Transfer News, Gossip & Speculation Transfer Thread - Summer 2025 Edition.

[hlane17]

Really hope Bonne signs

Offers so much more than alot of players, and i firmly believe a pre-season will get the best out of him

IMO if Bonne signs, at least one of Hopper/Walker to be moved on

 

[EWarbySUFC]

I am still not convinced that 5 strikers of Hopper, Bonne, Walker, Kendall and Spasov is enough to achieve what we want to achieve, maybe i'm greedy but I would move on from either Hopper/Walker (If Bonne signs) and get a proven scorer at this level in.

Obviously Spasov could turn out to be a good signing, but only time will tell if he can do it in the National League

 

[Callumturner22]

IMO if Bonne signs, at least one of Hopper/Walker to be moved on

I agree . I hope the staff are thinking the same .

 

[Rattus Norvegicus]

Tamworth have announced the signing of Tyler Roberts from AFC Fylde,

Was that Fylde's top scorer? If I remember they had a chap who did well in front of goal given that the team was relegated.

 

[Colchester and proud!]

Was that Fylde's top scorer? If I remember they had a chap who did well in front of goal given that the team was relegated.

No their top scorer was Nick Haughton with 19 goals, he has been with them several seasons.

 

[bluesfansince1952]

I am still not convinced that 5 strikers of Hopper, Bonne, Walker, Kendall and Spasov is enough to achieve what we want to achieve, maybe i'm greedy but I would move on from either Hopper/Walker (If Bonne signs) and get a proven scorer at this level in.

Obviously Spasov could turn out to be a good signing, but only time will tell if he can do it in the National League

You guys are seriously hard to please. Most would agree that the play offs were the most important and vital part of our season. Kendal and and Hopper both scored during these games while Bonne set up arguably the most important goal of the whole campaign when LCP headed home to level the scores vs Rochdale.
Walker also pulled his weight when coming on as a late substitute.
'Proven' scorers at this level are few and far between and might commnand wages beyond our ability to pay.

 

[EWarbySUFC]

You guys are seriously hard to please. Most would agree that the play offs were the most important and vital part of our season. Kendal and and Hopper both scored during these games while Bonne set up arguably the most important goal of the whole campaign when LCP headed home to level the scores vs Rochdale.
Walker also pulled his weight when coming on as a late substitute.
'Proven' scorers at this level are few and far between and might commnand wages beyond our ability to pay.

It’s not that we are HARD to please, it’s ambition. Where would we have ended up without Gus Scott Morris goals then? Would our strikers have got us to the position we was if we didn’t have a Scott Morris?

I genuinely do not think so. So it isn’t that we are hard to please at all. We should be a club striving to go up automatically and if we stick with the same strikers, do I think we do that then the answer is NO.

LCP I think he has been absolutely brilliant since coming in and a real find and think he will score a few next season. Asking for one more striker that is an upgrade on Hopper/Walker isn’t really being hard to please? As for Walker at Wembley Yes he was brilliant when he came on, but also missed that chance that could have potentially sent us to league two.

Also on Bonne, I would keep him in a heartbeat I think he has been great. The question for me is on Hopper/Walker. You can mention there involvements in the play offs, that’s great and we did have an amazing campaign. However there is 46 games in a season, were they consistent enough in them, I don’t think so.

 

[Shrimper]

You guys are seriously hard to please. Most would agree that the play offs were the most important and vital part of our season. Kendal and and Hopper both scored during these games while Bonne set up arguably the most important goal of the whole campaign when LCP headed home to level the scores vs Rochdale.
Walker also pulled his weight when coming on as a late substitute.
'Proven' scorers at this level are few and far between and might commnand wages beyond our ability to pay.

Most people don't have an issue with Kendall

But Bonne, Walker and Hopper had poor seasons in terms of goals. It's entirely fair to expect better. Going into the season with that same set doesn't strike me with confidence

 

[Yorkshire Blue]

I am still not convinced that 5 strikers of Hopper, Bonne, Walker, Kendall and Spasov is enough to achieve what we want to achieve, maybe i'm greedy but I would move on from either Hopper/Walker (If Bonne signs) and get a proven scorer at this level in.

Obviously Spasov could turn out to be a good signing, but only time will tell if he can do it in the National League

Think I’ve found the answer to your proven scorers at this level request.

One of them scored 23 goals in 41 starts for a NL side before earning a move to L1 in 2023. That move didn’t quite work out so people think he’ll be available if his current side can find a replacement.

The other scored 45 in 89 starts in the NL. He’s out of contract at his current club and they’ve offered him reduced terms.

They’re both under 30 so shall we go ahead and lock them both up to long term deals?

