DutchRover

Seems an exciting player to bring in, looks like a good signing if we can get it over the line.

(From Hull Match thread) Goddard on bench instead on Michalski. Who knows if it's an injury or set for loan, and Pears set to go too, so maybe we finally want a back up for Toth? Alfie Whiteman still a free agent and we were linked before i think. Jed Steer would also be a decent back up on a free.

Not that much hope haha

Surely Goddard would be an even worse back-up than Michalski? And Pears is nearly out the door. Maybe we are actually trying to sign a backup goalie?

Last time Pasha had complete control of the club incidentally...

Wicket that brings in the footballing equivalent of Woakes in the 5th test...

Oh I agree, I don't think the signing makes sense, and I don't get the hype he's got. But since we have been so desperate to sign him this way at least protects us in the event he's a crock.

What I would say is that it makes me even more sceptical about his injury, we must think it is a risk worth not signing him permanently for, yet he has been our top target. And I've never understood the hype from one YT video and Swiss league relegation battle, but happy for him to prove me wrong for us.

Loan with an option makes sense for Baradji. We apparently think he is injured and needs surgery and who knows how that goes, while Yverdon and presumably Baradji are happy to play matches. Medical team get to monitor him properly now over a season and then can make informed decision on permanent signing next summer. Other posters have commented on the risks associated with the injury he allegedly has as well, so it protects club. We'd all be slamming them if we paid up and then he was a crock. (Also it saves money up front for us to back out next year and sign someone cheaper..)

It would explain why they suddenly lost interest in the club once the investigation started...

Cheers Does make me wonder what their angle is. Removing the guarantee would certainly make it harder to claim the court case prevents correct funding of the club, which they seem to have been doing so far (unless they have next to no liquidity the guarantee ought not to present an issue to billionaires). I guess it could just be spite/pride, and unwillingness to pay into a guarantee if they are already in dispute with the bank Do we know does the Indian Gov is block transfer of funds for investment in playing staff (i.e. transfer fees), and only allow "day-to-day" costs to be serviced as part of the 'NOCs'? Given the investigation is into the mis-use of investment funds could this be part of the issue? A fear that "transfer money" would be used in other ways or siphoned to agents?

Does the filing list a reason for the application? Is it to send usual monies to keep the lights on or for a different reason?

Work you do to keep track of developments is god-tier, and it's not something that is reported anywhere else. None of us would have a clue if you weren't posting on the topic. God knows its not something the LT or BBC Lancs would ever report on

Given that today the club doesn't know if they loaned Duru for 3 months or 10 with an option to buy, I'm not sure we can trust announcements made by the club... Not to mention Mr Maguire and his "signing"...

I was wondering the same?

Loan move to the San Diego was reported a couple of days ago, don't know if it has been confirmed yet. @KentExilewas speculating we might be trying to sell him next summer if the loan goes well, since he wants game time for USA u21s. Agree though, a far better RB than Montgomery

I miss the days "transition" meant going from attack to defence or vice-versa, and not the gutting of a squad to save money

Barrett extension announced by Gestede as the exciting new 3rd choice keeper

There was talk of Leonard going on loan was there not? So I didn't include him in the 19, but if he is our 3rd choice striker then yeah he'll take a spot. Likewise if Garrett is kept around, I could see Gestede registering him just so he has an excuse not to sign a replacement..

Squad size is not the issue people seem to be making out. I make 19 that we need to register (Toth, Miller, Alebiosu, Hyam, Carter, Wharton, McLoughlan, Ribeiro, Pickering, Tavares, Tronstad, Henriksson, Forshaw, Hedges, Cantwell, Kargbo, De Neve, Ohashi, Gueye), plus three academy guys (Michalski, Montgomery, Tyjon). We ought to have 5/6 slots left to register guys, assuming we offload/deregister those who I would expect (Pears, Trav, Buckley, Garrett, Leonard?)

