January transfer window ( Now closed )

[kingantti1874]

1 minute ago, Maroon 1874 said:

 

That's a very strong claim ... and one I totally agree with

without doubt

[neilnunb]

21 minutes ago, davemclaren said:

McManus? 🥴

 

 

Thought McManus was decent for us. Never let us down really. Bit unlucky he was competing with Ritchie/Weir at the time.

 

 

[Alec Eiffel]

1 hour ago, BigAlim said:

I honestly believe Haring and Smith are better defenders than any of our centre halves, would be interested in seeing them tried out as a pairing as they have all the attributes to be a good partnership 

And after being tried out and failed, what then?

[BigAlim]

1 minute ago, Alec Eiffel said:

And after being tried out and failed, what then?

 

go back to halkett and berra until we can sign someone in the summer of course

[Pasquale for King]

38 minutes ago, JimmyCant said:

I actually think Souttar is over-rated anyway. Even fully fit he is nowhere near the class of Weir. Levein. Mcpherson Webster Berra in his day. Ritchie. Mcmanus and a few others. He'll still be a player with potential rather than the finished article he should be by now

You might get a bit of feedback on that, but not from me because you’re spot on. 

[Pasquale for King]

22 minutes ago, Deevers said:

Spoke with my Dons mate this morning. Apparently sitting on the contract offer and has other options on the table. Obviously not going to be rushed. He reckons that McLennan is not used properly there and he might well opt to move elsewhere. I reckon he would be a good fit for us either as a winger or in the no 10 role. He is apparently pretty fast.

It was in the press that we contacted them to say we were interested, I wonder how much they want or are due in compensation might not help us.
Mcinnes can’t help himself, he wants wingers to be wing backs and then fullbacks. I was amazed Nial McGinn went back there because he never seems to play him in his best position. 

[Stu_HMFC]

1 hour ago, LarrysRightFoot said:

Play him as the target man if we don’t sign one. 
 

Tongue in check but he did used to be a striker. Might be worth the odd 20 mins upfront to see how he does. 

 

Like big Kev Mckenna.  I remember some games when we were a goal down and looking for a goal in the last 10 minutes big Elvis would be lurking about up there. 

[Pans Jambo]

41 minutes ago, davemclaren said:

McManus? 🥴

[Bunny Munro]

46 minutes ago, JimmyCant said:

I actually think Souttar is over-rated anyway. Even fully fit he is nowhere near the class of Weir. Levein. Mcpherson Webster Berra in his day. Ritchie. Mcmanus and a few others. He'll still be a player with potential rather than the finished article he should be by now

I'm not sure if over rated is the word I'd use. But totally agree with your last sentence in perticular.

 

If he can get fit and play say, 80%, of next season he'll but about to turn 26 and we'll know a lot more if he is good player or a should-have-been.

[haveyouheard1874]

For me, we have a team that will take us back into the SPl no ifs or buts about it .Robbie is building the squad and from now till then i see excellent signings coming in , just all about time..The Jan window has be excellent and hopefully gets better.. All gid  for me in the short and long term 

[CloustonHMFC]

2 hours ago, ericb said:

Smith and Kingsley great business, but is it nor correct that these deals can be done at any time, and not only in a window?

 

If so, I'm still hopeful that new players will be coming in, and maybe effort should be on these before extensions? 

Yes they can but both Smith and Kingsley could have received offers from elsewhere so it is just as important to get them wrapped up as new signings coming in.

[22games nro]

39 minutes ago, Mikey1874 said:

 

Local media say Walsall have rejected an offer from Hearts.

a bit long winded but worth a read, from the local press down there.

 

 

TO SELL OR NOT TO SELL?

Today(20th Jan) it has been announced that Elijah Adebayo has received interest, and an enquiry from Scottish Championship side, Hearts. It has been greeted with mixed view from the fans, and as ever, there are pro’s and con’s to both selling, or keeping him. So what are they?

