Town’s window so far

With Town making our 8th signing of the summer window in the shape of the exceedingly promising looking Kamil Conteh, and still not a loan yet in sight, it occurred to me that after a slow and frustrating January, we seem to have gone about our business in uncharacteristically bullish fashion.

Of course, signings are far more about quality than quantity, and there’s a long way to go get, but given that we seem collectively very happy with the calibre of player we’re attracting, I thought it would be mildly interesting to look at the volume of activity elsewhere in League Two. If nothing else, it serves as a rough barometer of how well things are going for us and offers a tiny insight into general market conditions.

The figures below refer to the total number of signings made (permanent of loan) by Town and the league’s top 7 favourites. The first number is the total number of signings made; the figure in brackets represents the number of signings involving a fee.

Wrexham - 0 (0)
Stockport - 2 (0)
Notts County - 4 (0)
Gillingham - 3 (0)
Bradford - 5 (0)
Mansfield - 3 (1)
Salford - 3 (1)
—
Town - 8 (4)

What’s abundantly clear is that not only is our fast-paced recruitment unusual for us, it’s also atypical for the division as a whole. Of the front-runners, Bradford have made the most signings after us with 5 in total, and only Mansfield and Salford have paid a fee for a player. Our 8 and 4 respectively is a massive outlier.

You can certainly make the argument that most if not all of the sides above had a stronger retained list than Town, and that’s fair enough, but most sides at this level still have a fair amount of recruitment to do in the summer.

The fact that we have gone out there and made several signings early, players who for the most part have excellent credentials, have offered long contracts and paid fees just seems to indicate a real confidence and swagger about our approach. It marks a palpable shift in demeanour from the club, and it would certainly seem to indicate that we are getting the players we want; not the players we wind up having to take just to make up the numbers.

We have seen so much progress made at the club in the last two years, but this feels like a sea change. A genuine, transitional moment. That we are not just catching-up, we are beginning to lead the way.

Would you fancy a striker who can offer us a plan b and was the leading scorer in a team the league below? Wouldn’t be 1st choice here but would enable us the make changes as required.

Quoted from Poojah

With Town making our 8th signing of the summer window in the shape of the exceedingly promising looking Kamil Conteh, and still not a loan yet in sight, it occurred to me that after a slow and frustrating January, we seem to have gone about our business in uncharacteristically bullish fashion.

Of course, signings are far more about quality than quantity, and there’s a long way to go get, but given that we seem collectively very happy with the calibre of player we’re attracting, I thought it would be mildly interesting to look at the volume of activity elsewhere in League Two. If nothing else, it serves as a rough barometer of how well things are going for us and offers a tiny insight into general market conditions.

The figures below refer to the total number of signings made (permanent of loan) by Town and the league’s top 7 favourites. The first number is the total number of signings made; the figure in brackets represents the number of signings involving a fee.

Wrexham - 0 (0)
Stockport - 2 (0)
Notts County - 4 (0)
Gillingham - 3 (0)
Bradford - 5 (0)
Mansfield - 3 (1)
Salford - 3 (1)
—
Town - 8 (4)

What’s abundantly clear is that not only is our fast-paced recruitment unusual for us, it’s also atypical for the division as a whole. Of the front-runners, Bradford have made the most signings after us with 5 in total, and only Mansfield and Salford have paid a fee for a player. Our 8 and 4 respectively is a massive outlier.

You can certainly make the argument that most if not all of the sides above had a stronger retained list than Town, and that’s fair enough, but most sides at this level still have a fair amount of recruitment to do in the summer.

The fact that we have gone out there and made several signings early, players who for the most part have excellent credentials, have offered long contracts and paid fees just seems to indicate a real confidence and swagger about our approach. It marks a palpable shift in demeanour from the club, and it would certainly seem to indicate that we are getting the players we want; not the players we wind up having to take just to make up the numbers.

We have seen so much progress made at the club in the last two years, but this feels like a sea change. A genuine, transitional moment. That we are not just catching-up, we are beginning to lead the way.

Superb post, thanks for the research, I'm drunk on hols and cba to do all that!
I'm very reliably informed the spending isn't complete, but have no idea who we've paid for, but also am informed its not Eastwood, he's coming on a free.

Quoted from Poojah

With Town making our 8th signing of the summer window in the shape of the exceedingly promising looking Kamil Conteh, and still not a loan yet in sight, it occurred to me that after a slow and frustrating January, we seem to have gone about our business in uncharacteristically bullish fashion.

Of course, signings are far more about quality than quantity, and there’s a long way to go get, but given that we seem collectively very happy with the calibre of player we’re attracting, I thought it would be mildly interesting to look at the volume of activity elsewhere in League Two. If nothing else, it serves as a rough barometer of how well things are going for us and offers a tiny insight into general market conditions.

The figures below refer to the total number of signings made (permanent of loan) by Town and the league’s top 7 favourites. The first number is the total number of signings made; the figure in brackets represents the number of signings involving a fee.

Wrexham - 0 (0)
Stockport - 2 (0)
Notts County - 4 (0)
Gillingham - 3 (0)
Bradford - 5 (0)
Mansfield - 3 (1)
Salford - 3 (1)
—
Town - 8 (4)

What’s abundantly clear is that not only is our fast-paced recruitment unusual for us, it’s also atypical for the division as a whole. Of the front-runners, Bradford have made the most signings after us with 5 in total, and only Mansfield and Salford have paid a fee for a player. Our 8 and 4 respectively is a massive outlier.

