The Hotel End

Who would you buy in the summer? Providing we don't lose any of the contracted squad we currently have. From the loan players I would sign up John Marquis and Danny Rose, let Luke Prosser and James Collins leave. Then would look to sign a new centre back, maybe Tafazoli from Mansfield? He'd be a quality addition. I'd then sign another midfielder and striker.

I hope that we retain the services of Holmes, O Toole and Smith. This is the key to recruitment policy by adding quality to some very good players.
Contracts are of varying value dependant on the strength of the chairman as we've seen with undisclosed fees etc.

I'd like to see a mobile target man, centre mid and some quality dancing girls

Saw an article on the Chron website earlier today, Holmes has said he will be here next season, I reckon we will be able to keep John-Joe, the main worry is Adam Smith

Love it  ;D

Me with a wig on will have to do  :-*

Read earlier that Holmes has stated he will be with us next year. I will try to find the link.

Ta da..

http://www.northamptonchron.co.uk/sport/football/happy-holmes-commits-to-cobblers-as-he-says-i-will-be-here-next-season-1-7350787

IMO the key is to keep most of the first 11 together added with a few additions, even if we do lose the manager!

If he gets released now, he'll look a bit stupid.









Can't see that happening though.

As always money talks whether that be with a speculative transfer bid or the offer of a big increase in wages. Everyone has their price.

Here's hoping that's not the case and a good wage and a happy (Appeh) footballer means he'll stay.
Resist or at least get the right level of return.

He couldn't get released anyway, he has a year left on his contract  ;)

as ive said before, we need some extra pace throughout the team / squad.

if he can get them, a more mobile centre half, centre midfielder and a couple of pacy forwards.

i would let collins go for sure, and marquis if there is a better option out there.

other than that, keep the core of the squad together..............prosser, collins, corry, hackett and horwood all on their way..................and maybe clarke / cresswell if they want first team football.

From the article it sounds like he isn't actively seeking a move (although his agent probably is, or at least a pay rise) but if a big Championship club comes in for him I'm sure he will be off. I hope he will be here next season, as is the same with all our big players.

Targets for the summer is simple, someone who is better than we have or gives us options to play a different way!

On what basis?  We did okay with our current level of pace surely?

I think pace is definitely needed. This year we haven't really needed it because most teams have shown us an enormous amount of respect and sat quite deep leaving no space for pacey players. This season our attack has been mainly focused on using the creativity of players to unlock defences. I can think of several occasions this season where teams have come to Sixfields and camped with 10 men behind the ball to frustrate us. I anticipate that next year will be different. I envisage a lot more teams pushing up and pressing higher but ultimately leaving the space in behind. It will be vital that we have the pace to exploit this.
Combine that with the fact that players generally (not always) tend to be quicker the further up the leagues you go, added pace is a must.

dont know if you have noticed, but we have gone up a league.

we struggled against pace this season - we will struggle more next season.

as we are both in league one next season, i will use MK dons away as the example, where one of the stand out differences in the teams was the pace they had compared to us.

i would say its the only thing we havent got in our current squad, no one is blessed with pace - none of players can go past others and stay past them - best bet is holmes who beats someone, then jumps into them to win free kicks.

Thanks for that, I had absolutely no idea we'd be playing at a higher level next year.

I'd personally argue we need to be better rather than quicker but each to their own.

In ability there is little between them, pace is the main difference (aside from consistency) the higher up you go: speed of thought, actions and of foot .

Id like us to look at someone like Lyle Taylor if wimbledon fail to get promoted, the lad has bags of pace, strong and know where the goal is and would compliment the likes of Rico up top.

Do you even go to games ?

I think we should get rid of the entire squad and replace them all with better players.

I want pace, strength, resilience and quality in all areas of the park. Where we have pace, I want lightning. Where we have strength, I want steroid fuelled hunks of meat. Where we have resilience,I want more resilience. Where we already have quality, I want premier league.


My shopping list:

Bayo
Adebayor
Hernandez
Tozer

only MK dons away, i prefer away games when its not just the regulars and "real" fans, i like it when the atmosphere isn't as good as people are incapable of buying tickets together and need to hold someones hand in order to join in the singing.

for me, when there is hardly anyone there and they are all singing it just isnt as good.

There is a strong possibility that being quicker would result in us being better.

Ahem... (http://futhead.cursecdn.com/static/img/13/players/199979.png)

Be realistic crowman.

Yea.. ...probably out or our reach  :-[  I did hear he still had a base in the UK so maybe one day... we can dream  ;)

I honestly believe we struggled against no one this season - only when our team failed to perform to their potential (which happens at every club). I personally wouldn't say pace has been a particular weakness at all.

My personal shopping list:
Better centre back than what we currently have to partner Concrete
Better centre mid than what we have to partner JJ
Better/younger striker than Richards (very tough, I know)
Being greedy - someone better than D'ath... but would love to keep D'ath and see how he develops. Definitely a very useful player.

With regards to the current players we have; that Holmes interview shows how much the players are enjoying this season and it shows with the player/fan interaction at the end of games. I will not be surprised to see Smith signing a 3 year contract with suitable release clauses. How Wilder likes to manage, I expect a few of the younger players being given contract extensions.

are you saying that those 4 new additions dont need to have pace?

Rob Hall's pace terrorised Buchanan all night in that replay at MK.

Better player than Holmes...

Exactly what I was going to say earlier before my bus caught me on the hotelend.

A player of his pace to replace Martin.

With D'ath I think Martins continual selection effected him. He seems like a confidence player rather than one that reacts to competition.

Obviously they have to be faster than the likes of myself, they're professional athletes. But I would say, if a player is good enough... they do not need to be lightening quick. Derek Asamoah or Marc Richards?

Eric Sabin or Clive Platt?

You know, I was reading a few posts yesterday from the start of the season. It really struck me how almost everyone wrote of McDonald as a non league carthorse.
I could provide quotes, but I suspect you all know what was said.
Perhaps we should not be as hasty to judge any young new recruits next season?

Platt scored 6 in 37, Sabin 13 in 57. We can do better than them both surely?