I did this at the end of the season to take stock of our option going into the year, and note the positions in need of strengthening, and now with two weeks of window to go and a disastrous start to the season I figured we should take stock again. I said then that we needed depth at GK if Pears went, that defence was fine assuming we let no-one go (oops), midfield needed depth behind Trav/Tron, and that we were desperately short in attack/wing after Cantwell/Ohashi/Gueye. Since then, we have disassembled our defence and replaced them with cheaper options, ditto with midfield and done next to nothing to strengthen the attack; a very exciting Gestede summer indeed. Wages down, little re-investment and general weakening across the board. I would also note that I said Derby would outspend us threefold, which they have done pretty much just on the American striker, even before stealing all our players. With that said, lets recap: Goalkeeper: Toth (2027) Michalski (2030) Pears (2027) I am happy enough with Toth as the starter, as I said back in May. Pears we are still trying to offload, and Michalski had a shocking first game. That said, I believe in Michalski and he does deserves more chances, I just hope we get an older English keeper to have on bench if Pears goes. Right Back: Miller (2028) Alebiosu (2028) All change as I feared, losing Brittain is a blow, JRC not so much. I like the look of both the new guys, especially Miller who has a great attitude and lethal long-throw. Worry if he is seen more as a CB because then Montgomery is the third choice and I do not rate him at all. Left Back: Ribeiro (2027) Pickering (2027) Solid if unspectacular, happy enough with the pairing. Centre Back: Hyam (2026) Carter (2027) Wharton (2027) McLoughlan (2027) We are okay at CB for now, but that changes completely if we sell Hyam. Carter is injury prone, Wharton I like but coming off a serious injury. McLoughlan looks a decent Championship player but what is the point on a two-year deal. We need one more here, otherwise Miller ends up playing and that weakens RB, so I guess that's what we'll do... Centre Mid: Tavares (2028) Tronstad (2026) Henriksson (2029) Montgomery (2026) Forshaw (2026) Travis (2026) Buckley (2027) Garrett (2027) I said in May Trav and Tron were a great Championship pairing, so naturally we are trying to get rid of both. Trav will go; Tron less sure but we will not renew at any rate. Forshaw was a complete waste of a panic signing, already injured. Garrett injured and won't make it I think. Buckley we want shot of too, so basically an entirely new midfield. Tavares looks a class player, but I think he needs energy next to him given his more languid style. Henriksson I like the attitude but needs some time to settle in English football. Montgomery as the 3rd/4th choice is terrifying, he is nowhere near good enough, and should be playing a L2 loan at best. We need another CM desperately, preferably a workhorse in the Travis mold. Attacking Mid: Cantwell (2027) Tyjon (2026) Already needed strengthening, and Tyjon not signing makes his place in 1st team pointless until he does. We need a proper back-up to Cantwell who has looked better so far this season. Arguably Henriksson but then we need another CM even more desperately. Right Wing: Hedges (2026) Was already our weakest position, and Dolan/Markanday going just leaves Hedges, who most of us have a fair idea as to his talent. He is a back-up bench guy in my opinion, and we desperately need a Right-Winger to come in and start, as I do not think Henriksson belongs there, and again see issue with depth at CM/AM. Left Wing: Kargbo (2027) De Neve (2028) Kargbo scares defenders but only seems able to play 30 minutes a game, and De Neve I have seen nothing so far to suggest he can start as a winger in Championship. I would say strengthen here but there are already too many other holes to bother. Striker: Ohashi (2027) Gueye (2027) Leonard (2027) Ohashi I like but he needs more support if he's up top alone. Gueye also has useful attributes but forum opinion seems to be turning against him and Ismael is not biggest fan per accounts. Leonard I don't see making it. Need another option here, ideally one to challenge Ohashi as starter, so naturally we will sign someone from the Turkish C tier... Summary: We have not strengthened the squad at all this summer, despite a 7th place finish. Instead we have gutted the spine of the team and filled the self-inflicted holes with cheaper unknown guys in the name of "transition". We have not strengthened the positions we entered the summer needing to, namely RW/LW/ST/AM We desperately need a RW, and I think also a CB, CM, AM, ST, GK and maybe a LW. So at least 5 guys, preferably of starting quality, which seems an impossibility for us. I make 19 registered guys, assuming Michalski, Montgomery and Tyjon are youth, and we sell/unregister those whom I suspect we will (Pears, Trav, Buckley, Garrett). So we have space for 6 new guys, despite Chaddy's protestations, and I think we should use all of that, sadly Gestede is talking of just one in and Pasha would prefer none I suspect.

I think it is the reality for most academy guys at all clubs, very rarely you get an Adam Wharton type who is too good to ignore, but more often the first team has holes (from injury or sales) and the manager chooses a guy who has impressed him in training, not u21s. Whether they sink or swim is up to the player and their ability. Not saying manager won't have been told by academy coaches or watched games himself, but there is a great degree of personal preference and luck involved.

Mulgrew and Downing were quite a pair in that regard

Aside from all the doom and gloom, and the inevitable sale of Trav to Derby, have there been any links with new signings? Any ITKs have a scoop? Departures too for that matter, we won't sign anyone new while Pears, Buckley etc are taking up Pasha's precious wage budget

Sickening that Birmingham, who were in L1 last year, have a strike pairing worth more than our entire squad value.