 

[annie1954]

Most people don't have an issue with Kendall

But Bonne, Walker and Hopper had poor seasons in terms of goals. It's entirely fair to expect better. Going into the season with that same set doesn't strike me with confidence

I can’t imagine many supporters being confident of more goals with those three hopefully a change next season

 

[EWarbySUFC]

Think I’ve found the answer to your proven scorers at this level request.

One of them scored 23 goals in 41 starts for a NL side before earning a move to L1 in 2023. That move didn’t quite work out so people think he’ll be available if his current side can find a replacement.

The other scored 45 in 89 starts in the NL. He’s out of contract at his current club and they’ve offered him reduced terms.

They’re both under 30 so shall we go ahead and lock them both up to long term deals?

Okay maybe “proven” scorer hasn’t got us where we wanted to be. I did also clearly say we need an IMPROVEMENT on them. Also have no issues with Bonne and would keep him. As I have also stated.

Also interesting how you are simplifying Josh walkers stats. It’s actually 32 goals in about 132 NL appearances isn’t exactly proven is it? But hey ho.

 

[EWarbySUFC]

Most people don't have an issue with Kendall

But Bonne, Walker and Hopper had poor seasons in terms of goals. It's entirely fair to expect better. Going into the season with that same set doesn't strike me with confidence

Think Kendall with a full season can hit around 15 goals. He is the one that fills me with most confidence for next season.

 

[southendkid]

It’s not that we are HARD to please, it’s ambition. Where would we have ended up without Gus Scott Morris goals then? Would our strikers have got us to the position we was if we didn’t have a Scott Morris?

If you took away all of GSM's goals then we'd drop 10 points. That's obviously a big contribution over the season but it's not an outlandish amount, one of the strengths of last season's side (the second half anyway) is that we had goal threat all over the pitch.

 

[amsemp]

I do think a lot of people are forgetting that Kendall is still only 24 and are judging how he’ll do next season based on his numbers last season. He looked excellent towards the end of the season and with a good pre-season, he’s at the right age where he should be heading into his prime. I think he’ll be our main man this coming season and I really wouldn’t be surprised at all if he ends up hitting 15-20 goals. So it’s entirely possible the striker we all want to sign is already on the books.

Even if we did start the season with Kendall, Spasov, Hopper, Walker and Bonne, I think that gives us a good mix and balance. Bonne is one who will definitely benefit from getting hit fitness levels right up in pre-season as he spent the first few months with us well short in that regard. I still think we’ll be on the lookout for another striker and I think that could see Walker loaned out if Bonne re-signs, which wouldn’t be the worst idea. But if we don’t sign another, I don’t think we’re in trouble.

 

[GNH]

We are woefully short of depth in the squad so I expect some signings in several areas of the pitch.

Whether it takes time or not is entirely up to the Kev and COSU. However if it does take time for them to get things done, I do not want to hear half way through the season that we are suffering from being behind other teams in terms of a decent preseason and squad building.

 

[Yorkshire Blue]

Okay maybe “proven” scorer hasn’t got us where we wanted to be. I did also clearly say we need an IMPROVEMENT on them. Also have no issues with Bonne and would keep him. As I have also stated.

Also interesting how you are simplifying Josh walkers stats. It’s actually 32 goals in about 132 NL appearances isn’t exactly proven is it? But hey ho.

I’m all for improving on what we already have but who are the players who are (a) available (b) proven goalscorers at this level and (c) would be an improvement over what we already have?

Most “proven goalscorers” basically have an 18 month or so prolific patch - like Bonne and Walker had.

If we’re after someone who is proven we’ve probably already missed their prolific patch.

I’d far rather we instead tried to identify the talented ascending players who fit our style and may have their career year in a Southend shirt rather than overpay for their historic performances they are unable to repeat. Find the next players primed for a breakout.

 

[londonblue]

You guys are seriously hard to please. Most would agree that the play offs were the most important and vital part of our season. Kendal and and Hopper both scored during these games while Bonne set up arguably the most important goal of the whole campaign when LCP headed home to level the scores vs Rochdale.
Walker also pulled his weight when coming on as a late substitute.
'Proven' scorers at this level are few and far between and might commnand wages beyond our ability to pay.

His head looked amazingly like a foot.

 

[bluesfansince1952]

His head looked amazingly like a foot.

You are right...i confused my LCP goals but I will be 80 in thirteen months time so some befuddling is hardly surprising!

 

[Shrimper83]

I see Dan Creaney of Tamworth is leaving them to join a Full Time team. A Player who gets goals in this division! Good target man

 

[Shoeburynessshrimper]

I'd love to get Josh Rees. I have been saying it for so long. He again had a great season in an awful Daggers team. Out of contract, local and we've been linked before.

I know he doesn't fit the age profile, but we need to add goals and assists to the midfield, he does both in abundance.

Maybe but I think he’s at Hornchurch now