Our best forwards in past decade:

Mcgleish
Bayo
Richards

Quality > Pace

;)

I still remember the time on a Tuesday night when Bayo thundered back to intercept a nippy left wing back (east stand side) and caught him ,took the ball off him then went on the attack himself. It got the biggest cheer that particular evening. It didn't happen that often but he had every available after burner fully (beast mode) on, on that occasion.  :P 

I remember that too. I felt an overwhelming urge to shout "Look behind you" to the player, as you might someone about to be flattened by a bus.
I also remember when he fell on a unfortunate left back, (Wycombe?) who left the field looking as if he was auditioning to play Richard III.

Another I think would be worth looking at is Dan Holman, although with Cheltenham coming up it may be difficult.

Unproven at this level but still young and a local lad too.

Would love to see Dan at the Cobblers next season  but Holman is contracted to Colchester and was only on loan at Cheltenham. so i am guess they may use him next season since their relegation. 

Holman's impressive form on loan at Woking, scoring 14 goals in 26 appearances, drew attention from other clubs, and he signed for National League leaders Cheltenham Town on 5 January 2016 on a six-month contract with a view to an extended deal in the summer

http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/35235722

Signed for Cheltenham in January, depends on how his contract extension would work.

I remember this , it was hilarious.

Great play by Bayo - never seen so many people laugh and cheer at the same time.

I remember jumping around like we had scored  ;D ;D

Have you actually seen him play as apparently he flopped at Colchester! You give me the impression that you have done so?

However good bayo was for us the fact is as soon as we were no longer reliant on him we have got promoted.
He was a good player for the cobblers but made us one dimensional.
Only now without him have we progressed as a team.
Sad but true.
It should never be forgotten that in hindsight he was the polish on a shiny turd.
Top player/fans favourite but failed to get us promoted(albeit singlehandedly).
Il never forget his time at ntfc but can't help thinking that it's now been tarnished by the club improving for his absence.
Mind you when the club was on its arse he showed that he really cared for us by auctioning his shirt etc.
Arguments about his legacy aside he was a TOP,TOP bloke as well as a decent player and we were lucky to have him at the time!

BAYO LOVE-IN ALERT.!!.....  WRIGLEY's -  PLEASE DO NOT READ......IT WILL STRESS YOU OUT!!!
Anyone remember that match a few years ago when Stuart Gray was manager and we were winning 4-0 at home when we were awarded a penalty.
We had a young blonde laddie on loan from someone (Leicester?) whose name escapes me but who was of similar appearance to Billy McKay. He had already scored 2 goals on his debut and he went to pick the ball up thinking he was going to complete his hatrick.
Bayo being the designated penalty taker, he waddled over to the young laddie (in that John Wayne style of his) and calmly took the ball off him like taking Candy from a baby. Even though Bayo had only been in town for less than a season (I think?) he had already made a BIG impression and was already an icon, so upon seeing our Icon throwing his weight around like this, everyone boo-ed loudly as Bayo was walking back to the penalty spot with the ball under his arm..... (It was only a light hearted "Boo" as everyone was laughing at the same time, how comical it looked him ripping the ball off the little lad, and stopping him getting a hatrick on his debut)

As Bayo reached the penalty spot, the booing finally got to him and, shaking his head, he magnanimously turned and tossed the ball to the laddie, thus allowing him to score, and complete his hatrick.

As everyone realised what he (Bayo) was doing, the booing turned to riotous cheering, and a legend was built/born.

I have never seen anything like this before or since, and I suspect never will again.
Stuart Gray was annoyed in his Post match interview (despite us winning 5-1) as he said Bayo should just have got on with it and taken the penalty, as he was the penalty taker!!
It summed Bayo and his personality up, and why he was such a great player. (And 75 goals in just over 140 starts don't lie, do they?!)
He just wanted to be loved/liked, by his team mates, aswell as the fans.
His play was almost always totally unselfish.
This made it all the more frustrating as to why Boothroyd took such an instant disliking to him when the short arse arrived.
I vowed after how Bayo was treated in the play off final that I wouldn't attend another match until Boothroyd was fired, and luckily that didn't take very long.....so I could go back to following the Cobblers home and away.

On another occasion, Bayo also texted me at 10.30pm at night, after scoring the winning goal in a Saturday pm match, to dedicate his goal to my father and wish him all the best for his op,  (Dad was about to have an imminent triple heart bypass) and Steve Riches had kindly arranged for us to meet Bayo and have a chat and photos with him before that match.
How many premier league stars can you think of who would have the same compassion and empathy to remember to text a lowly fan as Bayo did when he got back to his family home in London?!

A Great man..... and I suspect a great Dad to his growing posse of kids!  :)

I am sorry Shoemaker, as on occasions you do talk some sense ;)   (And you already know I have an empathy for your situation) ...but almost everything you typed above is complete and utter rubbish and I can only suspect you may have been drinking?!!

"he was the polish on a shiny turd.."    ...... 75 goals in just over 140 starts (and I suspect even more assists than that) represents a 1 in 2 strike rate over several seasons. This is far and away the best striking I have seen since the mid eighties when I started watching the Cobs...... I don't hear of many folks calling Alan Shearer or Gary Lineker "polish on shiny turds", and they had similar strike rates?!?!?

"He was a good player for the cobblers but made us one dimensional."  ???   .... Bayo didn't make us one dimensional.....Aidy short-arse Boothroyd flippin did!!?!?? His insistence on playing the 37 year old Clive Platt upfront alongside Bayo, or more crucially, the absence of ANY pacy, nippy, mobile players around Bayo to run beyond him and around him, and to complement his superb hold up play but undoubted lack of pace, and Boothroyds style of hoofing long diagonal balls up to Bayo, all stopped us playing any decent, counter attacking football. Bayo had the best first touch of any Cobblers striker I have seen, and when the ball was played in to him to feet, or to chest height or below, he retained the ball 99% of the time and developed the play superbly.
When Stuart Gray and Ian Sampson were manager, they both played a more mixed style of play, with a smattering of more speedy, nippy and mobile players, which brought the best out of the team, and out of Bayo.

How ludicrous to state that the success of Chris Wilders team of 2016 reflects badly in any way whatsoever on Bayo?!?! Every single one of the players we have now, Chris Wilder has brought in. It has nothing to do with Bayo whatsoever?!? 
Do you not think that if you transplanted a Bayo of 5-6 years ago into this current team, he would find it nigh on impossible to score less than 30 goals in the season?!?

