Summer transfer window 2023 - rumours, links and discussion.

[Spiral]

Benny, Zaroury, Redmond & Larsen competing for two wide places, Odobert and Koleosho the natural replacements on the conveyor belt when we lose any to a sale down the line, Tresor a versatile attacker who can play across the line or sub in for Zeki and Ramsay. Obefemi is out for months, Churlinov out too (not that he'd be close to the team), JBG fancied as a centre mid by Vinny. I think this idea of being overstocked with wide attackers is being a bit overstated, especially so if you make the argument that Koleosho and Odobert are seen as next season's starters (we were all debating if Koleosho was signed for the U21s when he arrived remember). I know he didn't have a good game against Villa but if Benny can step up to PL level in the way his talent suggests he can we're gonna be receiving bids for him in about four months' time, which gets this whole conveyor belt moving. If that happens we'll be glad to have replacements ready, because attacking systems like Kompany's rely on attacking players.

[Cooclaret]

Good news to finish It's a bit disappointing not to land a LB but when I saw the fee (regardless of addons or not) I almost fell off my chair

We did sign a LB. I would expect him slowly integrated.

[Vegas Claret]

Hurrah

[Clive 1960]

Just a pity we didn't get a left back but i hope Vincent plays Taylor now and see what's available in January.

[Casper2]

They signed Beto who came on as a late sub in LC, scored the equaliser, hit the post and took MOM after changing the game.

Against the team sitting bottom of league 2

[CrosspoolClarets]

9/10 window for me. So many signings, most full internationals with a few a bit younger.

The left back would be icing the cake but lets not say Maatsen is Paulo Maldini just yet, he could have ended up being skinned as much as whoever we put in there. The midfield enforcer would have replaced Cullen, which many would say is harsh, so lets give Josh a chance (clear Kompany wants four across the front with a 9 and 10, albeit fluid movement). That’s Berge and Cullen in midfield, but hopefully a bit better supported out of poss3ssion.

[Tricky Trevor]

Against the team sitting bottom of league 2

Fair point but whatever the opposition his movement was excellent and he had another ruled out for offside. He could be a game changer for them as they do create chances, just can’t put them away.

[KlyBfc]

*Moved comments about Egan Riley threads*

[Hipper]

I've tried to wade through some of the last pages but it's soul destroying.

Can someone sum up why Maatsen didn't sign? Was it his greed, or the high purchase price at the end of the loan?

[Tinribs]

Because Maatsen thinks he’s better than Burnley,we shall see.

[Ric_C]

Forest signed 7 players yesterday

[AGENT_CLARET]

Tresor will probably take our corners and freekicks from now on, his skill on the ball and pace will have us out of our seat,I'm really looking forward to seeing this lad live week in week out

[AGENT_CLARET]

Forest signed 7 players yesterday

We must of done a number on them Wednesday

[NewClaret]

Forest signed 7 players yesterday

Also sold their best one imo.

Holding on to our own was important too.

[NewClaret]

Tresor will probably take our corners and freekicks from now on, his skill on the ball and pace will have us out of our seat,I'm really looking forward to seeing this lad live week in week out

Well I am glad I don’t have to watch a Cullen corner again!!

Wonder whether he’ll play bs Spurs?

[NewClaret]

Just a pity we didn't get a left back but i hope Vincent plays Taylor now and see what's available in January.

IF he does, could be a blessing in disguise. I’d have loved Maatsen but there’s no doubt that Charlie is the better defender in my mind. We do need some experience when playing at this level.

[Colburn_Claret]

Benny, Zaroury, Redmond & Larsen competing for two wide places, Odobert and Koleosho the natural replacements on the conveyor belt when we lose any to a sale down the line, Tresor a versatile attacker who can play across the line or sub in for Zeki and Ramsay. Obefemi is out for months, Churlinov out too (not that he'd be close to the team), JBG fancied as a centre mid by Vinny. I think this idea of being overstocked with wide attackers is being a bit overstated, especially so if you make the argument that Koleosho and Odobert are seen as next season's starters (we were all debating if Koleosho was signed for the U21s when he arrived remember). I know he didn't have a good game against Villa but if Benny can step up to PL level in the way his talent suggests he can we're gonna be receiving bids for him in about four months' time, which gets this whole conveyor belt moving. If that happens we'll be glad to have replacements ready, because attacking systems like Kompany's rely on attacking players.

I'd add replacements who already know the system.
I don't think Koleosho has looked bad against Liverpool or Villa. He's lacked the final ball, but so did Benny for the first 6 games. He carries the ball well, and can beat a man.
I also think people struggle to recognise that we aren't a conventional 4-4-2. The rotation within Vinnys system, relies on players being able to play in multiple positions, which imo, not only negates the too many wide players argument, but also ******** the whole we haven't got a LB argument as well.

