Niche Cache. Sounds like Garbs not far off a return. Cacace still a way off with his hammy, and more likely to miss the March AWs games, according to NC.
Port Vale face Peterborough on the weekend however it sounds like Matt Garbett won’t quite be ready for that one, more likely the week after.
Peterborough Telegraph: “Garbett’s current fitness status is unclear. He received injections in his heel in an attempt to combat swelling, but there is no precise time-frame for his return, and he is not expected to return to action until April at the earliest.”
Posh are expected to welcome back defender Tom Lees, midfielder Ben Woods and striker Harry Leonard from injury, but Carl Johnston, Rio Adebisi, Matt Garbett, Sam Hughes and Donay O'Brien-Brady remain sidelined.
Garbett is expected to be available within '10 days'...............................
Luke Williams, Posh coach: “Matty showed some character when he came on. He showed us what he can do and we saw what we have missed such as the ability to wriggle and take the ball under pressure and get away to try and create something. That was nice to see again. At least we managed to get some minutes into him.”
Sounds like he had a top game on the weekend. Nice to see, and also some interesting transfer gossip. Niche Cache
Peterborough have been rubbish lately. They’ve only won one of their past 12 matches... but there was one big positive from that game in the shape of Matthew Garbett. He was voted Man of the Match by the fans and the player ratings on the Peterborough Telegraph had this to say...
“The best player on the pitch by some margin. Played a little deeper which enabled him to carry the ball forward impressively. Some excellent set pieces which should have led to a couple of goal and great commitment until he tired.”
He drew a good save from a free kick shot early on. His set piece deliveries deserved another assist even if he didn’t get one. Sounds like he cramping up before getting replaced after 83 minutes which makes sense for a bloke who hadn’t played for two months. Yet he’s managed to pick up where he left off. Peterborough will probably avoid relegation even if they don’t win another game but one more victory from their last three will make it safe. That brings us to a very fascinating admission from the club’s chairman Darragh MacAnthony during the week...
“MacAnthony said his targets for the summer now are a replacement for midfielder Archie Collins, a back-up goalkeeper to Alex Bass, and a number 10 if Kiwi international Matt Garbett is sold in the summer. The chairman disclosed Posh had turned down a £1.7 million from a League One club for Garbett in January. He expects bigger clubs to bid for the 23 year-old in the summer. Garbett is due to play for New Zealand in this summer’s World Cup.”
Interesting, very interesting. Garbett signed a 2+1 year deal with Peterborough when he joined last June. That’s a club option so effectively he has two more years to run but if they’re already fending off interest from rivals in League One then they’re probably right to be preparing for the inevitable. That’s a massive fee for a third tier club to be offering - the majority of transfers in League One are frees or loans. Also, the reason we know all this is because the chairman sunk ten beers and got busy on twitter. Now that’s how you get a scoop...
The Posh (17th) travel to Stockport County (5th). Peterborough still only 4 pts above the relegation spots, though they have a game in hand on most teams.
Wednesday Peterborough (19th, 52 pts) host Mansfield (11th). Win or draw, and The Posh are safe in L1.
Lose and they could still mathematically be relegated heading into the final round, though Exeter City (21st, 49 pts) who are the only team that threaten them, have a 6 goal worse GD.
Peterborough were one of the first clubs in the EFL to provide their retained and released list at the conclusion of the 25/26 season.
Always intrigues me this, everything all out in the open, and quite often very quickly once a club's season has come to an end. Get this in the A-League!
https://x.com/i/status/2051319689263882513
Following the conclusion of the 2025-2026 Sky Bet League One campaign, the Football Club can confirm our Retained List. #pufc
No drama for Garbett though - He's been retained - But there was money on the table for him from an unknown club earlier in the year, so could potentially be on the way out if the money being offered for his services is too good to turn down.
Posh get raided for their young talent every season. I don't think he was necessarily a standout for them over the course of the season, but a few of their best were on loan and have gone back to their parent clubs. I think there will be offers for Garbett and Lisbie mainly.
Could see one of the big boys of league one going for them, whether that be any of the newly relegated sides or Luton, Plymouth, Huddersfield, whoever doesn't get promoted out of Stockport and Bolton.
Edit: essentially I think he's more likely to stay and hopefully have a strong season in league one, but for which team is anyone's guess.
............club’s (Posh's) chairman Darragh MacAnthony during the week...
“MacAnthony said his targets for the summer now are a replacement for midfielder Archie Collins, a back-up goalkeeper to Alex Bass, and a number 10 if Kiwi international Matt Garbett is sold in the summer. The chairman disclosed Posh had turned down a £1.7 million from a League One club for Garbett in January. He expects bigger clubs to bid for the 23 year-old in the summer. Garbett is due to play for New Zealand in this summer’s World Cup.”
Think there’s a few- McCowatt, Just, Surman, Garbett…even others like Singh, whose clubs are hoping they show something to see if they can up their price after the WC.
Viking FC and Bell likely another. Though Joe B does potentially have Champions League football to look foward to. Viking just have to win a 2 legged playoff tie in August to make the UCL proper.
Most European leagues will close their summer transfer windows around August 31st-September 1st. About a week after that 2 legged UCL playoff tie concludes. Viking lose the playoff, and Bell could be open to a late window move? Though even Europa League football might be enough to keep Joe in Norway.
And let’s not forget that Peterborough already declined a hefty bid for Matt Garbett in January and might be open to further offers in the coming weeks when they’ll have time to replace him and oh look he’s coincidentally just signed with a new agency, how interesting....General Sports Worldwide (they always have such bland names, aye?) work in a few different areas but their football department is predominantly UK-based... which stacks up for Garbs who so clearly suits English football. These are the same folks that Marley Leuluai aligned with ahead of his recent loan move to Marine FC – Leuluai’s current Burnley U21s contract is coming to an end so it’s possible he could be on the move too. GSW also represents Wellington Phoenix duo Luke Brooke-Smith and Xuan Loke.
And let’s not forget that Peterborough already declined a hefty bid for Matt Garbett in January and might be open to further offers in the coming weeks when they’ll have time to replace him and oh look he’s coincidentally just signed with a new agency, how interesting....General Sports Worldwide (they always have such bland names, aye?) work in a few different areas but their football department is predominantly UK-based... which stacks up for Garbs who so clearly suits English football. These are the same folks that Marley Leuluai aligned with ahead of his recent loan move to Marine FC – Leuluai’s current Burnley U21s contract is coming to an end so it’s possible he could be on the move too. GSW also represents Wellington Phoenix duo Luke Brooke-Smith and Xuan Loke.
