Jordan Cropper

Training with town apparently.

Right back/right mid, without a club currently, been on loan at Chesterfield.

Don't know if there's anything in it, or it simply could be a case of keeping fit.

Quoted from Davec

Training with town apparently.

Right back/right mid, without a club currently, been on loan at Chesterfield.

Don't know if there's anything in it, or it simply could be a case of keeping fit.

Well if it doesn’t work out for him at least he can fall back on his dad’s business in the café

He might be in action this weekend if Efete's injury is bad

Views from a couple of Chesterfield fans...

"Decent attacking right back. Good long throw on him. Defensively has quite a lot learn. Didn't get a look when we got George Carline in so Burnley called him back. Are you looking to sign him permantly? I think he'd be a good asset, he's young, there's a player there I think"

"I rated him. Good going forward."

Which is arguably what we need from right-back as opposed to a steady-Eddie type, if Efete's unavailable that is.

Consistently over the course of the season and more so in recent weeks, I think Efete has been our biggest attacking threat.  Much was made from October onwards how we missed McAtee but I think there may be an argument that we missed Efete as much, if not more, when he was out.

Quoted from diehardmariner

Which is arguably what we need from right-back as opposed to a steady-Eddie type, if Efete's unavailable that is.

Consistently over the course of the season and more so in recent weeks, I think Efete has been our biggest attacking threat.  Much was made from October onwards how we missed McAtee but I think there may be an argument that we missed Efete as much, if not more, when he was out.

Not sure which matches you've been to but in the ones I've been to in recent weeks (Southend and Borehamwood) Efete has been poor. Was our worst player vs Borehamwood. I think Efete has been good at times this season, but I think he's a bit overrated by our fans. I can't see PH having two attacking right backs in the squad full time, so if Cropper is signing it might well be just a short term thing. We've definitely needed that second right back since we lost Sears, who I think was arguably as important to our squad as Efete.

I like the sound of the long throw, something we're badly lacking at present.

I'm also not enormously impressed with Efete much of the time. He was having a good game on Tuesday before his injury but often flatters to deceive. He's good in the games when he pushes forward, but too often doesn't try to get upfield enough.

A player I would be happy for us to retain for next season, but I wouldn't be that bothered if he didn't stay.

Quoted from Maringer

I like the sound of the long throw, something we're badly lacking at present.

I'm also not enormously impressed with Efete much of the time. He was having a good game on Tuesday before his injury but often flatters to deceive. He's good in the games when he pushes forward, but too often doesn't try to get upfield enough.

A player I would be happy for us to retain for next season, but I wouldn't be that bothered if he didn't stay.

Yeah same, I don't think he's a bad player at all. I'd even go as far as saying he's comfortably good enough for a playoff campaign at this level. Would be happy to have him next season, but I don't think we should be breaking the bank to keep him. People are quick to call Giles Coke limited, however the right hand side when Efete plays with Sousa is also very limited. It's basically just two fast players running up and down. Although, I think the main problem has been lack of competition for the pair for the majority of the season. They're both good options that have spent too much of the season being our only options in their respective positions and therefore perhaps shouldn't have played as much as they have done.

Quoted from Maringer

I like the sound of the long throw, something we're badly lacking at present.

I'm also not enormously impressed with Efete much of the time. He was having a good game on Tuesday before his injury but often flatters to deceive. He's good in the games when he pushes forward, but too often doesn't try to get upfield enough.

A player I would be happy for us to retain for next season, but I wouldn't be that bothered if he didn't stay.

I've been saying that nearly all season. We just don't seem to have anyone with the abilty of getting a long throw into the box, like most teams have.

I know it's not the be all and end all of footy tactics but it's a good weapon to have in your arsenal, especially if you are chasing a game late on.

Quoted from Son of Cod

Not sure which matches you've been to but in the ones I've been to in recent weeks (Southend and Borehamwood) Efete has been poor. Was our worst player vs Borehamwood. I think Efete has been good at times this season, but I think he's a bit overrated by our fans. I can't see PH having two attacking right backs in the squad full time, so if Cropper is signing it might well be just a short term thing. We've definitely needed that second right back since we lost Sears, who I think was arguably as important to our squad as Efete.

