Well seeing as we are safe and the rumours are being splattered around, I thought it was time to start this little one off. The transfer rumour bingo is already away to a great start with Ryan Bennett getting a nice early mention. It can only be a matter of time before Omar B joins him but I’m not even typing his surname just to be safe. Over to you all.
Batch, Crombie, Moore K, Wiggington, Cumming, Waters, Bonnyman, Ford, Emson, Drinkell, Whymark. Love you all, You are the reason I'm on here. You've had help from Todd, Handyside, Futcher P, Groves, Mendonca, Macca etc etc etc. Up The Mariners!!!!!!!!!
i got in early last season and was pretty hopelessly wrong (as usual), so here's my 5
1) Ryan Bennett; the impediment to the move last season was Doig I'm led to believe. With him long gone I think it's much more likely 2) a youngster from a southern National League club. Hedging my bets here a little, coz I've heard a couple of names. Both names share a common thread..... 3) a foreign signing from Holland or Scandinavia - the fact that Joe was due to go to Amsterdam the other Friday, plus a couple of comments from Artell is my rationale 4) 1 of Artell's ex Crewe players , someone he can rely on and knows what he's getting 5) an ex Lincoln player from Joe's time at Sincil Bank
if I get 2 out of 5 I will be doing better than last year
i got in early last season and was pretty hopelessly wrong (as usual), so here's my 5
1) Ryan Bennett; the impediment to the move last season was Doig I'm led to believe. With him long gone I think it's much more likely 2) a youngster from a southern National League club. Hedging my bets here a little, coz I've heard a couple of names. Both names share a common thread..... 3) a foreign signing from Holland or Scandinavia - the fact that Joe was due to go to Amsterdam the other Friday, plus a couple of comments from Artell is my rationale 4) 1 of Artell's ex Crewe players , someone he can rely on and knows what he's getting 5) an ex Lincoln player from Joe's time at Sincil Bank
if I get 2 out of 5 I will be doing better than last year
A brave but very hedged approach there Forza 😉
Batch, Crombie, Moore K, Wiggington, Cumming, Waters, Bonnyman, Ford, Emson, Drinkell, Whymark. Love you all, You are the reason I'm on here. You've had help from Todd, Handyside, Futcher P, Groves, Mendonca, Macca etc etc etc. Up The Mariners!!!!!!!!!
Strap in everyone for a wild ride, 300 pages of puns, arguments, insults, dog walks and who can mention the most ex-players....scattered with the the occasional rumour and odd good shout. It's going to be a great summer.
In all seriousness I'm looking forward to this summer. The disappointment, frustration and worry of this year has passed quite quickly for me. Genuinely intrigued to see what we can do in the window and now we seem to have an entire staff buying into the method how that's going to work.
See you all on the other side of the thread - look after each other
PS - Someone wake Ska up, he needs to get his calculator back out for the form table..
i got in early last season and was pretty hopelessly wrong (as usual), so here's my 5
1) Ryan Bennett; the impediment to the move last season was Doig I'm led to believe. With him long gone I think it's much more likely 2) a youngster from a southern National League club. Hedging my bets here a little, coz I've heard a couple of names. Both names share a common thread..... 3) a foreign signing from Holland or Scandinavia - the fact that Joe was due to go to Amsterdam the other Friday, plus a couple of comments from Artell is my rationale 4) 1 of Artell's ex Crewe players , someone he can rely on and knows what he's getting 5) an ex Lincoln player from Joe's time at Sincil Bank
if I get 2 out of 5 I will be doing better than last year
I'd add to that a player from Ireland as I believe Joe looked at Ireland quite a lot for up and coming players whilst at Lincoln.
PS - Someone wake Ska up, he needs to get his calculator back out for the form table..
Genuinely struggling to find any enthusiasm for GTFC at the moment, absolute dump season seriously negged me out. That said, I’m sure next week’s released list will invigorate me, can’t wait to see the back of some of these.
This lad’s thread on twitter yesterday was a good read, I know about two of these players. Fair play to anyone with the mental bandwidth capable of building up any meaningful knowledge of lower league players -
Strap in everyone for a wild ride, 300 pages of puns, arguments, insults, dog walks and who can mention the most ex-players....scattered with the the occasional rumour and odd good shout. It's going to be a great summer.
I can't wait until we get the rumour about the player accused of doing something unsavoury/illegal but which never quite made it to court. That's always a fun one.
I can't wait until we get the rumour about the player accused of doing something unsavoury/illegal but which never quite made it to court. That's always a fun one.
I'd add to that a player from Ireland as I believe Joe looked at Ireland quite a lot for up and coming players whilst at Lincoln.
That’s so vague as to nearly deserve a warning.
Batch, Crombie, Moore K, Wiggington, Cumming, Waters, Bonnyman, Ford, Emson, Drinkell, Whymark. Love you all, You are the reason I'm on here. You've had help from Todd, Handyside, Futcher P, Groves, Mendonca, Macca etc etc etc. Up The Mariners!!!!!!!!!
This lad’s thread on twitter yesterday was a good read, I know about two of these players. Fair play to anyone with the mental bandwidth capable of building up any meaningful knowledge of lower league players -
Tweet 1782779786353381749 will appear here...
Who honestly has the time for this stuff? There’s also the lower league experts on there who seemingly watch all 90’ of the L1 and 2 games before Sunday breakfast time and know how everyones playing.
My predictions are that we’ll sign: 1) Someone with brown hair 2) Someone who has suffered a serious ligament injury in the last two years 3) and someone will be unveiled using a picture of them on a bright sunny day when it’s been raining all day in Cleethorpes.
Potential for a hattrick on one signing meeting all criteria.
Who honestly has the time for this stuff? There’s also the lower league experts on there who seemingly watch all 90’ of the L1 and 2 games before Sunday breakfast time and know how everyones playing.
I always wonder who compiles the Beazer Homes League Division 1 short passes in transition stats.
I always wonder who compiles the Beazer Homes League Division 1 short passes in transition stats.
There are probably several of them out there. People who like these sort of stats absolutely love these sort of stats and enjoy compiling them. Even if nobody else is interested in them.
Who honestly has the time for this stuff? There’s also the lower league experts on there who seemingly watch all 90’ of the L1 and 2 games before Sunday breakfast time and know how everyones playing. .
There’s a few verified accounts on twitter I don’t want to hear from at all this summer. There’s a handful of people on there who market themselves as lower league experts & do these long scouting-report type threads on players, but I think they talk shíte.
It’s clear now they do it more for engagement rather than having any huge insight - some of them have seemingly never seen a bad player.
There’s a few verified accounts on twitter I don’t want to hear from at all this summer. There’s a handful of people on there who market themselves as lower league experts & do these long scouting-report type threads on players, but I think they talk shíte.
It’s clear now they do it more for engagement rather than having any huge insight - some of them have seemingly never seen a bad player.
One in particular, Tom Williams, that mentions Nathan Rooney as a potential manager for every single managerial vacancy going - starting to think he's his agent or has shares in him!
Genuinely struggling to find any enthusiasm for GTFC at the moment, absolute dump season seriously negged me out. That said, I’m sure next week’s released list will invigorate me, can’t wait to see the back of some of these.
Ah it'll pass mate - we'll all be aboard HMS urine the league by July...
One in particular, Tom Williams, that mentions Nathan Rooney as a potential manager for every single managerial vacancy going - starting to think he's his agent or has shares in him!
Same with that HC and Conteh, even when Conteh was playing poorly he'd bring out some stats to try and justify that Conteh was playing well and that it was everyone elses fault...
Same with that HC and Conteh, even when Conteh was playing poorly he'd bring out some stats to try and justify that Conteh was playing well and that it was everyone elses fault...
I'm pretty sure HC actually works for the agency that Conteh belongs too. I thought it was weird then someone mentioned it and it made sense.
One in particular, Tom Williams, that mentions Nathan Rooney as a potential manager for every single managerial vacancy going - starting to think he's his agent or has shares in him!
Yeah that’s the one that springs to mind. Obviously you only pay attention to what he says about your club, but during the season I realised he would just do it endlessly about every club, every player, every manager.
Initially I thought “wow, this guy knows his onions!” and then having watched all these players he rated so highly for us, by Christmas is was more “wow, this guy talks shít!”
Think based on what Stockwood and Artell have said in recent interview, this summer I believe majority will come at the chairpersons behest and will be chosen heavily based on data. Interested to see how it works.
Think based on what Stockwood and Artell have said in recent interview, this summer I believe majority will come at the chairpersons behest and will be chosen heavily based on data. Interested to see how it works.
I don't think that's true at all, there's zero chance Jason or anyone else gets involved in the selecting players part of the recruitment process - other than perhaps providing the finances or talking to players, agents on the clubs behalf as might happen from time to time to get a deal done.
Everything they've said since they've been here is they leave the football to the experts. They've set the course of the type of football club we want to be going forward and given the resources to the manager to do that job, that's what he and others will be judged against.
In Andrew Pettit's programme notes for the Newport County game there was a big clue about where we are looking.
" We will also be seeking to take advantage of the recent relaxation in the rules about signing overseas players which allows clubs at our level to sign two foreign players without the historic requirements of them being at 'elite'/international level. Town has secured its licence from the Home Office to facilitate this option and some exciting targets are already on the radar."
62 Seasons following the Mariners from the Barrett Stand side.(apart from 2020-21)
Yeah that’s the one that springs to mind. Obviously you only pay attention to what he says about your club, but during the season I realised he would just do it endlessly about every club, every player, every manager.
Initially I thought “wow, this guy knows his onions!” and then having watched all these players he rated so highly for us, by Christmas is was more “wow, this guy talks shít!”
Cracking start, gentlemen and ladies. 36 posts in little over 8 hours.
That's 108 posts per day, and with 101 or 108 days until the new season starts (depending on if its 3rd or 10th August) we can expect well in excess of TEN THOUSAND posts on this thread.
Keep it up. We have an unbelievable reputation to uphold!
Cracking start, gentlemen and ladies. 36 posts in little over 8 hours.
That's 108 posts per day, and with 101 or 108 days until the new season starts (depending on if its 3rd or 10th August) we can expect well in excess of TEN THOUSAND posts on this thread.
Keep it up. We have an unbelievable reputation to uphold!
And the retained list is still a few days off yet.
Batch, Crombie, Moore K, Wiggington, Cumming, Waters, Bonnyman, Ford, Emson, Drinkell, Whymark. Love you all, You are the reason I'm on here. You've had help from Todd, Handyside, Futcher P, Groves, Mendonca, Macca etc etc etc. Up The Mariners!!!!!!!!!
