Mark Debolla

[John Pearce]

The signing of a replacement to Charlie Macdonald and Onome Sodje for that matter, is far too important to leave to the pre-season friendlies/trials.

 

The chance of un-earthing a 20 goal a season striker in such circumstances is remote at best. Who is going to release such a player, most if not all consistent strikers at or around the 'Fleets level have probably already been snapped-up?

 

Time will tell I guess.

[Hempstead Gaz]

Saw Akinde play at least once, John.

Lanky, thin as a whip, looked to have good pace, but not convinced he has the required control. He may well compete for Chukki's place - but on first evidence he was no MacDonald or Sosje.

 

[Slartibartfast]

Originally Posted By: John Pearce

The signing of a replacement to Charlie Macdonald and Onome Sodje for that matter, is far too important to leave to the pre-season friendlies/trials.

The chance of un-earthing a 20 goal a season striker in such circumstances is remote at best. Who is going to release such a player, most if not all consistent strikers at or around the 'Fleets level have probably already been snapped-up?

Time will tell I guess.

How do you think we signed Sodge last season then?

[John Pearce]

Originally Posted By: Slartibartfast

Originally Posted By: John Pearce

The signing of a replacement to Charlie Macdonald and Onome Sodje for that matter, is far too important to leave to the pre-season friendlies/trials.

The chance of un-earthing a 20 goal a season striker in such circumstances is remote at best. Who is going to release such a player, most if not all consistent strikers at or around the 'Fleets level have probably already been snapped-up?


From memory he came initially on loan or job experience from Charlton Athletic, he was then released by Charlton and eventually signed from the 'Fleet.

The difference was when he came initially on 'loan' or when he signed there was already an established striker in place i.e. Charlie Macdonald. There is no established striker in situ at the meoment so it is imperative that a striker of note is signed prior to any further signings being made as a result of taking part in trials/friendlies etc.
Time will tell I guess.

How do you think we signed Sodge last season then?

From memory Sodje originally came either on loan or on job experience from Charlton Athletic, he was then released by CHarlton and eventually joined the 'Fleet.

The difference on this occasion is that there is not an established striker in-place as there was when Sodje joined either on 'loan' or on contract, i.e. Charlie Macdonald.

I therefore repeat that Daish really needs to get a striker of note in before the trials/friendlies as it would seem highly unlikley that a 20 goal a season striker is just going to turn-up in the hope that he will get a game at a friendly. If he is any good he will already found a 'home' next season.

[Stu M]

Originally Posted By: John Pearce

If he is any good he will already found a 'home' next season.

Only if he's non-league. If he's been in the league, he's only been out of a job since Monday.

[Slartibartfast]

Originally Posted By: Stu M

Originally Posted By: John Pearce

If he is any good he will already found a 'home' next season.

Only if he's non-league. If he's been in the league, he's only been out of a job since Monday.

Or if, like Sodge last season, he has been trialling at a league club and doesn't get offered a contract.

[John Pearce]

Originally Posted By: Stu M

Originally Posted By: John Pearce

If he is any good he will already found a 'home' next season.

Only if he's non-league. If he's been in the league, he's only been out of a job since Monday.

I can't imagine any league club letting a potential 20 goal a season player go.....can you?

The other alternative is a non-league player already known as having goal scoring ability.....and as said earlier, certainly those based locally, have already been snapped-up.

It looks therefore that its going to be a case of taking a 'risk' with someone that has been released by a league club in the hope that a step down in leagues may bring the required goals.

[Slartibartfast]

With the exceptions of Luke Moore and Sam Mott I should think that just about every one of our players (and it probably applies to the rest of the Conference clubs) has been released by a league club.

 

Long, MacDonald, Ricketts, Sodge, DeBolla, Slatter etc would seem to suggest that it is not unheard of for players not required at league clubs to be perfectly capable of perfoming well at our level.

[Stu M]

Originally Posted By: John Pearce

I can't imagine any league club letting a potential 20 goal a season player go.....can you?

Like all those league clubs who let MacDonald go you mean (charlton plus the various places he wet on loan)...?

Only for him to pop up at Crawley notching those 20 goals a season...? (Admittedly with short spells at Margate and Stevenage in between.)

Football is full of examples of clubs letting players go down a level who then go on to much greater things.

[Gordon T]

even these local young talents are risks! theres still a fair step up to get 20+ in the conference and some of the rumoured price tags for these talents did sound ridiculous and the biggest risk

[Slartibartfast]

Well, there is still a couple of friendlies to go before the big kick-off but we have had a chance to see some of the lads who want to play for the Fleet this season.

Of course there is still the likelyhood that some players who don't get offered contracts at league clubs will come knocking on our door in the same way that the players trialling at the Fleet that Liam doesn't give a contract to will be looking for another club but I reckon that come August 11th we might just have a team.

Come on now be honest....who has still got wet knickers?

 

[DA11]

Originally Posted By: Slartibartfast

Come on now be honest....who has still got wet knickers?

My wife.