Stickied League 1 Transfer Rumours/Confirmed Transfers 2023/24

[Luke Imp]

Barton loves an over 30's signing doesn't he, not just at Bristol Rovers - he was the same at Fleetwood as well.

Marquis, Coutts, Whelan, Friend, Wilson, Sinclair, Hunt, Woods(?), Mulgrew, Duffy. You wonder whether he finds too many young players difficult to deal with and/wary that he confrontational way would cause issues.

 

[Gassy]

Barton loves an over 30's signing doesn't he, not just at Bristol Rovers - he was the same at Fleetwood as well.

Marquis, Coutts, Whelan, Friend, Wilson, Sinclair, Hunt, Woods(?), Mulgrew, Duffy. You wonder whether he finds too many young players difficult to deal with and/wary that he confrontational way would cause issues.

7 players in 3 years is hardly an obsession? We have an average squad age of 25 and the first 11 average age against Wigan was 24?

 

[Si Robin]

Whoops - wrong thread

 

[The Evil Dead]

He's infectious.

Nailed on he gets a scruffy 0-1 at VP.

 

[valefan16]

Vale have signed free agent Uche Ikpeazu, chuffed to bits, a striker we desperately need and one who was good for us a few seasons back, powerful and a big man.

Welcome Back Uche!!! Still remember the poor Doncaster defender trying to rugby tackle him and he kept running dragging him along the floor.

This could be the answer to some of our problems, just hope he is fit enough to contribute asap.

 

[thewwfc]

Disappointing that we didn't take him back as was rumoured a while ago, on his day he's unplayable. The concerns I would have with him are:

• injury record is not great
• hasn't had a pre-season and no match sharpness which takes some time to build
• Not sure why he couldn't get a sniff of an appearance at his last 2 clubs - has he still got it?

#2 is definitely only temporary, just not sure on #3. Still, time will tell. And he looked good for us at Championship level, so defenders at this level (including ours) should watch out if he's not lost it.

 

[valefan16]

Disappointing that we didn't take him back as was rumoured a while ago, on his day he's unplayable. The concerns I would have with him are:

• injury record is not great
• hasn't had a pre-season and no match sharpness which takes some time to build
• Not sure why he couldn't get a sniff of an appearance at his last 2 clubs - has he still got it?

#2 is definitely only temporary, just not sure on #3. Still, time will tell. And he looked good for us at Championship level, so defenders at this level (including ours) should watch out if he's not lost it.

Doesn't matter if he just stands still in the middle of the box it would be an improvement!

As you say just depends how fit he is, there was rumours yesterday of a signing which many took to be Connor Wickham but Uche should offer us something still, mainly a presence in the box and allowing our number 10's to play of him.

If hes not fully fit give him half hour Saturday and the Pizza cup to get going but assume he has been training somewhere.

First season we had him and a player called Enoch Andoh and they tore teams apart that early season, then Enoch did his ACL (ended his pro career) and Uche never seemed the same then. If he covers us until Loft gets fit that will be something, looks like we've forked out a bit to get him over the line judging by Flickers comments on appreciating Carol and Kevin but its certainly something we have been crying out for.

 

[denzel ecfc]

Another side signs a striker... :-(

 

[AmberRich]

Disappointing that we didn't take him back as was rumoured a while ago, on his day he's unplayable. The concerns I would have with him are:

• injury record is not great
• hasn't had a pre-season and no match sharpness which takes some time to build
• Not sure why he couldn't get a sniff of an appearance at his last 2 clubs - has he still got it?

#2 is definitely only temporary, just not sure on #3. Still, time will tell. And he looked good for us at Championship level, so defenders at this level (including ours) should watch out if he's not lost it.

When we signed him it was late on and he didn't have a preseason so wasn't fit, his sheer size still caused havoc for the opposition though and became a fan favourite immediately.

Not sure if he'll set the league alite however he's a useful tool to have in your locker.

 

[leedsvaliant]

He won't be prolific (he never has really) but he's Akinfenwa strong. All he needs to do for us is act as a pivot for 2 number 10s. If he can cause havoc and distract defenders, we should have a field day. We've needed that presence at the very top of the field since the start of the season.

Definite question marks over fitness but he's only 28 and has played at a higher level, so he is worth a pop.

 

[Laker]

I liked Uche, was a massive handful and was always capable of making something happen. He also had no idea where the ball was going half the time so the opposition had no chance either! Very unpredictable. And as says above, total cult hero.

 

[Arbury]

Yeah loved big uche, always played with a smile on his face and when he’s up for it he’s a good player, can’t believe he’s the fittest at this stage but give him time and I’m sure he’ll come good.

KTF.

 

[valefan16]

Another side signs a striker... :-(

Interesting discussion on this with our DOF Flitcroft when asked why we play one up top and that we changed our planned set up mid window… he explained we were looking and in for strikers but a couple of clubs in L1 and 2 had basically inflated the market for strikers and ones that were worth 150k for example were being touted for over double it and we weren’t prepared to spend that.

