Transfer News and Gossip Summer/Autumn Transfer Targets/Rumours Thread 2022

[Texas Eslan]

Why are we even discussing how teams with £100m defenders play? They can afford to play in a way we can’t. We’re going to try and play out from the back where we can but we haven’t the players who can do that every time. We will therefore need to knock it long at times and we then need someone who can bring it down to let us get back to playing football again.

The better the target man the more you play it on the ground as they will get it down. Otherwise the ball goes back and forth in the air, waiting for someone good enough to bring it down.

Why did I chose those teams as a reference? Because it is easy to say Liverpool and Man City and know they have small forwards vs quoting a lower league side who also play the same way.

Sounds to me what you are suggesting is even harder to believe though, a target man who can also get the ball down and play at pace. Our existing forwards can all do this in part. Wreh seems strong and direct and is decent in the air but probably won’t hold the ball up. Dalby is capable of holding the ball up all day but plays with his back to goal so the play will generally slow down. Cardwell similar but with more pace and I would say more dangerous on crosses. Murphy offers someone who runs in behind but no ability to hold up. So for us to play long ball (which I hope we don’t revert to very often) then we would chose one forward line vs another when we are looking to hit teams on the counter.

 

[kentblues]

I don't know about anybody else but that's certainly not what I'm saying. I want to see us move the ball quickly and attack at speed too, but I also want us to be a danger from set pieces and from crosses into the box from out wide. Why can't we be try be all things and cover all bases rather than just one? Many of us on here have slated previous managers for a lack of a Plan B, or for being too one-dimensional. I don't want us to deploy a target man or hoof it up to a big man but at present we have absolutely no aerial presence up top whatsoever and we are powder puff from corners, free-kicks and crosses. Especially without Cardwell.

I think the point is there is no evidence that the mgt team are even seeking a tall target man type. Whether we think we need one is a different debate. But I don’t see us signing one? Maybe a loan?

 

[amsemp]

I don't know about anybody else but that's certainly not what I'm saying. I want to see us move the ball quickly and attack at speed too, but I also want us to be a danger from set pieces and from crosses into the box from out wide. Why can't we be try be all things and cover all bases rather than just one? Many of us on here have slated previous managers for a lack of a Plan B, or for being too one-dimensional. I don't want us to deploy a target man or hoof it up to a big man but at present we have absolutely no aerial presence up top whatsoever and we are powder puff from corners, free-kicks and crosses. Especially without Cardwell.

Agree with this. I don’t think anyone wants to see hoofball but if we’re playing 3-4-3 with two wingbacks and and two wingers who are all capable crossers, it makes sense having someone in the box who can get on the end of it. You can still play free flowing attacking football with a big target man. Either attacking the crosses directly or plucking them out the air for Mooney/Bridge/Powell to latch on to.

 

[Medway Blue]

I think the point is there is no evidence that the mgt team are even seeking a tall target man type. Whether we think we need one is a different debate. But I don’t see us signing one? Maybe a loan?

That's what I'm hoping. Happy with one in on loan. I don't think we need to be targeting another second striker/winger/number 10-type.

 

[Murkey_Mouse]

I’m somewhat confused by why we need another striker especially an aerial threat. We have Dalby and Wreh fit for start of season and then Cardwell and Murphy to come in. All offer something a little different.

Personally if we have a little money burning a hole I would bring in a left sided centre half and free up Ralph to challenge with Clifford for the left wing back role.

Maybe a keeper who could challenge Steve for the number 1 as Colin is way off doing that. And when he was injured last season we missed him massively.

Erm, we have Lomas

 

[londonblue]

Theo Robinson was prolific first time around from long balls

It must make it very difficult to run though.

 

[onceknownasrab]

Yes & no.

I remember a game away at Hereford, ball lumped forward, then Blair onto Corr & within 3 seconds the ball was in the old onion bag. I can't say I like that sort of football but I doubt the Hereford goalkeeper thought it was a really poor move as he bent down to pick the ball up from the back of the net.

I prefer free flowing attacking moves with delightful skills on show but over the last few years just getting some points on the board was the main priority. I'm still very pleased we aren't lining up in the Conference South this season.

I'm not saying the long ball has never worked but it's not optimum. Often teams resort to it with ten minutes or so to go and they are a goal down. It lacks self-belief. When you put together a team of footballers, not hoofballers, then do what you are good at. Top teams stick to their style and back themselves to get it right.

 

[Texas Eslan]

Erm, we have Lomas

He’s right sided centre half though isn’t he…?

 

[Linda Loan Shark]

That page 1 is looking rather thin. I think realistically we have more chance of getting Gubbins back in on loan and he is left sided.

 

[Shepshead]

There’s a few big lumps who are/might be available, who on paper might be decent.

Free agents:

Tom Elliott (footballer, born 1990) - Wikipedia

en.wikipedia.org

One year left on deal:

Danny Mills (footballer, born 1991) - Wikipedia

en.wikipedia.org

Joe Quigley - Wikipedia

en.wikipedia.org

Mason Bloomfield - Wikipedia

en.wikipedia.org

Quigley looks to be out of favour at Chesterfield and Bloomfield is an interesting one. Bromley appear to loaded full of strikers and appears there are others in front of him.

