The January Transfer Window 2021-2022

If the rumours are correct and we're after another winger..

With- Jota, Forrest, Abada, Johnston, Montgomery, Dembele and both Maeda and Kyogo able to play wide too.. Maybe we'll see one of Johnston and Montgomery moved on probably on loan.

 

Considering injuries and covid outbreaks I would be hesitent to loan players out unless it's an attempt to sell in the summer such as Boli or Barkas.

 

It's 1st of the month and no new triple signings announcement?

Sack the board.

I want another 15 Japanese players to come in.

 

Really delighted that we’ve brought the 3 Japanese lads in early doors. It shows the board are backing Ange.

Still think we need more though. Can’t forget what’s at stake this season.

 

Hart
Juranovic Julian CCV new LB
Guchi
McGregor hatate
Maeda kyogo Jota

​

Abada
Forrest
Turnbull
Scales
Welsh
Ralston
Rogic


Assuming the new 3 live up to the hype that's a strong bench for once!​

 

if we were only to sign one more first team player this window it has to be left back IMO.

But i don’t think Ange will see it that way, but i trust his judgement

i’m hoping left back and centre back. but reports seem to link us with wingers. maybe we will get all 3 with abit of luck.

 

Looking at our squad now, assuming the new boys are turn out to be good enough, the only real area of concern is at LB.
With everyone fit, we have decent cover in every area of the field.
Of course, there’s always room for upgrading on what we already have, if the right quality comes along.
We could do with trimming down the squad a bit too, make room for one or two more on the pay roll.
First team:

Hart

Juranovic
CCV
Julien
New LB

McGregor
Hatate
Rogic

Jota
Kyogo
Maeda

2nd String team

Bain

Ralston
Welsh
Starfelt
Taylor

Bitton
Ideguchi
Turnbull

Forrest
Ajeti
Abada

3rd string team


Barkas

Urhoghide
Murray
Scales
Boli

Soro
McCarthy
Shaw

Dembele
GG
Johnson

Other players who’ve been in the first team this year:

Montgomery
Henderson
Moffat
Dawson

We’ve used a lot of players in the first half of this season, it’s crazy!

 

Each to their own but Tam and Ralston are definite starters for me. Get a quality LB in, even short term, and we are in decent nick

 

If we only had ONE more, for me, defo a centre mid

 

I was under the impression Hatate has played mainly as a left wing back , and thought the idea was for him to play there inverted which will see him involved in the middle. Guchi to play CDM, Madea just wide of Kyogo.

We will see...if Ange doesn't target another left back I would assume that's the idea with Taylor back up. The three signings have been ideal in terms of targeting the weak/shallow areas of the squad.

 

McGregor, Turnbull, Rogic, Hatate, Ideguchi, Bitton, McCarthy, Soro, Henderson, Shaw.

We're not seeing another center mid this window. If anything, we could do with getting rid of some.

Other areas are screaming out for depth or an individual to walk straight into our XI.

 

Similar to LB. We need a guaranteed starter, Taylor will do as back up just now. But we aren’t going to spend decent money on one until we can shift the others, more specifically Boli.

You can’t just keep signing players when you’ve so much deadwood. If the signings end up failing as well it just adds more and more players to an already inflated wage bill.

The fact players consistently hang around instead of moving on tells you how much we’re paying some dross compared to what they’re actually worth.

McCarthy, Soro and Henderson leaving even on frees literally would not be missed at all. It wouldn’t effect us and would actually save us some amount of money.

 

Fair enough, yeah it was harsh to put Ralston in the second team going on current form. But if a top LB came in, it would be tight between him and Juranovic for that RB spot.
Could go either way.

Tam is definitely the starting no.10, especially on his form this season, and his increased fitness levels too.

 

GK
Hart
Barkas
Bain

I'd get rid of Barkas permanently and get Siegrist in for £100k. His contract runs out in the summer at Utd.

Right back
Ralston
Juranovic
Urhoghide

Left back
Scales
Taylor
Boli

I'd get rid of Boli and bring in a first choice left back. I think Scales is better than Taylor but not by much.

Center back
CCV
Juillien
Welsh
Starfelt

We have no idea how Juillien will be when he comes back. We don't even know when he'll be back or for how long. We know Starfelt is not good enough to be a regular starter. I want another center back to walk into the team to partner CCV.

Center mud
McGregor
Turnbull
Rogic
Hatate
Ideguchi
McCarthy
Bitton
Shaw
Soro
Henderson

I would loan out two out of the three at the bottom of that list (I'd sell Soro and loan either Shaw or Henderson). I don't want to be caught out with injuries.

Left wing
Jota
MJ
Montgomery

I think we're lacking here as MJ isn't good enough. I'd look to bring someone in but wouldn't be against keeping MJ to cover injuries but only to be used as a last resort. Montgomery to be held for injury crisises.

Right wing
Forrest
Abada

Ideally whoever we bring in for the left can also cover the right wing in desperate times. I know people aren't Abada's biggest fans at times but hus stats speak for themselves.

Strikers
Kyogo
Maeda
GG
Ajeti

I'd get rid of Ajeti in a heartbeat. I think Maeda will have the same impact as Kyogo does on the wing, one where we wish he was played through the middle.

TL/DR
In
Goalkeeper, left back, center back and a winger. Not in that order.

Out
Ajeti, Boli, Barkas permanently.
Two out of the three of Soro (permanently), Shaw (loan) and Henderson (loan).

I think the rest of the window depends on getting people out the door first to make room in the squad.

Normally I'd want to see as much youngsters out on loan as possible but we need more depth than usual due to players having to isolate from covid.

 

Ajeti, Bolingoli and Barkas could leave this window. I'd be happy if we signed improvements in their positions.

 

Left back is exactly where I was thinking about when I said we need players to walk straight into the team. Scales and Taylor are decent back ups but I don't think either will make that position their own in the same way Ralston has at right back or Hart in goals or CCV has at centre back or Kyogo up front or Jota on the wings etc

Completely agree that we won't bring in a left back (or anyone now) until players are moved on to make space in the squad.

Your last point is so true about overpaying for players. You can tell that by who we get knocked out of qualifiers by. Their team is made by a fraction of ours but it happens regularly.

 

Wishful thinking I know but McCarthy, Soro, Henderson, Shaw should be sold and maybe then can bring in 2, as I would not hang my coat on any of that 4.

 

Amazes me the season Ralston is having and yet I see team after team with him on the bench.. him and Kyogo have been our best players all season.. its baffling

 

Agreed and I'd also add Tam to that.

Immediate starters for me.

 

In fairness there's few that go straight on the team sheet with Kyogo and Ralstin for me ha.. Hart, Vickers, Jota, Calmac..

I'd love to know the reason why so many have Ralston benched.