Cracking start, gentlemen and ladies. 36 posts in little over 8 hours.
That's 108 posts per day, and with 101 or 108 days until the new season starts (depending on if its 3rd or 10th August) we can expect well in excess of TEN THOUSAND posts on this thread.
Keep it up. We have an unbelievable reputation to uphold!
Come on now. We can’t make it easy for people. Unless you’re here every step of the way, come rain or shine, through the dog walking stories, hotel bookings, god awful puns, random stories and general shitness for 300 pages then, quite frankly, you don’t deserve to know about who’s signing…
Come on now. We can’t make it easy for people. Unless you’re here every step of the way, come rain or shine, through the dog walking stories, hotel bookings, god awful puns, random stories and general shitness for 300 pages then, quite frankly, you don’t deserve to know about who’s signing…
I don’t think the board will dictate who we sign, but I do think they’ll dictate how we do it.
It must’ve been frustrating from their end getting stick all season for what Hurst assembled when he clearly went against what they asked for. Same with Joe Hutchinson, he’s had pelters on here for his role in this seasons recruits but it’s become more & more obvious he was just ignored.
Artell will obviously make the final call, but they’ll all be keen to ensure they’re not accountable for somebody else’s judgement again.
I was suprised to see Tshimanga finished the season on loan at borehamwood - wonder whether peterborough might be willing to let him go for a relatively small fee?
I was suprised to see Tshimanga finished the season on loan at borehamwood - wonder whether peterborough might be willing to let him go for a relatively small fee?
The 27 year old without a single football league goal to his name? Why on earth would we pay a fee for him?
I was suprised to see Tshimanga finished the season on loan at borehamwood - wonder whether peterborough might be willing to let him go for a relatively small fee?
I know we bang on about ex-players, but the only one I would welcome back would be Ryan Bennett, but he's 34 now, does anyone know how he did at Cambridge?
I know we bang on about ex-players, but the only one I would welcome back would be Ryan Bennett, but he's 34 now, does anyone know how he did at Cambridge?
As they’re still not certain of their League One future, probably not great.
I know we bang on about ex-players, but the only one I would welcome back would be Ryan Bennett, but he's 34 now, does anyone know how he did at Cambridge?
Not for me - look to the future, not the past. What would we get out of Ryan? 1 season, maybe 2? We need somebody for at least 3+ seasons so we can build a solid defence and platform around them.
The Future is Black & White. "The commonest thing on this planet is not water , as some people believe, but stupidity ". Frank Zappa
The 27 year old without a single football league goal to his name? Why on earth would we pay a fee for him?
Seems a harsh way of looking at it. League One obviously a step too far for him, but has a great track record in non-league (even this season for a team that got relegated) and has never played at League Two level.
Ryan Bennett would bring stability and calm to the defence for a couple of Seasons. In recent times we saw this with Danny Collins if we can get him then get him he's a huge upgrade on the other CBs.
Seems a harsh way of looking at it. League One obviously a step too far for him, but has a great track record in non-league (even this season for a team that got relegated) and has never played at League Two level.
He's had three good goal scoring seasons in the NL, the most recent of which was three seasons ago. His goalscoring has not been anywhere near as prolific since his injury whilst at Chesterfield and was generally thought of as being abysmal by Posh fans because even before when he was scoring, he didn't do anything else during a game. His record in the FL makes Pyke look prolific. I'd be disappointed if we signed him, let alone paying a fee.
Not for me - look to the future, not the past. What would we get out of Ryan? 1 season, maybe 2? We need somebody for at least 3+ seasons so we can build a solid defence and platform around them.
How many players are likely to be at a club for 3 years ? If they’re young and any good they’ll be gone . If we can sign a player of RB pedigree for a year or two it’s a no brainer .
He's had three good goal scoring seasons in the NL, the most recent of which was three seasons ago. His goalscoring has not been anywhere near as prolific since his injury whilst at Chesterfield and was generally thought of as being abysmal by Posh fans because even before when he was scoring, he didn't do anything else during a game. His record in the FL makes Pyke look prolific. I'd be disappointed if we signed him, let alone paying a fee.
Fair enough, all about opinions. Personally, I think 7 in 16 games this season for a team that was relegated is a decent ratio, and as I mentioned all his FL games were in L1 not L2 so judging on that seems a bit harsh to me.
The Ryan Bennett argument is a no brainer. Played at a much higher level for a large part of his career and has the class to still be very very good at this level. I get its the old 'ex-player' stuff. However take that out of it and I think we'd all be very for it and the only reason we're talking about it is it's nearly happened twice, apparently.
His calmness, ability and leadership would have been invaluable this season and would be next.
The Ryan Bennett argument is a no brainer. Played at a much higher level for a large part of his career and has the class to still be very very good at this level. I get its the old 'ex-player' stuff. However take that out of it and I think we'd all be very for it and the only reason we're talking about it is it's nearly happened twice, apparently.
His calmness, ability and leadership would have been invaluable this season and would be next.
agree totally
would continue another trend I hope to see continued - the recruitment of players with local or regional links . It must make life so much easier , as they're already settled, or have roots in the locality/region.
How many players are likely to be at a club for 3 years ? If they’re young and any good they’ll be gone . If we can sign a player of RB pedigree for a year or two it’s a no brainer .
Beat me to it, almost word-for-word what I was going to say.
I sometimes think people who play Football Manager and take a L2 club to the Prem think it’s actually really possible! If you have a young player who’s good enough, they’re gone, end of story. If you’re in L2 and you have a chance to sign a former Prem player who’s past his best but still far too good for this level, you sign them. It’s short term-isn because that’s life down here.
The big EPL clubs build for the future by buying young talent. If we had an average age of 28-29 in L2, I wouldn’t be in the slightest bit worried.
My only issue with Bennett would be that it wouldn't address the attribute we lack a bit at the back, pace.
Mullarkey, Rodgers and Tharme are all under contract and in the case of Rodgers and Tharme have 2 years left on their deals. I don't really think any of them will be leaving. Neither are blessed with pace. Bennett's a fine player and would bring plenty to our defence, but pace wouldn't be one of those attributes. I think it would have to a case of Bennett in for one of those of three and then AN Other coming in to bring some pace.
Our quickest defender is the one who's out of contract, Maher.
My only issue with Bennett would be that it wouldn't address the attribute we lack a bit at the back, pace.
Mullarkey, Rodgers and Tharme are all under contract and in the case of Rodgers and Tharme have 2 years left on their deals. I don't really think any of them will be leaving. Neither are blessed with pace. Bennett's a fine player but he wouldn't bring pace to the defence.
Our quickest defender is the one who's out of contract, Maher.
I've seen a few comments about Tharme being slow, I actually think he covers ground really quickly. I think the pace at centre half has been made to look a bigger problem than it is because we've had no pace at full back for a while. Glennon moved like he's stuck in mud and Hume isn't much better and then like you said Mullarkey isn't blessed with extreme pace, especially made to look worse when he was playing against a quick winger but reads the game very well at centre half so doesn't really get caught out. I think pace is something we lack throughout the whole squad.
Yeah I don't think any of them are slow, just average. Which is the point across the squad isn't it? No real tortoises but no actual pace either. I don't think he was rapid but Efete was probably our quickest player. Good point down the left side, can add Amos to that issue too. It badly exposed us too often last season.
Be it defence, midfield or attack, it's something we really lack and I'm certain Artell will be looking at. Lost count of the times this season when we had the opportunity to hit sides on the counter but teams easily recover because we've no one to stretch away from them. Crying out for a Max Wright against Wrexham type break.
The Ryan Bennett argument is a no brainer. Played at a much higher level for a large part of his career and has the class to still be very very good at this level. I get its the old 'ex-player' stuff. However take that out of it and I think we'd all be very for it and the only reason we're talking about it is it's nearly happened twice, apparently.
His calmness, ability and leadership would have been invaluable this season and would be next.
This is why we could/should consider Ryan if the deal comes up - we constantly bemoan the lack of leadership on the pitch. Ryan would organise the defence, instil confidence into other players and be perfectly happy to hand out a b*llocking to anyone who needed it. And do his own job perfectly well.
And we'd be behind him 100%
Say it quietly...the new Paul Futcher.....
Miss Scunthorpe. Not a beauty pageant, just sound advice.
Yeah I don't think any of them are slow, just average. Which is the point across the squad isn't it? No real tortoises but no actual pace either. I don't think he was rapid but Efete was probably our quickest player. Good point down the left side, can add Amos to that issue too. It badly exposed us too often last season.
Be it defence, midfield or attack, it's something we really lack and I'm certain Artell will be looking at. Lost count of the times this season when we had the opportunity to hit sides on the counter but teams easily recover because we've no one to stretch away from them. Crying out for a Max Wright against Wrexham type break.
Aye and to back that point up, the amount of times we've had a corner and they break away and score... personal favourite is Green chasing Andy Cannon back against Wrexham and falling over his own feet
My only issue with Bennett would be that it wouldn't address the attribute we lack a bit at the back, pace.
I was starting to write a post as to why signing Bennett would be a terrible idea, but by the end of it had just about talked myself into it. If we’re going to revert to playing out from the back next season, Bennett should at least be capable of that given the level he’s played out, and has been a mainstay of a side that has avoided relegation from a tough League One.
But you hit the nail on the head; we are absolutely crying out for some athleticism at centre-half. I’m absolutely not suggesting Toto, but someone of that ilk is an absolute must. If it’s a case of being a choice between a 34 year-old Ryan Bennett and someone big and quick (who can still play a bit), then I think the gaps in the team at present dictate the latter as the better option, but if both are a possibility, then that might be a nice bit of business.
I assume we’re all in agreement that Maher is done.
I was starting to write a post as to why signing Bennett would be a terrible idea, but by the end of it had just about talked myself into it. If we’re going to revert to playing out from the back next season, Bennett should at least be capable of that given the level he’s played out, and has been a mainstay of a side that has avoided relegation from a tough League One.
But you hit the nail on the head; we are absolutely crying out for some athleticism at centre-half. I’m absolutely not suggesting Toto, but someone of that ilk is an absolute must. If it’s a case of being a choice between a 34 year-old Ryan Bennett and someone big and quick (who can still play a bit), then I think the gaps in the team at present dictate the latter as the better option, but if both are a possibility, then that might be a nice bit of business.
I assume we’re all in agreement that Maher is done.
I think we can 'afford' both (Bennett and a quicker player). I am not generally happy about bringing back old players but Ryan is an exception for me - leader, calm influence, bloody good player.
His lack of pace was not an issue for Cambridge this season and last.
