Transfer rumours, targets & new signings

[Joe B]

Northampton, Wigan, and apparently Exeter interested in Covalan.

Had a consistent upwards trajectory and seems to perform well at every level, which is usually a good sign. Have never seen him so won't offer too much judgement.

[philmpv]

He hasn’t exactly played at a high level in his career or very often. Not someone we should be after as a number 1 

Hopefully our scouting assessment is not simply a quick perusal of Wikipedia

[Valiant in Brum]

He hasn’t exactly played at a high level in his career or very often. Not someone we should be after as a number 1 

Played in the Brazilian top flight if you looked closer.

[CambridgeDon]

8 minutes ago, philmpv said:

1 hour ago, valiant_593 said:

He hasn’t exactly played at a high level in his career or very often. Not someone we should be after as a number 1 

Hopefully our scouting assessment is not simply a quick perusal of Wikipedia

Or five minutes watching a video, however impressive (and to be fair, it was). 

I think we can trust the Matrix lads to have done their homework. 

[IanW]

Hasn't pre-season started this morning? Surprised no-one is camped down at VP spying on who's there?

[philmpv]

Hasn't pre-season started this morning? Surprised no-one is camped down at VP spying on who's there?

Sure there will be. As soon as the Giro is picked up and mum's finished making their lunch

[PV1973]

2 hours ago, valeparklife said:

There has been nothing reported either on our youth team and who's staying/leaving.

No one was signed but 2 of them have been asked to come back in preseason for a trial. 

[valiant_593]

58 minutes ago, philmpv said:

2 hours ago, valiant_593 said:

He hasn’t exactly played at a high level in his career or very often. Not someone we should be after as a number 1 

Hopefully our scouting assessment is not simply a quick perusal of Wikipedia

I imagine it has. Just think we should be looking at keepers such as King for first choice rather than someone whos recent clubs have been Torquay, white hawk, lewes and Worthing. Dosent install me with confidence that a keeper of 31 has been at that level for some time (since 2016) and a 5 minute youtube video won’t change my view. (Video looks good but we’ve been down that route before). Never seen him play so he could be a brilliant signing. I’d just prefer us to go all out and get a real proven quality at this level 

[mr.hobblesworth]

Increasingly suspect that  the clear out of some of the players was bit of dick-swinging rather than a carefully planned exercise.

[valiant_593]

3 minutes ago, mr.hobblesworth said:

Increasingly suspect that  the clear out of some of the players was bit of dick-swinging rather than a carefully planned exercise.

The players needed to go. No other reason than the fact they aren’t good enough 

[mr.hobblesworth]

The players only "needed to go" if we subsequently get better ones to replace them. We'll see.

[Joe B]

19 minutes ago, mr.hobblesworth said:

Increasingly suspect that  the clear out of some of the players was bit of dick-swinging rather than a carefully planned exercise.

What do you base this on?

[Joe B]

Walker will be better than Joyce.

Martin will be better than Brisley.

Wilson will be better than Pope (or at the very least will play and score more and is probably on no more money).

The only question mark is whether the GK will be better than Brown (a reminder that he is currently a set-pieces and GK coach) and Jones/New LB is better than Monty.

The rest were utter, utter dross. We could start the season with 10 men and it would be a marked improvement over having some of the frauds we released lining up. Fitzpatrick, Mills, McKirdy, Cullen et al contributed less than nothing. Net negatives when they played.

Be sound lads; let's not bother with the conspiracies about it being some form of ego-boost, yeah?

[Burslem Academicals]

Covalan would be a good back up keeper but hopefully first choice is Vigouroux although more probably King in short a quality keeper with good league experience.

If the squad 14 is very much the first team and apart from a keeper the so called stage one is complete with just squad players to sign (unless there are a couple of stage one players already signed but not as yet revealed) then the manager must have the opening day first eleven team sheet done already.

So apart from a number one keeper then perhaps Covalan and Johnson would be considered stage two signings as squad players.

Actually Covalan or Johnson or even say Tshimango and cover at full back another holding midfielder or winger would all now probably be squad players and back up.

It would seem that Rodney and Wilson are first choice upfront and Walker and Conlon first choice centre midfield while Smith and Martin must be first choice centre backs with Gibbons right back and Worral right wing then Jones at left back and I wouldn't be surprised if Hurst is not first choice left wing just add say King in goal and that looks on paper what to expect as the best eleven.

If say we could add Covalan and Johnson and say Tshimango maybe and perhaps Kellener and add a couple of loans like say Clark and Swan then thats what 20 players plus an U21 leaving room for two released academy trialist places.

[Vale1995]

That keeper is about to be announced by look of things, vale just tweeted boa tarde which is good afternoon in portuguese