Stickied League 2 Transfer Rumours/Confirmed Transfers 2023/24

[Conker]

Where is Pete Wild?

 

[chipmunx]

Where is Pete Wild?

not sure;- maybe kidnapped by aliens or by Liam the (former) Bradford Chicken

 

[クレイグ]

not sure;- maybe kidnapped by aliens or by Liam the (former) Bradford Chicken

That lad definitely has some sort of Pete Wild shrine in his bedroom mum's basement.

 

[Bluandwite]

brilliant signing and about time.
And for anyone wondering - yes it is Georgia Stanway's brother and he's coming back to his hometown club.

Good luck to him, was always likely to happen at some point. Few extra quid in the bank for us.

 

[Stocky]

Connor Lemonheigh-Evans joining MK Dons. I thought he'd be joining the Dons but not that one.

 

[gary]

That's my niggle with this one. ACL's can happen again and again. Having said that, he's just come through half a season with Wimbledon, so it could turn out OK.

He did come through half a season with us but never really looked fit. Would liked to have kept him but it would've been madness on our part to offer him a 3 year contract.

 

[DippyDon]

Connor Lemonheigh-Evans joining MK Dons. I thought he'd be joining the Dons but not that one.

Any of my best friends on this forum (Meadow I’m begging you) or Stockport fans, able to say what sort of player he is? I can’t say I paid much attention to him last season.

 

[Stocky]

Any of my best friends on this forum (Meadow I’m begging you) or Stockport fans, able to say what sort of player he is? I can’t say I paid much attention to him last season.

Decent player, didn't really rate him before he came back from his spell at Wimbledon. Number 10/out wide type. Decent technique, versatile, good presser, chips in with goals. I don't think he's an outstanding player though and I wouldn't say he's a grab the game by the balls type of player. But I can see him fitting in as a good part of the team/squad in your set up under Williamson.

 

[DippyDon]

Decent player, didn't really rate him before he came back from his spell at Wimbledon. Number 10/out wide type. Decent technique, versatile, good presser, chips in with goals. I don't think he's an outstanding player though and I wouldn't say he's a grab the game by the balls type of player. But I can see him fitting in as a good part of the team/squad in your set up under Williamson.

Sounds pretty much like our Kemp replacement then in terms of positions, playing wide behind the striker. Would you say he’s more right or left sided?

 

[Stocky]

Sounds pretty much like our Kemp replacement then in terms of positions, playing wide behind the striker. Would you say he’s more right or left sided?

He played down the right mostly with us on his return from Wimbledon. But sometimes we played a diamond in possession and he was almost a right wing back out of possession. But I wouldn't say he's a fixed side, predominantly right footed so in the modern game now if you asked him I bet he'd say he likes cutting in from the left if he chose his position. Scored a decent goal with his weaker foot in our 5-0 win over you in April. Keeper should have done better though.

 

[Who Needs Mourinho]

Decent player, didn't really rate him before he came back from his spell at Wimbledon. Number 10/out wide type. Decent technique, versatile, good presser, chips in with goals. I don't think he's an outstanding player though and I wouldn't say he's a grab the game by the balls type of player. But I can see him fitting in as a good part of the team/squad in your set up under Williamson.

He also played as RWB a few times towards the end of his spell here and did well.

 

[Meadow]

not sure;- maybe kidnapped by aliens or by Liam the (former) Bradford Chicken

I enjoy the podcast but they seem to have a weird obsession with Pete Wild.

 

[Carver]

How is carver going to react to Port Vale blowing clubs out of the water?

Maybe they do have some cash to splash, but so do we.

I doubt though it's as much as 600k etc for some non-league player, just sounds like a load of bollocks.

 

[The_Viking_Magpie]

It's clearly going to be a tougher L2 next season with all this rumoured cash being splashed about by the big boys

 

[JJ1990]

Maybe they do have some cash to splash, but so do we.

I doubt though it's as much as 600k etc for some non-league player, just sounds like a load of bollocks.

And you would know all about talking a load of bollocks wouldn't you?

