OK here is where I am at on the pre season performances and team building

Sheringham and Sinclair Departures nothing that could be done about that really, but the good news is that one suspects that both of these players would have been relatively high earners amd therefore room created within the budget.

Mcentaggart released and yet when played in my opinion and a number of others was more than a reasoanble centre back and certainly better than anything I have seen so far being trialled.

Cobbs released. 1st replacement Spencer "Left back isn't my greatest position" Knight already casuing sufficient concern for Fordy to draft in a lad from Enfield Town. On the only outing I have seen he looks fast but distribution erratic and you would have to be concerned about the step up

Blackburn released. Replacement one assumes is Dean Cracknell perhaps a greater physical presence but very marginal.

Ming released. Why oh why when the seemingly favoured right back Sambrook has managed to come up against a left winger who has the beating of him in all three games I have witnessed him play, Gillngham, Dartford and Erith.

So what are we left with

Strikers
 Lee Clarke He seriously needs to shake himself up and get match fit

Tony Finn Doesn't strike me as an out and out stirker but god footwork and 1st touch

Wingers
Sam Hurrell   Good player far more pluses than negatives

Louis Fazarkely In my opinion he flatters to deceive never really pulling it off . Lots of huff and puff but rarely an end product

Ben Greenhaighe Looks a great prospect, and a great find

Midfield
Ryan Johnson Steady Eddie but gradually improving

Dean Cracknell Average Player

Jack Parkinson Excellent player

Defence
Andy Sambrook We will let in goals as a result of being beaten on that side of the pitch consistently

Graeme Andrews Was never his biggest fan but I have to say he is looking better and better every game really good defender

Space that will be taken by a yet to be found or we will draft Jack Parkinson in to back 4, thus losing any flare in central midfield

Spncer Knight / Michael Dean My concern is that this side of the pitch will be there for the taking too, though Michael Dean could blossom into a good find.

Now in my humble opinion at this stage there is little evidence to suggets that what ever our budget is that it has been used as best it could.

We are now waiting on a loan signing for a striker (though I see Woking have tied up Moses Ademola for 6 months)
Our defence concerns me to the extnet that I think it could be an utter shambles
Our midfield looks to be at best on a par with last season

Yes I am sure there will be the comments of "lets get behind the team" and I can assure you whatever side we put out I will.

I can also assure you that my current view is that on balance Fordy is a good manager. That said the evidence at the moment is that in this pre-season we seem to have been slower off the mark and less persuasive in our efforts to sign players who it would appear have been available (and please don't harp on about the budget as money is not the only reason unless you make it so in your pitch to a player).

My view is that unless the management team come up with something a bit special in the week to 10 days we are going to have a very tough start to the campaign. I really hope I am wrong as after last season I was hoping for a play off spot / challenging for it at the very least. But with the limited evidecne I have seen so far this seems more reminiscent of the Neil Smith era than progression from last season. Sorry but thats the way I feel.