As an absolute minimum I think we need a right back to replace Elliot (assuming he will not be with us - I would be happy if he were); a left back (because, as others have noted, that is not Jono's position); at least one more (preferably two) in midfield (Jamie?); and two wide players (Bailo? - much better playing wide I think than as an out and out striker); and, as Arrows says, a stronger keeper and above all else a strong goal scoring striker - someone perhaps rather like Ade ...........if only!
I watched Josh Pelling last season for Sidley and he was certainly playing beneath himself, I believe he will be a great addition to next seasons squad.
Re. keepers - glad to hear your comments HL about Josh. I would like us to have two keepers, with one on the bench, for all games. Of course, there were a crazy amount of injuries to our keepers last year; but I think that we really need to do all we can to avoid having to ask outfield players to don the gloves .....
Lets not forget we lose Danny Ellis and Razor for the first 3/4 games of the season. Some serious work needs to be done as we are looking more like Rye FC each day. Need at least 6 quality players in for the start of the season.
I too think Pelling is a good signing. Once suspensions are out of the way I think we would be suited to playing 3 centre halves. Razor and Jonno marking/attacking the ball and Judge sweeping behind them two. Ellis, McClean and Timmy O centrally in front of them, Sam back as a central striker. All we need is two wingbacks and partner for Sammy...just my opinion!
Hi Den, havent included last years squad ( At least those who've not re-signed yet ) as none were under contract so effectivly the entire squad was realeased and all players are now effectively new signings.
Some will have left though choice some some may not have been contacted for whatever reasons, fraid i dont know any more.
Dan. The Squad list that you have provided is great insofar as it gives an up-to-date picture of a developing team. But what would also be of interest would be the current situation regarding players such as Elliot Cox, Dee Okojie, Lee Carey etc. In other words, the whole of last season's regulars. How many have definitely left the club; how many are undecided or have not been contacted. PS. I'm told that Bradley Goldberg will be available in about two weeks! Do you have any more information?
Thanks for that Dan. Presumably the management have been in contact with most already & have a good idea as to whom is likely to return or not. We shall have to wait patiently for them to release information to us mere mortals!
It may sound horrible but I'm pleased Lee Carey has left but the funny thing is he thinks he's too good for Ryman south which is hilarious he will not be missed but question is who will be captain next year
Frankie would have been great for us if we had been able to supply him with service along the floor. Too many times that season we pumped it high into the box and he lost out on the aerial challenge. The times we played it through to him and used his strengths - well just ask Folkestone and Billericay!
I think personally that we do need a couple more strong players - but then again July 1st is tomorrow. Im not saying we will have a glut of signings tomorrow, but maybe there will be more in the pipeline.
Wouldn't mind seeing mikel Suarez back as with Sam and balio with him it wouldn't matter as much about his speed, wouldn't mind marc Whiteman either scores a lot of goals but had injury last season. Think someone else suggested Anthony Storey 'Stores' for midfield good strong vocal player would also be good for the squad lets see some signings
Stevie, I thought Suarez, in his all too brief appearances with us last season, was by far the best front player I have seen for a very long time. Earlier posts in other threads have indicated, however, that there is no way he will be joining us. Apart from anything else, I am sure he will command a fee in excess of the £300 p.w. to which Sean refers in this week's Observer, as being beyond the club's limit. I respect Sean for that - it simply is no good to dream of what we cannot afford.
I would though still very much hope to see someone like Suarez (a classic target man who wins so many balls in the air) or like Ade ( a different, more forceful player) partnering Bailo and Sam. I don't, however, underestimate the difficulty of the task of finding someone at a wage which can be afforded. Players with potential from lower levels are a possibility; but many cannot make the step up. I initially thought Kenny Pogue, a couple of seasons ago, had potential; but at the Premier level, where we then were, it soon became evident that he did not win enough balls in the air and lacked sufficient pace to compensate.
I think now it's a case of wait and see how things shape up with the trialists in the friendlies; but friendlies, of course, can make some players (particularly those who want too much time on the ball, or who buckle too easily under a challenge, or who lack discipline) look better than they actually are .........
So we will be playing against him this season Tim will destroy him in midfield and what happened to Scott McDonald was very good for reserves last season
I Don't think that I have ever seen such a mass exodus of players at the end of a season.
Apart from a few we will almost have a completely new team.
As someone else said Josh Jirbandey is training with Lewes,why can't we get players like him to re-sign for the club as he was one of our best players.We need players like him to get us out of this mess.
Is it to do with money or is it that we have been relegated ,or is it simply they do not want to play for Hastings full stop?
Yeah I read on twitter/facebook JJ's been training with a couple of different clubs and assumed it was to keep fit or gain some advantage when goes back to the states. Think quite a few players will be training with more than club this time of year, whether they're deciding who to sign for or purely to get a fit as possible before the new season.