All about opinions isn't it?  

I thought Efete was fine against Boreham Wood.  I should add that I don't think he's all that.  I'd compare him to Peter Bore at right-back 10-12 years ago.  We were quite limited as a team, especially going forward and having a player who was prepared to press forward with the ball at pace was one of our better attacking options.

In terms of long-term, I'm in agreement.  We ideally have a balance of an attack minded full-back and a steadier one.  But if Efete's out for a while, I think we need to look at bringing a similar type in as we have limited attack options from anywhere else on the pitch.

Quoted from Les Brechin

I've been saying that nearly all season. We just don't seem to have anyone with the abilty of getting a long throw into the box, like most teams have.

I know it's not the be all and end all of footy tactics but it's a good weapon to have in your arsenal, especially if you are chasing a game late on.

100%. Teams don't need to worry about conceding a throw in against us because we aren't very good at them. With players like Ryan Taylor, Luke Waterfall, Shaun Pearson and also Dieseruvwe we should be making the most of our aerial threat at set pieces.

Added to that I think the ability of the likes of McAtee and JMD to ping the second ball back as a shot in from 20-25 yards out should be something we should view as an asset and look to capitalise on.

Quoted from diehardmariner

All about opinions isn't it?  

I thought Efete was fine against Boreham Wood.  I should add that I don't think he's all that.  I'd compare him to Peter Bore at right-back 10-12 years ago.  We were quite limited as a team, especially going forward and having a player who was prepared to press forward with the ball at pace was one of our better attacking options.

In terms of long-term, I'm in agreement.  We ideally have a balance of an attack minded full-back and a steadier one.  But if Efete's out for a while, I think we need to look at bringing a similar type in as we have limited attack options from anywhere else on the pitch.

It is indeed all about opinions. I just thought he was very wasteful and off the pace at Borehamwood. There were also a few instances late on when we lost the ball (one of which was him) and he was just trotting back while they broke as if there was another RB on the pitch.

Would go along with that Bore comparison too actually.

Quoted from Les Brechin

I've been saying that nearly all season. We just don't seem to have anyone with the abilty of getting a long throw into the box, like most teams have.

I know it's not the be all and end all of footy tactics but it's a good weapon to have in your arsenal, especially if you are chasing a game late on.

Completely agree with the comments about long throws,I know from my own playing career  just how difficult it can be to deal with them, they come in at different heights,
lengths and pace and although they are often derided, they can be a massive points getter, I bet nearly half of Cheltenham goals in their promotion season came as a result of Tozers(?) throws.
You don't get extra points for beautiful goals
so as long as Cropper isn't a one trick poney, which doesn't seem to be the case, he could be a useful acquisition.

I just hope there's not a big mix-up and we sign Roy Cropper!  

I reckon Croppers become a Cropper!..looks like he was training with us but not signed...as you were for now..

Great signing we got nobody including our fullbacks who can actually take a decent throw in , bet wrexham utilised tozers long throw & turned it into points gained on few occasions

So the deadline has passed and we don't have a fit RB in the squad right now, then?

If he’s a free agent I think he still can ? May be wrong as I know fook all about football….

Quoted from louth_in_the_south

If he’s a free agent I think he still can ? May be wrong as I know fook all about football….

Oh it looks like he is. I thought he was at Burnley but I don't think he is anymore (according to transfermrkt).

Quoted from Son of Cod

So the deadline has passed and we don't have a fit RB in the squad right now, then?

Hurst seems to be announcing his signings late so maybe we will see an announcement later today or even tomorrow?

Quoted from louth_in_the_south

If he’s a free agent I think he still can ? May be wrong as I know fook all about football….

I think this is a registration deadline so no free agents either but I might be wrong.

Yeah it is a registration deadline.  So unless we've continued that recent trend of signing someone and then waiting until ten minutes before kick-off to announce it, that's our lot for the season.

