The Hotel End

Just a thought.
With the window imminent, I would have thought that the chairman would have been planning on player investment based on forecast increases in turnover in FY22/23 with a completed East Stand.
However, now that's been scuppered again, in the short/medium term at least I'd imagine we'll be making do with the excellent squad we have... Albeit needing a little extra up front.
If I was in charge and saw zero chance of plans being  agreed, I'd keep my wallet shut too.
What does everyone else think?
I'm assuming there will be views that the owners should spend regardless of any return.

We seem to be OK with what we have.
It’s failing to invest and build to stay in the next one that’s the recurring issue.

We  definitely need additions up front and midfield. Well sourced loanee is acceptable for me! Is Ironside coming up for Contract renewal?

Personally, wouldn't mind seeing this happening...

https://footballleagueworld.co.uk/opinion-northampton-town-should-look-to-strike-transfer-agreement-with-luton-town-forward/ (https://footballleagueworld.co.uk/opinion-northampton-town-should-look-to-strike-transfer-agreement-with-luton-town-forward/)

Getting Roberts, Horsfall, Koiki & McWilliams tied down to new contracts would also be a priority too, whist trying to possibly offload & replace BAS, Kabamba & Flores...in my opinion!

Also, we still need a head of recruitment, since Foyle left...

I don't think a completed East Stand would really make much of the difference to the playing budget. Any extra income would just reduce the losses. Personally I would like to see us show we can run at a profit, otherwise we are always going to be reliant on external funding

It's January, so unless we are going to splash out on transfer fees and big wages, it's going to be loans, players who have been paid up by other clubs and out of contract. I would hope we can hit the jackpot again with a couple if loan players from the Premier League U23s, the best way to add some quality, but obviously unproven players so may not come off.

Thomas won’t spend a penny of Bowers money, JB will have to let’s go to bring in FACT.

But who recruits the head of recruitment  ??? ;)

Indeed (?) ;)

So , the starting point is :
There is no budget of significance .
As a result , the better players will not sign new contracts despite what is offered them unless we go up .
Don’t hold your breath for a head of recruitment that has to be a magician - the best ones know our situation and will not leave current positions . It’s now down to a scouting network .
New players will come in to replace those failing to perform currently if we can shift them .
it is obvious who the players are .

Not sure its a FACT but I would imagine that whilst JB will want to improve the squad he will also want it slightly smaller so easier to work with.

I would agree with your opinion if we were say 6-10th ish but with us being 2nd and a slight gap opening up I would hope that they see that any investment is a lower risk as the opportunity for promotion is higher. The run of games and league position should also make conversations with players or clubs for loans easier.

That’s what JB has been told, budgets too are off limits for questions apparently.

I would look at spending any budget on securing deals for out key players tbh

I would also look for a cheap loan Wide forward to to compete with Hoskins, Pinnock and Connolly. 

i think it’s a good point that our position will encourage loan players .
Also , the record of developing players under our coaches is very good and it does make you wonder if the likes of Spurs and Burnley in particular will help us out .

We have a threadbare squad and definitely need additions in the window....one or two are not up to standard as well.

+1 we’ve been very lucky with not that many injuries to key players.

Ah, the January transfer window, where fans of every club thinks that a few tweaks are just waiting out there to be signed...and hey Presto North End, World beaters are go!

Pretty sure KT is more interested in the land grab deal than the team. i fear what we want and what we get will be two different matters.
Get rid Flores ashley seal, Kabamba, Pollock may as well go too as he never gets a look in. striker, midfield playmaker in. we will see though

You can add Revan to that list as well. There's no point in keeping him beyond his January loan deal as he has hardly ever been fit to play. Practically another Nuttall.

+1

We should make a move for Haland.
Imagine him and The Hoskmiester up top.
We'd be Champions by Easter!!!

Fantastic opinion - even Pollock now recipient for such critical remarks ::)

Yes, although he looked good warming up on Tuesday... ;)

The only reason for me is that Pollock is not picked suggests he is not ready for league action. From what I have seen of him would tend to agree with JB. If Pollock continues on the bench that slightly undermines JB’s approach. No point selecting a squad player if not good enough. Perhaps JB should consider giving Pollock a ‘sub’ opportunity a few times to determine/justify his selection.

JB obviously sees (or doesnt see) something in Pollock that many of us dont. I would like to see him go out on loan to a National League team to get some real experience and either prove he's good enough or justify if he leaves in the summer.

Can you still recall players on a 6 month loan?

Unlike at any other time in memory, our starting X1 would be difficult to improve without a significant investment in a player.

Not including the unfortunate Sid Nelson, I would argue that we have 15 players 'up to it' in regards to being in a promoted side. Unfortunately, players 12-15 are mainly defenders. I would say that Harriman, Dyche, Mills (should be fit soon) and Rose are all good back ups/plan B's. However beyond that, we struggle...and our lack of decent options in the creative department means we struggle to replace forwards late in games with adequate replacements.

So in simplistic terms, we need upgrades for players 16 downwards. Who could at least start if required, or come off of the bench and not weaken the team.

In an idealistic world, Id like to see 4 such players brought in. Loans or permanents, not bothered. I think that if we are sitting in a similar place in the league come January, we are more likely to be able to attract decent loan players than if we were say midtable or fighting relegation. For obvious reasons! Last time round, we got James Collins for example.

A striker, a creative midfielder, and a winger (for when we need goals) and a McCormack type (for when we need to see a game out) would be my preferences!

A few fantasy numbers. 26 weeks x 8 grand a week (between the 4 players) would cost the owners £208-000 on top of the current budget for this season. That number would obviously come down if we can off load any....

So the question is. Would that 'investment' potentially generate an ROI and would it be worthy of the associated risk? That's what it will probably come down to!

It isn't for me to say what I think. I do though hope that DB and KT take the view that if the team is in a good place, momentum builds and therefore presents an opportunity to increase sales revenues, whether that's through the turnstyles, sponsorship or additional tv money etc if we made it to league1!

I'd imagine this time they won't as they haven't been prepared to back up the further investment to establish us in League One and above. There is no point really.
What are the direct financial benefits of League Two/League One. A lot of that will be probably wiped out with wage requirements.
The way things are with the non-development and ongoing land wrangling's you can't blame them. We haven't had anyone for years whose priority and ambition has been to take us up a notch. It is normally when we flirt with relegation that they start twitching. 

This. For me, it's all about long term strategy. All recruitment decisions should be made with one eye on becoming a sustainable L1 outfit in the long term.

Priority number 1 for me is securing Roberts, Horsfall and Koiki and McWilliams.
Horsfall and McWilliams were part of a defensive unit which held their own in League One towards the end of last season. Roberts is the best keeper we've had since Adam Smith and Koiki is a superb athlete with the potential to grow and develop with us. All four are potentially L1 standard players and would be very hard to replace.

Priority number 2 is improving our squad depth whilst also possibly signing one or two players for the
longer-term.Would be delighted if the Hylton rumours materialise: an experienced striker at this level and the level above with the intelligence to run the channels, hold the ball up and give us a different option to Etete. Signing someone like Hylton could help us over the line this year, and also give us some much-needed nous for a potential L1 campaign the following year when Etete goes.

As I've said before, I also think we need:

- Creative attacking midfielder with pace to give us a good option off the bench as a replacement for one of the attacking triumvirate behind the striker (young Prem/Champ loanee could work, but it would be great to bring someone in with a view to developing them for the longer term). We could bring in two players as Drilling suggests (winger and AM) or just bring in a player who can play both positions as a cheaper option.

- Cover for Sowerby and McWilliams in the DM 'pivot' position - as Drilling says, a McCormack/Sheehan type looking for a last hurrah would be ideal here

Like Drilling I would assume that Harriman, Dyche and Mills would give us enough cover in the defensive positions.

That's three key signings which I think could be made without breaking the bank. If Brady makes them then I would be pretty confident that we could sustain our form into the new year. 

 

As did Mills.

Its not critical of Pollock bird brain , you know, i can count on one hand how many comments ive made in 12 months on here,didnt take you long to start ,is it any wonder hardly anyone posts on here with you destroying threads with your ill thought out comments left right and centre.

Very safe comments Bungle and agree with Ragdolls suggestion that D.Hylton might be a sensible option. As Drilling says we do have reasonable backup at the moment with several Players namely: Pollock, Maxted, Bas(some don't!),Mills, Harriman, Dyche,Flores, Kabamba, Connelly Flores and probably one or two youngsters. That lad who played left back I think v Brighton looked the part. I would be very surprised if we signed 3 or even 4 players unless we can off load a few. We will simply have to make do with what we have, so retain the team spirit/togetherness which has grown with this group of players. Ready made replacement for Ete would be good but the one essential for me would be cover for McW/Sowerby.
 
Hylton is an interesting suggestion but can only see JB playing both when ever possible. This might jeopardize the favoured 4-3-2-1 formation :o.

I have a gut feeling BAS might still come good and Flores might still be fit for purpose.

I know I keep enthralling everyone with tales from this year’s Deloitte football finance report so I’ll say it again. The average loss in league 2 is £800k per club and the average loss in league 1 is £2 million. So the benefit of league 1 football is that the club loses an extra £1.2 million on average. Anyone on here is welcome to put any spin or misdirection on this they like obviously, but that is a fact.

I don’t really see how it would generate any sort of return financially. Say for instance it does get us promoted, this guarantees us extra income but the probable extra cost of making the squad even remotely competitive would wipe that out and even go beyond that. I see it much more of trying to buy success than any sort of investment.

Interesting. Are those figures from last year's fan-less Covid season? Isn't that skewed due to the likes of Sunderland and Ipswich spunking mega money trying to get out of the league?

It's true that the higher up the pyramid you go the higher the losses because bigger clubs have the collateral to take the hit and the competition is fierce. Premier League clubs made a combined loss of over 'half a billion pound' last year according to the Independent.

However, I would argue that a sustained spell in L1 would lead to better attendances (when away fans are taken into account), slightly more TV money and slightly more corporate interest. Surely it's more lucrative to be playing Sunderland and Sheffield Weds than Barrow and Sutton?. Providing we didn't go out and spunk silly money on players a la the height of the JFH era, then I would have thought that it would be manifestly in our long-term financial interests to establish ourselves at L1 level.

We need to mega-spend. Buy top class chaps what can boost our ability to the nth degree. Let's face it, we don't have anyone who can truly be considered exciting. The cost? Who cares? We are 6 or 7 mill. down so another 6 or 7 mill. won't hurt. The worst that can happen? We go pop and start again without the 2 amigos. Win win.

To be fair Bungle it’s all a bit difficult to work out as it’s generalised figures so you don’t get an exact picture. As a general rule it’s something like 5 or 6 clubs breaking even in the bottom 2 divisions. I think the likes of a big spending Sunderland etc would affect the figures in league 1. However, it’s almost guaranteed that our loses would increase significantly if we made a serious attempt to sustain our position should we get promoted. The last 2 seasons in Division 1 didn’t increase our attendance figures by that much and I can’t remember us selling out our away ticket allocation (although I assume we did on occasion). The thing is that even if you do find a few cut price gems, they are quickly attracted away. So you have to keep doing it unless you increase your budget. If you don’t spend beyond your means, you don’t compete. That seems to be the underlying indication from the report.

With that in mind are we better getting relegated so we can ‘lose’ a bit less? I don’t think we can apply for a bye to the Championship  ;D
If you’re not in football to win there’s not much point.

All true. I suppose I’m just continuing to bang the drum that the whole of football needs a reset. What sort of industry or call it what you will allows itself to get in this position. It seems to me it’s either live to your means and struggle to stay in the EFL or spend and risk financial Armageddon. Sort of mediocrity or die. So back on track when you throw all of this into the considerations for the January transfer window it’s a dilemma. Potentially increase your budget to ensure you lose more money. That’s fine while you have someone who’s prepared to bankroll it.

 ;D  You don’t like full stops do you?

And you are a sad old VVanker

Grove - your post is totally out of order, you can disagree with other people's posts without being insulting. I sit near Everbrite in the west stand and can assure you that he is neither a "birdbrain" or a Vvanker". The content of your post probably says more about you.

As you know Melly you can make figures support any argument, when you start linearising data you lose all clarity, but I completely agree football for the lower leagues needs a reset.
It’s not rocket science how to become more sustainable, I attended the Saints vs Bath game last week, wow what a difference in fan experience, fantastic fans village, live music, great food and drinks, with the arrive early and leave late motto fully in force.
They are also having concerts in the summer, all this massively increases revenue, the holy grail of any business.
Unfortunately for us we think small act small and therefore are small both in revenue and support.
Lazy Thomas would rather load the club with debt than try and make it more sustainable.

 
 :o

Re the abuse. One person’s sniping put down on someone’s grammar is worse than a direct throwaway insult for many people. As is a running critique on numerous comments which is totally uncalled for and stirs the pot. People in glass houses etc.
Just #bekind.

As predicted , the club haven’t replaced Martin Foyle and have simply increased the scouting network .
I think this is a setback because there is no doubt he found some gems in the summer .
The problem is getting someone to do that job with the restraints we have as a club financially .

His leaving was a shame, by all accounts he had a good lower league network?

