Tweets from Rovers just now.... * Duncan Culley is still training with the club. * Jamie Turley did not pass his medical and he is 6-8 weeks away from contact work. * Neal Trotman has agreed a short term contract with the club. So Turley didnt pass his medical and is 6-8 weeks away and a bit unfit. So Trotman has been signed on a short term contract I guess until Turley is fit and ready. Maybe keep Trotman if he impresses!
We seem to have a reasonably good defence for this level - hopefully the midfield and attack will be up to scratch too. Still not that excited for Saturday though. Is anyone else? Normally I 'd be very excited by now, but the prospect of Conference football with same idiots on the BoD in charge doesn't 't really thrill me. By the way, welcome Neal Trotman!
Trotman will be pushing for a place, which is great because I expect the defenders take a pounding in this league. I hope Culley signs because he will get goals and we will need all the goalscorers we can get.
i actually do feel excited about this season. the unknown against teams we havent heard of and even though i wont be travelling away, i cant wait to hear the stories from those who do travel away to the places where they havent even heard of electricity
Clarke said on signing Trotman: “We’ve give Neal a short-term deal with a view to getting a permanent contract. He’s been offered longer deals elsewhere, but is prepared to take the chance we are offering him here to earn a full-term contract. He’s missed a couple of weeks of pre-season due to an infected toe, but he played a full season in League Two with Plymouth last season and is a good addition to our squad.” Trotman on signing for us: “I joined the lads in Cardiff a few weeks ago and have enjoyed my time here. It was unfortunate to pick up an injury soon after arriving. I almost signed for Cheltenham and I also had a few offers elsewhere, but when I heard that Rovers were interested I wanted to try and earn a deal here. It’s a nice club to be at and a also big club in terms of the Conference. I think we have a great chance to get out of this league so it was a no-brainer for me. It would be great to start the season off with a win against Grimsby, but, win or lose, the important thing for us is that we perform in a way that suggests we are moving in the right direction.”
Clarke on Turley: “Jamie didn’t pass his medical because he is still between six and eight weeks away from returning to full contact training. He is still a player I’d like to bring to the football club when he is fit and he has offered to come in here a couple of days a week at no cost in a bid to get himself fit for when he is ready to play again."
I take it the one month loan deal for a striker is so culley can get his fitness up to a full time footballer standard
Well about bloody time that Rovers actually waited until players are deemed 100% fit before offering contacts, welcome handshakes and all the other goodies that we have been to keen to give away in the past to players who are unfit and would never have made it. Fair play to DC for having the balls to basically say sort yourself, get fit, prove you are up to it and we'll look again. If the man is that keen to sign for us given his lack of fitness he was or indeed is going no where else (well provided they don't adopt Rovers past strategy with the sick the lame and the lazy) at present then his options are limited so if you are in it for the right reasons Mr Turley good luck with your drive back to fitness.
I have a lot of confidence in DC. From what I have seen and heard he's his own man who knows what he wants and he seems to know his stuff.
Exactly. If the gas had taken this approach before we might not have had a sick note XI in previous seasons
Tweet from Culley yesterday evening which Rovers have NOT mentioned.... "Thanks for all the support from all the #BristolRovers fans. Very disappointed but no longer "training" with the club." https://twitter.com/DuncanCulley/status/497450981035356160 So Culley is not with us. Very strange this. Yesterday Rovers twitter said... "Clarke: Duncan Culley is still training with the squad, he has done ok, but is a little rough round the edges." https://twitter.com/Official_BRFC/status/497377012022272000 Followed by... "Clarke: We have a practice match today and I will have a look at him in training tomorrow, and then I will make a decision." https://twitter.com/Official_BRFC/status/497377079105949696 So Clarke yesterday said Culley was still with us and he would be involved in a practice match yesterday, then training today and then make a decision. But Culley tweeted last night that he was no longer with us. So I presume Culley didnt impress in the practice match meaning Clarke seen enough and didnt want to see anymore of him. Weird how Rovers have not said anything. I just asked them via twitter what is going on!
