Transfer Rumour Matty James (18 Viewers)

[Sky Blue Harry H]

I have a breakdown policy and hope I never need to use it. Isn't that the point of a policy so that you're covered for the unexpected time that you do need it?

Agree with you mate - it is taking a gamble. I would give James a contract,, but only if he is fit and up to speed. if he isn't yet, I would hold out until the January window for a better option, as we can't waste weeks of a 3month period waiting for that.

 

---

[ptr]

My reliable source has now said nothing has ever really been in the works, and that it’s a bad idea anyway.

How is George these days after his Twitter disappearance?

 

[Johnnythespider]

Agree 100%. If (and nobody has a crystal ball) Sheaf stays mainly fit between now and the January window, it would almost certainly be a waste giving James a contract. It's almost like forking out for a breakdown insurance policy for 3 months. I would hope we would be active in the January window, whether a loan or permanent signing re: cover/strengthening.

 

[SkyBlueGuy]

Andrews: Young, needs game time, decent potential, no extra on the wage bill, stays fit, developing our own talent.
James: Not the player we had 3 years ago, injury prone, extra cost, dubious impact certainly last season with Bristol.
I realise everyone is frothing at the mouth for a midfielder but I don’t think he’s the answer.

From what the Bristol fans are saying, he's still got it. He also played more minutes than sheaf last year!

Obviously players often decline with age, but that doesn't always mean they can't play at the same level. Milner is a great example of this (appreciate that this is not the norm!).

I think James could still be a valuable squad member. His experience is well above any others player in the squad and experience is valuable (particularly amongst a relatively young team). We've seen it before from Fadz. What he lacked in pace he made up for in guile (until his final season with us perhaps).

James journey means that he may well have a few more years in him and that could be to our advantage.

 

[Liquid Gold]

James was out for so long with a bad injury it means he hasn't played as many games as players of a similar age so, depending on if the injury had any long term effects, he should theoretically have a bit more tread in the tyres.

 

[Tommo1993]

How is George these days after his Twitter disappearance?

Never caught this George person on twitter. The source was always in my head just making things up. A bit like everyone else.

 

[Mucca Mad Boys]

Andrews: Young, needs game time, decent potential, no extra on the wage bill, stays fit, developing our own talent.
James: Not the player we had 3 years ago, injury prone, extra cost, dubious impact certainly last season with Bristol.
I realise everyone is frothing at the mouth for a midfielder but I don’t think he’s the answer.

James played 43 games for Bristol City last season. Andrews has played 3 minutes of championship football. It’s just not even a serious alternative.

This is the same thinking people had in preseason where there was a genuine belief that Obikwu would be Simms’ understudy.

It’s just a stopgap to get experience in a position we’re short on bodies. He isn’t the answer - but he’s a short term solution to some issues we have.

 

[OldBedrocker]

tbf DK would have a point I'd understand if his stance was something along the lines of:

• You didn't want Kelly here anymore
• You didn't want Palmer here anymore
• I paid good money for Torp and Rudoni
• This bloke has a history as a crock

I'm assuming some bits but if MR can't persuade DK, I won't go castigating him for it.

He played a lot more games last season than Sheaf has ever managed in a season

 

[procdoc]

Is he signing then or what?

 

[Sky_Blue_Dreamer]

Flip the Bassette signing for a minute.
Sheaf and Wright are two of the most likely players to leave next summer if we don't go up . So what do we do ? Sign a player we've obviously targeted to fill their position and give them a year to bed in or wait till they've gone and start from scratch ?
I think the whole Bassette has been made a way bigger deal because we missed out on a midfield target .
The Bassette deal makes long term sense

In that case a RB would have been even more likely.

MvE one of the most likely to leave if we don't go up and absolutely no-one as cover.

 

[Cally Fedora]

James played 43 games for Bristol City last season. Andrews has played 3 minutes of championship football. It’s just not even a serious alternative.

This is the same thinking people had in preseason where there was a genuine belief that Obikwu would be Simms’ understudy.

It’s just a stopgap to get experience in a position we’re short on bodies. He isn’t the answer - but he’s a short term solution to some issues we have.

Yeah, you’ve said it in your own final sentence. He’s not the answer. But he fits the narrative that we must have an extra midfielder. We do, but they must be better than what we have or are already paying for.

 

[AFCCOVENTRY]

Is he signing then or what?

Probably. Just seen we’ve only registered 24 players out of a possible 25 players for the EFL squad till Jan with the window now closed. Looks like a spot reserved for someone..,

 

[Kingokings204]

Probably. Just seen we’ve only registered 24 players out of a possible 25 players for the EFL squad till Jan with the window now closed. Looks like a spot reserved for someone..,

yeah why on earth would you not fill the slot with anyone. Must be something of a plan

 

[Alkhen]

Probably. Just seen we’ve only registered 24 players out of a possible 25 players for the EFL squad till Jan with the window now closed. Looks like a spot reserved for someone..,

Have we actually left anyone out though? U21s aren't registered are they. Could just be a coincidence

 

[skysblue]

For fuck sake King our midfield is woeful, sort it!

 

[Matt smith]

Have we actually left anyone out though? U21s aren't registered are they. Could just be a coincidence

Agreed. I think it’s just that’s the amount of players we have

 

[Ash]

It’s not woeful, one of the best in the league in sheaf, but agreed it needed strengthening

It’s still not one of the best in the league even with Sheaf playing every week, we needed depth in there!

