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General Category => Altrincham FC First Team => Topic started by: brian1925 on July 28, 2010, 06:38:57 PM
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My first pre-season friendly last night and I have to echo the views of a previous thread by expressing disappointment at the calibre of triallists this year. Not sure any of them were worth a contract on the basis of last night's display, though the late sub on the right wing, Holt, deserves another look. Joseph looked composed, but easily bullied by the Macc lads and IMO not the answer to the void left by Greg. Was wondering what others felt.
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Underwhelming.
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We need a tall, powerful , fast centre back,even if we have to push the boat out for one.Joseph isnt the answer,or hasnt looked like it to date.We were built on a solid defence last year,and a top quality centre back must be the priority before august 14th,and also hope that crowell signs on.
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In the two games I've seen Nowland has looked like a tidy player who would be worth a squad place.
Joseph may not be Greg Young but then again I'd be astounded if there were too many like him both available and in our price bracket. We need some more central defensive cover and, of those I've seen Joseph is the best so far. Add in the FL experience and he may not be a bad acquisition.
Other than that I have to concur both with the views on this thread and also comments elsewhere about how far off Twiss seems - If he has an injury then fine but otherwise I'd have hoped he may be a bit fitter than he appears to be at present.
Just out of interest, were he a triallist and not already signed what would people think?
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We need a tall, powerful , fast centre back,even if we have to push the boat out for one.Joseph isnt the answer,or hasnt looked like it to date.We were built on a solid defence last year,and a top quality centre back must be the priority before august 14th,and also hope that crowell signs on.
I know that we dont have him available and I hear didturbing tales of him going to the States but I wonder just how effective Crowell will / would be without Tom Kearney
Views anyone?
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We need a tall, powerful , fast centre back,even if we have to push the boat out for one.Joseph isnt the answer,or hasnt looked like it to date.We were built on a solid defence last year,and a top quality centre back must be the priority before august 14th,and also hope that crowell signs on.
Agreed. He really does look a good player. Never in a rush to just hoof the ball. Likes to put his foot on the ball, take a look and pick his pass. As mentioned by people before, Crowell and (a fully fit) Kearney would be a great midfield combination.
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Regarding Joseph:
I admit that I've not seen him play yet, but should we be so quick to write him off? At the beginning of last season some people were saying very negative things about Rob Williams and Nicky Clee and look how good they've turned out to be!
GH and KM aren't mugs and I believe they'll find the necessary players to keep us in this division (and that is our number one aim next season, make no mistake!).
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He might be a great player,but hes not tall enough
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Thought Holt and McCready looked ok last night
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What I have seen of Joseph pleased me so far.. However I fear the only way were going to get someone part time as good as Greg Young is to nip to Kit Kat Crescent and kidnapp said Mr Young ;)
I too hope Matt Crowell stays with us but it is a fkn long trapse from S. Wales, (Mind you if I was living in S. Wales it would be a pleasure to get out for a couple of days per week) ... Shrewsbury is close enough for me :D
Stands by for some vitriol from the Welsh contingency of the Alty FC forum ;D
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I think Crowell is very tidy. We could really do with him in the middle of the park next season, preferably with Kearney!
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GH said all along that players would become available in August. Let's hope he's right. A good point not to write some players off too early as well. Re Twiss, he linked up quite well with Crowell at times last night but my word he makes running around look hard work.
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I believe from talking to a mate from York that Youngy is injured at the moment with a groin strain.
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I believe from talking to a mate from York that Youngy is injured at the moment with a groin strain.
So what. ??? ??? ???
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Tom Mc Cready looked promising last night, would like to see a lot more of him in the next 3 games. Holt possibly too as a squad player. Nowland again looked tidy and organised. All our strikers still not fit enough, but great to see progress Dale is making. Crowell looked composed again, but was it just me but he lacked fitness or was just cruising? Nobody has really stood out yet have they!? :-\
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I believe from talking to a mate from York that Youngy is injured at the moment with a groin strain.
So what. ??? ??? ???
So we might not be struggling to get past him on August 28th.
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I believe from talking to a mate from York that Youngy is injured at the moment with a groin strain.
So what. ??? ??? ???
Maybe Chris Senior jumped up and head butted him in the groin!
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Of the triallists so far, I'd sign Joseph, Crowell, and Nowland.