 

Money vs Contract

Darrell Clarke has only been able to sign free loans this transfer market, and with money tight, the transfer offer for a player will tempting. It all depends on the offer. We know that an approach has been rejected, but if Hearts really want him, and come back with another bid, then the board will have a difficult decision to make, especially given how our hands have been tied with recruitment so far.

This is where the contract part comes in to play. Gaining income from a player, with sell-on fees and future fees potentially involved, could prove valuable for Walsall. Having the funds to recruit during this transfer window, and avoid losing a player for free over the summer may be in Leigh Pomlett’s thinking. This is all dependant on factors that only the board will know, and they will no doubt have a figure in mind for every player, and if that is hit, a decision will need to be made.

Promotion vs Form

Walsall Chairman Leigh Pomlett, has discussed in videos that he wants promotion, and that means keeping a hold of key players. Adebayo has been leading the line in recent weeks, and with Josh Gordon being utilised behind, or out wide, and Lavery out of favour, options for a striker are limited. Many feel that if Adebayo is sold, then the club are giving up on hopes of a play-off push, unless that money is reinvested, unless the recent additions are to play a more prominent role.

 

Then there is the discussion of form. Adebayo has been leading the line, and holding the ball up, well of late, but he has not scored in his last six games. Elijah is a confidence player, he will go on a run of goals, and then hit a dry spell. With the interest in him, a slight concern will grow that his heart is not longer at the club, and the spells of goal-scoring will be few and far between. Form is not just regarding Adebayo, the whole team is low on form at the moment, and losing a key player won’t exactly help that, which is something the board, and of course, Darrell, will have to decide.

The board and management will have to look at the form and promotion chances, ad work out whether their goals are better achieved with Adebayo at the club, or the funds from him leaving. Promotion will play a big role in his future. Gain promotion, and the chances of him staying greatly increase, as it will be a higher league, probably a higher wage, and the chance to show you can perform on a slightly bigger stage. Not achieving promotion will increase the risk of him leaving for free.

Trust

This is a little more ‘under the surface’ than the other points. Elijah makes up a key core of the squad that fans have been calling to be signed up longer term. Fans will be expectant that if he remains at the club, every effort will be made to secure Eli for a long term stay at Walsall. This goes back to the promotion element, but it is the relationship between fans and club, rather than Eli and the club I want to look at.

Under Jeff Bonser, we would probably have seen Hearts sign Adebayo by now, but Leigh Pomlett is standing firm. This is the first public enquiry we have known about (Josh Gordon and Burton seemed more like a rumour rather than anything concrete), that could see a player leave. Pomlett and Clarke have made the right decisions when it has come to keeping players at the club, with McDonald, Holden, and Rose signing, or re-signing.

We will see the patience of fans tested either way. Keeping Adebayo means fans will expect more of a play-off push from the side, losing him will see fans calling for a replacement.

Adebayo

The biggest point above all of this, is the player himself. If Pomlett recieves an offer that he sees fit, it is up to the player if he decides he is better off staying at Walsall, or moving away. He seems to have found a home here, and his game has improved working with this setup.

It depends who comes in for him. Hearts look set to return to the SPFL, and will have their eyes set on a return to European football within a couple of years too. That is a much bigger stage than a side looking to achieve League One security in the same time period.

Time will tell, and we are set for more of these stories, and decisions with a lot of the squad out of contract this summer.

[CloustonHMFC]

Just read all the posts since the Kingsley announcement and have a few points to say:

 

CB will probably be kept on hold until summer. Even with our shaky CB pairings we will have more than enough to win the league and we need to be careful with what we are spending right now in case the SPFL some how manage to null and void the league. Plus, I think we'll be waiting to see how Souttar is after his injury because that could determine if need 1 or 2.

 

Folk moaning about Smith and Kingsley only having 18 months also need to remember that it's still not certain what league we'll be playing in because there is a real possibility of null and void, I'm afraid. The club is being sensible here, 18 months means if the season does go null and void we will have them next season but should the worst happen and we don't go up again then we really couldn't afford their wages.

[A_A wehatethehibs]

Just now, BigAlim said:

 

Take your point on Haring but have to agree to disagree on Smith, think he's a superb defender who'll be 33 next season and should think about a position change anyway. Think we could do with having a real live wire right back coming in.

