Stickied League 2 Transfer Rumours/Confirmed Transfers 2023/24

[1862]

It all stems from being too sentimental and keeping Slocombe in the summer. He’s presumably still on reasonable wages and a senior ‘keeper, so it led us to not go all in for a new number one, but someone to ‘compete’ with him for the role.

What we’ve been left with are two bang average, at best, goalkeepers for the level who haven’t got any confidence because they know their place is constantly at risk. I actually thought dropping Stone in the first place was a rare disaster from Williams, he wasn’t amazing early season but was basically doing fine, distribution was decent and he hadn’t made many major cock ups, only really Colchester. Slocombe then came in and looked far shakier than he did at any point last season, and since Stone came back he’s been pretty much dreadful, confidence is completely on the floor. How throwing another, apparently completely erratic, goalkeeper into this is going to help I’m not sure.

Agree with all of this, I seem to remember Stone had some personal issues around the time he was dropped too, along with having a couple of young kids it doesn't create an environment for a keeper to thrive. I think he might still be good enough long term if all that's the case and he can regain his confidence - but I really don't get the point in bringing a loan keeper in if they're not going to play.

 

[The_Viking_Magpie]

Without doubt the biggest error from the club/recruitment was retaining Slocombe. His performance at Wembley alone showed that.

An upgrade was obviously needed if we sought to challenge a level up. Clubs make missteps , it's common and that was out most significant misstep in a position you can't afford to be average.

 

[Stocky]

The facts are that our centre back pairing this season are two ex Stockport player's. We have conceded just two more goals than Stockport so that tells me that they are on a par with other Stockport centre Half's. Simple facts

We've scored 12 more goals yet I reckon Al Hamadi is better than all our forwards. Football isn't as simple as the above.

I hope Lewis continues to do well. And I forgot about Johnson, pleased for him too, good part of our NL winning team.

 

[lordofthepies]

I heard £1.3m and £100,000 a goal

£1.3m in total then

 

[saddler78]

Resident in the know guy on our forum has said we are after Josh Gordon from burton so i would say that one is true now.

 

[Son of Cod]

We're signing Championship stalwart midfielder Ryan Woods from Hull...
































































































...is what you would have been led to believe if you read The Fishy yesterday afternoon. Turns out the intel was slightly wrong and we're actually signing one of their youngsters Harry Wood on loan. Highly rated Harry Wood that is, mind.

 

[Tinpot and proud]

Resident in the know guy on our forum has said we are after Josh Gordon from burton so i would say that one is true now.

He’s a great poacher yes but nothing more....and his step up to league 1 has been nothing short of a damp squib.
He ended up being no great loss for us in fairness.

 

[Tinpot and proud]

He’s a great poacher yes but nothing more....and his step up to league 1 has been nothing short of a damp squib.
He ended up being no great loss for us in fairness.

Meant to say I’m surprised you want him back.

 

[LS Bantam]

Lewis to Carlisle confirmed, properly gutted to lose such a top player but as much a top bloke. Another sad reminder of where we are at the minute as a club if we needed reminding (trust me we don’t), not helped that he hasn’t moved on to somewhere impressive, he should’ve been looking at top end at least L1 not rocking up here again in August.

 

[hellogregory]

Purely down to money this move. No way he joined for footballing ambition.

We’ll 100% be a League 2 club in a few months.

But needs must, as our goalkeeper position has been an absolute shit show this season.

 

[Stocky]

It's a bold statement of intent this from Carlisle. Simpson grinning like a cheshire cat on the photo. Surely he knows it's over for him if he relegates Carlisle with all this £ spent?

 

[Crewelad87]

Bell stated that he's confident after talks with Newcastle that Joe White will extend with us. He's got his last game of his current loan this weekend vs Swindon, then he's due to go back to Newcastle as they want a look at him (whatever that means) then hopefully we can get the deal done and he can come back. Would be massive for us, as the lads class and atleast a level above league 2.

 

[AR27]

Sam Walker has apparently been spotted at training. 60 appearances in something like 6 years.

Sounds like the laughably cheap and panic replacement I was expecting.

 

[LS Bantam]

There is/will be a massive meltdown over this. We’re a mid table L2 club, with an owner who seems to have next to no interest, a self sufficient side with no muscle should anyone want our best players as has happened here.
The anger IMO is that lowly Carlisle, compared that is to one of the bigger clubs that truthfully is his level, a L1 Play off side say, has waltzed in and signed our main asset and all that this has done (other than losing our no. 1) is putting the spotlight on how down and out we are as a club and how far we are from what’s needed to get to where we want to be.

 

[dedwardp]

Sam Walker has apparently been spotted at training. 60 appearances in something like 6 years.

Sounds like the laughably cheap and panic replacement I was expecting.

I'd say he's my favourite/the best goalkeeper we've had in the past twelve years and would gladly have him back here. It's a decent signing for League Two.

 

[AR27]

I'd say he's my favourite/the best goalkeeper we've had in the past twelve years and would gladly have him back here. It's a decent signing for League Two.

That was 6 years ago when he with you. There's a reason he's barely played since.

 

[hellogregory]

It's a bold statement of intent this from Carlisle. Simpson grinning like a cheshire cat on the photo. Surely he knows it's over for him if he relegates Carlisle with all this £ spent?

You would think so under normal circumstances, but then I’d be asking myself who I’d want to take the task of getting promoted from league 2 other than a man who has proven twice already that he can do it with a much smaller budget.

 

[dedwardp]

That was 6 years ago when he with you. There's a reason he's barely played since.

Because he moved up two divisions to sit on the bench at Reading, no doubt for a huge pay increase.