Joseph gives our defence one thing that is otherwise missing - a voice ! He organises well, and would, to my mind, be a decent captain.
I've already said in an earlier thread that I had reservations about Crowell without Kearney. Then, in the second half last night, I watches how well he linked with Nowland who was operating in the hole in front of the back four.
Nowland is a very experienced pro. He's played at Championship level for Preston, Wimbledon, West Ham, Forest, and Blackpool. He's not 30 yet. Last season I was almost the lone voice in support of Nicky Clee. This year my campaign is "Sign Adam Nowland".
Michael Twiss may just not be fully fit - but on what I've seen so far I'd be starting with Dale up front, and Chris Denham and Damien Reeves alongside. However, class is permanent, and I'm sure he'll come good sooner rather than later.
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Where has Marc Joseph been playing?
Had a nightmare season before being released. Was at his best in his first season with us when he was regularly playing right-back but became a victim of being able to fill in at centre back, or very occasionally at left-back. His form wasn't great last season and he became the target of the boo boys when he played. When we played Bournemouth last season, he put in a great cross that we scored from and he responded by cupping his ears to the fans, we went on to lose 3-1 and he had a mare which sums up his whole season to be honest.
If Alty do sign him then it should be as a right-back, I don't want to do him a disservice but I wouldn't be keen on signing him to play as a centre half. I honestly think he could do a job at right back if he can rediscover his confidence.
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Interested to see Nathan Fairhurst came on against Macc.
A Wrexham supporter friend of mine was sad to see him leave there last season, said he played well while he was there. Could be an alternative to Crowell, perhaps.
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Where has Marc Joseph been playing?
Had a nightmare season before being released. Was at his best in his first season with us when he was regularly playing right-back but became a victim of being able to fill in at centre back, or very occasionally at left-back. His form wasn't great last season and he became the target of the boo boys when he played. When we played Bournemouth last season, he put in a great cross that we scored from and he responded by cupping his ears to the fans, we went on to lose 3-1 and he had a mare which sums up his whole season to be honest.
If Alty do sign him then it should be as a right-back, I don't want to do him a disservice but I wouldn't be keen on signing him to play as a centre half. I honestly think he could do a job at right back if he can rediscover his confidence.
Thanks for this Chris - very informative. He's been playing on the left, but I think he's seen as a centre back in the longer term. Maybe he'd just become unhappy at Rotherham, and the change of club is what he needs. Here's hoping !
Good luck for the coming season - I've backed you each way at 10-1 !
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A Wrexham fan's view on Fairhurst:
"Fairhurst was flavour of the month when he was swith us on loan.
saunders then signed him and he chose us over staying with preston reserves, however saunders fell out with him when he wanted first team and he hardly featured after november.
is small but has the skill. if you have a larger bloke next to him in midfield he will be a good signing for you"
Sounds promising.
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I still hope for Crowell no matter good he might be, Crowell is a class act at this level.
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I understand the whole thing about Crowell, but is a player who has already demonstrated a willingness to jump ship at the first opportunity really the answer for us? Certainly I can understand why he left last year, but surely we should be looking for somebody who will stick with us for the entire season. I really hope that GH and KM play the likes of Fairhurst, McCready and Holt from the start against Tranmere, as they really need a good run out for a sensible period of time, not just 5 minutes. Also hope that there are one or two new faces on the team sheet tomorrow. The best thing (and perhaps the only thing) about the pre-season so far has been the superb form of Dale, though what worries me is how much better he seems than any of our other striking options - agree with a previous poster that Dale and Chris Denham is the best we have.
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I understand the whole thing about Crowell, but is a player who has already demonstrated a willingness to jump ship at the first opportunity really the answer for us? Certainly I can understand why he left last year, but surely we should be looking for somebody who will stick with us for the entire season. I really hope that GH and KM play the likes of Fairhurst, McCready and Holt from the start against Tranmere, as they really need a good run out for a sensible period of time, not just 5 minutes. Also hope that there are one or two new faces on the team sheet tomorrow. The best thing (and perhaps the only thing) about the pre-season so far has been the superb form of Dale, though what worries me is how much better he seems than any of our other striking options - agree with a previous poster that Dale and Chris Denham is the best we have.
oh dear!!!