 

I also take exception to the idea that players playing in different positions is in some way football manager stuff, if anything it's quite the opposite, folk who think a footballer can only play one position are thinking in those terms imo

I never said Smith was in any way bad the point I’m making is that he is a right back through and through. I’m afraid you are naïve to think you can just shift a senior players position. Right back, he’s played 400+ Pro games there, been capped there, he knows it inside out. He likes playing there, he wants to play there. That’s where he plays, that’s where he’s happy. Move him out of there and you’ve gone from RB being sorted, to both uncertainty at RB and uncertainty at CB. And in the process you’ve made a senior player unhappy playing somewhere he’s obviously not comfortable (based on the fact that he’s spent his entire career not playing there). You’ve took a huge backwards step. Players aren’t just robots, it’s man management. 

Maybe if he ends up back at Ballymena in a few years, he’ll want to shift to Center half to do a bit less running, but not in a Hearts team that is under serious pressure next season looking to push for a European position. Smith our right back for next season, Kingsley is our left back. Gordon is our goalkeeper. 3 out of the back 5, Sorted, sorted, sorted. Now it’s Center back x1 if not preferably 2 required but that’s a big ask to get 2 really good ones.

 

Its all very well saying you have a winger that can play through the middle or something. But your starting Center halves, that’s your rock. He’s the anchor which the whole game depends on, it is as specialist a position as goalkeeper is. Not like full backs and midfielders etc who can switch about and cover various roles. Center halves are a different breed. 

[Mikey1874]

Interview with Kingsley 

 

https://www.heartsfc.co.uk/news/article/stephen-determined-to-get-hearts-to-the-top

[BigAlim]

3 minutes ago, A_A wehatethehibs said:

I never said Smith was in any way bad the point I’m making is that he is a right back through and through. I’m afraid you are naïve to think you can just shift a senior players position. Right back, he’s played 400+ Pro games there, been capped there, he knows it inside out. He likes playing there, he wants to play there. That’s where he plays, that’s where he’s happy. Move him out of there and you’ve gone from RB being sorted, to both uncertainty at RB and uncertainty at CB. And in the process you’ve made a senior player unhappy playing somewhere he’s obviously not comfortable (based on the fact that he’s spent his entire career not playing there). You’ve took a huge backwards step. Players aren’t just robots, it’s man management. 

Maybe if he ends up back at Ballymena in a few years, he’ll want to shift to Center half to do a bit less running, but not in a Hearts team that is under serious pressure next season looking to push for a European position. Smith our right back for next season, Kingsley is our left back. Gordon is our goalkeeper. 3 out of the back 5, Sorted, sorted, sorted. Now it’s Center back x1 if not preferably 2 required but that’s a big ask to get 2 really good ones.

 

Its all very well saying you have a winger that can play through the middle or something. But your starting Center halves, that’s your rock. He’s the anchor which the whole game depends on, it is as specialist a position as goalkeeper is. Not like full backs and midfielders etc who can switch about and cover various roles. Center halves are a different breed. 

You make some very good points, however there are quite a large number of examples of players who have been equally comfortable at fullback and centre back at all levels across all eras. I certainly wouldn't move Smith in full time until we picked up a good right back to replace him, but I still see his future there and don't see any reason why he couldn't do it imo

[JimmyCant]

1 hour ago, davemclaren said:

McManus? 🥴

I meant mclaren of course 😊

[Billy Hoyle]

1 hour ago, A_A wehatethehibs said:

He is very good on the ball, very comfortable and he can stand up for himself physically. He has all the quality you need but the bottom line is you need fitness. Just hope he can get back playing.

He is a good player but he thinks he is a fantastic player and is way too casual on the ball. The 40 yard diagonal passes need to stop too. He has the potential but as you say fitness and a full season without injuries is what he needs to get better. 

