30-03-2022, 16:23
Our ability to sign new players came and went last week with us deciding to keep our hands in our pockets with a view to signing someone we really really want next season. It sounds a sensible policy, especially if some of our injured players become fit. It appears to be a long-term view and we have rarely seen the bigger picture in recent years, but the problem is that we are probably now not good enough to gain promotion via the play-offs, so for next season we will probably be seeking a similar standard of player to this from that cash in our pockets.
The real long-term view would EITHER have been to sign a couple of good players in the last few weeks to refresh and enliven our promotion bid by ensuring we finish in the top three, OR we could have brought young players onto our books primarily for next season, but who might now have learning to make the jump necessary to reach our level.
The first player on my list would have been Bailey Hobson only down the road at Alfreton. He's showing up really nicely in a midfield role for them despite fairly recently having been involved in the Rotherham Sunday League and showing his worth at Maltby Main.
Then I'd be taking a lingering look at Guiseley, despite them being bottom of National North. They have Josh Stones, a young centre forward, physically capable of playing higher who needs only time to up his goal ratio, and alongside him they can play 17 year old Jakub Hebda. Now both of them are still in education. Both were selected for England Schools and both are attracting interest. First-in with an offer of better football could have won the day. We could even have loaned them back to Guiseley and given them some chances to train with us .......
Next I'd be sidling up to a made-product. 21 year old Zico Asare at Oxford City. A right back, he came through the Fulham Academy, achieved some England youth recognition and has done well in National South.
Though he has failed elsewhere I'd also take a chance on Louis Walsh who is 22 I think. He was at Barnsley, went to Southend and they've let him go to Barnet where nothing much is happening, but he is a smooth wide player, who given confidence could have a goal or two in him.
Naturally I couldn't list this kind of player without mentioning my favourite Kane Drummond at Warrington Ryland. He's the first player they ever contracted. They are top of Northern Premier West. He plays wide, can come inside, is tougher than he looks, can score a goal and learned his stuff with Liverpool. Somebody give him a game in the EFL!!!!
Nikola Tavares at Wealdstone is still only 22 and he is another made player who could step into our line up in central defence, or full back. He has a touch of class about him and can read the game. He didn't make it at Crystal Palace, but he still wants to play League Football.
Though Weymouth is perhaps the last place we want to remember after what happened to Kabby, they have a midfielder called Mussa who is crying out to play in a better team. I think he's only 22.
And if we could get him I'd sign glamorous young Marcus Sablier from Bromley too. He even moves as though he knows he's got it.
None of these players would break the bank, except perhaps Sablier. All of them look like improving. Unfortunately I haven't got you a keeper, which we urgently need. If we are going forward don't we need some players with this kind of profile as well as our equivalent of perhaps a Madden, or a Mullin, or a Sarcevic?
The real long-term view would EITHER have been to sign a couple of good players in the last few weeks to refresh and enliven our promotion bid by ensuring we finish in the top three, OR we could have brought young players onto our books primarily for next season, but who might now have learning to make the jump necessary to reach our level.
The first player on my list would have been Bailey Hobson only down the road at Alfreton. He's showing up really nicely in a midfield role for them despite fairly recently having been involved in the Rotherham Sunday League and showing his worth at Maltby Main.
Then I'd be taking a lingering look at Guiseley, despite them being bottom of National North. They have Josh Stones, a young centre forward, physically capable of playing higher who needs only time to up his goal ratio, and alongside him they can play 17 year old Jakub Hebda. Now both of them are still in education. Both were selected for England Schools and both are attracting interest. First-in with an offer of better football could have won the day. We could even have loaned them back to Guiseley and given them some chances to train with us .......
Next I'd be sidling up to a made-product. 21 year old Zico Asare at Oxford City. A right back, he came through the Fulham Academy, achieved some England youth recognition and has done well in National South.
Though he has failed elsewhere I'd also take a chance on Louis Walsh who is 22 I think. He was at Barnsley, went to Southend and they've let him go to Barnet where nothing much is happening, but he is a smooth wide player, who given confidence could have a goal or two in him.
Naturally I couldn't list this kind of player without mentioning my favourite Kane Drummond at Warrington Ryland. He's the first player they ever contracted. They are top of Northern Premier West. He plays wide, can come inside, is tougher than he looks, can score a goal and learned his stuff with Liverpool. Somebody give him a game in the EFL!!!!
Nikola Tavares at Wealdstone is still only 22 and he is another made player who could step into our line up in central defence, or full back. He has a touch of class about him and can read the game. He didn't make it at Crystal Palace, but he still wants to play League Football.
Though Weymouth is perhaps the last place we want to remember after what happened to Kabby, they have a midfielder called Mussa who is crying out to play in a better team. I think he's only 22.
And if we could get him I'd sign glamorous young Marcus Sablier from Bromley too. He even moves as though he knows he's got it.
None of these players would break the bank, except perhaps Sablier. All of them look like improving. Unfortunately I haven't got you a keeper, which we urgently need. If we are going forward don't we need some players with this kind of profile as well as our equivalent of perhaps a Madden, or a Mullin, or a Sarcevic?