Miss Scunthorpe. Not a beauty pageant, just sound advice.
Aye and to back that point up, the amount of times we've had a corner and they break away and score... personal favourite is Green chasing Andy Cannon back against Wrexham and falling over his own feet
Almost as good as this from Rochdale's Warren Goodhind trying to stop Michael Reddy (About 1:10 in)
I think we can 'afford' both (Bennett and a quicker player). I am not generally happy about bringing back old players but Ryan is an exception for me - leader, calm influence, bloody good player.
His lack of pace was not an issue for Cambridge this season and last.
I've no intel or insight but would be surprised if we can afford both without someone going out. Body for body Maher could be replaced by Bennett. But an extra central defender would put us at 5 plus young Bramwell. I think 5 or 6 is a decent number, especially if you're playing 3 at the back, but all of those will be on a decent whack.
Who was Bennett paired with at Cambridge, or rather are they quicker players?
On Poojah's point regards Maher, I agree. It's a shame as I think he's a good player and if I had to choose between him and Rodgers, he wins every time. But we need to mix things up in there and he's the easy/available option to do so.
I assume we’re all in agreement that Maher is done.
Yep, in different circumstances you'd be able to make an argument for keeping. However, we have Tharme and Rodgers under contract - we cannot go into next season with 3 of the centre-halves that have lead us to 20th in L2. Would only leave room for one more and I'd argue we need minimum two, possibly three but Rodgers contract length will get him another shot, hopefully we see abit of the Rob Jones second season effect.
I get the notion that we need someone with pace, but having pace never bothered Futcher. I also think the Bennett signing would put a few on season ticket sales.
Futcher played with better players as Town team-mates than anyone we could hope to pair Bennett with next season.
Futcher was also a far better player than Bennett. I'd argue that pace has become more important in the last 30 years too.
Don't get me wrong, I think Bennett would be a very good addition. I just don't think he should be the primary focus for strengthening the defence this summer. If we can get him and someone quick and strong, I like the Toto comparison earlier, then happy days all round.
With regards all these suggestions of ex-GTFC players returning, what we have to remember is that in previous seasons we all got to know the type of player that Hurst would sign/re-sign so could quite easily pre-empt the final result.
But now we have the mysterious Big Dave, who is 'only' the Head Coach, and Big Joe Hutchinson with his laptop of wizardry on the hunt for new players. We dont have a 'scooby' about the type of players either of them are searching for, and the January acquisitions proved that completely.
Personally, I very much doubt one of the options on Joe's Excel sheet, is where individual players are living/based, and certainly won't have extra points added if they have played for Town before.
Just like January, I think most of our new signings will receive plenty of 'ooooohs' and a regular smattering of 'aaaaahs' when they are announced.
One ex player I would like to see back is Ben Fox. I am sure we could afford him because I had a chat with one of the staff at Northampton last year and he assured me that the rumours about a £4k+ per week salary were nonsense. Most players at that time were on £2.5 to £3k a week and he was not one of the bigger earners.
I really liked Fox and he's as close to a complete midfielder we've had since the Disley days. Someone who can do a bit of everything effectively.
But he's been unavailable for Northampton more than he has been available in his two years there. Even removing the inflated additional money that fans will have put on his weekly wage, he would be one of the top earners. We would need more than 20 games a season from that.
One ex player I would like to see back is Ben Fox. I am sure we could afford him because I had a chat with one of the staff at Northampton last year and he assured me that the rumours about a £4k+ per week salary were nonsense. Most players at that time were on £2.5 to £3k a week and he was not one of the bigger earners.
Fox did a great job for us but..
He came to us with a reputation for injuries and we were almost the last chance saloon for him. At Northampton he has played well but has missed a lot of football because of injury (he has played 41 games in 2 seasons). I think we got lucky with him and playing a level below our current level was very good for him.
Miss Scunthorpe. Not a beauty pageant, just sound advice.
He massively capable of the Artell Ball and style. Keeping him fit would be the only issue.
But again the signings of the likes of Ben Fox or Ryan Bennett no longer fits the clubs transfer philosophy! Young, Ruff, Raw players they can gamble on and turn for a profit! we will end up with more Conteh-esk players. Where they use Town as a platform to spring back up the leagues and we make a quick buck or two!
He massively capable of the Artell Ball and style. Keeping him fit would be the only issue.
But again the signings of the likes of Ben Fox or Ryan Bennett no longer fits the clubs transfer philosophy! Young, Ruff, Raw players they can gamble on and turn for a profit! we will end up with more Conteh-esk players. Where they use Town as a platform to spring back up the leagues and we make a quick buck or two!
Like the young, inexperienced central midfielder we signed in January?
The Ryan Bennett argument is a no brainer. Played at a much higher level for a large part of his career and has the class to still be very very good at this level. I get its the old 'ex-player' stuff. However take that out of it and I think we'd all be very for it and the only reason we're talking about it is it's nearly happened twice, apparently.
His calmness, ability and leadership would have been invaluable this season and would be next.
Who was the centre back that Slade brought back in his last spell at the expense of Pearson ? He was ex Premiersh*t with years of experience and was awful. It's all about opinions but I'm sure we can find a longer term and better option than Ryan Bennett.
The Future is Black & White. "The commonest thing on this planet is not water , as some people believe, but stupidity ". Frank Zappa
The strategy isn't just to solely bring in those young players to develop and move on, however it will include that. We signed 30 year old Thompson and 28 year old Liam Smith this January.
Who was the centre back that Slade brought back in his last spell at the expense of Pearson ? He was ex Premiersh*t with years of experience and was awful. It's all about opinions but I'm sure we can find a longer term and better option than Ryan Bennett.
Nathan Clarke but not sure he went above League 1.
Who was the centre back that Slade brought back in his last spell at the expense of Pearson ? He was ex Premiersh*t with years of experience and was awful. It's all about opinions but I'm sure we can find a longer term and better option than Ryan Bennett.
Clarke, ex- Coventry but he did score v Notts County to help keep us up!
I've seen a few comments about Tharme being slow, I actually think he covers ground really quickly. I think the pace at centre half has been made to look a bigger problem than it is because we've had no pace at full back for a while. Glennon moved like he's stuck in mud and Hume isn't much better and then like you said Mullarkey isn't blessed with extreme pace, especially made to look worse when he was playing against a quick winger but reads the game very well at centre half so doesn't really get caught out. I think pace is something we lack throughout the whole squad.
Sorry mate. Disagree completely about Hume's pace. E.g. He was absolutely flying down the wing in his debut at Accrington. His team-mates didn't take proper advantage of his terrific runs, but he had probably trained with them only once at that time.
With regards all these suggestions of ex-GTFC players returning, what we have to remember is that in previous seasons we all got to know the type of player that Hurst would sign/re-sign so could quite easily pre-empt the final result.
But now we have the mysterious Big Dave, who is 'only' the Head Coach, and Big Joe Hutchinson with his laptop of wizardry on the hunt for new players. We dont have a 'scooby' about the type of players either of them are searching for, and the January acquisitions proved that completely.
Personally, I very much doubt one of the options on Joe's Excel sheet, is where individual players are living/based, and certainly won't have extra points added if they have played for Town before.
Just like January, I think most of our new signings will receive plenty of 'ooooohs' and a regular smattering of 'aaaaahs' when they are announced.
Personally I think you're wrong on this. I think most of us know that our location is a negative. You try to recruit regionally and suddenly it becomes a positive. Look at Wilson, Orsi & Crocombe. A major reason for all of them leaving was the desire to be closer to home. Now, if home is the East Midlands or Ull/Goole/Scunny etc, then our location becomes a positive.
I know , given the shiite season we have, that this season's squad isn't a great model, but we had Eastwood, Cartwright, Maher, Waterfall, Rodgers, Amos (?) ,Green, Clifton, Khouri, Bramwell, Gradener, Thompson, Hunt,Vernham,Holohan, Rose & Eisa all in that category.
I will bet you a penny to a pound that locality/origin is 1 of the filters in Joe's search engine
There are literally thousands of footballers out there looking for a chance to show what they can do, and yet every transfer thread throws up a yearning for ex players.
When the summer recruitment started, most of the players we were linked with or signed were known or recognisable names, which is a theme of Hurst. He does like to sign players he has worked with before, and look how that turned out.
In Jan, I knew nothing of the players we brought in, and they have all been an improvement to varying degrees.
I hope the summer signings are the same type who have me asking myself "who"? and heading to google to find out. Would make an exception for Ryan Bennett as he is locally based and 34 is not old for modern professional footballers who have better training and diet regimes than footballers of old. Think most League 2 clubs would be interested in him, but we have the advantage of him living locally, and maybe he fancies not having to travel a distance to training 3 times a week.
I'll do what I always do, which is to sit back patiently and wait for the actual signings to be announced in due course.
Had a gutful of footy this season, and will be glad of the break for a few weeks.
He came to us with a reputation for injuries and we were almost the last chance saloon for him. At Northampton he has played well but has missed a lot of football because of injury (he has played 41 games in 2 seasons). I think we got lucky with him and playing a level below our current level was very good for him.
Fox only started 22 out of our 44 regular season NL matches for us.
Fox only started 22 out of our 44 regular season NL matches for us.
He was just fit at the right time wasn't he thankfully . I imagine when he left the Matches played V ££££ just couldn't justify it , it's probably proven the right decision based on the amount of games he's played for Northampton ; pretty sure he got another 'big' injury there aswell and was out for ages . Very good player but probably only good for 20 games a season at most .
Fox only started 22 out of our 44 regular season NL matches for us.
Didnt realise it was that few!
Remember him coming on against Notts I think? Him and Raikhy ran the midfield and we won 2-1, it set us on a winning run, and in the Play offs themselves, he was absolutely incredible
Remember him coming on against Notts I think? Him and Raikhy ran the midfield and we won 2-1, it set us on a winning run, and in the Play offs themselves, he was absolutely incredible
Someone has posted on twitter a screenshot of an instagram post made by Gav Holahan’s girlfriend which says his time is done at Town. Not particularly surprised but thought announcements would come post Crawley…
Someone has posted on twitter a screenshot of an instagram post made by Gav Holahan’s girlfriend which says his time is done at Town. Not particularly surprised but thought announcements would come post Crawley…
The announcements probably will do - no idea why some oddballs think they should be trawling the private accounts of players’ partners. Bizarre behaviour.
Have you heard that on the grapevine or is it purely speculation?
Either way don’t think I’m surprised. Green in particular has always seemed in favour with DA, and think there probably has been improvement in his game over the last few matches. Would be interesting to see if there is any more room for improvement with him because you can’t knock the blokes work rate.