You can certainly make the argument that most if not all of the sides above had a stronger retained list than Town, and that’s fair enough, but most sides at this level still have a fair amount of recruitment to do in the summer.

The fact that we have gone out there and made several signings early, players who for the most part have excellent credentials, have offered long contracts and paid fees just seems to indicate a real confidence and swagger about our approach. It marks a palpable shift in demeanour from the club, and it would certainly seem to indicate that we are getting the players we want; not the players we wind up having to take just to make up the numbers.

We have seen so much progress made at the club in the last two years, but this feels like a sea change. A genuine, transitional moment. That we are not just catching-up, we are beginning to lead the way.

Excellent stuff. Can we also agree then, that the often-referenced criticism that players will not come to Grimsby based on some absurd and spurious reasons is a fallacy, so long as the intent, the ambition and the wages match the players' expectations?

There are always some reasons why players won't come, obviously, which applies to any club, but it is not unique to Grimsby.

Romance of the cup must have convinced some we are progressing nicely

Great post. It's been very un-Grimsby like but encouraging to know we're actually ahead of the game.

I think one of the main differences this year is not simply that we had an actual plan, but that we had the resources and infrastructure in place to implement that plan. Obviously if we're not ten points clear at the top by Xmas they'll all have to go but I'll give them a fair crack of the whip.

What we also have to factor in is the length of contracts means that Hurst doesnt have to go searching for replacement players year on year. With the additional monies earned from our remarkable FA Cup run it is sensible to spend wisely to invest in a standard of player who could stand us in good stead for the next few seasons.

While the FA Cup run was the real money spinner, the chances of repeating the same level of results again within the next few seasons is minimal. Lets face it, it was a once in a generation occurance. So the chance of us having another million to play with in the transfer market is unlikely any time soon.

Town, spend wise, spend well and lets kick the living excrement out of everyone in the league. UTM

Great post and a really interesting topic.

What has happened to Grimsby Town?

I do think whilst many were getting frustrated in January, PH and the club made a decision at some point within the window to not just go after 2nd 3rd and 4th choices and maybe keep their powder dry until the summer, eventually filling our weaknesses with temporary solutions in loan players until then.

They’ve certainly done that and come out the blocks early and quickly where one week into preseason training and before our first game we’re thinking we probably just need 2/3 final additions.

What also needs to be congratulated is the commitment shown by the owners here, not just be backing with funds - which they obviously have. But also creating the right environment around the PH to allow this to be done well.

Recruitment teams, Board members with not just football business knowledge but actual footballing knowledge, data, analytics etc all add into our ability to put the investment into the right players. Instead of shelling out for a 35 year old journeyman we’re shelling out for highly rated 20 year olds.

For many years we’ve thought as a club it’s just simply let the manager identify a player and see if we can sneak a deal, it’s a much much more rounded process than that - PH has been given some fantastic tools and boy is he using them.

We have paid fees for a lot of the players and have given out many 3 year deals, probably things that help secure players at this level as a player from Manchester is more likely to relocate for three years than 1. If you also notice a lot of our signings have ties to the area so we’ve taken the location thing on the chin and just adapted instead of moaning.

Some talk in the new player articles about videos being made and shared in meetings with new players. I would absolutely expect those crowds at Southampton and Brighton are in that and the point being made ‘do you want to play infront of that or a Salford crowd’ etc.

Lastly and Re Conteh, it seems we’ve beaten some pretty big teams in this league with our offer to Boro and the player himself and most of our new lads were gaining interest from teams 5 years ago we wouldn’t have a chance of competing with - well done to the club.

Conteh is 20, a good season or 2 with us and he will get a very good move. First and foremost we needed to agree a price with Middlesbrough but after that, there is plenty of recent proof that young players thrive here.

Since when did taking a long term approach and investing in the team for future gain , employing sport and fitness specialists, a head of recruitment ,  data analysts , a chief executive and board members who actually know what they are doing get you 3 points on a Saturday ?

Answers on a postcard please to Mr Get Your Facts Right!
The future is bright it’s Black and White !

Unheard of and I'm absolutely buzzing for this season.
I usually only do a lucky 15 for the season but I'm going to do a separate single bet on us each way 100%. Unbelievable window so far.

Quoted from lew chaterleys lover

Excellent stuff. Can we also agree then, that the often-referenced criticism that players will not come to Grimsby based on some absurd and spurious reasons is a fallacy, so long as the intent, the ambition and the wages match the players' expectations?

There are always some reasons why players won't come, obviously, which applies to any club, but it is not unique to Grimsby.

It's noticeable how many players that have signed have local or regional ties - using geography to our advantage. data led??

Very impressed  so far with the players we have got in so far..  For once in a long time i am looking forward to this season

It’s interesting what a little planning, ambition and patience can get you.

As Poojah points out, the league, on the whole is relatively slow at recruitment and I suspect that’s to do with the level and players waiting or searching, hoping for offers from clubs higher up.

The length of contracts shows commitment and belief in players which has got to help also. We’ve paid fees, albeit nominal in some cases which again shows a very different approach to the one we’re used to.

We’re on using data and the progress is a slow burner but I’d argue we’re still probably a year or two in front of the initial plan.

There’s always been excuses thrown around by fans and the previous owner regarding geography, money and all that jazz, and to some extent there’s an element of truth but we also know that reputation, culture and ambition play a part. If it was purely down to geography, Plymouth or Barrow would never sign anyone either. I can’t help but think that our cup run, the changing face of the club and the obvious trust and commitment towards players is helping, and I’d expect bigger clubs being more happy to loan out players to us.

