Summer 2025 ins and outs at CCFC

Excluding any under-21 players who have never made a first team appearance, I think this is the full list of ins and outs since the end of last season:

First team arrivals:

Joel Colwill (returned from loan)
Omari Kellyman (loaned from Chelsea)
Eli King (returned from loan)
Gabriel Osho (bought from Auxerre)
Nathan Trott (loaned from Copenhagen)
Ryan Wintle (returned from loan)

First team departures:

Will Alves (returned to parent club)
Jesper Daland (loaned to Fortuna Dusseldorf)
Anwar El Ghazi (released)
Dimitrios Goutas (released)
Ethan Horvath (loaned to Sheffield Weds)
Sivert Mannsverk (returned to parent club)
Yakou Meite (released)
Callum O’Dowda (sold to Ferencvaros)
Joe Ralls (released)
Aaron Ramsey (released)
Andy Rinomhota (released)

Other squad departures:

Jamilu Collins (released)
Raheem Conte (released)
Kion Etete (loaned to Rotherham)
Kieron Evans (released)
Michael Reindorf (loaned to Newport County)
Roko Simic (loaned to Karlsruhe)
Ryotara Tsunoda (sold to Yokohama F Marinos)

Hope I haven't forgotten anyone.

So, do you reckon the squad is big enough now? Are there any areas of the team that are looking light? Anyone who has gone that you would have kept if possible?

I still think we need one or two quality, experienced players in.

Surely the promoted youth players who are now part of the First Team (some first choice) should be inlcuded in First Team arrivals?

Dylan Lawlor, Ronan Kpakio, Dakarai Mafico and Tanatswa Nyakuhwa are all new to the First Team.

It's good that we have a manager who trusts our Academy and can actually improve players but I feel that unless there's another great batch of youngsters coming through there's only so many times we can dip into our Academy each season to cover for injuries and I suspect with how we play and how much our players run some will need a rest and some will get muscle injuries from fatigue.

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Originally Posted by jon1959

Surely the promoted youth players who are now part of the First Team (some first choice) should be inlcuded in First Team arrivals?

Dylan Lawlor, Ronan Kpakio, Dakarai Mafico and Tanatswa Nyakuhwa are all new to the First Team.

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Three of them made first team appearances last season.

I know what you're saying, but I don't agree.

Honestly, I forgot Alves was even with us last season.

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Originally Posted by The Lone Gunman

Excluding any under-21 players who have never made a first team appearance, I think this is the full list of ins and outs since the end of last season:

First team arrivals:

Joel Colwill (returned from loan)
Omari Kellyman (loaned from Chelsea)
Eli King (returned from loan)
Gabriel Osho (bought from Auxerre)
Nathan Trott (loaned from Copenhagen)
Ryan Wintle (returned from loan)

First team departures:

Will Alves (returned to parent club)
Jesper Daland (loaned to Fortuna Dusseldorf)
Anwar El Ghazi (released)
Dimitrios Goutas (released)
Ethan Horvath (loaned to Sheffield Weds)
Sivert Mannsverk (returned to parent club)
Yakou Meite (released)
Callum O’Dowda (sold to Ferencvaros)
Joe Ralls (released)
Aaron Ramsey (released)
Andy Rinomhota (released)

Other squad departures:

Jamilu Collins (released)
Raheem Conte (released)
Kion Etete (loaned to Rotherham)
Kieron Evans (released)
Michael Reindorf (loaned to Newport County)
Roko Simic (loaned to Karlsruhe)
Ryotara Tsunoda (sold to Yokohama F Marinos)

Hope I haven't forgotten anyone.

So, do you reckon the squad is big enough now? Are there any areas of the team that are looking light? Anyone who has gone that you would have kept if possible?

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Jeez we had some absolute dross in that lot, I had thought originally that maybe Ralls or Rinhomota could have done a job for us in this league, but on reflection, it probably was for the best, as it would have just blocked one of the younger players coming through

I like what this coach has done so far, and while he wouldn’t have been my first choice, I think we may have struck lucky with his appointment

I could be completely wrong, but after watching such boring shite for the last few years and journeymen just there to get a wage it’s refreshing to see some of these kids coming through and establishing themselves as first team players

Are we short anywhere? Possibly unless BBM knows that some of these players can play in a different position if needed

Time will tell but overall we have kept the rising stars, and added a couple of what appears to be quality players

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Originally Posted by Coyote

Honestly, I forgot Alves was even with us last season.

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He's gone on loan to Huddersfield today. Despite all the hype, Leicester now dont appear to think he's good enough for the Championship.

