The January 2026 Transfer Window

[Tom]

Imaginative target wonder how we came up with that one….

[DE.]

Players like Morishita, Cantwell and Alebiosu have the ability to create chances - maybe Baradji as well, hard to say at the moment. We need more than just Gudjohnsen to finish chances though, so yeah, striker has to be the priority. We're going to be bare bones regardless as we realistically aren't going to be able to bring in enough quality to solve the squad depth issue, so all we can do is focus on the immediate issue up top and hope that our regular starters can stay fit for enough games to see us through. 

[joey_big_nose]

3 minutes ago, RevidgeBlue said:

After tonight 2 (decent) strikers needed.

Forget anything else.

Agreed... We seem to have completely fluked it with Pratt and Litherland, and after those two Id be prepared to give Powell a crack if Hedges is injured. Lets throw all the money at strikers as that is what we desperately need.

[philipl]

Well that made a striker the only priority for this window 

[roversfan99]

Its definitely not the only priority. Could easily be argued as the main one.

[chaddyrovers]

Need that striker in quickly in January. That's has to be the priority. Lets hope before the Hull FA cup game 

Suprised we are looking another left footed centre back in Gibson. I would prefer a right footed centre back 

Edited Monday at 22:26 by chaddyrovers

[Emerald Isle Rover]

Yea not the only one but 100% the main one

 

[roversfan99]

1 minute ago, chaddyrovers said:

Need that striker in quickly in January. 

We need t

That's why 

*strikers.

You said you dont want ex dingles in the past. Isnt that still true?

Edited Monday at 22:26 by roversfan99

[Waggy76]

The squad will be weaker on February 1st.. 

I am intrigued to see what happens! 

[Ricky]

I’d be reluctant to bring in a CB as it would surely make more sense to bring O Riordan back from his loan. An older head wouldn’t be bad at the back but I feel the focus needs to be at the other end of the pitch. 

[roversfan99]

Cant see Gibson being done soon. Has ended up back in the team at Stoke including tonight, filling in at left back.

Mind you, we do love signing defenders that are centre backs but can only get into their Championship team out of position filling in for absent left backs.

[roversfan99]

1 minute ago, Ricky said:

I’d be reluctant to bring in a CB as it would surely make more sense to bring O Riordan back from his loan. An older head wouldn’t be bad at the back but I feel the focus needs to be at the other end of the pitch. 

Why does it have to be either or in terms of trying to have adequate quality and numbers in different positions?

Not that Ben Gibson is the answer.

[Waggy76]

1 minute ago, roversfan99 said:

*strikers.

You said you dont want ex dingles in the past. Isnt that still true?

Did he actually play for them? 

[roversfan99]

2 minutes ago, Waggy76 said:

Did he actually play for them? 

Yeah. Not much though.

Doesnt bother me. I think he would be a bad signing but the Burnley link is irrelevant.

[chaddyrovers]

I wouldn't be bringing in right wing back with Miller and Litherland. Litherland has been solid there in 3 games and we kept clean sheet in each of his game 

[Emerald Isle Rover]

It has to be a striker number 1

then a winger (one with pace)

a centre mid

then a centre back 

[DutchRover]

If he's at Stoke his wages will be beyond us, and between Mcloughlan and Pratt, with Wharton to come back, we have enough lefties at CB. Hedges (lol), Pickering (for now) and Ribeiro also options.

If we want an experienced CB, should be right sided to replace Carter, who I think it might be time to cut loose given his injuries.

Ideally someone who can play in middle and organise Miller, who tries hard but often gets caught out of position.

As others say though, CB is lower on list than ST, CM, and I'd argue both wing back positions.

De Neve is not good enough, Pickering and ribeiro too defensive and out of favour. Nobody on right behind Alebiosu. Litherland is a CB doing a job. Maybe recall Duru as youth depth if Kent stills thinks San Diego won't buy him.

 

[Tyrone Shoelaces]

We need a striker asap. 

[Paul Mani]

35 minutes ago, Emerald Isle Rover said:

It has to be a striker number 1

then a winger (one with pace)

a centre mid

then a centre back 

Why a winger? We don’t play with wingers…

2x strikers, a RWB and a CB for me.

I would be happy with O’Riordan back from loan. No point in Gibson for me but looks like we want 2x CB’s because we don’t trust Wharton and Carter to stay fit for a prolonged period of time. If they get two in, they can use Miller as RWB cover. Though Pratt and Litherland have been outstanding, you can’t pin our hopes on them.

We’ve plenty of Midfielders, still creating chances, and once we get a couple back from injury we’ll be fine there. Review again and Address it in the summer. 

[roversfan99]

A few people have mentioned that O'Riordan back from on loan would be sufficient.

What makes people think he is the answer?

[RoversClitheroe]

About to start causing carnage digging out posts from people who due to maybe brainwashing believed we had improved the squad from last season.

[roverandout]

The club wouldn't invest when we were fighting for promotion.  They certainly won't when we're in the nether region of probably not going up or going down.  They'll use it as an excuse to reset in the summer 

[LDRover]

McCann has confirmed that O'Riordan will be returning here in January 'to go into the first team' so there'll be no incomings in that area.

Also reckon the only way we bring any strikers in is if we ship Gueye and/or Tyjon out.

These fuckers will do the bare minimum and hope for the best.

[roversfan99]

1 hour ago, roverandout said:

The club wouldn't invest when we were fighting for promotion.  They certainly won't when we're in the nether region of probably not going up or going down.  They'll use it as an excuse to reset in the summer 

If they are complacent and negligent enough to think that we are in a nether region and are not a candidate relegation then they are deluded.

[Paul Mani]

4 hours ago, roversfan99 said:

A few people have mentioned that O'Riordan back from on loan would be sufficient.

What makes people think he is the answer?

You don’t need to be playing against the best every week at CB as Pratt has demonstrated coming back from loan at Chorley to the Championship. I haven’t watch O’Riordan play this season but he’s getting high praise and seemingly excelling in L1, and the club have recognised and recalled him.

My initial post was about ‘bodies’ because when you look at depth, then I make it 6x CB, including O’Riordan and Pratt once Wharton and Carter are back. With the link to Gibson, it looks like they want 2x additional (including O'riordan) making 7x and I would guess that’s because they don’t trust the fitness of Wharton and Carter.

When you look at the striker situation, with Gueye completely frozen out, they now need 2x just to stay competitive.

The most confusing thing for me is the narrative from VI that this evolution to 352 wasn’t planned. A few of us called it in the summer when we were offloading wingers and signing wingbacks. Signing Andri and keeping Gueye, then stockpiling CM’s.

On a personal note, I saw the formation change coming a mile away and only the sale of Hyam on the final day of the window went against it. If Hyam had stayed, Gueye stayed in favour and Kargbo kicked on, then we’d be 100% built for 352 anyway! It was inevitable. Wonder why VI is spinning that!?