January Transfer Window Rumours/Suggestions/Hearsay/Heresy/Horseplay

[Old Kodjia]

Nice piece about Hourihane here:

http://www.skysports.com/football/news/11713/10668628/is-barnsleys-conor-hourihane-the-championships-star-player

[Villafirst]

Rhodes is a better striker than Rudy. Bruce must have a ready made replacement with Kodjia away in January for the African Nations Cup?

[peter w]

Wouldn't be surprised to see hernandez from hull come. maybe Rhodes. Brady at Narrrch and I'd take a punt at Judge from Brentford as I think he'll come good and if - as is probable- that we're in the same division next season he'd be ideal. I think a new right-back will come in and I'd be surprised if bruce hasn't lined up a realistic experienced midfielder.

On the out list would be Gestede, Libor, Ayew, Cissokho and maybe Tish if the reports are accurate.

[Concrete John]

I like the idea of Hourihane - exactly what our midfield needs.  And Rhodes for Rudy would be a good upgrade.

I don't want too many this Jan as we need to integrate them quickly and keep this good run going.

[paul_e]

I really hope we're not after Rhodes, very poor player who'd been 4th or 5th choice up front for me (behind kodjia, ayew, RM and would just be in the way of RHM who I think can become a very good player if he gets a chance).

[LeeB]

I really hope we're not after Rhodes, very poor player who'd been 4th or 5th choice up front for me (behind kodjia, ayew, RM and would just be in the way of RHM who I think can become a very good player if he gets a chance).

Him and McCormack could make a dynamic front pairing of proven goal scorers that don't score any goals.

[Toronto Villa]

If you play to the style of that McCormack enjoys he has proven time and again he can score at this level. We have a bit of a mish mash of things going on up front and non existent midfield. Not every player is going to be like Kodjia where he can create his own opportunities. McCormack needs good service and we've hardly done a lot of that this season.

[LeeB]

If you play to the style of that McCormack enjoys he has proven time and again he can score at this level. We have a bit of a mish mash of things going on up front and non existent midfield. Not every player is going to be like Kodjia where he can create his own opportunities. McCormack needs good service and we've hardly done a lot of that this season.

I know, but I'm getting a bit fed up of those kind of players by now. I prefer the ones like Kodja that come in, adapt and do what you pay them too.

[Old Kodjia]

I like the idea of Hourihane - exactly what our midfield needs.  And Rhodes for Rudy would be a good upgrade.

I don't want too many this Jan as we need to integrate them quickly and keep this good run going.

Certainly Hourihane looks as good a prospect as we could realistically hope for next month.  I had a look at a couple of Rhodes videos earlier, he his a lot bigger and stronger than I had envisaged.  he also scored many goals with his head.

I think we'll get a keeper, right back (on loan) centre mid and at least 1 striker, possibly even 2 if Ayew leaves as well.

The important 2 for me are the centre mid and striker.  I agree with TV, although we have quality up top, we are still a bit of a mish mash.  Playing under Bruce is more likely to see us starting 433 which means we need a lone striker who can play the line.  I wonder whether a 4231 formation would suit our players better?

[Matt Collins]

4231 would suit a lot of our players

But not the '2' and that's the problem

[tomd2103]

I really hope we're not after Rhodes, very poor player who'd been 4th or 5th choice up front for me (behind kodjia, ayew, RM and would just be in the way of RHM who I think can become a very good player if he gets a chance).

I'm not a fan of Rhodes either.  I've seen him quite a few times over the years and he makes Darren Bent look like a complete, all-round striker.  If he is going to come then I would prefer him on loan until the end of the season. 

[tomd2103]

Link to Marty James from Leicester in the Torygraph.

Matty James...

Had injury problems over the past couple of seasons, but would be a decent signing if he is over them. 

[Matt Collins]

Wouldn't want Rhodes. There's a reason he's never had a chance in the premier league

Matty James would be a loan I think - would be happy w that

When's RHM gonna sign this effing contract so we can see him. At the moment looks like gabby w McCormack behind him in Jan.

[brian green]

McCormack has had half a season to justify his big price tag.  He has failed to do so mostly through lack of fitness and lack of application.  We keep losing sight of the importance, especially in the lower leagues, of not wasting time.  The games come thick and fast in the Championship.  You simply do not have the time to allow extended honeymoons in the team.  Jedinak is a good example.  He was unfit at the start of the season then jet lagged for weeks thereafter.  Only now, with the season half over is he starting to be of value to the team.

We have got to scrape wins and points from wherever and however we can.  Fortunately we are doing that of late.  Rudy Gestede and Ross McCormack have been prolific goal scorers.  The time to tinker with the team to try to recapture what they used to do is a luxury we can't afford.   The time for tuning the team was under that scoundrel Eric Black who let us dangle in the wind and subsequently RDM who gave the opposition an eleven game start.

[Matt Collins]

I agree McCormack has been a let down. But he has four consecutive seasons of goal scoring in this league unlike Rudy; and has always been a slow starter. I've seen enough of his goals and assists not to give up yet