Will it automatically turn into success and a playoff campaign? Possibly not but the club is moving forward and after 20 years of abject failure, a lack of ambition, penny pinching and clueless buffoons running the show, times are a changing and progress is being made all the time…

Quoted from lew chaterleys lover

Excellent stuff. Can we also agree then, that the often-referenced criticism that players will not come to Grimsby based on some absurd and spurious reasons is a fallacy, so long as the intent, the ambition and the wages match the players' expectations?

There are always some reasons why players won't come, obviously, which applies to any club, but it is not unique to Grimsby.

I don't recall that it was said that player's " won't come to Grimsby" merely that our geographical location and the apparent unattractiveness of the town made it difficult to attract them here. When previous managers have said this then surely it isn't a fallacy?

Wonder if there is a sell on clause in with the conteh deal? If there isn't then that's an ever better deal

as 'on this day' Tweeted we had just 31 days last season from beating Solihull to starting pre season. We did well to steady the ship and we start this season very well placed.

I don't see what Middlesbrough would do with a sell on percentage, let's assume he has a brilliant season and we sell him for a million and they have a 10% sell on fee, what would they do with that 100k they will gain? When they are in the championship or maybe even premiership that 100k isn't going to do anything for them is it.

Obviously that is just a random working assumption

Quoted from Davec

I don't see what Middlesbrough would do with a sell on percentage, let's assume he has a brilliant season and we sell him for a million and they have a 10% sell on fee, what would they do with that 100k they will gain? When they are in the championship or maybe even premiership that 100k isn't going to do anything for them is it.

Obviously that is just a random working assumption

I don't think a championship club would turn their nose up at 100k, they're still a business.

I'd be amazed if they didn't stick a sell on clause on the deal personally.

Quoted from Davec

I don't see what Middlesbrough would do with a sell on percentage, let's assume he has a brilliant season and we sell him for a million and they have a 10% sell on fee, what would they do with that 100k they will gain? When they are in the championship or maybe even premiership that 100k isn't going to do anything for them is it.

Obviously that is just a random working assumption

25% is probably a more realistic sell on percentage. I think that is what we had on Dembele.

Quoted from RonMariner

25% is probably a more realistic sell on percentage. I think that is what we had on Dembele.

It would be the kind of nice problem we just haven’t had for as long as I can remember. If we end up having to send somewhere between half-a-million and a million quid Middlesbrough’s way in a couple of year’s time, we’re probably doing alright.

With all these promising new arrivals I wonder how many of last seasons squad will be first choice for our new starting eleven?

Clifton, for sure. Glennon perhaps. Who else?

Quoted from RonMariner

With all these promising new arrivals I wonder how many of last seasons squad will be first choice for our new starting eleven?

Clifton, for sure. Glennon perhaps. Who else?

Waterfall, Hunt?

Quoted from RonMariner

With all these promising new arrivals I wonder how many of last seasons squad will be first choice for our new starting eleven?

Clifton, for sure. Glennon perhaps. Who else?

That's how you progress.

Squad players move on and first teamers become the squad players.

I wish people on here would stop talking about selling our best players or sell on clauses.

If we have ambition we should be thinking how do we hang on to our best players and try and improve the squad window after window like Jason has said a few times.

Who knows where we will end up but I know we will all enjoy the ride.  

Quoted from grimsby pete

I wish people on here would stop talking about selling our best players of sell on clauses.

If we have ambition we should be thinking how do we hang on to our best players and try and improve the squad window after window like Jason has said a few times.

Who knows where we will end up but I know we will all enjoy the ride.  

Dont kid yourself, every club in the world is a selling club, if the price is right, and selling at a great profit allows us to re-invest in the next couple to develop.  Its a perfect business model at our level. And the next ones we target see how we've developed, and helped the previous incumbents achieve a move to a higher level. Makes us a very attractive proposition to young and talented players I would imagine...

Quoted from Davec

I don't see what Middlesbrough would do with a sell on percentage, let's assume he has a brilliant season and we sell him for a million and they have a 10% sell on fee, what would they do with that 100k they will gain? When they are in the championship or maybe even premiership that 100k isn't going to do anything for them is it.

Obviously that is just a random working assumption

In that case why have we paid a fee for him?why didn't they just give him to us? A very strange way of thinking.

Yeah I've been surprised at the lack of activity elsewhere, it's really highlighted our completely unTownlike window so far. Particularly, Stockport seem to have switched off their money tap.

Also that list of the top 7 faves really shows what a tough start we have. We play 6 of those 7 in our first 8 matches. Yikes. Still, could be a good time to be playing them.

Quoted from RonMariner

25% is probably a more realistic sell on percentage. I think that is what we had on Dembele.

Yeah I thought the same thing - the fact we had to beat off a host of other clubs for him might even have pushed it up to 30%. Quite possibly some add ons for appearances, goals, promotions etc as well.

It's all irrelevant if he doesn't succeed, and everyone is a winner if he does.

For boro these sort of things go a long way to making their academy self funding which you'd imagine is part of their own plan.

As I’ve said before, we were favourites to go down last season. I think that had the biggest drag on our recruitment. What Hurst achieved last season, with the smallest of windows and preparation, is nothing short of remarkable.

And we’re reaping the benefits now. Very exciting times.

Quoted from Son of Cod

Yeah I've been surprised at the lack of activity elsewhere, it's really highlighted our completely unTownlike window so far. Particularly, Stockport seem to have switched off their money tap.

Also that list of the top 7 faves really shows what a tough start we have. We play 6 of those 7 in our first 8 matches. Yikes. Still, could be a good time to be playing them.

