League 2 Potential Signings?

[robbiez666]

As it looks like we're going to be priced out or beaten to the better players in League 1, there must be some in the league below who would be good at this level. Any suggestions? My knowledge of League 2 is limited at best.

 

[Blade56]

McNulty and Doyle from Pompey

 

[Barney]

I'd focus on securing Kemar Roofe. Our lack of awareness has already cost us in terms of the fee we'd be paying, but he's still worth going in for if we can. I'd even sacrifice making the squad a bit bigger to compensate. He really is the one we should be setting focus on. Unfortunately it's pie in the sky to think we'd ever do something as encouraging as that.

 

[Gee]

Wow, lets scrape the bottom of the barrel just for the sake of signing someone to keep the moaners happy.

 

[Rodley]

Tap in for the moaners this one.

 

[Gee]

WTF is there in league two that's remotely as good as what we already have. Even more so good enough to come with us up to the championship level if we get there. Clearly McNulty is about the best player in that league at the moment. That is dare I say the same McNulty that cannot even get on our bench. League 2 players or keep the cash, I know which I would do if it was my cash.

 

[Barney]

WTF is there in league two that's remotely as good as what we already have. Even more so good enough to come with us up to the championship level if we get there. Clearly McNulty is about the best player in that league at the moment. That is dare I say the same McNulty that cannot even get on our bench. League 2 players or keep the cash, I know which I would do if it was my cash.

Just because it's league, doesn't mean any talent within are worthy of immediate dismissal.

You need to have a bit of know-how and nous to scout the lower leagues, which is why we don't do it.

 

[jt64]

WTF is there in league two that's remotely as good as what we already have.

If whoever comes up from there does as well as the last lot to come up, namely Burton (top of the league), Shrewsbury (casually put 4 past us at home), Bury (casually beat us 3-1 at home) and Southend (well at least we got a point to stay ahead of them on goal difference), then the answer to your question is an entire team

 

[Top Cat]

And you do scout the lower leagues?

Just because it's league, doesn't mean any talent within are worthy of immediate dismissal.

You need to be have a bit of know-how and nous to scout the lower leagues, which is why we don't do it.

And you do scout the lower leagues?

 

[Barney]

And you do scout the lower leagues?


And you do scout the lower leagues?

If I was in a position to be able to I would.

 

[S5Blade]

And you do scout the lower leagues?


And you do scout the lower leagues?

No,but he does know that Billy Sharp is over priced (despite not knowing how much he cost) and only scores penalties (4 of his 12 goals were penalties and 5 assists...)

 

[alcoblade]

Just because it's league, doesn't mean any talent within are worthy of immediate dismissal.

You need to have a bit of know-how and nous to scout the lower leagues, which is why we don't do it.

A perfect Barney post. Quite an intelligent comment to open, leading nicely into a line that digs at the club he hates.

Predictable, and boring.

UTB

 

[Top Cat]

You aren't, so you can't. You watched Oxford at the weekend. Do you think that you are a good virtual scout?

 

[Toledo Blade]

As it looks like we're going to be priced out or beaten to the better players in League 1, there must be some in the league below who would be good at this level. Any suggestions? My knowledge of League 2 is limited at best.

Sorry to say we have to think realistically, the Blades squad is too big and at the moment not enough current players have gone, secondly I'm sure the thinking at the board is that we may or may not get into the playoffs lets see what happens with what we have, most likely told Adkins a special bonus with the current squad if you gain promotion, and a bigger pot of money next season for transfers which they hope will be automatic with the investment.

 

[Jon Bon]

I'd focus on securing Kemar Roofe.

The Kop Roof? Why, is it going to get windy?

 

[boo radley]

As it looks like we're going to be priced out or beaten to the better players in League 1, there must be some in the league below who would be good at this level. Any suggestions? My knowledge of League 2 is limited at best.

Which are the better players we are getting out priced on and who are the better players we are being beaten to?

 

[BeatleBlade]

That Nicholls guy at Exeter City has got to be worth a go.

 

[Lowen]

Definitely a possibility of there being great, affordable and talented players in the division. Ryan Woods was there last season and is doing well in the championship with Brentford. It's a bit hard to judge who can make the step up. Lyle Taylor and Shaun Miller are both scoring goals in that league whilst they were deemed not good enough for us. Kemar Roofe looks great but even he might be out of our reach. Dean Cox always looks good for Orient and Aaron Pierre for Wycombe looks like a good left-sided centre half.

 

[Jehovah]

That Nicholls guy at Exeter City has got to be worth a go.

In the "view from Wigan" thread, a fan makes comment that we've both been linked to a move for him.

 

[Trigger Blade]

Tap in for the moaners this one.

Barney's on a hat trick already

 

[SK10Blade]

Of course it's worth scouting the lower leagues. Spurs have recently done well with Ali and others have done well and others did well with the likes of Jagielka, Naughton and Walker. Ok, they were not in the bottom division but they were in divisions below where their respective teams were playing at the time. If they are good enough and available then sign them, if they are not, then don't, it doesn't mean its not worth looking.

 

[Pollingtonblade]

WTF is there in league two that's remotely as good as what we already have. Even more so good enough to come with us up to the championship level if we get there. Clearly McNulty is about the best player in that league at the moment. That is dare I say the same McNulty that cannot even get on our bench. League 2 players or keep the cash, I know which I would do if it was my cash.

So according to your logic Jamie Vardy wouldn't have been at Leicester and we'd never have signed Brian Deane?

