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Summer Window 2026 - Rumours and Discussion
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Fair enough, as I said I’ve only watched the highlights. On the first half it looks like Apter and Enslin are wing backs holding the width, and Olaofe is up front with Leaburn, anytime Olaofe is seen on the highlights he’s in a strikers position. It looks very 3-5-2CAFCsayer said:
Tanto started out wideNabySarr said:
I didn’t watch the game last night so can’t comment, just going on what I’ve read. Also from the highlights we started with Leaburn and Olaofe up front so I’m not sure how a 4-2-3-1 was made up there?sam3110 said:
He used it a lot at Luton, especially lower down the pyramid.NabySarr said:
Has he? I don’t think he has. Used it at Southampton and maybe at Stoke but whenever he’s had success it’s been with a 442 diamond or a 352sam3110 said:Jones has used 4231 loads in his managerial career
If he thinks he can get something out of Redmond, then let's try
Godden was 32 when we signed him from Coventry, just saying
I can’t see him switching us to 4231 as a starting system. He just wants the options to be able to change to it in game if needed. Our starting system will be the 3-5-2/4-2-3-1 hybrid which it sounds like we played last night, so with a more defensive LWB and a more attacking RWB, with TC drifting out to the left
Last night we played a back 4 in both halves, Kelman was name dropped on Cawley's pod that he told them that a back 4 was what they've practiced all week and it's what we used.
Anyone trying to claim it wasn't and it was still a 352 is wrong, at least for last night. Moving forward we might see the hybrid shape, or we might switch to the back 4 permanently, who knows
He really didn’t use it at Luton lower down the pyramid or at all. In league 2 and league 1 they played a 4-4-2 diamond. When he came back in the championship they at first played that, and then moved to a 3-5-2. He has never been a 4-2-3-1 manager other than at Southampton
The second half does look like it was a 4-3-3 or 4-2-3-1.Overall, I’d be surprised if we are moving to a 4 at the back system as our primary option. I think like last season it will be something we can change too, but I think maybe we will see it more often as we will be putting together a squad that is more able to play it1 -
If we were to move to a 4-2-3-1 as our primary systems, then we would need to add 2 good wingers to our squad. On our budget, given what we already need, this seems very unlikely1
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Can't see us retooling the midfield to the level it needs and then signing a couple of quality 433 wingers too. Maybe a loan on a wide player and Apter is kept around but that's the lot I would expect.NabySarr said:If we were to move to a 4-2-3-1 as our primary systems, then we would need to add 2 good wingers to our squad. On our budget, given what we already need, this seems very unlikely1 -
But there’s a difference between signing Dykes/Clarke and dropping £10m on Galbraith (who he mentioned). I took it more as “we can’t sign top end Championship players” more than anything elseWeegie Addick said:I understand Jones’ comments re not having the budget to buy Championship players. It is quite a concern, though, when the signing of experienced champ players on loan last season (Coady, Bree/Clarke, Dykes) was fundamental in getting us across the line.The signing strategy becomes an even bigger gamble when the new players are untested in English football. We’ve moved on from signing the cream of the crop from L1 to sourcing “hidden gems” from eg a team relegated from the Eredivisie and from Eastern European leagues.I hope we are eyeing up a few loanees that have Champ experience. Maybe that’s why we are having to be patient on timing.8 -
Well if we want 7 signings and have 2 so far...
Ramsay is a decent RB, he's not progressive enough to be RWB, but if we're playing 4231 more then perhaps we only need 1 right wingback signing?
We'd need 2 wingers, minimum, one on each side, to play ahead of Apter and TC ideally.
We'd still need 2 midfielders, both comfortable playing the deeper role, but again at least a creative minded player.
The issue then is we're sticking with what he have up top, and that's a big gamble. Kelman thrived in a 4231 at Orient, but it's asking a lot for him to do similar this season, and I'm not sure our other strikers are up for the role.0 -
We aren’t going to be playing 4-2-3-1 though. If we need 2 wingers and 2 midfielders of starting quality that’s already at least £10m+. We aren’t going to be doing that in 1 summersam3110 said:Well if we want 7 signings and have 2 so far...
Ramsay is a decent RB, he's not progressive enough to be RWB, but if we're playing 4231 more then perhaps we only need 1 right wingback signing?
We'd need 2 wingers, minimum, one on each side, to play ahead of Apter and TC ideally.
We'd still need 2 midfielders, both comfortable playing the deeper role, but again at least a creative minded player.