"as soon as we were no longer reliant on him we have got promoted."  HAHAHAHA!!!  ;D   Oh, so being a great player is now a negative?!? And I think you will find that it took slightly more than simply "getting rid" of Bayo for us to get promoted this season?!?!?!
Maybe you also think Bayo was responsible for our failure under Gary Johnson?!?

The biggest single reason we have just won the league is Chris Wilder.
He has recruited players that fit his system and style of play and he has managed them and motivated them and coached them into the team they are now.

It isn't Bayo's fault that we have won the league now?!?
By your reckoning......If Alexis Sanchez leaves Arsenal at the end of this season, and they sack Arsene Wenger and replace him with Diego Simeone, and he replaces the entire squad with his own players over the next 2-3 years and then Arsenal go on to win the Premier league, does that make it purely Alexis Sanchez's fault that they didn't win the league when he was there??!?! Does that make him a rubbish player?!? What happens to a team several years after a player has left, and managers have been changed, has absolutely NOTHING to do with how good a player he was when he was there.

Bayo left several years ago after being told at Xmas by DC that he "would never play for the club again, so he might aswell look for another club and leave before the transfer window shut" - AB had (allegedly) asked DC to tell Bayo this, since he didn't have the minerals to tell him himself....an interview with Bayo was posted on youtube explaining this, several months after he was released by AB)
And all this despite Bayo being top scorer in the league at Xmas with (I think?) 17 goals or so?
Not surprisingly, Bayo seemed to stop scoring then, and I think he only scored another 1 goal until the end of the season, despite getting us into the play offs and getting somewhere near back to his best in the last few matches he played.
To be dropped in the play off final, despite almost single handedly dragging your team mates there, and to be replaced by someone who was 37 and with a torn calf muscle, and who was by his own admission "only 30% fit" (Platt) and who hadn't run, trained, or kicked a ball in 8 weeks, must have absolutely shattered Bayo.
Being such a proud man, that must have really, really hurt, like a kick in the nuts.
He knew AB disliked him from the start, and after all he had been told to leave at Xmas.....so he knew the Play off final was going to be his last Cobblers match.
The Bradford players were buoyed hugely by the team news, the Cobblers players looked confused and bewildered even during the warm up, as to why their manager seemed to be trying to sabotage their one and only hope of getting promoted, and 25,000 Cobblers fans gasped in unison as the teams were announced, when they realised that their day out, their optimism, and the hundreds of pounds on tickets had been totally wasted before a ball had even been kicked.....

I will shut up now.
 ;D

Was it Billy Clarke ?

The Leicester but makes it sound like Craig King but I don't think he scored a hatrick.

Billy Clarke did on his début I think.

What a nice gesture by Bayo to give him the ball for his hatrick  ;D ;D ;D ;D

Wrigleys is going to blow a gasket.

Bayo was a top player and his goal to game ratio was superb.

However we are a better team without him.

Good for us (at the time) good for him ( at the time)
We've moved on. He's moved on.
Nothing special or scientific.

He brought goals, raised his and our profile. Thank you

Thanks!!  I think you are right, Billy Clarke, that was him!

We are a much better team now because we have better, faster and more skilful players pretty much all over the pitch, and a top manager to boot....you make it sound like the fact we didn't have those things years ago was all Bayo's fault?! (he wasn't the manager at the time!?!)  :P

Agreed. In the 2013/2014 season we didn't have Bayo and we were shocking all season, gaining survival on the last day. Let's not pretend we haven't had poor seasons without him. 

Played with him... and seen him plenty of times on the TV this season. His goal scoring record is not bad either!  ;)

OK but why did Col U get shot of him?
Tips hat to one poster in the know 8)

Luke Norris is out of contract at Gillingham at the end of this season. Not played that many games for them this season. He was excellent during his spell with us. Never understood why Boothroyd dropped him randomly. Would love to see him back here, would take him over Marquis.

Gillingham fan at my work says Norris has a bit of an attitude problem and lacks work ethic.

Sometimes players don't click at certain clubs.....

Some Times a player needs to drop down to Non-league as a kick up the arse so they realise they are blowing their dream, just look at Vardy or Steve Morrison to a lesser extent

A fantastic and very well written post, BN!

Maybe but after the first two para's dozed off.

ha ha point taken

JJ Hooper being one. Can't believe he is playing at a higher level than some players in this division. I was aware he had it in him to find the back of the net but never applied himself.

I would like to see us sign Tariq Fosu on loan, he has been doing well at accrington.

Football manager last year I had him on loan for three seasons and then brought him as we reached the prem. Qualified for the champions league and he got premier league player of the year.

Scoring over a 100 goals form left wing in 5 seasons.

On the back of that, me as manager if Wilder leaves :D :D :D

You are not a General for nothing!

Id imagine it would be an ego fuelled almighty f*** up of Gary Johnson proportions.  ;D ;D

I just Wikipedia'd JJ Hooper to see how he was getting on and saw he made his debut for us, replacing Danny Emerton. Surely one of the most forgetable Cobblers ever - I had to check his Wikipedia page to make sure it wasn't an error, and was amazed that he made 16 appearances for us. I must have been asleep...

My priority signing would be Matt Green at Mansfield. He is mobile, skillfull and has a bit of attitude.
Centre half I have always been impressed with Aaron Pierre at Wycombe, again with a bit of attitude which when managed properly is a bonus.

Quality player, suspect bigger clubs might come knocking though.

Came to us with a rep of unforfilled potenial, seemed hell bent on continuing that. Garbage.

On the other side of the coin, players possibly leaving, Saturday was the first time I've heard any rumours. Over heard a chap a couple of seats away (I don't know him personally but I think a few will) say Spurs are showing an interest in Adam Smith.

Luton trying to tie down pelly ruddock mpanzu after enquiries from MK and Northampton.

Pierre will be in the £500,000 bracket. Green's cruciate ligament injury means he is a lot slower than he was previously.

Hope not, I thought he was dreadful last week. Was disappointed that he was subbed off.