[Blyclaret]

An amazing window. The scouting team did a fantastic job. As did the board to back the manager. Thank you and good luck to the whole team. Hopefully VK can blend an exciting team together. Enjoy this wonderful journey.

[MDWat]

I've tried to wade through some of the last pages but it's soul destroying.

Can someone sum up why Maatsen didn't sign? Was it his greed, or the high purchase price at the end of the loan?

I think the answer is we don’t know Hipper.

From what was reported, we agreed a fee (£31.5m including add-ons which I only assume included a big bonus if we play football on the moon) but Maatsen was never convinced. He and Kompany had a call where he explained his reservations and the deal never materialised.

Reading between the lines it’ll be one of two things:

1. Maatsen was concerned about the mandatory signing clause in the event we get relegated
2. We couldn’t agree personal terms

As with everything in football, I suspect it’s more option 2.

[Colburn_Claret]

I've tried to wade through some of the last pages but it's soul destroying.

Can someone sum up why Maatsen didn't sign? Was it his greed, or the high purchase price at the end of the loan?

I think people over think it.
I see it as he had a choice of Chelsea or Burnley, and he wants to fight for his place at Chelsea. He's had a taste pre-season, and the fans have really taken to him. He isn't going to be frozen out by Poch, so I can see him getting game time this season.
What would have been disappointing, is if he had gone elsewhere on loan.

Good luck to the lad, if he does make it, I'm sure he won't forget his season in the sun

[Blyclaret]

My thoughts are that Maatsen has just got a little bit big for his own good. Will never play regularly for Chelsea had a huge opportunity to show case his skills week in week out with Burnley. But not out problem now. Let’s support the players that wanted to play for us.

[Tricky Trevor]

Because Maatsen thinks he’s better than Burnley,we shall see.

That’s an opinion but more likely he's looking to go OOC and see his options.

[arise_sir_charge]

Im surprised we didn’t get a left back and maybe Maatsen has had a late change of heart after a promising summer at Chelsea, which has pulled the rug from us.

He may play, he may not but the worst case scenario for him now is that he ends up out of contract with a choice of clubs all willing to pay him. He’s still young so not moving now isn’t the major career blocker some are making it out to be.

[Ric_C]

Not bothered about Maatsen rejecting us in the slightest, it's his career at the end of the day.

However if he's been stringing us along all summer only to reject us at the last minute, then it shows a bit of naivity from the recruitment department, to not have backups ready to go.

[Culmclaret]

After what seems like an eternity of trading people for vast amounts of cash I have decided to have a break and go to a football match today

[boatshed bill]

I thought we would try to strengthen the CM area with a real enforcer type to protect the back-line and add a little steel and strength into a team that looks a bit lightweight. The interest in Lokanga and allegedly Phillips suggested that VK was also interested in adding to that area. Time will tell whether Massengo turns out to be that player.

I guess only time will tell if the quality level brought in is good enough for the Premier League.

If not, and if we keep most of our players, we'll set unbelievable records in the Championship

[AGENT_CLARET]

Well I am glad I don’t have to watch a Cullen corner again!!

Wonder whether he’ll play bs Spurs?

He can't play against Spurs, he didn't sign in time

[Ziggy Stardust]

I'm sure we had bids in for other LB's but as a few clubs found out they were hard to come by this window. Man U ended up with Spurs 3rd choice LB.

[willsclarets]

A bit weird we are speculating maatsen has "strung us along". How do we know that? It's not that big a surprise he wants to play for chelsea and believes in his ability enough to get into the side. They have a brilliant manager and are one of the most successful sides in europe over the past decade. He may have been undecided, which is fair enough, and has no obligation because of that to decide to make the move. I wish him all the best, was a huge part of our successful season last year.

[Rileybobs]

After what seems like an eternity of trading people for vast amounts of cash I have decided to have a break and go to a football match today

I always find these breaks between transfer windows really tedious.

[claretspice]

Hard to argue its been the perfect window - we've signed some good players, but the squad is ultimately lop sided: we've lots of players vying for the left wing slot, and a genuine number 10 slot that may not realistically exist for us, but relatively little depth up front, out wide right (unless someone like Tresor is to be deployed there), and of course at left back. There is also a point about the base of midfield unless Berge can be deployed there (as I believe he can).

That adds to a sense that the overall shopping basket is worth less than the sum of the items purchased - the squad has a lot of 'nice' creative players, but may miss the out and out athleticism that was an even bigger feature of our play last season than our passing football- with Maatsen and Tella absolutely influential in that at either end of the pitch, and Barnes giving us a physical focal point, although the emergence of Foster may well compensate for both Barnes' hold up play and Tella's pace.

But its far from a disaster. There's a team capable of survival to be fashioned from this squad, but my guess is that the tactical template will need a tweak or two. Kompany will have to find a way to adapt his template to Taylor being his best available left back, and to find a way to get the ball in effective positions to our creative players between the lines without over committing and leaving us vulnerable to the sort of counter attacks Villa exposed us to. But look at out business over the last two windows together and left back aside, I think you can see a progression. The question is whether in the end we've been a bit too idealistic.

