Attention: Please take a moment to consider our terms and conditions before posting.
Summer Window 2026 - Rumours and Discussion
Comments
-
Well he’s not way below…he played 21 matches for Middlesbrough last year and he’s still only 24 - he still has a lot of development and potential. It depends where NJ sees him as a playerRedguy12 said:
Hope not. He's way blow the physicality levels that is required for this level.DennisBooth said:We are after Alex Gilbert according to the other forum.20 -
Played regulary for a top six team last season.blackpool72 said:
Decent for league one.superdulvertonred said:Personally think Gilbert was a decent player
Not good enough for the championship imo.15 -
It’s the same as Conor McGrandles was not good enough for ‘promotion chasing league one team’ - even though before us he had been part of one, and after us part of a successful one.Henry Irving said:
Played regulary for a top six team last season.blackpool72 said:
Decent for league one.superdulvertonred said:Personally think Gilbert was a decent player
Not good enough for the championship imo.
Football, although ‘a simple game’ is much more nuanced and complex than people like to admit.11 -
No he didn't. He played 866 minutes, less than 10 full matches. He was about on par for minutes as Joe Rankin-Costello who was far from a regular for usHenry Irving said:
Played regulary for a top six team last season.blackpool72 said:
Decent for league one.superdulvertonred said:Personally think Gilbert was a decent player
Not good enough for the championship imo.12 -
I feel he is kind of at our current level.DennisBooth said:We are after Alex Gilbert according to the other forum.
Better technically than most we have but lacking physicality that Jones requires. I am not sure he is a step up per se.
He was excellent for a couple of months under Hellberg when he first came in, and really looked like a level above the player we saw last year but slowly saw his minutes bcame limited.
I would be surprised if it happened but I do think he is Championship level.4 -
We after the free transfers now.10
-
Where would Gilbert fit in? He’s not going to play Coventry or Docherty’s role in a NJ team, regardless of whether he played deeper for Boro. We have depth in the attacking midfield spot with Carey, Knibbs and Fullah. If we use wingers we need pace and power for the way NJ teams play, not a tidy technical player.4
-
NJ definitely wants Carey to play further back. He also wants the option to play two 10's. I don't think being a 10 is what would stop us signing Gilbert, it would be his lack of engine and strengthScoham said:Where would Gilbert fit in? He’s not going to play Coventry or Docherty’s role in a NJ team, regardless of whether he played deeper for Boro. We have depth in the attacking midfield spot with Carey, Knibbs and Fullah. If we use wingers we need pace and power for the way NJ teams play, not a tidy technical player.2 -
Football teams are like a jigsaw puzzle. No matter how good a jigsaw piece is if it doesn’t fit into your puzzle it’s pointless. There are countless examples up and down the leagues of players not doing well at one club and finding success elsewhere.FishCostaFortune said:
It’s the same as Conor McGrandles was not good enough for ‘promotion chasing league one team’ - even though before us he had been part of one, and after us part of a successful one.Henry Irving said:
Played regulary for a top six team last season.blackpool72 said:
Decent for league one.superdulvertonred said:Personally think Gilbert was a decent player
Not good enough for the championship imo.
Football, although ‘a simple game’ is much more nuanced and complex than people like to admit.2 -
I liked Gilbert. If it’s a small fee (or free) I’d definitely have him back4
-
Sponsored links:
-
He did ok for Boro last seasonsuperdulvertonred said:Personally think Gilbert was a decent player2 -
He's a championship player, but only just. We need players better than that to evolve0
-
He’s not even that now, he’s without a Club.sam3110 said:He's a championship player, but only just. We need players better than that to evolve0 -
Where he wants Carey to play will show in the midfield signings we make.fenaddick said:
NJ definitely wants Carey to play further back. He also wants the option to play two 10's. I don't think being a 10 is what would stop us signing Gilbert, it would be his lack of engine and strengthScoham said:Where would Gilbert fit in? He’s not going to play Coventry or Docherty’s role in a NJ team, regardless of whether he played deeper for Boro. We have depth in the attacking midfield spot with Carey, Knibbs and Fullah. If we use wingers we need pace and power for the way NJ teams play, not a tidy technical player.
Of course he always wants flexibility, but I think we’re making a similar point in different ways. Gilbert’s not a typical NJ midfielder for the reasons you state, he doesn’t fit the type of midfield roles he generally uses as manager.1 -
He definitely is and helped have Mcgee and Morris next to him that complement he's weakness. He okay technically but he was way blow the physicality level required in league one which was so easy to see. The only position he could play for us is in the no10. He can't press witch is massive for us when out of possession. He nowhere near good enough to play in a double povit he can't cover ground quick and doesn't win enough duels. He may be 24 but he's nowhere near good enough physically. How he played 20 odd game for Middlesbrough is madness.He got away with it with better players around him and Middlesbrough having lots of the ball.TheAddicks4Ever said:
Well he’s not way below…he played 21 matches for Middlesbrough last year and he’s still only 24 - he still has a lot of development and potential. It depends where NJ sees him as a playerRedguy12 said:
Hope not. He's way blow the physicality levels that is required for this level.DennisBooth said:We are after Alex Gilbert according to the other forum.1 -
Gilbert is def a hot and cold type of player, he did "ok" for us towards the end of the 24/25 season, and did make some appearances for 'Boro last season, but we are basing our assessment on that short stay with us, is he worth a gamble, maybe...but he is so un predictable, that's his downfall...0
-
For midfield, I think we need to nail a pacey, physical ball winner who can break up opposition moves and move the ball early, and then someone with a bit of flair and can take players on, ahead of players who are technically moulded like Gilbert. If there’s space in the squad after that, then by all means look at someone who fits his type (or him)5
-
I wouldn't be rushing to sign Gilbert but remember it's only a rumour.
