So much for youth eh? A 32 year old from MK Dons, one of Barkers buddies no doubt, to be signed "in the next couple of days" however the signature for David Ball must wait till after the weekend.
Now I can't judge Darren Potter, never seen him play, but at the end of last season wasn't Warnes boasting about recruiting youth with a hunger for the game?………Potter is 32, from a club no better than us. While at the same time Dominic Ball has youth and some would argue, raw talent (again I never saw him play) but looks like he is being shown the door. I did hear he has an attitude problem…….a good manager would coach that out of him, remember Harford last year? was a different player under Warnock.
Usual stuff from the club then, say one thing, do another,
I know from experience never to trust a Millers signing until it has been officialy announced & the player is photographed holding a shirt aloft wearing a cheesy grin, then & only then have we signed someone.
Potter looks to me as a direct replacement for Smallwood, good pedigree apart from the fact that he played for the pigs, could well be OK. IF we do manage to sign David Ball, it would be a good signing as apart from a good scoring record, particularly in the last two seasons, he has a good work ethic.
The more time goes by with nothing happening however is worrying as it seems to be a rerun of Summer 2016 ATM. What we don't want is late July panic recruitment as last year & another miserable nine months.
Does anyone know if Warnes has done his coaching badges yet? or does he actually need to with Barker here?
Firstly, the club makes a rod for its own back by feeling the need to tell the supporters that it has this budget or that budget, will be doing this or that business by whatever date, and is aiming for whatever targets. As a group of supporters our sights aren't set stupidly high. Straight talking, a sound plan and hard work will do. Raising expectations can only end in tears. Why oh why do they feel the need to do that? Is it just to sell season tickets or is that too cynical?
Secondly, the club makes itself look silly with the number of contradictory statements it puts out. For example Warne has spoken about wanting more pace in the side but offered deals to Mattock, Smallwood and Wood - none of them exactly fleet of foot - and is apparently keen to sign Darren Potter who has his qualities and is probably still a decent player, but who has never been the most athletic and is towards the back end of his career.
What's the latest with the G&C site? The stadium? The training ground? Do we still have ambitions to be a top half Championship club eventually?
We need a manager with experience. No we don't, we need an enthusiastic novice. Or do we?
Bit of a joke club if I'm honest. We don't as fans get anything even approaching the truth coming out of the club due to the fact that Douglas & TS have the local press in their pockets & report what they are TOLD to report. The odd thing from my point of view as a fan is that the club continue to make the same mistakes that have fewked the club up in the past, making budget excuses early for the lack of player activity, the ridiculous policy of NAMING their player targets etc etc
I've got to admit I'm seriously worried about 2017/18 already
Bit of a joke club if I'm honest. We don't as fans get anything even approaching the truth coming out of the club due to the fact that Douglas & TS have the local press in their pockets & report what they are TOLD to report. The odd thing from my point of view as a fan is that the club continue to make the same mistakes that have fewked the club up in the past, making budget excuses early for the lack of player activity, the ridiculous policy of NAMING their player targets etc etc I've got to admit I'm seriously worried about 2017/18 already
"the ridiculous policy of NAMING their player targets etc etc"
totally agree Brad... "here's what we could have won....."
Darren Potter signed this morning. According to Franchise fans views on him you'll get workrate, organisational skills & leadership qualities, fierce tackler all good....but
Crab qualities, can only pass sideways & back, pretty poor goal scoring ratio.......Richie Smallwood but five years older, but almost certainly cheaper.
Welcome to RUFC Darren & I hope you have a successful time with us!!
Darren Potter signed this morning. According to Franchise fans views on him you'll get workrate, organisational skills & leadership qualities, fierce tackler all good....but Crab qualities, can only pass sideways & back, pretty poor goal scoring ratio.......Richie Smallwood but five years older, but almost certainly cheaper. Welcome to RUFC Darren & I hope you have a successful time with us!!
Well, at least that's one of the named targets signed - maybe we are learning after-all (Nah...).
On that basis though, we should sign Ball.
Maybe Potter's a wizzard signing... (sorry, I'll get mi coat)
The signature of David Ball must wait while after the weekend...........tick, tick......
Yeah I'm impatient but is there any wonder? I'm half expecting the "couldn't quite get it over the line" statement.
Ball from Fleetwood is a good player with some creativity and a few goals in him.
Would love us to get Matt Done from United. Hard working utility forward who gets his share of goals. I am pretty sure he would become a fans favourite.
We still need the goal poacher that we haven't had since Agard left.
Discounting Blackstock, we only have JCH as a target man and he is still an injury worry and inconsistent in any case. I suspect that Proctor is being eyed up to do that job, which is important in League 1. Someone to hold the ball up and play off.
Worried about the full back positions. It was our weakest link last season and it looks like we are going into the new season with the same choices. These days full backs need to be defensively solid first and foremost but must also offer an attacking threat. Neither Mattock nor Purrington (given limited opportunities so far) fill me with confidence. Fisher has a lot of lapses and panics on the ball too often. Vaulks showed promise there but is he the answer?
Still no movement on the likes of Blackstock, Broadfoot, etc who clearly aren't likely to play a part. Would like to see some outs as well as some ins. In fact I wonder if we need some outs to fund more ins.