The club say funds will be available for additions during the January window.

https://www.ntfc.co.uk/news/2021/december/recruitment_strengthening/

Jon Brady says funds are available but people on here have said they're not. I don't know who to believe  ???

Sarcasm is the lowest form of wit.
£1 or £500,000?  :P

Funds are available if within budget .
So basically players need shifting .
It’s fairly obvious who those people might be to create room to improve the squad .

That’s a bitter pill for one or two on here to swallow! ;)

Disagree with this a little, especially if carrying injuries.

JB "The owners have shown previously that they have always backed managers and funds will once again be available in this window to strengthen the already strong squad to help us add further competition for places for the second half of the season.”

I think the owners (regardless of other events) get a bit more supportive when facing a real prospect of promotion. It’s backing it up the following season that we normally fall short. Would definitely be beneficial to drop a few though.

In all seriousness it depends what sort of funds are available. Might not be for a transfer fee but more for additional salary, like we did with Ricky Holmes. Or could be for a transfer fee and salary. I guess the truth is no one on here knows, we just have opinions.
Personally I wouldn't think they will want to spend money unless its a proven return (i.e guarantee a goal scorer). I imagine we'll make 2-3 signings but more to strengthen the bench than first team starters. As someone else put, we rarely improve the team when bringing subs on.

Are you on the board of directors? How do you know what the budget is and what needs to happen (player shifting) in January?

If ntfclad confirmed this I will gladly believe it. No disrespect to you.

Would definitely want to see a player or two come in. Striker is a must as we can’t keep relieving on our centre half’s to keep scoring the goals.

The difference between us and forest green is J Matt. Who has been very consistent in scoring goals this season. I’m not saying we will get a free scoring striker as there are very hard to comes across but the players who are currently playing in that position won’t carry us for long as they simply don’t have the goals in them unfortunately.

A loan striker would be nice but the rumoured D Hylton I just can’t see that being a goer.

"we can't keep relieving on our centre halves" - absolutely not, that is definitely out of order.

;D

https://www.northamptonchron.co.uk/sport/football/boss-brady-hoping-to-tie-key-cobblers-performers-to-new-deals-as-soon-as-we-can-3496312

Attempting to start the process early for next summer... 8)

Good to see the club being proactive whatever the outcome.

Roberts should be the first one signed up.

Spot on. 

One season wonder or a genius signing??!!  I think we will miss Mr Foyle black book this summer…

Some very interesting incoming rumours on the ‘in the know ‘ cobblers WhatsApp group….. ;) :)

What are they?
For those of us who don't do Cobblers WhatsApp  :)

Come on then, brighten up our Christmas with a few of those rumours... 😉

Really like the noises coming out of the club ATM.

Attempting to do contract business early rather than at the last minute, making signings using a 'depth and range of statistical information' (KT) rather than relying on gut feeling - it all smacks of a club which is at last formulating some sort of long-term strategy.

I was initially sceptical about Foyle's summer recruitment. The influx of ex-pats from the Scottish FPL seemed like lazy scouting sourced from the most recent opponents of Foyle's erstwhile employers rather than data-driven rigour. However, Roberts, MacGowan, Koiki, Guthrie, Pinnock, Lewis and Etete have all been overwhelming successes so far.

I suspect Pinnock in particular might be an example of the 'dept and range of statistical information' which KT talks about as a hallmark of our new process. The primary reason for our relegation from L1 last year was our failure to create chances. Our delivery from wide areas and set pieces was piss poor. I'd like to think that someone did some proper analysis on Pinnock and worked out that his delivery was excellent even if he didn't get that many assists due to playing in a struggling Kilmarnock side. Similarly, I wonder if someone did some analysis of Mitchell's poor performance in what was otherwise a pretty solid L1 defence and worked out that if we signed a keeper who was better on long-range shots then we'd be on to a winner.

As I've said many times, for me the first priority is the new contracts for Horsfall, Roberts, McWilliams and Koiki, all of whom have the potential to earn us money in the future. Then, it's all about signing what I see as three key players who could add to our squad depth whilst also ideally providing prospects to develop for the potential L1 campaign to come. As I've said before, centre forward, winger/attacking mid and reserve defensive midfielder would be my list.

If I was going to name names, Danny Hylton, Tahvon Campbell (13 goal winger for Woking in the Conference) and Abraham Odoh at Rochdale would be the type of players I'd be looking at.

 
 


 

Just show a link ::)

Nothing on interest on there!

I think the question we all want to know is... have they had their booster?

The rumours, or those on the 'in the know' Cobblers WhatsApp Group?

Where they cross on the Venn diagram!

https://www.northamptonchron.co.uk/sport/football/cobblers-to-focus-more-on-statistics-and-data-when-recruiting-players-ahead-of-january-transfer-window-3500804

a few non league hopefuls with £££ around

Did we get a response about any increment payable when Goode made his PL debut ?

Soon this whole Covid scandal will be laid bare for all to to see….don’t be sheep people and open your eyes?

Not another Nutter ;D

Absolutely - whilst last season was poor all round, if you consider the points dropped by woeful goalkeeping I think with Roberts in goal we would probably have stayed up.

Completely agree Peter, for me it’s the most important position on the pitch, a poor keeper will destabilise the whole defence because they won’t trust him, Mitchell was one of the worst since Chris Dung.

Bit harsh on Chris but point taken  :)

I've had 60 years of watching NTFC and Mitchell is, without doubt, the worst keeper to play regularly for us. Agree entirely about the defence having no confidence in him, it was obvious and justified

Bolger and Mitchell were a dangerous combination. The lad we had on loan from Brentford had his fair share of shocking moments as well.

Yes it was curious that Bolger made Frazer seem poor but since his departure has been excellent with a fantastic defensive partnership developed.

I had a real dislike towards Jordan Archer! He's had a decent career since though.

The only keeper I think I've seen who was worse than Mitchell was Steve Sherwood. According to wiki he played 16 games for us, but those 16 games seemed more like 116!

I think we’ll get some business done this month

Also hearing vultures are circling at some of our near rivals, namely FGR and Nicky Cadden…

I think getting covers and extra bodies in will be more important than ever, given the sat-tue-sat-tue runs we are bound to find ourselves in!

Any perms or just loans?

Also, any outgoings expected? I assume as Revan is still injured & his loan is up early Jan, he'll be the first one out...

National League teams with big budgets sniffing

Any news on retaining the players we have out of contract next summer? That would be my main priority first.

Yes this, keeper and back four need longer contracts.

Only if they are willing to sign the contract extensions placed before them.
How many of the current players will JB want in the Third Division?

Personally I would be looking to make sure that the current back 5 (Including keeper) are under contract.

I hope we do most of our business in the first week of January instead of our usual last 2 days!

I agree get the current regular players signed up first, then sign 2 strikers and a creative midfielder.

I doubt we’ll get relegated  :P

All I know is what Brady said that they’re going to try and get certain players tied up

To the other questions, ambition is always permanent signings but usually a loan deal is easier to do in Jan.
Hearing it’s strength in depth in the middle of the park and up front that is being looked at as a priority.

So no news on Danny Hylton ?

Gerard Garner won't come apparently.

Haven’t seen anything about that…all I saw was a Twitter article saying we should go for him, then repeated as gospel on Facebook that he was signing

OK for me the keeper and back four are of League one standard, in midfield Pollock, McWilliams and Sowerby are also worth keeping unfortunately after that with Etete not being ours there’s nothing else worth keeping.
We can have a debate about Super Sam but at L1 level he’s struggled and I think the standard will be even higher with the likes of Sunderland, Sheffield Wednesday, Pompey, Ipswich and Charlton in there with significantly greater budgets and better quality players.

Is this the same Danny Hylton that reported to be on £4500 a week?  ;D

You can get treatment for that nowadays so I hear.

In the window.

Allegedly  ;D

I don't think any of our Brady signings were known or talked about before they were announced on the website, so imagine it'll be the same again.

Long way from knowing that we were going to sign Platt about 6 weeks in advance.

Wiped on the curtains.

Now then now then, heard something very interesting yesterday. Sounds very early days but am told we’re exploring the possibility of bringing an ex striker back on loan.

And before anyway asks, no his name isn’t Adebayo…

Ginger Pele.

https://twitter.com/EnglishRumours_/status/1476625206156353538 (https://twitter.com/EnglishRumours_/status/1476625206156353538)

#signjohn

I don't recall any successful strikers since the Wilder era when we had Calvert-Lewin, Marquis and Collins and I do not see any of those returning. So are we looking pre Wilder?

Chuk?

I'd be delighted but amazed with that one!

I wouldn't, going by the local Pompey media this season, he hasn't had a particularly good season and has been the 'scapegoat' for many of the more vocal Pompey fans.

I think Marquis is out of contract at the end of the season.

Looks as if that tweet had taken its info from an article in the Portsmouth News where us and Mansfield are theorised as potential destinations

However, my info is unconnected to either of those, in fact I’ve sat on it for a couple of days and deliberated whether to post it

How long ago did they wear the claret and white?

Callum Morton off to Posh :'(

Only on loan though, fortunately.

Of course he is.
I predicted this the minute we couldn’t afford to get him on loan a second time.
I predict a glut of goals , a permanent signing and a large profit for posh….

Meanwhile at sixfields free transfers and short term loans reign supreme.
I’ve said it many times , the current board have no long term ambitions for the club and aren’t interested in investing their money into anything that will lead to on field progress or future benefit to the club as they won’t be here to benefit themselves as they’ll be off like a shot when they succeed in their land acquisition.

That’s my opinion and I’d loved to be proved wrong.
Come on Kelvin and David invest in some players that will benefit the club going forwards into the future even if you’re not here to benefit from it.

There’s no long term benefit in short term loans if you don’t back it up with long term on field investment
Now let’s sit back and see

No it’s Marquis I’ve heard from my usual sources, but like I said it’s early stages

That would be an excellent signing, especially at our level, thanks for the info.

Think this has been posted before but in any case well worth a read.
https://salarysport.com/football/sky-bet-league-one/northampton-town/

Would be an amazing coup. Pompey apparently paid just under £2 million for him to move from Doncaster, where he had prolific a 1-2 scoring record.

He's clearly out of favour and didn't look his usual self when we thumped them at home last season.
I would have thought they'd be looking to recoup some significant money on him which would surely rule us out of a permanent switch, but perhaps the idea would be for him to join us on loan, get some goals and confidence under his belt and then either return to Pompey to fight for his place or to put himself in the shop window for the summer (if he's still under contract).

He signed a 3 year contract at Portsmouth in July 2019 so they will not get a penny at the end of the season.

I actually feel sorry for the board that this has come out as it puts them in a bit of a predicament.
If he signs elsewhere (and let’s be honest it’s got to be highly unlikely we will sign him given our efforts in previous windows) then the board will take unnecessary flak.
In our heart of hearts we surely know we will not be signing a proven striker(based on the fact that we haven’t in previous years) and will instead sign a youth team player on loan at the last minute or a low quality free transfer.
That’s where fans expectations are unfortunately.
Raising expectations that are beyond reality will do the board no good at all.

I honestly feel for them on this occasion.

Have you seen Etete play Shoey ? - youth team player on loan. He's been excellent. The Board (our Board) must be delighted in how well the new management team have performed (the football side). They are under very little pressure.

BAS on £1500PW...
Worth every penny 🤣

Bet he's laughing his head off getting paid what he gets paid and doing absolutely nothing for 2 years.

Plus a transfer fee!

The issue I’m raising is that etete will be of no long term benefit to the club and will probably end up at Peterborough in a couple of years time for them to benefit from (much like Morton)
If etete helps us to promotion he won’t be here next season (just like Morton) and we will be a division higher with no proven goalscorer or promising striker of our own to potentially sell on.
I think these are fair points given our previous endeavours under the current board.

Getting in the likes of Marquis would be a seismic shift in ambition given what has gone before (I think that’s a fair comment) and I personally can’t see it happening based on past form.

If we are trying to go up we surely need to learn from our past errors under the current stewardship and have at least half a team in place that can play in league one rather than loans returning to parent clubs leaving us with the bare bones of a league two squad hoping to be able to cut it in league one.

Maybe getting a few quality players into the club in readiness for league one is the seismic shift needed but it’s not been the clubs way to be proactive rather than reactive and I fully expect the same old mantra of waiting for dominoes to fall elsewhere before making our move at the end of the month…ie) short term loans.
The difference between getting players in early and waiting until the end of the month will dictate our season this year imo.
A couple of good signings now may put a lot of points on the board in January and put us in a very strong position.
Our usual dithering and last minute business will put us on the back foot.

Will we see a change of policy??
We’ll know in the next few days.

I see what you are saying but we could look at things a different way.
I reckon the only chance of Etete being here next season is IF we win promotion, Spurs might then be happy for him to stay with us in a higher division.
Promotion always brings the risk of losing your best contracted players. Ok, a fee is involved but money doesn't guarantee improvements, as we have seen before.
P@sh are bringing in a striker (Morton) who is short of goals, on loan, how excited are their fans? they probably think it's a short sighted deal.
Transfer signings, permanent or loans are never an exact science a bit of luck is always involved.
Maybe we will see a change of policy at the club, or maybe a change of luck?

