January Transfers and Rumours

[Hitcher]

8 hours ago, Wandering Seagull said:

After Weir's two successful seasons in League1, many of us Brighton fans were a bit disappointed that he didn't get a loan at the next level up this season. The Blackpool loan was a bit of a disaster - right from the start the manager seemed reluctant to pick him, let alone give him a run of games. Fair enough in a way - they're doing pretty well - but the feeling is that it wasn't a failing on Weir's part that lead to his recall.

Ten goals from midfield (almost a quarter of their goals tally) in a struggling side suggests that he's plenty good enough for League1, so hopefully he'll have a good half season playing for you. Quite a memorable start for him yesterday, eh?! Good luck for the rest of the season.

Quick question but do you think Weir has potential to develop as a Brighton player in the future or do you think your own improvement as a club/team have raised the standards too high for him?

[Warren]

Weir has come to play. Looks a good signing. 

[Wandering Seagull]

12 hours ago, Hitcher said:

Quick question but do you think Weir has potential to develop as a Brighton player in the future or do you think your own improvement as a club/team have raised the standards too high for him?

Quick answer - I genuinely don't know. I only get to watch EFL football through the highlights programme on the tele at the weekend, so no way to judge a player on that! Besides, I'm in no way qualified to say which players can/will make the step up. I do follow our loanees progress, mainly by checking out what fans think on their forums.

As I said, it was a bit disappointing that he didn't get a Championship loan - but maybe our loans team know better than me! Age might be against him - he's 22 in a couple of weeks (we've got 18 year olds in the first team, and 15 year olds in the U21s). I guess only time will tell if the Blackpool loan was just a bump in the road or not.

[Rampant Zebra]

I thought he looked quite good technically in the brief period we saw but he needs to learn when to try the tricks and when to just hoof it away, he did some clever footwork in our penalty area while Reading where attacking and then put the ball into an area where it was picked up by a Reading player in a good position to attack our goal. Bit like Devine did against Charlton which led to one of their goals. Overall I think he will be OK, especially since he has already played with Devine but he needs to adapt to mens football which is a different mix of technical ability and bloody mindedness.

[Guppys left peg]

Barrow have had an offer accepted by Burton for Cole Stockton though yet to do personal terms.

[Osh]

Just been told we're getting Rhys Williams from Liverpool and Balmer is going back to Palace.

 

[darren1810]

7 minutes ago, Osh said:

Just been told we're getting Rhys Williams from Liverpool and Balmer is going back to Palace.

 

Had awful loan at Aberdeen where he didn't play a single game. Got recalled a couple of weeks ago.

Makes sense. 

[TJHValiant]

9 minutes ago, Osh said:

Just been told we're getting Rhys Williams from Liverpool and Balmer is going back to Palace.

 

Would be excellent if that’s the case! 

[Valiiant]

 

Williams has looked decent enough playing in Cup games for the Liverpool first team whenever I've seen him. Would be a massive upgrade on Balmer, who let's be honest is miles away.

Williams is decent in the air and has a fair bit of pace.

Edited January 15 by Valiiant

[JRC]

1 hour ago, Osh said:

Just been told we're getting Rhys Williams from Liverpool and Balmer is going back to Palace.

 

Balmer to leave seems odds on as he wasn't on the bench Saturday. Liverpool likely to want Williams playing games somewhere. Initially I thought Balmer looked promising but he never kicked on. Certainly nowhere near ready for The Premiership. 

[werstayinup]

1 hour ago, Osh said:

Just been told we're getting Rhys Williams from Liverpool and Balmer is going back to Palace.

 

You seem confident with that one mate? 

6'5 so could be the dominant CB we desperately need

[Osh]

14 minutes ago, werstayinup said:

You seem confident with that one mate? 

6'5 so could be the dominant CB we desperately need

m8 i'm as knowledgeable as the next guy; it was a WA message that I received from a friend who is in and around Vale Park and (most of) his messages have been accurate in the past.

If it comes true I'd be well happy - not necessarily for Williams himself (though he'd be more than welcome!) but we'd be getting in with Liverpool and that possibly opens up other high-level loans for the future.

Thats as much as I've got, i'm afraid. 

[MBE]

3 hours ago, Osh said:

Just been told we're getting Rhys Williams from Liverpool and Balmer is going back to Palace.

 

I don't know anything about Rhys Williams but Kofi's return to Palace appears inevitable. Unfortunately he's been a liability when he has played.

[werstayinup]

1 hour ago, Osh said:

m8 i'm as knowledgeable as the next guy; it was a WA message that I received from a friend who is in and around Vale Park and (most of) his messages have been accurate in the past.

If it comes true I'd be well happy - not necessarily for Williams himself (though he'd be more than welcome!) but we'd be getting in with Liverpool and that possibly opens up other high-level loans for the future.

Thats as much as I've got, i'm afraid. 

Fair play mate,i guess we will find out soon enough and yes totally agree a link with Liverpool cant be a bad thing and i think the lad has played in the Premier League as well.

By the way is MBW still in charge of the kids there

[VantaaVale]

11 minutes ago, werstayinup said:

Fair play mate,i guess we will find out soon enough and yes totally agree a link with Liverpool cant be a bad thing and i think the lad has played in the Premier League as well.

By the way is MBW still in charge of the kids there

Yes, he is. U18s manager.

https://www.liverpoolfc.com/team/academy/staff/marc-bridge-wilkinson