January Transfer Rumours

[Sleeping Giants]

Scott Twine on loan at Brizzle from Burnley looks shrewd business. We need some of this but I know money is tight.

[QPROslo]

Del, brilliant post!

[Harrow QPR]

I get so bored of hearing people constantly slating Dozzell or making him a scapegoat for bad results when he's clearly not been the reason for most poor results. As mentioned above, he's consistently picked by multiple professional football managers, but obviously they are all clueless and a select group of keyboard warriors are more clued up on what he does or doesn't bring to a team. It's laughably ridiculous. Someone also bemoaned him as a midfielder saying he doesn't score or assist...yet they probably cream their pants about Field...who doesn't score or assist. Go figure.

I've always said the same thing about Dozzell, he does a lot of the dirty unsung stuff most fans take for granted because it doesn't make headlines. Numerous times I've seen him prevent goals against when teams have broken quickly following our poor corners, when most of the teams in the opponents box. He's always the first and most prominent defensive line in that situation and many times an opponent has been wide with a player in the middle waiting for a squared pass and potential tap in and its Dozzell who blocks that pass, or breaks up the break befoire it gets that far...all the while most of our team are still in the attacking half. Most fans who moan about him fail to acknowledge such things, or their importance in the team structure and allowing others certain freedom to do what they do.

He also always makes himself an option for a pass, even in tight areas, and when he gets the ball always looked up to play forward quickly whenever possible, unlike Field or many others who happily go sideways or back relentlessly to the point of tedium. He has a very good range of passing and disguises well into the attacking players breaking the lines to get attacks moving....many fail to see this. Obviously there's not always a forward pass on so he has to go sideways, but its never his first though unlike others. This was a major issue under Ainsworth who played so deep with one player up top completely isolated. Dozzell would look up and there wasn't the runners who want a ball to feet, such as Willock, Chair, Smyth, because Willock was not in the team, Chair was too deep and Smyth effectively a wing back or full back under Ainsworth. This was down to the shite tactics.

Regardless, he's gone now, but for me he was harshly slated by many and the scapegoat of choice. It certainly wasn't him wasting chance after chance or making shocking defensive errors was it.... Anyway, I do find it unusual to release a player to a relegation rival who is more often than not in the starting 11. Ultimately, a starter leaving has to make the squad weaker. Rumours in the past were he was one of the higher earners, so can only assume there are targets Marti has, or more key priorities like a striker, who could only be considered with such a move to free up wages and remain within FFP limits. Have always said since Marti came in, hopefully he'd have identified a couple of players in the Swedish league he knows, who could be had for effectively peanuts compared to English based players because nobody has heard of them or very clued up on that league, but they are more than capable of performing at this level. We shall see.

It was me that said he does'nt score or assist and yes you are right neither does Field but Field is a defensive midfielder and has been one of our best players for the last 3 years .
Dozzel is crap and Birmingham will find that out soon enough.

[Del]

I get so bored of hearing people constantly slating Dozzell or making him a scapegoat for bad results when he's clearly not been the reason for most poor results. As mentioned above, he's consistently picked by multiple professional football managers, but obviously they are all clueless and a select group of keyboard warriors are more clued up on what he does or doesn't bring to a team. It's laughably ridiculous. Someone also bemoaned him as a midfielder saying he doesn't score or assist...yet they probably cream their pants about Field...who doesn't score or assist. Go figure.

I've always said the same thing about Dozzell, he does a lot of the dirty unsung stuff most fans take for granted because it doesn't make headlines. Numerous times I've seen him prevent goals against when teams have broken quickly following our poor corners, when most of the teams in the opponents box. He's always the first and most prominent defensive line in that situation and many times an opponent has been wide with a player in the middle waiting for a squared pass and potential tap in and its Dozzell who blocks that pass, or breaks up the break befoire it gets that far...all the while most of our team are still in the attacking half. Most fans who moan about him fail to acknowledge such things, or their importance in the team structure and allowing others certain freedom to do what they do.

He also always makes himself an option for a pass, even in tight areas, and when he gets the ball always looked up to play forward quickly whenever possible, unlike Field or many others who happily go sideways or back relentlessly to the point of tedium. He has a very good range of passing and disguises well into the attacking players breaking the lines to get attacks moving....many fail to see this. Obviously there's not always a forward pass on so he has to go sideways, but its never his first though unlike others. This was a major issue under Ainsworth who played so deep with one player up top completely isolated. Dozzell would look up and there wasn't the runners who want a ball to feet, such as Willock, Chair, Smyth, because Willock was not in the team, Chair was too deep and Smyth effectively a wing back or full back under Ainsworth. This was down to the shite tactics.

Regardless, he's gone now, but for me he was harshly slated by many and the scapegoat of choice. It certainly wasn't him wasting chance after chance or making shocking defensive errors was it.... Anyway, I do find it unusual to release a player to a relegation rival who is more often than not in the starting 11. Ultimately, a starter leaving has to make the squad weaker. Rumours in the past were he was one of the higher earners, so can only assume there are targets Marti has, or more key priorities like a striker, who could only be considered with such a move to free up wages and remain within FFP limits. Have always said since Marti came in, hopefully he'd have identified a couple of players in the Swedish league he knows, who could be had for effectively peanuts compared to English based players because nobody has heard of them or very clued up on that league, but they are more than capable of performing at this level. We shall see.