So that’s the issues the rest of the clubs have faced this summer hence less movement on that front.

 

[Si Robin]

Inflated market and we end up letting ours go for an effing pittance!!

 

[Laker]

Inflated market and we end up letting ours go for an effing pittance!!

Three of ours went for nothing too, all out of contract. Strikers are overrated. ;-)

 

[SVH]

Uche was worth my season ticket money alone those two seasons.

Having said that, he lost all my respect signing for Hearts and being pictured with a scarf over his head whilst still contracted to us. It’s most definitely all about Uche but I think that’s a good signing once he’s fit.

 

[valefan16]

I loved Uche in his first spell with us, his goal against Sheffield United was worth the entrance fee alone, he was harshly done by Rob Page after a red card at Burton and never got a look in after.

Haven't really faced him often since although have a feeling he got sent off against us possibly for Cambridge at Vale Park?

 

[masi51]

Get on to Evatt we have two or three you can have in January

Another side signs a striker... :-(

 

[denzel ecfc]

Get on to Evatt we have two or three you can have in January

Think we will need it.

 

[valefan16]

Three of ours went for nothing too, all out of contract. Strikers are overrated. ;-)

We were looking to buy but I believe for example when a relatively average striker was going (or not) for 500k in League Two then everyones value goes up "if he's worth 500k for example my striker who X wants is worth that!"

Its why we changed and decided to go for Devine on loan and focus on a system with 2 number 10's as the market value was ridiculous and this is the issue with clubs spending big on average players on the rest of the lower leagues.

 

[GEORGE]

We were looking to buy but I believe for example when a relatively average striker was going (or not) for 500k in League Two then everyones value goes up "if he's worth 500k for example my striker who X wants is worth that!"

Its why we changed and decided to go for Devine on loan and focus on a system with 2 number 10's as the market value was ridiculous and this is the issue with clubs speding big on average players on the rest of the lower leagues.

How much did you pay for Ryan Loft ?

 

[valefan16]

How much did you pay for Ryan Loft ?

Undisclosed but imagine it was for the same or close to what we got for Ellis Harrison as that had to happen for Loft to go through from what we understand, cant imagine it would be into 6 figures.

That said we've now found the money to pay Uche which sounds like wasn't cheap.

 

[Randolph Haggerty]

150k for loft.
Not a panic signing.
For an unfit mediocre player.
We have a process.

 

[BRFC_Gas]

£150k for someone who cant control a football. sheesh

 

[Luke Imp]

Ikpeazu - there's a blast from the past!

There are always one or two lower league strikers like him where you see them on one occasion and they look terrific and then the next time look like am absolute donkey but I think that extreme of performance is also why everyone loves them.

Mathieu Manset was like that as well, as was Delroy Facey.

 

[Luke Imp]

We've re-signed Mide Shodipo on a short term deal until January, which at the very least adds another attacking option to the squad. It means we can stop having to play central midfielders in wide areas for the time being whilst allowing us to start managing Bishop's minutes properly again and give us our CM cover back as well.

He was a little hit and miss last season, as with most lower league wide players, but he chipped in with some goals and probably should have had more. Had a knack of getting into decent areas.

 

[Davidimp]

Think it's a deal that will suit both parties.
Gets him fit and puts him in the shop window and as Luke says gives us some much needed attacking cover.

 

[Fuzzyvalefan]

Ikpeazu - there's a blast from the past!

There are always one or two lower league strikers like him where you see them on one occasion and they look terrific and then the next time look like am absolute donkey but I think that extreme of performance is also why everyone loves them.

Mathieu Manset was like that as well, as was Delroy Facey.

I love big Uche. We had him on loan when he was only 20. And exactly as you say, on his day he was unplayable but he was raw and unpredictable. I'm hoping now he's 28 and has Championship experience he might be a bit more rounded. It'll be fun whatever the case.

 

[HoxxySoxxyOxxy]

We've re-signed Mide Shodipo on a short term deal until January, which at the very least adds another attacking option to the squad. It means we can stop having to play central midfielders in wide areas for the time being whilst allowing us to start managing Bishop's minutes properly again and give us our CM cover back as well.

He was a little hit and miss last season, as with most lower league wide players, but he chipped in with some goals and probably should have had more. Had a knack of getting into decent areas.

I quite liked Shodipo when he was with us, good finisher but not great at crossing.

In regards to the rest of the thread, does everyone need a striker? I was hoping it was just us so we'd have pick of the crop in January.

 

[BRFC_Gas]

I quite liked Shodipo when he was with us, good finisher but not great at crossing.

In regards to the rest of the thread, does everyone need a striker? I was hoping it was just us so we'd have pick of the crop in January.

You saw on Saturday that we need one! Hopefully JCH