My take on the window (4 Viewers)
- Thread starter Briles
- Start date
Too easy to judge the window from the outside. Honestly, it could have been better. I’m also a bit surprised we let Rapha go so late on.
But it’s not easy to get players of decent quality in without some assurance of game time. Good loanees from the prem will be expected to get minutes. Clearly we were hoping the MVE sale would go through much earlier having replaced him. That would have meant buying players from clubs who had time to replace them.
In the end, we had to bag that Sheaf money but were probably too late to do anything more than Wolfy. (Ipswich fans think they’re too light at CB now btw). We have to hope to be lucky with injuries and that Brau, KKH and Andrews are good enough and versatile enough to step up if needed.
Would have been good to go balls out for the Autos but the circumstances haven’t helped and in a way, our approach now is kind of risky and part of me likes that.
But it’s not easy to get players of decent quality in without some assurance of game time. Good loanees from the prem will be expected to get minutes. Clearly we were hoping the MVE sale would go through much earlier having replaced him. That would have meant buying players from clubs who had time to replace them.
In the end, we had to bag that Sheaf money but were probably too late to do anything more than Wolfy. (Ipswich fans think they’re too light at CB now btw). We have to hope to be lucky with injuries and that Brau, KKH and Andrews are good enough and versatile enough to step up if needed.
Would have been good to go balls out for the Autos but the circumstances haven’t helped and in a way, our approach now is kind of risky and part of me likes that.
Batu1969
Well-Known Member
Do think this thread has got a bit of censorship feel about it.
With people quick to jump on any push back about squad depth and the success of the transfer window (as wonderful as the stadium ownership is, they are not the same thing).
It’s almost like a bunch of senior citizens have formed a censorship equivalent of the Thursday Murder Club - spending all their Golden Years to act with such alacrity to shut down and disparage any comments other than it was an amazing transfer window.
With people quick to jump on any push back about squad depth and the success of the transfer window (as wonderful as the stadium ownership is, they are not the same thing).
It’s almost like a bunch of senior citizens have formed a censorship equivalent of the Thursday Murder Club - spending all their Golden Years to act with such alacrity to shut down and disparage any comments other than it was an amazing transfer window.
Ccfcisparks
Well-Known Member
Agreed.
Are we 100% sure no loans are allowed now?
StrettoBoy
Well-Known Member
I have had a look on the Ipswich fans forum.
A few are saying "good riddance" to Woolfenden but most are sad to see him go. The consensus seems to be that he is an experienced, calm, dependable CB. He may be just what we need but I wonder if he is really much of an upgrade on Bidwell.
We will see.
A few are saying "good riddance" to Woolfenden but most are sad to see him go. The consensus seems to be that he is an experienced, calm, dependable CB. He may be just what we need but I wonder if he is really much of an upgrade on Bidwell.
We will see.
Ccfcisparks
Well-Known Member
Yep free tranfsers only.
StrettoBoy
Well-Known Member
TomRad85
Well-Known Member
CCFCBat
Well-Known Member
Yes it's a big upgrade from Bidwell. Bidwell is clearly LCB cover now and is not a CB, Woolfenden is
Grendel
Well-Known Member
People moaning we have not replaced players like Rafael is a bit of a stretch. He is nowhere near the level required. Bessette was always going and we didn't miss him once he was frozen out.
You would have to assume the Sheaf offer came fairly late like Palmer last year and you cannot turn that down for a player who is not starting unless there are injuries. It can be addressed in January.
Conversely the argument we have not sold anyone is a bit misleading as it seems no offers have been made.
Its pretty clear we thought MVE would attract interest but it seems there was little concrete interest at all. So the one mistake really is that we signed his replacement and now he is not going to get game time.
I am sure we would have liked to have offloaded Simms but its not that easy.
The one area we are really short is a Number 10. We were never re-signing O Hare but that type of player would have been a big benefit. Its interesting the argument against him (wages aside) was he would demand to start. Sheaf then certainly would.