On the plus side, this might mean Clifton plays at RB and we actually line up with two wingers for the first time (?) since Bapaga went back to Cov.

i think for NL free signings can be done until 5th April, unless its changed.

Can Clifton actually play at full-back? He's full of energy, will work his socks off and is a willing runner, but there is a lot more to the role than that (said as a former full-back).

If we haven't got a proper back-up for Efete it's a real gamble, unless Crookes or Amos can do a job on the right.

Quoted from Son of Cod

On the plus side, this might mean Clifton plays at RB and we actually line up with two wingers for the first time (?) since Bapaga went back to Cov.

And a midfielder at right back

Clifton played left-back a fair bit at the back end of last season and was one of our better players.  I know we were pretty poor all season but I think he played well rather than looking the best of a bad bunch.

I mean, in theory anyone can go there and play the position - it's just how good/bad they are.  I think Clifton is the type of player who can play anywhere and won't let you down, he'll give you a 7/10 in every position.  To put it another way, he'll be better there than Smith who at this stage of his career doesn't have that ability to switch positions and it's shown on every occasion bar his debut.

Crookes/Amos.  Crookes looks too rigid to switch across to his weaker side, I'm not sure what's going on with him either.  He hasn't been involved for a while.  Amos, of the two, looks the better option at playing on his weaker side as I dare say he's a bit quicker.  But he's looked much better in recent displays and has offered an outlet going forward.  If he goes over to the right hand side I think his attacking game would be reduced, which would leave us with very little pushing on from defence overall.

The other option is 3 at the back with Amos and Clifton as wing-backs.  I guess we're then left trying to fill 3 midfield slots with really only 3 available (Coke, Burgess and Holohan), that also means no wingers which is Sousa and JMD on the bench.   That would leave McAtee and Taylor even more isolated than of late.  The really bold option is to go 3-4-3 which would mean McAtee doesn't fit in really, which comes at a time when he think he would benefit from a rest.

Quoted from Maringer

Can Clifton actually play at full-back? He's full of energy, will work his socks off and is a willing runner, but there is a lot more to the role than that (said as a former full-back).

If we haven't got a proper back-up for Efete it's a real gamble, unless Crookes or Amos can do a job on the right.

Yeah, as diehardmariner mentions he's played at full back in the past and done alright there. I do think up against a particularly fast/strong/good winger he'd maybe struggle though.

Ah yeah Crookes/Amos is a good shout actually, I wasn't thinking about that as an option. PH has done that before hasn't he? I'm thinking Magnay on the left was something he used to do when required?

Quoted from diehardmariner

Clifton played left-back a fair bit at the back end of last season and was one of our better players.  I know we were pretty poor all season but I think he played well rather than looking the best of a bad bunch.

I mean, in theory anyone can go there and play the position - it's just how good/bad they are.  I think Clifton is the type of player who can play anywhere and won't let you down, he'll give you a 7/10 in every position.  To put it another way, he'll be better there than Smith who at this stage of his career doesn't have that ability to switch positions and it's shown on every occasion bar his debut.

Crookes/Amos.  Crookes looks too rigid to switch across to his weaker side, I'm not sure what's going on with him either.  He hasn't been involved for a while.  Amos, of the two, looks the better option at playing on his weaker side as I dare say he's a bit quicker.  But he's looked much better in recent displays and has offered an outlet going forward.  If he goes over to the right hand side I think his attacking game would be reduced, which would leave us with very little pushing on from defence overall.

The other option is 3 at the back with Amos and Clifton as wing-backs.  I guess we're then left trying to fill 3 midfield slots with really only 3 available (Coke, Burgess and Holohan), that also means no wingers which is Sousa and JMD on the bench.   That would leave McAtee and Taylor even more isolated than of late.  The really bold option is to go 3-4-3 which would mean McAtee doesn't fit in really, which comes at a time when he think he would benefit from a rest.

McAtee being our best player complicates things in a way. I'm convinced he's an attacking midfielder and not a striker and that he'd be best behind a front two of someone like Taylor and an out and out number 9. However, then I guess you're looking at a kind of diamond midfield or something with wing backs/attacking full backs and not wingers.

