Transfer News, Gossip & Speculation Transfer Rumours Etc part 2.....2024/25

[Avl1983]

Target man yes but a striker who really knows how to score is essential also! None of our current strikers seems to have that. Been a long time since we had a true goalscorer at the club.

 

[stewart]

Looking at the players contracted for next season (EDIT: Ralph and Bridge are both out of contract, but would hope we extend both, and I think would both want to stay) - assuming we don’t lose anyone and the rest of the out of contract players don’t re-sign (Wood, Waldron and Bonne) don’t think we’re a million miles away. This is where we’re at:

View attachment 35914

In red is where I think we need new signings.

Not convinced Crowther is a central centre back like Kensdale/Golding, but provides decent cover for Taylor. That means we need 2x ball playing centre backs. Or potentially 1x ball playing centre back and 1x right sided centre back if Kev is happy for Crowther to deputise a first choice ball playing centre back.

Midfield is pretty much settled, the only addition needed for me is a first choice left wing back. Bridge just hasn’t been at it and needs competition. Would really like a strong signing in that area.

Hopper shouldn’t be a first choice target man in my opinion, but he’s a decent squad player/deputy for a first choice target man. We really need our Cardwell replacement in the form of a good, first choice target man for next season. I also think we could do with a 5th striker to give us more cover for the times we want to play 3-4-3. Four strikers leaves you a bit thin on the ground if you plan on occasionally playing three up top.

So all in all, I think we should extend Ralph and Bridge’s contracts, meaning we’d need 5 signings in the summer:

2x centre backs
1x left wing back
2x strikers

Looking decent on paper though and I don’t think we’re a million miles away from having a really good squad. Just really, really need to get some key signings right in the summer. A strong central centre back, left wing back and target man are an absolute must and could completely transform us if we get them right.

Midfield a leader and hardman is needed ,a proper general / organiser, also at Central defence a leader and organiser, either one of those to be captain of the team .

 

[amsemp]

Midfield a leader and hardman is needed ,a proper general / organiser, also at Central defence a leader and organiser, either one of those to be captain of the team .

Don’t necessarily disagree with what you say about a proper midfield leader. But I think we may find it hard to justify signing another midfielder with 6 senior midfielders already on the books. They’re competing for 3 midfield spots which is therefore two players to each position and if we go on a run of playing 3-4-3, you’ve got 6 midfielders competing for 2 spots in midfield. I just can’t see us adding a 7th unless we move at least one on.

 

[danbowen]

Don’t necessarily disagree with what you say about a proper midfield leader. But I think we may find it hard to justify signing another midfielder with 6 senior midfielders already on the books. They’re competing for 3 midfield spots which is therefore two players to each position and if we go on a run of playing 3-4-3, you’ve got 6 midfielders competing for 2 spots in midfield. I just can’t see us adding a 7th unless we move at least one on.

But on the other hand you need to try and move some on. No point not signing what we need because we have others. If they aint good enough they need to be replaced otherwise we never move forward to where we want to be. COSU and the management team need to be a bit more ruthless at times.

 

[Hawkwell Blue]

Midfield a leader and hardman is needed ,a proper general / organiser, also at Central defence a leader and organiser, either one of those to be captain of the team .

Exactly what is needed to deal with cheats like Woking. I think the captaincy role at the moment is more of an honorary role, with no disrespect to Nathan Ralph nor Harry Taylor.

 

[Yorkshire Blue]

Target man yes but a striker who really knows how to score is essential also! None of our current strikers seems to have that. Been a long time since we had a true goalscorer at the club.

How many true goalscorers are there in football and who are they?

If 20 goals a season is this all important amount, how many have scored 20+ goals in a season for two different clubs NL and above?

Paul Mullin is one having done it for Cambridge and Wrexham. He’s scored 3 league goals this season in 26 appearances.

Macaualey Langstaff misses the cut as he’s only scored prolifically at NL level or above for Notts County. He’s got 1 goal this season for Millwall.

Paul McCullum was touted as another (although he’s only ever scored 20 with Eastleigh). He’s got one league goal since September.

