Transfer News, Gossip & Speculation Transfer Thread - Summer 2025 Edition.

[Streaky]

It will be interesting to see if we revisit Cardwell.

I’m reliably informed he misses Southend, and would be open to a return. Do we have the financials for him though? Would it even be the right decision for us to go back? Would he improve our current starting XI? Would the fans welcome him back?

Would we swap Cardwell for Bonne - 100%. No reason to think that we wouldnt have a similar success with him in the side. Would he come back, doubt it.

 

[Smiffy]

Interestingly, Bonne has a better mins per goal/assist than Cardwell this season.

Bonne (2117 mins) 5 goals and 5 assists = 211.7 mins per G/A.

Cards (1894 mins) 5 goals and 2 assists = 270.6 mins per G/A.

Unpopular opinion (?), I'd rather keep Bonne. His all round game is good, his attitude is great, the players love him and he's starting to bond with the crowd. The only thing missing is more goals. But, his finishing can be worked on. I do think with a proper summer and hard graft he's capable of 20+ G/A and becoming a bit of a cult hero. If we let him go my gut feel is he bags goals elsewhere in the NL next season. We've put a lot of work into him this season and the improvements have been massive. I think we will see the benefits next season, I hope he stays. My opinion.

 

[Massimo Giovanni]

Agreed. Defensively, we haven’t been the same since the Kensdale incident.

If asked 3 months ago I would have had a very different opinion; however Gubbins has shown good left field skills since his return from injury and adds a balance and strength to the side/squad when used.

 

[Blues4LifeDan]

Would we swap Cardwell for Bonne - 100%. No reason to think that we wouldnt have a similar success with him in the side. Would he come back, doubt it.

I think the biggest issue is salary. That doesn't mean we can't afford the salary, because if you add Bonne's salary and the salary we would have been prepared to give Cashman, that would cover Cardwell's salary. However, it's more about if the club and Kev want that kind of unbalanced wage structure. Do they want one player on 3k+ a week and other players on 1k a week? Probably not would be my guess.

 

[overseas shrimper]

Interestingly, Bonne has a better mins per goal/assist than Cardwell this season.

Bonne (2117 mins) 5 goals and 5 assists = 211.7 mins per G/A.

Cards (1894 mins) 5 goals and 2 assists = 270.6 mins per G/A.

True, but Cardwell was so gorgeous.

 

[Mad Cyril]

It will be interesting to see if we revisit Cardwell.

I’m reliably informed he misses Southend, and would be open to a return. Do we have the financials for him though? Would it even be the right decision for us to go back? Would he improve our current starting XI? Would the fans welcome him back?

I was never really convinced by Cardwell.

 

[Smiffy]

I was never really convinced by Cardwell.

Same. One good season (23/24) out of 4 in the National League. The three other seasons he has scored, 3, 5 and 5 goals. Not helped by injury 22/23 of course. If he wasn't so gorgeous, he'd be getting pelters from our crowd with that record.

 

[Paddypel]

Have been checking this forum avidly a few times a day like many of us I guess. Nothing much tangible it seems so I'll go completely off topic (That's unusual for these forums....) and I'm going to do something else today. Flying a Spitfire from Biggin Hill for my 70th this afternoon...just your average day. I'll check back in the forum tonight. View attachment 37587

someone from Eastleigh...

 

[GBJ]

I think the biggest issue is salary. That doesn't mean we can't afford the salary, because if you add Bonne's salary and the salary we would have been prepared to give Cashman, that would cover Cardwell's salary. However, it's more about if the club and Kev want that kind of unbalanced wage structure. Do they want one player on 3k+ a week and other players on 1k a week? Probably not would be my guess.

Hypothetically, the salary issue could be negated if he came back on a season-long loan though?

 

[GBJ]

I was never really convinced by Cardwell.

Do you think he’d weaken our squad right now though?

Same. One good season (23/24) out of 4 in the National League. The three other seasons he has scored, 3, 5 and 5 goals. Not helped by injury 22/23 of course. If he wasn't so gorgeous, he'd be getting pelters from our crowd with that record.

I hear ya. Like you, I’m rarely In favour of us going back to old players. I think I’d make an exception for Cards though.

I think he needs a dedicated run in any team, to keep that sharpness & fitness. As a bit part player with FGR, he was never going to be the same player as he was for us.

FWIW, I always thought he was the type of player who needed three chances to score once. That is still better than our current crop.