Magnay was an odd one, though, wasn't he? I seem to recall he was actually right-footed but preferred to play at left back!

Playing as a full-back on your weaker side can be done, but you tend to see lots of weakly-hit clearances either going straight into touch or straight to an opposition player 30 yards up the line. No ideal.

https://gtfc.co.uk/cropper-signs-until-end-of-the-season/

Signed till the end of the season. Think that covers us in all positions now

I think McAtee is probably at his best in what used to be called a free role.  I think since the obsession with giving each position a number, it's a No 10.  Albeit a quite fluid one.  He roams about a bit so you can't really put him in midfield, not unless you've got a couple of guys in there who will happily sit deep and cover him all game.  Equally so I don't think you'll get the best out of him if you tell him he has to sit deep.

When he drifts, he often goes out wide which can work well in tandem with Sousa who does the exact opposite.  From memory a lot of our early exciting play came when those two were switching positions a fair bit and keeping defenders on their toes.  

The absolute problem though is having someone in this role, as your enigma and complete talisman, is that it's literally all or nothing.  The vast majority of our attacking and positive play goes through one single player. If he's off his game, or marked out the picture then we're screwed.  

What Taylor does incredibly well is bring others into play, I can't for the life of me understand any actual criticism of his role in the team other than that he just looks rusty at the minute.  But if McAtee is the talisman, then Taylor's link-up play and the effectiveness of it is dependent solely on....yet again, McAtee.   Again, off the boil or just too many defenders to navigate then any link-up play is ineffective.

What I see is a side with limited attacking options.  1) McAtee produces some magic.  2) Taylor brings McAtee into play.  That's about it for the season.  Early on we had glimpses from Sousa but largely his end product has been nil.  JMD has shown what he can offer and if he stays fit he definitely offers something different moving forward.   But we're largely predictable with this approach and quite easy to defend against.   You can see the frustration in McAtee when it's not going his way and he ends up moving everywhere around the pitch to follow the ball, further isolating Taylor and often getting in the way of others.

Totally honest, I don't know the answer to it.  There's a part of me that would like to see two proper wingers with an actual front two to aim at and go off.  Deeper than that two central midfielders with at least one pushing forward to pick up off the front man/loose balls.  That doesn't feature McAtee, he simply doesn't fit into that system.   I've said before I think he's not at his best at the minute, but I also think it's a brave manager that drops your top scorer and best player.  

This all said, McAtee takes his two chances at Boreham Wood and Clifton's chance on Tuesday clips in off the post rather than bounces out and we're not having this conversation at all.  We're thinking who can we reel in from the teams in 2nd and 3rd etc.  Fine margins.

Good to have another specialist available in that position and, if he's got a long throw, it will certainly give us a 'Plan B' (along with Dieseruvwe) if we're chasing a game. When Efete is back fit, let's hope we can see some real competition for the position.

Quoted from Maringer

Magnay was an odd one, though, wasn't he? I seem to recall he was actually right-footed but preferred to play at left back!

Playing as a full-back on your weaker side can be done, but you tend to see lots of weakly-hit clearances either going straight into touch or straight to an opposition player 30 yards up the line. No ideal.

Didn't he start as a centre back?  

He was definitely right footed though.  What he did have to help him play on his weaker side was an outside of his right foot that was as good as his inside.  There was one goal midway through that season, night game I think, where he fizzed in a cross from left back with the outside of his left peg.  Paul Merson like.

Quoted from diehardmariner

Didn't he start as a centre back?  

He was definitely right footed though.  What he did have to help him play on his weaker side was an outside of his right foot that was as good as his inside.  There was one goal midway through that season, night game I think, where he fizzed in a cross from left back with the outside of his left peg.  Paul Merson like.

FGR just before Christmas I think 👍

Quoted from diehardmariner

I think McAtee is probably at his best in what used to be called a free role.  I think since the obsession with giving each position a number, it's a No 10.  Albeit a quite fluid one.  He roams about a bit so you can't really put him in midfield, not unless you've got a couple of guys in there who will happily sit deep and cover him all game.  Equally so I don't think you'll get the best out of him if you tell him he has to sit deep.