The last day nonsense just creates whipped up emotion. Looking as a whole its OK other than we miscalculated badly on MVE.
You would have to assume the Sheaf offer came fairly late like Palmer last year and you cannot turn that down for a player who is not starting unless there are injuries. It can be addressed in January.
Conversely the argument we have not sold anyone is a bit misleading as it seems no offers have been made.
Its pretty clear we thought MVE would attract interest but it seems there was little concrete interest at all. So the one mistake really is that we signed his replacement and now he is not going to get game time.
I am sure we would have liked to have offloaded Simms but its not that easy.
The one area we are really short is a Number 10. We were never re-signing O Hare but that type of player would have been a big benefit. Its interesting the argument against him (wages aside) was he would demand to start. Sheaf then certainly would.
The last day nonsense just creates whipped up emotion. Looking as a whole its OK other than we miscalculated badly on MVE.
They also seem generally sad about the break up of the back-to-back team of which Woolfenden was a key member.
He’s a reliable, strong CB who will at the very minimum keep Thomas honest but that calmness they talk about is exactly what we need and he’s 100% an upgrade on Lati.
CCFCBat
Well-Known Member
Here is my take on this. I think we should have strengthened more to push for automatic promotion. This is the first season where the squad didn't need major surgery and a few more in some postions would have helped that.
We need to go up this season or there is a major rebuild in the summer again because if we don't go up Rudoni, MVE, Wright, Torp (if he has a good season) and Saka will most likely leave at the end of the season, along with players out of contract, and that is a lot to replace. We should have been looking to bring in players to replace the 5 mentioned above if we don't go up, so there is some continuity in this and the January window.
I know everyone thinks Matt Grimes is Superman but he will be 31 next season in demanding postion, he doesn't get a break during the game for a breather like the strikers or defenders and he is an attacker and defender, so we should have been looking for his back up, now I know that Sheaf, MAY, have been a late sale, so I'll give them the benefit but we should look to strengthen in January that position. There is a lot resting on Grimes' shoulders. Also it appears if we have injuries in some positions the replacements are square pegs in round holes i.e Brau, KKH, BTA and MVE are replacement wingers, which is not ideal, and this isn't if we have a couple of injuries in a postion it's if we have one injury in a position
We have no real game changers on the bench now and the only attacking change is Simms and possibly BTA if he doesn't start.
I'm not saying we can't get promoted and still expect play-offs but an extra push on recruitment could mean we could be challenging for automatic promotion.
We need to go up this season or there is a major rebuild in the summer again because if we don't go up Rudoni, MVE, Wright, Torp (if he has a good season) and Saka will most likely leave at the end of the season, along with players out of contract, and that is a lot to replace. We should have been looking to bring in players to replace the 5 mentioned above if we don't go up, so there is some continuity in this and the January window.
I know everyone thinks Matt Grimes is Superman but he will be 31 next season in demanding postion, he doesn't get a break during the game for a breather like the strikers or defenders and he is an attacker and defender, so we should have been looking for his back up, now I know that Sheaf, MAY, have been a late sale, so I'll give them the benefit but we should look to strengthen in January that position. There is a lot resting on Grimes' shoulders. Also it appears if we have injuries in some positions the replacements are square pegs in round holes i.e Brau, KKH, BTA and MVE are replacement wingers, which is not ideal, and this isn't if we have a couple of injuries in a postion it's if we have one injury in a position
We have no real game changers on the bench now and the only attacking change is Simms and possibly BTA if he doesn't start.
I'm not saying we can't get promoted and still expect play-offs but an extra push on recruitment could mean we could be challenging for automatic promotion.
SkyBlueAussie
Well-Known Member
Why don't we just agree that:
We have a squad that most clubs would die for.
We have a Club Owner that most clubs would die for.
We have a Manager that most clubs would die for.
We are in the Championship, which three years ago, we would die for.
We are in a position in the league that three weeks ago we would die for.
End Of.
We have a squad that most clubs would die for.
We have a Club Owner that most clubs would die for.
We have a Manager that most clubs would die for.
