Houghton and loan extensions

[The Red Baron]

https://www.doncasterfreepress.co.uk/sport/football/doncaster-rovers/doncaster-rovers-working-on-permanent-deal-for-jordan-houghton-and-prioritizing-loan-renewals-1-8921405

Seems we are trying to sign Houghton permanently and if we do that's going to take up a large chunk of the budget. I'm puzzled as to why ee want to extend Kongolo. He will be a decent player but I don't think he's cut out for a League One relegation battle. I'd have thought we'd be looking for a better left back than Toffolo.

A more experienced midfielder and a striker would be priorities for me.

[RoversAlias]

As I said on Twitter, his words concern me but I know he is often quite selective with what he chooses to be truthful about in the press.

If he genuinely doesn't think we need additions then he's an idiot and we'll be in big trouble. As for wanting to keep the useless Kongolo, well...

[karldew]

Would Mitchell Lund be able to return and possibly step in?

[selby]

  Perkins at Wigan has only another six months and if they go up he will be let go, a move for him in January might be on the cards.
  He could be a decent experienced mid field player at this level in the right set up.

[BillyStubbsTears]

I can imagine the discussions with Man City are: "The lad's got some ability but he's not ideal for a relegation scrap. If you are prepared to cover his wages 100%, we'll keep him and he will get some first team action, plus the experience of being in a scrap. If we have to pay a significant chunk of his wages, we need better so we'll be sending him back."

[drfchound]

Didn't Ferguson say we didn't need any additions to the squad in January in his relegation season ??

[IDM]

The article doesn't actually say we won't bring anyone in during January, more that the loanees will be looked at first.  Also reading it carefully, it doesn't say directly he is looking to keep Kongolo, just that we are looking to talk to Man City..

"We’ve got to have discussions with Man City about Kongolo. “And then we have to decide whether. we bring players in fresh in January or leave it as it is"

Read more at: https://www.doncasterfreepress.co.uk/sport/football/doncaster-rovers/doncaster-rovers-working-on-permanent-deal-for-jordan-houghton-and-prioritizing-loan-renewals-1-8921405

[The Red Baron]

I can imagine the discussions with Man City are: "The lad's got some ability but he's not ideal for a relegation scrap. If you are prepared to cover his wages 100%, we'll keep him and he will get some first team action, plus the experience of being in a scrap. If we have to pay a significant chunk of his wages, we need better so we'll be sending him back."

That's what you or I would be saying. Fergie... Who knows?

[The Red Baron]

Would Mitchell Lund be able to return and possibly step in?

Lund is likely to return as he isn't getting many games at Morecambe. However I don't think he'll get much of a look in here. Probably be loaned somewhere else.

[the vicar]

He is after a midfielder according to form from Dundalk

[DearneValleyRover]

He is after a midfielder according to form from Dundalk

He’s signing for Oldham

[Retdon1]

I think we have to bring in at least a striker and left back in Jan. It worries me that he is considering extending toffolos loan deal as he has proven he's not very good. For me the same applys to kongolo. If signing houghton permanently in Jan is going to significantly eat into his budget for new players in Jan, then why not leave this till the summer and use that money to improve the squad to ensure we stay up. He made this mistake 2 years ago and it looks like he could be doing it again.

[GazLaz]

DF says there’s no money for January unless he gets people out of the door.

[steve@dcfd]

Sounds that the club have to do manoeuvres to allow may be the right player, players coming in.

[mushRTID]

When talking about loans out, Fergie talks about the youngsters but then separately says “and a couple of others I need to talk to”

Not sure who they could be?

[The Red Baron]

DF says there’s no money for January unless he gets people out of the door.

I listened to the interview with Radio Sheffield. It's pretty clear he's not looking to bring many in, if any. To be honest, I didn't feel I learned a lot other than that Copps is fit again (Hallelujah!)

I dare say he will try to move Etheridge along or loan him out (assuming he's fit again). He mentioned Longbottom as going out on loan in January.

[IDM]

DF says there’s no money for January unless he gets people out of the door.

does he??

[bpoolrover]

Would love houghton on a permanent deal but if it means we can't really bring much else in them I would sacrifice him, we need more creativity and pace in midfield as well as a left back and forward

[DonnyBazR0ver]

Just listened to the interview and he was quite cagey really. You cannot assume signing Houghton permanently means we cannot do any other business.

We have known for sometime the we wanted to sign Houghton permanently but his injury sort of scuppered that anyway. I would like to think the funding for that move has already been earmarked.

Players going out on loan is a separate issue so I wouldn't be putting 2+2 together and getting 5.

[Retdon1]

Idd assume longbottom, Amos and a few of the other young lads will be going out on loan. Would surprise me if ethridge and Alcock are also allowed to leave on frees if they can find clubs.

[Michael Shaw]

If all we do in the transfer window is keep the existing team intact then most likely all we will do is continue to creep along just above the relegation zone. We desperately need some innovative reorganisation of the team to climb up the table. None of the forwards are performing well, the defence switches off after 80 mins and the midfield struggles to cope with changing formations. I don’t think many fans would be shocked if we went down again.

[drfchound]

If all we do in the transfer window is keep the existing team intact then most likely all we will do is continue to creep along just above the relegation zone. We desperately need some innovative reorganisation of the team to climb up the table. None of the forwards are performing well, the defence switches off after 80 mins and the midfield struggles to cope with changing formations. I don’t think many fans would be shocked if we went down again.

..... cue dickos..............

[steve@dcfd]

Gavin Baldwin appears to agree with DF that overall the club is making real progress. He says the club is going through evolution rather than a revolution.

Gavin Baldwin: "We feel we are making real progress as a club, with the growth coming through evolution rather than revolution.

https://www.doncasterfreepress.co.uk/sport/football/doncaster-rovers/baldwin-it-s-evolution-not-revolution-at-doncaster-rovers-1-8922439/amp?__twitter_impression=true

So let’s hope after the transfer window off and especially on the field we continue to evolve.

[GazLaz]

He’s got to say that, he runs the club. Doesn’t mean it’s true, and at what pace should progress be made anyway?

[graingrover]

He’s got to say that, he runs the club. Doesn’t mean it’s true, and at what pace should progress be made anyway?

I am sure he has enough experience in management and is well enough supervised by the Board to set goals and measure progress against them just like any other professional organisation. We do not see half of what goes on within the Club Doncaster and Foundation to judge really ( unfortunately) .