Andy Dallas has scored 20 goals in a season once. This season he has 5 league goals and it’s March. That’s one more than Oli Coker has from midfield and Coker has been benched.

 

[Blues4LifeDan]

Midfield a leader and hardman is needed ,a proper general / organiser, also at Central defence a leader and organiser, either one of those to be captain of the team .

I really wanted Callum Howe when he left Solihull. He was instrumental in their playoff campaign before he left. He is now shinning in the York team and is a real rock at the heart of the backline. Players like that are players that we need.

As you say, we really lack a commanding player and once Demi retired, we were left with no one.

 

[amsemp]

But on the other hand you need to try and move some on. No point not signing what we need because we have others. If they aint good enough they need to be replaced otherwise we never move forward to where we want to be. COSU and the management team need to be a bit more ruthless at times.

Which of the 6 midfielders would you try to move on out of interest?

 

[Blues4LifeDan]

How many true goalscorers are there in football and who are they?

If 20 goals a season is this all important amount, how many have scored 20+ goals in a season for two different clubs NL and above?

Paul Mullin is one having done it for Cambridge and Wrexham. He’s scored 3 league goals this season in 26 appearances.

Macaualey Langstaff misses the cut as he’s only scored prolifically at NL level or above for Notts County. He’s got 1 goal this season for Millwall.

Paul McCullum was touted as another (although he’s only ever scored 20 with Eastleigh). He’s got one league goal since September.

Andy Dallas has scored 20 goals in a season once. This season he has 5 league goals and it’s March. That’s one more than Oli Coker has from midfield and Coker has been benched.

I think this is true at all levels. I wrote on the Gus thread about the wingback role evolving, so has the forward position. Typical strikers are a thing of the past. It's all about forwards, not strikers. Goals need to be dished around the team. Of course, we aren't doing well in that department either this season, but if you look at the current scorers of the NL, there aren't many that are going to smash 20 goals.

In yesteryear, there were loads of strikers banging them in, because the quality and fitness of the collective defensive unit was terrible. It's not like that now.

So much has changed in football, and the much demanded '20 goals a season striker' is one of them.

 

[amsemp]

Target man yes but a striker who really knows how to score is essential also! None of our current strikers seems to have that. Been a long time since we had a true goalscorer at the club.

I still really like the look of George Nikaj from Dover. Tall, physical, young, mobile, bit of skill and flair, and a proper goal scorer. Always a bit of a gamble stepping up but on paper, he looks like he ticks a hell of a lot of boxes.

 

[londonblue]

Now we wont be making the playoffs and so many people here have had there dreams crushed, is now the time for management to sort the weed from the chaff and also put out feelers for replacements, lets for once not leave everything to the last minute, let the players we wont be keeping or even under contract are not part of MHER and co plans for next season so if they able to find another club we are willing for them to leave, We really need that hard man / general/leader in midfield and in CD some pace out on the flanks who are able to deliver a ball properly to our strikers and a striker that does know where the back of the onion bag is given the proper service .

The weed from the chaff? You don't think much of our squad, do you? Or did you mean the wheat from the chaff?

 

[Bromley Blue]

I really wanted Callum Howe when he left Solihull. He was instrumental in their playoff campaign before he left. He is now shinning in the York team and is a real rock at the heart of the backline. Players like that are players that we need.

As you say, we really lack a commanding player and once Demi retired, we were left with no one.

We were in for him a couple of years ago but the scout’s hearing wasn’t the best. We ended up with a diminutive forward who loved the gym instead.

 

[Yorkshire Blue]

I think this is true at all levels. I wrote on the Gus thread about the wingback role evolving, so has the forward position. Typical strikers are a thing of the past. It's all about forwards, not strikers. Goals need to be dished around the team. Of course, we aren't doing well in that department either this season, but if you look at the current scorers of the NL, there aren't many that are going to smash 20 goals.

In yesteryear, there were loads of strikers banging them in, because the quality and fitness of the collective defensive unit was terrible. It's not like that now.

So much has changed in football, and the much demanded '20 goals a season striker' is one of them.

Good post.

I should have also considered the national side where we have no heir apparent as goalscorer for Harry Kane despite all the riches of the EPL (and Championship) and we actually fielded a side with no recognised centre forward.