Oh and Paul McCallum has one year left on his deal…

Mason Bloomfield has done the rounds at a number of clubs but never seems to score goals any ware. Bromley paid a small fee for him in January can’t see him staying around long but maybe available for loan.

 

[JAL]

That page 1 is looking rather thin. I think realistically we have more chance of getting Gubbins back in on loan and he is left sided.

There are more targets we don't know of than just the front page.

 

[THE SEVENTIES NORTH BANK]

We have a tall lump up top. Sam Dalby, 6ft 3ins. Trouble is, he doesn't fancy an aerial battle with a central defender. You can see the way he jumps, it's half hearted, like he's lost the battle before he even jumps. I think strikers with speed played over the top, or on the ground is the way to go until Cardwell comes back.

 

[Shrimper Brownie]

We have a tall lump up top. Sam Dalby, 6ft 3ins. Trouble is, he doesn't fancy an aerial battle with a central defender. You can see the way he jumps, it's half hearted, like he's lost the battle before he even jumps. I think strikers with speed played over the top, or on the ground is the way to go until Cardwell comes back.

Considering his height, he really isn’t one for winning a header - he cannot be classed as a “tall lump”, as players who are shorter than him win headers more frequently. He isn’t good enough in aerial duals, therefore we need a replacement.

 

[kentblues]

I think he is better on crosses. Not on hoofs forward/goal kicks. Which is a good thing as I don't think that reflects how we want to play. Of course the better the quality of balls in the easier it is to get on the end of them.

 

[RHB]

Considering his height, he really isn’t one for winning a header - he cannot be classed as a “tall lump”, as players who are shorter than him win headers more frequently. He isn’t good enough in aerial duals, therefore we need a replacement.

I seem to remember him winning a very tight aerial dual Saturday against the Gillingham keeper. He just got his head to it (over the bar unfortunately) before the keeper clattered him. Of course I could have imagined it as it was a hot day!

 

[Yorkshire Blue]

I think he is better on crosses. Not on hoofs forward/goal kicks. Which is a good thing as I don't think that reflects how we want to play. Of course the better the quality of balls in the easier it is to get on the end of them.

Yeah, you want to play it into his body not to his head. Hold up play isn’t all about winning flick ons it is much more about positioning and balance and using your body to hold off opponents. If you position yourself between the defender and the ball and have a good touch you’ll get much more joy from a ball into the body rather than a ball lumped up for a header.

Winning flick-ons from 60 yard goal kicks is such low percentage football. Having to first win the header, then cushion a ball coming down with snow on it whilst under pressure from the centre half, pick out your team mate when he’s run behind you and you can’t see him, hope he times his run to stay onside and that the defence forgets to track him. So much has to go right. It might have worked in the 80s when some of the defending was lousy but that sort of tactics now works once a season if you’re lucky. The game is much more about preventing your opponent having a clear header so you can pick up secondary ball than actually “winning” the flick-on. Even when the forward “wins” the header 95% of the time it goes to the opposition/out anyway. Much better to let the opposition “win” the ball but only clear it straight to your midfield.

 

[Mr Browns Ghost]

None of the above has anything to do with transfer rumours ‘who can head a ball or not’ mods please get a grip of this draconian thread

 

[RHB]

@Mr Brown's Ghost is right, can we get back on topic please.

 

[rigsby]

We have a tall lump up top. Sam Dalby, 6ft 3ins. Trouble is, he doesn't fancy an aerial battle with a central defender. You can see the way he jumps, it's half hearted, like he's lost the battle before he even jumps. I think strikers with speed played over the top, or on the ground is the way to go until Cardwell comes back.

Have a look at the Col U highlights. Their first goal starts from Dalby not winning that sort of header….. Except Dalby had no chance because he was being clearly failed by Eastman?. Anyway 2 hands clearly pulling him down and stopping him jump.

We are to quiet as a team and allow teams to test the ref, followed by clear an obvious shirt grabbing two handed shoves etc.

With the obvious injuries it means Sam Dalby has the most important and toughest job out of anyone in our squad.

He needs 6,000 bodies guards not people slagging him……. If that happens we might just have a chance by the end of September.

 

[Tommy2holes]

Have a look at the Col U highlights. Their first goal starts from Dalby not winning that sort of header….. Except Dalby had no chance because he was being clearly failed by Eastman?. Anyway 2 hands clearly pulling him down and stopping him jump.

We are to quiet as a team and allow teams to test the ref, followed by clear an obvious shirt grabbing two handed shoves etc.

With the obvious injuries it means Sam Dalby has the most important and toughest job out of anyone in our squad.

He needs 6,000 bodies guards not people slagging him……. If that happens we might just have a chance by the end of September.

Then he needs to start dishing it out. If he isnt getting any protection then it's up to him to get the better of defenders.

I'd happily see Wreh start ahead of Dalby at this time as we seem so much bunter in attack with just Dalby as the lone forward.