Yeah signing quality players is never the answer.

Working well for Fleetwood

Some of the figures we’ve been quoted for players this January are ridiculous and we were certainly trying to bring people in. Have it on good authority we were pushing to do a deal for a couple of Fleetwood players, but covering the wages plus a loan fee is just too much in January.

If we did gamble and pushed the boat out and not make the playoffs (which I don’t think we would either way) we may hamstring ourselves budget wise for next year.

Would hope those Fleetwood players we were trying to get in weren’t the likes of Stockley, Marriott, Broom etc. The sort of big name player that thinks they’re doing you a favour by playing for your club. I’m sure there were many on here that we envious of the ‘calibre’ of players Fleetwood have ‘invested’ in and spent big on recently but look where it’s got them. Bringing in this type of player now on big wages is more likely to have an adverse effect on the squad rather than the title winning form we would need to make the playoffs.

Win this and we're right in the mix again.

With Barnsley and Oxford playing each other a result for one side and a win for us reduces the gap to 9 points with 19 games left, instead of the 12 from 20 currently. Assuming opposition teams continue gaining points at their current rates it would reduce are required points per game total to catch them from around 2.5points per game to around 2.3 points per game.

My take on this is that JB has maxed out the most of this team and squad to achieve what we have and a very comfortable position in the table. From where we are now we need title winning results to close the gap on those teams currently in the playoffs. I would love to be proved wrong but I just can’t see us having the ability to go up another couple of gears.

Surely time for this thread to end.

Hopefully taking Sutton with them, we'll probably have to wait until next season for Salford to do the same.

Why Sutton?

The team this season is definitely more than the some of its parts, which for me is the only way we can compete with the much bigger and richer teams in the league. There’s a lot of teams below us in the table with those big name players that I’m sure many on here drool over but the last thing we need is someone who thinks they are doing us a favour by just turning up. Probably more than I ever remember the wrong signing or a player with the wrong personality could have a negative effect on this squad and actually make us worse, so it’s makes sense to be cautious over any potential incomings.

I can only assume he wasn't happy in Northampton which is just a tad different from Newcastle.

Ntfclad said it was a case of the player wanting to stay but the parent club moving him on anyway. If that’s the case for me it’s a shame as he has proved more than adequate.
A lot of what we have achieved so far on the pitch this season for me can be put down to squad harmony and a great work ethic amongst the players fighting for each other, signing players maybe as much on personality and not worrying about the bigger names that some on here seem to crave.

Informed rumour on the back of a seperate Pompey deal.

So is that Sherring off to Portsmouth as has been rumoured with Goode potentially coming in as replacement?.

Just seen Dominic Calvert-Lewin sent off for a tackle that wasn't even a foul, absolute joke. I think VAR is good it's just the dickheads operating it

That was always going to be a red card. You can’t make that sliding challenge with studs showing and make contact with an opponent above the ankle. Surely everybody knows this now and it blows my mind that players still go in like that.

There is NO WAY that lad is 16!!

I keep waiting for this hoax to be uncovered and it turns out he’s actually 40!

Talk of them going for Rooney, if I was a blues fan I’d be furious.

Who knew!

Another great result

Game over

Very surprised to see McWilliams on the bench!.

Jordan Willis has signed until the end of the season

Is there any update on any potential contracts extension offers for Sherring and McWilliams?.

Wow!!!!!!!!!!

With regards to most disliked clubs I think it’s nailed on to be.

1. The Poo
2. MK Pongs
3. Poxford
4. The Ewes

Talk to most Cobblers and I reckon that’s the order.

To be honest I find most of our rivalries a bit contrived and don’t really give a fück about any of them. Peterborough and Cambridge both see that as the derby, Mk Dons are just a made up team and the whole Oxford thing only really came out of a past manager being a complete cǒck.

Isn’t the difference though as far as we know Hoskins has shown no desire to leave while Holmes was actively agitating for a move. As has been mentioned we would see little of any transfer fee received so for me it’s all down to if Hoskins wants to stay. Having a harmonious squad is one of the key factors that has allowed us to compete this season, so there’s little point keeping someone who wants out.

Someone that was not on that list who is out of contract is Tariq Fosu. Released by Brentford in the summer, was previously very good for Oxford and Charlton at this level before he got his move. Has clearly struggled to make the grade at Championship level so a drop to L1 does not seem unrealistic. I wonder how long players can afford to wait before they take a deal even if its just until the end of the season.

Was going to mention Fosu too, along with Curtis and Onomah just a few of the many free transfers I’ve signed for the cobblers on this years football manage. Marty Longstaff is another, whose career has plummeted since a great debut for Newcastle.