Stickied League 2 Transfer Rumours/Confirmed Transfers 2024/25

[ComeOnIrene]

Not sure why Bristol Rovers are being seen as a side to push on. Not saying that they won't, but they don't stand out as one of the best sides to come up in recent years. Especially as they are not secure financially.

While we may not have been the fanciest footballing side in the Conference we were very well organised, solid and could score goals - as only 5 league defeats all season suggests. That is a formula for success at this level as well and it will stand us in good stead, without a shadow of a doubt.

I'm under no illusions though, we need to strengthen. DC says he wants 'four or five' quality additions and I trust him to get them on board. Chris Lines will be a class above at this level if we can get him signed permanently and with the likes of Stuart Sinclair and Jermaine Easter to come back fully fit after long-term injuries, we have reason to be optimistic.

I wouldn't yet go anywhere near as far as saying we are going to be a contender because the signings other clubs have made look strong thus far, but I think we could do well.

 

[djs]

Agree with all the comments about Howells. Bang average is being generous. One footed, no pace, scared of physical contact, rarely prepared to take opponents on, no use in the air, shows no calmness in front of goal. On the positive side, he has a very good record from the penalty spot.
One comment that has been made several times - he can do a job in a number of positions, but whichever position he plays in there are always others who could do it better.

 

[Judge Dredd]

Money was the guy who got the best form out of Jake to be fair, that winning run we had at the end of our first Conference season he was brilliant.

Then Money was allowed to build his own squad over the summer and promptly dropped Jake into the role of versatile sub player, which is pretty much what he has been ever since.

 

[That Fat Centre Half]

Cambridge need to bring in the French wing wizard and man of international mystery that is Claude if they want a conference winger who Money got the best of, not Jake!

 

[Laker]

It's all rather exciting to be chasing players in the transfer market. Up to two years ago, I always felt we got whoever was left. Very different times.

 

[Youpies]

Lisbie is getting really over rated here. Didn't pull up any trees last season and looked awful against a truely woeful Notts side

I know you can't judge a player on one game but he looked spent

 

[The Terminator]

Lisbie is getting really over rated here. Didn't pull up any trees last season and looked awful against a truely woeful Notts side

I know you can't judge a player on one game but he looked spent

He was injured from August-December. Then Liverani took over and basically refused to play him, hence why he bearly did anything for us last season.

 

[Chippy]

Heard it's almost a done deal now. Watch this space

 

[Youpies]

He's 37 in a few months. just a bit sceptical myself. I wouldn't have been happy if he'd have signed for Notts

 

[That Fat Centre Half]

Unless there is a chronic shortage of left wingers amongst the crop of free agents this year (very well might be, I've not checked) I just don't understand why you would pay money for Jake Howells. Got to better wingers out there who you don't have to pay a fee for surely? I certainly hope there is as we need some too! Seems like a really odd move for Cambridge to make, if true of course.

 

[BeeSting]

I'm under no illusions though, we need to strengthen. DC says he wants 'four or five' quality additions and I trust him to get them on board. Chris Lines will be a class above at this level if we can get him signed permanently and with the likes of Stuart Sinclair and Jermaine Easter to come back fully fit after long-term injuries, we have reason to be optimistic

Stuart Sinclair is not football league standard.

 

[Judge Dredd]

Yeah I'd be delighted if we got cash for him as I'd be almost 100% convinced that we could sign better on a free. I'm pretty sure Jake will be on a good wage too, he signed a new deal when Buckle was splashing the cash and at the time there were rumours of other clubs sniffing (probably agent driven).

I'm still extremely skeptical about this one to say the least, although I'd be pretty happy to be proved wrong as it would mean we would have to go out and sign another left winger (I worry a bit that Still will feel compelled to stick as we already have Howells and Ryan Hall currently, neither of whom are particularly exciting).

Seems like we are definitely in the market for a proper left back to cover Griffiths, which would seriously negate Jake's worth as a utility man too - I reckon about a third, maybe even more, of Jake's appearances this season were filling in at left back.

 

[GEORGE]

Not sure why Bristol Rovers are being seen as a side to push on. Not saying that they won't, but they don't stand out as one of the best sides to come up in recent years. Especially as they are not secure financially.

How do you know about our financial state ?/ Been talking to Eastleigh fan have you ?

 

[Arbury]

Regarding Howells wage, i can't believe he was on as much as he is at Luton but we have offered him more than he's currently on, Absolute fucking madness if you ask me, I don't know the fee we're paying but anything is a bonus for Luton.

This all strikes as rabbits in the headlights, I really hope this doesn't go tits up on ol dickie.

 

[Judge Dredd]

Yeah I have no insider knowledge on the specifics of his wage, but I assumed it would be pretty high. A couple of seasons ago he was out of contract and looked nailed on to leave, Ipswich were strongly rumoured to be interested, and then out of the blue he signed a new three year deal. He was bound to be on a fair whack after that.

I'm still very skeptical (intending no disrespect to Arbury, Chippy et al but my default approach to message board rumours is extreme skepticism), but now we have several different people all saying similar things and in more detail than your average rumour... no smoke without fire and all that.

Very interested to see how this one plays out now.

 

[Chippy]

Yeah he's definitely one of the higher earners thanks to Buckle. The way it's been summed up above with the likely arrival of Dan Potts from WH and the forcing the hand of JS in market to find a left winger, I'll drive him to Cambridge myself!!

 

[Arbury]

I understand the skeptical side, this is a forum after all but I very rarely post about a signing, there's certain people who I used to get the info off who no longer work at the abbey so it is very few nowadays rumour wise but when I do hear something I know it's usually with some strong basis behind it, I was originally told it was a striker(hence me saying benson and Cullen) we was in for but Howells does make more sense.