I thought he was their best player by a country mile, big strong, impressive turn of pace. Not frighten to be direct. I said to my dad on sat, ge would be someone worth a 2nd look at to bring in. I know he is rated highly at Luton tho.

Spot on! I thought Buchy handled him fairly well. However would def like him or a couple of players in a similar mould for next season.

Another striker worth looking at would be Jay Simpson?

Had a reasonably good season and has scored goals at a higher level.

A good age at 27 too, would depend on cost obviously.

Smith only plays for champions.

I also though Mpanzu was one of the best opposition players I've seen all years as well - Piggot should have buried the inch perfect cross he put in after beating Bucahanan for pace and strength. Obviously one game does not tell his overall quality of course.

He is very injury prone which is a negative.
Good player if you can keep him fit.
Costly one if he's never on the pitch.

Watching Pompy v Argle tonight former cobblers target J Matt looks the type of striker that would fit in well to our system.

I read somewhere that Matt is out of contract in the summer so he's in the shop window

Would not be a bad option if he could stay fit.

Would prefer someone with experience higher up the leagues if we could.

Boothroyd was after Matt a few years ago but it was rumoured paid around 100k for him. He is out of contract there so would be happy to see him sign up, has had injury issues though. Need a forward with pace as well though as think we will have to play on the break a few times more next season.

DCL should be the first signing. Pace, aerial ability, decent scoring record, fantastic temperament. Should have been kept on. Youngest ever player to score in all 4 competitions for Cobblers at 18 years 265 days. As for Matt, we won't be able to match Plymouth re wages if they go up.

Wilder won't sell him to us surely!?

Possibly depends on whether he comes calling for one of ours!
KT: "You want Buchs? £300,000 plus DCL. That will do nicely."

Or even DCL on loan for the year. As an aside Ivan Toney has been on loan to a league 1 club this year. However, if you look at the goals per game for Marquis and Collins you can't argue against them. So Hoskins, Richards plus two from DCL, Toney, Marquis and Collins would be pretty decent.

BBC gossip page say City are after Danny Rose

City?

Man City.  Get him signed up quick.

Not even gonna bite on that one.

There won't be any targets until we have a manager!

More concerned that CW will want our younger players, McDonald , Lelan, D'ath etc. I would have thought they would be easier to fit in with his current squad there and look to bring them on

He can have D'Ath, was quite disappointing this season after promising a lot the year before he was on par with Holmes at times, hopefully kicks on next year.

Another vote for DCL here if Wilder will let us.

Although Emile Heskey is now available.....  :o

He make David "the tree" Plat look mobile  :o

Do you mean Clive?

Dear oh dear great one you could at least get his name 75% correct.

You know it's summer when the local paper and our club site start drip-feeding single KT interview as six daily updates. We're not daft!

Sign that our club is being run properly and everyone is behind KT imo - that there are no leaks I mean.

Remember under DC everyone knew everything before it was announced.

Whoops sorry Evers / Hallam that's what happens when you are in a Livemeeting and typing on here.
Sir Clive indeed.

Wouldn't mind any of these 3, especially Watkins. But seems somewhat unrealistic to me ...

http://tbrfootball.com/would-these-three-clever-signings-ensure-northampton-towns-league-1-survival/4/

Must do better Marvo Man04 ;)

Those types of articles are garbage to be fair. They just pick random players and try to justify how they'd fit.

Nobody would want an unseemly rush in the appointment for our new manager, however they will need to fashion our squad to suit their ambition even tho' wholesale changes would be madness, and for that reason I'd expect an appointment to be announced in days rather than weeks. There's a lot of work to be done.

A J Leitch Smith and the return of JJ Hooper >:D

As I said to Barton Cobbler at the end of season dinner.....

Pretty awful article - the article seems to imply that Hector was sent on loan to Reading because things weren't working out at Chelsea when really he just got loaned back to them as part of the transfer deal. Also, pretty unrealistic to expect him from getting regular football in the championship to playing for a newly promoted league one side.

With that being said, Kyel Reid is a great shout. I still remember him tearing us apart in the playoff final three years ago and if Holmes did end up being taken by Wilder or anyone else then he'd be a great replacement.

Ref. AJ Leitch Smith
No thankyou.. We need more pace the higher up the leagues we go, and from watching him play against us for Crewe a few times, he was one of Crewe's slower players, and from what I remember, was so left sided/footed, he could barely stand on his right leg!  ;) 

With Rico now being assistant, think it will massivley increase the chances if Rose and Marquis staying. 

Rose defiantly, Marquis not bothered about, I think there are better strikers we could attract now in L1

Totally agreed, AJ leitch smith does not fit the bill. He has not pushed on since Crewe and probably wont improve further.

i agree - i think we need to set our sights higher than marquis to be honest. he works hard, but i expect everyone to do that.............he isnt enough of a goal threat.

currently, we just have rico and hoskins - so need a minimum of 2 options there.

I wouldn't be against Collins, his goals per minute ratio is pretty decent. But then we need another top end striker as Collins and Hoskins are excellent squad players but we need cover for Rico as he might only play 50% of the games.

Agreed. I rate Collins a lot. His performances tailed off slightly after his antics at the races, but prior to that he was a real threat in front of goal and he's a hard worker. Sign him on!

He's contracted for another year at Shrews so guessing we would need to pay, unless they are happy to end his contract early.

I'd have thought mutual termination may be possible judging by Micky Mellon's comments when he joined us on loan. It appeared as though Collins had been offloaded to free up funds for a new direction, a direction which Collins will more than likely not be part of.   

I think the issue is they (Shrewsbury) believed he was out of contract at the season-end but seemingly a number of appearances triggered an extension that had been overlooked.  So he's now a (potentially) saleable asset for Shrewsbury rather than a free agent as they were expecting.

http://www.shropshirestar.com/sport/shrewsbury-town-fc/2016/03/25/james-collins-has-another-year-at-shrewsbury/

They didn't seem ecstatic they discovered the extra year in his contract. 

This is a good point. I suppose the problem may lie with how much they'd want for him though. I assume he must be on some pretty decent wages at Shrewsbury if he was used to free up significant funds and the last thing they'll want is to have a high earner just sitting on the bench. He is a good player, but I wouldn't have thought many clubs would fork out much for him right now. I guess he'll be given a chance to see if he can impress at Shrewsbury before they make any rash decision. I would certainly be happy to see him back at Sixfields though, providing it didn't cost us a fortune.