 

[leedsvaliant]

Is this true what I’m hearing about Port Vale offering a seven figure fee for a non-league player? Mental.

8

 

[LS Bantam]

Zero understanding over getting upset over Platt leaving, as I messaged our group chat during the last game, ‘At least I never have to watch Matty Platt ever again’. Plays like he’s wrongly wearing size twenty boots and a consistent presence in a defence that spent 22/23 conceding unmarked headers from six yards and 23/24 notching up Christmas blooper DVD entries.
It’s fair to add he is one cog in an equally not good enough defensive machine that needs a total overhaul, individually he’s ok enough but our entire central defence needs surgery this summer. A series of secondary defenders with no leader, no one commanding and needing serious improvement to meet what we need.

 

[Son of Cod]

It's clearly going to be a tougher L2 next season with all this rumoured cash being splashed about by the big boys

I think there is a bit of a difference between the clubs splashing the cash this coming season and the season just gone. Wrexham and Stockport were in very stable positions in terms of personnel and mission with squads of players and backroom staff that had previous promotion experience together and were riding the wave of two to three years of great form. You look at the sides who seem to be chucking money at it early doors right now and I kind of think that it wouldn't surprise me if they get it wrong. Vale seem to have the most switched on, savvy owners but like we proved last year that doesn't always translate well onto the pitch when a bit more money is pumped in. Bradford and Carlisle undoubtedly scream potential shitshow meltdowns, history just dictates that. I guess Chesterfield fall more into the Wrexham/Stockport category but if we're talking meltdowns then they really are pioneers of the modern day genre. MK Dons are the ones you look at that are gonna Go For It™ and seem like the most valid nailed on threat but even there there's work to do sorting that defence out and figuring out that you need to do more than just pass the ball sideways.

 

[WilsdenBantam]

It's not just this Liam guy, a fair few of our fans have a fetish for Pete Wild, no doubt from his time at Halifax. Personally he reminds me of a Derek Adams, better at a smaller club where he can play the underdog mentality card and sit back and play on the counter. We had that under Bowyer and Adams and even when we were winning the VP crowd were hounding them out of the club and the negative atmosphere contributed to a downturn in home form. Our fans demand more possession, more shots and most importantly more goals than the opposition at VP, a manager like that, who even though has success elsewhere just won't work for us.

 

[Carver]

And you would know all about talking a load of bollocks wouldn't you?

At what point did I ever talk bollocks?

Whatever possibilities I've said about my club are backed up by facts. There is nothing over the top about it.

 

[GTFCfish]

Maybe they do have some cash to splash, but so do we.

Really, why have you never mentioned this before?

 

[Conker]

SoC makes a great point, look at Gillingham and FGR this season just gone, spent loads of money but it’s so hard to turn it around after relegation or even just a poor season.

Personally would not be too concerned about Carlisle at this point, it’s so difficult to turn round a team of pathetic losers in to consistent winners.

 

[valefan16]

SoC makes a great point, look at Gillingham and FGR this season just gone, spent loads of money but it’s so hard to turn it around after relegation or even just a poor season.

Personally would not be too concerned about Carlisle at this point, it’s so difficult to turn round a team of pathetic losers in to consistent winners.

This is my worry, we've been serially losing for 18 months, since 1st January 2023 we have won 13 league games from 68, losing 39 of them.

We have to turn that losing mentality around quickly if we wan't to challenge and that arguably is Moore's biggest challenge as any slight set back and we'd collapse last season.

 

[The_Viking_Magpie]

I think there is a bit of a difference between the clubs splashing the cash this coming season and the season just gone. Wrexham and Stockport were in very stable positions in terms of personnel and mission with squads of players and backroom staff that had previous promotion experience together and were riding the wave of two to three years of great form. You look at the sides who seem to be chucking money at it early doors right now and I kind of think that it wouldn't surprise me if they get it wrong. Vale seem to have the most switched on, savvy owners but like we proved last year that doesn't always translate well onto the pitch when a bit more money is pumped in. Bradford and Carlisle undoubtedly scream potential shitshow meltdowns, history just dictates that. I guess Chesterfield fall more into the Wrexham/Stockport category but if we're talking meltdowns then they really are pioneers of the modern day genre. MK Dons are the ones you look at that are gonna Go For It™ and seem like the most valid nailed on threat but even there there's work to do sorting that defence out and figuring out that you need to do more than just pass the ball sideways.

