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Oh Phil, if only you knew :~D

Matt.

nice interview with Harding on the OS!

Ferrarilover - what was knills next master stroke?

gullno4 wrote:nice interview with Harding on the OS!

Ferrarilover - what was knills next master stroke?

You'll see, you'll definitely see.

Matt.

Just read a quote from one of the BBC Northampton commentators, describing Harding as a player that 'sits in the centre, spraying passes around.'

Sounds ideal to supply our new speedy wingers, and should pair up well with our 'buzzer' Lee Mansell.

Cooper too sounds a decent player, with his former manager Sean O'Driscoll last year saying "He's as good a central midfielder as there is in League One."
As stated by someone on the other thread, you don't have to be 6'3" to play CB.

All credit to Juan for his squad-building thus far. If we can bag Cooper and an imposing number 10, we should have a good season ahead of us.

jonnyfive wrote:Just read a quote from one of the BBC Northampton commentators, describing Harding as a player that 'sits in the centre, spraying passes around.'

Sounds ideal to supply our new speedy wingers, and should pair up well with our 'buzzer' Lee Mansell.

Cooper too sounds a decent player, with his former manager Sean O'Driscoll last year saying "He's as good a central midfielder as there is in League One."
As stated by someone on the other thread, you don't have to be 6'3" to play CB.

All credit to Juan for his squad-building thus far. If we can bag Cooper and an imposing number 10, we should have a good season ahead of us.

Unlikely looks like Knill has cocked up his budget..... see O.S.

I suppose that is one way to read it Wodge...

Sounds more to me like we cannot justify signing Cooper and another, barndoor CB, so AK is extolling his other virtues in the role. Let's face it, if Cooper was skillful, positionally-aware AND 6 inches taller, he would literally be out of our league.

I don't think Knill has "cocked up his budget". From the article on the OS it seems clear there is room in the budget for the centre-forward and 'imposing' centre-half that the manager wants but having looked at him he would also, budget allowing love to sign Cooper as an extra, bonus player.

Completely agree Phil.

He needs a centre half and a centre forward. Cooper does not fit the bill as he is too small. If we were able to sign a third player - cooper would be that player.

Puyol, Cannavaro, Woods, Mascherano, Carvalho, and even Tim Cahill were all 5ft 10 and under and they weren't bad at what they did - but this is league 2.

OhJimmyJimmy wrote:Puyol, Cannavaro, Woods, Mascherano, Carvalho, and even Tim Cahill were all 5ft 10 and under and they weren't bad at what they did - but this is league 2.

Do you mean Tiger Woods? If you mean Steve, I've stood next to him and im 5'10", but he's a good 2 inches taller than me. Six footer I reckon...

PhilGull wrote:I don't think Knill has "cocked up his budget". From the article on the OS it seems clear there is room in the budget for the centre-forward and 'imposing' centre-half that the manager wants but having looked at him he would also, budget allowing love to sign Cooper as an extra, bonus player.

There is no mention at all in the article about a C.F. Cooper has been invited down to trial by Knill who is not sure if if has the funds to sign him. It appears that Knill has wasted Coopers time, unless the whole article is spin to try to get Cooper to sign for less money, in which case Knill is a financial genius!

Why would Knill have 'cocked up his budget'? It's not rocket science, I'm sure he's well aware of how much he has to spend. Indeed, if he has run out of cash, having signed 5 and released nearly twice that, it'd be an indication of how uncompeteitve our budget is this season. And that is not the managers fault.

Every quote at this time of year is made with a purpose. Don't take every utterance at face value as there's a good chance they're made for a reason.

Completely agree Fonda, and you can't find a better example of that at the moment than Moyes/Man Utds recent statements regarding Rooney. Knills signings so far show his ability to tempt players to Torquay, and although both Chappell and cameron are young, they would have probably had a few clubs interested. The Cheltenham fans on their forum say that Cameron tore them apart for Rotherham, and Rotherham fans themselves, as well as a few Villians wouldn't have minded keeping him.
Also, don't think Coopers trial was a waste of time. If you can get a prospective singing to meet the lads, see the area, and build a relationship with you as a manager, then you have far more power to negotiate harder with the player. If they don't like the place then move them on; but if they do, then it's likely they'll want to stay, and will fold on price.

It could easily be that Cooper, with the Hargreaves link, asked to be considered for the centre back role, and Knill agreed to trial him, to prove his worth. He isnt what Knill sees as a priority so is playing with his budget, and Cooper has to wait to see whats left after recruitment is finished

I was at the Yeovil game and thought Harding looked the real deal. Nice to add a bit of height and experience into our midfield, not sure where this leaves Lathrope or Craig though.

Does anyone know his goal scoring record? It'd be handy if he could pop up with 5-10 goals.

He's not a big goalscorer, but he's not that type. Last time I saw him play for Aldershot, he sat back and passed the ball around. A bit like a League 2 Michael Carrick.