Still early days regarding Howells and especially corr, we'll just have to wait and see.

 

[Chippy]

Yup, agree with that. Perennial rumour posters tend to get it wrong (2+2=5) etc - I'm with Arbury, only post something if it's firm. Not necessarily 100% correct every time of course, but more often than not!

 

[ComeOnIrene]

Stuart Sinclair is not football league standard.

We'll have to see about that.

I get why you think that because he may not be the most gifted player in the world, but his engine and fitness levels put most players to shame. He makes telling contributions at both ends of the pitch - he single handedly won us a couple of games last season with inspirational performances in the middle - and I think he can be effective in League Two as well if given a chance.

Alongside a creative force like Lines, for example, I think we would have everything you could want from a central midfield pairing.

 

[BeesKnees]

How do you know about our financial state ?/ Been talking to Eastleigh fan have you ?

It's all in your accounts which are available online.

 

[miagsygas]

Stuart Sinclair is not football league standard.

Utter crap. Before his injury, he was one of the best players in the Conference, he was certainly in our top three best.

As for how well we do, well that's too early to say, we've not even done our retained list yet.

That being said, Higgs has spoke of a competitive budget, Clarke has said of 4/5 additional players and the calibre of those will be telling. I think we're good enough for mid table already, most certainly. The defence of ours is virtually the same as the relegation season, but the defence was never the problem as we got 17 clean sheets that season. The attack and midfield has improved and i'm fully confident in the manager, unlike last time we were in L2.

As for saying we aren't secure financially, yes the finances aren't good but that won't stop us having a good budget for next year. I can't see anyone of importance leaving, we have room to improve on the budget and we've been competitive on signings even until the end of the last transfer window with no signs of slowing that down. I'm not saying it's clever business sense, but we signed Lines on his 3k p/w, whilst in the conference, i have no doubt we can afford to strengthen.

 

[Grecian O'Grecian]

Lee Holmes' signing confirmed for us.

Great news. A top player for this division.

 

[Kenneth E End]

I'd sell Jake for £100,000 - but as has been said previously, I wouldn't pay that for him plus his £50,000pa+ salary. He's someone that 2 years ago, we thought would really push on and fulfil his potential. But he's just stood still; like with Keith Keane, has gone stale here and almost got too comfortable.

 

[mtfc26]

I may be being a bit slow here Cambridge fans but if they are excluding the Man Utd money where has the additional 1.5 to 2 million come from? Have attendances gone up a lot last season or just better running of the club? Just seems a massive leap, our club is doing more commercially than ever before but can't imagine the end result being a 10th of that increase.

 

[womble76]

I would imagine a certain element of the Fleetwood model of paying for advertising. Not having a fig but it is a way of getting round the financial rules. Essentially more donations.

 

[Habbinalan]

I may be being a bit slow here Cambridge fans but if they are excluding the Man Utd money where has the additional 1.5 to 2 million come from? Have attendances gone up a lot last season or just better running of the club? Just seems a massive leap, our club is doing more commercially than ever before but can't imagine the end result being a 10th of that increase.

Higher attendances, corporate entertainment, sponsorship and TV money for next year covers most of it. There are extra costs of full-time staff taking over roles from volunteers but I guess we've confirmed that we were a sleeping quite big person in the Conference. We averaged 3,085 supporters (2,815 home, 270 visitors) for our last season in the Conference and probably budgeted for less than 4,000 this time - hence tight playing budget.

With thanks to Nick Pomery - Cambridge United attendance stats for 2014/15:

Home League average 5,108
Total home League attendance 117,474
Highest home League attendance 7,109 v Burton Albion, May 2nd
Lowest home League attendance 3,152 v Morecambe, August 23rd
Average number of visitors 623
Highest number of visitors 2,003 v Luton Tn, September 20th
Lowest number of visitors 59 v Accrington Stanley, April 11th

Cambridge ranked 8th in terms of home attendances, just behind Tranmere R - 5,140 - and well in front of ninth ranked Northampton Tn - 4,599.
Top ranked were Portsmouth - 17,558, and bottom were Accrington - 1,478. The average attendance in the division was 4,677 and total attendance 2,581,521, up 343 and 189,312 respectively on League 2 2013/14.

 

[Moomin]

Lee Holmes' signing confirmed for us.

Great news. A top player for this division.

Absolutely brilliant news.

Apparently he had offers from L1, L2 and abroad so I am delighted he's signed for us.

Now all we need is a striker, possibly a midfielder and about 3 defenders and we're sorted!!

 

[LordJord]

akinde and lisbie would be a strong front line on paper

Pure Gash coming off the bench though.

 

[Trapdoor]

Lee Holmes' signing confirmed for us.
Great news. A top player for this division.

This is great news, very pleased. With him and wheeler we have 2 really decent wingers/attacking midfielders now.

 

[Habbinalan]

I would imagine a certain element of the Fleetwood model of paying for advertising. Not having a fig but it is a way of getting round the financial rules. Essentially more donations.

Nope, it's all real commercial income which wasn't accessible as a Conference club. We have no sugar daddy who is putting cash in, just a patient major shareholder who is a genuine fan and will not sell until the right ownership model is available. We aim to at least break even without having to sell players but any surplus will be re-invested.

We do have the benefit of a landlord who takes a broader and longer term view than most (Grosvenor/Duke of Westminster) but our modest rent reflects the hard nosed commercial need for a healthy sustainable (supportive) tenant and strong community backing to deliver profits on wider development activities in Cambridge. As much by luck as by judgement, we have a mutual need for a successful club valued by the wider community.

That's the background but past experience make us all nervous (some more than others) as the "speculate to accumulate" mantra, in relation to our summer acquisitions, gathers momentum.