petef
Match Room Manager
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Post by petef on Dec 9, 2019 17:25:18 GMT
With the January window fast approaching its being suggested GJ will be shuffling the pack somewhat in the coming weeks. Who do we believe is in danger and not in favor and where do we need to strengthen?
It would have been hard to criticise this squad a mere month a go but what has happened in November has been a real eye opener. I know where I would be trying to strengthen but room will have to be made for additions..
A number loans will be up next month, Cundy, CL Evans, Opi Edwards and S Janneh come to mind. Of the four only CLE has looked like the quality we expected despite his bad injury he sustained. Robbie Cundy started well but has looked dreadful of late and in my view is no better and no worse than Koue Niate who must be feeling a little unlucky to be displaced by RC. Oipi Edwards - well where do you start. How many games has he manged to start for us in all the time hes been here. Feel sorry for the lad who has obvious quality above this level. Janneh another who picked up a serious knee injury and just hasn't looked the same player on his return.
GJ must be wondering where to continue the cull after Duku's departure at the weekend but one things for sure we need some proper experience to stop this slide no more "promising with potential " kids ta very much ...
So who else is the firing line?
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Post by torq21 on Dec 9, 2019 20:24:34 GMT
there is a lad at dorchester town callum rose i have watched him play a few times this season, he was an apprentice and a first year pro at argyle , has played for dorchester for the last 2 seasons , i believe he is only 21, he is very strong in the air ,has good feet never shys away from a tackle and all so has a bit of pace about him .i believe he would fit in well at torquay very strong player for his age and reads the game very well.would imagine it would be a free transfer or little money depending what contract terms he is on at dorchester,a local lad as well at that.
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Rob
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Post by Rob on Dec 9, 2019 20:26:14 GMT
there is a lad at dorchester town callum rose i have watched him play a few times this season, he was an apprentice and a first year pro at argyle , has played for dorchester for the last 2 seasons , i believe he is only 21, he is very strong in the air ,has good feet never shys away from a tackle and all so has a bit of pace about him .i believe he would fit in well at torquay very strong player for his age and reads the game very well.would imagine it would be a free transfer or little money depending what contract terms he is on at dorchester,a local lad as well at that. Centre back? Quite young. Big step up. Cundy was NLS centre back of the year or something, wasn’t he?
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Rob
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Favourite Player: Asa Hall
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Post by Rob on Dec 9, 2019 20:28:40 GMT
Ta. Stepping up and young. Would need convincing.
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Post by stig123 on Dec 9, 2019 20:29:42 GMT
Good call torq21..sounds like he is worth looking at.
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Rob
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Favourite Player: Asa Hall
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Post by Rob on Dec 9, 2019 20:39:50 GMT
I would keep Lewis and consider him as a centre back option, CLE and Janneh.
Edwards is never fit and Cundy does not look like he is progressing. Not seen Bansal-McNulty or Medford-Smith. But I suspect Medford-Smith is already out of favour, so won’t be here beyond the month loan.
Other definite ‘keepers’ til at least season’s end are Whitfield, one of the two ‘keepers, Davis, Wynter, Cameron, Little, Reid, Kalala, Buse, Hall, Vincent for me. Probably also Lewington but undecided.
Koszela and Slough - Loans out if appropriate for both.
Those not in my definite to keep permanent signings category - Niate (If get a quality CB. But if Cundy returns to parent club, would keep) Keating (versatility may save him), Dickson (but may have him back at left back/left back cover until Davis returns), one of the two ‘keepers (Covolan has impressed me more, but tight. Would need a Number 1 signed for this)
Have probably missed a few out. If so, will comment when I remember them.
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Post by torq21 on Dec 9, 2019 20:51:23 GMT
Ta. Stepping up and young. Would need convincing. i believe this lad is more than capable of the step up ,
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petef
Match Room Manager
Posts: 4,626
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Post by petef on Dec 10, 2019 15:13:56 GMT
With the greatest respect torq21 another young and inexperienced player is the very last thing we need at the moment. Yes he may show great promise at a lower level but at the moment we are experiencing a crisis for the very reason GJ is having to play promising inexperienced young players who are struggling to make an impression at this level. For what its worth I would return Cundy and Edwards to BC and try and bring in at least one experienced defensive minded player who knows this division.
Probably an impossible ask at this time of year but surely GJ will finally recognise and acknowledge where our weaknesses lie? The policy of constantly bringing in young inexperienced players surely has to be put on hold until the ship is steadied.
It would be nice to hear his opinion and injuries aside why we continue to leak goals, though he has suggested in interview that some haven't come up to the mark at a higher level.
Oddly Niate and Keating looked favorite to go just a few short weeks a go but I expect to see both players figuring strongly over the Xmas period and maybe beyond.