[Madjambo21]

5 minutes ago, BigAlim said:

You make some very good points, however there are quite a large number of examples of players who have been equally comfortable at fullback and centre back at all levels across all eras. I certainly wouldn't move Smith in full time until we picked up a good right back to replace him, but I still see his future there and don't see any reason why he couldn't do it imo

He has played at centre half for us  number of times and was the best one in my opinion so he could move to that position with ease.

 

Also last couple of games for NI he has played centre mid I think.

 

Top player for us

[DS98]

11 minutes ago, A_A wehatethehibs said:

I never said Smith was in any way bad the point I’m making is that he is a right back through and through. I’m afraid you are naïve to think you can just shift a senior players position. Right back, he’s played 400+ Pro games there, been capped there, he knows it inside out. He likes playing there, he wants to play there. That’s where he plays, that’s where he’s happy. Move him out of there and you’ve gone from RB being sorted, to both uncertainty at RB and uncertainty at CB. And in the process you’ve made a senior player unhappy playing somewhere he’s obviously not comfortable (based on the fact that he’s spent his entire career not playing there). You’ve took a huge backwards step. Players aren’t just robots, it’s man management. 

Maybe if he ends up back at Ballymena in a few years, he’ll want to shift to Center half to do a bit less running, but not in a Hearts team that is under serious pressure next season looking to push for a European position. Smith our right back for next season, Kingsley is our left back. Gordon is our goalkeeper. 3 out of the back 5, Sorted, sorted, sorted. Now it’s Center back x1 if not preferably 2 required but that’s a big ask to get 2 really good ones.

 

Its all very well saying you have a winger that can play through the middle or something. But your starting Center halves, that’s your rock. He’s the anchor which the whole game depends on, it is as specialist a position as goalkeeper is. Not like full backs and midfielders etc who can switch about and cover various roles. Center halves are a different breed. 

IMO Smith is our best right back, centre half and centre mid.

 

His last game for NI was playing central midfield. He was a standout. The commentator said at one point ‘Everything good about Ireland tonight is going through Michael Smith’

 

 

[Gulf Jambo]

4 hours ago, Deevers said:

According to my Dons pal we have an interest in McLennan. He’s out of contract in the summer and not had an offer yet from Aberdeen. McInnes wants to keep him,  but from what I have been told he is sitting things out just now and seeing what offers come his way.

 

That would be ideal I think. 

 

Big, tall, strong. More of a powerful type rather than a speedster which would offer us another option. 

 

Young enough to still develop too

[davemclaren]

13 minutes ago, JimmyCant said:

I meant mclaren of course 😊

👍😄

[JimmyCant]

9 minutes ago, DS98 said:

IMO Smith is our best right back, centre half and centre mid.

 

His last game for NI was playing central midfield. He was a standout. The commentator said at one point ‘Everything good about Ireland tonight is going through Michael Smith’

 

 

How can he be viewed as our best centre half when he has played once or twice there when we were desperate for cover ? We’re not blessed with centre halfs. I don’t think any of them are good enough for the top league unless Souttar gets fitted with bionic legs. That doesn’t mean you weaken the team as a whole by playing your best right back at centre half, a role he is makeshift in at best.

 

There might be a case for moving him to defensive midfield as his legs will surely start to go soon but only if Haring is not going to make it back to what he was, but that still leaves you looking to find a good first choice right back.

Edited January 21, 2021 by JimmyCant

[DS98]

4 minutes ago, JimmyCant said:

How can he be viewed as our best centre half when he has played once or twice there when we were desperate for cover ? We’re not blessed with centre halfs. I don’t think any of them are good enough for the top league unless Souttar gets fitted with bionic legs. That doesn’t mean you weaken the team as a whole by playing your best right back at centre half, a roll he is makeshift in at best.

 

There might be a case for moving him to defensive midfield but only if Haring is not going to make it back to what he was, but that still leaves you looking to find a good first choice right back.

Think you’re confused. I never said move him anywhere. His best position is the one he plays in.  IMO he’s also a better centre back than Berra, Halkett and Popescu and a better midfielder than Halliday, Haring or Irving. A great player to have in the team. 