Id have liked another left back. Hopefully Giles is good enough back up.

Another wide player and cover for Salech.

Id have kept O Dowda if he'd wanted to stay.

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Originally Posted by The Lone Gunman

Excluding any under-21 players who have never made a first team appearance, I think this is the full list of ins and outs since the end of last season:

First team arrivals:

Joel Colwill (returned from loan)
Omari Kellyman (loaned from Chelsea)
Eli King (returned from loan)
Gabriel Osho (bought from Auxerre)
Nathan Trott (loaned from Copenhagen)
Ryan Wintle (returned from loan)

First team departures:

Will Alves (returned to parent club)
Jesper Daland (loaned to Fortuna Dusseldorf)
Anwar El Ghazi (released)
Dimitrios Goutas (released)
Ethan Horvath (loaned to Sheffield Weds)
Sivert Mannsverk (returned to parent club)
Yakou Meite (released)
Callum O’Dowda (sold to Ferencvaros)
Joe Ralls (released)
Aaron Ramsey (released)
Andy Rinomhota (released)

Other squad departures:

Jamilu Collins (released)
Raheem Conte (released)
Kion Etete (loaned to Rotherham)
Kieron Evans (released)
Michael Reindorf (loaned to Newport County)
Roko Simic (loaned to Karlsruhe)
Ryotara Tsunoda (sold to Yokohama F Marinos)

Hope I haven't forgotten anyone.

So, do you reckon the squad is big enough now? Are there any areas of the team that are looking light? Anyone who has gone that you would have kept if possible?

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I assume the next stage is out of contract players.

I thought it right that Joe Ralls left and was sorry to see Rinomhota go.

Now that we have established a new hierarchy in the squad and style I would be tempted to offer both of them the chance to train to COMPETE for a place in the team on short term contracts.

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Originally Posted by BLUEAWAY TOO

I assume the next stage is out of contract players.

I thought it right that Joe Ralls left and was sorry to see Rinomhota go.

Now that we have established a new hierarchy in the squad and style I would be tempted to offer both of them the chance to train to COMPETE for a place in the team on short term contracts.

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I wouldn't. Ralls doesn't have the fitness/stamina any more and Rinomhota lacks the ball control and passing accuracy.

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Originally Posted by PontBlue

I wouldn't. Ralls doesn't have the fitness/stamina any more and Rinomhota lacks the ball control and passing accuracy.

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I think they could both do a job at league one level, but I'd rather trust the youth

To think that a lot of the players that have gone were playing week in week out and it did not work. I was surprised to see how young the squad is ( i should know these things) and it's so refreshing to see 18-23 y o making such an impact. Haven't we been saying it for at least a decade , use the youngster.

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Originally Posted by ToTaL ITK

To think that a lot of the players that have gone were playing week in week out and it did not work. I was surprised to see how young the squad is ( i should know these things) and it's so refreshing to see 18-23 y o making such an impact. Haven't we been saying it for at least a decade , use the youngster.

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They have been used at times, but there's no point in using young players if they're not good enough.

No young player who has made our first team during the last decade has been released and then gone on to better things. We just haven't had any genuinely decent youngsters until fairly recently, although Bagan made his debut in 2020, Colwill in 2021, etc.

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Originally Posted by Rjk

I think they could both do a job at league one level, but I'd rather trust the youth

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I do as well but not for a team with our style of play.

I think there’s a fine balance between a squad being
short on numbers and bloated, so much can depend on injuries but at this level you don’t have the luxury of carrying any passengers, I was going to say we may be light on out and out strikers but one of the big differences for me so far this season has been the numbers we are getting into the box which is giving us more goals from different sources,so perhaps that will prove a more effective alternative.

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Originally Posted by PontBlue

I do as well but not for a team with our style of play.

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If that were the case they would not be selected and their short term contracts shortened!

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Originally Posted by Rjk

I think they could both do a job at league one level, but I'd rather trust the youth

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The question was whether we have enough cover should things go wrong in terms of injuries, loss of form etc?
We all want the young guns to keep producing whilst knowing that’s it’s a long season ahead.

I would have kept Ralls and Conte.

We are really going to struggle come the end of the season with a small squad AND young players.

The young players will tire very quickly by Xmas.

Lets just hope we get a big enough jump on the league to hold on.

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Originally Posted by Temujin

We are really going to struggle come the end of the season with a small squad AND young players.

The young players will tire very quickly by Xmas.

Lets just hope we get a big enough jump on the league to hold on.

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Alan Hansen had the same opinion. We’ll be ok, I think the youngsters are loving it, it’s us who are tiring the opposition out.