 

[1danewhitehouse]

You aren't, so you can't. You watched Oxford at the weekend. Do you think that you are a good virtual scout?

If people are only allowed to suggest players if they have the time and resource to fully scout them, we might as well remove the “Player Suggestion” icon.



Roofe is young, has a bit of pace and has been earning rave reviews for Oxford all season and scoring a fair few goals. So it’s perfectly reasonable that fans might think he could potentially be a good signing for us. At this point, it’s one to hand over to scouts to watch him more regularly, assess his strengths and weaknesses, personality type etc. and decide whether the club wants to invest in him.


I think there is value to be had in league 2 but it’s about catching young players on their way up through the leagues and admittedly, most won’t be the finished article straight away.


Others who seem to have caught the eye in League 2 recently are


Nicholls (Exeter)- Striker

Windass (Accrington)- Attacking midfielder (I think)

Pierre (Wycombe)- Centre half

Carey (Plymouth)- Left winger (but right footed)

Chaplin (Portsmouth)- Winger/Striker

Nelson (Plymouth)- Centre half (and their captain despite being about 22).


These are players that seem to be worth monitoring further though I’m sure there will be a couple more.


I suggested Azeez from Wimbledon on the rumour forum the other week. I must confess I’ve seen little of him except on highlights but he scored a goal where he showed incredible pace making up a huge head start on a defender to reach a ball over the top. He’s young, looks a decent size and would surely be cheap. That suggests he has the physical attributes to have a chance of making it.


Another player I’ve liked for a while is John Llundstram. He was an Everton academy player (though we’ve not had much luck with them). He was with Donny when they last got promoted but has struggled to really kick on since then. He was in the same England youth team as the likes of Harry Kane, Ross Barkley, John Stones, Eric Dier etc. When I’ve seen him, he has looked like a midfielder who can really dictate the play (think Richie Wellens, Kevin McDonald etc.). He’s around 6 foot, 21 years old and signed for Oxford this summer having turned down a contract extension at Everton and has impressed for them. Oxford could be tempted by the opportunity to make a quick profit on a freebie summer signing.


I wouldn’t bother with journeymen having a decent season like Rueben Reid, Jake Jervis, Marc Richards etc. The only more experienced players that would tempt me are some of Orient’s. Players like Cox, Simpson etc.

 

[1danewhitehouse]

Also, Liam Serecombe seems to be having a good season at Oxford having scored 9 from midfield. But being 25 and having spent his entire career at Exeter so far, I would have to wonder if he is a one season wonder.

 

[1danewhitehouse]

Which are the better players we are getting out priced on and who are the better players we are being beaten to?

I think the OP is probably alluding to players who have already been snapped up from this league (Byrne, Coady, Agard, Ayling, Little, Flint, Freeman, Daniel Johnson etc.) and those that are now likely to attract interest from the championship or higher (Dack, Morsy etc.)

 

[Grappler]

If I was in a position to be able to I would.

York, Mansfield and Notts County are not too far away, you could start your scouting career with those three?

 

[BushBlade]

Of course it's worth scouting the lower leagues. Spurs have recently done well with Ali and others have done well and others did well with the likes of Jagielka, Naughton and Walker. Ok, they were not in the bottom division but they were in divisions below where their respective teams were playing at the time. If they are good enough and available then sign them, if they are not, then don't, it doesn't mean its not worth looking.

I think six of Posh's players came from non league and so did a few of their previous sides, some of who went on to bigger things.

If we can't get L1 players then you can argue that it's better to sign lower league players in this window to bed them in for next season. Or wait until the next window to sign L1 players.
That's something the board and NA should be discussing; the way forward, our strategy and our funding. Do we continue to sign players from higher league on frees with high wages or do we spend our money on transfer fees for L1 players and below who will command lower wages? Or both, and if so, what kind of balance.

 

[1danewhitehouse]

I think six of Posh's players came from non league and so did a few of their previous sides, some of who went on to bigger things.

If we can't get L1 players then you can argue that it's better to sign lower league players in this window to bed them in for next season. Or wait until the next window to sign L1 players.
That's something the board and NA should be discussing; the way forward, our strategy and our funding. Do we continue to sign players from higher league on frees with high wages or do we spend our money on transfer fees for L1 players and below who will command lower wages? Or both, and if so, what kind of balance.

Correct re Peterborough. Craig Mackail Smith, Dwight Gayle, Lee Tomlin, Aaron McClean, George Boyd. All signed from non-league clubs. Shows there are bargains to be had.

John Still has an excellent track record in that regard discovering Mackail Smith, Gayle, Andre Gray, Mark Cullen etc. all from non-league football.

 

[PeteBlade]

WTF is there in league two that's remotely as good as what we already have. Even more so good enough to come with us up to the championship level if we get there. Clearly McNulty is about the best player in that league at the moment. That is dare I say the same McNulty that cannot even get on our bench. League 2 players or keep the cash, I know which I would do if it was my cash.

Have you just written off an entire league of players?

How utterly ridiculous.

They're will, 100%, be players in that league that would improve us.

 

[Reedy1889]

Dean Cox - he would walk into our team as he would every other league one side's too. However him not leaving Orient whilst having had many chances to makes me question his ambition, can't fault his loyalty mind.

Other's off the top of my head worth looking at,

Aaron Pierre, Kemar Roofe, Callum O'Dowda (if he is still there), Tom Nichols.

No doubt there is more out there too.