That's what I expect from us it's not really 'turning off the tap' they have a squad in place to challenge year on year with minor tweaks and additions and players on longer term deals for stability . If we don't go up this year the building blocks are in place for the following season with lot's of players who have scope to develop with us rather than the massive turnover of players we are used to .

A few people have touched upon the real reason we are doing so well in our new data-led recruitment, and they are Joe Hutchinson and the Data Analysts we have beavering away in the background. Hursty has mentioned Joe several times in his interviews in the past, so must be having a big input in the names they are chasing.

Hurst has also mentioned that several of the players that we have now signed have been on his radar since January, at least, and even though any approach to those players back then was unsuccessful, he, and his backroom boys, have done their work to perfection.

I also read something that seems to have gone under the radar, or has been forgotten about, that back in 2021 GTFC signed up to TransferLab, an online football data scouting tool. By the sounds of it, it is a very useful bit of kit as it is used by professional teams from all across the globe.



I think the lack of activity on the big spending clubs in our league could be due to players becoming wise. Its all well and good moving and taking a higher than normal wage, but then players are finding it difficult when their contract ends to find another club who is willing to pay the same level of wages that they were on. No player wants to take a big cut in wages at any point in their careers, but because they were drawn in by the 'relatively' big money at some of these clubs, they will ultimately have to drop their income if they want to continue to play.

It's a combination of so many things isn't it?

1) Data led recruitment.  All the pelters that were aimed at Joe Hutchinson in January, unfairly so I might add, look silly now.
2) Better resources to play with.  Footballing fortune or whatever you want to call it.  We've got something to throw at transfers now.
3) More time for planning.  31 days between ending a season and starting the new one is impossible to get it all done, never mind the 3 weeks we lost whilst preparing/playing in the play-offs.
4) Long term thinking.  This is the first summer window (where let's face it, you do the bulk of your serious business.  January is about tweaking, topping up or panic signing) that Hurst has had as GTFC manager to really do some long term planning with his transfers.  Every single season in the Conference it was always a case of building a team to go up, nothing more. That was the priority, the only one.  2016 he didn't have the infrastructure or the culture to long-term plan and 2022 he just didn't have the time.

I think you can also add in a smarter approach to recruitment.  The club are doing something, whatever it is, to be better with selling the club to people.  I'll be honest, I don't think it's as simple as bringing them via the leafy streets of Humberston and Waltham as opposed to bringing them in over the flyover and past the boarded up delights of Funland.  I think it's as much about marketing the club as somewhere they can either be part of something special or develop their career to greater heights, perhaps a bit of both.  If someone wants to use this club as a stepping stone, fine.....we'll help them with that.  They develop, we benefit, they move on.  Whatever they're doing, we've not done before.  More of it please.

Quoted from Poojah

With Town making our 8th signing of the summer window in the shape of the exceedingly promising looking Kamil Conteh, and still not a loan yet in sight, it occurred to me that after a slow and frustrating January, we seem to have gone about our business in uncharacteristically bullish fashion.

Of course, signings are far more about quality than quantity, and there’s a long way to go get, but given that we seem collectively very happy with the calibre of player we’re attracting, I thought it would be mildly interesting to look at the volume of activity elsewhere in League Two. If nothing else, it serves as a rough barometer of how well things are going for us and offers a tiny insight into general market conditions.

The figures below refer to the total number of signings made (permanent of loan) by Town and the league’s top 7 favourites. The first number is the total number of signings made; the figure in brackets represents the number of signings involving a fee.

Wrexham - 0 (0)
Stockport - 2 (0)
Notts County - 4 (0)
Gillingham - 3 (0)
Bradford - 5 (0)
Mansfield - 3 (1)
Salford - 3 (1)
—
Town - 8 (4)

What’s abundantly clear is that not only is our fast-paced recruitment unusual for us, it’s also atypical for the division as a whole. Of the front-runners, Bradford have made the most signings after us with 5 in total, and only Mansfield and Salford have paid a fee for a player. Our 8 and 4 respectively is a massive outlier.

You can certainly make the argument that most if not all of the sides above had a stronger retained list than Town, and that’s fair enough, but most sides at this level still have a fair amount of recruitment to do in the summer.

The fact that we have gone out there and made several signings early, players who for the most part have excellent credentials, have offered long contracts and paid fees just seems to indicate a real confidence and swagger about our approach. It marks a palpable shift in demeanour from the club, and it would certainly seem to indicate that we are getting the players we want; not the players we wind up having to take just to make up the numbers.

We have seen so much progress made at the club in the last two years, but this feels like a sea change. A genuine, transitional moment. That we are not just catching-up, we are beginning to lead the way.

Great stuff and exciting times ahead!!

Who are the FOUR that involved a fee?

I have ;
Danny Rose
Charles Vernam
Kamil Conteh

Mullarkey.

It certainly looks like Jason is making good on his promise to invest the cup windfall into the playing squad.

Happy with the summer transfer window up to now...

Conteh and Rose are the standout signings for me with Vernam close behind.

Obviously we need a couple of keepers, which I think we've already signed and I think we need a striker to try and hit 10+ goals on his own, if we are serious about being play off contenders.

IF we lose any players, such as Clifton or Glennon, then I would suggest we need to replace them.
Glennon not so much as we have Maher and Amos who can slot into there, but if Clifton goes, we need a replacement for him.

This is a very strong team, with the likes of Amos, Kahn, Hunt, Green, Holohan, Rodgers and two strikers on the bench....

