Im extremely concerned we will be in serious trouble this season because of the severe lack of fire power up front.
Weve had friendlies and have scored ONE goal from a striker. and no other goals from midfield. Now yes its pre season but we arent exactly trialing strikers left right and center. To my mind we havent even used a striker who could remotely be considered as a 15-20 man in any league let alone this.
Lets see if people agree. We seriously need a striker Neil, you said you will play entertaining football and try to win every game? We need a striker for that who will score more that once in a blue moon.
I cant believe contracts have been given to people who have a record of not scoring, Surely on trial he had to prove he can score? and he hasnt even once.
I am starting to get concerned that perhaps Neil doesnt see it as a problem?? Do we?
-- Edited by JgFc at 13:15, 2007-07-21
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Alexander O'Neal 1987 "I'm fed up cos all you wanna do is criticize "
Neil get the 6 grand grays have just paid the club and go to tooting and give them 2 grand for Paul Vines, get someone not connected with welling to tap him up , unsettle him and he will sign. 41 goals in Ryman will get 15 in this league maybe a lot more. He wont cost the earth and is a better shot than anyone we have by miles.
WE NEED A STRIKER
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Alexander O'Neal 1987 "I'm fed up cos all you wanna do is criticize "
You are right JGFC - not only that - we need some creative midfielders as well. Four games into our pre-seasons games and it isn't looking convincing. I don't know this Vines player but he is certinly the type of player we should be looking at. Loads of goals at the league beneath and hungry for a challenge. It will cost us but will be worth it in the long term
Clubs a league and two leagues below pay more wages than we seem to do,I Would imagine the club might have to loosen the purse strings a bit to get someone decent in.
The need for a proven goalscorer at our level or one who seems to score goals for fun in a lower league must surely be the view of the vast majority, if not all, of those who have been to a pre season friendly.
chelwing has also pointed out the need for a creative midfielder. This should hardly come as any surprise bearing in mind that we lost Daisy as well as Keds. I didn't go to the Maldon game but the loss to them and what I saw in the Charlton match indicates that we are certainly lacking in this area. I accept this could be down to match fitness as we do have available players who in the past have proved their worth but it could also be that age may be taking its toll. Only time will tell.
My real worry is that justifiably or not proven strikers come at a premium and with the signings already made how much is left in the kitty.
As far as Paul Vines goes he certainly did the business for Tooting and if their forum is to be believed he is being 'looked after' by the club and it suits him to stay in the same side as Joe (who I believe got a rough deal with us as I do not share what I believe is Ade's view that a defender is a defender and a centre half should therefore be able to play left or right back). If this is the case he may well already be on the same or better money than we could offer and if he were to move upward it would probably be to a level above ours or a big spending club.
-- Edited by bruno at 15:49, 2007-07-21
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YOUTH are the future
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"The worst thing you can do is make a committment and not meet it and I understand that." Barrie Hobbins 14 August 2010
The Vines we had was not overly impressing from what I can remember and the other point about the maldon friendly is that from what someone else said our team was devoid of first teamers.
I think we ought to give Gaynor a chance, however I agree we need to look elsewhereas well BUT the players are greedy and think they are better than they really are.
To be in the Kent League and have an agent is unbeleivable - I wonder how much these agents make - It can't be much can it - Is it worth it?
We will have to do well this year on teamwork, and bloody hard work from what I can see (I still haven't made a pre season game yet so difficult to say). A bit like Redaing last year - No stars but a good season!!
I don't know the full details of those who played at Maldon but at least 40% of those signed played - JT, Leon, Lloyd Blackman and Neil himself.
Since our budget is limited the squad is probably between 6 and 8 players short. Neil has had trials, this was our 4th friendly and the season starts in 3 weeks. Would it not be reasonable to assume that many of the 6-8 players we lack will come from those who played? Realistically this would mean that significantly more than half of next season's squad were on view.
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YOUTH are the future
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"The worst thing you can do is make a committment and not meet it and I understand that." Barrie Hobbins 14 August 2010
Would be good if Clarkey was fit (ok he aint gonna be match fit for a couple of months) and hungry. Joe Vines trialled for Dover Yesterday. Wonder if that will make it easier to get Paul. I dont see too many others that should be signable by us that woudl do the Business.
We lost Keds to a league above we also lost Bod and Daisy (on Freedom of Contract) We should be ambitious enough to be able to sign players like Paul vines in my opinion. As we havent got the ability to sign players who would be wanted by teams on a par with us or higher.
We lose players due to other teams ambition and we need to show a bit.
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Alexander O'Neal 1987 "I'm fed up cos all you wanna do is criticize "
Paul Vines... Nearly 24 years old. 61 appearances for Tooting and Mitcham last season. 42 goals... Its not rocket science is it. I think kedwell would have struggled to do that.
We need a proven goalscorer of Conference South standard as well as Paul Vines (definitely take a chance on him) - we should spend some of Kedwell money. Problem is that Lloyd Blackman is not a prolific goalscorer - how long will it take for international clearance?
Vines is a no brainer and gravesend were sniffing around. He will score 15 in this league or i am roland van der hummell. Vines wouldnt be on the same money as Blackman
-- Edited by JgFc at 18:40, 2007-07-23
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Alexander O'Neal 1987 "I'm fed up cos all you wanna do is criticize "
Maybe Neil will get him seems Paul vines been on holiday till last couple of days aswell as the manager...
From Tootings board..
John Nonsense Fri Jul 20, 2007 08:35 193.130.196.1
It makes me laugh that certain people feel the need to be centre of attention all the time by trying to spread pathetic rumours, grow up lads.....
John Hastings had already signed on at MK Dons for an extra year before that rumour came out, come on lads, get with it.
As for Paul Vines, he is has been on holiday abroad and is due back today and will playing for us tomorrow, plus the fact that he is on contract and requires a fee if he were to move, plus the fact that Billy Smith is due back from America today is hardly a reciepe for a transfer.
For the people that start these lies, Carry on with the pathetic rumours in your pathetic lifes.........
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Alexander O'Neal 1987 "I'm fed up cos all you wanna do is criticize "
H 11:07:07 Charlton Athletic 0-2 A 14:07:07 Folkestone Invicta 1-0 Gier H 17:07:07 Ebbsfleet United 0-1 A 19:07:07 Maldon FC 1-2 Gaynor
2 sides lower than us and 2 above us
P4 W 1 L3 F 2 A 5
I saw Neil say we arent scoreing but once Blackman gets one he will be Flying. He hasnt scored in pre season or for Llanneli in the Micky Mouse Toto . He does however have a reputation as a good left Winger and crosser.
No press this week from the papers or club. No signings? Has Blackman signed or not , has Neil decided to put all his eggs in the Blackman basket for the main striker?
Any news on muco/orlando/the scarlet pimpernel?
Any new players? Any players talking? Any strikers or players looked at since the Maldon Game? Why have we had a massive gap in pre season between games? Planned?
Yes i know all geared for Bognor but if you aint scoring in pre Season vs worse teams what makes you think you will vs Conf South sides.
Has Neil gone quiet cos he knows we are up the creek when it comes to scoring goals?
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Alexander O'Neal 1987 "I'm fed up cos all you wanna do is criticize "
Well Done Neil on the news but theres precious little about an out and out striker who will score. This could well be our nemesis.
Id like Neil's comments on the striker department. And not good that Andrew is or has been ill again. Hope its not the ill/injury situation for practically all of last season again.
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Alexander O'Neal 1987 "I'm fed up cos all you wanna do is criticize "
