Transfer business
By this time in 2011 Chris Powell had signed 12 new players. As a reminder they were John Sullivan, Bradley Pritchard, Cedric Evina, Paul Hayes, Dale Stephens, Danny Green, Nick Pope, Ruben Bover Izquierdo, Rhoys Wiggins, Danny Hollands, Michael Morrison and Matt Taylor.
There were 19 in total by the time Powell signed free agent Yann Kemorgant in September after the window shut. The rest as they say is history
Nathan Jones followed a long line of subsequent managers and head coaches who said they wanted their new squad all put together way before the season kicks off. Jones however was both emphatic and influential. By the time the squad departed for their pre-season tour to Slovenia he’d signed 7 players – Will Mannion, Josh Edwards, Alex Mitchell, Luke Berry, Matt Godden, Gassan Adhame and Greg Docherty.
It’s a good beginning and most active we have been in an early summer since 2011.
Jones talked of 9 new signings, but I suspect that could now be 10 with Alfie May going but any increase in that number will depend on outgoings, and I’ve felt for a week or so that we may need to see a few moved out before we add new, but Jones talked today about having players chosen and just needing to get the deals signed and sealed.
We need a first choice ‘keeper and I have long championed an experienced loan player as being more than adequate. Jones has used loan ‘keepers on numerous occasions previously despite he not being a fan of the loan system.
Imperative for me, although we have a load in the building, is another defender. We are still yet to keep a clean sheet in the friendlies.
I had imagined that Edwards may play on the left of a back three, but it looks as if he will be at LCB with Small further up the field, and they are interchangeable, but a left-footed CB is missing.
Finally we still lack midfield creativity and goals, as we have for many season’s. A quality player at 10 or at the point of a diamond could be the promotion super power.
So who then? One thing for me is whoever they are they need to be oven ready to play in the first team. No squad fillers, which I don’t believe is Jones’ thing.
Jones does have three players he knows well on trial or training with the club. Dan Potts was released by Luton and is a left-footed CB with over 200 games under his belt but spent most of last season injured.
Teddy Bishop has had three season’s at Lincoln, and was offered a new contract but he turned it down. He has some characteristics that we are looking for in midfield, but although only 27, he has had some injury problems.
Lastly old Nathan Jones’ old warrior Danny Hylton (photo) has been training with us. Some have pointed to the fact that he may earn a contract to work with our young strikers, of which we have many. The make-up of our coaching network is also pretty defensive orientated.
As for a number one, I read that Sheffield United goalie Adam Davies failed a medical, so who is on Jones’ list. Aston Villa’s Viljami Sinisalo was a target. The young Finn played 50 matches for Exeter City on loan in the last campaign, but signed for Celtic.
Ipswich’s Christian Walton has been mentioned in dispatches, but does he think he could do better?
I still think we will see moves out first. Lucas Ness hasn’t featured in one pre-match game, and I am sure Scott Fraser’s agent is working overtime. If one of Isted or AMB moved next week then I also wouldn’t be surprised.
Two more pre-season games and then we go to Wigan.
Good point about stil no clen sheets but it seems there is a team well in place and yes at this time ot is all about getting players fit and match practise.
Concerned about a player who was injured just about al last season and the GK and left sided CH.
A few players not featured as yet and some surely going out the door and IMHO one or both of the very poor Gks last year.
I feel for Ashley MB. He is IMO a perfectly good keeper at our level. Isted was brought in to take over from Ashley and wasn’t an improvement (IMO)
Now we have Mannion who is clearly going to be back-up keeper. So someone has to go. Personally I would like that to be Isted.
I thought Gills might come in for AMB as he went there once before but If I remember correctly, got injured pre-season and the loan was cancelled. If we do manage to get an experienced keeper in, perhaps this could be resurrected with a recall mechanism in place.
Or of course perhaps I know nothing, whereas the Messiah knows all.
The only thing concerns me Jones keeps going back to players he has known before and think they can still do a good job for him! The ones already brought in appear ok, but surely not Dan Potts who is now in his 30’s and as you said has injury problems and the most he has played in one season was 28 games! Teddy Bishop again injury issues surely we have had enough of injury prone players we still have Chucks who I am sure, if played for his 15 minute spells, will have at the minimum two injuries and would only be availabe for about 20% of the games, if that! Plus Danny Hilton who is about 35, surely Chuck’s, which he said he has been, assisiting the strikers such as Kanu, would be a better bet, as then at least Charlton get something out of him for all the monies they have been paying him for not playing over the three years and prior! So why pay Hilton a wage which could be used elsewhere, as surely he’s not going to get in the team?
Perhaps the club should have been looking at putting Chuks on a ‘pay as you play’ type deal, if they haven’t already? Potts is a LCB and l don’t think there are too many of those on the market.
That’s what worries me about Potts he’s injury prone and probably no better than Gillesphey and he didn’t impress at all last season, even under Jones when he played!
I have watched the preseason games and NJ has used mixed line-ups as he does not want to give players a full 90 mins. Which of course means that we have not seen the optimum line-up. Alex Mitchell looks fine and Zach Mitchell and Ramsey in particular have looked good candidates for the RHS of the back 3, the LHS looks more uncertain neither Gillesphey or Edwards have nailed down their place.
I am concerned that the candidates for the central 3 in the midfield positions have not impressed me so far. In fact the option I would seriously consider is moving Ramsey into the anchor role vacated by Dobson’s departure. I didn’t think that Kedwell would be an option this season but I now feel he should be considered because of his high energy game. Anderson has looked as good as anybody, the new recruits have failed to impress so far.
The forward options if players including Leaburn and Aneke are fit should be good.
The best player to play at the valley in an opposition team was a player who created both goals for wigan .
His name is Martial Godo who is a player who can play on either side of a forward line he is currently on the books at Fulham .Nathan said he would only bring in loan signing if it improved the squad this lad is creative something we r lacking , check out the highlights from last seasons match . Coyr