Who to sign for next season?

[Doha]

I understand the temptation, I do. We can't make the same short-sighted mistakes out of sentimentality again though. 

[hamilboy]

1 minute ago, Doha said:

I understand the temptation, I do. We can't make the same short-sighted mistakes out of sentimentality again though. 

I have faith that this management team will find players who will fire us up the leagues at last and give all the long suffering fans of our club something to be proud of again.

[Tony Rodriguez]

42 minutes ago, Rampant Zebra said:

I think there is more of a footballer in everyone in most League 2 squads, they just don't get chance to show it in the thick of the action. I miss watching the warm ups when you could see players doing unreal things with the ball in an idle moment just because they can. Those little circles where they pass the ball to each other with one touch for example

Did anyone else specifically watch Antony Kay during the warm ups or am I particularly sad? He really was unreal and did not even look as if he was trying. It changed my perception of him as a footballer.

[Emile]

I think Brisley has done enough to stay. Legge I'd let go if we can and I'd let Monty, Fitz, Crookes and Mills go. Then bring in one natural left back, and one who can cover both sides plus a new centre half and another one who is versitile. So 4 players instead of 5 but spend the same money to get a bit of a quality please 

[robf]

4 hours ago, darren1810 said:

With regards to the centre halves. I'm not sure I want a footballing centre half in League 2. 

People have mentioned Dean Glover , didn't he join when we were challenging for promotion out of League 1 ?

Purse was an example of a proper League 2 quality defender. 

I'm not necessarily saying that Legge and Brisley are the answer and Clarke will look at the whole picture rather than 8 games you'd hope. 

But the last thing I fancy at Stevenage away is a centre half dribbling out of the box like John Stones does . 

A League 2 centre half in the main is a row Z defender. 

If you're excluding the likes of Glover and Scott because they were signed in higher leagues then I think the best comparison would be the signing of John Williams from Tranmere Rovers. Signed in the summer, won us promotion by the end of the season.

For those who starting supporting after that time, he was absolutely huge - six foot odd and very strong in the air - Rudgie signed him for £12,000 in 1985, he played 44 times as we won promotion from Division 4 and then he was sold on with Vale in a higher division (typically for Rudgie he persuaded Harry Redknapp to pay £30k to take him to Bournemouth). Rudge then replaced Williams with another no-nonsense defender (Bob Hazell) in the third division.

Both were paired with Phil Sproson, who was dominant in the air, so JR certainly took on board the principle of employing some strapping no nonsense centre-halves in the lower leagues.

Here's Williams in the Vale team at the time:

 

[Playa Amodores]

1 hour ago, Tony Rodriguez said:

Kevin Scott I believe. He was fantastic and completely turned our season around. But we were two divisions higher at the time and I am more inclined to agree with Darren that in League 2 a Row Z defender is required. Brisley is perfect for me and has been superb recently as he was last season when he got a run in the side.

And I have always wondered if there is actually more of a "footballer" in there than he shows.

 

Tony, you are right, it was Kevin Scott. 

[The Kalamazoo Kid]

28 minutes ago, robf said:

the signing of John Williams - Rudgie signed him for £12,000 in 1983, he played 44 times as we won promotion from Division 4

He was signed in 1985.

Promoted 85/86 season.

[robf]

48 minutes ago, The Kalamazoo Kid said:

He was signed in 1985.

Promoted 85/86 season.

Sorry, yes he was. I should have noticed my mistake by the fact the team photo I added was for that season!

However, the point remains - a big strapping defender, signed to get us up and did it.

[tommytunstall]

15 hours ago, philmpv said:

15 hours ago, grand prix pants said:

Given our defence is now watertight, I’m assuming we’ll be keeping both  Legge and Bris??

If your car started 2 times from 10 attempts , would you keep the same car or look to buy a new one? I know what I'd do, particularly the older the car is

No but when it kicks up first time, and performs very well, that means all is ok

[blackdog]

After the improvement in performance and instilling a winning mentality in the the squad since he came in, I would be looking at DC's contract, it won't have gone unnoticed in the football world his progress at Vale Park.

[philmpv]

No but when it kicks up first time, and performs very well, that means all is ok

But this vehicle has failed to start more often than not for 3 of 4 seasons. Can't wait to see what DF and DC decide to do

[The Kalamazoo Kid]

54 minutes ago, blackdog said:

After the improvement in performance and instilling a winning mentality in the the squad since he came in, I would be looking at DC's contract, it won't have gone unnoticed in the football world his progress at Vale Park.

Didn't he sign a 3 year deal when he joined?

[Fosse69]

17 hours ago, philmpv said:

17 hours ago, grand prix pants said:

Given our defence is now watertight, I’m assuming we’ll be keeping both  Legge and Bris??

If your car started 2 times from 10 attempts , would you keep the same car or look to buy a new one? I know what I'd do, particularly the older the car is

Having changed the starter everything is running well, but a few rusty parts need replacing.

[robf]

6 minutes ago, Fosse69 said:

Having changed the starter everything is running well, but a few rusty parts need replacing.

And we don't want to overload it with too many passengers 😉

[Fosse69]

12 minutes ago, robf said:

And we don't want to overload it with too many passengers 😉

We don`t know how many seats yet. 😀