As for the squad list, it doesn't make good reading, especially when you see the players Lewes have already attracted. I think it'll take more than one season of rebuilding a team to get us out of Ryman South...
Well considering the lack of time between now and the Brighton match I'd consider it unlikely that there will be any more 'official' announcements of players signing on before then so expect that the first we see of what must be the approx 8 or so new faces will be from the team-sheet at approx 7pm!
Sort of exciting in a strange sort of way, I expect there will be lots of 'Googling' on phones to work out where the players have come from!
So... How many who turned out for us last night will be signing... Some names we recognise like Darbs, Radley and Pogue. I heard Shonk was rated quite highly when at Brighton, but spent most of his time there injured I understand.
Dont think anyone knows who will be signed out of them but some were definitely not good enough and some had some talent I think there will be a few though
Shonky is a good player however has been injury prone, hopefully he will remain for. He can play up front or in centre midfield, he's not as aggressive in midfield as Vickers was however he has more flare for a pass and can score some very good goals, he may not be as aggressive in midfield however he won't be as much as a liability in discipline. I believe the reason JJ played he other night was due to Ben being unavailable and Sean still recovering from surgery, I am led to believe that Sean Kelly ( aka Irish ) is more than a capable centre half and given that Andy Corrigan was on the bench may have been a better option to play centre half and play Andy at right back? I agree that we need a proven goal scorer maybe Bailo will find the going a bit easier this season and be a bit more prolific but even then I think we do need that as a priority. I understand some people quoting Dave Walters on the last day of the season and the lack of signings but I also understand and agree on the stance Sean has taken saying he won't be held to ransom just because we have more money this season, personally I wold maybe push the boat out a little bit and get a proven striker in.
There's definitely work to be done lets hope by day 1 of the season we've got the right mix of players, obviously the amount of players that are in per season will be whittled down to who Sean wants.
-- Edited by Lenny The Lion on Friday 12th of July 2013 01:06:25 PM
Need to see more of the players before I would make a decision in signing them though would take Kenny Pogue back at that level to add depth to the front line but defiantly need a proven 20 goal a season striker from Ryman Prem standard to ensure that we score enough next year.
As I've said if he gets fitter and stays fit then I would take Jordan Woodley back but need to see more of everyone else before making any more decisions.
Like the look of Shonk but once again need to see more over the next friendlies
"Ben Radley ( aka Irish)" now I am confused ! I thought ' Irish ' was Sean Kelly ! So who played right back most of the game the other night ? Because whoever that was he had people calling him 'Irish' and to be fair I was quite impressed with him ,he did alright ,,,,,but what do I know ?
What it was Leon is that someone said something about Irish to me and having never met either of them before I took it that it was the same person. Honest mistake mate and I'm sure I won't hear the end of it Just yet.
Dunno bout the rest but Matt Whitehead and Josh Jirbandey actually left halfway through last season and Bradley Goldberg is with League 2 side Dagenham mate. We were lucky to have him last year let alone this year.
Got lots of trust and belief as much as anyone but still think we could do with one more striker, preferably a big one who can score 20 goals!, with the 433 formation that sean uses it could be very useful especilaly if we have to drop back to 451, Sam adams can do a job and maybe bailo too but bailo is more effective as an inside forward off the wing and Sam is better from deeper in my opinion.
so still waiting to see if we have anymore signed on, I thought this Saturdays game was the one that was nearly the squad that sean wanted so have we only nine players signed on or is there secret stars on their way?
nothing released officilly yet but that doesnt mean that the ones that have been given the go-ahead for the season havent actually signed or commited or perhaps its gonna be one or two more games before pen is put to paper so he can evaluate them a bit further?
To be fair mate we were hoping you knew the secret stars judging from your previous post! :)
we already have our attackers just need the right service its that simple,once the squad gel and trust each other I know we will play better football than most of the pessimists think, nothing wrong with looking on the down side it makes more joy every three points I suppose. if we can install a football brain into each player and play each player to their strengths its easy especially when attacking, if we haven't got aerial up there don't long ball, if weve got a bit of muscle give to feet and get in space for a pass back, if weve got pace for Christ sake use that pace (a big defenders nightmare). every decent player should be able to play in different positions so read the game and adapt to cope with the opposition, I realise its easy to say but a bit of trust and belief goes a long way
Jamie Crone will be with us for certain this year which I think is a great bonus as the lad defiantly has talent and if played regularly and stays fit could get 15 - 20 goals in the league, only 18 so hope people give him a chance.
Jamie is a very good signing for what I have heard about him, lets hope he gets game time and proves to us that a young lower league player can cut the mustard.Not long now until the league start cant wait to see the new team in its glory.
Nothing as far as I know Bert but that's not to say that wont change. Unfortunately the webmaster is away on a well deserved holiday at the moment but I'm sure that when he returns the website will be fully update.
