Realistic January CF targets

[Hound]

Also, the fact that MOM hasn't gone back to Brighton yet, suggests he may well still be around for the rest of the campaign - so that needs to be taken into account as well.

Fair point. Was really hoping he’d pick up under LR but hasn’t happened

But Kelvin definitely has. A month ago I'd have said it would be a disaster to go into January without an extra CF option. In the week with Stevenage and Bradford losses, he looked out of his depth.

I still think we could use another, but our current options are probably passable. And I think Kelvin may have even more to come in this set up. But if Marriot gets a big injury perhaps the pressure will get to him; he's looked most encouraging off the bench.

Agreed. If MoM could just get to some sort of level where he can be useful and be part of a group of 3 CFs then I wouldn’t be too worried, just seems it’s not happening.

[Snowflake Royal]

Fair point. Was really hoping he’d pick up under LR but hasn’t happened

But Kelvin definitely has. A month ago I'd have said it would be a disaster to go into January without an extra CF option. In the week with Stevenage and Bradford losses, he looked out of his depth.

I still think we could use another, but our current options are probably passable. And I think Kelvin may have even more to come in this set up. But if Marriot gets a big injury perhaps the pressure will get to him; he's looked most encouraging off the bench.

Agreed. If MoM could just get to some sort of level where he can be useful and be part of a group of 3 CFs then I wouldn’t be too worried, just seems it’s not happening.

He just looks useless at the moment. He's basically a body to press/track and little more. Patton and Evans can do that, hell, Rushesha can do it.

[Royalwaster]

I find it strange how he looks so bad as he was quite decent at Portsmouth last season in the Champ ...

[Snowflake Royal]

I find it strange how he looks so bad as he was quite decent at Portsmouth last season in the Champ ...

Bad start, in a style not suited to him. Now looks utterly shot.

He can't have been that good for Pompey in a higher division or he wouldn't have come to L1

[morganb]

Don't think it merits it's own thread yet but the name Calum Kavanagh came up in a single Tweet last night

https://x.com/i/status/2010426874586132970

Heard LOTS of names across League 1 for a potential striker. Calum Kavanagh is well liked and seen as a potential understudy. One to keep an eye on

BIB: this matches the thinking on here, not necessarily someone to start but to come off the bench if needed

However doesn't sound great:

Kavanagh has scored no goals across 6 league appearances (all of which he started) for Bradford.

His highest goal tally was 13 goals across 45 games.

And

https://widthofapost.com/2026/01/04/bra ... -hangover/

The Bantams finding lots of space on the counter but wasting those opportunities – Calum Kavanagh being the main culprit. Kavanagh’s positioning to get himself into space and receive the ball on the counter was good, but his decision making in the final third was particularly bad. He continues to look like a player that City have outgrown.

...

Graham Alexander responded by hooking Kavanagh and handing new signing Louie Sibley his first minutes

This last line implies he may be surplus to requirements at Bradford

[WestYorksRoyal]

I find it strange how he looks so bad as he was quite decent at Portsmouth last season in the Champ ...

Bad start, in a style not suited to him. Now looks utterly shot.

He can't have been that good for Pompey in a higher division or he wouldn't have come to L1

You'd think a coaching team change and better results on the pitch could help him out. Burns has looked like a different player since returning. I do think there is potential in there with MOM, but unlocking it is another question.

[Brogue]

I find it strange how he looks so bad as he was quite decent at Portsmouth last season in the Champ ...

Bad start, in a style not suited to him. Now looks utterly shot.

He can't have been that good for Pompey in a higher division or he wouldn't have come to L1

You'd think a coaching team change and better results on the pitch could help him out. Burns has looked like a different player since returning. I do think there is potential in there with MOM, but unlocking it is another question.

Stick him in the u21’s for a few games see if he can get some goals under his belt. Or is there stuff written into loan deals that stop loanees playing in u21 games? Would Brighton want that. But if we could we should.

