Stickied League 2 Transfer Rumours/Confirmed Transfers 2023/24

[JJ1532]

Macauley Bonne signs for Charlton. Heck of a jump, given he flopped in L1/2 with Colchester and only did well once he dropped into the Conference Premier. Still, he's only 23 and is probably a much better player than he was when he was last in the FL. Be interesting to see if he does well in the Championship. Also wonder what caused his dip in goals in the 2nd half of last season. Was on 17 heading into Christmas, only managed 6 more after that.

Big blow for Leyton Orient though, losing their top scorer. Those kinds of players are tough to find.

 

[dedwardp]

I don't think it's fair to say that Bonne 'flopped' with us, rather he was never given a run of games in a central role and instead shunted out wide - mostly just for cameo appearances, too. His natural finishing instinct should never have been in question, he just needed the right system and opportunity.

That said, I'm very surprised to see him move to the Championship as he has yet to prove himself in either League One or Two.

 

[F!RTHY]

Jermaine Anderson signs a new one year deal. He was utter crap last year so expect him to be a squad player at best.

Every player was crap last year.

Decent squad player, as you say.

 

[LordJord]

We have made our NINTH signing already. Reece Hall-Johnson comes in on a one year deal. No idea what hes like, Grimsby fans?

 

[PaulHaddock]

We have made our NINTH signing already. Reece Hall-Johnson comes in on a one year deal. No idea what hes like, Grimsby fans?

Quick, strong, good in the air for his size. Can play at CB but is best at RB. Would have liked to have kept him but he probably didn’t want to be second-choice RB behind Luke Hendrie, who I think is better.

Don’t expect to be playing out from the back with him though because he is rubbish at passing and very slow in thought.

 

[LordJord]

I imagine we will play 3-5-2 a fair bit next year so as a right sided CB or a RWB hopefully his pace can be utilised.

 

[WhiteRussian]

Why do clubs in leagues 1 & 2 have such a huge turn over in players each season? Obviously loanees count for a lot but even signings don't seem to last long before they get released or sold on.

It just seems a bit weird that no one seems to keeps a settled team for any length of time.

 

[Moomin]

Why do clubs in leagues 1 & 2 have such a huge turn over in players each season? Obviously loanees count for a lot but even signings don't seem to last long before they get released or sold on.

It just seems a bit weird that no one seems to keeps a settled team for any length of time.

It’s just because many players are on 1 or 2 year deals, whereas Premier League players are on 4 or 5 year deals

 

[GTFCfish]

We have made our NINTH signing already. Reece Hall-Johnson comes in on a one year deal. No idea what hes like, Grimsby fans?

Decent enough but has a mistake or two in him just like most League 2 defenders, but I would’ve happily still had him here.

 

[Indian Dan]

Signed Zeki Fryers from Barnsley. 26 played 15 PL games, 35 Championship.

Seems a cracking signing

 

[Big Bird]

Signed Zeki Fryers after his release from Barnsley.

Seems a brilliant signing to me though he's dropping through the league's quickly for a reason.

Edit: damn you Dan

 

[White Army]

George Ray any good Crewe fans? We're interested apparently.

 

[LordJord]

I remember him being highly rated what seems like an age ago. Does not seemed to have played that many games for this stage at his career but that seems like a great signing on the face of it.

 

[LS Bantam]

James Vaughan all but confirmed, announce the sick note league title now.

 

[Indian Dan]

Wellens reckons we have a 31 year old signing any time soon.

How old is Doyle?

 

[LS Bantam]

Doyle’s 31 according to Wiki, would make sense.

 

[Indian Dan]

Still can’t see it, tbh

 

[TrinidadsNumberOne]

Why do clubs in leagues 1 & 2 have such a huge turn over in players each season? Obviously loanees count for a lot but even signings don't seem to last long before they get released or sold on.

It just seems a bit weird that no one seems to keeps a settled team for any length of time.

You can thank a mixture of Jean-Marc Bosman, Agents, ITV Digital Collapse, signing on fees and general increased money in the game for the fact there's no longer any squad continuity on a wide scale anymore.

 

[F!RTHY]

Wellens reckons we have a 31 year old signing any time soon.

How old is Doyle?

Although we look set to have Clayton Donaldson, James Vaughan and Shay McCartan as our strikers, I’ll be gutted to see Doyle go. He’s gonna bang em in for fun next year - I can feel it in my waters.

 

[Indian Dan]

Got to say, I’d be worried relying on Donaldson and Vaughan to put in a season

 

[F!RTHY]

Got to say, I’d be worried relying on Donaldson and Vaughan to put in a season

Why?

 

[AR27]

Although we look set to have Clayton Donaldson, James Vaughan and Shay McCartan as our strikers, I’ll be gutted to see Doyle go. He’s gonna bang em in for fun next year - I can feel it in my waters.

I'd be amazed if McCarten stayed. He's previously made it clear that he doesn't want to be here and I'm not sure he'd fit in with Bowyer's preferred formations. Can see us signing another two strikers if Doyle goes.

 

[The Terminator]

A shame that Bonne has gone, but he was always going to move on this summer, he's been superb for us the last 2 seasons. His all round game, as well as his goals were a big reason we won the National League last season. Towards the end of the season his goals dried up a bit, but we ended up becoming a team grinding out results by the end, as opposed to destroying everything in our path like we did at the start. His fantasic work rate was a huge part of this.

I also believe Colchester are entitled to 10% of the £200k.

We've replaced him by signing Conor Wilkinson from Dagenham for £40k (I believe that was the fee).

Wilkinson is talented, but question marks still remain over his temprement and attitude, maybe a run in the National League has helped him buck his ideas up, after scoring 12 in 23 for the Daggers last season.

 

[LS Bantam]

Keeping Doyle would be great, rotating him Vaughan and Donaldson for the best part of the season would be ideal as like above, it’s likely we can’t rely on a 35 year old and notorious crock all season.

 

[Conker]

First bit of official news, two official bids put in for two strikers, from what I gather one is obvious the other not so.

 

[F!RTHY]

Keeping Doyle would be great, rotating him Vaughan and Donaldson for the best part of the season would be ideal as like above, it’s likely we can’t rely on a 35 year old and notorious crock all season.

607 appearances - not bad for a notorious crock, that.

 

[Stringy]

You can thank a mixture of Jean-Marc Bosman, Agents, ITV Digital Collapse, signing on fees and general increased money in the game for the fact there's no longer any squad continuity on a wide scale anymore.

I like this argument but I also think the reason for a lack of squad continuity might be symptomatic of the society in which we live. We all spend more for convenience. I'd rather pay the fee to have shopping delivered to my door. Once I have paid to have that shopping delivered, why bother cooking it when I can order a takeaway, even if the effort of cooking would have made that meal taste so much sweeter?

A manager doesn't have time to build a team. Coaching or developing players is too risky. I bet a lot of people don't even believe in the idea that a player can improve! Why as a supporter should I pay £24 and have to wait four seasons for my football team to be any good? If we wanted a project we'd have left the admission at £18! Why should the chairman have to invest his money and wait for results? It's all fragmentary and short term.

 

[F!RTHY]

I'd be amazed if McCarten stayed. He's previously made it clear that he doesn't want to be here and I'm not sure he'd fit in with Bowyer's preferred formations. Can see us signing another two strikers if Doyle goes.

He didn’t want to be here under pressures of last season. Since then, a lot has changed.

I see him fitting in - he’s the only NO 10 we have.

 

[The Terminator]

Our next striker target I've heard is Shaq Coulthirst from Barnet.

 

[LS Bantam]

607 appearances - not bad for a notorious crock, that.

Who’s made 607 appearances?