[url=https://imgbb.com/][img]https://i.ibb.co/Kwc0ryW/Town-Team.png[/img][/url]

Quoted from diehardmariner

It's a combination of so many things isn't it?

1) Data led recruitment.  All the pelters that were aimed at Joe Hutchinson in January, unfairly so I might add, look silly now.
2) Better resources to play with.  Footballing fortune or whatever you want to call it.  We've got something to throw at transfers now.
3) More time for planning.  31 days between ending a season and starting the new one is impossible to get it all done, never mind the 3 weeks we lost whilst preparing/playing in the play-offs.
4) Long term thinking.  This is the first summer window (where let's face it, you do the bulk of your serious business.  January is about tweaking, topping up or panic signing) that Hurst has had as GTFC manager to really do some long term planning with his transfers.  Every single season in the Conference it was always a case of building a team to go up, nothing more. That was the priority, the only one.  2016 he didn't have the infrastructure or the culture to long-term plan and 2022 he just didn't have the time.

I think you can also add in a smarter approach to recruitment.  The club are doing something, whatever it is, to be better with selling the club to people.  I'll be honest, I don't think it's as simple as bringing them via the leafy streets of Humberston and Waltham as opposed to bringing them in over the flyover and past the boarded up delights of Funland.  I think it's as much about marketing the club as somewhere they can either be part of something special or develop their career to greater heights, perhaps a bit of both.  If someone wants to use this club as a stepping stone, fine.....we'll help them with that.  They develop, we benefit, they move on.  Whatever they're doing, we've not done before.  More of it please.

Think your missing the 2 biggest points, the gaffer. Love or loathe him as a fan players love to play for him and every single squad he's had here has lived and breathed Grimsby Town and bought into the culture. Then us, the fans. I was scrolling down the Kamil Conteh tweet and saw a reply from Carl Magnay that was congratulating him and said how much he'll love playing for us. We're a special group of people (at least that's what my mother always told me), I'm 27 and barring the seasons that I was too young to remember and one season in 05 all i've seen is abject failure from my football club in the football league yet we still travel in thousands and pack the park despite being a small little town. I saw a point made by someone on here about the video package that's given to players and I can guarantee they use footage of us travelling away and then us packing the park because football is a showmans sport. It's every footballers dream to play in front of a packed out Old Trafford or Anfield, The only similarity I can name between Old Trafford and BP is that they're both falling apart but every footballer wants to play infront of the biggest crowds and you'll do well to find a more passionate fanbase in the football league nevermind L2.

Quoted from Corkyefes

Happy with the summer transfer window up to now...

Conteh and Rose are the standout signings for me with Vernam close behind.

Obviously we need a couple of keepers, which I think we've already signed and I think we need a striker to try and hit 10+ goals on his own, if we are serious about being play off contenders.

IF we lose any players, such as Clifton or Glennon, then I would suggest we need to replace them.
Glennon not so much as we have Maher and Amos who can slot into there, but if Clifton goes, we need a replacement for him.

This is a very strong team, with the likes of Amos, Kahn, Hunt, Green, Holohan, Rodgers and two strikers on the bench....

[url=https://imgbb.com/][img]https://i.ibb.co/Kwc0ryW/Town-Team.png[/img][/url]

I’m no expert but I guarantee we don’t ever start with just one central midfielder.

Quoted from LocalLadGTFC

Think your missing the 2 biggest points, the gaffer. Love or loathe him as a fan players love to play for him and every single squad he's had here has lived and breathed Grimsby Town and bought into the culture. Then us, the fans. I was scrolling down the Kamil Conteh tweet and saw a reply from Carl Magnay that was congratulating him and said how much he'll love playing for us. We're a special group of people (at least that's what my mother always told me), I'm 27 and barring the seasons that I was too young to remember and one season in 05 all i've seen is abject failure from my football club in the football league yet we still travel in thousands and pack the park despite being a small little town. I saw a point made by someone on here about the video package that's given to players and I can guarantee they use footage of us travelling away and then us packing the park because football is a showmans sport. It's every footballers dream to play in front of a packed out Old Trafford or Anfield, The only similarity I can name between Old Trafford and BP is that they're both falling apart but every footballer wants to play infront of the biggest crowds and you'll do well to find a more passionate fanbase in the football league nevermind L2.

Both came under that smarter approach to recruitment.  Hurst and the fans have always been here.  We've just been able to a) articulate why it's a benefit and b) have them complimenting the newer stuff we're able to do.

Magnay, odd this is the second time I've type his name today having not done so once for god knows how many years, was here so so long ago.  Dark times when we were a shower of excrement off the field.  He fell out with Fenty over £50 for travelling costs, of which he was denied as our player of the year....Regardless, he probably would feel justified in having  a bee in his bonnet about that. But instead he still holds fond memories about the place, us as fans and Hurst as a manager.  That speaks volumes.  

I've long thought our best recruitment has been word of mouth from other players, be it about the fans or about Hurst.  But that was all we really had and it was probably peppered with 'but the owner is a tight twit' type comments. Before we even thought about getting players through the door for conversations, our reputation ruled us out of the running.  That Hurst has managed to recruit well previously is an achievement on its own.

And now 10 (5). Been a pretty remarkable summer so far.

I'll call it, best summer of recruitment since the summer of '97 when we brought in the likes of Aidan Davison, Paul Groves and Kevin Donovan.

2023 leaps above 2004 when Michael Reddy, Justin Whittle and err, Clint Marcelle arrived at Blundell Park.

