Transfer News Transfer Window Summer 21

[Symp59]

Spot on Brannagan should play forward I know he played well further back but he is much better behind the front three and should be scoring 10 a year. We did incredible well last season I always felt we were plastering over the cracks. I think there are a few surprises to come on and off the pitch and I do believe we will be much stronger this year. Alot of lessons were learned . Better squad but the same battling performances we will be up there

 

[Jason N]

How do you introduce young players if you dismiss them like that?
If there are 2 out and out left backs it is likely that Elechi will never get a game.
At some stage the Elechi's of this world are either genuinely seem as back up to first team players or what is the point of having them?

I agree, its the only way "one of our own" is going to get a chance. I'm really shocked that he didn't get more games last season.

The only concern with us signing one left back is that the signing has to really hit the ground running, a proven top quality Left back at this level. We cannot have another Clare situation.

 

[horseman]

how can anyone state that you wouldn't select a player as he lacks experience, at what point then do you envisage giving him that experience, a mickey mouse game against Brighton under 23's.
We cannot as a club sing from the rooftops about how well we develop players and then ignore our own or what's the point of the Academy. As i'm always saying it's time to stop all this developing of other clubs players to the benefit of others and the give us another year etc etc.

 

[Left Wing Cross]

I see Elechi as back up left back 100% and if not then at 20 why keep him on.
Give the younger players a chance otherwise don't have a youth system.
Might well be pleasantly surprised .

As we triggered his extension a couple of weeks ago, I would imagine he will be our back up.

 

[Mad Dog]

How do you introduce young players if you dismiss them like that?
If there are 2 out and out left backs it is likely that Elechi will never get a game.
At some stage the Elechi's of this world are either genuinely seem as back up to first team players or what is the point of having them?

I totally agree, but we need stronger competition for our first choice LB than a 20 who’s never played a meaningful game for the first team.

I’d be inclined to loan Elechi out next season, so he can gain some much needed first team senior experience somewhere, and then look to introduce him to the first team set up after that.

 

[ZeroTheHero]

Isn't the loan system exactly how our younger players will get experience? Presumably, if they are *nearly* good enough to play in a 'top end of L1' side, then they should be able to be loaned out to (and regularly featuring for) a club in the National League?

We hear a lot from young players we loan in from clubs higher up the food chain about how much good it does them to play competitively in senior football, surely it's the same for our development players.

If we have young players that are not wanted as a loan by National League teams, then that tells a story I'm afraid.

 

[arthurturner]

I’d like us to sign maybe 1-2 youngsters from the premier league on loan, eg Lundstrum, Joe Jo Kenny etc

I'd like us to sign Gareth Bale but it seems that inexplicably he may be returning to Real Madrid.

 

[WRox]

Isn't the loan system exactly how our younger players will get experience? Presumably, if they are *nearly* good enough to play in a 'top end of L1' side, then they should be able to be loaned out to (and regularly featuring for) a club in the National League?

We hear a lot from young players we loan in from clubs higher up the food chain about how much good it does them to play competitively in senior football, surely it's the same for our development players.

If we have young players that are not wanted as a loan by National League teams, then that tells a story I'm afraid.

I mean there are different ways to bring kids through - Foden and Mount as opposite examples, but it’s either slow exposure at L1 level or loan to a lower one. It’s a shame Elechi didn’t get longer at Oxford City before the season ended. I wouldn’t feel comfortable with our back up left back having so little experience.

 

[arthurturner]

Spot on Brannagan should play forward I know he played well further back but he is much better behind the front three and should be scoring 10 a year. We did incredible well last season I always felt we were plastering over the cracks. I think there are a few surprises to come on and off the pitch and I do believe we will be much stronger this year. Alot of lessons were learned . Better squad but the same battling performances we will be up there

That was a weakness last season but there was no one else to cover for Gorrin during his indisposition - whatever that was.

 

[SteMerritt]

I'd like us to sign Gareth Bale but it seems that inexplicably he may be returning to Real Madrid.

Old, injury-prone, best years behind him... You may be on to something...

 

[LeftSideBoy]

Old, injury-prone, best years behind him... You may be on to something...

But is he Robbo’s mate?

 

[holdsteady]

You want a big burly winger?

Steve Anthrobus started as a winger.

 

[m]

Steve Anthrobus started as a winger.

Chris Hargreaves was a winger too apparently.

I can't decide which is least believable tbh.

 

[holdsteady]

Chris Hargreaves was a winger too apparently.

I can't decide which is least believable tbh.

Former BDO Darts world champion Andy Fordham played football as a winger apparently, I will say him.

 

[Marked Ox]

Steve Anthrobus started as a winger.

You misheard, he started as a singer.

 

[Left Wing Cross]

Steve Anthrobus started as a winger.

A player who never found his natural position. It certainly wasn't as a striker!

 

[RyanioBirdio]

I totally agree, but we need stronger competition for our first choice LB than a 20 who’s never played a meaningful game for the first team.

I’d be inclined to loan Elechi out next season, so he can gain some much needed first team senior experience somewhere, and then look to introduce him to the first team set up after that.

If Elechi is legitimately good enough to cover left back, fine. If we sign a new left back to replace Ruffels and they get injured for a run of games, and Elechi comes in and starts in his absence, then we don’t need anyone else because we already have two. But he has to be good enough that this is what would happen. If we sign one left back, they get injured and Elechi doesn’t get on the pitch because he isn’t ready / up to it, and we start flinging midfielders back there to try to patch it up for weeks on end, let alone months (heaven forbid) then it’ll be sheer stupidity.

