The Diamonds Forum!

With the exception of Tomlin and the already announced departure of Abbey, who else do you think will leave / join Diamonds in January? Any Knowledge or rumours being heard?

I for one hope Byrne's loan will be extended.

We need a wide left sided attacking midfielder to replace Tomlin ( assuming he is on his way ). Any idea's who may fit the bill?

Anybody else think that right back position seems troublesome, following Curtis's move to the Centre? Will Curtis still be here after January, there were some earlier suggestions that he was being looked at also?

Who should go and who should we seek to persuade to sign?

There may be a kitty available to push on with post any sale of Tomlin / Jackson, depending on the Chairman's generosity?

Any suggestions Forum?

I'm not sure if Tomlin will leave, it wouldn't surprise me of he stayed til the end of the season. I think Osano might go aswell. I cant really see anyone else being sold.
I would obviously like to see Byrne's loan extended, i would also like a left winger to either replace Tommo, or to free himn up as we dont have another natural left winger really. We could perhaps do with another striker, obviously O'Connor is on fire, but Farrell, Cliff and Louis are all on poor form. I think i'd try and keep Cliff til the end of the season, and let Louis go back, i think they are too similar, then bring in someone new either on loan or permanent, who is a bit different to the others.
I dont think the RB is a problem though, i feel comfortable with Corky there, and we have Osano and Porter who can play there

I think Tomlin leaving has got to be fairly certain. There are too many clubs after him for them all to just walk away.

I've got a bad feeling Mark Byrne may get recalled and sent out on loan in League Two or One, or on the other hand we may get him in perminantly as Forest may be in the Premiership at the end of the season at this rate.

I think Louis will be sent back to Crawley too, and perhaps Farrell sent out on loan somewhere if Sam Smith comes back firing.

As for incoming signings its anybodys guess, but we could do with a pacey right-back and a left midfielder (to replace tomlin).

If we are clever enough, when we sell Tomlin, we should insist on 1/2 players coming our way either on loan/permanently.
I think we need a CB with pace so Osano can move back to RB, as well as a left winger. I'd also like to see us take a chance on a proven goalscorer from a lower league, Mettam from Corby anyone???

That obviously will depend on who we sell to, and how prepared they will be to drop down a league or two. Maybe if he goes to Forrest, we could just keep Byrne! would anyone like to see Reid back? He did look very good in pre-season, and i think mainly stuggled from not being picked. Personally i do not think (maybe its just being hopeful), but i honestly think JE would not have let Reid leave if he thought we would be without Tommo after January. This cold of course mean that there is a loan back deal in the pipeline/being all we are prepared to offer.

I would like to see more competition on the wing aswell. I like Byrne, but im not 100% he should be on the wing. I would much rather see someone come in and give Patto more competition. Maybe we should be looking at another striker who can play on the right, similar to O'Connor, although one who is more of a winger than striker, rather that the other way about. A proven goalscorer is always going to cost a little, and although we in theory should not be too short, i think we should be cautious of over-paying. I think up front we do struggle for goals on occasions, and this may be a good option. Alternatively we could get that fella who plays for Hinckley, whats his name... is it Smith or something

Tommo's potential fee might have got another boost today, with an article by Chris Beardsley in the Non-League Paper singing his praises and tipping him to be the next BSP player to make it to Championship level.

Tomlin won't go in January. tbh, I dont want to see too many changes. Perhaps, try to get in a hungry young striker on loan and get rid of Louis.

If the club needs the money and the right offer comes in, he will go, simples.

We could be in for some serious money in January, what with the Jacko sell-on clause and potential Tommo transfer.

Surely some of that could be used to, dare I say it, buy a player or two?

Don't think Reid will come back - mate of a mate in Nottingham says papers say he is earmarked for a loan Jan in the football league with a few clubs after him. Papers also suggest Byrne along with a few others set to be released by Forest in Jan so up to us whether we secure his services. I think we will let him go back though as we will have contract players Wolleaston and McNamara to come in unless we get rid of Terry in Jan as didn't he only sign until then? I would prefer Byrne to Terry myself but money is a big issue at this club so both could go!

The thing is the ball is in our court with Tommo due to the fact he's still got 18months left on his contract. Unless a really decent offer comes in, I think he'll stay. Plus if money comes in for jacko, then he's even more likley to stay. I think KC will also want him to stay if we're still within touching distance of the playoffs!

On the other side of the coin, we don't want to stop the lad from progressing because in all honesty he is wasting his time in the BSP.

There are rumours that a few players want to leave Cambridge including Holroyd. If we get money from Jacko and Tommo, i'd like to see us make a cheeky 80k bid for him.

Really? I mean, I can see your logic but I just don't think he's tall enough. What we need is a quality version of Akurang or Louis - Farrell and O'Connor are keepers, we just need a skillful big man to compliment them. Having said all that I don't actually have a suggestion of a player who fits the mould (i.e. tall, skillful and in-form) and would leave the club that they are currently with.

Disagree with regards to Byrne. I don't think the club could afford to let a young talent as good as Byrne pass us by. He is a first team starter, one of the first names on the sheet either on the right wing or in central midfield, so certainly versatile enough to keep too. He is very young still and improving, gaining confidence. If we can sign him we should. His contract runs to the end of the season but rumour has it Forest will let him go if offers come in. A forest fan I know wanted us to pay for him before realising what money is like down here, asking for ever diminishing ammounts. Hey if they let us have Dale for free...

I get what you are saying with regards to the number of midfielders we have relative to squad size, and to a degree I agree. But Byrne is someone we should make every effort to keep. I think it should be other players looking over their shoulders, not getting the foot in the door mentality. The only reasons we shouldn't sign him are if someone bids more than something nominal for him (which we could take from the Jackson/Tomlin monies), or if he demands too much.

Moving on to strikers, the only one of our current crop I am reasonably happy with is O'Connor. I liked Farrell at first because he is a trier, he does a lot of work, but his end product seems to be lacking. He isn't making incisive passes or setting up others, nor is he getting on the scoresheet much himself. Akurang scores agaisnt empty nets, he gets there. If for lack of other options then maybe consider keeping him as he gets in the positions. But make the contract short. Louis shows a different side every 5 mins. Not enough time to assess him yet from my perspective. Sometimes he seems physically useful actually creating space for other players when he is off the ball, holding up well when he is on it, but others he just seems missing.

Holroyd wouldn't come even if Cambridge accepted a bid for him. He will be looking to go up to L2 at least. Luton are rumoured to be placing a bid, and we can't out do them anyway, so we might as well just keep out of it.

What we really need in the striking department is a Sam Smith who is both confident and a bit more developed as a player than when we last saw him. That's what I think at least. A tall man with some skill about him, intelligent movement on the pitch even if it doesn't always come off, maybe someone should teach him to be a total *ahem* next tuesday *ahem* on the pitch as it seems to work for Brodie and Holroyd and Constable, all of fairly similar moulds.

Some solid points there Jemfy.

One hope for Sam Smith is that both Holroyd and Brodie were seen as "secondary" strikers at best last season - with Brodie even being lent out to Barrow. Strikers of the Constable or Morison level are only likely to move to bigger clubs - I note that Morison has finally started to hit the net for Millwall (albeit at both ends ..)

Andy Kirkup wanted someone who is 'tall,skillful and in-form' What about that lad Rankine at York - well, two out of three ain't bad.