Quality striker signs for Kent club.

[Hempstead Gaz]

Quote:

Jimmy said:
Hockton has played in the Conference and was rubbish - why sign players like that?
He might well have scored 25 goals in the South, so has Sigere and he was really prolific with us wasn't he? Claiming an own goal from Mark Hotte as his own.
Tait trialled for us and was deemed not good enough - he's hardly prolific and has never impressed me.
Dryden scores loads of goals for Folkestone but it's strange noone has ever taken a chance on him - not even Dover.
Kedwell looks alright, but maybe too one dimensional for the Conference.
I'd rather we didn't sign anyone than waste money on people who won't be good enough - i include loan players in this.

A flawed arguement, I'm afraid Jimmy.
Footballers the length and breadth of the country aspire to play in a higher league, and any decent manager, including Arsene, Sir Alex and Jose look to the lower leagues to find young up and coming players of potential, who could suit the team's style of play and become a success.
Liam would a poor manager if he didn't do this.
So what if Dryden/Tait/Kedwell haven't scored by the sackfull in the conference. Mostly they haven't had the chance. A player of that ilk COULD be the perfect foil for Charlie.
Would we not sign another Portway simply because he was plying his trade in the Rymans or Southern league. Of course not.
Personally I would rather have 2 or 3 strikers of potential on contract than have the procession of loan players we have seen this year.
No wonder Charlie looks fed up at times. He could throw a dice to see who is playing up front with him at times.
Look at the leading scorers for us this year.
Take out Charlies formidable contribution and what you are left with is the strke force of a Leigh RMI.
The window is still open, let us sign a striker or 2 until the end of the season at least to give Chas and Luke a bit of help.
We were worried about the lack of strikers last July - 7 months on we have 1 top striker, 1 young gun (who Liam has great faith but cannot get a start) and 1 loan striker who appears to be wearing Ben Surey's boots.
I think we can forget about the play offs this year. If we can by some chance hang on to 10th spot we can make the LDV trophy next year and all that offers <img src="/forum/images/graemlins/crazy.gif" alt="" />.

PS, I hear that Andy Hessenthaler is looking for a club, either League or non- league to finish the season as a player.
But would Liam see him as a threat to his job next season?

[Jimmy]

My point was that signing just anybody because they have scored goals at a lower level makes no sense.

 

All the players mentioned are either unavailable or have had an opportunity at a higher level and not impressed.

 

If you know of "another Portway" then by all means mention him here but people scoring goals in the Kent league aren't the same thing.

 

Tait not having had a chance? Incorrect - 4 or so seasons in the Conference now.

 

I take it by your continual praise of players like Tait, Kedwell etc that you have followed their career closely and are therefore in the perfect position to know they'd be ideal?

 

Noone is disagreeing that Charlie needs help but just signing anyone will serve no purpose - we've had these gambles before of people from lower leagues Garry Abbott, Huggins etc.

 

The next forward signing is important and it's imperative we get it right. If people have people to suggest then fair enough but a little bit of research into where they've been before wouldn't go amiss.

[Hempstead Gaz]

Liam and Alan apparently have lots of contacts in football circles.

Strikers ARE our there, some of whom ARE available, and one or 2 would probably sign for us if asked.

I do not profess to know who or where they are, that is what the managers and scouts are paid to do. Instead of us lurching from one embarrassment to another with one striker and his apprentice, we need to bolster the squad.

[ronin]

Quote:

Tait not having had a chance? Incorrect - 4 or so seasons in the Conference

This is Tait`s 2nd season in the Conference, top scorer for Crawley last season (ahead of McDonald) but sadly injured for a lot of this season.

I doubt he would have signed for Gravesend anyway because he didn`t want to go full-time

[Hempstead Gaz]

But Liam and Brian have publically gone on record saying part timers wouldn't be precluded from their plans, if it was the right player.

BTW, will Lee Boylan be playing this Friday?

Great striker - you have a gem there.

[ronin]

The last report was that Boylan wouldn`t be playing until Febuary so no chance for Friday <img src="/forum/images/graemlins/angry.gif" alt="" />

[Andy Y. (G&NFC)]

I remember talking to BK a while back ( agood while back) he reckoned that good quality forwards were well difficult to get as they are available but vastly overpriced.

 

Its a case of waiting for the right one to come along at the right time (like Charlie)

 

I feel a bit sorry for Liam on this one as your damned if you buy dross just for the sake of it and damned if you dont waste the clubs money.

 

All the same maybe a look around the lower leagues and looking at using a young hungry player like Hatch (who I never rated as a club man btw) may perk up the squad a bit.

[Harry J Allstars]

I've heard we're getting a goat to graze the pitch.

[Ian_D]

Quote:

ronin said:
The last report was that Boylan wouldn`t be playing until Febuary so no chance for Friday <img src="/forum/images/graemlins/angry.gif" alt="" />

A little good news, haven't heard much of that too recently!

[FleetFanatic]

Quote:

Harry J Allstars said:
I've heard we're getting a goat to graze the pitch.

Will it double-up as a steward on matchdays to evict 'troublemakers'?

[Wobbly Wayne rides again]

Quote:

I've heard we're getting a goat to graze the pitch.

 

Have not seen anything about that on the official website.

 

 

 

Up the Fleet

[jc]

Quote:

Chatham Gary said:I hear that Andy Hessenthaler is looking for a club, either League or non- league to finish the season as a player.

Now at Barnet until the end of the season, for those that haven't seen.

[Hempstead Gaz]

It appears they have a lot of young players, so having a (very) old head amongst them is a good move. Like him or not, he's still a damn fine footballer, very fit,experienced and being a qualified coach, has a lot to offer the youngsters around him.

[jc]

So we were in for him then, according to the official site.