UNCLE RON TO SPLASH THE CASH

[tommytwoholes]

Unfortuantely i am working in the city today and i drove on this morning. Listened to BBC Essex news and they had an interview with Ron Martin. He said that he is totally focussed on getting us back in the championship and he already has Tilly and Brushy's wish list of players and that is preparing to get the cheque book out. I must admit it was quite refreshing to hear the chairman come out with comments like this. Anybody have any ideas who exaclty we are after???

I for one cant wait until next season to come.

 

[palexander]

Ronaldinho and Micky Owen...

 

[The Fitter]

Quote[/b] (pboreham @ May 30 2005,10:31)]Ronaldinho and Micky Owen...

Surely we can set our sights higher than a couple of Euro cast offs.

 

[Hambone]

I heard somewhere that we were after Junior Agogo. Not sure if it's true or not though.

 

[palexander]

In all seriousness, we are not far off being a very good team at the moment. The spine of the team is solid.

Flavs, Prior, Barrett, Maher, Bentley/Smith, Eastwood.

Flavs has been superb this season and I would like to keep him at No.1, but I wonder if Tilly and Brush feel this is an area we need to strenthen?

Prior has already said this is his last season coming up, and with only Edwards as back-up I can see us getting 1 or 2 decent centre-halves (Roget??).

We clearly need a left-back, even though Che has been superb in the run-in. Lockwood keeps getting mentioned, but I wouldnt mind Micky Bell who has been released from Bristol City.

If Tilly is confident that Smith can recover from his injury then I would not waste any money on central midfield. Maher and Bentley are awesome, a fit Smith and Guttridge to cover is a very solid looking centre-midfield.

We have struggled out wide, though again Nic-Nic has answered some questions. Question marks remain over Gower, though on the other side of the coin, I believe that Guttridge was brought (on a 3-year deal remember) to play in Div1 and I think he will be a major player for us next year in a wide role.

I do think we need left/right wingers as a priority for next season.

As for up top... Hmmm... I think Gray may have to go (along with Tes) leaving Freddy and Dudfield - who unless he can buck his ideas up, will only be a back up. So 2 new strikers in. One to partner Freddy, one to push all 3 from the bench.

On that basis, this would be my team so far for next year:-

GK Flavs
RB Jupp/Hunt (actually, Hunt would be a great foil for Barrett in the middle)
LB ??
CB Prior (Rotated/Rested more with another new CB)
CB Barrett
RW Guttridge (poss Bentley)
CM Maher
CM Bentley (poss Smith)
LW ?? (poss Guttridge)
CF Eastwood
CF ??

In Tilly we trust...

 

[northbankblue]

Id go along with all you said there mate but i was lead to believe that Gary holt of rochdale was a target for up top.
I also feel we should have had a look at Tudor who was signed last week by the O's from cambridge as a wide option.
And what about a return of Chrissy Powell as a left back if the irons fail to go up? I always feel we will see chris back at the hall before he calls it a day.

 

[blueheaven]

Leave the defence alone - it is the strength of the team.

 

[sufcintheprem]

Just a thought. I took out the players that played in the playoff final to review the depth of our squad and you can see that Tilly and Brush have been smart in covering almost every position with a quality replacement.

GK: Griemink
DR: Hunt
DL: (Nic would switch back here with Gower going wide)
DC: Edwards
DC: Blewitt (West Ham youngster on loan - possibly perm.)
ML: Gower
MC: Smith (assuming he'll have recovered from Warren Goodhind's crime against humanity by then)
MC: (Hunt/Guttridge could slip in here
MR: Guttridge (largely cos we don't have anyone else)
FC: Dudfield
FC: Bramble

I think it's fair to say that that team would have been able to beat most teams in L2 this year. However, it would suggest we could do with more support in wide positions.

I'm stunned by those comments by RM, to be honest. It's been a good season and the last 14 months must have been great financially for the club. I also love the talk of pushing on for the Championship, I hadn't even thought ahead from avoiding relegation.

However, we're still very poorly placed financially and looking through the squad (assuming no imminent departures), we're looking decent for the next season. I honestly think Guttridge was bought with one eye on L1 and I was expecting a couple more players in but talk of the Championship sounds too much too early. I'd love to be there, but not at the cost of the last trip. I think the Plymouth/Rotherham role model (although obviously not relegated) looks more appealing.

 

[executioner]

let's see it! definitely a top keeper,i would go for a Buffoon
a quality left back,roberto carlos or maldini if he decides to drop two divisions. we need also a quality winger and i think richardson or wright-phillips fit the bill without forgetting a top striker like michael owen.i am sure it will come! and hang on...yeah rafa benitez wants a challenge i can give him a call..

 

[Mr Wooly]

Quote[/b] (executioner @ May 30 2005,12:53)]let's see it! definitely a top keeper,i would go for a Buffoon
a quality left back,roberto carlos or maldini if he decides to drop two divisions. we need also a quality winger and i think richardson or wright-phillips fit the bill without forgetting a top striker like michael owen.i am sure it will come! and hang on...yeah rafa benitez wants a challenge i can give him a call..

Obviously, time will tell, but just to throw some names in the hat for fun;

Junior Agogo
Grant Holt
Matthew Tipton
Alex John Baptiste
Martin Devaney

Obviously, more will become available when contracts expire etc. Anyone like me, love pre-season with all the transfer rumours and possible signings?!

