Summer Window 2026 - Rumours and Discussion

Henry Irving said:

blackpool72 said:

superdulvertonred said:

Personally think Gilbert was a decent player 

Decent for league one. 
Not good enough for the championship imo.

Played regulary for a top six team last season.

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.

Football, although ‘a simple game’ is much more nuanced and complex than people like to admit. 

DennisBooth said:

We are after Alex Gilbert according to the other forum.

I feel he is kind of at our current level.

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.

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.

FishCostaFortune said:

Henry Irving said:

blackpool72 said:

superdulvertonred said:

Personally think Gilbert was a decent player 

Decent for league one. 
Not good enough for the championship imo.

Played regulary for a top six team last season.

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.

Football, although ‘a simple game’ is much more nuanced and complex than people like to admit. 

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. 

superdulvertonred said:

Personally think Gilbert was a decent player 

He did ok for Boro last season

sam3110 said:

He's a championship player, but only just. We need players better than that to evolve

He’s not even that now, he’s without a Club.

TheAddicks4Ever said:

Redguy12 said:

DennisBooth said:

We are after Alex Gilbert according to the other forum.

Hope not. He's way blow the physicality levels that is required for this level.

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 player 

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.

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)

Zach Mitchell's loan confirmed

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:

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. 

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)

I still think we might well see Sichenje in that ball winning midfield role.

Crispywood 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 ins

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 currently 

Bailey said:

Zulu said:

Bailey said:

Southbank said:

Crispywood said:

kodfish said:

Could Gough play the Connor Coady cdm role?

Seems like Jones reckons Mwamba is a much better fit for it then Gough 

Mwamba is an attacking midfielder, not like Coady at all.

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. 

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.

Wait and see Zulu.

Don't you mean "Zulus! wait and see the whites of their eyes..."?