If Ronnie or Cawley confirm our interest then fair enough but it's too hot to worry about till then.6 -
Zach Mitchell's loan confirmed4
-
And most of that was because they had a bad injury crisis in midfield. Outside of that run of games where they had no one else, he barely playedfenaddick said:
No he didn't. He played 866 minutes, less than 10 full matches. He was about on par for minutes as Joe Rankin-Costello who was far from a regular for usHenry Irving said:
Played regulary for a top six team last season.blackpool72 said:
Decent for league one.superdulvertonred said:Personally think Gilbert was a decent player
Not good enough for the championship imo.0 -
Sponsored links:
-
If, for argument’s sake, our transfer (not wage) budget is the TV money of around £12m then it will be interesting to map out where we go from here.
We apparently want 7 starter-level signings and already have two in the door. For speculation purposes, let’s say Mesik and Koumetio have been acquired for a total outlay of about £1m - that would leave our pot at circa £11m for 5 starting-level signings. In the likely event that we sell Kanu (potentially £1m) and Tanto (probably £500-750k) and maybe more, let’s say we have around £12m left.
I would envisage a breakdown of something along these lines with that money:2xRWB
2xCM
1xwide forward2 -
Nothing against Gilbert at all. We wouldn't have won at least two games when we got promoted without him. But I'd like our midfield signings to be good enough to push Carey, Coventry and Docherty, good enough to even bench them personally, and Gilbert just isn't that. Wish him well though6
-
Is Gilbert the best player in the world no but a 24 yr old on a free with championship experience and offers something different to what we have in the building definitely wouldn’t hurt.Also could potentially have a 6’3 Jones, 6’5 Koumetio 6’2 Sichenje 6’2 Knibbs a 6’7 Leaburn and a 6’4 Mbick at set pieces Gilbert may be worth investing in that alone just like Clarke with his long throw ins3
-
Really surprised we’ve not been interested in the either of the Lisbie Brothers!You’d imagine that would be an easy sell, but looks like one may be off to Millwall!1
-
I still think we might well see Sichenje in that ball winning midfield role.cabbles said:For midfield, I think we need to nail a pacey, physical ball winner who can break up opposition moves and move the ball early, and then someone with a bit of flair and can take players on, ahead of players who are technically moulded like Gilbert. If there’s space in the squad after that, then by all means look at someone who fits his type (or him)1 -
Because we’ve had no previous problems with signing young players from the division below at big fees who don’t fit into the set up..sammy391 said:Really surprised we’ve not been interested in the either of the Lisbie Brothers!You’d imagine that would be an easy sell, but looks like one may be off to Millwall!1 -
People too quick to turn their noses up at players like Gilbert, Bree and Clarke. A lot forget where we sit in the pecking order currentlyCrispywood said:Is Gilbert the best player in the world no but a 24 yr old on a free with championship experience and offers something different to what we have in the building definitely wouldn’t hurt.Also could potentially have a 6’3 Jones, 6’5 Koumetio 6’2 Sichenje 6’2 Knibbs a 6’7 Leaburn and a 6’4 Mbick at set pieces Gilbert may be worth investing in that alone just like Clarke with his long throw ins4 -
Gilbert isn’t on the same level as Bree and Clarke. Bree and Clarke are proven good championship players, Gilbert is notAberystwythAddick said:
People too quick to turn their noses up at players like Gilbert, Bree and Clarke. A lot forget where we sit in the pecking order currentlyCrispywood said:Is Gilbert the best player in the world no but a 24 yr old on a free with championship experience and offers something different to what we have in the building definitely wouldn’t hurt.Also could potentially have a 6’3 Jones, 6’5 Koumetio 6’2 Sichenje 6’2 Knibbs a 6’7 Leaburn and a 6’4 Mbick at set pieces Gilbert may be worth investing in that alone just like Clarke with his long throw ins8 -
Bailey said:
Wait and see Zulu.Zulu said:
I think we might have to put all our hopes in the youngsters if we are not buying any key players in the key positions ie midfield.Bailey said:
I think we need to be a bit cautious when putting our hopes in our youngsters at this stage in their career. The comparison with Conor Coady or at least the similarities are a bit wide of the mark in my opinion. What Coady brought was experience, organisation and positional sense, as much as I want Gough and Mwamba to succeed, I think you only need to look at Fuller's contribution last season to realise, it's a big step from under 21's to Championship football.Southbank said:
Mwamba is an attacking midfielder, not like Coady at all.Crispywood said:
Seems like Jones reckons Mwamba is a much better fit for it then Goughkodfish said:Could Gough play the Connor Coady cdm role?
Don't you mean "Zulus! wait and see the whites of their eyes..."?0 -
His only assists for us were a flurry of corners. And he scored no goals. In League One.sam3110 said:He's a championship player, but only just. We need players better than that to evolve
I've been critical of Rankin-Costello... but he scored a couple of goals for us... in the Championship.0