 

[quinn1971]

Not sure about the James signing, with an international break wouldn’t you get him into ryton to have a look at him, bit of a fitness test ?

 

[Matt smith]

It’s still not one of the best in the league even with Sheaf playing every week, we needed depth in there!

I’m not disagreeing, what I’m saying is sheaf is that good he makes the other average to good midfielders we have raise their game

we needed one more, but the key ingredient till January is just keeping sheaf fit, bit of a tough ask it seems

sheaf is good enough to play the six on his own for a team aspiring for the play offs at least, then either play another sitter in Eccles or two 8’s in Torp and Rudoni, both have to drastically improve and start performing

 

[The watchmaker]

I'd be really happy to bring James in. If the rumours are true maybe Doug let Robins reach out to him given previous relations... but when it comes to the final decision he will have to consider whether terms suit, finances, severity of Sheaf's injury, what effect bringing James in would have on January transfer window ambitions etc.

The midfield is no weaker than it was this time last year. Top 2 looks tricky now but James probably doesn't change that and if we can make it to January 'in contention' then hopefully we can still have a shot at play offs. There is nothing ideal about where we are now and you would imagine James would be cheap(ish), but if DK etc decides a short term fix will not suit club in the long term... so be it.

 

[Sky_Blue_Dreamer]

I'd have thought someone like James would just be taking Palmer's wage and so shouldn't overly affect finances that were already in place for a new CM.

 

[shmmeee]

I'd have thought someone like James would just be taking Palmer's wage and so shouldn't overly affect finances that were already in place for a new CM.

Until Jan

 

[Otis]

Until Jan

Okay. So then, how much is Jan getting?

And who's Jan?


This guy?

 

[Deity]

I'd have thought someone like James would just be taking Palmer's wage and so shouldn't overly affect finances that were already in place for a new CM.

In part Dreamer but most free agents want a signing on fee too ( normally a sizeable 6 figure sum ) and for all we know James might want 2 years or even 2+1 ! Where as Palmer just had 1 yr left.

Interestingly our EFL squad of 25 has been submitted with just 24 names so that rather suggests we plan to bring one more in.

 

[Frostie]

Interestingly our EFL squad of 25 has been submitted with just 24 names so that rather suggests we plan to bring one more in.

Or that we just happen to have 24?

 

[torchomatic]

Fuck me. Four keepers in the first team squad.

 

[SlowerThanPlatt]

Interestingly our EFL squad of 25 has been submitted with just 24 names so that rather suggests we plan to bring one more in.

That would only make sense if we decided not to register a senior player already at the club.

 

[Hobo]

Agreed. I think it’s just that’s the amount of players we have

I agree as under 21's don't count.

However, why panic and sign James? I doubt he would agree to a contract until Christmas?

We may have been close to signing someone or working on signing someone, which could be completed in January? A better prospect than James going forward?

The club doesn't give much away on targets and who they are negotiating with and rightly so. Too many fans are making assumptions off very few facts.

It is easy to say we need a RB, a CB and a DM. But we have one slot in the squad, unless we sign an under 21, a utility or prioritise one position, those are the options? Until we off load someone, but again something easier said than done.

 

[Houchens Head]

Are we allowed to call them Christian names in this day and age, the wsy things are going they'll just give us a number from birth!

It's already started in Spain. Plenty naming their first born Juan!

 

[Grendel]

I agree as under 21's don't count.

However, why panic and sign James? I doubt he would agree to a contract until Christmas?

We may have been close to signing someone or working on signing someone, which could be completed in January? A better prospect than James going forward?

The club doesn't give much away on targets and who they are negotiating with and rightly so. Too many fans are making assumptions off very few facts.

It is easy to say we need a RB, a CB and a DM. But we have one slot in the squad, unless we sign an under 21, a utility or prioritise one position, those are the options? Until we off load someone, but again something easier said than done.

We can offload a couple on loan in January if we want to or sell a keeper

Some times the club has to adopt a short term strategy and take players on a years deal or loans

We were short of depth last January. We would never have taken a player like Moore but Ipswich saw a need and did.

The irony on James is that his injury record is now a lot better than previously. He played 37 games last year. His record is better than Sheaf.

There are funds as Palmer has gone.

 

[Sky Blue Goblin]

Just seen someone online going on about us looking at cryus Christie. Maybe Doug only allows one over 24 year old to join

 

[ProfessorbyGrace]

Let us sign Christie and James, or Robbings hAs To GoOooO…uNaCcEpTaBlE.

 

[Sky Blue Goblin]

Let us sign Christie and James, or Robbings hAs To GoOooO…uNaCcEpTaBlE.

Season over.

 

[Paxman II]

Absolutely not! This would be a major back track for a player past his prime and not at the level we are now. Our whole set up has changed and we don't need any journeymen into the building who at best are average and no improvement of what we have. Would not go down well with other players in my mind.
We need to be looking at quality loans from the premier league.

 

[Deity]

Absolutely not! This would be a major back track for a player past his prime and not at the level we are now. Our whole set up has changed and we don't need any journeymen into the building who at best are average and no improvement of what we have. Would not go down well with other players in my mind.
We need to be looking at quality loans from the premier league.

The loan window is closed