The issue then is we're sticking with what he have up top, and that's a big gamble. Kelman thrived in a 4231 at Orient, but it's asking a lot for him to do similar this season, and I'm not sure our other strikers are up for the role.
Teams often play 3-5-2 because from a squad building perspective it’s a much cheaper squad to build than a 4-3-3/4-2-3-1 is. Wingers and strikers that can play on their own are the most expensive signings to make. I think people are jumping the gun way too much based on half a pre-season game. I’m sure we will see 4-2-3-1 on occasion next season, just like we did last season. But the squad will be being built for 3-5-2, as it has been the last few years.
We need to sign 2 new midfielders, 2 right wing backs, and then 1 more forward (imo this should be a similar player to TC that’s more of a wide forward than an out and out striker)1 -
Rich Cawley heard that NJ wanted 7 and all starters so exciting times ahead. Not sure why but think we’ll sign a few decent players.19
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The thing is, people these days have trouble with others speaking honestly, NJ has always said it’s a journey and a building process, he has done nothing but his best for us and has the owners on board with him, I can only speak for myself but I am more than happy to see how things develop and look forward to another hard season in a division we all wanted to be in as a minimum. Any dramas outside of that I just see as a bit of rocking the boat for not much reason.FishCostaFortune said:I do despair a bit sometimes.Jones whose vision is driving this project, is literally on record stating that our development as a football club will be done with incremental increases to the budget - which the board have backed him by doing.
Due to this, and the current level of the squad, he is completely correct in saying we don’t have the money to go out and spend £10 million on one player. We need to bring in to many players still.This year however the budget has increased, and we do not have to bring in as many players. This means we should see an increase in what we do spend on *some* players compared to last year, and the year before that. At the moment we are barely 5 seconds into pre season - so getting worried/worked up because of what other teams are doing is such a waste of your energy.
You may not agree that this is the way we should be approaching things, but it is - and so far it has worked.13 -
Yup and hopefully we will get them but NJ also said he would have liked another couple in by now so I hope we are in a position where things are just delayed rather than missing out on players we want. Plenty of time left thoughmart77 said:Rich Cawley heard that NJ wanted 7 and all starters so exciting times ahead. Not sure why but think we’ll sign a few decent players.4 -
I'd like a quid for every time you used the word 'concern' because of what another club are doing. You on a mission?AberystwythAddick said:
The point is this is how much players cost, especially at our level. If a team we should be seeing as immediate competition is spending that then it’s concerningButtleJR said:Money doesn't mean success. Look at hull... Also that bloke Portsmouth signed got one goal in Spain then went to Portugal and got 9 in 31. Hardly prolific. Not suddenly a good player because they cost a few quid.1 -
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I have a feeling we may have missed out on one or two but tbh I think most teams do. The hope is that we have good alternatives and funds to pivot in such cases. Like you say plenty of time left.AndyG said:
Yup and hopefully we will get them but NJ also said he would have liked another couple in by now so I hope we are in a position where things are just delayed rather than missing out on players we want. Plenty of time left thoughmart77 said:Rich Cawley heard that NJ wanted 7 and all starters so exciting times ahead. Not sure why but think we’ll sign a few decent players.2 -
Hes a right sided CB with pace, I dont think its a stretch to suggest he could play RB in a back 4. I wouldnt want to see him play anywhere else though, you are right in that.sam3110 said:
Why are people all shoehorning Sichenje into positions he's never played? He's not a right back, he's not a wingback, he's not a midfielder.MeerKat said:
4 at the back, with Kayne and Collins at RB we wouldn't need a RWB. Depending on budget and recruitment, might be an option.DamoNorthStand said:I think in a 4 at the back Sichenje could be suitable for RB looking at how he plays
Would you say the same thing about Lloyd Jones?0 -
It’s also the World Cup, which always slows down the summer window.Weegie Addick said:I understand Jones’ comments re not having the budget to buy Championship players. It is quite a concern, though, when the signing of experienced champ players on loan last season (Coady, Bree/Clarke, Dykes) was fundamental in getting us across the line.The signing strategy becomes an even bigger gamble when the new players are untested in English football. We’ve moved on from signing the cream of the crop from L1 to sourcing “hidden gems” from eg a team relegated from the Eredivisie and from Eastern European leagues.I hope we are eyeing up a few loanees that have Champ experience. Maybe that’s why we are having to be patient on timing.2 -
Wouldn’t read much into the 4-2-3-1 formation, we’ve played it every single game for two seasons whenever we’re in possession, it’s why TC and Berry/Carey were vital.0
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Mate we will always miss out on players, it’s about what plan B,C,D is, and hopefully get as many plan A as possible.AndyG said:
Yup and hopefully we will get them but NJ also said he would have liked another couple in by now so I hope we are in a position where things are just delayed rather than missing out on players we want. Plenty of time left thoughmart77 said:Rich Cawley heard that NJ wanted 7 and all starters so exciting times ahead. Not sure why but think we’ll sign a few decent players.2 -
Seem to remember when he signed it was mentioned he’d played in midfield, if I’m wrong so be it.MeerKat said:
Hes a right sided CB with pace, I dont think it’s a stretch to suggest he could play RB in a back 4. I wouldnt want to see him play anywhere else though, you are right in that.sam3110 said:
Why are people all shoehorning Sichenje into positions he's never played? He's not a right back, he's not a wingback, he's not a midfielder.MeerKat said:
4 at the back, with Kayne and Collins at RB we wouldn't need a RWB. Depending on budget and recruitment, might be an option.DamoNorthStand said:I think in a 4 at the back Sichenje could be suitable for RB looking at how he plays
Would you say the same thing about Lloyd Jones?1 -
Well, those 4 pages were a definite must read;)
I’m not sure about Redman either, too Red for me.2 -
Well said …… fact is I suppose we could spend 10 mill on one player but that over half our budget gone .. on one player and we want 7/8FishCostaFortune said:I do despair a bit sometimes.Jones whose vision is driving this project, is literally on record stating that our development as a football club will be done with incremental increases to the budget - which the board have backed him by doing.
Due to this, and the current level of the squad, he is completely correct in saying we don’t have the money to go out and spend £10 million on one player. We need to bring in to many players still.This year however the budget has increased, and we do not have to bring in as many players. This means we should see an increase in what we do spend on *some* players compared to last year, and the year before that. At the moment we are barely 5 seconds into pre season - so getting worried/worked up because of what other teams are doing is such a waste of your energy.
You may not agree that this is the way we should be approaching things, but it is - and so far it has worked.
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NabySarr said:If we were to move to a 4-2-3-1 as our primary systems, then we would need to add 2 good wingers to our squad. On our budget, given what we already need, this seems very unlikelyStill plenty in the budget for two very good quality wingers but he wants 3 mid and a striker as well
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I think the championship comment is misleading anyway, if there's a decent championship player available on a free (Sykes, for instance, or Bell last season) then they might be looked at. The premise behind his words is you won't catch us dropping 10m on a player from another championship side, something that's getting more frequent now, and will probably be the norm soon.
Maybe in 2 or 3 years if we're established in this league, we'll be the ones spending that dough9 -
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Hopefully we’ll pick up 1 or 2 good quality young Premiership loanees (like Preston did last year), although that won’t happen until well into August when Premier League squads are finalised and declared.6
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I think if we want an alternative to TC, someone with pace and 1v1 ability, then that’s probably going to need to be a PL academy player. Just not easy at all to find that kind of player on our budget as a permanent signing, but should be plenty of young wide forwards in Premier league U21 sides so it’s just about finding the right oneBlucher said:Hopefully we’ll pick up 1 or 2 good quality young Premiership loanees (like Preston did last year), although that won’t happen until well into August when Premier League squads are finalised and declared.2 -
Would expect it will be the last week of the window before you get the better PL loans becoming available. Late start to the season and Preseason tours will mean the better players will be needed.0
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@stjohnshill any further news on the third signing that was nearly done?1
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Zak Mitchell is going back to st Johnstone on loan for the season8
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NJ comments about certain youngsters 'being a lot closer than people think' I took to mean that they will be in and around the first eleven at the start of the season, Fuller and Gough certainly but Dixon, Asiimwe, Kanu and Mbick, maybe. If seven players were quoted as arriving, then one of those would surely be a replacement for Bree/Clarke's position as right wing back, which leaves four, I can't see more than one forward coming in which leaves the midfield as the prime area to be reinforced. Seven in would surely mean seven out, Adhame already loaned for the season, Gillie gone permanently, interesting to see who else may leave.
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https://www.dailyrecord.co.uk/sport/football/football-transfer-news/transfer-news-live-celtic-rangers-37360047#entry917251FAVADDICK said:Zak Mitchell is going back to st Johnstone on loan for the season0 -
Good move for Zach , needs to go and play week in week out after a disrupted season7
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Well you just added to it!!😜sillav nitram said:Well, those 4 pages were a definite must read;)
I’m not sure about Redman either, too Red for me.1