I find it odd that there are a few people really quite desperately protesting against the idea of full back cover at the moment. Nobody is talking about how Spasov can’t develop because he’s got Taylor, Winnall and Agyei in front of him, or saying that LC-P is doomed because he’s competing with Gorrin, Hanson, Brannagan, Henry, McGuane, Sykes, Forde (if he signs the new deal), Clare (if he stays) and maybe even one more new signing in midfield. Yet when it comes to the idea of some basic full back cover like we have every other position, it suddenly becomes a matter of, “Won’t somebody think of Elechi? How is he supposed to develop if we have another player in the way!? He’s one of our own, dammit!”

I had no idea that people were so passionate about homegrown full backs!

 

[Marked Ox]

If Elechi is legitimately good enough to cover left back, fine. If we sign a new left back to replace Ruffels and they get injured for a run of games, and Elechi comes in and starts in his absence, then we don’t need anyone else because we already have two. But he has to be good enough that this is what would happen. If we sign one left back, they get injured and Elechi doesn’t get on the pitch because he isn’t ready / up to it, and we start flinging midfielders back there to try to patch it up for weeks on end, let alone months (heaven forbid) then it’ll be sheer stupidity.

I find it odd that there are a few people really quite desperately protesting against the idea of full back cover at the moment. Nobody is talking about how Spasov can’t develop because he’s got Taylor, Winnall and Agyei in front of him, or saying that LC-P is doomed because he’s competing with Gorrin, Hanson, Brannagan, Henry, McGuane, Sykes, Forde (if he signs the new deal), Clare (if he stays) and maybe even one more new signing in midfield. Yet when it comes to the idea of some basic full back cover like we have every other position, it suddenly becomes a matter of, “Won’t somebody think of Elechi? How is he supposed to develop if we have another player in the way!? He’s one of our own, dammit!”

I had no idea that people were so passionate about homegrown full backs!

I think people are passionate about the club producing their own players, not just full backs. And the argument could be had that until the players like Elechi are tried in the team then it won't be known if they are good enough. After all Josh Ruffels got moved back to left back when it wasn't known if he was good enough there.

As an aside, I thought Elechi did enough in the Pizza Trophy to warrant a chance as the cover.

 

[Thomas/Brock/Jones]

If Elechi is legitimately good enough to cover left back, fine. If we sign a new left back to replace Ruffels and they get injured for a run of games, and Elechi comes in and starts in his absence, then we don’t need anyone else because we already have two. But he has to be good enough that this is what would happen. If we sign one left back, they get injured and Elechi doesn’t get on the pitch because he isn’t ready / up to it, and we start flinging midfielders back there to try to patch it up for weeks on end, let alone months (heaven forbid) then it’ll be sheer stupidity.

I find it odd that there are a few people really quite desperately protesting against the idea of full back cover at the moment. Nobody is talking about how Spasov can’t develop because he’s got Taylor, Winnall and Agyei in front of him, or saying that LC-P is doomed because he’s competing with Gorrin, Hanson, Brannagan, Henry, McGuane, Sykes, Forde (if he signs the new deal), Clare (if he stays) and maybe even one more new signing in midfield. Yet when it comes to the idea of some basic full back cover like we have every other position, it suddenly becomes a matter of, “Won’t somebody think of Elechi? How is he supposed to develop if we have another player in the way!? He’s one of our own, dammit!”

I had no idea that people were so passionate about homegrown full backs!

Completely agree with the first paragraph but Elechi is 20 so surely will be good enough to be back up left back at a league one club?
Who would we get that would be much better or experienced anyway to be a reserve for us ?

 

[Foley]

Q

If Elechi is legitimately good enough to cover left back, fine. If we sign a new left back to replace Ruffels and they get injured for a run of games, and Elechi comes in and starts in his absence, then we don’t need anyone else because we already have two. But he has to be good enough that this is what would happen. If we sign one left back, they get injured and Elechi doesn’t get on the pitch because he isn’t ready / up to it, and we start flinging midfielders back there to try to patch it up for weeks on end, let alone months (heaven forbid) then it’ll be sheer stupidity.

I find it odd that there are a few people really quite desperately protesting against the idea of full back cover at the moment. Nobody is talking about how Spasov can’t develop because he’s got Taylor, Winnall and Agyei in front of him, or saying that LC-P is doomed because he’s competing with Gorrin, Hanson, Brannagan, Henry, McGuane, Sykes, Forde (if he signs the new deal), Clare (if he stays) and maybe even one more new signing in midfield. Yet when it comes to the idea of some basic full back cover like we have every other position, it suddenly becomes a matter of, “Won’t somebody think of Elechi? How is he supposed to develop if we have another player in the way!? He’s one of our own, dammit!”

I had no idea that people were so passionate about homegrown full backs!

I am not sure that people are passionate about homegrown full backs.
The strategy is clearly to bring our young players through and the question is when will he be ready to come in as cover in the First Team. If he isn't as a 20 year old then why keep him?
If there are 2 left backs in front of him plus Sam Long, then presumably he potentially won't even get a chance to show his worth in the JPT .
I totally agree that IF he is being used as back up then he has to be trusted to play if necessary, but think that people are making a reasonable point?