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Post by claymillman on Jul 3, 2015 14:28:56 GMT
Signed on loan until January from Birmingham City. Previously with Doncaster Rovers. Struggled to command first team place at Brum. He seems pleased to be joining us. He plays on the right wing, and has also played about 100 games for Scunthorpe
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Post by johnno on Jul 3, 2015 18:22:15 GMT
A solid signing this one.
Did well with Chesterfield last season and look where they ended up?
Gives us another option on the right when Lucas needs a rest.
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Post by Deleted on Jul 3, 2015 21:07:41 GMT
Yes another solid signing, quite happy with our transfer dealings so far. Very few if any will be guaranteed of a starting place this season with plenty of quality cover in the squad.
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Post by observer on Jul 3, 2015 21:15:05 GMT
It's unusual to sign a player on loan first week in July
Means we have to pay their wages whilst there are no actual matches to play
But I guess it gives him chance to get to know us
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Post by cbh1 on Jul 3, 2015 21:31:10 GMT
To be fair, we signed Beavon fairly early last summer, initially on loan prior to making it a permanent deal. Perhaps this is similar as he seems a little way down the pecking order at St Andrews. Most of the big clubs like their younger players to do a full pre-season with them before letting them out on loan just before the season starts after assessing them over the summer. Duffy is a bit older than that so this is a good chance for him to get used to our training regime and integrate with the squad, particularly with the Holland bonding trip next week.
If he comes here and does well then he may earn himself another chance at Birmingham, if not then in the last year of his contract maybe a chance to earn a permanent move in January. Certainly has good experience at this level.
Interesting we haven't had a 'wow' signing yet (in my opinion) this summer. Either Jimmy is building a solid squad of hard working players around him or perhaps the best is yet to come.
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Post by claymillman on Jul 3, 2015 22:02:44 GMT
I think the Darius Charles signing is a wow one myself. Other signings may become wow signings when we see them settle in and perform. The striker issue to me is the most unknown and intriguing. I feel quite optimistic though at the moment.
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Post by observer on Jul 3, 2015 22:02:44 GMT
m.youtube.com/watch?v=FNmcKVEvNRYAlways wary of youtube but there are a lot of clips of here him here from just one season He's clearly a quality player, good on the ball and some superb crosses and through balls in the above link Enough for me to know he's a great addition if he is fit and healthy Looks like he can play wide left as well as wide right Corner taker, free kick taker and penalty taker as well in these clips
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Post by cbh1 on Jul 3, 2015 22:37:55 GMT
Don't get me wrong. I think all the players we have signed look decent. Last summer we signed a number of recognised League One quality players which left me really excited about the season ahead.
Perhaps the likes of Knowles, under Jimmy's management will step up to the plate and get some goals.
It sounds like Charles has been signed as a defender rather than striker where he played quite a bit for Stevenage. Interestingly Duffy is billed as a right winger. Does this mean, potentially, Lucas playing further forwards as more of a striker?
Hopefully Duffy and Charles will be involved at Mickleover tomorrow.
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Post by Deleted on Jul 3, 2015 23:38:45 GMT
I think virtually all of Jimmys signings, save for keepers and Timmy, have been multiple-position players. I think he has developed a very clever game plan for BAFC for the next two years based on existing players contracts and new players signed to either 1 or 2 years based on their age, skills, risk level and his comfort zone on how well they will perform at this level. As for Duffy, based on Jimmys recent comments I think he has been brought in primarily as a right winger... On the left Hasselbaink believes he is well covered. "We're okay on the left hand side," said the manager. "We can play Callum Reilly there, or Nasser or Matty and Lucas can play there if needed. "We're all right on the left – it's other areas where we're perhaps a bit light and we need to strengthen." It's great to hear positive reactions to the way he is taking us. I do think survival in L1 is the primary goal and anything more is a bonus at this point at least. I just hope people don't start getting on his or the teams back if things are not immediately successful. This is new territory for us but I have every confidence in Jimmy keeping the momentum going. COYB! PS: personally I think it is less messy to have one sticky thread for all new or potential contracts/signings as opposed to one for each player signed or potentially signed. If 6 months from now we want to search for signings they would all be in one thread instead of 6-7-8 threads. Just a preference, probably influenced by my IT background.
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Post by observer on Jul 4, 2015 6:01:52 GMT
If going for League 1 survival was the the clubs primary goal then I don't think JFH would still be our manager
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Post by Deleted on Jul 4, 2015 7:43:14 GMT
I think the official and bottom line will be survival but Jimmy and David will be looking and hoping to compete much higher up the table in my opinion.
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Post by mikeyboy on Jul 4, 2015 8:36:14 GMT
I think with the massive increase in TV money the following season it will be a huge incentive for Ben to back us with an increased budget for the coming season. Within reason of course.
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Post by observer on Jul 4, 2015 9:01:39 GMT
I've mentioned before that we've had it relatively comfortable in League 2 where only 2 teams get relegated
4 teams get relegated from League 1 each year
Only way IMO to avoid relegation comfortably is to target top 6 every season and then if you narrowly fail you haven't had any relegation worries
With four relegation places then anywhere near mid table and we will be looking over our shoulders all season
Top 6 has to be target for me
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Post by observer on Jul 4, 2015 9:03:21 GMT
Very late on last season in League One there were only about 6 points between relegation and playoff place I seem to remember
Four relegation spots is brutal tbh
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Post by Deleted on Jul 4, 2015 9:47:30 GMT
Well speaking from a fans perspective and using the rome wasn't built in a day proverb I think the club would have a set of goals for this season, primary, secondary, hopefull etc... Of course the higher up the table the better for everyone, but if we finish in 20th position, and assuming that no major failure factor occurs, I think that should be seen as success by the fans. Then build for the next season with the increased funds. I think Ben is putting money into the team for this season, we are not paying transfer fees yet but 5 new player signings with associated wages is a fair chunk above last years budget I would think. Plus Jono signed, Nasser renegotiated a better deal.
I think the last part of this thread is good but has little to do with Mark Duffy, perhaps a thread of it's own....Norah?
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Post by Deleted on Jul 4, 2015 11:08:34 GMT
Yes well off topic but I think a few clubs like Crewe, Vale, Blackpool, and maybe Chesterfield and Walsall for various financial constraints may struggle this season. 4 down is brutal. It will be very tough and competitive over 46 games for sure and a notch up from what we have faced in the past. It is the unknown for us but I don't think the gap between the top of league 2 and the lower reaches of league 1 is that great.
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