[Snowflake Royal]

Bad start, in a style not suited to him. Now looks utterly shot.

He can't have been that good for Pompey in a higher division or he wouldn't have come to L1

You'd think a coaching team change and better results on the pitch could help him out. Burns has looked like a different player since returning. I do think there is potential in there with MOM, but unlocking it is another question.

Stick him in the u21’s for a few games see if he can get some goals under his belt. Or is there stuff written into loan deals that stop loanees playing in u21 games? Would Brighton want that. But if we could we should.

Don't see the point in that... make Patton and Evans lose out to help Brighton?

But then I don't see the point in him being here at all.

[Pepe the Horseman]

Don't think it merits it's own thread yet but the name Calum Kavanagh came up in a single Tweet last night

https://x.com/i/status/2010426874586132970

Heard LOTS of names across League 1 for a potential striker. Calum Kavanagh is well liked and seen as a potential understudy. One to keep an eye on

BIB: this matches the thinking on here, not necessarily someone to start but to come off the bench if needed

However doesn't sound great:

Kavanagh has scored no goals across 6 league appearances (all of which he started) for Bradford.

His highest goal tally was 13 goals across 45 games.

And

https://widthofapost.com/2026/01/04/bra ... -hangover/

The Bantams finding lots of space on the counter but wasting those opportunities – Calum Kavanagh being the main culprit. Kavanagh’s positioning to get himself into space and receive the ball on the counter was good, but his decision making in the final third was particularly bad. He continues to look like a player that City have outgrown.

...

Graham Alexander responded by hooking Kavanagh and handing new signing Louie Sibley his first minutes

This last line implies he may be surplus to requirements at Bradford

Has that account ever got anything right?

[Hound]

It’s Brogue isn’t it?

Did see it, he did well for them in L2 and still young so wouldn’t be totally against it as that back up if the coaches see something they like in him and we can’t find better

[morganb]

It’s Brogue isn’t it?

Did see it, he did well for them in L2 and still young so wouldn’t be totally against it as that back up if the coaches see something they like in him and we can’t find better

I thought it was Brogue too - I'm sure someone asked him on here plus when challenged on Twitter his comeback was he works on the Bangkok News Desk - therefore I was a bit disappointed he's not posted the same info on here (though I've now done his job for him!)

It seemed to be such a random player name to come up with and the report that he is currently out-of-favour/replaced by new signing that there could be some truth in it. Only time will tell

[Pepe the Horseman]

It’s Brogue isn’t it?

Did see it, he did well for them in L2 and still young so wouldn’t be totally against it as that back up if the coaches see something they like in him and we can’t find better

If it Brogue he must have lost all his contacts, because this account just makes random shit up.

[Brogue]

It’s Brogue isn’t it?

Did see it, he did well for them in L2 and still young so wouldn’t be totally against it as that back up if the coaches see something they like in him and we can’t find better

If it Brogue he must have lost all his contacts, because this account just makes random shit up.

there are rumours for twitter... and rumours for HNA?

[Pepe the Horseman]

It’s Brogue isn’t it?

Did see it, he did well for them in L2 and still young so wouldn’t be totally against it as that back up if the coaches see something they like in him and we can’t find better

If it Brogue he must have lost all his contacts, because this account just makes random shit up.

there are rumours for twitter... and rumours for HNA?

Lolz, thought as much.

[LightwaterRoyal]

Mention on Twitter (is that your account Brogue?) that we have enquired after Keane

If we did get him and Santos in I think we’d be in great shape tbh

Would be very hapy with that. Maybe a Left Back too but not sure who would be available.

Thoughts on:

Josh Edwards - Charlton
Jake Bidwell - Coventry
Harry Pickering - Blackburn Rovers

All out of favour in the Championship, very experienced

James Morris - Watford

If the above are unavailable he could be worth a punt, out of contract in the Summer.

Who on the AI / Scouting team read this?