As regards etete/spurs
We could have said exactly the same as regards Morton/West Brom

The fact is West Brom wanted a loan fee plus a bigger % of his wages covered compared with the previous season.
Basically we couldn’t compete financially with Lincoln city.
Why would etete be any different unless the club changes it transfer policy.
As much as I’d be delighted to see Marquis sign , I can’t see it based on previous endeavours.

Am not sure if that is correct as I read that it was Curle's style of play and Lincoln's then Manager was in cahoots with WBA.

Smell the roses, geeze.

Imo Marquis would be a fantastic signing.

In the six years that the current board have owned the club who do fans rate as the best permanent striker we have had?

If that's the case then I would be absolutely staggered if we get him. A loan would surely be a non-starter and I couldn't see us being able to offer much more than 200K (i.e. 10% of what they signed him for).

Think he'll go for at least 500K to another L1 club - probably MK Dongs or back to Donny.

Why are folk so obsessed with signing ex-players? He had his day, he has gone, move on. There are plenty more spratts in the shallows.

I understand peoples reservations about loan signings but some of them have benefited us massively in the past. Morton's goals helped us gain promotion and we did try to sign him permanently to be fair. Still think he will have a transfer in the future above £1m.

Also understand not wanting to go for ex players, but Marquis is proven at the level above this. He has been with us twice and proved to be a nuisance for oppositions each time. IMO he would be a much closer replica to what Etete can offer us compared to what we currently have in our forward ranks. Runs all day, physical presence and most importantly, scores goals. Would be a definite yes from me, hopefully this time we could actually sign him at the end of the season for free (hopefully following him banging in goals to seal our promotion).

Hope we dont have any of Chesterfield, Notts County or Wrexham coming in for any of our players. As proven with Tozer and Mullin, in a league without salary caps they can offer more than teams in this league (Salford and maybe Bradford aside).

Have we signed anybody yet!!!!?

There is almost zero chance that a random website has access to confidential salary information that is available no where else. Not least logically looking at the fact that there's no way the second highest paid player is someone we took on a contract for only 11 months, and that not a single player is paid in anything other than round numbers in terms of weekly wage.

I do think we do get side-tracked by ex players, but he's the type of players that would work under Brady, high on work-ethic, though I don't know if approaching 30 will have dampened that.

If the wage list Manny has posted is close to being correct I would say we need to move on 5-6 of the top 10 earners at the end of the season if not before. Looking at each of these individually I think we could get better players for the same money or a similar quality of player cheaper.

In one transfer window Deepcut suggested McKirdy might be worth a look! He was then a Carlisle until he was released.
link https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Harry_McKirdy  .................worth a look. Missed opportunity? Only on a 1 year contract with Swindon!

Can’t see him going to Doncaster, maybe Mk if they move on Twine & O’Reily although they payed a huge fee for Eisa who has apparently been awful for them.

When Swindon played Stevenage on their match day thread several posters kept asking "has McKirdy been booked yet" and I wondered why. Looking into it I found out that he was already on 9 yellows and approaching a 2 game suspension.

Marquis is on the subs bench for Portsmouth this afternoon so they've not given up on him.

From a Pompey fan on FF:
"Looks like we're in the same old situation where we can't bring anyone in until one or more of our high wage earners depart (e.g. John Marquis, Ellis Harrison, Paul Downing, Michael Jacobs). All four have been told that they won't be offered a new contract in the summer."

The "high wage earners" quote would be a concern but you never know?  8)

Pompey could off load Marquis and Jacobs on loan if they like and they can have Rose and Bas in return.  :P

But seriously Marquis would be a an unbelievable signing at this Stage of the season but I doubt we could afford 50% of what he earns currently. Maybe in the summer deals can be had.

I have a horrible feeling Etete maybe done for the season so if we have any ambition to get promoted we need to sign well.

UTC

it’s pure fantasy to think any player on high earnings is coming to this club unless it is a loan and the owner club pays the majority .
Marquis will be on far too much money .

That is what the club has come to.

NOTHING will change at the club unless there is a change of ownership or the current owners accept that they need to spend more in order to get us promoted and sustain league one football.

Let’s see what happens…..

Where is the queue to buy the club?..............................or do you, like others, find it easy spending other peoples money?

Interesting to see how you respond to above comment?

That we cant afford a player in a division higher and at one of the largest teams outside the Championship who is also one of their highest earners who cant afford to replace him until they sell him.
I get you want to beat the owners up at every opportunity but you may get more support if you actually think before typing.

Every window there are one or two players we as fans want but know the club cant afford but can still hope / dream. The difference is when we have a prior connection to the player some seem to think we will automatically get them.
Marquis wont want to come to league 2 either

It does seem unfortunately like we will need to replace Etete as well as get another striker in. Desperately need to off load some too though.
I wonder if Etete's injury is going to keep him out for a long time the club will try to end the loan to free up more money. Certainly will have changed how they approach the window I'm sure.

Looks like etete is getting recalled from us to be loaned out to Cheltenham Town. Definitely need two striker now now then.

Im calling bullsh*t on this.
Makes no sense to recall him regardless.
They will want to give him opportunity to get a promotion not a mid table / relegation battle.
If he's injured they wont want to take a risk (only we do that  ;))
I dont believe JB would lie and say he's injured if hes not to cover up him leaving.

Flip side, unless he's injured I don't think we will want to send him back, unless we have something amazing lined up to replace him.

Fully prepared to be proven completely wrong though  ;D

It has been stated at various times, there will always be someone to buy the club, the choice is limited by the asking price.

I'm with London Cobbler... does seem very odd that we'd be saying his injury is longer term and then suddenly hes recalled
He was back at the Spurs training facility last week, i saw on social media

So unless theyve lied and said hes injured worse than he was to us so that they can get him into a L1 side... but even that would seem wierd considering he was doing well with us
2nd place in L2 isn't much far off down the bottom end of L1 in terms of the experience he'd be getting?

Also london cobbler, whereabouts are you!? I live in Camden!

Well that’s taken us all by surprise. Etete to Cheltenham. Need a replacement and fast.

How many we looking at this month? 4 maybe?

Then there is no queue is there? I would buy it for a £1. Add me to your list.

Two key factors when buying a club. One is the asking price, one is the funds to really drive us forward. I'm sure there will be plenty to buy if the price is right, but how many who can invest money into players and facilities to make everyone happy?

Once again more proof that short term loans are of zero long term benefit going forwards

Is that a statement or are you as surprised at the rumour as us?  8)

I bet the club wish they’d sold chuks to spurs now  ;)

Radio Northampton were under the impression he would be fit for Boxing Day, this was during the coverage on Saturday. So, Spurs clearly didn't want him involved against Swindon due to the recall.    

With Etete going to Cheltenham I think they would be willing to send Andy Williams back here, but I also think we need better.

Cheltenham manager stated on Saturday that they had a new striker coming in but he had not signed yet due to a slight injury.

If this is write Brady must answer why he told porkies. It also meens the promotion chase is over. They always go well he needs time to settle.

Etete moving on causes us a big big problem.

Need a complete overhaul in the striking department

we only just pipped Cheltenham to signing him in the summer .
It is a strange thing Spurs have changed direction mid season when he could have gone there in the first place .
I don’t understand the decision at all unless Cheltenham have taken on more of his wages than we could offer .

Dont think spurs would be bovvered over a few squids, maybe they think he will be able to play different.

I would be disappointed if JB lied. He could have just said not available instead of suggesting he is still injured.

IF he goes they key will be how they replace him. It wont all be doom, we signed Morton in January and that was the push we needed. He is clearly a class player but still only has 3 league goals this season

Are you questioning JBs ability to deliver the bums off seats style of football he promised?

From my understanding of JB's post match interview I don't think he lied as he did not state Etete was still injured. He said Etete was not close to returning which was obviously true and probably did not want to state that he would not be coming back until it was officially stated by 'spurs.

Absolutely gutted Etete is going elsewhere...he's pivotal to the way we're trying to play

My heart sinks knowing what we're left with up front...Watching Kabamba, BAS & Rose for the remainder of the season does not inspire...

Thankfully, we've got a decent number of points in the bag already, to banish any relegation fears

Can't see us remaining in the top 7 unless at least two decent strikers signed pronto

Happy New Year!

There would and have been serious people interested in buying NTFC at the right price. I'll add you to the "Dickhead posters" list, oh no I can't, you've been on it for years  ;)

Thats a huge blow to our promotion push, the drop off from him to the rest of our forwards is huge. I assume Spurs want to increase the speed of his development and thats why they have recalled him.

We need two strikers in now and one to be let go, which is going to have to be either Rose or BAS (cant imagine Kabamba will go as he was signed this summer on a 2 year deal).

It shows how the spine of our squad is desperate for reinforcements. Just as Etete going, if McWilliams or Sowerby are out then its a huge drop off. With the injury to Nelson if either Guthrie or Horsfall are out then again, a huge drop off.

I know looking at ex players is not productive generally.... however! JJOT's deal with Mansfield expires this month. He still lives in the area and according to Mansfield has been immense since he joined them, both in CB and CM. Could be an option to provide cover in two area of the pitch. Also a huge threat from set pieces which is something we are already clearly very strong from, never a bad thing to add to.

Marquis +1 striker needed now really. Depending on what happens with Revan I hope we are active and get maybe 4 in. STR x 2, CM and CB. Maybe a winger also being greedy as Connolly is not great.

That's one of the potential problems with loanees. Especially if they're any good.
We need a couple of half decent strikers in pronto. Rose certainly isn't up to the mark
as was proven on Saturday and in previous games and unfortunately he's the best
of a bad lot.

Isn’t it odd that once a loan striker scores a few for us he is loaned out elsewhere….

Maybe it’s because Cheltenham are prepared to offer spurs a much less attractive loan package where they pay a lesser loan fee and cover less of his wages than we were prepared to or maybe it’s because he will suit cheltenhams style of play better than ours…  :D

The new recruitment set up is off to a flyer……
So much for Colin’s spurs links  ;D

I feel sorry for the club.
They’ll need a couple of decent strikers to show that they actually want to push for promotion….

This will mean spending some money.

It’s really make or break time for the board as regards on field ambition.

Strangely despite every bone in my body telling me they don’t want to invest in the on field side of things something tells me they will……

I think they will have to prove to the council they want what’s best for the club going forwards before any land deal is signed off….

Just a hunch….

So Etete is off to Cheltenham and people are surprised.
Whilst I'm gutted he's going and to a club that is inferior to us in almost every respect apart from current league position, why are people surprised that Spurs now want him to play at a higher level against better defenders which will help improve his game.
Regards Andy Williams, I don't know how old he is now but if we signed him he'd still be better than anything we currently have at finishing chances (if we could provide them for him).

I think it’d say a lot if we resigned williams who left after the play off final as he was deemed not good enough for us in league one.
I do agree though CJ that none of our so called marksmen are good enough.
Two won’t be here in six months and I guess the other won’t be if we can move him on….
Just the forwards we need for our promotion push….

There are plenty of forwards out there who will improve us IF the board shows ambition…
We know who they are….

Another of our prolific former strikers Ryan Edmondson (2 goals in 21 games, 1 of those goals stolen from Hoskins) has been on loan at Fleetwood for the first half of this season (0 goals in 11 games). He has now been loaned out to Port Vale.

Bit unfriendly to a fellow supporter?

Spot on, it’s exactly the same situation as with Kioso last year, played the first half of the year at Bolton (who are a bigger club than us) did well, then stepped up a division to play for us on loan.

What a good start to 2022! 5-2 at Swindon and Etete not returning. Our former optimism shot at a stroke.

You can call anyone whatever you want on here nowadays Tony and not be reprimanded…
Fire away  ;D

unbelievable how shallow football and footballers can be .
A player develops in leaps and bounds but decides he wants to play at a higher level .
If he stays , he has the chance to move to a Championship club next season .
I hope he fails at Cheltenham and they go down .

Well, it is a blow, but equally this was going to come in the summer anyway, so it's brought forward the pain 6 months. There always needed to be recruitment in the striking department come next September, it's just going to have to happen earlier rather than later.

As for Etete, it's a no brainer really isn't it? Why wouldn't he want to play in a higher league, as someone said exactly how we benefitted from Kioso last year.

Do you seriously think he has any say in the matter?

Etete is dead to me now, couldn’t give a flying fûck about him, as for Cheltenham fair play to them, he’s a good player.
Cheltenham are a tiny club punching well above their weight, and will do very well to stay up.

Let’s see who we bring in, it needs to be quick because currently we only have two strikers on the books, Danny Rose and Kabamba, I’m not counting BAS for obvious reason's.

There’s better forwards than Etete out their my guess is one permanent and one on loan.

It’s only a blow if we don’t replace him with a quality striker.

We already have the striker we need on the books!!

https://twitter.com/Biancal564/status/1478005094222381058?s=20

(dont mention the keeper)

I wondered where Cornell was playing now.

Exactly this. He hasnt left yet but if we get someone better in then its a good move.

;D ;D ;D

Next striker off the rank from Spurs to replace Etete and complete a season long striker loan?

I’m surprised our resident ITK ntfclad didn’t see this one coming.
It is very strange timing and Spurs couldn’t have been too happy with his treatment/progress with us.
We’ve done really well without him but definitely need to get moving to find a replacement.

Page 8, Cobblertone

Missed that, I saw Letchworth post it, probably from Talksport. Anyway, bad news.

