John Akinde?

[SteveB]

DOB: 08/07/89

Midfielder, who reached Gravesend's (Ebbsfleet) first team squad from the club's PASE acadamy, signing in July 2006.

Spent some time on loan at Whitstable last season and has also appeared for Ebbsfleet this pre-season.

Steve

[Cookie]

From the little I saw of him Steve he looks a good addition. Looks sound on the ball & attacks players. Seems to have some ball skills to go with it.A good frontman in the middle or possibly & more likely out wide.

[SteveB]

I think he would have got a bit frustrated with the service he got today but could easily be a bit of a 'nuisance' to opposing defences.

Steve

[Jeff Trice]

The other two new players Rob Owen and Luke Coleman are both ex-Gravesend too, you'd be hard to pushed to find somebody we've signed since the start of last season who's not a friend of a friend. I suspect all these players are being recommended by their former team-mates.

[MargateFan]

Thought he was excellent.

[SteveB]

I can't find any mention of Coleman at Gravesend aprt from this pre-season so wondered if he was on trial there. Have asked over at the Ebbsfleet forum to see if they can help.

Steve

[SteveB]

Ignore my last post....it looks as though Coleman was playing for Gravesend youth in 2005-2006 and had previously been with Folkestone.

Steve

[SteveB]

Rob Owen scored twice for Gravesend in 45 games between 2000 and 2004.

[Stu M]

To be honest, I was pretty sure we were keeping Coleman and Akinde as we've blooded them a fair bit in pre-season and it seems a bit pointless if we've let them go now.

 

That said, Daish is trying to do adeal with two trialists, so maybe the budget dictates otherwise... or possibly we've loaned them out...?

[michael]

If RT could get a couple of these gravesend guys on something like a 3 month loan ,that would be great business imo.

 

Rob Owen togive some extra midfield bite if Jay is gong into defence would seem to be a particularly goo bit of business

 

Its early season when you need a big squad as games come thick and fast, and realistically, by mid/end October the season for most clubs is over, as you are out of all the cups and probably mid to lower table.

Thats why clubs then shed payers in October.

 

To get a largish early season squad seems very a sensible to me; the;n review and 'shed' in October. It seems these guys are of ok Ryman league quality-not league winning quality, but i 'm not expecting that this season anyway.

 

I hope RT can get Owen and Coleman secured if indeed that is what he is after.

[Stu M]

John Akinde was at the Fleet's team photocall today in red!

 

Not sure about Luke Coleman, as I don't know what he looks like, but there were three or four youth players there so he may well be one.

[David Holden]

Both John and Luke were at the photoshoot, and both have been given squad numbers for the forthcoming season.

[BlueGate Alan]

Thats a shame as John looked more than useful.

[michael]

Does not stop a loan deal though T/A which may be in everyones best interest ?

 

Whilst i have not seen him play, a midfielder in the likes of Owen seems the more urgent need to me (after a central defender of course !!)

[BlueGate Alan]

I agree Michael, on the 45 mins I saw Akinde he looked the business, held the ball up well and looked strong. Owen looked as if he needed a few matches but did make some nice touches.