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Rob
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Post by Rob on Dec 10, 2019 19:45:13 GMT
With the greatest respect torq21 another young and inexperienced player is the very last thing we need at the moment. Yes he may show great promise at a lower level but at the moment we are experiencing a crisis for the very reason GJ is having to play promising inexperienced young players who are struggling to make an impression at this level. This was my thinking. If he is a real gem, then great. But we need some experience and defensive savvy back in this team sharpish.
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Post by torq21 on Dec 10, 2019 20:12:12 GMT
With the greatest respect torq21 another young and inexperienced player is the very last thing we need at the moment. Yes he may show great promise at a lower level but at the moment we are experiencing a crisis for the very reason GJ is having to play promising inexperienced young players who are struggling to make an impression at this level. For what its worth I would return Cundy and Edwards to BC and try and bring in at least one experienced defensive minded player who knows this division. Probably an impossible ask at this time of year but surely GJ will finally recognise and acknowledge where our weaknesses lie? The policy of constantly bringing in young inexperienced players surely has to be put on hold until the ship is steadied. It would be nice to hear his opinion and injuries aside why we continue to leak goals, though he has suggested in interview that some haven't come up to the mark at a higher level. Oddly Niate and Keating looked favorite to go just a few short weeks a go but I expect to see both players figuring strongly over the Xmas period and maybe beyond. dont knock until you have seen it many a young player are playing at all levels .national league to southern premier no great jump . main difference is the fitness as they only train 2 times a week ,the margins are very fine ,
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Rob
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Favourite Player: Asa Hall
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Post by Rob on Dec 10, 2019 21:20:32 GMT
Cundy and Cameron were two of the better centre backs in NLS last season. Not going well at the moment. There is quite a jump from Southern Premier to National League, imo. You have knowledge I don’t have on this player, so not knocking it. Just sceptical torq21. My guess is that Pete Johnson may be aware of him if he is a prospect.
Is he better than any of Cundy, Cameron, Niate or Joe Lewis at centre back, in your view, torq21? That’s the bottom line when it comes to immediate needs. Appreciate Joe Lewis has only played there at Woking, I believe. Personally thought he had a very good game that night alongside Cameron.
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Dec 10, 2019 22:01:16 GMT
I don’t think there is any definite right answer to this. Given the surprisingly young average age of teams we’ve sometimes fielded this season, the understandable inclination is to bring in some older heads to steady the ship for the youngsters and provide some experience and guidance. Then again, if you’re sufficiently impressed by a young talent that you can pick up cheaply then there’s little downside to having a proper look. I don’t know how many youngsters were on their books at the time, but I’m sure Sheffield United still regret not signing Diedo Maradonna when they had the opportunity in 1978.....young as he was.
As Rob alluded to, Robbie Cundy did win the ‘next Duncan Edwards award’ or ‘NLS All-Star trophy’ back in the Summer. The move to Bristol City came about just when everyone was telling him he was good enough for League football. Exeter deciding he wasn’t going to be playing League 2 games, and then finding himself back in non league so soon, even if it is only on a loan basis, might well have been something of a personal disappointment to him. But I think most of us were expecting something a bit more special than he’s delivered up to now, and it’s just not happened. Several of the younger loan signings recently haven’t hit the ground running either, and if they’ve not got the particular attributes to excel, then it’s a waste of our time and the player’s.
The only thing I’m saying with greater certainty, is that if Chelstongull had been our Chief Scout over the last 20 years, we would never have lost our league status in the first place, as well as having made a packet from the talent he spotted for us. Florida reminds us that Kieffer Moore remains the most obvious proof of Chelston’s ability to recognise talent, but there could have been so many others we could have benefitted from. You ignore local talent on and off the field at your peril.
Several changes to the squad ahead, I’m sure, and the Johnson Brothers need to make far more right decisions than wrong ones, otherwise this season really will fizzle out into a very damp squib.
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Rob
TFF member
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Favourite Player: Asa Hall
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Post by Rob on Dec 10, 2019 22:14:32 GMT
Someone on that there Facebook suggesting today that CLE is back with a therapeutic boot on after Saturday and not fit until the New Year. So hope that isn’t true.
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Post by Ditmar van Nostrilboy on Dec 10, 2019 22:38:36 GMT
With the January window fast approaching its being suggested GJ will be shuffling the pack somewhat in the coming weeks. Does the window apply at our level? Thought it was only League clubs.
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Post by torq21 on Dec 11, 2019 17:03:43 GMT
VERY WELL PUT ,I AM NOT SAYING HE IS GOING TO BE A WORLD BEATER he has just looked impressive seen him against older players including ex pros and pros he has dealt with them very well , some very easily in his stride , if you are good enough then age is just a number ,
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