New players in

[Matster]

Luke Summerfield and Rob Purdie have made themselves Shrewsbury players

http://www.shrewsburytown.com/page/NewsDetail/0,,10443~2830255,00.html

Summerfield moves form Cheltenham and was their player of the season just gone, plays in midfield and Purdie moves from Hereford and was also their player of the season just gone! He is classed as a utility player, able to play RB/LB and across the midfield, but seems to have been played as an attcking midfielder.

Both players seem to have goals in them which is good.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Luke_Summerfield
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rob_Purdie

 

[Hounded Out By Morons]

I always rated Purdie and Hereford looked stronger when he was playing. Seems to have been around forever but still only 29. One strange thing, though. In nearly 2 years he never made a first team appearance for Oldham (League One !!!)

 

[tinned hats]

well it looks like Roland is keeping his purse tight shut, more strange signings for me, can they make a differance at this higher level?, its ok saying Purdie was player of the season at Hereford but lets face it, none of them were much good, he's just the best of a bad bunch...Luke Summerfield a local lad so i hope we got him for all the right reasons, his form is on the decline so lets hope GT can raise it back to those dizzy heights when he was a valued youngster at Plymouth and was tipped to be a premiership player.Lets also hope Doble can find the net too, has his goal scoring record isnt the best...sorry to sound a bit negative, but i did expect better, never mind in GT we trust!!....

 

[Lenny]

I rate Summerfield, I think he's a good signing. I'd imagine Purdie will be a good squad player, able to fill in anywhere across midfield or as a full back. A solid player who can do a job, I should imagine. Doble I also think is a versatile back-up option, he can play on the wing or off the striker and adds a very good work rate. I pay no attention to his prior record; it is solely from temporary spells. He has done enough to come through Southampton's excellent academy and win a professional contract or two with a club who are bigger than us - clearly there is something about him. Collins' goalscoring return prior to signing for us was hardly amazing either, and, whilst he never became prolific, he was certainly a valued part of our squad. People didn't rate him at all (although I always did!) when he first came, similar to Grandison, so just give him time.

What we have now is certainly the beginnings of a decent squad. Some people are making out that League One is some kind of massive step up - it's not; there is no way the likes of Walsall or Yeovil are streets ahead of our team last year. People complain we are signing "League Two players" - but what makes a player a League Two player? Someone who spent last season there after never dropping below league one previously (á la Summerfield)? I feel that all the players who have left are being hugely overrated by our fans, and many of our new signings are being underrated. I feel our midfield is stronger than last year, and I expect our goalkeepers to be as well. I suspect we will see another striker and a defender (either Right back or centre back) come in as well as however many keepers we need to sign, and then I feel our squad can certainly be better than last year.