Quoted from diehardmariner

I'll call it, best summer of recruitment since the summer of '97 when we brought in the likes of Aidan Davison, Paul Groves and Kevin Donovan.

2023 leaps above 2004 when Michael Reddy, Justin Whittle and err, Clint Marcelle arrived at Blundell Park.

Plus Wayne Burnett and Kingsley Black. No wonder we did the Wembley double that season.

Quoted from RonMariner

Plus Wayne Burnett and Kingsley Black. No wonder we did the Wembley double that season.

Burnett came in the New Year, initially on loan.  Black was already here, a Brian Laws signing thanks to their Forest days

Buckley spent well and used the money from the sale of Oster and Mendonca well.  But he had a very good core to work with, certainly not a side that should have gone down in the first place.  McDermott, Gallimore, Handyside, Lever, Livvo, Lester...all part of the time that went down.

Quoted from RonMariner

Plus Wayne Burnett and Kingsley Black. No wonder we did the Wembley double that season.

Mallorcan sausage seller, Kingsley Black, was a Laws signing want he? ‘96 intake.

Oh right. Didn’t realise  Black was in the team that went down. But when you look at the other names you mention it’s a reminder of what quality that 1998 squad had. Just shows where you need to be to get out of L1.

I
  Be a good problem to be wrestling with next summer though😎

We did also sign Lee Nogan that summer though, who I sometimes feel is an underrated and oft-forgotten part of that 97/98 team. 54 appearances that season; 13 goals. He was a better player than history gives him credit for.

Quoted from Knut Anders Fosters Voles

Mallorcan sausage seller, Kingsley Black, was a Laws signing want he? ‘96 intake.

Apologies, apparently this isn’t true - the sausage bit, not the Laws bit.

Mr Black’s legal team would like me to point out that their client does not own shares in a charcuterie-centric Pollensa deli.

[url]
https://twitter.com/kingsley_black/status/520695745020956672[/url]

Nogan was a great signing and I agree, very understated.  The Tony Rees of the second coming of Buckley.

The one who linked it altogether up top.  Second season he struggled to be as effective.  Kev Donovan wasn't on fire like the season before which completely changed our attacking output.  From a variety of options going forward, we became fairly reliant on Paul Groves to attack from deep or get a penalty after Jack Lester fell into the area from 30 yards out.  

Nogan wasn't helped by only grabbing two in the league and he became a bit of a target for the boo-boys in his second and final season.  Big shame.  

So we have signed players far better than I thought we would be. What positions are left to fill? St?

If we signed Umerah, this would be the strongest squad I’ve ever seen supporting town (started following in 2010…..)

Quoted from diehardmariner

Nogan was a great signing and I agree, very understated.  The Tony Rees of the second coming of Buckley.

The one who linked it altogether up top.  Second season he struggled to be as effective.  Kev Donovan wasn't on fire like the season before which completely changed our attacking output.  From a variety of options going forward, we became fairly reliant on Paul Groves to attack from deep or get a penalty after Jack Lester fell into the area from 30 yards out.  

Nogan wasn't helped by only grabbing two in the league and he became a bit of a target for the boo-boys in his second and final season.  Big shame.  

They of course found themselves plying their trade in the Championship, which is a very tough place to play.

I seem the recall that Donovan struggled with injuries during that first season after promotion and he never looked quite the same player to me again. The higher standard will no doubt have made a difference to some degree, but Donovan didn't have the same zip to his play after that initial season.

Burnett was another one who was injured a fair bit after his first successful season.

Nogan was hard-working and ran his socks off all game but was mostly ineffective in the role Buckley had him playing. I remember he just never seemed to get into the box.

Thank heavens for Groves who was just such a classy player. Can't imagine why it didn't work out for him at West Brom because they were no great shakes as I recall and he was just as good as before for us after he returned.

Quoted from Nutsy

So we have signed players far better than I thought we would be. What positions are left to fill? St?

If we signed Umerah, this would be the strongest squad I’ve ever seen supporting town (started following in 2010…..)

You poor bástard.

It was a really odd injury that kept Donovan out for the beginning of the season and he just never quite got going again, think it was an ingrowing toe-nail or something.  Dare I say he was never the same type of player again.  He became important again but Buckley and later Lennie Lawrence changed his role a bit, rather than that winger who ran at teams from deep he became more of a no. 10 type, often deployed off the lone front man.

Good shout on Burnett, we really missed him and whilst Coldicott was a fine player he was a different type of player and you could see that Buckley was a bit more cautious going up a level.   We were less free-flowing and more about being difficult to beat.  

Hindsight is great but I think that 97/98 side had enough in them to really go at the second-tier rather than worry too much about the opposition.  

Quoted from Poojah

You poor bástard.

The only good bit about this is that things being as they are right now must seem absolutely amazing. Can only go up from such an appalling start. It's us poor millennials who's parents started taking us in 1998 that have really suffered! I just assumed we would always be good.

My first two seasons were 89/90 and 90/91.  I just presumed we got promoted every year!  

I use the fact I started following town in 2010, as proof of my dedication and perseverance but sadly it may also suggest a little insanity

I think this is the first season in many decades that a manager has been able to recruit players he wants and pay a fee. This is all down to Jason and Andrew and let us not forget Hursty. Players want to play for him and be in a successful side and club; as proven by last season.

The Fenty years are now well and truly behind us, long live 1878.