I wasn't being serious

 

[DearneValleyRover]

Form can be turned around, we basically had a losing mentality for 3 years and then suddenly all change and we were a penalty shoot out from Wembley. Far more positive about next season, we appear to have sorted our medical side out at last and definitely have the right management team who is being backed by the owner, just need to get the right players in for the few positions that are left.

 

[Carver]

SoC makes a great point, look at Gillingham and FGR this season just gone, spent loads of money but it’s so hard to turn it around after relegation or even just a poor season.

Personally would not be too concerned about Carlisle at this point, it’s so difficult to turn round a team of pathetic losers in to consistent winners.

Forest Green were easily picked apart after their success and they're just too small of a club really to sustain themselves in the football league.

Gillingham on the other hand failed to make the playoffs and above because they have a clueless owner who should never have sacked Neil Harris as he would have got them up there even if it was boring, but instead they wanted some coach with a 'philosophy' to manage them which unsurprisingly didn't end well. It's L2 ffs, they should just get them up then think about playing it nicely and out from the back.

We'll see how we do, so let's wait and see who we sign this summer first.

 

[Son of Cod]

SoC makes a great point, look at Gillingham and FGR this season just gone, spent loads of money but it’s so hard to turn it around after relegation or even just a poor season.

Personally would not be too concerned about Carlisle at this point, it’s so difficult to turn round a team of pathetic losers in to consistent winners.

Yep. I think it's telling that all three automatic promotion winners had managers with multiple seasons and steady progression under their belts at their respective clubs. The Mansfield case is quite an interesting one having failed at chucking money at it and then stripped it back, got Clough in and built it back up. Say what you will about the Radfords but they've now gone from doing a good job to having done an excellent job. Even more impressive bouncing back from a playoff final defeat two seasons before.

I wasn't being serious

Odd comment initially then, especially when you consider how absolutely piss weak 8th down to 24th was in League 2 last season. The top three last season were probably the strongest three I remember going up in the autos but pretty much the rest of the division was crap really.

 

[valefan16]

Martin Kelly, ex England and Crystal Palace is doing the rounds on our forum for a move to Vale... would be a great signing but again IF he stayed fit.

 

[Carver]

Yep. I think it's telling that all three automatic promotion winners had managers with multiple seasons and steady progression under their belts at their respective clubs. The Mansfield case is quite an interesting one having failed at chucking money at it and then stripped it back, got Clough in and built it back up. Say what you will about the Radfords but they've now gone from doing a good job to having done an excellent job. Even more impressive bouncing back from a playoff final defeat two seasons before.

Odd comment initially then, especially when you consider how absolutely piss weak 8th down to 24th was in League 2 last season. The top three last seaaon were probably the strongest three I remember going up in the autos but pretty much the rest of the division was crap really.

Paul Simpson has now had multiple seasons under us in his second stint as manager with a promotion from this league included so he's every chance of getting us back up.

The last two seasons in L2 have been similar with there being a significant gap in quality between the top 3 and the rest of the division with Orient being the overall best out of them all in my opinion, hopefully it will be closer next season.

 

[hellogregory]

Forest Green were easily picked apart after their success and they're just too small of a club really to sustain themselves in the football league.

Gillingham on the other hand failed to make the playoffs and above because they have a clueless owner who should never have sacked Neil Harris as he would have got them up there even if it was boring, but instead they wanted some coach with a 'philosophy' to manage them which unsurprisingly didn't end well. It's L2 ffs, they should just get them up then think about playing it nicely and out from the back.

We'll see how we do, so let's wait and see who we sign this summer first.

As important as who we sign is who we can get rid of.

As alluded to above, if you have a squad made up mainly of the losers of last season with their losers mentality, then it will take more than 4 or 5 signings however good they are to turn the tide.

I hope/expect we will be looking at exits for a load of them.