Have you heard that on the grapevine or is it purely speculation?
Either way don’t think I’m surprised. Green in particular has always seemed in favour with DA, and think there probably has been improvement in his game over the last few matches. Would be interesting to see if there is any more room for improvement with him because you can’t knock the blokes work rate.
Despite what people might say about me on here, you can take it as fact. Also speaking to Hume. The rest out of contract are leaving.
Despite what people might say about me on here, you can take it as fact. Also speaking to Hume. The rest out of contract are leaving.
Ainley leaving then? I would have assumed he may have been offered a contract with Artell knowing him well from Crewe and also he spoke highly of him in interviews
To be fair I never asked about ainley so that could be the case. Looking at how the club did the right thing by scannell it wouldn’t surprise me at all plus he’s certainly the type of player we’ve been crying out for. So yeah I may have overlooked ainley when I said all others leaving but I don’t know either way.
Alan - any insight into whether any contracts are going to be cancelled or under contract players leaving?
There’s a couple that have been told they are free to find a new club, but the club won’t be paying them up certainly not yet anyway and they aren’t hopeful they’ll get many takers 😂
Cant say Im over enthused about either of them. Dont think Green is a League 2 player at all
Absolutely agree regarding Clifton he’s very poor ( I’d imagine his versatility is the reason to be offered terms to save money in the squad)! But with green I think as a squad player there is an argument that he’s a good option to have for horses for courses scenarios ! Although I’d hope he’s not a starting regular come August!
Green & Clifton are squad players for me if we want to do better next next season. Haven’t seen enough of Ainley to have an opinion but he did make an impact when he came on last week for sure.
"Crombie you would have got to that if you weren't such a fat ba%$@rd" - George Kerr, inspiration from the dug out 70s style
Cant say Im over enthused about either of them. Dont think Green is a League 2 player at all
6 months ago I'd have wholeheartedly agreed with you. I was amongst his biggest critics; the man with toblerone shaped feet and head was my description, whose passing ability made Harry look like De Bruyne.
BUT he has come on leaps and bounds under Artell; at Gillingham i had to keep double checking that it was actually Green that I was watching! If it's true about the contract then that is going to be of the interesting things to watch next season, can he sustain this improvement or can he go further still
My question would be can both Clifton and Green improve with hopefully better players around them next season?
Harry seems to have lost his shooting boots in recent months.
Green has shown that he can be a valuable player if he can stay fit and get the tackles in to harden the midfield.
I'm not saying that both will be star players next season, but both have the ability to improve to compete for team places.
They both have the energy needed, now we need to see more skill to match the energy.
Callum Ainley has briefly shown that there is a footballing brain and good passing ability, and if he can be fully fit again, he could be a bargain signing for next season.
For me, a signing for the No 10 position will be a vital requirement to make the midfield and front line much more mobile than this season.
Artell has now had sufficient time to know where the weaknesses are, and hopefully will be talking to Hutchinson to remedy the situation without having to resort to injury prone signings.
I still hope that they can uncover another Conteh type find for next season.
Glennon as a left back in current form looks to be out of the door, but could he have been any better playing as an attacking left sided midfielder?
Weak in defence, but always looked good going forward and his dead ball deliveries have been missed at set pieces. Worth a pre-season trial in that position?
if true.. Harry and Green will be squad players I think - Harry as a utility type and Green more for legs and fight in last 20 mins of a game Stockwood has said (and repeated) we are working to a game model... in other words concentrate on the way we play rather than tinkering dependent on who we play Buckley was the same - didn't give a toss who we were playing it was always 442 passing footy and "come and see if you can beat us cos we aren't changing"
On that basis I'd say (with Gav leaving) Artell will look only for creative midfielders in summer - we have enough fight and work horses; what we need is that extra quality we need to enable us to play fast, attacking, passing footy
I'm fine with keeping Clifton, as long as we accept he's a winger. His best spells have all come while playing on the left and his ability to get back and offer defensive cover is always useful. I think it's often overlooked too that he is one of the best dribblers in our team - he just happens to be like most wingers at this level, with poor end product.
Not enthused about Green at all. Will be disappointed if he's been promised anything more than being a squad player.
Heard a rumour Clifton is looking to leave. Been told it's a sort of "now or never" type situation
Heard similar. No idea if there’s anything in it though.
Batch, Crombie, Moore K, Wiggington, Cumming, Waters, Bonnyman, Ford, Emson, Drinkell, Whymark. Love you all, You are the reason I'm on here. You've had help from Todd, Handyside, Futcher P, Groves, Mendonca, Macca etc etc etc. Up The Mariners!!!!!!!!!
The club have a years option on Green’s contract. I highly doubt it’ll be new terms being discussed.
"Falls to Arnold... Arnold! That's it! Thats it! He's sealed it! Grimsby Town are back in the football league!!! Just a minute to go and Nathan Arnold makes it 3-1! Look at the scenes behind the goal! Look at the relief! The agony is finally over!!!"
John Tondeur - Wembley Stadium Sunday 15th May 2016
Can't read too much into it, but in Artells post Crawley interview he said about the retained lists etc, and also said meetings with the players on Monday and retained list either Monday , Tuesday or Wednesday. He also said a meeting with another player . . .
Can't read too much into it, but in Artells post Crawley interview he said about the retained lists etc, and also said meetings with the players on Monday and retained list either Monday , Tuesday or Wednesday. He also said a meeting with another player . . .
The meeting of other players is normal at this time of the year. In fact, I’d be worried if he weren’t.
He didn’t look very happy yesterday when he was warming up in front of me . I had the thought he looks like he’s off .
I can't lie, i hope he does go I'm not going to cry bottom about it, be gutted if we lost Thompson for comparison. I'll maintain if it wasn't for him being "one of our own" most people wouldn't be calling for him to get a new contract, he's NL level at best, and to progress we need more Thompsons and less Cliftons/Greens/Holohans.
He didn’t look very happy yesterday when he was warming up in front of me . I had the thought he looks like he’s off .
It didn’t look particularly fun for many of them yesterday. A game with nothing to play for league wise but potentially contracts on the table, but also knowing there is about to be a massive squad clear out.
Think this is probably a crossroads moment of Clifton’s career, if the rumours are true then DA has offered him a contract however it could be that his agent is telling him to see what else is out there. Its a dilemma for him, under PH Harry was first on the team sheet, but I think next season under DA it will be different
It didn’t look particularly fun for many of them yesterday. A game with nothing to play for league wise but potentially contracts on the table, but also knowing there is about to be a massive squad clear out.
Think this is probably a crossroads moment of Clifton’s career, if the rumours are true then DA has offered him a contract however it could be that his agent is telling him to see what else is out there. Its a dilemma for him, under PH Harry was first on the team sheet, but I think next season under DA it will be different
If the data is driving our recruitment, it should also drive our retention, otherwise there is a conflict and it's unlikely to be successful.
I can't lie, i hope he does go I'm not going to cry bottom about it, be gutted if we lost Thompson for comparison. I'll maintain if it wasn't for him being "one of our own" most people wouldn't be calling for him to get a new contract, he's NL level at best, and to progress we need more Thompsons and less Cliftons/Greens/Holohans.
Thompson, good player, reads the game well, clever and strong. He can't run though. We need legs around him.
If Clifton leaves it will be league 2 or higher, not had a great season but nowhere near as bad as people have made out. Was fantastic the two seasons previous.
Thompson, good player, reads the game well, clever and strong. He can't run though. We need legs around him.
If Clifton leaves it will be league 2 or higher, not had a great season but nowhere near as bad as people have made out. Was fantastic the two seasons previous.
Agree with the assessment of Clifton. Lots of attributes that other clubs would welcome. He’s clearly been short of confidence this season particularly in front of goal. People seem to think he gets an easy ride because he is a Grimsby lad but I actually think the opposite is true.
Agree with the assessment of Clifton. Lots of attributes that other clubs would welcome. He’s clearly been short of confidence this season particularly in front of goal. People seem to think he gets an easy ride because he is a Grimsby lad but I actually think the opposite is true.
DA did mention this recently saying it was hard for the lad living and playing in the same small town. Bit like school teachers no longer live anywhere near where they teach. The days of leaving your house in campden crescent and rocking up to the ground with your boots strung over your shoulders have long gone
Some players play better when the quality of the other players around them is better. Play with shite players and that rubs off and makes them also play worse.
Lets see how it goes, but if he wants to leave, best of luck to him.
Some players play better when the quality of the other players around them is better. Play with shite players and that rubs off and makes them also play worse.
Yeah, passengers they’re called. This season we’ve had more passengers than then 9x. Can’t afford any next year.
a 25 year old who's been in the League of Ireland for 4 years and never played league football? really? Same league as Wood came from , where he was supposed to be really good, and he hardly pulled up any trees here
A 5'8" centre half is certainly interesting! Suggests he must have other good qualities and isn't just a big lump. I wonder if this indicates we'll be sticking with the back three?
a 25 year old who's been in the League of Ireland for 4 years and never played league football? really? Same league as Wood came from , where he was supposed to be really good, and he hardly pulled up any trees here
Hutchinson was part of bringing a few Irish players into Lincoln, it hasn’t worked out too badly for them..
a 25 year old who's been in the League of Ireland for 4 years and never played league football? really? Same league as Wood came from , where he was supposed to be really good, and he hardly pulled up any trees here
Come on Forza a bit of difference between their ages and experience isn’t there? Not saying this guys any good but I don’t think Wood is the best yardstick to use. As another poster has said taking guys from Ireland has worked quite well for Lincoln!
DA did mention this recently saying it was hard for the lad living and playing in the same small town. Bit like school teachers no longer live anywhere near where they teach. The days of leaving your house in campden crescent and rocking up to the ground with your boots strung over your shoulders have long gone
I’m a teacher and I live next door to two of my students. Weirdly their granddad was former GTFC chairmen John Elsom…small world …in the Caribbean!
a 25 year old who's been in the League of Ireland for 4 years and never played league football? really? Same league as Wood came from , where he was supposed to be really good, and he hardly pulled up any trees here
There's probally loads, but James McClean at Wrexham came from Derry City straight into Sunderlands team when they was in the Premiership. See Luke McNallys name pop up the other day and noticed he came from Derry City and signed for Oxford United, after one season in League One, he signed for Burnley in the Championship for 2 Million >>https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Luke_McNally
Live amongst Cambridge fans who universally welcomed Ryan Bennet as a good signing but equally have been surprised how much he’s slowed down over the season. Increasingly used from the bench.
Suspect our ‘analysts’ are very keen on venturing into Europe and our owners would back such an idea because of greater value…..Expect a few imports.