[A_A wehatethehibs]

5 minutes ago, DS98 said:

IMO Smith is our best right back, centre half and centre mid.

 

His last game for NI was playing central midfield. He was a standout. The commentator said at one point ‘Everything good about Ireland tonight is going through Michael Smith’

 

 

I am quite happy moving Smith to Center mid or Center half if needed, he is cover across multiple areas a which is great, he fulfils the same role for NI. He can help you keep winning games by doing a job anywhere when called on in case of injuries or suspensions. So important to have 2-3 guys like that in the squad.
 

But people are talking about moving him permanently to first choice Center half. That is not the way forward, at all. We need to be bringing in new blood Center halves in to build the new bedrock of the team. It is imo the most important job Robbie Neilson has to do and will make or break him. Think of the goals, the awful goals we’ve been leaking for years. And still today are leaking, last game vs ****ing Alloa! Shifting a full back in there, is not the solution. Over a full season I can assure you we would see perfectly well why Smith has never been a Center half for any of his clubs over 10 years. His weakness would be exposed the more he played there. But at RB he’s bulletproof and knows the job inside out. If he was a Center half he’d have played 400 games there but he’s not, his position is right back. 

[JimmyCant]

1 minute ago, DS98 said:

Think you’re confused. I never said move him anywhere. His best position is the one he plays in.  IMO he’s also a better centre back than Berra, Halkett and Popescu and a better midfielder than Halliday, Haring or Irving. A great player to have in the team. 

Christ we’re a lot worse off at centre back than I thought if a guy who has played there once or twice as a stand in is the best we’ve got. 

[gorgieheart]

so, any further transfer noise ?  or are we just having a wee rammy about who's the best CH/CM etc   ?  

[DS98]

4 minutes ago, JimmyCant said:

Christ we’re a lot worse off at centre back than I thought if a guy who has played there once or twice as a stand in is the best we’ve got. 

We are 

[BigAlim]

1 minute ago, gorgieheart said:

so, any further transfer noise ?  or are we just having a wee rammy about who's the best CH/CM etc   ?  

 

I'd say we're having a very adult discussion by kickback standards tbh

[Des Lynam]

5 hours ago, StevenNaismith said:

Posted on here a couple of days ago he had agreed, Ginnelly should be announced soon too then fingers crossed we can get a deal done with Irving. 🤞🏼

   

 

 

Delighted with Kingsley extending his deal. 

[All roads lead to Gorgie]

The Kingsley news is great to hear as we have secured a free kick specialist as well as a reliable wing back for this and next season. Robbie has delivered on this one as I am sure he has with GMS too. Starting to feel we are going to see a much better thought out signing policy become the norm.

[Guess The Crowd]

36 minutes ago, JimmyCant said:

I meant mclaren of course 😊

 

The best defender of them all. 

[Des Lynam]

I’d play Smith centre mid before centre half. He likes to bomb on and attack. 

[jr ewing]

7 minutes ago, Des Lynam said:

I’d play Smith centre mid before centre half. He likes to bomb on and attack. 

He'll want to stay at right back. Gives him more international honours. 

[1971fozzy]

Fantastic regarding Kingsley. Brilliant news

[alanjambo]

14 minutes ago, Guess The Crowd said:

 

The best defender of them all. 

 

 

Very true.

[Lord Beni of Gorgie]

1 hour ago, All roads lead to Gorgie said:

The Kingsley news is great to hear as we have secured a free kick specialist as well as a reliable wing back for this and next season. Robbie has delivered on this one as I am sure he has with GMS too. Starting to feel we are going to see a much better thought out signing policy become the norm.

GMS came off the right last week but could be a fantastic left hand side Kingsley overlapping GMS

[upgotheheads]

56 minutes ago, Des Lynam said:

I’d play Smith centre mid before centre half. He likes to bomb on and attack. 

 

I'd like to see that, as much because it would allow Jamie Brandon to play right back. Smith is a more than capable c/b and Brandon is better than many on here will accept, especially at this level. Smith c/b and Brandon r/b is better than Berra c/b and Smith r/b. Smith hasn't been at his best at r/b for a few weeks and it might be that as he gets older he naturally moves inside anyway. 