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Originally Posted by Dave Blue

I would have kept Ralls and Conte.

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In a more forward thinking club, Ralls would have gone years ago

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Originally Posted by Temujin

We are really going to struggle come the end of the season with a small squad AND young players.

The young players will tire very quickly by Xmas.

Lets just hope we get a big enough jump on the league to hold on.

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Youngsters can run and run all-day long. It's the senior players who play week-in/week-out, that feel it.

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Originally Posted by Joe Gillis

In a more forward thinking club, Ralls would have gone years ago

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I was a huge fan of Joe ralls. He embodied what I wanted in a midfielder who played for my team. I really wanted to argue with your statement and say how wrong I think you were. But sadly - for me anyway - reflecting, I agree.

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Originally Posted by Rock_Flock_of_Five

Youngsters can run and run all-day long. It's the senior players who play week-in/week-out, that feel it.

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I don't think the issue is a merely physical one, though. Will a squad that consists primarily of younger players have the experience and mental fortitude to cope with a full season of League One football? We'll soon find out I suppose.

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Originally Posted by The Lone Gunman

I don't think the issue is a merely physical one, though. Will a squad that consists primarily of younger players have the experience and mental fortitude to cope with a full season of League One football? We'll soon find out I suppose.

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Indeed.

We should not bring in older players that would oust the young guns, therefore we need other / older players on standby who can do a job when needed.
Ralls had huge respect within the club.

We will understand the needs better by January.

Overall, I thought the transfer window for City was more than a little surprising and a bit underwhelming. After all, we saw no less than eleven genuine first team squad members leave, along with seven others who were technically supposed to be first team players but were on the fringes at best. That’s eighteen senior players out of the door in total, including most of last season’s biggest earners, but only six players in. Of those, three were returning from loan spells and one is already out injured for the season.

The three players that have arrived from elsewhere all appear to be excellent signings by League One standards. Trott is already looking a cut above any of the keepers we had here, Osho should be more than comfortable at this level and Kellyman could be seriously exciting if he can get fit and stay fit.

Whether by accident or design, the new manager appears to be putting his faith in a relatively small and largely inexperienced squad. If that is by design, it’s a brave move and quite a gamble.

Almost everything about the season so far has been very encouraging, but the side does look a bit light on numbers to me. That said, the division appears to be a lot weaker than I’d imagined and several of the teams who are considered to be City’s major rivals for promotion have been undergoing significant overhauls in terms of personnel, both on and off the field. Therefore, this looks a golden opportunity to progress provided the youngsters can maintain their current form and the squad can steer clear of any more serious injuries.

They've had to slash the wage bill, hence some experienced players departing. I do wonder if some of those would have been retained, if we had managed to stay up.

When you consider it'll be a) difficult for our two new quality signings to force their way into the team b) having Turnball and Robertson waiting to fight for midfield places c) having a player of Callum Robinson's calibre struggling to nail down a starting spot, I don't think we can have any complaints whatsoever and I would imagine BBM is delighted with the squad of players at his disposal, both those newly-acquired and those retained.

Not forgetting than an already strong squad can be bolstered further in the January window should we need extra players to get us over the line.

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Originally Posted by tforturton

They've had to slash the wage bill, hence some experienced players departing. I do wonder if some of those would have been retained, if we had managed to stay up.

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Every cloud eh.

Gk Trott Turner Alnwick

Def Ng Kpakio Chambers Fish Lawlor Bagan Giles Osho

Mid R Colwill J Colwill Turnbull Wintle Robertson King Mafico

Attackers / Wide players Salech Kellyman Tanner Davies Ashford Robinson Nyakhuwa Willock

It's not a small squad is it.? 26 I make it.

It's young and lacks experience.

I think injuries to Bagan , Salech long term could be an issue.

CB we looked vulnerable v Port Vale at set plays but Fish/Lawlor have done much better since being paired and Osho is now in. Still concerned how we will stand up to a really physical direct side.

It's going to be really interesting from now until the next window.

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Originally Posted by Hilts

It's not a small squad is it.? 26 I make it.

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Pretty sure you meant Alnwick as the third-choice keeper.

Defence - I'm not sure about Giles. I think we need to see a bit more evidence before we can be sure he's a genuine option.

Midfield - King is out for the season.

Attack - Not sure Kellyman is a wide player, but we'll see. Tanner is knackered. Davies is fragile. As is Robinson.

I suppose you can say it's not a small squad if you're convinced youngsters like Giles, Mafico and Nyakhuwa are going to feature regularly, and some of the more injury-prone individuals are going to last the pace.