There's probally loads, but James McClean at Wrexham came from Derry City straight into Sunderlands team when they was in the Premiership. See Luke McNallys name pop up the other day and noticed he came from Derry City and signed for Oxford United, after one season in League One, he signed for Burnley in the Championship for 2 Million >>https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Luke_McNally
I am the world's worst pundit so I am more than likely to be completely wrong.McJannett will sign and be a world beater, but both McLean & McNally weren't in the LoI for 4 seasons and had attracted interest before they eventually left. can't see there's been any interest in McJannett. Also i follow the NI league quite closely, and it only takes half a season before they are snapped up.
Equally I totally accept that Joe has had some success with Irish recruitment, and he will have forgotten more than I will ever know
Live amongst Cambridge fans who universally welcomed Ryan Bennet as a good signing but equally have been surprised how much he’s slowed down over the season. Increasingly used from the bench.
Suspect our ‘analysts’ are very keen on venturing into Europe and our owners would back such an idea because of greater value…..Expect a few imports.
The fact that RB has slowed down and been increasingly used from the bench should be proof enough that he isn't for us. Waterfall was in a similar situation for us this season and allowed to leave.
The Future is Black & White. "The commonest thing on this planet is not water , as some people believe, but stupidity ". Frank Zappa
The fact that RB has slowed down and been increasingly used from the bench should be proof enough that he isn't for us. Waterfall was in a similar situation for us this season and allowed to leave.
He’s made 43 appearances this season and in minutes played has played 38.66 games.
Let’s not just believe something cause one persons said it’s true on the internet..
On what must have been a slow news day by even Blackpool's standards back in January, their local online rag handily put together this list of 20 league 2 players who would be out of contract this summer. Waterfall appears on it, but please skip over number 2 on the list for your own sanity :
Had some decent players from overseas in the past so i do hope our scouting network and data analysts are searching far and wide for the next zang enhua, ivano, jamie forrister, david neilson, menno willams
Charlie Lakin, on loan at Sutton from Burton, is an interesting one. 8 goals from his last 15 games in midfield at League Two’s second worst side seems like a pretty impressive return under the circumstances.
To temper that a little, at 24 years-old he’s done next to nothing in his career prior to that, however Dan Kemp who suddenly found form at relegated Hartlepool last season has kept it going at Swindon and BFS this season with another 19 goals, so maybe worth a look at what our super-spreadsheet says.
Also at Sutton, big Harry Smith scored another 14 this season, again at a struggling side. He’s probably one of the most touted non-ex GTFC players in recent summer windows, and still the type of player I feel we sorely lack. Maybe not conducive to Artell-ball v2, mind.
Charlie Lakin, on loan at Sutton from Burton, is an interesting one. 8 goals from his last 15 games in midfield at League Two’s second worst side seems like a pretty impressive return under the circumstances.
To temper that a little, at 24 years-old he’s done next to nothing in his career prior to that, however Dan Kemp who suddenly found form at relegated Hartlepool last season has kept it going at Swindon and BFS this season with another 19 goals, so maybe worth a look at what our super-spreadsheet says.
Also at Sutton, big Harry Smith scored another 14 this season, again at a struggling side. He’s probably one of the most touted non-ex GTFC players in recent summer windows, and still the type of player I feel we sorely lack. Maybe not conducive to Artell-ball v2, mind.
I do hope we recruit someone that can actually attack a set piece though, launching Tharmes throw ins into the box is as useful as a chocolate fireguard.
A quick scan of Transfermarkt doesn't fill me with excitement - 8 goals in 44 appearances, made the first 11 50% of the time and joined Barrow after bouncing between Southend and Maidenhead on loan and then permanently.
The new Abo Eisa. And we still need to get rid of the old one.
Miss Scunthorpe. Not a beauty pageant, just sound advice.
Pretty sure he was one we heard mentioned last summer and January aswell? Only 23
I think we’ve been linked with him going all the way back to the January-22 window in the National League. Not sure that validates or invalidates the rumour.
On what must have been a slow news day by even Blackpool's standards back in January, their local online rag handily put together this list of 20 league 2 players who would be out of contract this summer. Waterfall appears on it, but please skip over number 2 on the list for your own sanity :
A quick scan of Transfermarkt doesn't fill me with excitement - 8 goals in 44 appearances, made the first 11 50% of the time and joined Barrow after bouncing between Southend and Maidenhead on loan and then permanently.
The new Abo Eisa. And we still need to get rid of the old one.
Tbf to him, Barrow probably have 2 of the best strikers in the league.
A quick scan of Transfermarkt doesn't fill me with excitement - 8 goals in 44 appearances, made the first 11 50% of the time and joined Barrow after bouncing between Southend and Maidenhead on loan and then permanently.
The new Abo Eisa. And we still need to get rid of the old one.
He's more an Akinde type isn't he ? Thought he looked decent against us tbf big and strong with decent technique . Sign him up
If, like other Managers/Head Coaches, DA looks towards his previous incumbents at Crewe, there are a few that look to be out of contract who might have some interest in playing under him again.
Billy Sass-Davies was made available for transfer by Crewe at the end of the 22-23 season, but went out on a season long loan to Boreham Wood instead.
Luke Offord is available, but he is still recovering from ankle surgery. He was appointed the club Captain in the 22-23 season, having played under DA the season before.
If, like other Managers/Head Coaches, DA looks towards his previous incumbents at Crewe, there are a few that look to be out of contract who might have some interest in playing under him again.
Billy Sass-Davies was made available for transfer by Crewe at the end of the 22-23 season, but went out on a season long loan to Boreham Wood instead.
Luke Offord is available, but he is still recovering from ankle surgery. He was appointed the club Captain in the 22-23 season, having played under DA the season before.
That may be true, but I get the impression that this summers recruitment will be data lead rather than who you might have managed before..
I know it's not a transfer nor rumour but just a random thought I had. Clifton would make a better fullback than central midfielder. Would be like a new signing. He proven he is decent on the wing when he had that good spell at left mid. Be interesting to see him have a run at right back, think he could be quite effective there as he doesn't have the presence to be a central mid in my opinion
We don’t need any wingbacks or fullbacks that cant cross the ball. It’s a low bar but most of this squad have failed to reach it. Quick thought experiment - can anyone remember a single good pass that Clifton has managed in a town shirt? For someone who’s played the majority of his career in midfield I’m struggling to remember one incisive, accurate, chance-creating pass.
We don’t need any wingbacks or fullbacks that cant cross the ball. It’s a low bar but most of this squad have failed to reach it. Quick thought experiment - can anyone remember a single good pass that Clifton has managed in a town shirt? For someone who’s played the majority of his career in midfield I’m struggling to remember one incisive, accurate, chance-creating pass.
Have to agree with you tbh, Clifton is a hard working midfielder not really creative and not really a goalscorer either. I do really like having a local lad in the side and I do think it is important but think the reality is he's probably just not cut out for this level.
Have to agree with you tbh, Clifton is a hard working midfielder not really creative and not really a goalscorer either. I do really like having a local lad in the side and I do think it is important but think the reality is he's probably just not cut out for this level.
I think he's a good one to have around for his versatility , I would be keen on keeping him . As a left midfield player he's more than capable aswell imo ,he had a very good season last time out with a decent goals return ; whether he has the capabilities in an Artell ball type team is debatable but it's certainly not in the middle of the park .
I think for his own good and any opportunity of playing higher up in the short term he should leave anyway for a fresh challenge, he would probably do really well away from his hometown club with less scrutiny and expectation .
I know it's not a transfer nor rumour but just a random thought I had. Clifton would make a better fullback than central midfielder. Would be like a new signing. He proven he is decent on the wing when he had that good spell at left mid. Be interesting to see him have a run at right back, think he could be quite effective there as he doesn't have the presence to be a central mid in my opinion
As cover, but not ideally first choice at full back for me. His fitness is great but I don’t think his passing and crossing are as good as we night want from attacking full backs. I think you need your wing backs, if we go with that philosophy, to be good technically, and ideally, quick.
I know it's not a transfer nor rumour but just a random thought I had. Clifton would make a better fullback than central midfielder. Would be like a new signing. He proven he is decent on the wing when he had that good spell at left mid. Be interesting to see him have a run at right back, think he could be quite effective there as he doesn't have the presence to be a central mid in my opinion
Our greatest ever right back Macca, started as a midfielder under Alan Buckley.
We don’t need any wingbacks or fullbacks that cant cross the ball. It’s a low bar but most of this squad have failed to reach it. Quick thought experiment - can anyone remember a single good pass that Clifton has managed in a town shirt? For someone who’s played the majority of his career in midfield I’m struggling to remember one incisive, accurate, chance-creating pass.
Can't believe he hasn't made any. Was it against Luton he beat two players despite being fouled and got the ball in for a goal.
Our greatest ever right back Macca, started as a midfielder under Alan Buckley.
Was under Lyon’s that he used to play right midfield , while he was still on YTS. Can’t imagine that in the second tier now.
Baldrick ! The only impression you can do is that of a man with no talent !! GTFC team 09/10 - Baldrick, Baldrick, Baldrick, Baldrick, Baldrick, Baldrick, Baldrick, Baldrick, Baldrick, Baldrick, Baldrick.
We don’t need any wingbacks or fullbacks that cant cross the ball. It’s a low bar but most of this squad have failed to reach it. Quick thought experiment - can anyone remember a single good pass that Clifton has managed in a town shirt? For someone who’s played the majority of his career in midfield I’m struggling to remember one incisive, accurate, chance-creating pass.
I think there are a few. Here's one 2nd goal in this game.
Smith looked fine to me. At least he seemed to know what he was doing as a full-back, unlike some of the players we've had in there this season. Took his goal excellently-well against Swindon as well. I wouldn't be enormously excited if he signed, but I'd rather see him at right-back than Mullarkey.
George Lloyd's out of contract as well (although unlike Smith he's been offered a new deal by Cheltenham). Yes yes ex-players and all that etc etc zzzz, but i'd be shoving our own contract under his nose and trying to tempt him back here.
York's owner tweeted 'Early bird gets the worm 🐛 stay Tuned' the other day, so adds credence to that. Think they're desperate to get him back.
He's got a track record for spending big, so will probably happen.
They are also desperately after AMOS so he could very much be the first signing they are referring to. But yes they want Hunt too, we'll see if they'll stump up the cash....
They are also desperately after AMOS so he could very much be the first signing they are referring to. But yes they want Hunt too, we'll see if they'll stump up the cash....
Really liked Amos great attitude and a great signing at that level.
George Lloyd's out of contract as well (although unlike Smith he's been offered a new deal by Cheltenham). Yes yes ex-players and all that etc etc zzzz, but i'd be shoving our own contract under his nose and trying to tempt him back here.
Lloyd seemed happy to be here and certainly buzzed around in the no10 role, dragging defenders out of position and scoring an odd few goals as well.
Has some pace in him and chases lost causes. Would be a very good acquisition, so I hope that the data proves me right, and someone has been tracking him in a poor side this season.
Not sure if he finished the season injured as he wasn't playing or on the bench in their last few matches ?
Lloyd seemed happy to be here and certainly buzzed around in the no10 role, dragging defenders out of position and scoring an odd few goals as well.
Has some pace in him and chases lost causes. Would be a very good acquisition, so I hope that the data proves me right, and someone has been tracking him in a poor side this season.
Not sure if he finished the season injured as he wasn't playing or on the bench in their last few matches ?
I wonder if Danny Rose lives in Barnsley, seen as that's his home town. Doncaster is much closer than Grimsby . . .
I'm sure I've read somewhere that he lives round the corner from a town fan who also lives in Barnsley.
Hopefully the injury he's carrying will stop people looking for now.
I dont know much about the Donny team but I read somewhere part of the reason they've done well is because of the loan players they've brought in, which may not translate to future permanent signings. Unless they do win the playoffs I'm not sure moving to Donny would be a better move, unless travel is that much of a factor for him. If Barnsley swooped for him however, that could be a different story
I'm sure I've read somewhere that he lives round the corner from a town fan who also lives in Barnsley.
Hopefully the injury he's carrying will stop people looking for now.
I dont know much about the Donny team but I read somewhere part of the reason they've done well is because of the loan players they've brought in, which may not translate to future permanent signings. Unless they do win the playoffs I'm not sure moving to Donny would be a better move, unless travel is that much of a factor for him. If Barnsley swooped for him however, that could be a different story
Yeah, he's still got another year on his contract, I doubt we would let him go for buttons if we did. That Joe Ironside scored 6 of his 20 goals from penalties, so goal scoring very similar to Danny Rose, who scored I think 2 from the penalty spot.
I wonder if Danny Rose lives in Barnsley, seen as that's his home town. Doncaster is much closer than Grimsby . . .
His mum was at a game, someone was chatting to her saying he was settled at Gy and had no intention or interest in leaving before the end of his contract. He's nailed on to be the first name on the team sheet, and to a pro footballer that means an awful lot imo
I thought he did ok too. Got on with his job in a very undramatic way. I wonder if he wasn't offered something because DA already has somebody else in mind for that position.
Two players who run their bits off and never let the opposition defenders have a moment's rest. Would be a very useful pairing at this level and I'd imagine both would score some goals due to the sheer workrate of their partner.
The fact that he has played a good number of games for Cheltenham during this year even though he didn't score very many would tend to indicate he has done OK this season. I tend to doubt he was too much to blame for their relegation!
As others have said, could well see him heading to the Shrews, as we know Hurst likes a player he's worked with in the past.
His mum was at a game, someone was chatting to her saying he was settled at Gy and had no intention or interest in leaving before the end of his contract. He's nailed on to be the first name on the team sheet, and to a pro footballer that means an awful lot imo
That's good to hear, would be good if Town could extend another year maybe. I just noticed his league goals this year at Town are the second highest Rose has scored in his career so far.
Right I know he falls into the old player category, however I'd challenge anyone to actually come up with a decent reason this wouldn't be a good signing - other than the fact he's an ex-player. He lives here and has been close to coming back before so isn't unfounded to some extent.
We've missed leadership and experience this season, he ticks that box. He's played at a high level and is comfortable with the ball to feet, so ticks that box. Only downside is age however someone at 34 who's played at such a high level for a big part of his career will have looked after himself.
Only downside is we will have quite a lot of rumour, speculation and 'ITK' stuff now until he either returns, goes elsewhere or retires...
Right I know he falls into the old player category, however I'd challenge anyone to actually come up with a decent reason this wouldn't be a good signing - other than the fact he's an ex-player. He lives here and has been close to coming back before so isn't unfounded to some extent.
We've missed leadership and experience this season, he ticks that box. He's played at a high level and is comfortable with the ball to feet, so ticks that box. Only downside is age however someone at 34 who's played at such a high level for a big part of his career will have looked after himself.
Only downside is we will have quite a lot of rumour, speculation and 'ITK' stuff now until he either returns, goes elsewhere or retires...
Comments from Cambridge fans:
Big part of keeping Cambridge in Div 1 for last 18 months.
Great shift- good luck for the future.
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Definitely. Right time to move on for us but he's been very good & definitely still has something to offer at this level.
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Go well Sir. Has been pivotal for the last season and a half, but as many of us have been saying for a while, we can only realistically keep one of him and Morro for next season.
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I’ll miss his seemingly constant arms in the air appealing and his always excellent 10 yard sideways passes to Andrew or Lennet.
Right I know he falls into the old player category, however I'd challenge anyone to actually come up with a decent reason this wouldn't be a good signing - other than the fact he's an ex-player. He lives here and has been close to coming back before so isn't unfounded to some extent.
We've missed leadership and experience this season, he ticks that box. He's played at a high level and is comfortable with the ball to feet, so ticks that box. Only downside is age however someone at 34 who's played at such a high level for a big part of his career will have looked after himself.
Only downside is we will have quite a lot of rumour, speculation and 'ITK' stuff now until he either returns, goes elsewhere or retires...
We know in that youthful Crewe side that DA signed players with football league experience. Would shock me if he isn't a Grimsby player next season.
We know in that youthful Crewe side that DA signed players with football league experience. Would shock me if he isn't a Grimsby player next season.
Yep and not as if we haven't had interest before, presumably from Joe Hutchinson, and I'd assume that must have been reciprocated to some degree. Wasn't the rumour last time he wasn't impressed with Doig or something like that?
I'd be shocked if we weren't interested. Think it'd be a great signing for the reasons i said earlier - one to help steady the ship abit.
I’d actually be surprised if we didn’t sign Bennett, makes perfect sense for all parties IMO.
I was told by somebody who’s always been 100% reliable that it was down to him not liking Hurst/Doig that scuppered things last time round. You’d imagine the change of management should open that door again.
Saikou Janneh I mentioned the other day been released. Plenty of pace that we’ve been missing. No intel whatsoever he’s just one of those players I seem to have remembered from watching something
Saikou Janneh I mentioned the other day been released. Plenty of pace that we’ve been missing. No intel whatsoever he’s just one of those players I seem to have remembered from watching something
He played against us a couple of weeks ago, he may just have been having a bad game, but their whole back 4 were awful, they were incredibly slow.
I’d actually be surprised if we didn’t sign Bennett, makes perfect sense for all parties IMO.
I was told by somebody who’s always been 100% reliable that it was down to him not liking Hurst/Doig that scuppered things last time round. You’d imagine the change of management should open that door again.
Doig I can completely get on board with, never took to him personally and know of players who took offence to his way of coaching, But I've never heard of a player come out and say they've never liked Hurst ( unless they wronged him and then he was as stubborn as could be)
I’d actually be surprised if we didn’t sign Bennett, makes perfect sense for all parties IMO.
I was told by somebody who’s always been 100% reliable that it was down to him not liking Hurst/Doig that scuppered things last time round. You’d imagine the change of management should open that door again.
Yeah, I spoke with Ryan a few times over the summer as we often took our dogs walking up at Neville Turners Way and whilst he didn't get into too many details he said that the deal was all but done and then it all fell apart. I don't think it's right to be intrusive into his personal details so i've never asked what actually happened but to go from all but done to signing for Cambridge has to be quite something.
Doig I can completely get on board with, never took to him personally and know of players who took offence to his way of coaching, But I've never heard of a player come out and say they've never liked Hurst ( unless they wronged him and then he was as stubborn as could be)
It was more the way they handled things apparently. He felt as though he’d been messed about and there was an indecision on whether or not to sign him.
Could easily put it down to ego, there’s 2 sides to it no doubt.
It was more the way they handled things apparently. He felt as though he’d been messed about and there was an indecision on whether or not to sign him.
Could easily put it down to ego, there’s 2 sides to it no doubt.
Watch him sign for Shrewsbury now..
Grimsby to Cambridge is a bit of a schlep, Grimsby to Shrewsbury is a royal pain in the *rse unless they can sort out acommodation in the deal.
Miss Scunthorpe. Not a beauty pageant, just sound advice.
One thing we all need to remember is whether the player previously played for Artell or the player previously played for Town or was going to sign last year etc. regardless of the manager/clubs/players desire, if the player doesn't have the data to show he fits into the team plan then we ain't signing him!
Its time for him to come home and finish what he started with us
What, relegation?
Points deductions spared him it in 08/09 and then he got out early enough into the ill fated 09/10 season.
Said earlier, cracking player but if we've only got one centre back slot to fill I think we need more athleticism there than we do the attributes brought by Bennett.
If there's scope for both Bennett and someone else, I'll drive Bennett the 2 miles to Cheapside myself.
Right I know he falls into the old player category, however I'd challenge anyone to actually come up with a decent reason this wouldn't be a good signing - other than the fact he's an ex-player. He lives here and has been close to coming back before so isn't unfounded to some extent.
We've missed leadership and experience this season, he ticks that box. He's played at a high level and is comfortable with the ball to feet, so ticks that box. Only downside is age however someone at 34 who's played at such a high level for a big part of his career will have looked after himself.
Only downside is we will have quite a lot of rumour, speculation and 'ITK' stuff now until he either returns, goes elsewhere or retires...
I can come up with one - it's not a definite one cos I haven't seen the guy play, but it's just a concern that with his age being 34 he may be slow. With Tharme, good as he is in some respects, already being on the slower side then that could be an Achilles heel. We don't want to have a pair of waterfall paces players in the heart of a back 4. However the Cambridge fans comments never mention lack of pace so hopefully this isn't a problem, esp as he is dropping down a level.
The other potential problem is just his age potentially meaning he is more injury prone and that leading to less availability and thus more appearances from Rodger who I just don't trust in a back 4. However, again doesn't seem like he's had issues last season.
Overall I'd be really pleased with his signing if the pace thing isn't an issue.
He was so good he didn't need to run quickly. I'd imagine Bennett would have similarly good positioning and the ability to read the game. He's made almost 500 appearances during his career, mostly at a higher level than we are now. I think he'd be a fine signing.
Pace is helpful in a central defender, but it's not the be all and end all. Maguire is a slow as anything but remains a good defender. Could do with nippy full-backs, mind.
It's also important to remember that Artell is likely to revert back to playing out from the back. Considering the level he's played at in the past and his experience, I'd imagine Bennett is a good fit for this.
I'd also argue that Danny Collins is a good example of how a wise head can easily outweigh a lack of pace, was arguably one of the best centre backs we've had in recent times.
David Artell said on Radio Humberside last night that he will be bringing in players from across of range of ages so don’t think age should factor Ryan Bennet out if he’s a fit for the plan. If his experience also helps the development of the likes of Tharme etc then why not.
I’d actually be surprised if we didn’t sign Bennett, makes perfect sense for all parties IMO.
I was told by somebody who’s always been 100% reliable that it was down to him not liking Hurst/Doig that scuppered things last time round. You’d imagine the change of management should open that door again.
Problem was, we never offered him anything until Cambridge did. From the horses mouth...
according to wiki Ryan has played 268 of his 479 league games at Premiership or Championship level.
(for way of comparison Danny Collins had made 321 of his 333 appearances in the Championship or premiership)
neverapen makes a good point in that his experience and nous could be really positive for Tharme in particular. His leadership (was captain at 19) as well as his ability to play right back are also pluses, and you know he's going to be fully committed to the cause
according to wiki Ryan has played 268 of his 479 league games at Premiership or Championship level.
(for way of comparison Danny Collins had made 321 of his 333 appearances in the Championship or premiership)
neverapen makes a good point in that his experience and nous could be really positive for Tharme in particular. His leadership (was captain at 19) as well as his ability to play right back are also pluses, and you know he's going to be fully committed to the cause
We're often quite skeptical about players of that age as you either 1, expect the legs have gone or 2, they're looking for one last pay day. Based on Cambridge fans reactions we can assume that number 1 is out the window. Number 2 is out the window because we know how much he loves the club and how much he wants to be back here.
We're often quite skeptical about players of that age as you either 1, expect the legs have gone or 2, they're looking for one last pay day. Based on Cambridge fans reactions we can assume that number 1 is out the window. Number 2 is out the window because we know how much he loves the club and how much he wants to be back here.
I wouldn't say 'how much he wants to be back here,' but I get the gist and could be a decent addition
Honestly surprised that anyone would not want someone like Bennett signing for us, given where he's been in his career, where we've been since he left us, and the frankly low quality of players we've had since too.
For a CB that's played at such a high level and clearly looked after himself, 34 is not a terrible age. Danny Collins was 36 when he signed for us and had a few decent seasons still!
Honestly surprised that anyone would not want someone like Bennett signing for us, given where he's been in his career, where we've been since he left us, and the frankly low quality of players we've had since too.
For a CB that's played at such a high level and clearly looked after himself, 34 is not a terrible age. Danny Collins was 36 when he signed for us and had a few decent seasons still!
Apologies if it's been mentioned on this thread earlier - but the great Paul Futcher was 35 when he signed & he gave us 5 class years.
Honestly surprised that anyone would not want someone like Bennett signing for us, given where he's been in his career, where we've been since he left us, and the frankly low quality of players we've had since too.
For a CB that's played at such a high level and clearly looked after himself, 34 is not a terrible age. Danny Collins was 36 when he signed for us and had a few decent seasons still!
Doesn't
It doesn't matter what we think, Artell isn't from the area, and hasn't spaffed himself every time there is any mention of Bennett. I'm sure he has his own targets and Bennett may well not be one of them. Let's move on.
A player that stood out for me last season, even more so that he was in a 5hit team was Kyle mcallister at the veggies. Am sure he won’t want to be playing in the NL given his undoubted ability. Everything this transfer window is far less predictable than previous years so i guess it’s a case of waiting to see
A player that stood out for me last season, even more so that he was in a 5hit team was Kyle mcallister at the veggies. Am sure he won’t want to be playing in the NL given his undoubted ability. Everything this transfer window is far less predictable than previous years so i guess it’s a case of waiting to see
Yeah I'd agree with that.
Thought the Newport left back looked pretty decent to.
Two players that have done well in NL that maybe abit out our reach now (with how well they've done) are Chris Conn-Clarke 22 from 46 at Altrincham and Ben Krauhaus at Bromley (Loaned from Brentford). Would love to be picking a couple up similar with the potential to move on afterwards.
Two players that have done well in NL that maybe abit out our reach now (with how well they've done) are Chris Conn-Clarke 22 from 46 at Altrincham and Ben Krauhaus at Bromley (Loaned from Brentford). Would love to be picking a couple up similar with the potential to move on afterwards.
Conn-Clarke looks one hell of a player. Similar to McAtee in style and gait, but slightly more prolific (at National League-level, at least). Proper tenacious little bàstard.
Like McAtee, I think he’ll end up higher up the food chain than us, though.
The small black lad from Harrogate was very impressive in our home game and always looks decent on clips of Harrogate matches. Apologies for not having a clue what his name is.
The small black lad from Harrogate was very impressive in our home game and always looks decent on clips of Harrogate matches. Apologies for not having a clue what his name is.
Thought Odoh was shite with zero end product personally, exactly the same as when he was at Rochdale. On the other hand I thought Derrick Abu who Harrogate had on loan from Southampton and played at right back for them against us a few weeks ago was superb. Doubt there's much chance Southampton would loan him out to League Two again next season but he's definitely one i'd be happy to have here.
John Marquis 31 been released by brizzle rovers good player at this level
Thought he'd be older, was it Peterborough where he was absolutely unplayable and prolific, then moved to Donny i think..definitely a player that would work brilliantly with Rose imo.
Thought he'd be older, was it Peterborough where he was absolutely unplayable and prolific, then moved to Donny i think..definitely a player that would work brilliantly with Rose imo.
Prolific at Donny, then signed for Portsmouth (where he did ok). Has an excellent record in League Two, where I suspect he'll end up (probably not here though).
Prolific at Donny, then signed for Portsmouth (where he did ok). Has an excellent record in League Two, where I suspect he'll end up (probably not here though).
Thank you. 1 in 2 for Donny then 1 in 3 for pompey.. All gone a bit belly up for him last couple of years, just wonder though, its not beyond possibility we could tempt him, only other team, if they don't go up id favour over us would be Donny
Thank you. 1 in 2 for Donny then 1 in 3 for pompey.. All gone a bit belly up for him last couple of years, just wonder though, its not beyond possibility we could tempt him, only other team, if they don't go up id favour over us would be Donny
I might be wrong, but I don’t expect us to sign anyone of Marquis’ profile. He’d be an obvious attraction for any League Two club, but whilst we might have lost Stockport, Wrexham and Mansfield, there are still bigger hitters than us with respect to finance.
Presumably the argument for going down the data-led route (rightly or wrongly) is threefold. One, it gives you a structure to build a particular way of playing around; two, it gives you a framework by which to validate your thinking and three; arguably most importantly, it opens your eyes to potential key signings that others have missed (and less competition is generally going to equate to lower cost).
Ultimately, if the system we’ve employed simply spits out a shopping list of John Marquis, Ryan Bennett, John Bostock, Hakeeb Adelakun and James Wilson, then we probably could have saved some money and just asked the Fishy.
The Bennett one, to be fair, has a possibility of happening simply by virtue of the fact that he’s an out-of-contract, ex-Town, ex-Prem defender that just happens to live a 5-minute drive from the training ground, but if it does, it’s likely to be the exception im what sounds like will be a spreadsheet-heavy summer.
Just been reading an article about Morecambe captain ferrand rawson, and the fact he’s looking/expected to move to a rival league 2 side. Issues around wages not being paid/late and now without a manager I wouldn’t be surprised to see a big turnover of players there
Just been reading an article about Morecambe captain ferrand rawson, and the fact he’s looking/expected to move to a rival league 2 side. Issues around wages not being paid/late and now without a manager I wouldn’t be surprised to see a big turnover of players there
They have had it unless they get taken over. Probably would be good for us if they are shafted but don't wish it on their fans .
No one will re-sign because they have regularly been paid late .
I don’t believe that rumour at all. He’s nearly 34 and has barely played 30 games in the last two seasons.
But then again, thats the sort of player we habitually sign every year. You would rather hope that the data-led approach would would take in to consideration the injuryproneness of individuals.
Thought Odoh was shite with zero end product personally, exactly the same as when he was at Rochdale. On the other hand I thought Derrick Abu who Harrogate had on loan from Southampton and played at right back for them against us a few weeks ago was superb. Doubt there's much chance Southampton would loan him out to League Two again next season but he's definitely one i'd be happy to have here.
Agree on both fronts. Odoh buzzes about and looks tricky but no end product
But then again, thats the sort of player we habitually sign every year. You would rather hope that the data-led approach would would take in to consideration the injuryproneness of individuals.
We will see how it all pans out soon enough
One thing our team, and particularly the defence, lacked all season was pace. And I would think the data would back that up. I highly doubt Artell looks at our sluggish back line and thinks that what they need to improve is a left back in his mid 30s who’s had injury problems for two seasons.
But then again, thats the sort of player we habitually sign every year. You would rather hope that the data-led approach would would take in to consideration the injuryproneness of individuals.
We will see how it all pans out soon enough
Artell and Stockwoods & Petits talk about needing to find undervalued players who are that for various reasons. Injury record may be one of them. It certainly looks like that’s the case with Thompson who came he with us being told he only has 75 mins in his legs. He’s proving otherwise despite needing to be handled with care early on. There may well be others who come in with similar circumstances and they are always a gamble but I think the processes we are putting in place reduce that gamble. They will never eliminate it though. There will also be players identified lower down the leagues who have been missed, again that’s a gamble but the Longstaffs and Vardys are out there. What I don’t think we’ll get as much of is those who are gambles on multiple fronts. As you say, we’ll see.
Batch, Crombie, Moore K, Wiggington, Cumming, Waters, Bonnyman, Ford, Emson, Drinkell, Whymark. Love you all, You are the reason I'm on here. You've had help from Todd, Handyside, Futcher P, Groves, Mendonca, Macca etc etc etc. Up The Mariners!!!!!!!!!
I find it hard to believe he'll be coming here based on the fact he's 33, he's been at Cambridge since 2011 and before that was at Bromley. He's clearly a southern lad and I don't see any reason why at the age of 33 he'd uproot his family.
Artell and Stockwoods & Petits talk about needing to find undervalued players who are that for various reasons. Injury record may be one of them. It certainly looks like that’s the case with Thompson who came he with us being told he only has 75 mins in his legs. He’s proving otherwise despite needing to be handled with care early on. There may well be others who come in with similar circumstances and they are always a gamble but I think the processes we are putting in place reduce that gamble. They will never eliminate it though. There will also be players identified lower down the leagues who have been missed, again that’s a gamble but the Longstaffs and Vardys are out there. What I don’t think we’ll get as much of is those who are gambles on multiple fronts. As you say, we’ll see.