Choices to stay at the Shrews as one of their higher earners but maybe not in favour or leave for a new contract at possibly lower money but longer term stability of f securing a 2/3 year deal.

If Shrewsbury don't want him they could agree a settlement and let him walk or hold out for a transfer fee whilst paying his wages.

He'll score goals no doubt and is still in his mid 20s. Happily see him join permanently.

Can't see Shrews wanting a fee for him if we offered to take him off they wage bill.

I would prefer Marquis over Collins.

Glass half empty  ;D

Me too. Contribute more in terms of work rate and movement IMO. Wilder seemed to have come to that conclusion towards the end of the season to.

For me, these are the players we need:

- Centre back with a reasonable level of pace. (I'm not a huge fan of Prosser - felt he got bullied too easily at Stevenage). I'd be quite happy if we started the season with Rod and Diamond,  but this signing would provide some competition
- Attacking midfielder/playmaker who can play in a three with Holmes and Adams. Key signing if we're going to keep playing 4-2-3-1.
- Rico back up: Marquis.
- Pacey striker with the strength to play a a lone striker if required.

Ensuring that we keep Holmes, O'Toole and Smith is Page's biggest priority.
 

Obviously a game of opinions but Diamond isn't cut to be a regular in League 1. Not if we are aiming to stay up anyway, not bad back up but we need somebody stronger. Agreed on Prosser was disappointed in him was expecting a lot better.

Sorry to sound like a stuck record (or CD) but DCL. Ticks all the boxes.

Hardly figured at SU in L1 so may not be good enough for us. It's not as if he was at a Championship Club!

He's a teenager with pace, power and great aerial ability. Considering that the SU manager was being criticised for his selections and tactics, DCL's lack of starts shouldn't be held against him. I'd be happy to have Furlong back as well.

Furlong perhaps but against us he was found wanting ! if DCL was good as you think he would have made it at SU - they are only a L1 mid table side! At the end of the day based on last seasons form; no better or as good with what we have already.

You don't think Chris Wilder might like him and see him as a solid part of his Sheffield United squad? Considering he's the one who signed him for us, I suspect he might be a fan.

- Aaron PIERRE (Wycombe Centre Back)
- Lyle TAYLOR (Wimbledon Winger/Striker)
- John MARQUIS (Two year deal)
- Danny ROSE (One year deal)
- Rob HALL (Winger - FREE AGENT having been released by Bolton. Previously at MK DONS and ripped apart Bucs in FA Cup fixture)
- John AKINDE (Barnet Striker - 23 goals and 8 assists this season, 33 goals last season with Barnet in National League)

Who is going to pay for the transfer fees for Pierre, Taylor and Akinde?

I agree that Rob Hall would be a good pick up on a free, not sure we would be looking to pay out the big bucks (to us) for any of the others mentioned.

Unless Smith is sold and then we would have some pennies to play with.

Any old timers released and would be happy doing a job lower down the leagues that people would be happy with?

Shaquille O'neal of course...  :-*

Rob hall is a no go as he had an acl injury in April which can take up to a year to recover from.
It's a shame for him as he's a decent player and is now without a club.
I wonder how this works regards who picks up the bills now for his rehab?
I'd imagine he would have had insurance but you never know.
The only whisper I have is that a port vale supporting friend assures me that it is nailed on that page will sign Louis Dodds much to his disgust!
Personally I think it's poor form to raid your old club.

I have heard the Dodds one mentioned too and shoey he is out of contract, so far game as far as I'm concerned, as its unlikely he would stay with vale anyway on reduced terms.

I would be looking for upper league experience in signings, people who gave been there done it before and done well. Its one thing wilder got spot on in league 2, assembling a squad for players with individuals who had already had experience of being promoted.

Key positions assuming we keep the current squad together. A centre half with pace, who I a good talker and leader and a goal scoring forward to come in for Rico when he needs resting or inevitably gets injured. Plus some quality squad players.

Why do people keep suggesting we have old loan players back? We have a new manager now so chances are he will wish to bring his own players in, not sign players the previous manager had on loan.

BAYO BAYO BAYO

Was Bayo on loan under the previous manager? ;D

A good player is a good player, irrespective of the manager who signed him first.

I was speaking to a mate of mine who does quite a bit of scouting up and down the country - he's seen port vale a few times this season and no one really stood out except for Sam foley who plays left midfield

We can obviously learn a lot from what Chris Wilder did. If you want a side good enough to get out of League 2, sign the majority of your players from League 1. So, to challenge at the right end of League 1, we nee to be looking at players out of favour in the Championship or a couple of Premier League season loans or players released from Premier League clubs. I think we already have a number of players already of this level in Holmes, Smith, Buchanan, O'Toole, Richards (when fit) and hopefully Rose. The rest I think can all hold their own in League 1, so if we can add 3 or 4 players of this caliber to go into the first team we will be at the right end of League 1

We have a number of players out of contract, so this money can be put towards these new players, plus, worst case scenario any money in for player sales and the wages saved here.

Prosser
Corry
Hackett
Horwood
Lelan

Good post, spot on we need to be signing players from the Championship, Not the likes of Collins and Marquis who cant get a game in L1 for their respective parent clubs!

Neil Kilkenny, now out of contract and let go by PNE, a former team-mate of Buchanan, is a very calming and experienced midfielder; he doesn't score very many goals though.

Not all players needs to be goal scorer.

I fully buy into the argument about signing the best players possible, I know that is an obvious statement!

Marquis, Collins, Prosser weren't good enough for teams in League 1. We should aim as high as possible with our targets.

Retained list out very soon anyway. We'll know in the next few minutes!

Nicky Maynard has rejected their contract offer at Donkeys...

If MK can't keep hold of him we have no chance.

MK are in freefall, won't be long until they hit the bottom...

Shame Billy Kee signed that new contract in March, with Accrington not following us up we could have had a chance at grabbing him maybe?

They didn't play him enough, he would be ideal for this division...

I agree, which is why I think a bigger, better team will come in for him (Coventry after losing Adam Armstrong?). His wages would be colossal at this level.