We are in the Championship, which three years ago, we would die for.
We are in a position in the league that three weeks ago we would die for.
End Of.
Agree with all that. I bet we still turned down some offers for MvE though, either too low earlier in the window or too late to do anything.
Ccfcisparks
Well-Known Member
Too late? We sold Sheaf on the last day
Yeah. Sheaf wasn’t in the first 11 and had injury problems over the past 18 months. MvE is still our best RB and plays every week. I could only imagine the meltdown if we’d sold MvE yesterday as well
duffer
Well-Known Member
That's a fair analysis, I think overall I'd say underwhelmed rather than disappointed though.
I suppose there is cover of a kind on the flanks, in that at a push JDS, MVE, KKH, or Brau might be able to go into a more attacking role with the alternate full back behind.
We'd still lose something in that situation though, obviously...
Matt smith
Well-Known Member
Bidwell is actually better at Centre back now
CCFCBat
Well-Known Member
He's an acceptable replacement if we are desparate
Matt smith
Well-Known Member
September fixtures are tough but it’s a game every week so really need to be targeting 4 points minimum
DannyThomas_1981
Well-Known Member
You might be onto something there Duffer. Given the fall off in energy of both EMC and BTA in the second half on Saturday and leaving our full backs exposed - in certain game situations/oppo - having that additional defensive cover higher up the pitch could be useful.
Captain Dart
Well-Known Member
I'm not sure we are weaker in the striking dept, Bassette scored 2 goals and probably made one but had plenty of game time. I think EMC would have done better in that role even if it isn't his best position. We do need something extra up front going forward.
Ccfcisparks
Well-Known Member
I wonder if that highly rated striker from the 18's could feature a few times this season
Captain Dart
Well-Known Member
Makes more sense of the moves to loan Rapha and Justin O out putting it that way.
A good season in League One will improve their market values.
StrettoBoy
Well-Known Member
Much of an upgrade on Bidwell
I only said, "We will see". Obviously I hope that he is.
Quite a few (though I would say a minority) of Ipswich fans are pleased he has been shipped out. I've not see him play, as he was an unused substitute in the league game at the CBS last season (which doesn't exactly inspire confidence) and I didn't go to the cup game when he captained their weakened side.
No one will be more delighted than me if he turns out to be an excellent buy
TomRad85
Well-Known Member
Ipswich weren't in our league last season. The season before that I assume you are talking about he started just about every single game.I only said, "We will see". Obviously I hope that he is.
Quite a few (though I would say a minority) of Ipswich fans are pleased he has been shipped out. I've not see him play, as he was an unused substitute in the league game at the CBS last season (which doesn't exactly inspire confidence) and I didn't go to the cup game when he captained their weakened side.
No one will be more delighted than me if he turns out to be an excellent buy
Ipswich fans are saying far more positive than I see from most fans about players that are on the way out.
Honestly man our fans are so fucking negative sometimes.
StrettoBoy
Well-Known Member
Quite right. I meant last "year" as it was towards the end of the 23/24 season.
I'm not negative and I want him to be brilliant for us but I was a bit concerned about some of the comments I have seen. My views might have been a bit skewed by the fact that he was, at best, our third choice CB after Charlie Hughes and Villad Nielsen.
As I said, we will see.
TomRad85
Well-Known Member
We were pursuing him long before either of those...
Perennial Lurker
Well-Known Member
We were interested in Woolfenden way before Hughes , in fact the Hughes interest started around the time the Thomas bid came in.
And did we ever bid for Nielsen?
You're grasping now to make your point
shmmeee
Well-Known Member
You’ve missed Tavares who was mostly deployed as a RW and I’d argue Paterson gave you AM backup as well. So you could argue we’re weaker across the whole front line without Tavares, Paterson, Rapha, and Bassette.
JSL
Well-Known Member
Also lost Obikwu and Dausch
shmmeee
Well-Known Member
No we are weaker even if everyone if fit. We have fewer options for changing the game even if our options were pretty crappy before. We need to be able to substitute forwards during the game.