I still really like the look of George Nikaj from Dover. Tall, physical, young, mobile, bit of skill and flair, and a proper goal scorer. Always a bit of a gamble stepping up but on paper, he looks like he ticks a hell of a lot of boxes.

I’d be on board with someone like that but I think we’d need to understand that he probably isn’t going straight into the side and he’d be more of a signing for 2026/27 and that would leave us with a hole in the meantime.

I think there’s often a rush to judgement (see for example Gubbins, KAF) on players who are still developing and aren’t yet the finished article. Similarly there’s a lack of regard for depth players. If someone isn’t a first team player there’s a clamour to get rid of them. You need depth and sacking off players like Bridge, Husin, Miley, Hopper etc is the fastest way to deplete your depth. We need players who can come off the bench and add something different/shore us up.

 

[Piledriver]

I'm perhaps being a bit harsh on a couple here, but IMO the following (based on this season) would struggle to hold down a regular starting XI spot in a team genuinely going for promotion. That's not to say any of these wouldn't make useful squad players, or perhaps could turn things around over the summer.

Crowther
Gubbins
Noor
Bridge
Miley
Wood
Waldron
Walker
Hopper

While I broadly agree with your assessment of the players listed because some are just inconsistent, as is common at this level imo, my issue is either Kev doesn't get the best out of what he's got (which usually results in managerial change), in which case would you trust him to get the best from any of these players replacements? Guess We will all have to wait for next season to .....

 

[Chrisb]

How many true goalscorers are there in football and who are they?

If 20 goals a season is this all important amount, how many have scored 20+ goals in a season for two different clubs NL and above?

Paul Mullin is one having done it for Cambridge and Wrexham. He’s scored 3 league goals this season in 26 appearances.

Macaualey Langstaff misses the cut as he’s only scored prolifically at NL level or above for Notts County. He’s got 1 goal this season for Millwall.

Paul McCullum was touted as another (although he’s only ever scored 20 with Eastleigh). He’s got one league goal since September.

Andy Dallas has scored 20 goals in a season once. This season he has 5 league goals and it’s March. That’s one more than Oli Coker has from midfield and Coker has been benched.

It seems to happen that a player just 'clicks' at a Club at a certain time, whether that be with the players around them, I don't know. That has happened for us in the past and, more recently, Harry C and also Bim but they haven't done great with their onward moves. Difficult one to identify those potential signings - of course every Club wants a prolific striker.

 

[Jack_23]

This summer is the time to get rid of the sentimental stuff and move on the ones who haven’t performed. Need to hit the ground running next season. I certainly wouldn’t be renewing Bridge’s contract and doubts about whether I want Husin , Miley here as well

 

[annie1954]

This summer is the time to get rid of the sentimental stuff and move on the ones who haven’t performed. Need to hit the ground running next season. I certainly wouldn’t be renewing Bridge’s contract and doubts about whether I want Husin , Miley here as well

there are many supporters who would argue about keeping Husin but not me he is too inconsistent so yes let them go

 

[flangejackrabbit]

The weed from the chaff? You don't think much of our squad, do you? Or did you mean the wheat from the chaff?

He may just be a different type of farmer to what you are used to.

 

[flangejackrabbit]

I still really like the look of George Nikaj from Dover. Tall, physical, young, mobile, bit of skill and flair, and a proper goal scorer. Always a bit of a gamble stepping up but on paper, he looks like he ticks a hell of a lot of boxes.

His goal record isn't inspiring?

This summer is the time to get rid of the sentimental stuff and move on the ones who haven’t performed. Need to hit the ground running next season. I certainly wouldn’t be renewing Bridge’s contract and doubts about whether I want Husin , Miley here as well

Harsh to put that on Miley who looked one of the best midfielders in the division the last two seasons and has simply failed to get fit and firing this term.

 

[amsemp]

His goal record isn't inspiring?

Google is probably only showing his stats from last season and the two before when he would’ve been 18, 19 and 20. He’s now 21 and has scored 19 goals so far this season in the Isthmian League Premier, the step below NLS.