January Transfer Window.

1- This is and has been a "work in progress" since last May!

2- We already have a proper right back, you mentioned him! Mansell has played many times there, and now that the midfield is functioning properly; there is neither room nor need for him there. Maybe there could be a chance for a youngster from the Youth Scheme to "come through and understudy" in the Setanta Shield..................you can't repeatedly post about the perceived "cash problems" you envisage and then promote the idea of adding to the wage bill!

By the same score, don't equate the way good pro's like Adams, Brough and Green cope with not getting much playing time with the way play for fun amatuers seek to move on when they don't get a game..............it's part and parcel of being a pro' and something they will have experienced before at previous clubs. Maybe a month out on loan for selected squad members might be the order of the day next year to enable them to get "cranked up" for the final run in, but don't forget that the cup tie today with it's "seven on the bench" facility gives Bucks the opportunity to circumnavigate the eligibility requirements for the Setanta Shield on Tuesday.

3- The long term loss of Todd does need addressing, although when I was at Forest Green there was plenty of informed opinion that centre back was indeed Brough's strongest performance area.

I think that Brough and Adams are not likely to be too willing to stay here so I could see either of them going. Perhaps Brough has'nt had a fair chance but he was very poor in pre season and I would'nt be too dissapointed if he went elsewhere for first team football. Adams on the otherhand, I think, is a quality passer but he perhaps lacks the phsical game or the fitness levels to play regular first team football here. I would like him to stay here but I can see him moving on. I would'nt want to see Green go just yet because he is a very useful player to have on the bench. I can see him sticking it out here for the rest of the season anyway because he has had, and will have, chances to impress.

Yep - I'm with Barton Downs on this. Surely it will be a quiet January on the transfer front. Despite the fact that the "prize" of promotion to League 2 is on offer, I don't think that there will be the clubs at this level that are willing to raise the stakes and bring-in additional players at great cost to bulk-up their squads.


That is certainly what it feels like Merse.
The critisism that Tisdale received after a slow start last season is similar to the vitriol that Bucks received. Even they suffered some bad results through the tail-end of the season where the fans doubted them, but they steadily improved throughout the season and we all know what happend in the end.
I suppose it's a cliche that managers learn more about their players on a bad run than they do on a good run. Pulling-through at the begining of the season is IMHO one of the biggest acheievements of Bucks TUFC career to date.

I haven't heard anything to suggest that there is anything but an excellent team spirit.
I suspect that Adams is happy to bide his time. He came down here instead of taking a contract (shorter, admittedly) from Swindon Town as he wanted to return to the area.

One player mentioned by players like Hargreaves, Wroe, Bevans and Bucks (most importantly) Bucks is Brough. He played a good number of matches at Notts County and has experience at this level - and he is still young enough to progress.
Given that we have the squad size that we do (and hopefully we don't have an exodus in January) then it is inevitible that players will have a chance to establish themselves as first team choices. We've seen it with Wroe, TT, Roscoe, Carayol, Hodges, Stevens, Robertson (until the injury) and Woods - it looked like they were out of the first team picture for a while - but they have worked at getting back-in. They've stepped-up to be key players in a team on a fabulous run - for sure we will have "sticky patches", but we have other players ready to come-in and will know that they have to work at keeping their place. Could there be any bigger incentive?

You can now look at EVERY position on the pitch and there is not a position that cannot be replaced from within the squad (the only tenuous one is Robertson or Brough at right-back). The team more or less seemed to pick itself in 75% of positions last season when everyone was fit.
Hargreaves, Mansell and Todd are the only players that have not missed a game when they were fit to play this season- where last season people could take the cheap shot that "Bucks only picks his favorites", it is an accusation that only the most deliberately contraversial person could make. Even Sills has been on the bench this season, totally unthinkable last season.

With respect to Wring, Mullings, Hockley, Hinshelwood and Rice- they are not a patch on the back-up we have now. I wouldn't look to bring any other players into the team unless there are injuries in key positions.

The window will be open very soon and there seems mixed views over some of our players and questions asked, if we need to make some changes for the second half of the season.

One question is who is the better player to start up front with Sills, Benyon or Green and the second question is, can one or the other score the goals we will need to try and win promotion.

Yet another question is about our wingers and can they supply the balls into the box that the likes of Sills needs, as heading is a big part of his game. Yes we would all like for Bucks to go and get us a 20+ goal a season player, to try and get out of this BSP league, but would we find one in January? could we even afford one on the very poor gates we have had this season.

I understand some of the reasons gates have been low, but I also know that any club or business has to cut the clothe according to its width. The club just can't keep paying out more than it gets in and like it or not, the stay aways all play their part in decisions that get forced on the club, due to reduced income.

The good news is, we have now got a top keeper on an 18 month contract, so we will not have the problems we had in the second half of last season. Carlisle took awhile at the start of the season, to get his game going, he has been out for a while and I believe he will soon be back at his best.

Stevens needs to be played on the right hand side, but then where would Carlisle play? Stevens is not a left winger and due to his size will always struggle to get past defenders out wide and deliver good balls into Sills. Dsane has done OK playing out on the wing and he does find himself in the box more than others who have played on the left wing, we have seem goals from Dsane in recent games, playing in that position.

We have a few players who must now believe that they will not feature in Bucks plans this season, players who like any other player, wants to be playing football and not just a name in a squad list. I would not be surprised, if the likes of Ellis and Adams, put in a transfer request, I would be disappointed to see Ellis go, as I do feel he has so much potential.

Saying that if we did reduce our wage bill, by letting a few go in the transfer window, as long as were able to get in a decent winger and a goal scorer, I would not be unhappy. Its all about the second half of the season, trying to get out of this horrible league and now is not the time for sentiment, but having a team that can get us back where I still feel we really belong.

and to think you doubted my opinion on this at the start of the season Dave!!

Out on loan: Green and Carayol/Stevens
In on loan: Ashley Barnes and Dan Smith (Argyle via Eastbourne)

Yes Dave. Hopefully he can find his shooting boots and come back with a swagger and a goal or two under his belt. Am not sure why we could not get Barnes, having had him here earlier in the season.