[spireitematt]

Well if we're keeping Chapman he really ought be first choice by now. If we could get £500,000 or anything like it for Tommy, at his age, we should take it and run!

Of course Portsmouth could have got Foderingham for free from Swindon. He's younger than Tommy, roughly the same standard and they could have used the cash to pay a high wage. Spending big money on a Div 2 keeper is, as Pooch says, unlikely.

If Chris Turner says we're signing, we're signing.

Chris Turner also said that no player was going to Portsmouth so I will take what he says with a pinch of salt.

[bluepooch]

Maybe they weren't at the time

When did he say that ?

I'm not defending Turner and I do think some of the stuff thats gone off has to be his responsibility I just think he gets a lot of stick and I'm not sure if its all warranted .

The bottom line is under his stewardship we have reached the highest position for thirty years and if he left tomorrow he will put that on his CV.

[spireitematt]

Maybe they weren't at the time

When did he say that ?

I'm not defending Turner and I do think some of the stuff thats gone off has to be his responsibility I just think he gets a lot of stick and I'm not sure if its all warranted .

The bottom line is under his stewardship we have reached the highest position for thirty years and if he left tomorrow he will put that on his CV.

He said it the first time Portsmouth made a tongue in cheek bid for Roberts and said that no players would be joining Portsmouth but Roberts said in an interview last week with Portsmouth that he wanted to join Portsmouth when Cook left. Roberts also said that its the first big proper club he has played for in a few years which is an insult to us and other clubs he has played for.

[Devongone]

Bet Huddersfield, where he's remained popular, love that statement Matt.

Now I've remained as dubious about Chris Turner as a CEO, as I was about him as a goalkeeper and manager. As a keeper his first consideration was always himself and I'm afraid that has always seemed to be the measure of the man to me, BUT Pooch's assessment is unarguable. Last season was the only time (because play-offs existed) in my lifetime that there was a genuine possibility of us returning to what is now the Championship. We had a great team under Arthur Cox, but I can't remember promotion being in our minds as much as the thought that on our day we were by some distance the best side in the division.

Whilst our interests and Mr Turner's coincide, my feeling is all will be well. Whether that means it will end in tears I don't know. For instance, I was sure Humphreys was brought to Chesterfield as manager-in-waiting, but he has served the club really well and if it all goes tits once we're playing under Dean Saunders I'd be happy for him to take over .....
For now Chris Turner isn't only the power behind the throne, he's got a throne of his own.

---

You may remember me suggesting we should look at the brilliantly named Omar Bogle. Grimsby have given him a three year deal with the hope his goals will ensure a return to Divison 2. Over reliance on John-Lewis's goals probably cost them last season. Bogle notched 22 at a lower level despite missing a chunk of the season with injury. So my tip is back Grimsby to win the National League, don't think even a reviving Tranmere can stop them.

As for players I've noticed in non-league as consistently impressing and who a clever club might give a chance to ..... well ....... most teams are hoping to find prolific strikers, but my suggestions would be Andre Da Costa at Hendon, always talked about as class in midfield, 22, Portuguese, can score spectacular goals and take a free kick, and Frazer Shaw, once West Ham, now Dulwich Hamlet and England C, left back but a versatile young player who at 20 deserves a way back into league football.

[bluepooch]

Dev I think they will be looking for a new scout to assist Paul Mitch.Are you going to apply ?

[Devongone]

In the old days to find a player you had to visit grounds all over the country on just a whisper. Burnley, Notts County and West Brom all came to watch me - okay they went away laughing, well Burnley didn't, the game was off! These days almost every level of football is reported upon, you can pick up warm words on club websites, follow them up on fan talk, read local papers, even see YouTube clips. When you finally get to see the player you should already know a lot about him.

My money's on Omar Bogle to get a shed-load of goals for Grimsby, he's got the perfect profile. He's been with Birmingham and Celtic and didn't quite make it, he's been down several levels, been a big success, he'll want to prove himself ...... and will.

Fans like Da Costa, which is usually a good sign and Frazer Shaw, when you've been at West Ham and gone down to Dulwich, you're going to want that chance to climb back up ...... As you know there are loads of good players at lower levels (and plenty of bad ones too!) - Mansfield just gambled on a 31-goal striker, good on them. We often hear about strikers plucked from obscurity, why not play-makers and defenders too, Raglan's not too dusty?

Paul Mitchell sounds like a good guy. Hope they find him someone good to work with, because that is where our future has to lie. Obviously it's not me, but they could actually recruit a few amateur nunks to pore over non-league websites and come up with potential leads. Fans could do that. More pairs of eyes might uncover a 19 year old wowing them at Bideford, or stopping everything for Paulton ..... and they might find that kid who was homesick at Arsenal and never progressed, got kicked out and is now stroking the ball about like Glenn Hoddle on parks pitches. They'd find lotsa crap, but you only need a nugget every now and again.

[spireitematt]

Rumour that Norwich have made a bid for Sam Clucas.

[bluepooch]

Hmmm interesting that.
Norwich have some Premier League dosh to give away so we should be milking them.
I hope they've bid more than Scunny .

[Devongone]

I'll say this very quietly for your sake Pooch and Dancing, but I think we probably have to resign ourselves to losing both Clucas and Morsy. They must be at about the peak of the value they can achieve with us ..... their value might rise later, but not if they stay at Chesterfield. As they clearly are vital players my hope is that we are out scouting viable replacements who might similarly increase in value. I don't envy Dean Saunders or Paul Mitchell, keeping these players won't be easy, not-keeping will be even harder (and unpopular!)

[spireitematt]

We were getting Jacob Mellis who is a centre midfield on trial for pre-season but he decided to sign for Bury today.