 

[Blues4LifeDan]

Hypothetically, the salary issue could be negated if he came back on a season-long loan though?

Absolutely. We'd just have to make sure we don't let them have a break clause in the loan.

However, I think we'd have more chance of this if Cotterill stayed. A new manager might use him more.

 

[Smiffy]

Interestingly, Bonne has a better mins per goal/assist than Cardwell this season.

Bonne (2117 mins) 5 goals and 5 assists = 211.7 mins per G/A.

Cards (1894 mins) 5 goals and 2 assists = 270.6 mins per G/A.

Unpopular opinion (?), I'd rather keep Bonne. His all round game is good, his attitude is great, the players love him and he's starting to bond with the crowd. The only thing missing is more goals. But, his finishing can be worked on. I do think with a proper summer and hard graft he's capable of 20+ G/A and becoming a bit of a cult hero. If we let him go my gut feel is he bags goals elsewhere in the NL next season. I hope he stays. My opinion.

Kendall is our standout and I have high hopes for him next season:

1070 mins, 4 goals and 5 assists = 118.9 mins per G/A which is an excellent return and would equate to 35 G/A over the course of a season if he kept up those numbers.

Ollie Pearce for reference contributes a goal or assist every 92 minutes. Levels.

 

[manor15]

Target man wise we already have Hopper, Bonne can also do that role if needed, and Spasov is supposed to be a similar profile as well, isn’t he? I still think we need a striker, but I’d say that Cardwell role is already filled. What we need is the person to go alongside them, Kendall can do it and Walker has done it up to now but an upgrade on him would be good. That role isn’t Cardwell.

 

[Blues4LifeDan]

Target man wise we already have Hopper, Bonne can also do that role if needed, and Spasov is supposed to be a similar profile as well, isn’t he? I still think we need a striker, but I’d say that Cardwell role is already filled. What we need is the person to go alongside them, Kendall can do it and Walker has done it up to now but an upgrade on him would be good. That role isn’t Cardwell.

I think the key difference though, Cardwell was so integral to how we specifically play. I just don't think FGR's played him that way.

The great thing about Cardwell is he was like two players in one. He can hold the ball up and bring others into play, but also score goals. He was also amazing at the back on set pieces too.

If you offered me Cardwell and Kendall as our two up front for next season, I'd be more than happy.

 

[danbowen]

Nothing more frustrating than people keep suggesting ex-players. Cardwell made his bed now he can lay in it he followed the money (i understand that). I get most people only watch us and their knowledge may not be great of other players out there but if we only signed ex-players we would never move forward.

 

[flangejackrabbit]

Nothing more frustrating than people keep suggesting ex-players. Cardwell made his bed now he can lay in it he followed the money (i understand that). I get most people only watch us and their knowledge may not be great of other players out there but if we only signed ex-players we would never move forward.

Can lay in a bed made of money maybe even.

 

[GBJ]

Nothing more frustrating than people keep suggesting ex-players.

The difference in this scenario from the usual ones though, is that this has legs & hasn’t just been plucked from thin air.

 

[stewart]

As i have pointed out in posts 8 goals conceded in 3 finals games isnt ideal and that we need 2 CDs one a leader and organiser in the Barrett mould ,the other able to control the ball and bring it out when possible also good wit the head ,also a midfield general and LWB that was the 4 positions i mentioned .

 

[Bromley Blue]

Personally I’d take Cardwell back in a heartbeat but agree on the points about fitting in with the wage structure and I think that’s probably what would prohibit the move.

He already knows the way we play, knows a lot of the players and what is expected of him. We also know he’s capable of scoring regularly. But we also know he’s had problems in the past with staying fit - so do we want to break the bank for someone who might spend spells on the sidelines. I haven’t looked at how available he was for Forest Green last season and I’m aware he played most games in his final season for us. But certainly prior to that, the feeling was he was a bit injury prone.

I love what Macauley Bonne brings to the side and I do think he was becoming a real weapon off the bench at the back end of the season. But I can’t personally see him improving enough to be one of 2/3 regular starters week in week out. If Cardwell signed, he’d probably start every week alongside Kendall.

It’s an interesting dilemma but it might be that Option C (another player) is the best bet. We’ll have to wait and see I guess.

 

[JWShrimper]

Ludwig Francillette might be one we’re looking at, I saw a post that’s since been deleted that might’ve made reference to Eastleigh.