1 | James Trafford - 2025/26

[Blue Hefner]

wonder if he thinks he made a good move by not going to Newcastle. dont see him displace Donnarumma in near future and eventually will want to go to a club like Newcastle-Villa. displacing a 35yo not extremely great Pope would have been an easy target imo already this season for him.

I expect we’ll sell him in the summer for a health profit and look for another Ortega-type to be number 2

 

[WestGorton]

He was signed because Eddy was offski in a year but went suddenly, but then Donna came available and you could not turn that down. Timing transpired in the end. I don't know where Ortega is these days but he is a good deputy. In my view for James and for the club it may be best a straight sale unless, again, injuries or circumstances dictate otherwise.

 

[christened at st marks]

2nd part seems to hit a nerve lol

I was at Newcastle in 68
I was on the Kippax with tears in my eyes when Colin made his comeback
Fuckin right it hit a nerve

 

[Gorbachev]

I expect we’ll sell him in the summer for a health profit and look for another Ortega-type to be number 2

We will be quids in on Trafford

We sold him to Burnley for £15m and bought him back for £27m.

So he ows us £12m to break even on him.

I have no doubt Newcastle will be interested at £25m-£30m meaning we will make an overall profit on him of £13m-£18m.

 

[kanovic]

I was at Newcastle in 68
I was on the Kippax with tears in my eyes when Colin made his comeback
Fuckin right it hit a nerve

Well then you should have some sense and gove
Some support instead of saying sell for every player

 

[Blue_Lightsaber]

Still think Trafford is better than Donnarumma and would allow us to play through presses with his feet and distribution much better.

We're struggling with it at times.

 

[borassic]

Still think Trafford is better than Donnarumma and would allow us to play through presses with his feet and distribution much better.

We're struggling with it at times.

you think Trafford is a better goalie than Donnarumma?

 

[Chak19]

Get ready for a league start soon with Donna closing in on a suspension.

 

[Ric]

Disappointing, but not a complete surprise.

 

[youngbob]

Keep Ortega imo.

Use Trafford to get someone we want.

 

[Dipsis_LTU_MC]

 

[WesthoughtonJohn]

Disappointing, but not a complete surprise.

That's understated from you Ric :D
I'd have been more surprised - particularly in a WC year - if he wanted to stay.
Let's all be honest we shafted him - and I get the circumstances without having to agree with them. When he leaves in January he won't be returning, and I get why and wish him the best

 

[pudge]

Disappointing, but not a complete surprise.

Newcastle again surely, £35m, job done

 

[willipp]

Can hardly blame him and it’s no surprise. Unfortunately for him we got the opportunity to sign possibly the best goalie there is and you don’t pass up those chances regardless of what assurances we gave him.

 

[Ric]

Newcastle again surely, £35m, job done

Maybe try and use him as a bargaining chip to get Livramemto?

 

[bell_mcfc]

I wouldn’t be surprised if we keep him because we won’t find a suitable replacement in Jan - could just be Ortega but find it odd he’s not even on the bench when the new 3rd choice is

 

[pudge]

Maybe try and use him as a bargaining chip to get Livramemto?

I like him but he's made out of glass.

Newcastle fans not happy with Pope and Ramsdale is only on loan so I think this could be their Donnarumma situation; too good an opportunity to turn down

 

[Ajm1985]

Well this was entirely predictable. Bit mad that we've carried 4 senior keepers as well but it is what it is

 

[balotelli's back pocket]

Two signing on fees in a year, not bad James.

In all seriousness, he's still a couple of years away from being ready to start for a top European side IMO. He's a little better with his feet than Donnarumma but that's it. Both are inconsistent at best when it comes to claiming crosses and commanding their areas, but Donnarumma is by far a better shot stopper and his experience has an impact too.

I am fairly sure that had we not been able to sign Donnarumma, Ederson would have stayed and would have been our number 1 this season. Which would have left us needing a new number 1 this summer anyway, and unlikely to put our faith in Trafford long term.

I very much doubt that the number 1 spot was promised to him while Ederson was still at the club. He's had 1 season of top level football which went poorly and one year in the championship where he was fantastic. That's not enough to guarantee you anything at a club this size.

 

[bluemc]

Still think Trafford is better than Donnarumma and would allow us to play through presses with his feet and distribution much better.

We're struggling with it at times.

Nothing I've seen from Trafford in a City shirt suggests he's any better than Donnarumma with his feet and distribution. Granted, the sample size is small for Trafford, but he's becoming the new Oscar Bobb in terms of becoming a better player the more he doesn't play.