 

[Upminster Blue]

Quote[/b] (tommytwoholes @ May 30 2005,11:28)]Unfortuantely i am working in the city today and i drove on this morning. Listened to BBC Essex news and they had an interview with Ron Martin. He said that he is totally focussed on getting us back in the championship and he already has Tilly and Brushy's wish list of players and that is preparing to get the cheque book out. I must admit it was quite refreshing to hear the chairman come out with comments like this. Anybody have any ideas who exaclty we are after???

I for one cant wait until next season to come.

Very good to hear Ron being so supportive and positive but I hope he's not creating a rod for his and Tilly's back by talking about the Championship so soon. Personally, I'd be more than happy with lower mid-table as long as we're moving in the right direction.

Yes, the Championship is possible if we keep progressing but there are a lot of big clubs in League One. A new ground for us is absolutely key to making it financially viable in the long run.

 

[Welsh_Shrimperz]

Now we are in League One, we can get 1 of these players to join us and make sure we finish somewhere 18th to 12th (above Col Ewes would be nice!)

Junior Agogo
Grant Holt
Matthew Tipton
Alex John Baptiste
Martin Devaney

On Football Manager 2005, I got promotion in my 2nd season (year after I avoided relegation to Conference) in the Play-Off 2005/06 season, I signed Martin Devaney and Neil Harris (Millwall - now Nott'm Forest) to improve the team, I finish 9th with the best attack, but lack of pace in my back 4, I could gone up again. I think we should go for Neil Harris, he want out of Forest and he be more than happy to play for us & have more time with his family as well. He know League One like the back of his eye, and a big plus, he get us 20 goals a season, should we have good service for him - Harris & Freddy parthership is lethel

 

[Welsh_Shrimperz]

Iam looking us to be like Luton or Plymouth, both who have solid season and build on their sucess and slowly improve their weakness in their team and make them stronger for a push to the Championship.

Since we got relegated in 1998, for the last 7 year at this level, I used to dream about us making an return to Championship level and play agasint Derby, Wolves & Leicester again - if that happen in 2 or 3 season time, you will see an Welshman crying with joy!

 

[canada shrimper]

Quote[/b] (Upminster Blue @ May 30 2005,13:21)]

Quote[/b] (tommytwoholes @ May 30 2005,11:28)]Unfortuantely i am working in the city today and i drove on this morning. Listened to BBC Essex news and they had an interview with Ron Martin. He said that he is totally focussed on getting us back in the championship and he already has Tilly and Brushy's wish list of players and that is preparing to get the cheque book out. I must admit it was quite refreshing to hear the chairman come out with comments like this. Anybody have any ideas who exaclty we are after???

I for one cant wait until next season to come.

Very good to hear Ron being so supportive and positive but I hope he's not creating a rod for his and Tilly's back by talking about the Championship so soon.  Personally, I'd be more than happy with lower mid-table as long as we're moving in the right direction.

Yes, the Championship is possible if we keep progressing but there are a lot of big clubs in League One.  A new ground for us is absolutely key to making it financially viable in the long run.

Stuff that i want the champions league winners trophy in the cabinet at roots hall in 4 years.

 

[GoochDogHighFives]

I thought you were after Matty Lockwood.

What about Jamie Cureton? Quality player who I think is on the way out of QPR?

 

[EastStandBlue]

I've heard Rumours that both grant Holt and Neil Harris had pre-agreements that if we went up, they would sign deals. Micky Bell would be another Class signing as he can also Push up to left wing as well as covering left back, Although Nicolau's proved his worth in the last 2 games.

In general, Someone to Cover and eventually replace Spinner,Another option or 2 on the wings and another option upfront (possibly a targetman) are needed...

 

[Mr Wooly]

Quote[/b] (GoochDogHighFives @ May 30 2005,13:56)]I thought you were after Matty Lockwood.

What about Jamie Cureton? Quality player who I think is on the way out of QPR?

Good shout about Cureton GDHF. Perhaps a bit to similar to Freddy though.

We've been linked with Lockwood for about 6 years! Can't see it happening.

 

[GoochDogHighFives]

Quote[/b] (Mr Wooly @ May 30 2005,14:02)]Good shout about Cureton GDHF. Perhaps a bit to similar to Freddy though.

We've been linked with Lockwood for about 6 years! Can't see it happening.

The Lockwood saga has been running almost as long as MAher going to the Os.

Why dont we just do the swap and get it over with.

 

[Mr Wooly]

Quote[/b] (GoochDogHighFives @ May 30 2005,14:08)]

Quote[/b] (Mr Wooly @ May 30 2005,14:02)]Good shout about Cureton GDHF. Perhaps a bit to similar to Freddy though.

We've been linked with Lockwood for about 6 years! Can't see it happening.

The Lockwood saga has been running almost as long as MAher going to the Os.

Why dont we just do the swap and get it over with.

No chance!

 

[overseas shrimper]

Quote[/b] (northbankblue @ May 30 2005,13:18)]And what about a return of Chrissy Powell as a left back if the irons fail to go up?

I'd say we have a better chance of getting Sir (please address him by his correct title) Powell if the Hammers do go up.