A Bit of Fun Transfer Rumours Thread (Potential New Signings)

[Danshrimper]

I sense an Umbungo in my waters...

Based on what?

 

[overseas shrimper]

Based on what?

Same as usual. Based on pure and utter conjecture.

 

[Yer Blues]

I sense an Umbungo in my waters...

Probably wanna see a doctor. No embargo here.

 

[Ricky Otto]

I really don't know anything about Dunne. It doesn't sound promising from Barnet fans but one Ray of light I'm clinging to is the Barnet fan who said he runs about a lot like a headless chicken. We had a player where that description was used by some of our fans, Atkinson. I remember many of our fans weren't bothered about losing him either. If Dunne provides the workrate that allows others to shine then I'll be happy. He could be as awful as the Barnet fans say but let's give him a chance and see how the team plays with him in it.

 

[kentblues]

I really don't know anything about Dunne. It doesn't sound promising from Barnet fans but one Ray of light I'm clinging to is the Barnet fan who said he runs about a lot like a headless chicken. We had a player where that description by some of our fans, Atkinson. I remember many of our fans weren't bothered about losing him either. If Dunne provides the workrate that allows others to shine then I'll be happy. He could be as awful as the Barnet fans say but let's give him a chance and see how the team plays with him in it.

What is of more interest to me, more than the armchair experts, is the fact that he has played regularly (300 games at L1 and L2 level) and the managers there including Brown did rate him, along with the manager(s) at Barnet who not only picked him but left him on the pitch for a full 90 mins regularly and made him captain. I wouldn't worry about another bunch of fans who can't see what a hardworking midfielder brings. Given he has played under Brown pretty recently I would be happy to go with his judgement on this one.

 

[dannypav]

Another player that could do very well at Southend is 27 year old Hallum Hope just released by Swindon. This player was a target for Sol Campbell before the club walked into a transfer embargo that was to last almost a year. Hope scored a lot of goals at Carlisle as an attacking midfielder before moving to Swindon. Realistically, Hope will probably get himself another league club.

Well we’ve certainly been lacking any ‘Hope’ in recent seasons , so worth a try.

 

[fbm]

...other than Halford ( can only assume he is good in the dressing room)

If Oxley goes I hear he's the only one tall enough to change the light bulbs...

 

[bluesfansince1952]

Average age of National League squads/ starting eleven in 2020-21

National League - Average age of formation (Detailed view)

This is the detailed statistic showing the average age in the National League in the season 20/21.

www.transfermarkt.co.uk

Is there any evidence to suggest that a squad top heavy with players aged over thirty does well in the Conference, or, this is a way to gain promotion?
I suspect not otherwise the average age of teams listed here would likely be far higher.
We cannot ignore the fact that there are risks involved in signing older players. Decline in performance (which can sometimes be very steep and sudden) would be the greatest risk followed followed by injury proneness. It also tends to take older players longer to recover from injury.
It is entirely possible to sign players over thirty who are able to maintain a good standard of performance and avoid injury. Possible but not easy.
The more older players you sign the greater the chances will be that one or more of them will find their age suddenly catching up with them. This increases the chances of bad outcomes.
In recent years we have this seen this happen at Southend more than once.
My other concern is the cost of signing older players, as, if we are to believe what we read, they are often the highest paid. If they play less and their performance drops this seems to be poor business.
At the height of what I call 'Stan Fever' I did watch the zoom call. I seem to remember Tilly commenting he was amazed at some of the salaries we had paid in recent years and he followed this by saying something to the effect he thought there was no shortage of local players of a good standard available and they could be signed at a lesser cost than the 'names'.
Do others believe that to be true? What effort do we make to scout local non league players with a view to finding new recruits?
When PB was reappointed as manager I was not impressed. This is because I believed that long after he left following his original stint with us some the Club's ongoing problems could be traced back to the cost and quality of the signings he made.
He is now our manager and I wish him the best of success although I believe his preference for 'Dad's Army' types is not the best way forward. I hope I am wrong. And if older players are to join us please let their salaries reflect the risks involved in signing them.
And lastly, please not too many. Can we not sign at least one two players in their early to mid twenties?

 

[fbm]

A note on average ages... a team with 6 x 18 year olds and 5 x 36 year olds has an average age of 26.18.

 

[Barry.C]

Is there any evidence to suggest that a squad top heavy with players aged over thirty does well in the Conference, or, this is a way to gain promotion?
I suspect not otherwise the average age of teams listed here would likely be far higher.
We cannot ignore the fact that there are risks involved in signing older players. Decline in performance (which can sometimes be very steep and sudden) would be the greatest risk followed followed by injury proneness. It also tends to take older players longer to recover from injury.
It is entirely possible to sign players over thirty who are able to maintain a good standard of performance and avoid injury. Possible but not easy.
The more older players you sign the greater the chances will be that one or more of them will find their age suddenly catching up with them. This increases the chances of bad outcomes.
In recent years we have this seen this happen at Southend more than once.
My other concern is the cost of signing older players, as, if we are to believe what we read, they are often the highest paid. If they play less and their performance drops this seems to be poor business.
At the height of what I call 'Stan Fever' I did watch the zoom call. I seem to remember Tilly commenting he was amazed at some of the salaries we had paid in recent years and he followed this by saying something to the effect he thought there was no shortage of local players of a good standard available and they could be signed at a lesser cost than the 'names'.
Do others believe that to be true? What effort do we make to scout local non league players with a view to finding new recruits?
When PB was reappointed as manager I was not impressed. This is because I believed that long after he left following his original stint with us some the Club's ongoing problems could be traced back to the cost and quality of the signings he made.
He is now our manager and I wish him the best of success although I believe his preference for 'Dad's Army' types is not the best way forward. I hope I am wrong. And if older players are to join us please let their salaries reflect the risks involved in signing them.
And lastly, please not too many. Can we not sign at least one two players in their early to mid twenties?

