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Latest Rumours Summer/Autumn Transfer Targets/Rumours Thread 2022

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This seems to be too incredible to be true. Can anyone confirm?
11v11.com shows us using 18 players in all competitions in 1980/81, the oldest of which was Alan Moody, who was 30 by the end of the campaign:
Mervyn Cawston: 29
Dave Cusack: 24
Phil Dudley: 22
Terry Gray: 26
Tony Hadley: 25
Jeff Hull: 20
John Keeley: 19
Keith Mercer: 24
Alan Moody: 30
Garry Nelson: 20
Anton Otulakowski: 25
Glenn Pennyfather: 18
Andy Polycarpou: 22
Ronnie Pountney: 26
Derek Spence: 29
Mickey Stead: 24
John Walker: 23
Steve Yates: 27

It also shows that half the squad (9/18) were in the magic 24-28 bracket (with another three a year either side) we’re seemingly targeting.
What was even more remarkable was the fact that Villa won the Div 1 title that same season, using only 14 players!
 
It's not about age really, it's about durability and physical ability. Look at Peter Clarke, just about to sign a new contract with Tranmere at the age of 40, what a brilliant career he has had and it just goes to show if you look after yourself and are lucky with injuries, you can significantly prolong your career.

The problem we had is not signing old players, it's signing players who were not up to it anymore and after their last pay day.
Very well said . Older players on big money sadly that cost us big time . But now let’s focus on a bright future COYB .
 
The bigger red flag is older players who have not been playing regularly. They are the ones that tend to bite us. If you're 31 and have played virtually every game for the last three years then that would be the opposite of a red flag?

So why don't we go for the latter? If you are looking at players coming from the EFL then it will be £££. And so the temptation is take take a risk re injury record, fitness, not been playing.

Or you recruit from the NL (unless a forward probably this can be a great move, especially as they know the league and you know what you are getting). Proven forwards in this category regrettably still cost £££ (but maybe less £££ than from the EFL).

Or you look at the leagues immediately below- but then you are back to gambling a bit again, especially with forwards, who we know from experience can score for fun at lower level, and not all when they take a step up..

If you have restricted £££ the task of going from 4th bottom in goals scored to top 10 is not easy. But its what we must do to go up.
 
The bigger red flag is older players who have not been playing regularly. They are the ones that tend to bite us. If you're 31 and have played virtually every game for the last three years then that would be the opposite of a red flag?

So why don't we go for the latter? If you are looking at players coming from the EFL then it will be £££. And so the temptation is take take a risk re injury record, fitness, not been playing.

Or you recruit from the NL (unless a forward probably this can be a great move, especially as they know the league and you know what you are getting). Proven forwards in this category regrettably still cost £££ (but maybe less £££ than from the EFL).

Or you look at the leagues immediately below- but then you are back to gambling a bit again, especially with forwards, who we know from experience can score for fun at lower level, and not all when they take a step up..

If you have restricted £££ the task of going from 4th bottom in goals scored to top 10 is not easy. But its what we must do to go up.

Not playing regularly is definitely a red flag but you also need to consider why they aren’t staying with their current club. If they are at a higher level it would be unusual for a player to drop down a division or two if their current club still wanted them. So why doesn’t their current club want them? If they are too expensive they are hardly going to fit in our budget. If it’s because their standard of play has dropped it’s a sign their legs have gone and this side desperately needs more athleticism so they won’t be a good fit.

If they are at a lower level they are going to be part-time. Maybe the carrot of league football would be sufficient to get someone in their 30s to jack in their career so they could say they played in the league but a 30+ player in the NL North or South would be crazy to give up their career for a year or two of NL football and NL wages.

That leaves players already at this level. If they’re any good they are probably after a multi-year deal. Does a 3 year deal for an over 30 make sense for a club like us? If we get promoted next season they aren’t likely to be what we are after at a higher level. If we don’t get promoted next season, their play is likely to drop in years two or three and make it harder to achieve promotion.