[NewClaret]

He can't play against Spurs, he didn't sign in time

Thanks

[NewClaret]

That’s an opinion but more likely he's looking to go OOC and see his options.

I can’t believe we’d bid £31.5m for a player without gauging his willingness to join and salary expectations from his agent.

If what we were told yesterday was all true, I reckon he’s done us over - potentially inviting a massive bid ahead of going OOC as you say, to boost his own value in a years time - or just upped his expectations at the last minute in the knowledge we we’re desperate. Then professed to wanting to stay at Chelsea when we turned them down.

Either way, some games have been played and we have ended up on the wrong side of it.

[daveisaclaret]

IMO Ian Maatsen would have been a great signing, improved our team and been sold for profit in two or three years time to a top six team. He is also a greedy fool who has no chance of ever making the Chelsea team. I see no contradiction in this.

[Ric_C]

A bit weird we are speculating maatsen has "strung us along". How do we know that? It's not that big a surprise he wants to play for chelsea and believes in his ability enough to get into the side. They have a brilliant manager and are one of the most successful sides in europe over the past decade. He may have been undecided, which is fair enough, and has no obligation because of that to decide to make the move. I wish him all the best, was a huge part of our successful season last year.

We don't know that at all, but we must have had signs throughout the summer that he was open to joining us. Hence why we held out for him.

[boatshed bill]

After what seems like an eternity of trading people for vast amounts of cash I have decided to have a break and go to a football match today

Post of the day already!

[dsr]

IMO Ian Maatsen would have been a great signing, improved our team and been sold for profit in two or three years time to a top six team. He is also a greedy fool who has no chance of ever making the Chelsea team. I see no contradiction in this.

I'm sure that if Maatsen heard that daveisaclaret had the choice of two jobs paying well over a million a year at the age of 21, and had picked the wrong one, he would be equally contemptuous.

Besides which, he's already made the Chelsea team occasionally. Perhaps there are people even more au fait with his potential and future development than you are, who think he might. Just perhaps.

[jojomk1]

After all that we now have a first team squad of 39 players with 7 of them out on loan

Starting 11 plus 9 subs still leaves 12 sat at home

They may be on smaller wages than previously, but that is a lot of pay packets to fill

And some got away from us

Bring back the old Central League

[Penwortham_Claret]

I can’t believe we’d bid £31.5m for a player without gauging his willingness to join and salary expectations from his agent.


Either way, some games have been played and we have ended up on the wrong side of it.

Again

[mdd2]

ON CT's squad list I counted 25 players >21 on Jan 1st 2023 and 8 <21 giving us a squad of 33 which includes 4 keepers, 2<21yr of age. We do have a few long term injuries, Obafemi, Churlinov, Ekdal (as seems likely) and for today at least possible Ramsey, Vitinho and Zaroury still two matches to go of his three games ban. So the 25 is already down to 20.

[Elizabeth]

Now that's it's over absolutely buzzing to find out how good these new players are

[Jakubclaret]

IMO Ian Maatsen would have been a great signing, improved our team and been sold for profit in two or three years time to a top six team. He is also a greedy fool who has no chance of ever making the Chelsea team. I see no contradiction in this.

The same thing was said about Gallagher who hasn't looked back after some successful loans in some cases that's all you need, you impress whilst out on loan to earn the selection upon return & if you take that chance when offered you are in the team, in Gallagher's case he went 1 step further than that with international senior call ups.

[arise_sir_charge]

ON CT's squad list I counted 25 players >21 on Jan 1st 2023 and 8 <21 giving us a squad of 33 which includes 4 keepers, 2<21yr of age. We do have a few long term injuries, Obafemi, Churlinov, Ekdal (as seems likely) and for today at least possible Ramsey, Vitinho and Zaroury still two matches to go of his three games ban. So the 25 is already down to 20.

Zaroury in our had one game to serve.

[Ric_C]

Amazing that we have 20 different nationalities in that squad

[NewClaret]

Again

In general I think we seem pretty savvy in the market nowadays - not being messed around or overpaying, multiple targets, etc.

But do seem to have been stitched up on this occasion. Hopefully there’s a reason we didn’t push for a LB - plan to use Charlie, go back in for Maatsen in Jan, etc.

[claret2018]

Amazing that we have 20 different nationalities in that squad

So refreshing after years of our scouts seemingly having had no passports.

[mdd2]

Zaroury in our had one game to serve.

I think he has two Prem League matches to sit out. I thought cards were now competition specific

[ClaretInLeeds]

If that was the case, it was strange that he missed Weds nights game.

[mdd2]

Correct it is just yellows that are competition specific so this is his last game to sit out

[Newcastleclaret93]

Also sold their best one imo.

Holding on to our own was important too.

They didn’t sell Gibbs white did they