Well he has definitely gone and it was his decision .
The problem is , these young lads are influenced by others profiting from them .
Wait for the next young loanee we have to develop for someone else’s benefit .

Revans gone back to Villa
https://www.ntfc.co.uk/news/2022/january/revan_040122/

I think people are finally waking up to the fact that short term loans are of no long term benefit B and S.

We should be asking why the club haven’t signed a decent striker permanently in their six year tenure?
Who would the best permanent striker they have signed for the club in the last six seasons?

Imo we haven’t signed a decent proven permanent striker since bayo left the club nearly a decade ago…,

Cheltenham don't seem to think so.

I believe you need a balance. Our problem is that our three strikers (on permanent contracts) look nowhere near good enough for our purposes.

Short term loans are one of the reasons we are the Norwich of league two.
Cheltenham will be no different.
To be able to get promoted from league two you need strikers who are proven and have also scored in the level above in order to retain league one status.
They need to be permanent signings in order to have solid foundations and continuity.
Who was the last player the current board signed who fitted that criteria?

Oh dear. We're playing them next month.

Mark Richards (2014 to 2018);

123 matches, 44 goals.

Cobblers Forever can you please stop posting known facts, they tend to get in the way of Shoemaker's Bull.

We simply will not pay the wages or anything like them .
We can only get players from Poundland unless the parent club subsidises them .
Etete’s replacement will be the same .
The owners are not interested in investing into the playing side of the club - fact .
Etete was nothing to do with that though .

Boot and Shoe, how many of the players signed in the summer were permanent signings ? We are currently second in the League, what are you expecting in January ?

You're supposed to write fact in all uppercase. Just a little heads up! - FACT

Seems as you can now insult whoever you like on here without any censure as you have proved , may I take this opportunity to call you a condescending twat.

Dont worry about me Evers.

Please accept my apology for calling you a condescending twat even though you have insulted me on here and failed to apologise.
It takes a big man to apologise and so I am sorry.

I wouldn't say that putting money into the playing side is 'investing'. It's money you've basically going to be prepared to lose entirely, like MacAnthony or Winkleman or the Saudi Arabian family. I'm sympathetic to the idea that there isn't the money to compete for the Championship with our owners, because it's 100% true, but I'm not sympathetic to the idea that there's anyone better waiting in the wings ready to pour money down the drains. It's incredibly difficult, but Yeovil and Burton and Sutton this year, even arguably us in 2nd, shows that it is not impossibility to be competitive on a budget, but you've got to accept the reality of it being difficult, the same with a good 70% of the clubs in this League and 30% of the clubs in League 1.

You can moan about the same point incessantly over and over, every single year and every single window, but it won't change anything because these Billionaire benefactors who are waiting in the wings to spend half a million on a striker and out bid Ipswich and Portsmouth and MK Dons don't exist. There are limits to what Thomas and owners can do for sure, and that means we will lose players often, we're not lucky enough to be blessed with a MacAnthony. However, we're almost not unlucky enough to be lumbered with Oldhams owners, or Charlton's ex owners, or mad Crypto-based American teenagers who have all their knowledge from a US Sitcom who were trying to buy out Bradford.

He was utterly useless.

32 games and 2 goals sums it up.

I’m not even sure how it’s possible, he must have witnessed 300+ balls into the box that he’s failed to get on the end of.

The thought of Edmondson and Kabamba as a strike force, would put the fear of God into anyone...but the opposition I suspect!

i was answering the question about why we don’t sign proven strikers .
It is wage demands - it’s as simple as that .
Etete’s replacement will be a young lad we develop for someone else’s benefit .

As long as they know where the onion bag is that’s fine

Mipo Odubeko has been recalled from a loan at Huddersfield back to West Ham
KT is a West Ham fan  :o

Haven't you noticed, ntfclad works for the incommings department, he's not privy to those on their way out!  ;)

What happens if they come in through the out door?

Wish I was allowed to!  :o

We are signing a young striker from Cardiff

Chanka zimba on loan  ::)

Not The Chanka Zimba surely?

You are in no position to comment on insults when you just do that all the time with the Chairman.

Does your missus/fwb spank your fat arse?

Keep your nose out Pinocchio

I did ask the question whether there was more to it after the Swindon game but was told not to worry! Well off the mark, but also I don’t think I’d be fed false info…

But yeah that young striker is on his way in

You are not very well today?

He does have a wealth of experience.
2 competitive games in 18 months and nothing before that above U/18 level. ::)
Has someone made a mistake and thinks we're re signing one of the two brothers?

We after another striker too? Can't see how we will be relying on someone who hasn't played league football.

Certainly not you uncouth bounder and it isn't fat either.
So you float like a butterfly and sting like a bee?

Nothing to do with you Pinocchio so stick your nose into someone else’s business.

If ever there was a Pinocchio its you.

They didn’t know until yesterday on Etete .
Steve Morrison has suggested the Cardiff lad who as i said is an untried replacement for the previously untried Etete .
Not a good day for the club and i feel for all those that put so much time into Etete .
i hope he fails at Cheltenham .

https://www.northamptonchron.co.uk/sport/football/cobblers-taking-to-agents-and-clubs-in-bid-to-strengthen-squad-as-revan-returns-to-aston-villa-3514487

See you soon tony

Yeah we want another striker on top of Kion’s replacement

Etete could be a distant memory soon. Stranger things have happened.

https://www.walesonline.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/cardiff-city-headlines-prolific-youngster-22040488.amp

Worth remembering that Etete had hardly been setting the world alight with his goal ratio and we won the next two games without him.
It’s better not having any player who doesn’t want to be here and the nature of any loan player.
It’s why I loved the likes of Bayo as you don’t get to see any of the decent ones for too long.

Etete officially recalled by spurs

If we can get the right striker (one who has proved he can score goals - Marquis would be ideal), it needs to be a permanent signing rather than a loanee. If we get a good loanee striker who helps us go up, he'll be gone when we need him in L1, just like Morton did last year and Etete has just done now (but would have done in June in any case).

JB and co are desperately trying to build a side, most of which will stay together for a while, and that's what we need if we're going to have any chance of going up and staying in L1 for a while.

I suppose we can say 4 players in this window? I suppose there will be players leaving too?

Players will only leave if other clubs want them. Can't see there being too much interest in the ones we'd like to get rid of. The other alternative is to cancel contracts early, but that's very costly. I hope it's not one out one in, otherwise it could be an uneventful window!

Seems a strange signing from a struggling Cardiff City.

I’d assume if he had anything about him they would have tested him out.

It's a blow losing Etete and I think he'll do well for Cheltnum because of his attitude.

But let's not throw in the towel yet. All we can hope now is that Kion was our new DCL and the new Marquis and Collins will arrive to replace him, fingers crossed :D

Marquis won’t be signing for a league 2 side, two thirds of league 1 couldn’t afford him either.

There's a young lad banging them in at high flying Oxford City that would be worth a punt (pun intended)...Laciofano or something!  ;)

Tahvon Campbell from woking who are mid table yet he has banged in 13 goals

5k a week and a free five guys meal after every win would seal the deal  ;D

The recent sagas involving Morton, Oliver and Etete demonstrate just how difficult it is to land a long term decent striker. Anyone who shows any sort of competence instantly becomes like the only girl in a club full of pi55 heads on v1agra. Er before I get shouted at, alternatively like the only bloke at a Chippendales gig with a free bar.

I'm not sure many of us want to shag him. ;D

https://www.ntfc.co.uk/news/2022/january/kion_etete/

Sounds like both Spurs and Kion were happy with his loan period, possibly even exceeding their expectations, which is why they are upgrading his 'education' early.
As a positive, that is a good recommendation/review, especially when we are trying to secure future loans.  ;)

Really don't understand this from Spurs.
I don't think the difference in quality of football is enough to take a young lad from potentially winning a medal to potentially being relegated. Or a best just having the season fizzle out to nothing. Dealing with the pressures of trying to get promoted, or even (and hopefully not) the potential to play at Wembley has to be a good thing for anyone development.

Anyway its happened. But the praise from Spurs plus the above hopefully helps attract someone better.

Any idea when? Will he be in by the weekend do you think?

Don’t underestimate the role of an agent in this.
Personal gains are always a factor .
Anyone who says Etete doesn’t owe us anything is wrong .
The coaching staff have improved a very raw player immensely and i would have thought that progress would have been better served under the existing structure than going to a club like Cheltenham .
If it was Sunderland - then maybe .
People are pretty fed up about this at NTFC but it’s football / footballers / agents .

I think there is a massive difference between L1 and L2 probably bigger than ever with the likes of Sheffield Wednesday, Sunderland, Portsmouth, Charlton and Ipswich in there big clubs with far superior defenders and players to L2.
Seems odd that they couldn’t wait 4 months though, like you say what’s done is done.
We need to get some bodies into Sixseats ASAP.
David Bower isn’t going to put any money into the playing budget so it’s one out before anyone can come in.
So the way I see it we’ve got two loans out the building so in theory we can get a very good one in or two OK ones.
Panto season is over so BAS will have to sit out the last 6 months of his contract.

It's not who he is playing for, it's who he will be playing against.
Better quality defenders will progress him more than some of the ones that we have in this division.

But will also limited his opportunities on goal.
I can understand a step up next season but I would have thought with our league position this season it would have been better for his overall development to stay with us. But I'm biased!
Pressures of getting promoted vs playing a few better defenders  ???

He’ll get a few less lumps out of him and wouldn’t be surprised to see his goal tally increase.

But on the other side, he's likely to get far fewer chances at a club struggling at the wrong end of League 1 than a club at the top end of League 2

I dont think that is necessarily the case.

Most of the season we have relied on our defensive organisation rather than our attacking play. Cheltenham average more shots than we do per game in the league this season for example. They do have a poorer conversion rate than ours however, something I imagine Etete will be able to help with.

I think he has done excellently for us considering he had to contend with a lot of high balls into him or into channels, especially for someone whos only experience prior was youth football.

They have also played with 3 at the back utilising a top 2. If they play Etete and May up top together I could see the two of them causing a lot of problems for teams.

This window I fear is going to be very quiet now.
With the Trusts success in getting the “deal” reviewed resulting in further delays to any progress on the development, I can’t see any money being made available outside of the current budget.
Before I get jumped on for being anti trust…. I’m just saying it how I see it.
I maybe very wide of the mark however, if I was the owner and was still uncertain that the deal I was happy with and thought was secured ... Was now scuppered again.... I'd be holding back.

Thoughts?

Given that I sometimes watch him in the early hours of Sunday morning after a right skin full, my beer goggles confirm he’s quite tidy. Granted that’s not saying much.

I wouldn’t blame Kion for wanting to play for a team that didn’t expect him to plough a lone furrow. He had the thankless job of chasing  hopeful long balls most of the time and did it wholeheartedly. If I were a Tottenham scout I’d be concerned about a prized asset getting battered playing in the Cobblers’ system when with  more support he could score a hat-full of goals without such a high risk of getting crocked.

This is exactly what I thought even to the point of thinking Sunderland. Cheltenham's home gates even this season !

We played to his strengths and I can remember the home crowd applauding his skill and determination in taking the ball deep into oppo half even throw or touch line! Far less long ball at home games but at away games like Harrogate it worked a treat. Seems to me you missed the Tottenham appreciation message. Also you do not give JB the credit for changing our style of play!
I do agree that Kion was roughly handled by defensive opposition desperate to stop him at all costs. Witness the Tranmere and most home games!

I don't think we have actually signed Simba yet. Wind up?

We have now according according to Offy Site. Well done Shoey :o

Oh dear oh dear!! "The Trust's success"?? Really?

I think you will find that is was The Lib Dems and Labour councillors who raised concerns, concerns which were agreed by some Tory councillors too, that a "red Book" valuation had not been given for the land.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-northamptonshire-59406489

A deal agreed "in principle" was always going to be subject to scrutiny...... this is that scrutiny, by many different parties, including, but not limited to The Trust.

You can look up any number of news articles on the matter......but I don't think you'll find a single one stating or even hinting that The Trust played a "successful" part in getting the deal delayed.

What you will find though for example is a KT Youtube video saying that he didn't even see the delay as a "delay".........not quite sure how he's come to that conclusion. Still, i'm glad the Club are keeping us up to date with the latest news.

I do agree with your last sentence though.....If I was the owner banking on the golden goose of a land deal but that deal had been delayed, I too would think twice about pumping more money in at this time. But sadly that scenario has not been limited to this transfer window...... perhaps the best we can hope for is a couple of Chinese front men to gallop over the horizon so that we can have that transfer window splurge that some fans seem to be craving.  ;D

Blimey, I tried to be complimentary to the Trust calling it a success and you respond like that.
I guess the statements made by the Trust did nothing to highlight to the powers that be about your concerns then.
I understood that all those meetings, statements, getting councillors on board etc was to ensure that the deal was scrutinised.
If the Trust had nothing to do with it then I stand corrected.

I can't see any money outside of the current budget being made available till the 2 amigos leave surely, can you?

We need a goal scorer and they simply aren't available at this time of year. Its either going to be a prem / champs loan or a risk from non league.
Regardless of owner (except one with oil money) I dont think we would spend in this window. But I've been wrong a lot recently

Anyone thinking we might sign Marquis is deluded, wages alone makes it a no go.