Not good enough I don't think. Personal opinion of course!

People suggesting we should be signing Championship quality players who are 'much better' than Marquis are in la la land. Has our budget suddenly doubled in size or something? We won promotion not the EuroMillions.

Not only should we sign much better players, they should be good at kicking balls. Specifically in nets or too other players wearing claret shirts.

Out of shape as well. As are a few of the Accy players, that's what cost them in extra time the other night. Imo.
The left back, was the size of a house!

Simon Cox has been released.. or 7 years too late?

We want to sign people on the way up not on the way down. Just like our new manager.

What is everybody's opinion on Richards? I actually think he's very overrated by us, good player but not as good as people think. Let's see how he does in League 1 but I'm sorry to say I don't think he's good enough to lead the line this season

I saw the game and have to agree with you.  The Wimbledon players looked lean while Accrington's looked fat in the face.

Apart from Bayo of course!

Exceptional center forward, one of the very best we've had in recent times.

Wasn't quite at his best last year but still scored nearly 20 goals despite injuries.

Probably past his best but still has a lot to offer.

I think his underated this year if anything. I'm not sure it's coincidence that his injury coincided fairly close to the end of that rediculous winning run and the start of our more indifferent form towards the end of the season. Certaintly not scoring as many goals, but would win a lot of balls when we went back to front and disrupted the defence a bit more effeciently that his replacements did.

Wilder's been on a rampage in Sheffield. Released 10 and transfer listed 7 (including Diego De Girolamo).
The one contract he has offered out is to a keeper.

...

You can carry 1 whose out of shape, but not 4or 5!

Looking at Sheffield united's retained list, it says that dean Hammond has activated his option to a permanent deal but in the next sentence it says that he has also been put on the transfer list - no mixed messages there from wilder!

Any decent players Baldo can bring from Vale?

Oh fu(k

Not surprised by some of his releases but thought he would have held on to Jose Baxter.

Very underrated by Cobblers fan, he is a solid 7 out of ten on a bad day, the fact we had so many outstanding contributions from other players in games was why he was ridiculously low down the POTS. Best centre forward in league 2 will probably get a goal every 200mins in league 1 also.

Rico touch and link olay is light years ahead of everyone else in the squad. I think he is a class act

Rico is a top quality lower league centre forward. It's not just what he does with the ball, it's the runs he makes and the positions he takes up that occupy defenders and make space for others coming through from midfield. I think a lot of the time that goes unnoticed because it doesn't "directly" affect the passage of play, which in turn means he doesn't get the credit he deserves.

If he can get fit and stay fit he'll still be a massive asset at this new level but obviously the older you get the harder it becomes to shrug off injury. As a leader of the squad and as an ambassador for the club he also has huge influence. When he's finished as a player I'd like to see him offered a role within the club.

Agree 100% with the last 2 posts. Hopefully, Rico will continue to be a top forward for us but injuries of the nature he has experienced are debilitating and so perhaps it is time for a combined player coach role for him once the new manager settles in.

You may be right. It's notable that despite having an outstanding goalkeeper and smashing the league by a mile, three teams conceded fewer goals than us. If we're going to be very picky and identify a weakness in this all-conquering team then perhaps centre back is it.   

Diamond is a very solid L2 centre back, but it remains to be seen if he has the pace and speed of thought needed to deal with the Billy Sharps of this world. Rod has excellent potential but will need to continue his development alongside an experienced pro. Cresswell will do a job for someone in L2, but lacks the mobility to deal with L1 forwards (which is presumably why Fleetwood let him go). Hopefully Page, as a former centre back, will identify this as an area in need of strengthening.


As for Rico, for me he's been a consistently excellent centre forward, but he isn't getting any younger and we're not going to get 46 game out of him. IMO we need to bring someone in who will provide genuine competition for him whilst also offering us something different off the bench i.e. pace and power.

I agree with others on DCL: he would be a great signing because he is equally at home in the three behind the striker or as a lone frontman. The only problem is that he now has a manager who is fully aware of what he's capable of. Perhaps if Wilder does come in for one of our big three, we might be able to get DCL in part exchange?

I'm chomping at the bit to see who Page is actually interested in, do we know if he has any good contacts from his playing days?

Simeon Jackson is on a free.
Maybe just what we need?

I doubt it, apparently he has been following the life of a Trappist monk observing a vow of silence for the past 20 years.

 :-X

Rumours that Nicky Adams will join Carlisle.

Looks like these stem from the fact that he followed Carlisle on Twitter, which could mean absolutely anything tbf.

Jonathan Woodgate?

No no no no

showed promise at R&D, did mediocre at Gillingham and since then 157 games - 24 goals

Adams joins Carlisle.

Speaking of Carlisle, they just released Derek Asamoah...

It's about the time of year I suggest Hólmbert Friðjónsson.

So..... Hólmbert Friðjónsson  ;D

Stanley Aborah might be a solid replacement for Adams?

What about that winger from Port Vale, Enoch Andoh?

We would never be able to get him, but Sylvan Distin would be an amazing signing to tutor Rod.

38 years old but was still rapid at 35 

According to a Crawley fan on thefootballforum, Charlton and us are in for their right footed winger who plays on the left, Gwion Edwards. He's Welsh so seems a good link to me....

The fan also said that he'd be easily good enough for league one.

I'm not having a go here this is a genuine question, but why is it only when a manager and player is from the same country outside of England do people draw a link? No one ever says 'Oh there's a good link between the player and manager because they're both English'.....

Reasonable question. I'm only guessing here that Rob Page may have an interest in watching his national team, and as a result may check out young talent.

Didn't expect an interrogation to be fair so wasn't prepared for that  ;D

Fair enough. Unfortunately though, if your source is a fan from Crawley Town, questioning or as you put it 'interrogation', is inevitable  :P 

It makes me laugh when fans complain on here about suggesting former players and telling others to "move on" when managers tend to bring in players they had before.

It's one of the major problems with the lower leagues I find, with manager turnover so high and managers wanting to bring in all their own players every club seems to have to rebuild every season.

As for rumours... heard we were interested in a Wimbledon attacking player but guess it will be after the play-off final that any more is heard.

BAYO?

