League 2 Roundup Thread
Posted: 14 Jun 2011, 20:37
There were 2 reasons why I wanted to start this thread.
First and foremost, to discuss the off-season events happening at other clubs in one place without focussing on one team in particular. So far, Oxford, Bristol Rovers, Crawley and Northampton have been recruiting some decent players - some of the more recognisable faces in the division. You would expect all of these clubs to be challenging throughout the coming season.
But secondly, i wanted to use it as a thinly veiled attempt to gain a sense of perspective given the events of the past few days and weeks.
What made me think of this was an article I saw on the bbc site. Swindon recently announced the signing of 2 players, Joe Devera (ex Barnet CB) and Jonathon Smith (ex York midfielder). Now I'm no football scout, but I take a keen interest in lower league football and I don't know an awful lot about these 2 players - and I'd be surprised if anyone else on here knew much about them too. I would stick my neck out and say if it had been us who had signed them, we'd be seeing this place flooded with comments like "Nobody" and "Conference Player" etc etc. But this is a side who have realistic hopes of Promotion, a high profile manager and a much bigger budget.
What I'm saying is, that although some clubs have stolen a march on us, not all of them have and thus we're not in a bad position relative. To name a few:
Accrington - signed nobody
Southend - signed nobody
Macclesfield - signed nobody
Dagenham - signed nobody
Plymouth - signed nobody and haven't even sorted their finances out yet
Gillingham - signed nobody, and have to replace Akinfenwa, McDonald and Barcham, basically all their goals from last season
Although we have been hit hard, and weakened by the last few weeks we're not miles behind everyone else. Martin Ling was working on building up a scouting network whilst on "gardening leave" from Cambridge, not sat at home playing tiddlywinks so I'm comfortable that he'll have an idea on who he wants to look at bringing in.
Anyway, I digress - hidden agenda moment over. Hopefully we can use this thread to discuss the goings-on at other clubs throughout the summer.
First and foremost, to discuss the off-season events happening at other clubs in one place without focussing on one team in particular. So far, Oxford, Bristol Rovers, Crawley and Northampton have been recruiting some decent players - some of the more recognisable faces in the division. You would expect all of these clubs to be challenging throughout the coming season.
But secondly, i wanted to use it as a thinly veiled attempt to gain a sense of perspective given the events of the past few days and weeks.
What made me think of this was an article I saw on the bbc site. Swindon recently announced the signing of 2 players, Joe Devera (ex Barnet CB) and Jonathon Smith (ex York midfielder). Now I'm no football scout, but I take a keen interest in lower league football and I don't know an awful lot about these 2 players - and I'd be surprised if anyone else on here knew much about them too. I would stick my neck out and say if it had been us who had signed them, we'd be seeing this place flooded with comments like "Nobody" and "Conference Player" etc etc. But this is a side who have realistic hopes of Promotion, a high profile manager and a much bigger budget.
What I'm saying is, that although some clubs have stolen a march on us, not all of them have and thus we're not in a bad position relative. To name a few:
Accrington - signed nobody
Southend - signed nobody
Macclesfield - signed nobody
Dagenham - signed nobody
Plymouth - signed nobody and haven't even sorted their finances out yet
Gillingham - signed nobody, and have to replace Akinfenwa, McDonald and Barcham, basically all their goals from last season
Although we have been hit hard, and weakened by the last few weeks we're not miles behind everyone else. Martin Ling was working on building up a scouting network whilst on "gardening leave" from Cambridge, not sat at home playing tiddlywinks so I'm comfortable that he'll have an idea on who he wants to look at bringing in.
Anyway, I digress - hidden agenda moment over. Hopefully we can use this thread to discuss the goings-on at other clubs throughout the summer.
but funny!