You’re not wrong, the way some people speak you’d think all the other league 2 teams have been splashing big cash on marquee strikers since the widow opened. I’ve seen about half a dozen sign strikers and none have been exciting pretty much all prem/championship inexperienced loans.

We certainly need a striker now Etete has gone but is our problem really the forwards not finishing the chances we create?

We have had some great results recently but not the result of chances being created from open play.

I've no idea tbf, I go by what I said in my earlier post.
Scuppered development would stop me from spending of it was my business.

Etete was an unbelievable loan signing in lots of ways but he was relatively unknown to many. He goals per game may not have been up there but it’s what else he brought to the party.

My belief is that there are unearthed gems out there who are available, it’s just getting the right player that was similar to Etete in many ways with his Hold up play and chip in with the old goal which is what the team is currently looking for imo.

We have a good foundation of a side which has been well built for this division so a lot of credit must go to the staff plus Foyle who may prove to be a massive loss. The only part of the pitch that we struggle in is the centre forward position and none of Rose, Bas, bambi this season look the answer.

The young lad (Zimba) for Cardiff looks a decent fit so only time will tell if he is the one who we bring in.

We have to trust the process and we have done brilliant this season I just hope and pray Brady and his team can pull one or two out of the bag to see us over the line come May.


UTC

https://www.northamptonchron.co.uk/sport/football/brady-and-cobblers-adjust-their-transfer-plans-after-etetes-return-to-tottenham-3516877

Good to see we won’t be rushing into signing a proven striker….
I’d wait till the end of the month and forfeit a load of points , slip out of the automatic promotion places and then get outbid for the right players…
That’s obviously why I’m not in charge of recruitment….

I’m a bit sceptical that if we needed a striker before etete left , we find ourselves in the position in the first place.
It’s as if we didn’t actually have any proven strikers lined up at all…..

Bring back Martin foyle.

Happy New Year Misery Guts 8) - have you got your excuses ready if he does sign! ;D

Bit unfriendly to a fellow supporter?  ;)  :)

So that blows my theory out of the water's
Chanka  Zimba has signed to the end of the season.
Unproven but looks handy as did Ginger Pele, Etete, Calvert Lewin, Kyle Walker etc.
Fingers crossed he's a good like for like cost to Etete.
Still think we need another striker, midfielder and a utility player.

Don't think Zimba is the Etete replacement judging by what JB has said

The emoji's tell a different story  ::) - in any case he also supports Swindon!

Glastonbury Following the opportunistic comments from Liddo please accept my apologies  for any hurt or embarrassment caused ;)

Pessimism usually isn't a conscious choice. Some people are genetically predisposed to be more negative than others. However, pessimism more often develops as a result of external circumstances, such as a bad breakup, job loss, injury, illness, or other trauma.

A trauma like supporting The Cobblers?  ;D

Are you going to finance the costs for a proven goalscorer or are you spending other peoples money from behind your keyboard?

Go on Shoey put your money where .....................................

FFS he’s not the chairman of a football club now is he? They didn’t get forced to buy the club or win it in a raffle, they have an obligation both legally and morally to run the club which involves buy fuçking players.
I just don’t get the blind loyalty of some of our “fans”.

Who should we buy?
If they are proven goal scorers then they must be well know.

Ha, Ha !!!

I completely agree! we must be the only league 2 team in this window that hasn’t splashed hundreds of thousands on big new signings. I’m sure the only reason none of them has signed Marquis isn’t his huge wages but because they will be bringing in better players.

Mansfield latest to be rumoured. If he signs for them its going to be hilarious on here!

Would be shocked if he has to drop down to league 2, I really thought a bigger team would have taken a punt on him based on his previous record.

Have you just breathed in and seen your côck?

I use mine instead of being one like you!

Anyone heard anything about extending contracts for the quality we already have in the team ?

The current management team (football wise) are in a terrific position to raise the issue with the owners - they have out performed expectations.

Yes, but remember, a pessimist is never disappointed.

I bet you do, DIY every night.

https://youtu.be/E0cuGn0F_-s

I see that Cheltenham signed 2 more strikers today and that is before Etete joins them. Kyle Vassell has left by mutual consent, still only 28 and born in MK. He had a good record at Blackpool with 22 goals in 63 games but since then has been at Rotherham, Fleetwood and Cheltenham and only scored 10 goals in 97 games but most of these were at a higher level than division 2.

They've also lost Crowley, who by their accounts is an utter c**k of a mercenary with his attitude, despite his undisputed talent.

Vassell is off to the US according to Duff..... he had planned to go there in the summer but it fell through, now the move is back on, to San Diego in the USL (the level below the MLS)

According to local Portsmouth paper it appears unlikely that Marquis will be leaving in this transfer window. He does not want to uproot his family and is happy to stay and fight for his place. Also Portsmouth unwilling to subsidise his wages.

Good point - yes IMO we do need a striker that can regularly score to get a top 3 position - hopefully Chanka will do just this, but given many on here were predicting a dire season dicing with relegation it's also clear the current squad even without a striker would keep us up, so securing contracts on a number of existing key players is very important.

Don't show Tyson Fury this comeback, he will get jealous  his isn't the best anymore.

They're also keen to get rid of Jacobs, what a great player he was.

I’m sure he’ll still get another club. Didn’t realise he was still only 30, seems a lifetime ago.

You got all excited typing that didn’t you?

Jacobs is the type of player that go deep into his 30s I reckon. Wasn't especially quick even in his youth and his delivery/vision would be fantastic at our level.

We very rarely seem to get ex youth players returning however, can anyone remember the last time this happened? I'd imagine he'll be able to sustain at League One for another few years at least.

Can’t we all club together and pay Jacobs loan fee for the rest of then season?? 😅

A go fund me type of page thing?  :D I can only dream 😴


He is exactly the type of play we missed yesterday.

UTC

Nah, I copied and pasted it from another forum.

I don't have the brains to come up with anything like that, not when it's against the all seeing, all knowing, mighty Manwork.

Agree with all of that.

Feeling the love.

I heard a whisper of another striker coming in this week, anybody have any info?

The much wanted return of the great Efan Elad.

Knowing our luck it will be bas savage

Then we could go with Bas and BAS up front! :o ???

Bas Savage
Leo Constantine
JJ Hooper

I like to see new players arrive at the frnt gates because they wear trackies and carry a bag. They also try to do their hair nice. Little do they know the gates can hold them out and keep them im.

Joe Nuttall on a permanent...

Hope he brings his mintoes.

Better not be Everton mints.

?

All seems to have gone quiet. Even with twitter rumours (never believe them, just a boring day!)
See Etete still hasn't been announced anywhere. Was supposed to be yesterday.

 

Wow that’s one hell of a rumour :)

Anything of note amongst the 17 pages, or is it like every other thread on here?  ;D

If we want an unfit striker Nuttall is your man. I don't think he has played a game since his 1 appearance here previously.
I see Kane Hemmings from Burton is being linked to Salford and Tranmere.

Armand Gnanduillet would do a job...he's another one Salford are allegedly in for  ::)

The Nuttell comment was pure bants btw  ;D

Hemmings isnt prolific but he can lead the line well, wouldnt definitely be a good addition. Gnanduillet would be fantastic with his extra goal output. But last time was in league one he got 15 league goals so I imagine a drop to league two would probably be unrealistic.... would love to be wrong!

Agreed, especially as apparently he had not played since his injury here😎

No and Yes! Still, beats whacking 'er indoors with a frying pan.

https://www.northamptonchron.co.uk/sport/football/brady-encouraged-by-zimbas-debut-cameo-as-cobblers-boss-targets-more-january-additions-3522464

?

I went to lunch with some friends on Sunday. There's one girl who thinks she knows everything and is always peppering us with stories and factoids to show off. Sunday she throws this nugget out: In domestic killings, the number one weapon used is not guns, but frying pans. This can't be true, can it?

Top post Clarity !

It's certainly true that most domestic killings result from KKIs - Kitchen Knife Incidents.

The meandering of thread topics are pure poetry …….

The one I get is the Medusa Stare ……..

We have 3 frying pans and no guns so in our house its statistically more likely.

I'd take Nuttall as long as he's on a reduced wage or per game basis. Risky, but taking a punt on unfit players can sometimes work out for the best to bring in quality players for cheap.

I think you will find that Nuttall is not a serious option. It is over a year since he played and would take weeks to get him match fit anyway.

I read sumwhere that 62% of all sex is anal.

Substitute, your style reminds me of a past poster although I can't think who! Substitute for who I wonder ;D.

Whilst reminiscing I found myself wondering what became of "good news is coming" Ted. I've probably missed something but does anyone know what became of him?

As this thread stutters along off topic I also think back to the good old days when rumours abounded from various people "in the know".

?

I don’t have names but the next few days could be very exciting so I hear

Good to curry favour with the local politicians/council by showing a long term commitment to on field investment when you are hoping for land acquisition so I hear  ;)

I’ve heard that point has been reiterated to the council and the board have decided to show their commitment this window

Exciting times ahead I hear….

Has anyone else heard this?

Constructive post but I don’t think it will age well…. ;)

No, they tend to sag with age.

If your prediction or prophesy fails to materialize then it might be difficult to explain away. Surely your post would be better on the 'Redev' thread?
 

That’s made me chuckle

In all seriousness I heard that we were close to signing a striker………

Someone who can unlock things, clinical striker who can put the ball in the net and a leader who can organise the whole team.

Taken from Jon Brady's interview today. 

I’ve honestly heard no names.
My assumption (and it’s only that) although when I was told things it does make sense is that certain individuals who want to see value for money for the club before any land deal and have the ear of the council may have pointed out that there has been no redevelopment and no long term investment in the playing side of things showing only minimal commitment…
Maybe just maybe the council would like to see more tangible long term investment to help the future stability of the club to appease individuals concerns before green lighting a land acquisition.
I think it could be argued that is a valid point.

Maybe the board have realised without further long term commitment to the actual football club the chances of land acquisition are slimmer than a board that is fully behind a push for promotion.

Just the vibes I’m getting but as I say that makes sense to me and would perhaps begin to bridge the gap between board and individuals who currently seem against anyone profiting to the tune of millions without first showing long term commitment.

I’m pretty sure the next few days will be exciting and may begin to bring the waring factions closer together rather than leave them further apart than ever.

If correct that’s got to be a good thing….


* please note the positive post  ;D

The vibes i'm getting are that the Council just want shot of the land, want a bit of cash in the bank and then they can wash their hands of the whole sorry saga.....including washing their hands of the club. Nothing I have heard reference the proposed deal indicates to me that the Council are particularly bothered what happens on the pitch....certainly not to the point where it would influence any deal.

I’ve heard a couple of names but didn’t get the sense when I was told on Monday that anything was imminent.
Can’t see it being Marquis this early in the window, Pompey want to explore a permanent deal before agreeing to a loan

Shoey you have over the years posted not too dissimilar 'information' which can be grossly misleading either by intention or otherwise! Fortunately you do advise that your theory is an assumption. Whether your assumption is correct or not ....will have to wait and see. Apologies for being a sceptic. Please try and get to a Cobblers game as every little helps!

If you're positive you should be isolating...  another couple of years should do it!! ;)

No intention whatsoever , it’s a positive post.
I must admit I was sceptical myself but I can see the logic.
Whether it comes to pass who knows??
I’ve personally never been against the board making money from land acquisition as I’ve posted many times.
I can however see why other individuals may want to see more long term commitment before the council agrees to do this.
It’s striking a balance that’s important.

Let’s be honest , some decent signings promotion , league one football and you’d have a more saleable asset anyway….

If it was me I’d be looking at investing in the club , trying to get promotion and then selling the club and the land to a new owner as a package.

The fact the land and the club are separate is the issue imo.

A league one club and the land with certain planning permissions must still be worth hell of a lot of money , I do concede that the owners may have no intention of this and will wait forever and a day to sell on the land as a separate entity.
They do own it after all.

The current strategy however doesn’t seem to be met with universal enthusiasm and has one hurdle after another.

I can’t help but think that DB and KT could have walked away having still made a large profit if they’d have sold club and ground as a package the last time we were in league one.

At the end of the day a profits a profit.

My worry to be fair is once the land deal is done and the club is up for sale what is it worth??
Not much imo
The new buyer won’t own the ground and there are little in the way of assets….
Plus who knows the asking price??

It’s all about striking a deal to keep everyone happy and that’s clearly not the case at the moment hence a reevaluation of the land value.

I was only posting a rumour on a transfer rumours page and the reasons I believe it may have legs….
If I owned the club and could do anything to accelerate the land acquisition then I would.

But has as been said before I don’t own the club and it’s the prerogative of the owners to do what they think is best for themselves.

My one wish is that it’s sorted out to the benefit of all concerned.

;D
Bloody hell I hope it’s not another two years until the grounds redeveloped  ;D

We’re the names you heard of a different level to our normal signings??
Just wanted a guide on whether the positive news I’d heard was true or a load of codswallop  ;D
TIA

If it was up to me I would buy someone good.

I have honestly just laughed at that and now spilt coffee down my top so need to get changed now
Thanks  ;D

This is one of the best catch up mornings for a long time! Actually laughed twice  ;D
Not clever enough to quote multiple lines but West Stand OAP "No, they tend to sag with age" and SadOldGit "If it was up to me I would buy someone good" are forum gold. The old boys are on form!