Is that dependent on whether he starts in the final or not?

 ;D ;D Good point again! He does fit the criteria of players we might be looking at, so lets roll with it  :P

Why would we be interested in a winger from Crawley - A league 2 club, we are no longer in that division. We need to be looking at wingers from Coventry, Gillingham, Oldham etc surely if we want to progress.

So there are no good players below League One?  ::) I suppose if Jay Simpson became available, you wouldn't want to sign him because he's from a League Two club?

Remember when Leicester signed Jamie Vardy and Brentford signed Andre Gray? What were they thinking?

Gwion Edwards is a decent player, I'd be very happy with us signing him as he's an upgrade on Adams imo.

I can't decide if this is a wind up or not.

Gwion Edwards will have played for the Wales U21,  who are / were coached by a Mr R Page,  so i guess he might know a bit about him.

Didn't realize Page had coached Wales. When was this?

I thought I'd read this.

Crazy Cobbler, that is what I was getting at  :)  8)

I'm sure this is exactly what you meant  ;)

Sounds like he'd be good if we could get him, apparently Charlton and MK are interested who both would blow us out of the water in terms of wages.

Not everything comes down to money does it?  ...no... wait, this is football in 2016 we are discussing isn't it!  ;D

 ;D

Should imagine that might have gained you full entry to the exclusive "one liner" club.

Just heard we're in for Karl Halfalagerson from FC Baconburp

Gwion Edwards, Crawley's number 7 - I spent a lot of time watching this guy against us back in April during our game (we'd won the title by then!). He scored a great free-kick, but this was the ONLY thing IMO he excelled at. Was very surprised to learn he is a Welsh U-21 international, didn't look like he could be bothered.

Firstly, defensively he did not want to know. Holmes and Lelan were running rings round him down that side, only through the complete lack of effort Edwards showed to help his team mates. Seriously poor, it was like he'd never played football before at times. Going forward is a bit harder to dissect as Crawley offered nothing. We certainly didn't get troubled by him, though hard to tell when in a poor side. Remember his touch looked half decent.

If we were to even think about looking at him, his effort levels have to rise by 200%, as the way we play relies on that. Plus we see how the likes of similar current wide players put the effort in both ways, supporters appreciate that after seeing how far effort gets us.

Interesting comments which are hard not to disagree with! Having seen GE at the Crawley(a) game which their programme lauded him as a match winner; Sids comments are pretty accurate.

Still under contract for another year so if it's between us, MK & Charlton can't see us competing/getting involved in a bidding war...

Louis Dodds has opted to sign for Shrewsbury on a two year deal.

I wonder if the cobblers will have any players at Euro 2016???.....

             ;D ;D ;D ;D

Karl Anthony Uchechuckwu Mubiru

Trips off the tongue....

I'm sure someone will work out a chant if we sign him....

Would not say no to him, plus Page has worked with him before at Vale.

I am unimpressed.  11 goals in 72 appearances and looks like one of those gangly Victor the giraffe types.

I'm pretty sure I saw a winger heading into sixfields the other day..........

Mind you it could have been a sparky or plumber!

With more than our fair share of Scots, its going to be difficult...

Ikpeazu used to go to school with a guy who I lived with at Uni, one time he stole his lunch money.

Also have you seen the teams he played for? Crewe, Doncaster, Blackpool - Always played in struggling sides, can't really judge him off that

What can you judge him off then?

A stout target man, a real Tiger in the box who strikes like a Cobra, which is a Special Brew. He is a Bombardier in the front line and wins more aerial battles than a Spitfire. I Guiness he would be good player to draught into the squad over the summer, but I Vier that AZ Alkymaar are in for him.
Cheers

Surprised you missed these mostly Yankee Style Beers:

True Blonde Dubbel
Panty Peeler(Belgium)
Oaked Arrogant Bastard,

Suppose Coolcat has tried them all!

Probably think I'm Harping on and a bit of a Tartan but I am sure he would bring us a Trophy...

A youtube highlight reel...  ::)

What can you judge him from? Actually watching his matches like our scouts and management team do. I assume, like me, you haven't seen many of his games. I trust them to bring in the best players available within our budget. And if they take a risk on a young striker who's bagged a few goals in struggling teams then i'm all for it

They sound like my neighbours.

I typed Karl Anthony Uchechuckwu Mubiru in the search box on YouTube but no videos were found.  ;D

You assumed correctly , I have not seen him play but then I would wager that he hasn't seen me play either! I once scored 27 goals in a team that got relegated so do you feel I am in with a chance of a trial  :P I have still got my old shin pads made from leather and animal bones  8)

"We've got Uchechuckwu Mubiru, Karl Anthony Uchechuckwu Mubiru I just don't think you'll understand..."

Doesn't quite fit..

Just think about the letter sales in the club shop

Which is a shame - because I think this one actually DOES own a caravan.

And trying to get a song to fit?

If we are/were interested in a Wimbledon attacker (say lyle Taylor) I'm guessing that result will make it a lot harder

Yes, definitely. Although I've just heard an exclusive that Bayo is out of contract now.

The end of the game and the post match interviews were a bit strange - we all know that bayo has a character/ego that threatens to overshadow the club he's playing for but I didn't see many of his team mates celebrating with him when he scored the penalty (especially after he wrestled the ball off the designated taker) and then Ardley didn't look too thrilled when bayo was using his interview as a job advert. I suppose we could be interested in Elliott or Aziz but I think the former is a decent league 2 striker and the latter has hardly started - Taylor is the Jewel and I can't see us being able to get him now, if we ever would have had a chance

Regrettably as a Bayo diehard I now tend to agree with that font of all Football knowledge aka Chewing Gum that the great man now lives in a past era!
Always remember his hat trick at Stanley and funnily enough Demontignac for his wing play that day.

Marquis officially released by Millwall...

Definitely worth a contract offer imo.

Great potential, good age & will only get better.

Without a doubt, especially as we would save on a fee.

Completely agree. Get him in now!

dont no how true this is but i heard that aj leitch-smith could be joining us from port vale originally from crewe academy 1 in 4 strike rate

IMHO I think we sould be aiming for better than Marquis

Any suggestions?

Completely agree if he's not deemed good enough for Millwall, then why would we want him??

