Seeing as not a lot is really happening on the Gills front we may as well pick who we would sign if we were in charge. The only rules being that they have to be out of contract, realistic e.g. not players that are obviously too expensive or to egotistical to play League 1 football and you can only pick 3 (any position you like) Theres the free agents list: http://www.thepfa.com/transferlist/listedplayers/sortbydate/-1/-1/-1/pro/-1/1/ My personal picks: Therry Racon: Good footballer who can provide a bit more depth to the midfield that has looked a bit bare recently especially since Charlie Lee seems to be frozen out ahead of his proposed move to Southend. He is also a bit more of an experienced head as I feel this year we may lack a bit of composure in big games that Racon could bring. Also being released by Millwall he will be living fairly locally. James Shea: Goalkeeper recently released by Arsenal who I have mentioned before but just feel he will be of a wonderful pedigree who will only improve learning from Nelson and could be available fairly cheaply as the number of young players released by Arsenal every year is huge and many of them are seen to be scrambling for professional contracts. Not a overwhelmingly inspiring choice but feel he would be a very shrewd bit of business but honestly any goalkeeper will do because Nelson is just sensational in goal and anyone will be backup to him. Ryan Dickson: Recently been let go by Southampton after spending quite a few spells away from the club and I feel he would provide great cover at both left back and left mid, a area in which I feel we could be exposed as last year when Martin wasn't playing and Frampton played in that position we looked horrifically susceptible to attacks down that flank as was the case at Cheltenham away last year. Also add depth to the squad in general and would prevent Joe Martin from resting on his laurels. Anyway they are my choices but I do worry we won't see any of them arrive at the club as they may be too pricey or have offers from other clubs in higher divisions. I trust mad dog to do the right thing but do think that we may be a bit short at the back and midfield if we pick up injuries next year so some new signings are pivotal. Over to you guys to choose your 3 signings you would make if you could.
Not really on here but I would love a midfielder with a bit of a reputation , or a player a lot of clubs are chasing E.G Alan gow and marlon pack
Dean Parrett - just been released by Tottenham, an attacking midfielder who can also play as a centre forward, played at this level before for Swindon, Plymouth and Charlton on short loan spells. Scored for each of them during the loan spells. Could offer some competition for Bradley Dack. Harry Grant - Although Im led to believe he probably already is a Gills player (see team photo) Either Tommy Forecast or Maik Taylor - Tommy because he knows the team and apparently improved in training with Stuart Nelson. Maik Taylor as a Player/coach although we already have a goalkeeping coach.
I would sign 3 young players. Archange Nkumu- Can play in defence and midfield so very good option, only 19 and has been at Chelsea but not played for them and is also a free agent. Tyrell Belford- Young keeper who was with Liverpool, also he is only 19 and I think that would be a good choice. Gerardo Bruna- Left midfielder who was with Real Madrid and Liverpool as a youngster, I remember that he was rated highly however he did not make it, was with Blackpool but it did not work out. He is still only 22 and he may still have a chance of becoming a good player so he is a player that I would think that we could look at as he would need a club and I am sure his demands could not be too high. All 3 of these players are players that if I were Martin Allen I would take a look at, I would bring them in on trial and see what they are like as I feel that these 3 would have something to offer for the club and they would also be cheap options which makes them good options in my opinion, but also what I like about these is that they are young so they are players for the future.
We should get in there and sign him up now before it's too late. I am not 100% sure but I have heard that we would have to pay compensation to Cheltenham however I think it would be worth it. Although I am not 100% about this as I am sure he has left the club.
Rather than mess about with these free agents about whom I know nothing, I'm going to BREAK THE RULES! If I was Mallen, I would: - Win Euromillions and sign Luis Suarez for £50 million. The guy's not very intelligent, I'm sure we could pretend we're in the Champions League to get him to sign. - Re-sign Danny Jackman. - Make sure I actually play Bayo and Cody together, as they were soooo good as a partnership in 10/11. Play Keds in midfield, and re-brand him as "The Wayne Rooney of League One" (similar shape, and both have a mean shot but little in the way of pace!). - Sell no. 13 "The Rainham End" to Man City for £20 million - they'll buy anyone/anything! Then immediately buy back for a couple of thousand once they realised that they've signed a stand.
