The transfer window re-opens at midnight on New Years Eve (I think!) so seven members of the current City squad will be wandering where they will be earning a living in January:
Lenny Pidgeley – the keeper signed a two month deal with the Bantams on the 29th October.
Rob Kiernan – on loan from Watford until the 5th January.
Richard Eckersley on loan from Burnley until 3rd January.
Lee Hendrie – I believe he’s on a month to month contract with the club so he will be a free agent when the transfer window re-opens.
Tom Adeyemi – on loan from Norwich city until 12th January.
Louis Moult – on loan from Stoke City until 3rd January.
Jason Price – on loan from Carlisle United until 3rd January.
I personally think as we’ve got numerous defenders who will return to action within the next month, this will mean Eckersley and Kiernan will be excess to requirements. I certainly expect Moult to return to Stoke as Taylor doesn’t seem to want to play him. Pidgeley obviously is preferred to McLaughlin at the moment so I expect Taylor to extend his contract until the end of the season. It would be nice to hang on to Hendrie but I wouldn’t be surprised if a team from a higher division came in for him plus he’s been linked with a move to the States in the past. I can see Jake Speight’s loan stay at Port Vale being extended and maybe Taylor will decide to get shut of him, this would allow us to bring in a new striker or keep Jason Price for longer. Finally it will be interesting to see what happens with Adeyemi as he played more games than most this season but his form has been a little up and down. Maybe it depends on on how quickly Flynn returns to action and if we manage to keep hold of Hendrie…..all will be revealed in the next fortnight I’m sure.
I personally would keep Pidgeley and Jason Price -the rest can go although Hendrie could maybe stay if we can afford him.I think Taylor’s main priority should be at least 1 out and out winger who can cross a ball an then stick with 4-4-2 with Hanson and Price up front.The sooner we get Flynn and Ramsden back the better and surely then with a couple of decent additions [loan signings or not] we should be able to make some sort of progress.
Taylor said: “I think I just about know my thoughts regarding those players. I’m going to have a meeting with both Julian and Mark this week. The players will know when their contracts are up though and we’ll make a final decision then.” He added: “As well as budgets, a lot of it does depend as well if the loan players want to stay, but we’ll get it sorted out just after the Bury game.”