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

[Blues4LifeDan]

I thought that too often we got bullied in midfield and at the back. Look at Fondop in the playoff final and Rodney for Rochdale for example, I’m not suggesting kicking lumps out of the opposition.

We need someone to stand up to players like that, keep them in check, and not take any **** from players like that. More of an old school type centre half who isn’t afraid to get stuck in

This is a key issue. Since Demi has retired, the possibility of Gus going and Bonne potentially not staying, we have no one in the team that is fighting our corner.

I do get that Maher wants a team that is respected and isn't known for dark arts, but that means nothing when you're losing away to Borehamwood and we can't get back into the game because they are trying every trick in the book.

We definitely need at least one player that isn't going to take any nonsense, that will let the opposition know they are in for a battle.

 

[James peeee]

I thought that too often we got bullied in midfield and at the back. Look at Fondop in the playoff final and Rodney for Rochdale for example, I’m not suggesting kicking lumps out of the opposition.

We need someone to stand up to players like that, keep them in check, and not take any **** from players like that. More of an old school type centre half who isn’t afraid to get stuck in

Ryan innis?

 

[amsemp]

There’s no info in the public domain to suggest Francillette is a target. Doesn’t mean he isn’t though, just the leaks have been plugged. My gut feel is he will be on a decent packet at Eastleigh and likely has a few options, possibly in the EFL. Similar to Dion Pereira.

Francillette or Golding would be super business though.

I think Golding is probably way out of reach unfortunately, as he would be my number one choice bar none. If we got him on loan tomorrow, I’d rate our chances of getting out of this league significantly higher. But last I heard he was wanted by League Two clubs.

The only slim possibility I think is if we make both Oxford and Golding offers they can’t refuse. But I think that would require an outlay far in excess of what we could sustainably do.

 

[GBJ]

The only slim possibility I think is if we make both Oxford and Golding offers they can’t refuse. But I think that would require an outlay far in excess of what we could sustainably do.

This.

There were rumours that Oxford had already turned down a 6-figure sum for JG, from an EFL club.

We ain’t competing with that.

 

[Colchester and proud!]

I thought that too often we got bullied in midfield and at the back. Look at Fondop in the playoff final and Rodney for Rochdale for example, I’m not suggesting kicking lumps out of the opposition.

We need someone to stand up to players like that, keep them in check, and not take any **** from players like that. More of an old school type centre half who isn’t afraid to get stuck in

I think you just described Ben Goodliffe!

 

[Massimo Giovanni]

I think you just described Ben Goodliffe!

Not in my opinion, a fair to decent player; but no Paul Clark or Mark Phillips when it comes to crunching tackles with no hesitation or showing any signs of having felt any pain.

 

[Leeboy]

Not in my opinion, a fair to decent player; but no Paul Clark or Mark Phillips when it comes to crunching tackles with no hesitation or showing any signs of having felt any pain.

Or Dave Martin!


*not the goalie
** or the winger

 

[Blues4LifeDan]

Ryan innis?

That type of player for sure. I think him in particular is way out of our reach. He has a year on his deal and on big money. We definitely need a player in that mould though.

 

[londonblue]

Paul Clark was a monster of a player he always had a good game against us unfortunately , Adam Barrett was a tough cookie too.

You could have stopped there when it comes to Paul Clark.

Comparing him to NL players is a bit silly really. PC played in all four top divisions: 3 & 4 for us, and 1 & 2 for Brighton.

Using Ben Goodliffe as an example, he's not perfect, but he's a damn sight better than some we've had. Yes he's got a mistake in him, but show me a player at this level that hasn't. Saying we shouldn't be interested because he made a few mistakes is a bit unfair. All players make mistakes.

That's not to say we should sign him, he might not even be available. I just think that argument is unfair.

 

[THE SEVENTIES NORTH BANK]

Ben Goodliffe's good form defending and attacking towards the end of the season, was one of the main reasons we got to Wembley.

 

[Blues4LifeDan]

You could have stopped there when it comes to Paul Clark.

Comparing him to NL players is a bit silly really. PC played in all four top divisions: 3 & 4 for us, and 1 & 2 for Brighton.

Using Ben Goodliffe as an example, he's not perfect, but he's a damn sight better than some we've had. Yes he's got a mistake in him, but show me a player at this level that hasn't. Saying we shouldn't be interested because he made a few mistakes is a bit unfair. All players make mistakes.

That's not to say we should sign him, he might not even be available. I just think that argument is unfair.