When he drifts, he often goes out wide which can work well in tandem with Sousa who does the exact opposite.  From memory a lot of our early exciting play came when those two were switching positions a fair bit and keeping defenders on their toes.  

The absolute problem though is having someone in this role, as your enigma and complete talisman, is that it's literally all or nothing.  The vast majority of our attacking and positive play goes through one single player. If he's off his game, or marked out the picture then we're screwed.  

What Taylor does incredibly well is bring others into play, I can't for the life of me understand any actual criticism of his role in the team other than that he just looks rusty at the minute.  But if McAtee is the talisman, then Taylor's link-up play and the effectiveness of it is dependent solely on....yet again, McAtee.   Again, off the boil or just too many defenders to navigate then any link-up play is ineffective.

What I see is a side with limited attacking options.  1) McAtee produces some magic.  2) Taylor brings McAtee into play.  That's about it for the season.  Early on we had glimpses from Sousa but largely his end product has been nil.  JMD has shown what he can offer and if he stays fit he definitely offers something different moving forward.   But we're largely predictable with this approach and quite easy to defend against.   You can see the frustration in McAtee when it's not going his way and he ends up moving everywhere around the pitch to follow the ball, further isolating Taylor and often getting in the way of others.

Totally honest, I don't know the answer to it.  There's a part of me that would like to see two proper wingers with an actual front two to aim at and go off.  Deeper than that two central midfielders with at least one pushing forward to pick up off the front man/loose balls.  That doesn't feature McAtee, he simply doesn't fit into that system.   I've said before I think he's not at his best at the minute, but I also think it's a brave manager that drops your top scorer and best player.  

This all said, McAtee takes his two chances at Boreham Wood and Clifton's chance on Tuesday clips in off the post rather than bounces out and we're not having this conversation at all.  We're thinking who can we reel in from the teams in 2nd and 3rd etc.  Fine margins.

Top post that. Completely agree regarding Taylor too, I don't understand the criticism he gets at all. I thought he did alright at Borehamwood, even when he's not completely at the races he still holds the ball up well and contributes some great link up play. A clever target man with a decent touch is a great asset at this level. Much easier to slot into a team alongside a #9 than McAtee too.

When I posted on here on Tuesday to say he is training with us, I asked some Chesterfield mates i have what is he like and they both said that he is a decent non league player, always looks to get forward, not afriad of shooting from range, likes to get crosses into the box and he generally has decent technique which has seen him score a few goals for them, one of them even said he is a similar style of play as TAA!

Good debut - Efete has a challenge on now !!

Quoted from Maringer

Magnay was an odd one, though, wasn't he? I seem to recall he was actually right-footed but preferred to play at left back!

Playing as a full-back on your weaker side can be done, but you tend to see lots of weakly-hit clearances either going straight into touch or straight to an opposition player 30 yards up the line. No ideal.

Kevin Jobling?  Class, at a much higher level.

When you consider that Jobling was a right-footed central midfielder, he did a pretty decent job at left-back. Pretty sure I remember him being used as a man-marker by Buckley on occasion? Have a recollection of him marking Kinkladze out of a game at BP. At least, I think it was Kinkladze. It might have been somebody like Prosinecki. A famous East European midfielder, at least!

Yeah Kinkladze, didn't get a kick all game.

Jobbers was like a rash when he played in that man-marking role.  There would be games where he'd probably have less than a dozen touches of the ball all game but he would totally nullify any threat from the man he was marking.

In the list of underrated players for Town, Kevin Jobling must feature very highly.  Sledgehammer of a shot too.  I think his effort at Bolton in the mid-90's would still be going down if the net hadn't caught it.

Did the same to Chris waddle I seem to remember (the man marking not the sledgehammering)

Quoted from Maringer

When you consider that Jobling was a right-footed central midfielder, he did a pretty decent job at left-back. Pretty sure I remember him being used as a man-marker by Buckley on occasion?

Childs and Macca spoke incredibly higher of Jobling and just how underrated he was on their recent DN35 pod.