Going back to Shoemakers thought on council saying they want to see the club show intent before they will (or words to that effect, hope I haven't misrepresented), its certainly interesting and I can see some logic to it, but I don't think the council should be getting involved like that. NTFC is a private business and they should be able to run it as they want, with the correct scrutiny from the likes of the Trust, fans etc. I don't believe that the council would dictate how any other company should be ran in order to get planning approvals for example. I know 'its different' but at its simplest its the same as lots of other land sales which the council will (should) have a process / guidelines for.

To bring it back to topic from the slight detour, its encouraging if we are close to some signings but with a huge game on Saturday, I think today is the latest to sign someone this week if we hope them to have a real influence come the weekend.

I agree with all the above but I find it interesting that the supporters trust felt the need to link up with the council who have since then felt it necessary to reevaluate the price of the land in question.
The council are obviously prepared to listen to the trust on this point which imo still makes them impartial, it’s more a case of taking advice from all sides
Just my opinion

Sadly, I think you are right - I'm afraid all of us here, much as we love the club (whatever our differences) live in a bubble re the importance of the club to the wider population - sure a successful Championship club would attract more interest but the fact remains compared to the general population and the other concerns of the council we are just not that relevent and I think it's highly unlikely attractive signings in the transfer window are going to have any impact on the land deal decision.

I think you will find that it is other councillors that have asked for the re-evaluation of the land not the Trust.

We simply need to add to the squad asap. Obviously I know it’s not a perfect world we live in and it’s not easy to bring in the right player but the loss of ETete as stated before has looked a bigger issue week on week. We where crap first half against Crawley and only when Brady got desperate did he put on Zimba all to little to late.

I believe FG Saturday will put us to the sword on Saturday which will further highlight the need for fresh blood. The bench as it currently is with the current attacking options isn’t good enough to carry us to promotion.

We have a great opportunity to get out of this league so I am just hoping the board back Brady and the recruitment team and push the boat out to give us every chance of promotion this season.

UTC 

Thanks for the clarification.
We’re the councillors bought into the trust fold only because they had a penchant for tea and biscuits or was there more to it?

Agree about Etete being a loss, but if he hadn't been recalled we wouldn't have had him for the last two games, and probably not for this weekend either.

Not sure why you express sadness at the current NTFC situation as it has not changed significantly since the Bowen era where we brought in many good strikers. Until we start an effective League 1 promotion challenge, potential significant support will not materialise. A winning side will galvanise support which it did under Wilder. You fail to acknowledge the diasterous loss of Etete which has seriously damaged our promotion challenge. I also think you have misinterpreted GPC message to suit your own somewhat negative comments. Please try and get to the FGR game and support your team.

Yes, think this will prove to be our Coup d Etete!  ;)

the board will not back the team .
The budget is the budget .
The loss of Etete is one thing but the loss of the head of recruitment was another .
All these things are related .

Smart thinking Coolie, on the other hand viva Zimba.

I am the great Pat McGatt, a sports reporter of note. Fill me with hot dogs and I deliver.

All I am reading is excuses.

We were second. We were on a brilliant run. Etete got injured and we continued our brilliant run. We had a covid break and lost a couple. Most clubs have lost players/games due to covid. We have a new player in.
Absolutely no excuse or reason for us not to recapture our form and stay at the right end of the table. The budget is clearly enough to compete. I'm sure we'll get a couple of fresh faces in.
The difference with FG is that they have a couple of strikers who have bagged 30 goals between them, neither of which you'd hardly call prolific previously. We just need one of these lower league strikers to have their purple patch with us and I'm sure it won't be anyone who generates masses of excitement when they arrive.

I am sure JB and his his significant number of fellow support staff won't be using any excuses. They've been doing a great job.

Blimey 'tone proper supporter now.

Dont play yourself down Pat, you're a very famous sports reporter.
How's the grotty spawn these days.
Is he Salford or Manchester?

Haha, the grotty spawn is spotty and has gobbled the hot dogs. Manc living off prozacs.

I used to toss cabers with Pat McGroin

Walsall have cancelled Ash Taylor's contract and he is going to Kilmarnock. So he only lasted 1/2 a season at Walsall and their fans seem delighted that he has gone.

Yep Ash Taylor gone to Kilmarnock
Ryan Watson moved to Salford after a few months not impressing at Tranmere
and Callum Morton officially announced as a loan to Posh

Big day for ex cobblers!

We need a big day for the current cobblers

And future ones  ;D

Heard a rumour we close to signing Danny Hylton how true not sure tho

I heard that today from a Luton fan on the way back from the game.
Apparently word was he was left out of the squad today to finalise a move.
My friend said he’d heard from others at the ground that we were the destination…

Nothing more concrete than that but perhaps someone on here knows more…,

Be nice to dream of a proper striker playing for the cobblers.

This would be  very good signing, providing he's got something left in the tank and he's not here for a final pay check.

A 32 year old striker who hasn't scored in over 30 games. Are you serious?

Bit on the slow side - nothing on the Luton Outlaws Forum which is notorious for rumours on their players! Pinch of salt.

Would be a perfect signing in our current position. Hopefully this comes off as it will give us that bit of quality to that we have lacked in front of goal in the last few games.

Hylton would be a superb signing and exactly what we need at the moment, an old head with a bit of composure and the ability to hold up the ball to play alongside the inexperienced Zimba.

No excuses now we MUST sign a striker AND creative attacking midfielder this week to take the pressure off our defenders!!!

we go for pace , power and ability to get around the pitch .
If the stats don’t show that , i doubt the player even gets looked at .
Expect Kabamba and BAS to go this week

I hope your right...Kabamba & BAS really do need to go as both nowhere near good enough...

I was hoping the reason Kabamba was left out on Saturday, was because he's off!
Read somewhere a while back Woking were after him...

As for BAS, to think KC actually paid a transfer fee for him, off the back of him getting injured after 30 second in a pre season friendly!

Hylton would be a good signing, lots of goals a few years ago in League 2

Sure he's struggled in the Championship but so have Luton as a team and if he was still bagging 20 goals a season in the Championship, he wouldn't be coming to League 2..

something to prove, only 32 so imagine theres got to be something left in the legs, relatively local. Lots to teach the younger lads
Lot to like there

Is there room in the taxi for Rose?

Before he joined us Kabamba had scored a goal about every 4 games at his previous 2 clubs (Hartlepool & Kilmarnock) 19 goals in 84 games. But he has so far failed to score except in the pre-season friendlies.
BAS last game at Wolves before joining us was against Man Utd in the FA cup and he had a good under 23 record. Shows what a lottery it is taking under 23 players.

There has to be a risk with signing Hylton given his long time out of the game with injuries, 3 knee ops. If he does come here we have to hope this is behind him and does not come back to bite us in the bum as has happened before signing players with injury records.

Hearing vultures are circling for Koiki

Yep, as per twitter rumours...

Sheffield Wednesday, Sunderland and Preston are eyeing moves for Northampton Town full-back Ali Koiki. #swfc #SAFC #pnefc #ntfc

Only signed a one year contract so we'll get pennies if he leaves...

Why no "option of another year in the clubs favour" clause agreed at the time of the initial deal as that's surely a win win situation? This will cost us some serious money!

Also linked with a few names CC has worked with before, incomings wise

You heard anything about offloading Kabamba & BAS?

Been looking through the Blackpool squad last season and his last few Cambridge squads now  ;)
Joe Nuttall anyone haha?

Koiki should have been tied down after he'd played 5 games for us. Of course we may have tried to and his agent may have seen the potential £ involved. Superb player. He will play championship level, easily.

I heard a rumour of a striker surplus to requirements at his league one club…..
Ties in with what ntfc lad said earlier.
Be a good signing imo , in the mould of hylton……

Won’t be JM..


https://twitter.com/pn_neil_allen/status/1483113853655343110?s=21

Harvey Knibbs perhaps...

Highly praises CC in an old interview here...

https://www.cambridge-news.co.uk/sport/cambridge-united-sign-former-aston-16355372 (https://www.cambridge-news.co.uk/sport/cambridge-united-sign-former-aston-16355372)

The experienced striker whose name I first heard today has also played abroad……
I can see this happening but I’d be interested to hear if this tally’s with what ntfc lad has heard…..

Dennis Politic recalled by Bolton from loan spell at Port Vale after bid excepted from another league club

https://www.theboltonnews.co.uk/news/19852919.bolton-wanderers-winger-dennis-politic-reportedly-set-join-cremonese/

And to think 10 games in Neverbrite didn't rate him in the slightest.  :afro

Bayo & Berahino come to mind....

Not what I’ve heard.
They don’t fit ntfc lads info….

Rushian Hepburn-Murphy

Lad from Wycombe my guess.
Currently at AFCON
Played for Blackpool last season.
Sullay 

The Koiki news does not surprise me at all.

Once again the club has not acted quick enough.

I forget who it was on here who told me to calm down after his first few games when talking about offering a contract

The agent issue that you describe is one that influences many and unfortunately regularly and annually attracts undue blame towards the club.

Overstated as usual, not convinced he is a left back, for me better as a midfielder. Mills is a better left back, far better. What is your expert judgement on McGowan now. Heard we have put in an offer for Harvey Knibbs🥳

According to wiki Harvey Knibbs has scored 17 goals in 89 games ( about 1 in 5) with 9 goals in 63 games in the league (1 in 7).

Appears a better ratio than any of our present FWDS have achieved - including the great Etete?  How far out am I WSOAP?

Possibly a defender incoming…..


https://twitter.com/reluctantnicko/status/1483184497495523331?s=21

WTF not needed unless it’s to replace Kioki?

Much moaning about the strike rates of possible incomings. How many more times, the chances of landing a proven league striker with an impressive strike rate is practically zero. It’s what every club is after and some are prepared to pay massively over the odds to get it. It’s either a g@mble or a youngster on loan and that’s it. Otherwise you might as well talk about signing Messi.

Out of contract end of the season too, so perhaps with a view to a perm deal...we certainly do need another proper CB as cover, as we only have Dyche atm

Oh, he's lightning quick by all accounts. Can't remember the last time we had a rapid CB.

https://the72.co.uk/259907/blackburn-rovers-ready-to-loan-out-defender-tyler-magloire/

Cian Bolger ??   ;D

Is this for real? Doesn't appear to score many goals. As for Sullay he appears to be a very tall left winger!

 ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D

Was just coming on to say defender from the champ in before Saturday but I’ve been beaten to it. Time to retire.

I take it this is to replace Kioki?

No, the new lad is a centre back, not a left back/wing back

Hope your right as losing Kioki and Etete would be a hammer blow.

Can he play upfront as well?

Good point well made.

Don't get me wrong, I still expect Kioki to be sold in this window...

He has several suitors in higher leagues & it's the only chance we'll get to make any money on him as he'll just walk in the summer for nowt.  >:(

It's a shame that we only seem to put contract extension trigger options into the contracts of players we don't want to stay!

We probably won't even get a replacement in for Kioki, we'll just be spun Mills is back & Harriman can also play there, so no need for a replacement  :'(

Tyler Magloire should be inbound this week

Younger lad from Blackburn on loan

Right footed and natural CB so not an option at LB before anyone asks!
Has clocked top speeds faster than Kylian Mbappe (no joke!)
Not much mens football experience, had a short stint at Motherwell last season. May be where we spotted him with most our tips coming from SPL currently

Surely just back up for CB where we only have young Max Dyche currently

Unless one of our centre backs who hasn’t signed an extension is off …..

You'd think the fee associated with prizing either of our starters would be relatively hefty at this point
Not to mention the sizeable gap this would leave in the team

Don't think even the most pessimistic of Cobblers fans would suggest Brady and co would replace either of our stud CBs with a loaned and unproven 23 year old with less than 30 senior games experience

Harvey Knibbs - This would appear to make sense as CC knows all about him from his days at Villa and Cambridge, also signed him for Cambridge. As he is only 22 it is in line with our previous stated aim of signing younger players who we can develop and possibly sell on for a profit. Makes more sense than signing an ageing injury prone Hylton.

Ali Koiki - If bigger clubs are sniffing we are probably going to lose him which would be a pity. His first team opportunities were limited until Mills got injured but has since shown his capabilities. I did not think he had his best game against FGR, some close control surging runs but at times played the ball too far in front of himself and lost control and some loose passes. Also is not the best at defending aerial balls, often outjumped. Obviously he can walk away at the end of the season without us getting a fee but if prospective buyers are only offering a nominal fee I would keep him to see the season out. With Mills nearly fit the club may cash in but Mills would have difficulty in dislodging him.

Tyler Magloire - According to reports appears to be a done deal but not stated as a loan or permanent signing. Blackburn must think he has prospects as he has made 6 first team appearances and with games at Rochdale, Hartlepool and Motherwell has 20-30 starts. If he is anywhere near as good as the last centre back we had from Blackburn he will be fine.

With another decent centre back we could revert to playing 352 which was successful before, I prefer either 4231 or 352. With 352 the opposition will often play balls into the space behind the wing backs but the centre back that side can come over to cover and still leaves the other 2 cover the strikers. You can also play 2 up top and you are not going to get over-run in midfield as you can with 442.