The way Artell spoke I think it will be a real mixture - so if we sign 10 i guess the variables will already be decided in % of what they want to recruit in terms of age range - I guess a certain % will be 'gambles ' in that they are young but have high potential in the Conteh mould , then some in the 25-30 range and a couple or 3 over 30 . Will be interesting .
I’ve seen Wrexham’s released list and they’ve let go of 3 of their centre-backs.
Tozer who cost them over 200k few seasons back. Hayden who was in the League 2 team of the year when they signed him but seems to be made of biscuits and Tunnicliffe who I don’t admittedly know that much about. Very ruthless.
Luke Young however been the player of the season for them twice and most fans seem genuinely gutted he’s going, probably the fact that he’s a good player filled with players that are L1 quality and they have scope to improve. Wouldn’t mind us going in for someone like that. Over to you agent Shaun.
Not really a rumour thread this is it? More a speculation thread about this or that player being out of contract, or who would be nice to have.
We know that the club are pursuing a data lead approach so really the only meaningful rumors should stem either from players being sighted at the club, or from insider information.
Not really a rumour thread this is it? More a speculation thread about this or that player being out of contract, or who would be nice to have.
We know that the club are pursuing a data lead approach so really the only meaningful rumors should stem either from players being sighted at the club, or from insider information.
Your first time on a Summer Transfer Rumour thread, Ron? I don’t think any of them have ever contained any rumours…
Thought Odoh was shite with zero end product personally, exactly the same as when he was at Rochdale. On the other hand I thought Derrick Abu who Harrogate had on loan from Southampton and played at right back for them against us a few weeks ago was superb. Doubt there's much chance Southampton would loan him out to League Two again next season but he's definitely one i'd be happy to have here.
Probably the best player we've played against this season that Abu. He'll be playing a lot higher up.
I’d love us to take a chance on Jimmy Knowles. 18 in 38 for Boston. 6ft and only 22 years old.
Just watching him in the playoff final. He had a good game and got MoM. Apparently he’d not scored in the previous 7 games. Quite liked their keeper, Gregory too.
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Not really a rumour thread this is it? More a speculation thread about this or that player being out of contract, or who would be nice to have.
We know that the club are pursuing a data lead approach so really the only meaningful rumors should stem either from players being sighted at the club, or from insider information.
Just you wait another four - five weeks Ron, then you’ll start seeing “In coming” and we can all start pretending we know a signing is about to be announced. It’s ace!!!
I was there, the day Bradley Wood scored a 35 yarder!
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Well as this is a speculation thread I will offer this.
Paul Ward at Derby is into data. He assembled the squad that got them promoted on a shoestring. He has now stated that this squad is not good enough for the Championship as is going to be disassembled.
So there will be several good players available. We could do worse than look at some of them, providing they meet our data criteria.
It’s is through another good example of the use of data analytics.
Just watching him in the playoff final. He had a good game and got MoM. Apparently he’d not scored in the previous 7 games. Quite liked their keeper, Gregory too.
I liked their keeper too maybe we should put in a cheeky bid.
The last keeper we got from them did all right for us.
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Since then he was pivotal in winning promotion for us, has just won player of the year for a team in league one and is reportedly interesting a few championship clubs. Football is mental!
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John Tondeur - Wembley Stadium Sunday 15th May 2016
DA's interview about the retained list and summer recruitment made for interesting listening. He fully explained how a data lead selection process was a strong indicator as to the suitability of a player but other factors also came into play in a final decision. It's obviously not just a " spread sheet" approach but includes a human approach as well.
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Tahvon Campbell - Solihull Moors and Wealdstone forward -27 - powerful front man - physical presence, and plenty of pace, certainly worried our back 4 when he last played against us.
Foil or cover for Rose up front?
Just one that I thought could go higher when seen.
Tahvon Campbell - Solihull Moors and Wealdstone forward -27 - powerful front man - physical presence, and plenty of pace, certainly worried our back 4 when he last played against us.
Foil or cover for Rose up front?
Just one that I thought could go higher when seen.
Can't have worried them that much as they didn't score.
I know he will probably go to Doncaster. but I would go all out to get Adelekun as he has ben released by Lincoln.He tore us apart.
Give a man a fish and you feed him for a day,teach a man to fish and you give him an excuse for him to escape from the wife and kids for the weekend and drink lots of beer.
A data-led approach combined with looking in foreign markets will mean most players we won't have heard or be aware of. Like when Brighton and Brentford were on their journey, most players they signed were complete mysteries.
Most players mentioned so far are those that most lower league fans will have some knowledge of, I really don't think the choice of transfer strategy will lead us down that path. We'll be trying to attract the next Conteh (on the up with potential of a decent sell on) not the already well-known lower leaguers.
Imo I don't think any former players, or players Artell has previously worked with will be signed.
Well as this is a speculation thread I will offer this.
Paul Ward at Derby is into data. He assembled the squad that got them promoted on a shoestring. He has now stated that this squad is not good enough for the Championship as is going to be disassembled.
So there will be several good players available. We could do worse than look at some of them, providing they meet our data criteria.
It’s is through another good example of the use of data analytics.
I’m assuming (given my very limited knowledge of how clubs analyse player data) that a key metric would be around ‘ability to make the step up a league? Would that make Derby’s use of data excellent for short term gain, but limited in long term viability, given one promotion means they now have to start over as the manager doesn’t feel the squad is good enough to compete a division higher? Doesn’t seem like a particularly sustainable model Or have I got the complete bottom end of the stick here?!
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Does all of the new data show players who have ability / potential to mature and progress into "league above " players?
I would then expect to see at least 3 to 4 signings that would shine in League 2, with oitential to be a spine going forward if promoted.
Conteh was never going to stay here for long, but was good financial business for Town, while showing how good possession under pressure, and an abilitybyo make a simple accurate pass can tighten up a defence.
I would have liked to have seen him alongside the new fit Thompson.
So... will this data driven outlook find more Conteh style players and take a chance on them?
Does all of the new data show players who have ability / potential to mature and progress into "league above " players?
I would then expect to see at least 3 to 4 signings that would shine in League 2, with potential to be a spine going forward if promoted.
Conteh was never going to stay here for long, but was good financial business for Town, while showing how good possession under pressure, and an ability to make a simple accurate pass can tighten up a defence.
I would have liked to have seen him alongside the new fit Thompson.
So... will this data driven outlook find more Conteh style players and take a chance on them?
Two rumours were mentioned and everyone ignored them
Sass-Davies the man of a 1000 loans
On the subject of staking out pertrol stations - would any of us actually recognise a player we might be after if they asked us directions to the Club Shop???
A new Dave Beasant and new Macca and a new Super Clive would be nice
……meanwhile back on earth
Its hard enough remembering my opinions without remembering my reasons for them! Brisbane - beautiful one day and perfect the next! UTM!!!
Religion: An Idiotic holding of firm belief in an unknown entity. The more challenging it gets, the firmer the hold. Atheists are often condemned as enemies, infidels or morons. Strange rituals are performed at the weekend. My Religion is GTFC!
I’m assuming (given my very limited knowledge of how clubs analyse player data) that a key metric would be around ‘ability to make the step up a league? Would that make Derby’s use of data excellent for short term gain, but limited in long term viability, given one promotion means they now have to start over as the manager doesn’t feel the squad is good enough to compete a division higher? Doesn’t seem like a particularly sustainable model Or have I got the complete bottom end of the stick here?!
I think they were constrained financially due to past irregularities. I am told that they only paid a fee for one or two players in rebuilding the squad, so they did very well to put together a promotion winning team. However Ward does not feel they would be good enough for the Championship which is a real step up in class. So they will need better players. I am not sure if the financial restrictions will now have eased somewhat.
A data-led approach combined with looking in foreign markets will mean most players we won't have heard or be aware of. Like when Brighton and Brentford were on their journey, most players they signed were complete mysteries.
Most players mentioned so far are those that most lower league fans will have some knowledge of, I really don't think the choice of transfer strategy will lead us down that path. We'll be trying to attract the next Conteh (on the up with potential of a decent sell on) not the already well-known lower leaguers.
Imo I don't think any former players, or players Artell has previously worked with will be signed.
Judging by what DA said in his interview about recruitment, I think we will see a mixture of " old heads" and young "potentials". I wouldn't rule out any players that he hasn't worked with before , it depends if they meet the parameters that we are looking for.
The Future is Black & White. "The commonest thing on this planet is not water , as some people believe, but stupidity ". Frank Zappa
I'd love us to make a move for Adelakan but his already decent pedigree is nicely elevated by his form and Donny's run in the last few months. Even if Donny don't make it (which I think they will), he's at least bound back to League One.
The lad who was released alongside Adelakan at Lincoln could be interesting though, TJ Eyoma. Can play right-back or centre-back, certainly would bring a bit more athleticism to our defence. Good pedigree, Under 17 World Cup winner and came through the Academy set-up at Spurs. Was very highly rated at Lincoln but looks like they just outgrew him a bit, would be interested what our lurking Imps fans think of him.
Crucially he was signed, initially on loan, by Lincoln at a time when a certain Joe Hutchinson was in their recruitment team.
I'd love us to make a move for Adelakan but his already decent pedigree is nicely elevated by his form and Donny's run in the last few months. Even if Donny don't make it (which I think they will), he's at least bound back to League One.
The lad who was released alongside Adelakan at Lincoln could be interesting though, TJ Eyoma. Can play right-back or centre-back, certainly would bring a bit more athleticism to our defence. Good pedigree, Under 17 World Cup winner and came through the Academy set-up at Spurs. Was very highly rated at Lincoln but looks like they just outgrew him a bit, would be interested what our lurking Imps fans think of him.
Crucially he was signed, initially on loan, by Lincoln at a time when a certain Joe Hutchinson was in their recruitment team.
Interesting one Eyoma. Just turned 24, played 100+ games all in League One, in a position we desperately need, with seemingly the right attributes - big, quick etc., and an excellent pedigree.
Of all the suggestions I’ve seen with supposed Town links, Eyoma looks by far the most sensible. You’d imagine he’d fancy another crack at League One, but you never know.
To that end, can we forget about Billy Sass-Davies, who yes, was at Crewe under Artell, but has just spent last season getting relegated from the National League with Boreham Wood. If the data says he improves us, then I dread to think what it must say about his teammates alongside him. That one surely won’t be happening.
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