Reading Between The Lines

I think the departure of Adam Long could be a signal that we are close to bringing back Kell Watts on loan. I feel Leam will have said to Long that he was going to be third choice left centre back and that he should move to get his career going. Fair enough, and quite nice touch really from the boss. Being honest with the lad.

I’m a bit disappointed that Eoin Toal is close to joining Bolton from Derry City. I will come clean now but I went out to Derry last year and went and had a look at him on behalf of Latics. (Chris Brass asked me to have a look at him, and I was looking at David Parkhouse, a striker also).
Toal impressed me. Tall, commanding, skipper of Derry City, and still only 23. I know Latics had been looking at him for 2 years, from before Covid started. I thought him composed on the ball, on a very fast-running 4g surface at the Brandywell. Maybe he is a bit similar to Jason Kerr, perhaps Leam doesn’t think we need another right-sided CB. I’m just gutted Evatt will get hold of him and tirn him into a clogger.
Derry have a couple of other players worth having a look at. They have a small midfielder called Harkin who reminds me very much of a young David Perkins type of midfielder. He did get a serious injury which he is still coming back from. I feel we could do well to have a look at what Derry have, and with the James McClean link, that could help.

I’d also like us to look at bringing Leon Balogun back. I thought he was decent last time and being available free, we could do a lot worse.