Agree about Koiki. Would rather see him leave in the summer for free than now for even a reasonable fee. If we want to cement our position and push on we cant afford to be rebuilding in January, already lost Etete any more of the first 11 would be difficult, especially with limited time to replace. If its clear we will be loosing Koiki in summer at least gives a lot more time to plan.

Tyler Magloire - Done deal. Loan until the end of the season

i have said it before -
beware the wealthy clubs in the conference who pay 3 or 4 times more than us .
There is a reason why contract extensions have not been signed yet

Trouble is that if he knows he is away in the Summer, is he going to be fully committed to us, he's not going to risk getting injured is he ?

If you want to leave and attract the best clubs you'll put extra effort in and hope to have a promotion on your CV. It can go both ways though I agree. I imagine he'll get something to stay for the end of the season to make him happy/

Rovers fan here. Tyler Magloire will, I think, require time and patience. He was our reserve team captain at CB for a few years and his pace was much talked about. However, he didn't make a breakthrough and has struggled at times during his loan spells. He's strong and quick but at times hasn't demonstrated enough of this. Some of this might be confidence.

I believe the club are letting him go on a free this summer, though there's no confirmation of that. I hope he can rebuild his career with this loan move.

Someone mentioned Scott Wharton. He was out injured for a long time but he's been one of the main reasons Rovers are in 3rd at the moment.

Can finally put this one to bed
https://www.weareimps.com/news/2022/january/imps-sign-striker-marquis

Thanks for this insight.
No surprise on Wharton, looked quality when he was here .

Horsfall I take it will be off then.

Possibility of course. For me his form is erratic exemplified by misplaced passes as seen v FGR. Certainly not convinced by his defensive abilities. If we can get a decent fee which might enable us to bring in adequate replacements and above all a striker all good! The striker situation is now our Achilles heal and promotion depends on it! Otherwise bring Mills back in as LB and move Kioki to midfield where his surges might be useful both in ‘offense’ and defensively. Can we find a McGowan type left back

Do we still get compensation for under 24 year old players if they reject contracts and go somewhere else? He'd only play 30 games, so maybe get about £100k for him I'd have though, so depends on what the offer is. I think much worse than letting him go now, is letting him go in the Summer - the last thing I want is for us to be promoted and have the team picked through again with no consistency. If we got a decent figure for him, I'd be tempted to cash in and find a replacement we think it's ready for the level above so we can bed them in to the squad and hit the ground running.

Phew, that was close. ;)

I would have thought this only applies to players that have gone through academy process rather than someone you picked up on a free a few months ago. Any transfer fee will be nominal as it’s only whatever’s left on existing deal plus some value added. Bag of balls and a second hand set of bibs.

We won't need the bibs, we don't do much dribbling.

Someone should find that footage of Marquis hanging over the top of the bus in the market square with a mic and ripping the pìss out of Appleton and send it to the man himself. He'll soon send him packing and we can snap him up!

As long as we offer a contract (which I'm sure we have) then yes we will be paid compensation if he goes. I hadn't realised he was under 24 so wouldn't leave for free in the summer but imagine it would be a lot less than a proper sales fee now.

Harvey Knibbs is in the Cambridge team tonight and has given them the lead.

Any indication when players will be coming in?
I know we still have a few weeks but with a big game this week would be good to get them in today to get a few days training with the team.

Great news this...from Jake Sharp on twitter...

Spoken to Jon Brady re Ali Koiki speculation. Says haven’t received anything concrete. Says they aren’t looking to sell. And more importantly says the club have an option to extend his contract which they can trigger at any point #ntfc

That is good news. Maybe the committee do know what they are doing after all  ;D

https://www.northamptonchron.co.uk/sport/football/cobblers-narrow-down-their-search-for-attacking-reinforcements-3532633

Still looking at adding to our attacking areas.  ;)

Any update on these two leaving?

Still think Rose will be the easiest to shift

Kabamba is wanted elsewhere .
BAS - is he is still with us ?!

Hopefully of an attacking  player through the door before Saturday….  ???

I wonder how the striker hunt is going….. :)

Really, who do you think would want a striker that doesn’t score goals?

His cunning ability to stand up puts him streaks ahead of some of our other attacking options!

Indeed your recent suggestion that good times/news is coming; is somewhat belated. Just another windup. How is your Luton pal doing? That’s as if he exists ;D

Very constructive

Not really ;) - fairly obvious it was a wind up; have grown accustomed to your news flashes 8)

Another waste of ink.

It's a no on Gnanduillet

https://www.blackpoolgazette.co.uk/sport/football/blackpool-fc/former-blackpool-striker-set-to-return-to-france-despite-sheffield-wednesday-salford-city-and-wrexham-links-3535283

Thank fook he is s***e…..  ;D

Several bits of business being done by those clubs in and around us...

Orient sign playmaker Otis Khan, who rejected a new deal at Walsall...

Matt Smith signed for Salford from Millwall...

Lucas Akins just signed for Mansfield from Burton on a two and a half year deal...
He's 33 next month, ironically shares exactly the same birthday/year as a certain Danny Hylton!

Also Jonathan Mitchell has left Hartlepool after failing to agree terms on a new contract, obviously they could not afford the wages of a player of his calibre.

Danny Hylton ....
 I'm hearing strong rumours from good sources.
This would be a great signing.

at least the Hylton rumours are coming from luton fans too

https://twitter.com/LutonTownExile/status/1484456605886390273?s=20

Perhaps so, the best source is Luton Outlaws but there is only some unrelated dated comments like ‘bounceabity’🙂
Their Ukraine thread has taken off tho’😙

Outgoing soon I think, not Koiki/Horsfall

Permanent? Kabamba or BAS hopefully!

Any legs in the Hylton rumour ntfclad?

Loan

And I’m not sure any strikers are close to joining

I think it could go either way if we signed him, just depends on if he still has that desire and how much is still in the legs. We were lucky to avoid signing to Nugent last year.

Kabamba off to Woking it seems

I have to say I am impressed in general with the recent recruitment and decisions. I think Kamamba has arguably been our poorest performer of the summer signings, we needed improvement up top and that involves offloading some of what we have. Kabamba just does not look like scoring (the same with all our permanent forwards) so happy to move on. Certainly need a larger forward incoming as we now lack presence up top without doubt.

Striker incoming soonish I hope. I personally wouldnt want Hylton. An aging forward who has barely scored in recent years and struggled with injury, Ill pass.

Yep, just a shame it's not perm as he's still got another year! Absolutely nowhere near good enough for us

He's at his level.

Thankful that its been acknowledged quickly and moved him on.

Seal and Connolly next for me.

Nether good enough.

The Woking Wonder...or was that Paul Weller?  :P

Connolly has never really got going, then he had covid twice...I wouldn't say he isn't good enough, just bad luck.

Ashley-Seal is obviously not good enough

So who is up front for us on Saturday - BAS?

Zimba?

Thanks  - what delayed you? 8)

Hylton has been back in the squad recently, certainly doesn't seem surplus to requirements. There is a report out today in one of the Luton papers suggesting he may be injured again though.

Kabamba - as predicted .
BAS will go also , eventually .

Would hope he plays tomorrow and scores the winner! Would love it as he has the build and ability IMO ...of course.

I would be surprised if BAS plays again this season. When was the last time he was even in the 18 match day squad?. With another striker coming in he will still be 4th choice after Zimba and Rose.

Hoskins? It worked well last week.

You do have to say though that how come with our advanced data-driven recruitment, we end up with a squadron of strikers whose main weakness is that they can't score?

Unbelievably Jonathan Mitchell has found another club, he is going to help Doncaster secure relegation to div.2. His contract was up at Hartlepool and their fans reckon he was offered another 6 months but with a 40% pay cut.

Desperately need to sign a striker and not a U23 kid.
Zimba is awful.

Is it just me that finds it interesting that we knew we needed to recruit a goal scorer in about October, come the last week of the January transfer window, we are still speaking with targets?

Assume the only reason must be we are waiting to offload before?

In the time we’ve been sitting on our hands, we’ve thrown away a 8 point gap to 7th place.

Who are people genuinely hoping to sign for us?

Some of the striker signings that people were happy with (before they played for us I might add) include Kirk, Constantine, Sinclair and Morias.

I’m not sure that’s really fair. There aren’t an abundance of proven goal scorers happy to join league 2 teams that their current clubs are happy to let go. I think most teams access their squads around the new year and who is surplus to requirements, then a scramble for what’s available.

So Benny Ashley-Seal has been injured along with Scott Pollock. Both are playing in a behind closed doors game this coming week according to JB in his post match interview.

So the rumours of BAS no longer being at the club are false, doesn't look like we'll be able to offload him either if he's just returning from injury.

I think most would settle for someone that’s played a few games and scored a few goals, rather than an inexperienced kid from a championship side.

It looks as if we may have to pay a transfer fee and/or an attractive salary for any body half decent.

Even if someone is out there, we are assuming that KT and DB want us to go up and are willing to spend the cash and take a punt. A brief flirt with promotion would keep the punters (relatively) happy - staying in league two and keeping things ticking over might suit their master plan more.

KT basically said during the interview on the IACTM pod, that he & DB would rather invest in the playing side, than build/improve the facilities in and around the stadium...

Well, this week the proof will be in the pudding...

With Etete & Kabamba now gone, and just the two (cheap) loan signings brought in so far, this week is massive.

TBH though it sounded on the pod as if the owners were happy to just remain in L2 as the wage demands in L1 will cause there own problems!

Anyway, as for rumoured players, I'm pretty sure Hylton is injured again & Knibbs started for Cambridge again today, so can't see either happening.

Could be an interesting week both on and off the field (if the conclusive red book land valuation actually arrives)

If Hylton is injured again there seems little point in bringing him in. He does not fit our stated aim of signing younger players who we can develop and possibly sell on. Also is he going to be fit enough to play 2 games a week. I think at his age and with his recent injury record I would only sign him on loan for the rest of the season.

Tyreece Simpson just been recalled by Ipswich from his loan at Swindon, so assume he's being sold/being loaned elsewhere...

Would be the perfect signing for us & would show proper ambition...

GET HIM IN!

Am I the only person who is concerned that as soon as our previously incompetent council hand over the east stand land our current owners will dump the club and ask millions for a club who doesn’t own its ground has no on field assets and has less land than when they arrived??

If we have a club in a couple of years I’d be amazed.
The thing that the apathetic fanbase fail to see is that everything is built on sand.
Has anyone of our unintrepid reporters or two Bob podcast artists actually asked the owners of their plans/commitments as soon as the east land sale is completed…..
Of course they haven’t.
It’s not unreasonable to ask the owners if they are commited to the long term future of ntfc is it?

Meanwhile others continue with pipe dreams about stadium expansion.


I’d love to see DB and KT give an interview committing to the football club going forwards after the land is sold.

This is a massive moment in the future (or lack of) our towns football club.
Can someone reassure me and give me solid reasons that this scenario can’t play out…..

Luke Norris of stevenage seems to be in decent scoring form of late, shouldn't think he'd cost too much..

Why would they ask millions? no one would pay it. When they leave I would imagine they would ask next to nothing to get of something that haemorrhages cash by the day and give it to the next of seemingly never ending people to have money to throw away on a vanity project of a lower league club.

Because we are Northampton:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D60KYPcpw2s

Blimey - you have waited over two years but welcome back!

You could ask the question. Or are you like everyone else you moan about?

Blah Blah ...............Fair chance that you are the only one ::) Not many appear to share your view points!

No, not at all unreasonable.
What did they say when you asked?

Scunny fan thinks Nuttall is joining them as he was at their game yesterday. He should be fresh as he has only played once in the last 2 years.

At least he won't be coming here then

Possibly?

JB…

'There are so many pieces and so many people involved in the process when you're trying to get the person you're after.'

He'll go higher than us.....touted for a loan move to a League 1 side, or fight for a place in the Ipswich side should they sell James Norwood to one of seven interested parties.

Agreed it’s very highly unlikely…

JBs latest comments stink of desperation, sounds like there’s no plan or strategy in place at all.

"We are working every hour under the sun and travelling the width and breadth of the country ourselves to do everything we can to try and find someone that can help us with that cutting edge up top.“

It amazes me that we are having to 'chase' signings?
Do they not know who we are? They should be queuing out the door in their attempts to be signed by us... 8)  ;)

Its not like we are one of those clubs who can go online and buy off Amazon though....we are one of the clubs who has to go to car boot sales and jumble sales to see if we can pick up a bargain from somewhere.

Agreed, but you’d have thought we would have drawn up a list of potentials and done the scouting  well ahead of January so we aren’t ‘travelling the width and breath of the country… trying to and find someone that can help us’

Is this a serious post? The alternative answer is...
"A striker, oh yea I guess so. Me and Colin are walking our dogs down the racecourse tomorrow. I'll have a quick look but need to get back quick for Sunday Brunch. Love a bit of Rimmer on a Sunday".

Is that a euphemism?

Scouting is only one part of signing a player. They also need to meet them and talk to them to see if the fit the squad, if they have the right drive, if they 'buy in to what the club is trying to achieve' for that usual press release sound bite. Agree personal terms, meet with the agent, maybe meet with the clubs academy teams if its a young loan.
Yes can be done by Zoom etc but so much better in person, maybe even see them train. I think its a huge positive JB is taking some of this on himself and not solely reliant on others

The prep work should have bin done b4 the window. We are at the final week now and should be going in 4 the kill 4 the ones we have been after. I rekon we aint been after noone and are going to end up with desperadoes agin.

