When will we make our first signing?

[OldBlueLady]

Same was said about them early last season aswell.

Exactly, did Bury no end of good last year. We have the same situation every year, I refuse to panic and get drawn into the angst...we're Southend, we generally sign new players late - just accept it!

 

[THE SEVENTIES NORTH BANK]

Yep, it will be late and very few. Business as usual.

 

[TTS]

Shortly to be in the bottom 4 of clubs making early season signings. I see Bury have now brought in 9, four in the last 6 days. Only one involving a fee, and some decent players in there from Thompson, to Beckford , Calum O Reilly. O Connell ( Celtic ) and Dawson, Scunthorpe. Now thats what I call getting em in early. Lee Clark is also an experienced operator with a good eye. Be interesting to see how they go though, and whether 9 new faces can settle in. Some Bookmakers reducing their odds on promotion. Personally Id be surprised given the stiffness of the competition this year. I thought they were broke, but some good signings in there for free, that I wouldnt have minded seeing here?

Decent players in your eyes , not the man or men that count they, i.e. Ron and Phil. For me, I won't worry, I'll trust the man that bought Ferdinand, White, Coker, Atkinson, Cox, MAF and so on ...., who is also the man that had delivered season on season improvements in terms of league finishing ..

Teams may be looking enviously at us not having to make wholesale changes , as we were a team to beat for a large part of last season ! We have no need to panic nor bulk buy !

 

[Tommy2holes]

Decent players in your eyes , not the man or men that count they, i.e. Ron and Phil. For me, I won't worry, I'll trust the man that bought Ferdinand, White, Coker, Atkinson, Cox, MAF and so on ...., who is also the man that had delivered season on season improvements in terms of league finishing ..

Teams may be looking enviously at us not having to make wholesale changes , as we were a team to beat for a large part of last season ! We have no need to panic nor bulk buy !

And also Ranger hines nouble o Neil etc.

I think a marquee signing ala cox or Ferdinand would send out a statement . I'd love us to sign kightly as well.

 

[Sunnyshrimper]

The Premier League released list is out. I would like to see us take one or two of these youngsters on trial. Many don't make it at first at very top level but certainly have ability at League 1/ Championship level and won't cost the earth, as seeking opportunity to play regularly. We have a few older wise heads, good to blend this with talented youth. Not Phil's style and I think we miss out on occasion by not taking this route.http://www.skysports.com/football/news/11095/10909594/premier-league-players-released-by-their-clubs

 

[TTS]

And also Ranger hines nouble o Neil etc.

I think a marquee signing ala cox or Ferdinand would send out a statement . I'd love us to sign kightly as well.

I'll give Nouble and Hines , Ranger and O'Neil weren't bad signings. Agreed regarding Kightly and actually PB does have a history of being able to pull off the marquee signing . Last season we was given no chance in the long chase for Cox, but patience and PB won through in the end

 

[Floval Flyer]

The Premier League released list is out. I would like to see us take one or two of these youngsters on trial. Many don't make it at first at very top level but certainly have ability at League 1/ Championship level and won't cost the earth, as seeking opportunity to play regularly. We have a few older wise heads, good to blend this with talented youth. Not Phil's style and I think we miss out on occasion by not taking this route.http://www.skysports.com/football/news/11095/10909594/premier-league-players-released-by-their-clubs

Some interesting names there;

Wish list could include

Kyle Knoyle - RB
Lloyd Isgrove - LW
Ellis Plummer - CB
Harley Willard - RW
George Green - CM
Jonathan Benteke - CF

Dream list;

Frazier Campbell - CF
Joe Ledley - CM

 

[manor15]

Poll added. Better late than never.

 

[flangejackrabbit]

Isgrove is decent, can also play down the right from what I recall.

Edit: Other interesting shouts on that list - McAleny (will prob go to a champ club unfortunately), Fryers (could cover at CB or LB)

 

[mattitouk]

Voted for w/c commencing 26th June, (mainly in hope & what i read in the Echo) but I reckon it will be down to the wire, more like 2nd July at 23:59.:smile:

 

[AndyT]

The Premier League released list is out. http://www.skysports.com/football/news/11095/10909594/premier-league-players-released-by-their-clubs

Michael Cain's been released! :cool:

 

[RobM]

Michael Cain's been released! :cool:

Not a lot of people know that!