Quoted from Nutsy

I use the fact I started following town in 2010, as proof of my dedication and perseverance but sadly it may also suggest a little insanity

To be fair it’s quite impressive that you managed to keep doing it without the addiction I developed in the 90s. Kind of like being caught smoking your first ever fàg by your mum and being made to chain smoke the whole pack in one go. Just leaves you feeling queasy with a bitter taste in your mouth.

Quoted from Mariner Timsky

Great stuff and exciting times ahead!!

Who are the FOUR that involved a fee?

I have ;
Danny Rose
Charles Vernam
Kamil Conteh

Jake Eastwood

Quoted from Norseman

Jake Eastwood

And Mullarkey.
One more to come in yet who we are paying for...

Quoted from coddy60

And Mullarkey.
One more to come in yet who we are paying for...

care to hint a little bit about the identity?

Quoted from BeijingMariner

care to hint a little bit about the identity?

Unfortunately I can't

Quoted from coddy60

Unfortunately I can't

Is Bogle finally coming home?

Quoted from coddy60

Unfortunately I can't

G'won, give us a little something!!







Please

Quoted from diehardmariner

G'won, give us a little something!!







Please

It must be a big en up top , we seem stacked everywhere else if we sign that lad from Newcastle  at the back on loan . I think a physical forward and we are complete .

Would not suprise me if it was that Kayode from Rotherham with the Hurst link .He fits the bill

Quoted from Mariner_09

Is Bogle finally coming home?

Is it Centre back Alex Murphy from Newcastle u21. Not sure we need him though….

As Manny has gone to Hartlepool could we be in for their striker?

Quoted from Mappers

It must be a big en up top , we seem stacked everywhere else if we sign that lad from Newcastle  at the back on loan . I think a physical forward and we are complete .

Would not suprise me if it was that Kayode from Rotherham with the Hurst link .He fits the bill

I dunno about the physical bit of that.  Pyke looked a bit of a unit yesterday, wouldn't surprise me if he's the 'big man' in the squad.  Not the tallest lad but neither was Lennell John-Lewis and Hurst used him in that manner.

Quoted from diehardmariner

I dunno about the physical bit of that.  Pyke looked a bit of a unit yesterday, wouldn't surprise me if he's the 'big man' in the squad.  Not the tallest lad but neither was Lennell John-Lewis and Hurst used him in that manner.

Fair mate won't see us until August so don't know what he's like , just that he was really good at right back for Shrews - maybe Hurst will go with him as the big un option then

Can we sign Chinese players? He's bound to have a relative in the UK somewhere that could get him dual nationality!

If we want a beast up front, have a look at Yang Changpeng, he's only 6' 8.5". Is that big enough?

Quoted from Mappers

It must be a big en up top , we seem stacked everywhere else if we sign that lad from Newcastle  at the back on loan . I think a physical forward and we are complete .

Would not suprise me if it was that Kayode from Rotherham with the Hurst link .He fits the bill

A year ago I’d have been very happy with Kayode, but he’s been permanently sidelined with about three separate injuries since then. Whether that’s a run of bad luck or he’s a crock I don’t know, but he would represent a bit of risk.

Quoted from Mappers

Fair mate won't see us until August so don't know what he's like , just that he was really good at right back for Shrews - maybe Hurst will go with him as the big un option then

My disclaimer is that it was against Grimsby Borough, who will represent literally nothing like we face in League Two.  He was the only of the 3 strikers to be used as a lone striker (Rose and Wilson paired together in the first half).  

Hurst did say when he brought him in that he sees him as a centre-forward rather than a winger/wingback.  Could be Hurst just trying different things at this stage than anything else.  It looks like we're bringing someone in - at least one if coddy60 is right and presuming Adan George at least has a chance of earning a contract (and it's not him as the big signing), I can't really see much space for a signing in any other position than up top.

                                     Eastwood
                                      Cartright

Efete            Waterfall              Maher            Glennon
Malarkey ------ Rodgers------  Bramwell            Amos


            Clifton                Conteh                Green
              Hunt                Holohan               Khouri


        Eisa                          Rose                       Vernam
      Wilson                        Pyke                         Khan
   Braithwaite         Tomlinson. Essel


We've 2 for each position already, so any further signings would have to add quality. Probably got space for one more central striker and if Adan George continues to impress then that could be it.

Looking really strong and cant wait till the season starts

Quoted from Poojah

A year ago I’d have been very happy with Kayode, but he’s been permanently sidelined with about three separate injuries since then. Whether that’s a run of bad luck or he’s a crock I don’t know, but he would represent a bit of risk.

Think it was three unconnected injuries, at least one described as a freak injury. Torn hamstring last pre-season, then a knee injury and then a quad problem towards the end of the year.

Been keeping an eye on his situation as I’d like him here. Rotherham’s manager seems keen to see something of him but also said he needs games & maybe out on loan.

Not heard anything on the jungle drums apart from a few Donny fans thinking they’re in for him. 30-odd games in L1 the season before last, but in his final 12 months at Rotherham & probably unlikely to break into a Championship team. Get the chequebook out Stockwood.  

Quoted from Stew0_0

                                     Eastwood
                                      Cartright

Efete            Waterfall              Maher            Glennon
Malarkey ------ Rodgers------  Bramwell            Amos


            Clifton                Conteh                Green
              Hunt                Holohan               Khouri


        Eisa                          Rose                       Vernam
      Wilson                        Pyke                         Khan
   Braithwaite         Tomlinson. Essel


We've 2 for each position already, so any further signings would have to add quality. Probably got space for one more central striker and if Adan George continues to impress then that could be it.

