a defensive midfielder, but can play a bit as well. He's got a good pedigree and I was impressed with him when he played against us for QPR last season. He's got a load of good players in front of him in the Villa midfield and hasn't been getting game time this season, so he might be available. 

[Creedence Clearwater Couto 1,633]

4 minutes ago, Thirsty Lizard said:

If we are looking for a player of this type I would be trying to get in Tim Iroegbunam from Aston Villa. I've floated his name on here before. He's big and strong, and more of a defensive midfielder, but can play a bit as well. He's got a good pedigree and I was impressed with him when he played against us for QPR last season. He's got a load of good players in front of him in the Villa midfield and hasn't been getting game time this season, so he might be available. 

I was thinking Villa, but Emi back on loan! But not fit till March.. rotten injury for him!

[Ken Hairy 4,272]

I know it's a bit out there as a suggestion, but how about a more defensively minded midfielder, preferably one that plays central?. ..

[Creedence Clearwater Couto 1,633]

Just now, Ken Hairy said:

I know it's a bit out there as a suggestion, but how about a more defensively minded midfielder, preferably one that plays central?. ..

Wagner would only stick him up front.

[cambridgeshire canary 7,797]

2 hours ago, NCFC-Palmer said:

I have been told that Sam McCallum has been informed that we will not renew his contract 

Much as if true that would be unsurprising do feel he can do a job off of the bench and would be a shame to see him go

[norfolkngood 1,174]

2 hours ago, Pyro Pete said:

These are the players whose contracts expire this summer, according to Transfermarkt. I could see them all going, apart from Dimi, if we can still afford his wages.

* Indicates further one-year option

Ui-jo Hwang (loan)
Dimitrios Giannoulis
Ben Gibson
Sam McCallum
Przemyslaw Placheta
Jacob Lungi Sörensen *
Adam Forshaw *
Danny Batth *
Jon McCracken
Daniel Barden

I'd be surprised if we had any significant funds for incomings, aside from loans and free-transfers.

Unless we can pick up someone cheap, who has only 6 months left on their contract.

To be Honest i would also try and shift Barnes must be on high wages ,

i think that money could be better spent maybe getting younger freebies in 

[Capt. Pants 5,008]

7 minutes ago, cambridgeshire canary said:

Much as if true that would be unsurprising do feel he can do a job off of the bench and would be a shame to see him go

On the other hand it could mean they are confident Dimi will sign a new deal...

Poor Sam, never really got going here.

[Kenny Foggo 1,193]

I think its no coincidence that since Barnes has been back, our results have been better and we have shown more fight. Proper leader.

[norfolkngood 1,174]

3 minutes ago, Kenny Foggo said:

I think its no coincidence that since Barnes has been back, our results have been better and we have shown more fight. Proper leader.

 

i was thinking more next season though another year older ,

i know his pace has never been his strength but i think we need more goals from a player in his position especially  as one of the highest earners  

[Thirsty Lizard 3,215]

31 minutes ago, norfolkngood said:

 

i was thinking more next season though another year older ,

i know his pace has never been his strength but i think we need more goals from a player in his position especially  as one of the highest earners  

He unquestionably brings something to the team, but I've been really disappointed so far in his work in the air. When he was at Burnley I always thought of him as being a really strong header of the ball, but I'm really struggling to recall him winning a header in the opposition box so far this season. Needs to put himself about more in the opposition box and get on the end of some crosses (Idah too). 

[Yellow Fever 4,415]

4 hours ago, Robert N. LiM said:

Can't believe Knapper is happy with the number of goals we are conceding. Given that the issue is in midfield rather than the back four, and given Wagner doesn't seem to be able to remedy the problem with the current squad, surely a defensive midfielder of some sort has got to be on the list for January? No idea who, though.

Yes. My view exactly. Our defence or back four gets a lot of stick but more often than not the real problem is lack of midfield protection.