[SheepRanger]

Well the last thing we want is a ten point deduction in L1.
But I still think we'll being someone in but if we cant afford it so be it. I noticed last night that L1 & 2 teams have started signing loan players, but the likes of Kelman are still with us.

[topperharley]

We are screaming for continuity and consistency. We have too many players who had a disrupted pre-season or significant chunk(s) of the season out. Couple that with Marti's tendency to tinker and we never seem able to field the same starting XI for even two games in a row, let alone a good run of games.

Teams need to get into a groove, a rhythm... click into a routine as a group. We have utterly failed to do that all season. The complete opposite of what's needed. We're a disparate disjointed bunch and that creates the awful slow, stodgy build-up play we see each week.

Obviously Dozzell hasn't been a world-beater but getting rid of one of the few players who seems able to turn out every game seems daft. IF we bring in a similar or better replacement then fair enoug, but that player is gonna need to play the next 20-odd games, slot-in seamlessly and hit the ground running. Frankly, I'm not convinced we can find such a player in next 2 weeks.

Ultimately, today, going into a crucial home game, our squad is weaker than it was 48hrs ago. So, as it stands it's a bad bit of business.

Given injuries, a new manager, the regularity of Championship games and our squad havig afew 'light weights' it's had to be this way. Marti wanted consistency in the squad, not just the first 11, he should have figured out by now he can't have that. I see what you're saying but I 'm not sure what other choice there has been? I really think you're flogging a dead horse with the Dozzell was good in any other way than he didn't get injured.

There must be something incoming to replace him, convinced it'll be at least a level up in terms of being the right type of player.

[LordLoftus]

Normally after you sell a player your squad is weaker for a moment in time. That’s kind of how it works.

[Abseits]

We are screaming for continuity and consistency. We have too many players who had a disrupted pre-season or significant chunk(s) of the season out. Couple that with Marti's tendency to tinker and we never seem able to field the same starting XI for even two games in a row, let alone a good run of games.

Teams need to get into a groove, a rhythm... click into a routine as a group. We have utterly failed to do that all season. The complete opposite of what's needed. We're a disparate disjointed bunch and that creates the awful slow, stodgy build-up play we see each week.

Obviously Dozzell hasn't been a world-beater but getting rid of one of the few players who seems able to turn out every game seems daft. IF we bring in a similar or better replacement then fair enoug, but that player is gonna need to play the next 20-odd games, slot-in seamlessly and hit the ground running. Frankly, I'm not convinced we can find such a player in next 2 weeks.

Ultimately, today, going into a crucial home game, our squad is weaker than it was 48hrs ago. So, as it stands it's a bad bit of business.

[72bus]

Dozzell awful player lacks any bite.

[Harrow QPR]

Glad we have freed up space and money for a new player , he has got to be better than Dozzel which is'nt hard.
He was crap at Ipswich , crap at us and i'm certain he will be crap at Birmingham , just hope he does'nt come back for next season.
I am astounded that some on here think he was decent , better than Dixon Bonner maybe but a pointless player , does'nt score or assist , creates little , can't tackle , no pace or engine , he offers nothing and good riddance.

[topperharley]

Bad bit of business! I don't wish to comment on his personal appearance but I think folks will know what I mean when I say he "looks" slow and lightweight. However, I don't feel this is the case at all - I think he's a robust, intelligent and tidy player. Never injured, never blowing out his ass after 75 mins, seldom booked (unlike Field and Colback with their ludicrous lunges or Chair with his petulant swings) and just gets on with his business in a team that has collectively failed.
This puts a lot of pressure on Dixon-Bonner to step-up and play a lot of games unless we bring in a midfielder who will have to be better than Dozzell.

Well you're right on his robusteness, but i'd argue that's because he does very little. He might be smart but he lacks composure.

He's had a handful of good moments but otherwise been ineffective. Deployed in a different team, maybe he'll be a different player.

[pauly]

Dozzell has alot of potential but I always felt where does he play. He has good technique with ball but lacks concentration defensively, he can find a forward pass but lacks pace and stamina to get up pitch offensively. We need Tim from the villa back

[Stanfan]

I respect Mowbrays opinion. Doz works very hard and I rate as a much better player than most seem to think. Problem for us is our midfield has no balance and no scorers. I’m worried though it leaves us light with field and colback both heading for another suspension. I think this must be a money driven move but let’s hope it frees up money for a replacement from the magic pot rather than just to stay ffp compliant

[Abseits]

Bad bit of business! I don't wish to comment on his personal appearance but I think folks will know what I mean when I say he "looks" slow and lightweight. However, I don't feel this is the case at all - I think he's a robust, intelligent and tidy player. Never injured, never blowing out his ass after 75 mins, seldom booked (unlike Field and Colback with their ludicrous lunges or Chair with his petulant swings) and just gets on with his business in a team that has collectively failed.
This puts a lot of pressure on Dixon-Bonner to step-up and play a lot of games unless we bring in a midfielder who will have to be better than Dozzell.

[topperharley]

https://bluesfocus.co.uk/2024/01/19/...of-the-season/

Well this will prove at least a small point.