He played plenty last season in Scotland.

 

[Conker]

There is/will be a massive meltdown over this. We’re a mid table L2 club, with an owner who seems to have next to no interest, a self sufficient side with no muscle should anyone want our best players as has happened here.
The anger IMO is that lowly Carlisle, compared that is to one of the bigger clubs that truthfully is his level, a L1 Play off side say, has waltzed in and signed our main asset and all that this has done (other than losing our no. 1) is putting the spotlight on how down and out we are as a club and how far we are from what’s needed to get to where we want to be.

Thing is even though the owner clearly runs the club so he does not have to put money in, I don’t reckon he actually takes out dos he? And with the income Bradford generate being the biggest club in the division you should be challenging top 7 every season no question.

Saying that, it does feel like at this point Bradford are not gunna kick on until it changes at the very top, but I don’t think it needs someone to chuck money at it, just needs spending better.

 

[F!RTHY]

Horsfall is better than


Thing is even though the owner clearly runs the club so he does not have to put money in, I don’t reckon he actually takes out dos he? And with the income Bradford generate being the biggest club in the division you should be challenging top 7 every season no question.

Saying that, it does feel like at this point Bradford are not gunna kick on until it changes at the very top, but I don’t think it needs someone to chuck money at it, just needs spending better.

I’m not anti-Rupp or Sparks, but I do believe we won’t move forward until they move on. It’s disgustingly toxic at minute and has been for years - our fans make it near impossible to achieve anything at times.

We’re a fine example of that club who get ridiculously high when things are OK but you’d think the fucking world is about to end when things don’t go our way.

 

[Son of Cod]

We’re a fine example of that club who get ridiculously high when things are OK but you’d think the fucking world is about to end when things don’t go our way.

 

[TheEndIsNigh]

Agree with all of this, I seem to remember Stone had some personal issues around the time he was dropped too, along with having a couple of young kids it doesn't create an environment for a keeper to thrive. I think he might still be good enough long term if all that's the case and he can regain his confidence - but I really don't get the point in bringing a loan keeper in if they're not going to play.

Yeah definitely, I didn’t know personal issues were the reason Stone was dropped for the Mansfield game, he looked decent at that point and our results have been mixed at best since.

I think we were a good, settled keeper away from autos contention. That’s probably gone now but we’re going to need someone to properly step up for the rest of the season.

 

[Bottega Don]

We're signing Championship stalwart midfielder Ryan Woods from Hull...
































































































...is what you would have been led to believe if you read The Fishy yesterday afternoon. Turns out the intel was slightly wrong and we're actually signing one of their youngsters Harry Wood on loan. Highly rated Harry Wood that is, mind.

He was atrocious for us on loan the other year. His biggest issue is that he was a cm that never seemed to be near the ball.

However, he did play in one of the worst sides in L2 history so that wouldn’t have helped. He’s most likely a lot better than what we saw.

 

[Gi Dalor]

I'm obviously disappointed with Harry Lewis moving on. Every now and then there's a player who's both a good player and engaging personality.

But everybody has a price. If he was sold for 150k that would be disgraceful. Significantly north of 500k it's good business.

The trouble is that with undisclosed fees, it comes down to whether you have faith in the people running the club. My opinion of them is slightly negative.

 

[Ainsty]

Talk is that, following the not guilty verdict, Jack Diamond will return to Town on loan from Sunderland.

If it's true it will be popular with many supporters but I'm not sure. We'll be getting a player who hasn't had a game in 18 months.

 

[F!RTHY]

I'm obviously disappointed with Harry Lewis moving on. Every now and then there's a player who's both a good player and engaging personality.

But everybody has a price. If he was sold for 150k that would be disgraceful. Significantly north of 500k it's good business.

The trouble is that with undisclosed fees, it comes down to whether you have faith in the people running the club. My opinion of them is slightly negative.

I’ve heard it was significantly higher than that. We reportedly turned down a decent wedge from Barnsley in the summer. His value won’t have depreciated much (if at all) since then.

 

[Son of Cod]

He was atrocious for us on loan the other year. His biggest issue is that he was a cm that never seemed to be near the ball.

However, he did play in one of the worst sides in L2 history so that wouldn’t have helped. He’s most likely a lot better than what we saw.

Yeah, I wasn't expecting a glowing report from you! Looks like he's done alright in Ireland since he was with you and looks like he's bulked up a bit too. Still, I don't think a young loanee is gonna fix many of our problems really. Hopefully an experienced head or two coming in the coming weeks.

 

[Gatekeeper]

We have Charlie Lakin on loan from Burton. It seems he has been with Wimbledon and Donny recently. Any views about him will be appreciated

 

[Carver]

There is/will be a massive meltdown over this. We’re a mid table L2 club, with an owner who seems to have next to no interest, a self sufficient side with no muscle should anyone want our best players as has happened here.
The anger IMO is that lowly Carlisle, compared that is to one of the bigger clubs that truthfully is his level, a L1 Play off side say, has waltzed in and signed our main asset and all that this has done (other than losing our no. 1) is putting the spotlight on how down and out we are as a club and how far we are from what’s needed to get to where we want to be.

 

[AR27]

I’m not anti-Rupp or Sparks, but I do believe we won’t move forward until they move on. It’s disgustingly toxic at minute and has been for years - our fans make it near impossible to achieve anything at times.

We’re a fine example of that club who get ridiculously high when things are OK but you’d think the fucking world is about to end when things don’t go our way.

Mate we're 14th in League Two and regularly get embarrassed by the likes of Crawley and Barrow (no offence) on our home patch.

Why wouldn't our fans be miserable?