Spot on , excellent post. Tilson would have gone for more local younger talent like Brentford, Lincoln and Peterborough, It tool Lincoln 5 years to get out of the National League until they changed the business model

 

[duncan bulgaria]

Phil Brown looks for character as well as ability , some of our promotion winning sides had some average players on paper , but they had superb character which combined with youth and ability in the side can result in a winning formula .
notably - Wilson , pettefer , Atkinson, Jupp

 

[Blues4LifeDan]

Phil Brown looks for character as well as ability , some of our promotion winning sides had some average players on paper , but they had superb character which combined with youth and ability in the side can result in a winning formula .
notably - Wilson , pettefer , Atkinson, Jupp

This is really key.

I was listening to Lingard talking about Noble the other day and how he has helped him mature. Talking about how Noble took him to training and said in the car to not go on his phone and things. He really set the ground rules. Lingard was saying that at United, players do things like this all the time.

Most people from afar think of Noble as past it etc. But it is his experience and steady head that can be priceless.

Look at White with Hobson, experience and steadiness really helped him mature and grow. It's not always about figures and talent. Hard work and maturity can not be undervalued.

 

[kentblues]

Is there any evidence to suggest that a squad top heavy with players aged over thirty does well in the Conference, or, this is a way to gain promotion?
I suspect not otherwise the average age of teams listed here would likely be far higher.
We cannot ignore the fact that there are risks involved in signing older players. Decline in performance (which can sometimes be very steep and sudden) would be the greatest risk followed followed by injury proneness. It also tends to take older players longer to recover from injury.
It is entirely possible to sign players over thirty who are able to maintain a good standard of performance and avoid injury. Possible but not easy.
The more older players you sign the greater the chances will be that one or more of them will find their age suddenly catching up with them. This increases the chances of bad outcomes.
In recent years we have this seen this happen at Southend more than once.
My other concern is the cost of signing older players, as, if we are to believe what we read, they are often the highest paid. If they play less and their performance drops this seems to be poor business.
At the height of what I call 'Stan Fever' I did watch the zoom call. I seem to remember Tilly commenting he was amazed at some of the salaries we had paid in recent years and he followed this by saying something to the effect he thought there was no shortage of local players of a good standard available and they could be signed at a lesser cost than the 'names'.
Do others believe that to be true? What effort do we make to scout local non league players with a view to finding new recruits?
When PB was reappointed as manager I was not impressed. This is because I believed that long after he left following his original stint with us some the Club's ongoing problems could be traced back to the cost and quality of the signings he made.
He is now our manager and I wish him the best of success although I believe his preference for 'Dad's Army' types is not the best way forward. I hope I am wrong. And if older players are to join us please let their salaries reflect the risks involved in signing them.
And lastly, please not too many. Can we not sign at least one two players in their early to mid twenties?

Well I can allay your fears. Our average age will be 25/26 I expect- we are already signing players in their mid 20s (Bridge, Hart, Hobson, Cordner hopefully) to go with the number in their mid 20s and younger already on our books, and the myth about endless reservoirs of talent in local non-league is omni-present but also omni-unproven.

 

[kentblues]

A note on average ages... a team with 6 x 18 year olds and 5 x 36 year olds has an average age of 26.18.

You are correct- but given the number of players we already have in their mid 20s, and given the expected signings who are similarly in their mid 20s, then this interesting fact won’t apply to us.

 

[Barry.C]

We currently only have 3 players aged 25 to 28 ! Theres a lot of youngsters on contract from the Under 23s ( Walsh, Phillips, Rush, Howard, Mitchell-Nelson Gard, O Shane Stewart,Benton Seadon, Kinali, Eghbri, Clifford etc

Are these youngsters taking us back up?

They will certainly help reduce the average age but how many will play regularly ?

On the other hand we have potentially 7 seniors with an average age of 33 !! Hardly a great balance is it?

 

[Barry.C]

26 is the average age of he top 4 sides finishing in the National League

 

[bluesfansince1952]

We currently only have 3 players aged 25 to 28 ! Theres a lot of youngsters on contract from the Under 23s ( Walsh, Phillips, Rush, Howard, Mitchell-Nelson Gard, O Shane Stewart,Benton Seadon, Kinali, Eghbri, Clifford etc

Are these youngsters taking us back up?

They will certainly help reduce the average age but how many will play regularly ?

On the other hand we have potentially 7 seniors with an average age of 33 !! Hardly a great balance is it?

Will there be any more over thirties incoming?

 

[Barry.C]

Well I can allay your fears. Our average age will be 25/26 I expect- we are already signing players in their mid 20s (Bridge, Hart, Hobson, Cordner hopefully) to go with the number in their mid 20s and younger already on our books, and the myth about endless reservoirs of talent in local non-league is omni-present but also omni-unproven.

Of these Jack Bridge has just hit 25, Cordner is 22, Hart is 24, Hobson is 22

So just one in mid twenties then

You need to be a little careful with your facts

Only 3 players aged between 25 and 28 currently.

Nobody has suggested their is an endless reservoir of talent in local non league, although Steve Tilson certainly thinks its the way to go and their are a few, but got to admire your desperate attempt to make and exaggerate the point

 

[dusterman]

Based on what?

Lack of completed signing and a plethora of news about players set to sign and other clubs signing people. Just the spidey sense, no inside knowledge.

 

[tommy tucker]

normal program has resumed i see he isnt any good why are we bringing him in .He is to old he is to young .Why the hell cant people just wait and see who Phil Brown brings in .And who gives a toss what other clubs supporters think of players who leave them to join us anyway . All fans can do is wait and see whoo signs on the dotted line before pre season .