We'll see, I guess.

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Originally Posted by The Lone Gunman

Pretty sure you meant Alnwick as the third-choice keeper.

Defence - I'm not sure about Giles. I think we need to see a bit more evidence before we can be sure he's a genuine option.

Midfield - King is out for the season.

Attack - Not sure Kellyman is a wide player, but we'll see. Tanner is knackered. Davies is fragile. As is Robinson.

I suppose you can say it's not a small squad if you're convinced youngsters like Giles, Mafico and Nyakhuwa are going to feature regularly, and some of the more injury-prone individuals are going to last the pace.

We'll see, I guess.

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Left back is a concern. I agree Davies Turnbull Robertson Kellyman all have fitness question marks.

Out of the players who have left Id have O Dowda back and I would have been happy with Alves back on loan and loaned Nyakhuwa out.

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Originally Posted by Hilts

Gk Trott Turner Alnwick

Def Ng Kpakio Chambers Fish Lawlor Bagan Giles Osho

Mid R Colwill J Colwill Turnbull Wintle Robertson King Mafico

Attackers / Wide players Salech Kellyman Tanner Davies Ashford Robinson Nyakhuwa Willock

It's not a small squad is it.? 26 I make it.

It's young and lacks experience.

I think injuries to Bagan , Salech long term could be an issue.

CB we looked vulnerable v Port Vale at set plays but Fish/Lawlor have done much better since being paired and Osho is now in. Still concerned how we will stand up to a really physical direct side.

It's going to be really interesting from now until the next window.

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Not counting King, as unfortunately he’s out and leaving Tanner to one side for the moment
When you look at the squad (24) there are a number of players who can play in different positions
Osho and Chambers can play at RB CB or DM role, although I would rather not see Chambers in the CB position

Ng can play RB LB and at CB
Bagan can play LB and CB

Not sure if Kpakio can play as a LB?

The lad from Chelsea can play as a 10 a striker and on the right, similar to Robinson and Ashford
Willock can play on the wing or as a 10

I’m not saying it’s ideal but if it’s only to cover a suspension or short term injury I think we have plenty of options

like a few fans I would never have thought Wintle and Willock would be starting games, never mind staring in them based on previous performances, but credit where it’s due this coach has got a tune out of them and we continue to impress and develop the youngsters under BBM

Maybe some of the older players can see that he seems light years ahead of what they have been used to working under as well

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Originally Posted by Moodybluebird

When you consider it'll be a) difficult for our two new quality signings to force their way into the team b) having Turnball and Robertson waiting to fight for midfield places c) having a player of Callum Robinson's calibre struggling to nail down a starting spot, I don't think we can have any complaints whatsoever and I would imagine BBM is delighted with the squad of players at his disposal, both those newly-acquired and those retained.

Not forgetting than an already strong squad can be bolstered further in the January window should we need extra players to get us over the line.

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I agree with you. My first instinct was that we needed a lot of new signings, but you have to take notice of how were playing and, although I’d have liked us to have got someone at left back, three new players who everyone is agreed should be better than League One standard is fine I reckon. You mention Robertson, his pre season was disappointing, but two seasons ago, Portsmouth’s fans were saying he was the best player in the division until he was injured. Perry Ng was some way off his best last season, but he should be fine at this level , so that’s two who have barely kicked a ball this season so far to be added to the match day squad to go with Osho and Kellyman.

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Originally Posted by olderblue

Not counting King, as unfortunately he’s out and leaving Tanner to one side for the moment
When you look at the squad (24) there are a number of players who can play in different positions
Osho and Chambers can play at RB CB or DM role, although I would rather not see Chambers in the CB position

Ng can play RB LB and at CB
Bagan can play LB and CB

Not sure if Kpakio can play as a LB?

The lad from Chelsea can play as a 10 a striker and on the right, similar to Robinson and Ashford
Willock can play on the wing or as a 10

I’m not saying it’s ideal but if it’s only to cover a suspension or short term injury I think we have plenty of options

like a few fans I would never have thought Wintle and Willock would be starting games, never mind staring in them based on previous performances, but credit where it’s due this coach has got a tune out of them and we continue to impress and develop the youngsters under BBM

Maybe some of the older players can see that he seems light years ahead of what they have been used to working under as well

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In the last two matches, Kpakio has finished up at left back and centre midfield.

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Originally Posted by the other bob wilson

In the last two matches, Kpakio has finished up at left back and centre midfield.

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That’s worrying, I’d forgotten about that and I didn’t have a pint before the game on Saturday :facepalm: