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[VantaaVale]

Just seen that Tom Anderson has signed for Doncaster so that's one loanee we won't be having back.

 

I wonder if that is the one that Aspo mentioned that we'd been looking at but who had an offer from a League One club.

[TheSage]

It's difficult to judge fairly a lot of the players because they've played in a very poor team for the best part of 24 months now. Are they part of the problem or would they shine in a better, settled team? That's why Aspin is a manager and not me.

I'd happily give both Gibbons and Smith another 12 months to see how they develop but we need to hit the ground running.

Gibbons hopefully has cured his disciplinary issues but looked very poor for several weeks mid way though the season. As you say it can happen with a young lad.

Smith disappointed me and had more problems in League Two than he did the season before. He lacks a bit of physicality at this level and his distribution is poor. But he's played a lot of games and learning all the time.

 

What will help them a lot is having a regular partner and more stability in the team. Football is about building partnerships all over the pitch and playing in triangles with your closet two players. Gibbons needs a regular left sided player in front of him, tracking back and helping out. Smith needs a centre half alongside him for 46 games. Both should benefit from us having a good keeper.

 

But it's a big season for those two - as it is for everyone at the Club. We simply have to start getting it right.

[SFBT]

I think Gibbons and Smith were thrown in the deep end.

Judge them when they're playing in a better team with a spine, legs and experience.

[Fosse69]

If the player turned down the offer, then Aspo moved onto the next one, clearly because he had no idea that the other player would come back to try to accept the offer. When the initial player did come back to try to accept the initial offer, maybe Aspo took the view that the player was motivated more by money than actually wanting to play for the club and, also, that the next one on the list, with whom a deal was 'virtually agreed', did not appear to be more motivated by such a factor as money and, probably, that the gulf in class between the two players was not such that he should take a chance on a player who simply wanted more money initially.

Quite right, you cant hang about, so move onto the next on the list, there maybe little difference in the standard in any case. Aspin is looking for character and motivation also, there maybe an exception sometimes who deserves a second chance, but then again he would have to be an exceptional player. An interesting few weeks coming up, we hope.

[PV1973]

Quite right, you cant hang about, so move onto the next on the list, there maybe little difference in the standard in any case. Aspin is looking for character and motivation also, there maybe an exception sometimes who deserves a second chance, but then again he would have to be an exceptional player. An interesting few weeks coming up, we hope.

Totally agree, we can't afford for too many players to keep us hanging whilst they weigh up their options. We'll get some of our first choices and in other cases we'll get the alternatives instead. We need that nucleus of the squad in place for pre-season and if need be we can look at back filling with loans then. Its refreshing to see us acting early with targets coming in so soon after the seasons end.

[philmpv]

Totally agree, we can't afford for too many players to keep us hanging whilst they weigh up their options. We'll get some of our first choices and in other cases we'll get the alternatives instead. We need that nucleus of the squad in place for pre-season and if need be we can look at back filling with loans then.

 

Spot on. I have little doubt that our list of targets was drawn up some time ago (possibly as early as December), and all players on the list have been thoroughly scouted (by Rudgie and/or others) and assessed as viable and affordable targets for what we want to achieve. The fact that we making such early moves would support this, I would say. So this is why I'm fully in agreement with Aspo taking the approach that he has. There will be nobody on that list that has not been scouted and assessed, so even though we may have 'preferred' targets, every listed player will be of similar ability and play the same role as others on the list.

[SFBT]

Seeing such early and clearly considered activity certainly gives the impression of diligence.

Refreshing and encouraging.

[PV1973]

Quite a change from the last 2 summers scatter gun approach to building a squad.

[SuperValiant1876]

Does anyone now believe that it was a similar situation with Gunning? As in Aspin wouldn't give in to his demands rather than Smurf not opening the cheque book?

[Jacob_123]

Does anyone now believe that it was a similar situation with Gunning? As in Aspin wouldn't give in to his demands rather than Smurf not opening the cheque book?

 

Although Aspin has said that the only argument he has had with Smurthwaite is re Gunning so your assumption of that situation is wrong.

[Howjy04]

Agents taking the wet,greedy barstewards.

[SuperValiant1876]

Although Aspin has said that the only argument he has had with Smurthwaite is re Gunning so your assumption of that situation is wrong.

 

It doesn't add up though when you look at how Aspin is handling things now. He won't pay over the odds but he wanted to pay over the odds for GG? Smurf said if we had paid him what he wanted there would have been rebellion. I can't find a direct quote from Aspin either so a little but dubious.

[PV1973]

Does anyone now believe that it was a similar situation with Gunning? As in Aspin wouldn't give in to his demands rather than Smurf not opening the cheque book?

FGR offered him more in terms of money and contract length. Vale wouldn't or couldn't match that.

 

He wasn't on a lot with us, as we took a chance on him with a short term deal when he had no other offers. He put himself in the shop window with some steady performances for either a new deal with us or a move elsewhere.

 

So when Smurf talks about him being one of our highest paid players if they matched FGR offer, that means that FGR offered him something that was probably more the going rate in the league as a whole for an experienced player like him.

[Jacob_123]

It doesn't add up though when you look at how Aspin is handling things now. He won't pay over the odds but he wanted to pay over the odds for GG? Smurf said if we had paid him what he wanted there would have been rebellion. I can't find a direct quote from Aspin either so a little but dubious.

 

In that supporters club meeting Aspin definitely said the only problem he has had with Smurthwaite was the Gunning situation.

[Howjy04]

It doesn't add up though when you look at how Aspin is handling things now. He won't pay over the odds but he wanted to pay over the odds for GG? Smurf said if we had paid him what he wanted there would have been rebellion. I can't find a direct quote from Aspin either so a little but dubious.

Maybe having someone already in situ came into it.Gunning is crap.