 

[gpd]

Not a lot of people know that!

predictable...and yet still raised a smile.

 

[Barry.C]

Excluding Ranger for the moment , our squad is down to 16, including two youngsters in Kyprianou and Bridge. For the most part we held a squad of 26 last year which I personally see as about right , although I appreciate the arguments for 24 or just under.
With the departure of Thommo and Atkinson the plan has moved more towards unexpected rebuild territory. I would like to see more than one new Centre back and maybe this will be addressed by the loan system, unless Matsuzaka suddenly stands up to the task. More cover is needed for Coker, so thats 3 more to bring in at the back in total. Phil finally wised up to the wisdom of having multiple striker options but with potentially no Ranger, even Williams, Nouble gone, along with Mooney we have more than halved our numbers upfront. At an absolute Minimum I would like to see at least one more forward join the pack to sustain the competitiveness
There seems on here a consensus that we need at least one more attacking midfielder, winger and another defensive midfielder. So a minimum of 7 needed , with better quality, no problem, asap please, oh all right late August then

 

[Barry.C]

Exactly, did Bury no end of good last year. We have the same situation every year, I refuse to panic and get drawn into the angst...we're Southend, we generally sign new players late - just accept it!

I am not panicking or angst ridden. It is our erstwhile Manager who increasingly has emphasised the importance he attaches to getting signings in early, fully explaining the benefits ( along with practically every other Manager in the League ) Now if Our Management wanted to state publicly that our strategy and Business plan is always to pick up players much later in the close season and hope they come on during trials or after half a dozen games, then fair enough, I would have to accept thats the rather sad nature of the club.
I would just like us to live up to for once the statements made to us about getting in early signings and settling the squad pre season training

 

[Tommy2holes]

Excluding Ranger for the moment , our squad is down to 16, including two youngsters in Kyprianou and Bridge. For the most part we held a squad of 26 last year which I personally see as about right , although I appreciate the arguments for 24 or just under.
With the departure of Thommo and Atkinson the plan has moved more towards unexpected rebuild territory. I would like to see more than one new Centre back and maybe this will be addressed by the loan system, unless Matsuzaka suddenly stands up to the task. More cover is needed for Coker, so thats 3 more to bring in at the back in total. Phil finally wised up to the wisdom of having multiple striker options but with potentially no Ranger, even Williams, Nouble gone, along with Mooney we have more than halved our numbers upfront. At an absolute Minimum I would like to see at least one more forward join the pack to sustain the competitiveness
There seems on here a consensus that we need at least one more attacking midfielder, winger and another defensive midfielder. So a minimum of 7 needed , with better quality, no problem, asap please, oh all right late August then

Good post. Potentially If rumours are true we could also lose Lenny and I doubt wordy will be fit for a while. Leaves us down to the bare bones. First pre season game is now just over 4 weeks away. Same old

 

[SeaSideDoughnut]

The Premier League released list is out. I would like to see us take one or two of these youngsters on trial. Many don't make it at first at very top level but certainly have ability at League 1/ Championship level and won't cost the earth, as seeking opportunity to play regularly. We have a few older wise heads, good to blend this with talented youth. Not Phil's style and I think we miss out on occasion by not taking this route.http://www.skysports.com/football/news/11095/10909594/premier-league-players-released-by-their-clubs

I'd hazard a guess that a lot of Premier League youth players earn as much or near to a lot of our senior players. What's £1k a week in the Premier League? It's only a guess though.

I agree with you, and if there are players on that list that wasn't offered a scholarship - those are the players that would be relatively cheap and worth a punt to develop. Sadly I think once they're offered their first professional contract it'll be too late.

 

[Portuguese Shrimper]

Isgrove is decent, can also play down the right from what I recall.

Edit: Other interesting shouts on that list - McAleny (will prob go to a champ club unfortunately), Fryers (could cover at CB or LB)

Isgrove being released is a big surprise! Can't help but think the decision to let him go is for more than footballing reasons. Would be a great addition for us but too expensive I would guess.

 

[manor15]

Why the panic about the lack of signings? Only 15.6% expected one by now anyway...