[Rick Sanchez]

Brandon is pish. He's 23 in February and has 35 appearances to his name. These guys need to be out and playing from 17/18. It's why I wouldn't be against Colts in the lower leagues...even lower than League 2.

 

If Brandon and White leave then we'll need the next generation of backup full backs. Hopefully Logan and Watson are ready for a chance.

[rory78]

4 minutes ago, Rick Sanchez said:

Brandon is pish. He's 23 in February and has 35 appearances to his name. These guys need to be out and playing from 17/18. It's why I wouldn't be against Colts in the lower leagues...even lower than League 2.

 

If Brandon and White leave then we'll need the next generation of backup full backs. Hopefully Logan and Watson are ready for a chance.

Agreed when he's playing I'm concerned 

[One five]

4 hours ago, davemclaren said:

 

Absolutely love it 👌

[jr ewing]

10 minutes ago, rory78 said:

Agreed when he's playing I'm concerned 

Decent cover, but that's all.

[gregzy2k7]

Great news! Kingsley was the one i was unsure would sign on or not, Absolutely delighted he has, He has been our best lb since takis, our most consistent since grainger.

[Greedy Jambo]

Naismith on the radio the now talking about Kingsley and GMS. 

Apparently GMS has had a hard time recently, banged heads with Haring and had to get stiches in his lip, wiped out by a young boy and had to get tested for concussion lol. 

[One five]

1 minute ago, Greedy Jambo said:

Naismith on the radio the now talking about Kingsley and GMS. 

Apparently GMS has had a hard time recently, banged heads with Haring and had to get stiches in his lip, wiped out by a young boy and had to get tested for concussion lol. 

Sounds like he is committed 👍

[OTT]

3 minutes ago, Greedy Jambo said:

Naismith on the radio the now talking about Kingsley and GMS. 

Apparently GMS has had a hard time recently, banged heads with Haring and had to get stiches in his lip, wiped out by a young boy and had to get tested for concussion lol. 

Training going well then😂😂

[A_A wehatethehibs]

2 minutes ago, Greedy Jambo said:

Naismith on the radio the now talking about Kingsley and GMS. 

Apparently GMS has had a hard time recently, banged heads with Haring and had to get stiches in his lip, wiped out by a young boy and had to get tested for concussion lol. 

What’s the bets it was bombscare Brandon 

[Robbo-Jambo]

5 minutes ago, Greedy Jambo said:

Naismith on the radio the now talking about Kingsley and GMS. 

Apparently GMS has had a hard time recently, banged heads with Haring and had to get stiches in his lip, wiped out by a young boy and had to get tested for concussion lol. 

Hope the concussion doesn't rule him out for Saturday. 

[vegas-voss]

3 hours ago, A_A wehatethehibs said:

He is very good on the ball, very comfortable and he can stand up for himself physically. He has all the quality you need but the bottom line is you need fitness. Just hope he can get back playing.

Cuts out the silly mistakes and he would and still could depending on how he recovers a top top player.To be fair to him though if not for injuries and if he had a top experienced partner with him he would probably already have got to that level and been off down south.

[A_A wehatethehibs]

1 minute ago, vegas-voss said:

Cuts out the silly mistakes and he would and still could depending on how he recovers a top top player.To be fair to him though if not for injuries and if he had a top experienced partner with him he would probably already have got to that level and been off down south.

I would say the best aim for him now is, to look no further than Hearts, aim to be a top Hearts player. Cherish every game and look to put up a good fight to win a new contract here. As of right now there’s a significant chance Hearts will be the biggest club of his career.
 

At best, if he comes back and performs for us and has no further recurrence, Rangers or Celtic might try and buy him for a million or two in a few years. That’s the only way I see us getting a fee for him now. But even for that to happen, he would need to stage a seriously good sustained comeback for Hearts over 2-3 seasons, in a winning team, winning more Scotland caps. What a mountain to climb but can only wish Soapy all the best as he’s a great lad and doesn’t deserve what’s happened.