Looking really strong and cant wait till the season starts

In my opinion I Wouldn't count the 4 kids .They're nowhere near ready for first team selection unless a real injury crisis hits , and will all be loaned out

Quoted from Norseman

In my opinion I Wouldn't count the 4 kids .They're nowhere near ready for first team selection unless a real injury crisis hits , and will all be loaned out

How do you know that?

Quoted from Norseman

In my opinion I Wouldn't count the 4 kids .They're nowhere near ready for first team selection unless a real injury crisis hits , and will all be loaned out

Essel looks a player with potential

If we are looking to keep players longer you would have thought it's a case of gradually improving the standard of the level where they go on loan , so maybe this season NLN ,season after NL and then a pathway into the first team if they have impressed and can make the step up .

Quoted from Norseman

In my opinion I Wouldn't count the 4 kids .They're nowhere near ready for first team selection unless a real injury crisis hits , and will all be loaned out

you're probably right but Braithwaite, Bramwell & essel all played first team games last season, so hopefully they'll get  a loan to a decent level club (Nl or NLN ) and/or get some game time in the paintpot trophy

I think they'll all get offered out on loan.  That's the tried and tested pathway.  I think it's only Khouri in many, many years gone by who's not done that but that's predominantly due to a year of injuries.  Had he not struggled in 20/21 with niggles, I think he would have gone out somewhere.

Good point from Mappers about the step-up in where we send them, that's got to be part of our progression too I think.  The highest level anyone has generally gone before is Boston in the Conf. North.  I guess part of the issue with loaning to the Conference level is that most teams are professional, even a fair few at Conf. North.  Any loan players would probably spend all their time there, if they go to a semi-pro club they're still doing the training with Town and getting game time, best of both worlds.  

Quoted from Captain Sensible

How do you know that?

It's an opinion based on watching them .Yours or hursts may differ and it is only hursts that count .But some who were loaned out to clubs like borough and clee town never even started all the time .They haven't played a lot of men's footy either

Quoted from Norseman

It's an opinion based on watching them .Yours or hursts may differ and it is only hursts that count .But some who were loaned out to clubs like borough and clee town never even started all the time .They haven't played a lot of men's footy either  But other posters are right .When they are loaned out they need to go to a better level than clee town or borough

Stumbled across this glowing third-party review of Town’s business so far.

https://offtheline599656488.wordpress.com/2023/07/10/sky-bet-league-two-1-24-transfer-table/

Quoted Text

1 – Grimsby Town
All aboard the Blundell Park train; I have been fully suckered in with the business that they have done this summer. Paul Hurst has pulled it out the bag. They needed to add quality in the final third of the pitch; he has added newly-promoted Danny Rose, a player with untapped potential Rekeil Pyke, and returning Charles Vernam who will do much to excite the Town fans. They needed to add in the middle of the park and so have gone out and landed Kamil Conteh after an impressive loan spell with Gateshead last year in the National League; to get him on a permanent deal is particularly impressive. They have sorted out the goalkeeping department with the arrival of two new goalkeepers; local lad Cartwright and former Hurst man Eastwood. They’ve added Toby Mullarkey as well, a player I really rate. They’ve signed quality; it’s now about adding the cherry on top in the remaining weeks of the window!

I think Mullarkey will be the stand out signing this summer. By league two standards he’ll be a rolls Royce defender

I've nearly always trusted PH's judgement when it comes down to permanent signings and he seems to get most of these right. Loan signings are a bit different but quite often other factors come into play as regards these so they have to be judged differently.

Quoted from rancido

I've nearly always trusted PH's judgement when it comes down to permanent signings and he seems to get most of these right. Loan signings are a bit different but quite often other factors come into play as regards these so they have to be judged differently.

I’d agree, but by Hursts own admission, sometimes loan signings don’t become what you need. However, with the changes to the loan rules etc I think Hurst has been clever in not using them at all really, not yet anyway. Almost like he’s hiding his time, sensible if you ask me…

It’s just nice to see we’re not scaling the barrel like normal…

I sense a couple of auto-corrects in that post, unless you're mixing your metaphors like Fenty after a couple of bottles of claret!

Quoted from aldi_01

I’d agree, but by Hursts own admission, sometimes loan signings don’t become what you need. However, with the changes to the loan rules etc I think Hurst has been clever in not using them at all really, not yet anyway. Almost like he’s hiding his time, sensible if you ask me…

It’s just nice to see we’re not scaling the barrel like normal…

Yep for sure. Hurst has spoken about not wanting to be reliant on the loan market every window since his return but hasn't been in a position to be able to make that happen. We've obviously got Cartwright in on a season long, but I wouldn't be at all surprised if he's the only loanee we start the season with. It's not gonna be a season where we have 4 or 5 in the squad at any one time. Swift action in this window has ensured that pretty much all of our squad are our permanent players. Another encouraging sign of progress under JS and AP.

Quoted from Maringer

I sense a couple of auto-corrects in that post, unless you're mixing your metaphors like Fenty after a couple of bottles of claret!

Definitely some autocorrects that have indirectly created some fentyisms…perhaps that’s his legacy on the fishy?

Quoted from aldi_01

Definitely some autocorrects that have indirectly created some fentyisms…perhaps that’s his legacy on the fishy?

And less chance of any ducking idiot taking offence 😉

Quoted from aldi_01

Definitely some autocorrects that have indirectly created some fentyisms…perhaps that’s his legacy on the fishy?

He is like a heavy metal (  chemical element) that pervades every cell of the human body - it takes a long time to completely purge it out of the system.

Just as long as he's not one of these 'forever chemicals' they keep talking about on the news.