The problem is, we are all guilty of having short memories at times. The playoffs are what stick out in most people's minds because of the magnitude of the games and how recent they were. Therefore, that gives us the basis of what we think of a player. However, playoffs are unique things, where form goes out of the window and anything can happen. It's not the foundation to judge a player overall.

Norwood scored in the final but he didn't have a great season. Goodliffe made a few errors but contributed hugely in our upturn in form overall, particularly at the end of the season, when the defense was finally settled and we got 4 clean sheets in a row. He was also contributing hugely at the over end too.

It's a big ask at NL level to expect to sign a CB that can pass well, dominate his own box, score goals at the over end and not make a mistake. Golding was brilliant at bringing the ball out from the back but he got dominated defensively on more than one occasion and he's probably going to get an EFL move. No player is going to have everything at this level.

Overall, Goodliffe was solid at the back and was a huge threat in the opposition box too. Taylor and Ralph looked a lot more calmer beside him too. Let's not also forget, he scored against FGR's and set up Bridge's goal with a fantastic run and pass. He was still a fans favourite at that time. It's only after the final, when we all wanted something/someone to blame that some wanted us not to sign him. I think if we actually analyse his whole campaign with us, he'd be a good signing imo.

 

[Clinton Baptiste]

I think he struggled against pace but he was a good leader at the back and was the first centre back weve had since we have been in the National League that caused problems in the opponents box.

 

[Booma]

I think you just described Ben Goodliffe!

Sounds like you’re trying to get rid of him

 

[londonblue]

The problem is, we are all guilty of having short memories. The playoffs are what stick out in most people's minds because of the magnitude of the games and how recent they were. Therefore, that gives us the basis of what we think of a player. However, playoffs are unique things, where form goes out of the window and anything can happen. It's not the foundation to judge a player overall.

Norwood scored in the final but he didn't have a great season. Goodliffe made a few errors but contributed hugely in our upturn in form overall, particularly at the end of the season, when the defense was finally settled and we got 4 clean sheets in a row. He was also contributing hugely at the over end too.

It's a big ask at NL level to expect to sign a CB that can pass well, dominate his own box, score goals at the over end and not make a mistake. Golding was brilliant at bringing the ball out from the back but he got dominated defensively on more than one occasion and he's probably going to get an EFL move. No player is going to have everything at this level.

Overall, Goodliffe was solid at the back and was a huge threat in the opposition box too. Taylor and Ralph looked a lot more calmer beside him too. Let's not also forget, he scored against FGR's and set up Bridge's goal with a fantastic run and pass. He was still a fans favourite at that time. It's only after the final, when we all wanted something/someone to blame that some wanted us not to sign him. I think if we actually analyse his whole campaign with us, he'd be a good signing imo.

I agree with most of that. I disagree that we all have short memories. I would say a minority of people have selective memories and only focus on the negative. BG did as much, if not more, positive stuff in the playoffs.

 

[Yorkshire Blue]

I think you just described Ben Goodliffe!

Except Goodliffe was the defender that got beaten by both Rodney and Fondop.

 

[Bromley Blue]

Except Goodliffe was the defender that got beaten by both Rodney and Fondop.

To be fair, any National League defender would have got done by Rodney for his goal. That turn was beyond our division IMO.

 

[Colchester and proud!]

Except Goodliffe was the defender that got beaten by both Rodney and Fondop.

All defenders get beaten at some point, especially league 2 and National league players!

 

[Colchester and proud!]

Sounds like you’re trying to get rid of him

No I like Ben he has many good attributes, if he stays with us I will be pleased there are a lot worse central defenders than him in our league. When he was playing for Sutton he got in the National league team of the season, you only get in that if you are consistently decent.

 

[Colchester and proud!]

I think he struggled against pace but he was a good leader at the back and was the first centre back weve had since we have been in the National League that caused problems in the opponents box.

Yes since his serious injury a few seasons ago he lost some of his pace and that is a pity because he could be playing higher than league two/National league, but he is a tough vocal player not shy of a tackle and a demon in the oppositions box.

 

[Blues4LifeDan]

Except Goodliffe was the defender that got beaten by both Rodney and Fondop.

It happens though. Rochdale had the third best defense in the league for the entire season and conceded 4 goals against us! York had the second best defense in the league and got absolutely dismantled against Oldham. FGR's had the joint second best defense in the league and conceded two against us. That doesn't mean any of their defenders are suddenly bad players.

Playoffs are unique as I said and anything can happen. We have to look at the bigger picture. Both of the players you mentioned are top players at this level, they could have done that to any defender in our league. Our strikers hardly set the world alight last season and still got the better of the defenses I mentioned above in the playoffs. It happens. That doesn't define a player.