Here is a selected list of current free agents we could look at. John Akinde Lewis Alessandra Jeremie Aliadiere Febian Brandy Dean Brill Mark Carrington Lee Carsley Omar Daley Callum Davidson Claude Davis Scott Dobie Tommy Doherty Karl Duguid Matt Duke Nathan Ellington Nick Fenton Darryl Flahavan Andy Frampton Ashley Grimes Some interesting names there for sure. Any thoughts on these players?
Omar Daley: http://www.rotherhamunited-mad.co.uk/rotherham_united/player/career/omar_daley_18437/index.shtml Jeremie Aliadiere: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/article-1363877/Jeremie-Aliadiere-training-Arsenal.html
A few names of interest there. Matt Duke did very well on his short loan spell at Wycombe a few years ago, but doubt he would want to sit on the bench. Omar Daley would be well worth a punt as back up to Betsy and Ainsworth. Brandy would be well suited to both Wycombe and Wetherspoon Wanderers!
Don't think we need back up to Ainsworth and Betsy, think we need someone who they're going to back up! Aliadiere - no chance - are you serious? Don't care how unfit he is, we'd never afford him Daryl Flahaven - why? We have two great keepers Akinde - no thanks Ellington - would love this but don't think we could afford him. Doherty - don't think we need him now. Not sure about the rest, without reading up on them.
Jock - Aliadiere will be desperate, there won't be many clubs in for him. Flahavan - why not? We have one great keeper. Arnold is totally unproven, and by all accounts has not particularly impressed in B & B games. Flahavan is experienced at league one and championship level. Akinde - Why not? Garbage at Bristol Rovers I grant you, but decent at Dagenham, and I've not forgotten his first spell with us. Get his attitude right, and he could be good. Agree on Ellington, but where's his career going? Inevitably he will have to take a drop in wages at his next club - he won't get another move into the championship right now. Doherty - Really? We have two central midfielders contracted to the club. One of our holding midfielders has just left (Montrose). Doherty could well be useful, although I'm not sure Waddock will have him back after Jan 2010. Personally I think Brandy, Carrington, Carsley, Fenton, Grimes, and one of the above are potentially good signings, and affordable too.
Owen didn't get a look in against Wycombe when he played for Liverpool. He's probably slowed down since then as well. I used to be anti Hargreaves until he had a brilliant game for England but haven't seen him for ages. Doesn't he get injured a lot?
i think hargreaves shared a room with darren (sicknote) anderton when on england duty because he has been on the treatment table ever since
Aliadere might be desperate but not that desperate! There's about another 30 clubs above us who will pay him more. I stand to be corrected though, he'd be great if he did sign. But I don't think it's going to happen. Flahavan would be second choice keeper, would he want to join a club knowing that was the case? Wadds doesn't agree with your assessment of Arnold either - on the offal he said 'if he'd been at a different League 2 club this year, he would have probably played the majority of their game'. I'm happy with him as a second choice and not wasting budgets on a third keeper. I certainly don't think we need anyone pushing our best player for his space at the moment either. Akinde hasn't proved himself anywhere, apart from when on loan to us, that was his best ever spell. A return of none in 14 games for Rovers don't float my boat, and I wouldn't call 2 in 6 at the Daggers decent. He may still come good as he's really young, but I'd prefer someone a bit older and wiser, if we could get them (and that's a big if) - like Ellington. Doherty won't come back to Wycombe while Wadds is in charge, they don't get on, simple as that. Grimes might be a good addition though.
Does that really make Arnold a great keeper though? The fact is that at football league level he's totally unproven. I don't dispute Waddock's view but he's always going to be positive in public - perhaps Arnold will be given a chance in the JPT next season. I don't really agree with your last sentence on the keeping position either - what's wrong with healthy competition? Don't get me wrong though, Bull is a fantastic keeper. I still think Akinde could have something to offer, but yes Grimes is probably a better option.
i think grimes could be a good signing and maybe even akinde if waddock worked his magic on him,although i am happy with rendell and i think he will do alright next season
JS you're right about Arnold, he is unproven. I just think there are more important areas to look at than our goalkeepers and i'm assuming we have limited budgets. And also Akinde could add something, i'm just looking at his previous stats and of course he is very young and did do well here before, so he might be good. Whatever happens, I would be pleased if he signed most of those players you've listed. People seem to forget that I am available too, and would solve the left back problem.
For me, it would have to be Lee Carsley, he would add so much experience to the team - like Ainsworth maybe wouldn't play every game but his effect on the team would be very beneficial.