I think you will find that a lot of work was done before the transfer window opened. JB has often stated that they are constantly on the look out for players to improve the squad. Getting said players to come here and for their clubs to release them (especially with covid) is a totally different ball game. I don't know how anyone can have the opinion that we only start looking on Jan 1st.

It certainty seems that way.

I guess we wait and see who we end up with to gauge either great forward planning or a last minute panic.

Few links with Idris Kanu (Posh) on Twitter

Yes Pete O'Rourke reckons he may be coming on loan for rest of the season.

Sweet Jesus.

Cheap option this seems to me

2 goals in 46 appearances for Boro - that's Danny Rose form! ;D

He's not a striker, attacking midfielder.

Oliver was a cheap option as well  ::)

Another defender that can play anywhere https://www.theposh.com/player/8

Added to the fact that we weren't expecting Etete to be leaving?  :o

Mad to think we've been working every hour under the sun and travelling the width and breadth of the country doing everything we can to try and find someone, to find someone 30 miles up the road. 

Beggars can’t be choosers.

I don’t know how many times it has to be reiterated - there is no budget for players with any type of reputation at all .
Whoever we get is a gamble and a risk .
Some of the names banded about are pure fantasy - miles out of our league on wages alone .
Why do you think the head of recruitment left ?

Could well be happening

https://twitter.com/footyinsider247/status/1485577266784522242?s=20

Cannot accuse the club of not being ambitious, the lad's a Sierra Leone international.

Am I reading this right, he's the man for any position yet he's still only managed 113 mins of football in 4 1/2 years?
Is someone taking thr p*ss?
An improvement on super Sam would be welcome, but seriously?

No you are not reading it right. He played 25 games for Posh in 2020-2021 season.

If true I don't understand this one. Doesn't really plug any of the holes and would provide some cover across the  pitch but do we really want to be spending money on a back up utility player?

Hmmm.
So why does that link say what it does then?
This is what's so fcuking wrong about the Internet, you don't know who to believe?
Wiki has him down for 122 games and 12 goals.
Maybe there's two Idris Kanu playing for Posh atm?

Perhaps, along with a wad of cash, he's coming this way in exchange for Sammy?
Bit like the good old days.

Those 115 mins are for this season, surely.

Yes this season. 1 start, 4 sub appearances.

Because he left to join a club that would offer him more involvement in coaching

https://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/idris-kanu/leistungsdaten/spieler/405982/plus/0?saison=ges   ;)

Wiki shows him as no starts and no sub appearances and was updated 8 days ago (incorrectly then).
Have we had Ramadan yet, he fasts for a month. Hope our recruitment committee are on the ball, the sports scientists won't like that.

Thanks DC.
Another page about Idris at odds with the first two.
You see what I mean about this Internet?
It's the way world wars start.

It'll be through April essentially, but plenty of other players fast through Ramadan. I'm sure if he does fast he'll have a plan.

Its a strange one, for the reasons I've said above, but also if he has a great season for us, we really help with his development, he helps us get promoted, he'll then likely be back up the road and playing against us next season!  :o

Is that what the newspaper said ?

You mean he'll have a plan to observe tradition during daylight hours or to slip stuff in like they do on Jungle?

Yes mate
https://www.northamptonchron.co.uk/sport/football/head-of-recruitment-foyle-leaves-cobblers-for-new-club-3443199

Is that how the last 2 started? :D

Although I'd trust that more than the others? 8)
It does include his recent squad involvement in the Africa Cup of Nations.

He is only 22years and yes bit of punt.  Same sort of situation with Kioki, Morton and Oliver and probably a few others!

Some of the others being Edmondson, Ashley-Seal and Korboa, Warburton, Flores etc.......

If the intention is to buy him as a midfielder as an alternative to P.Lewis for example; at least it makes a bit of sense? If he played 25 games for Posh in season 20/21 surely he must be of an acceptable standard?;

Think he meant the 100year war with us claiming (dubious) part of France and then we got upset by some tennis balls the French sent us!
Really not on :o

Blimey CJ what next! ;D

I heard a whisper that the arch Duke had his head stuck in a phone.

Apparently the second one started after Adolf saw some conspiracy theories online.

Don't be silly, conspiracy theories weren't a thing back then.

 ;D

Fake News ;)

I see Swindon have already got a replacement in for Tyreece Simpson, the day after he got recalled by Ipswich...

That's being pro active!

Great forward planning by Swindon.

No need for them to spend a month driving the width and breadth of the country in search of someone that might help.

Yeah but was it data driven?

Either as some have mentioned on here the budget is simply not there to bring in the likes of a Danny Hylton or we haven’t done are homework and identified the right player.

It looks to me foyle is a massive loss given what he brought in this summer.

I’m still hopeful that we can bring that centre forward who can perform week in week out and chip in with a few goals here and there but time is ticking and so are the games and we have dropped off the pace which is so disappointing given Etete went back 2 weeks ago.

Maybe the club have over at hooded this season but I’d be very disappointed if we didn’t finish in the play offs at least.

In other news Wrexham have just brought in Ollie Palmer for £300k.

I don't quite see all of the negativity about Idris Kanu but then again most of our signings suffer the same sort of comments. He is only 22 but already has around 100 first team appearances with a lot of these being above division 2 level and I doubt if he is being brought in as "cover".
Compare this with Zimba who has just 1 efl game and with any player who has been playing under 23 football is a bit of a punt. He may turn out to be another Ryan Edmondson or if we are lucky another Callum Morton who did not particularly impress in his first few games.
However given each players career so far if we had to choose to sign just one of them I think Kanu's experience would get a landslide vote on here.

My friend watches Aldershot and says that Kanu was head and shoulders above National League level and is surprised he hasn't done more at Boro. He is young, quick and has a point to prove so could be a very shrewd loan signing at our level.

I'd certainly rather watch Kanu playing as our ACM/number 10, than the mostly inconspicuous Paul Lewis...

In other news...

https://www.footballinsider247.com/sources-aston-villa-striker-young-set-for-loan-as-swindon-northampton-mansfield-and-port-vale-swoop/ (https://www.footballinsider247.com/sources-aston-villa-striker-young-set-for-loan-as-swindon-northampton-mansfield-and-port-vale-swoop/)

Sources: Aston Villa striker Young set for loan as Swindon, Northampton, Mansfield and Port Vale swoop

Aston Villa striker Brad Young is the subject of a late-window race between Swindon Town, Northampton Town, Mansfield Town and Port Vale, Football Insider understands.

The 19-year-old spent the first half of this season on loan at Carlisle United before his stint was cut short earlier this month.

0 goals in 14 league games for Carlisle? Sounds like he'll fit right in.

From what I've read about Kanu, I reckon he'd be a decent fit for us.

If we could improve 2 positions in the team (number10, and centre forward) - even if those improvements were like for like coming off of the bench...we'd be good enough to push for a top3 position in my opinion...

;D

If BAS is now fit would he be more useful than a 19yr old with no goals yet in the EFL? BAS has one🥳

Imagine trying for experienced strikers but finding they want paying the going rate and ending the window with two non scoring strikers to add to the ones we already have…..

Imagine Peterborough playing hardball over idris kanus loan deal in the same way that we were laughed out of London road when putting in a derisory offer for broome

Imagine telling the fans that plans were in place when Martin foyle left….

Kanu/Lewis/whoever....I think when we do finally land one or two it is becoming increasingly clear that they probably won't come with much of a track record and they'll need to bring their scoring boots.
The other name that was being mentioned Danny Hylton. Scored 8 goals since 2018 in 52 games. We're never going to lure or fund real quality, although there may be more likelihood of someone like him banging them in at our level.

Even so, with the league two standard we've seen, we're more than capable of staying up there.

I think Kanu is the best we can hope for, and I'm not fully sold on him being the right person.
Established strikers are rare as rocking horse poo this time of year so all that is really available is either kids or out of form strikers.
I really don't think our prayers will be answered and going to have to lead with Rose as the main striker supported by the rest. Hopefully Zimba can be our Morton and (if he comes in) Kanu can provide a spark.

Wrong window to be searching a goal scorer.

Yep, we did that in the Summer when we signed the prolific Kabamba!  ;D

Would love to see us go in for Kayden Jackson, out of favour at Ipswich & inevitably big wages but would be great back at league 2 level

It appears that Villa recalled Young from his loan at Carlisle because they could not guarantee him sufficient playing time.

Yeah because our owner is only worth £150m so covering a decent strikers wages for 4 months must definitely keep him awake at night  :P

No, just a weak bladder.

  ;D That made me chuckle 🤭

What on earth is funny about this remark or what is the point?

Saw a suggestion that Orient may be interested in Charlie Kirk as he has barely featured in the league for Charlton so far this season (488 mins so far). That would be someone I would be all over for us as a creative spark, 2 years ago in L2 7 goals and 10 assists and last season in L1 6 goals and 8 assists. Could then move Pinnock to CAM instead of Lewis which would definitely increase our fluency.

Kanu appears to have played a lot at RWB for Posh which would partly explain his poor goal return, although he has never scored many at all anywhere. If he were to play up top it would require us to approach games with more of a fluency of movement similar to what we tried against Crawley (I think it was) recently where the widemen and forward change positions.

If he comes in though don't think it solves our need for a striker in terms of goals or hold up ability, lets hope someone else is in the pipeline. That being said he is at a good age and could be improved which I think the coaching staff have proved they can do with players so far, would still be happy with the addition and hopefully he can develop with consistent game time.

Kettering have accepted an offer from a team at a higher level for Callum Powell...good age, right footed quick attacking mid/winger top scorer for the with 14 goals this season. Played for our youth team...

I hope it is us. If he can make the step up, it would give us more creative options allowing us not to rely so much on Pinnock.

Looks like Sunderland have made the first move for Koiki  :'(

https://the72.co.uk/260768/sunderland-in-talks-to-sign-northampton-town-ace-ali-koiki/ (https://the72.co.uk/260768/sunderland-in-talks-to-sign-northampton-town-ace-ali-koiki/)

Great move for him.
Even though we are selling and replacing with loans again (the Blackburn lad) I still think we will have enough about us for a mid table finish and more importantly money which I’m sure will be reinvested in a couple of permanent attacking players…..

Maglorie isn't a left-back, he's a centre-back and cover for the injury to Nelson. If we sold Koiki for money, we'd replace him with another left-back. Source isn't exactly reliable here, so while this isn't impossible I'll believe it when I see it.

Truly depressing, once again we sell our best players and replace with loans.

Bet that's made your day Manwork, you surely are one of the most miserable people on this Forum.

Oh have we sold him already?

There does seem to be a different vibe. Dare I say, in the Cardoza times if we were top 3 we’d be building to secure promotion. It does feel as though we are battling to cling on. You’ve got to hope we have enough to be fighting for some end of season interest and JB will have definitely have earned his pay packet.
It’s never a good sign to be talking more about trying to keep hold of our decent players at this stage of the season.

A couple of quick wins needed to lift the spirits and concentrate on the squad we have.

I honestly believe the reason for this is because we are over achieving with this team. From the games I've seen (and concede its not a lot) I've rarely felt we are top 3 contenders. I do think we are hanging on and need to get players in to ensure we stay there or at least top 7.

We have Mills so not entirely desperate.

We were Top 3 with Etete up front. On steroids when he started scoring as well as bringing the rest of the team into play.

Over achieving! Prior to the Swindon loss some where predicting promotion by Easter ......as if!

Don’t disagree he was a very positive influence but remind me of how many goals he scored in 15 league games?

That would be three!!

Got to say he was the standout player on the pitch in our win at Coventry, his first appearance for us. Never hit the same heights again in my opinion. Failed to score in his next 13 appearances.

What the fûck are you wittering on about, what’s to like about losing one of our best players?
We really have some of the thickest supporters.

Other members are allowed to express an opinion, as you do (frequently).

He’s in TGI’s with the new striker.

Its alright...we've got an option for a 12 month extension!  ;D

Agreed - my point is there is so much noise about signing a proven goal scorer but the reality is, before January (when we a comfortable 2nd) the goals were not coming from an out and out striker - what Etete did bring to the party was the ability to hold the ball allowing the midfield to push up - he also won a fair few free kicks (once he had sussed Div 4 defenders) so again we benefited from dead ball situations. Yes it’s a blow to lose him but even if we sign a “fox in the box” type prolific striker I doubt it would have the benefit some think it will bring. If we sign a striker with a goal every 4-5 games people will moan forgetting that Etete was no better than that as a striker.

Have Gillingham got any players who could fit the mould….
Or even Leyton orient?
People can brown nose the club as much as they want but Brady is no judge of a centre forward on what he’s shown so far.
Mind you he’s not alone in that

Agreed it helped our retention further up the pitch. Not a big fan of the invisible man Lewis but when he was playing just off of Etete he was a goal threat. Most other games  I couldn’t tell you if he’s even played.

Someone on twitter reckons we have the second lowest budget - from an inside source apparently.

Must be true then

If you believe that you’d believe anything…

Never said I believed it.

You simply love to deny people the right of reply!