It leaves a very small pool of over 30 players for whom it would make sense for both parties. They’d probably have to be looking to return home for it to make any sense and willing to accept a one year deal with an option of a second.
 
11v11.com shows us using 18 players in all competitions in 1980/81, the oldest of which was Alan Moody, who was 30 by the end of the campaign:
Mervyn Cawston: 29
Dave Cusack: 24
Phil Dudley: 22
Terry Gray: 26
Tony Hadley: 25
Jeff Hull: 20
John Keeley: 19
Keith Mercer: 24
Alan Moody: 30
Garry Nelson: 20
Anton Otulakowski: 25
Glenn Pennyfather: 18
Andy Polycarpou: 22
Ronnie Pountney: 26
Derek Spence: 29
Mickey Stead: 24
John Walker: 23
Steve Yates: 27

It also shows that half the squad (9/18) were in the magic 24-28 bracket (with another three a year either side) we’re seemingly targeting.
Great work ! At least I wasn't that far out lol. That was a great squad that year and backs up the point that Kev must have been making at his interview perhaps?

If he did base any of his strategy on this squad, even a little, it just shows me that we have, not only an ex-player in charge, but one with a knowledge of the club from before his time, which on top of his passion, feeling and commitment just echoes as to why he was and is the right man for the job along with DC and MB.
 
Think we also need better attacking wingbacks who can cross the ball better, if we are to carry on with the 3 at the back.
Good crosses ok! but to whom are they intended ? We get done by good crosses usually at the back stick to an unmarked striker. Quicker movement forward and on the deck imo
 
Good crosses ok! but to whom are they intended ? We get done by good crosses usually at the back stick to an unmarked striker. Quicker movement forward and on the deck imo

Agreed. It needs to be a mix of both approaches. The number of times the forwards make a move in the box expecting a cross and the wingbacks turn backwards doesn’t help as it actually stops the forwards from making those runs as not sure if the cross will come in. We defo need strong powerful pacy wingbacks who can help us stretch the game and get forward quicker while being able to get crosses in to help us improve our goal threat.
 
Any released/retained lists posted in NL following the final game? Not too early am I?
 
Agreed. It needs to be a mix of both approaches. The number of times the forwards make a move in the box expecting a cross and the wingbacks turn backwards doesn’t help as it actually stops the forwards from making those runs as not sure if the cross will come in. We defo need strong powerful pacy wingbacks who can help us stretch the game and get forward quicker while being able to get crosses in to help us improve our goal threat.
Or we play with proper attacking width
 
I thought Torquays #15 looked very good yesterday. Quick, skilful and tenacious. All their attacking play went through him.
I think Torquay's no.5 at the back would be a decent player to have around the squad. Defended well for long stretches of the game.
 
From the Torquay squad there is a lot of talk that Lemonheigh Evans or Little will be on the move and attracting alot of interest.

Were either of them the number 15 in question.

Also, Johnson didn't sound upbeat at all post match and seems to be the squad he has, if he is there next season, will be much changed.

 
Will the football department be able to shop in Waitrose, or Aldi is the question?

They will have targets that have been thoroughly vetted for each eventuality. But bottom line is, it all comes down to Ron and his budget promises.

If Ron is serious about a swift return, he needs to back Kev and the boys for a trip to Waitrose. Or we will be shopping around the bargain basement in Aldi.

We need to be quick off the mark as well. The Football department I'm sure is prepared and ready to go. Over to you Ron....
 
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Will the football department be able to shop in Waitrose, or Aldi is the question?

They will have targets that have been thoroughly vetted for each eventuality. But bottom line is at all comes down to Ron and his budget promises.
If they only buy Waitrose Essentials stuff it will probably be cost effective as there will be no extra travel costs of driving to Aldi. Instead just rock up out of Boots & Laces and into Waitrose.
 
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