Kemal Izzet 32 - Kemal Izzet has played 473 for Colchester United and he has a lot of experience playing in The Championship and League One, I think he would be a better option then Steven Gregory in the defensive holding midfield position, now I think that Steven Gregory has improved a lot since his shaky start when he looked all over the place, but I think Izzet would add something extra to our midfield and his experience will prove to be invaluable to our young squad. Simon Davies 33 - Still out of contract and still without a club and I would look to offer Simon Davies a short term deal which can be turned into a long term deal at Gillingham, but Simon Davies can use his time at Gillingham to get fully fit, play games and put himself in the shop window for other clubs, if no other offers are available then we can extend Simon Davies's contract. Gary McSheffrey 31 - Has just been released by Coventry City and Gary McSheffrey can either play up-front or on either wing and others us versatility and I think he is a really good footballer who would strengthen our squad. All three players I have mentioned will add a lot of experience to the squad because we do have a very inexperienced side and all three players will add that little bit more quality to the team as well - apologies for reviving a old thread.
Who I would like to see and who realistically we might see are probably some way apart. But out of interest filter players over 24 with premiership experience - really can't understand why some of those players aren't signed up to someone. I'm not suggesting that the club's pockets are deep enough to be able to pay the wages that most of the players there would be looking for, but I hope that someone at the club has actually established that as fact.
Nice to see you on here FOM. Hopefully you will post your excellent reports on here as well,now Gills365 has gone bellyup. The loan window opens on Monday, so hopefully we may see a few additions, because surely players that haven't been transferred and know they won't get many opportunities at their present club,will be up for loans. Players like Davies,Dicker and McSheffrey,would probably have got new clubs by now,so maybe wages were a problem,but they may well have to lower their sights as no-one has taken them,thus far.
That made me laugh Gemini. I read FOM's very informative and knowledgeable post late last night and the first thing that went through my thoughts was age! Essam, Payne, you all know I was right about my long term insights, while a large number of some supporters were looking at the glimmer of the silverware beckoning in the distance. We could certainly have done with Essam at the moment and what has happened to Davies, let alone the rotation system. Please let's not use squad size as an excuse and what is Martin Allen's problem with the Bayo/Cody combination? I know one day I'm going to have to write the next chapter for youth v experience but for now I will bide my time...one of the next inclusions would have to be Charlie Lee, how much was Mad Dog influential on his position or was it just a turn of fate with our early season dilemma. I love Charlie Lee and there should be a pitbull in every team but at 26 he is just hovering below the bosses threshold. Dare I say Hessy's youngsters would have survived better the early battles of league one, than MadDog's more experienced side. Now that one should ruffle a few feathers. Q Lenny.
Idea for you brb. Chapter 2 "when youth becomes experience" case in point Charlie Lee. The long he stays the more he seems to be in MA's plans...........
I will probably end up doing another chapter but it will take time and I just need to see how our season unfolds a bit more.
"How our season unfolds" I think it's imploding at the moment which would make it a black hole! Priestfield and Gillingham will be disappearing (sucked into the swirling blackness) any moment now.
Looking at our bench today we had the following players..... George Howard 19 Stephen Butcher 18 Devante McKain 19 Charlie Allen 21 Antonio German 21 I think we're crying out for a few experienced players but there needs to be a mix of youth and experience, I don't want us to have Ronnie Jepson's side where we had Simon Royce, Duncan Jupp, Ian Cox, Efe Sodge and Craig Armstrong in what must have been the oldest back five in Gillingham History and we also had Nicky Southall and Danny Graham in that side as well, you can have too much experience in your side and I think at the moment we need a number of things to make a squad better and experience is just one of those things we need - because we also need quality and I think we're screaming out for some pace in our side, and someone who can pass the ball in midfield.