Page will have his own ideas I am sure

I just think he seems to run around a bit like a headless chicken quite a lot, his first touch is very poor and he seems to miss quite a lot of chances to me.

His work rate and ethic cannot be faulted and as a 4th choice option I would take him possibly - I just believe as a 1st, 2nd or 3rd choice we could do far better and better options will be out there.

 Agreed.

It is possible for him to get worse. I thought fans hated it when we go in for players we've had before?

He's scored more goals than Richards did at the same age. Plus the type of striker Marquis is with his hold up play makes him a perfect younger replacement for Richards when he decides to retire. Not hit his potential yet I rather he would here than somewhere else.

By that arguement we would never have signed Holmes who was apparently not good enough for Portsmouth!!

Agree with all of this. Seemed to celebrate on his own as if he had won the game all by himself (he did change it for them I admit) and seemed more interested in promoting himself and his brand. Sounds very familiar to when he left us.

I think people are forgetting that Rob Page is our new manager!!! He is likely to have a set of players on his list that many will have never seen play before. If Wilder was still here then i could see the likes of Marquis and Collins being of interest but i cant see us re signing any of the loanees of last season. 

Time to move on people and in brace the welsh revaluation.  ;)   

You had to go and ruin it didn't you! I wouldn't even let Demontignac tend my mushroom farm let alone play football for a living  ;D

Vale chairman has confirmed he is leaving the club..

#dontsignjohn.

;D

He is off to shrewsbury.

Danny hylton has left oxolona for Luton. :o

FFS AJ Leitch-Smith has turned down a new deal at Vale 2/1 we sign him....  :'(

Hopefully shoemaker is right and Shrewsbury are going to sign him - looking at his record we must be able to do better, I'd rather have James Collins back. As much as I love marquis I just don't think he's prolific enough to be our main forward, I wouldn't say no if he comes in as a secondary striker/attacker.

Maybe page wants a decent summer break and to cut down his workload he's going to sign the following 4,

http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/36421283  :P

Lee Novak is the name I've heard today we have been talking too, Pompey also chasing apperently too and other league 1 sides

Novak would be a very good signing, a different league entirely from leitch-smith, marquis even Collins. I can see there being major competition for him and it would be a statement of intent if we could get him

Now we're talking Novak is class

That's a shocker.

Novak would be an amazing signing for us.

lot of people in the know about Novak, spent a lot of his time in league one / championship................so not sure how much they will have seen him play?!

Demon played well that day.

Some of his Championship games will have been on the telly no doubt.

I saw him a few times at Chesterfield when visiting a friend who lives there and he looked good on those occasions. Stats indicate he has a good strike rate for people who haven't seen him in the flesh/on the box........

I saw him rip us a new one when we were playing Udders, listen to their local radio station on the way home they were raving about him, I also watch the f league show and see him scoring quality goals.  8)

The same way people know about Messi. Doesn't make you "in the know".

I've only seen Messi Live once and I would go out on a whim and say he would probably get in our team.

Well at least now Adams has gone and there  is less competition.

Based on one game? Our fans never learn...

Probably  ;D

yes, they get the same amount of media coverage

No, they don't. But media coverage is the answer to your bafflement of how people know of a player outside of our division.

messi is probably shown live twice a week over here....................i dont think lee novak is?!

unless there is some secret TV channel you arent telling me about.

dont recall that many chesterfield games being shown on TV last year?!

love it ;D

Did you play darts together in the pub after the game then  ;)

Interesting to read this again...  http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/18611052


"Northampton saw midfielder Michael Jacobs leave for Derby County this week, but Boothroyd says Demontagnac's arrival is not a like-for-like replacement, There's always going to be comparisons but he's a very different player to Michael Jacobs".      Well Mr Boothroyd got that right  ;D

And not different in the way we had all hoped......  ;D

Anybody missing a "rumours" thread is this it for the season? Novak rumour doing the rounds on twitter. And of course Leitch-Smith due to his links with RP.
Nothing else to report players are all contracted to end of June aren't they?

You'd imagine Novak and Leitch-Smith would actually work very well together. Highly unlikely, but I can wish!

Not as well as eoin Doyle.

*Insert name of a striker in an open ended sentence to make people believe you know something we don't...

ITK (I'm the knob)

Coventry defender Aaron Phillips apparently set to sign!!!!

http://www.hitc.com/en-gb/2016/06/02/por-northampton-to-land-coventrys-phillips/

Novak set to sign for Shrewsbury, who seem intent on trying to sign every available player!

Seems as tho, it could be a front pairing but for Shrewsbury!

They must be spending the wonga!

They will no doubt try to offload Collins... Hope we don't sign him, rather have Marquis #signjohn

I thought Shrewsbury were broke? Where's all this money come from?

Will have got a fair whack from their FA Cup run / Man Utd game towards the end of last season

 ;D

Danny Rose to Portsmouth is on Twitter  :o

http://www.hitc.com/en-gb/2016/06/02/por-portsmouth-close-on-rose-move/

Thats massively dog turd

This is also being reported by the Coventry ET, which I have rather more respect for than HITC.

You do crack me up - your more "respectful" Coventry ET source are quoting directly from said HITC article  ;)

http://www.coventrytelegraph.net/sport/football/transfer-news/rumour-mill-northampton-town-set-11420136

Danny Rose undergoing a medical at Pompey today according to BBC Solent.

Well that's a bit of a blow but I guess there's not a lot you can do if another club offers more money.

Think we could have done with Rose this season, but plenty of time to get a replacement in.

It's a shame that it looks like we have now lost two players back to League Two, hopefully will be replacing them with ex Championship/League One quality players.

Exciting times.  :)

Thats proper sh!t!!! Proper

Wish we could have his dad; he really was a quality goalscoring midfielder.

Anybody else think Baldo has been too quiet since he got the job?

Am I alone in preferring Byrom over Rose?

I thought Byrom was better defensively, but Rose really ran the show going forward over those last few games. It's a close call.

You 'really' believe that do you?!

I was thinking that, is he on holiday?

Quiet might mean busy! We will hear from him shortly  ;)

A signing to be announced this afternoon....

Phillips this afternoon then.

I prefer Byrom to Rose. Rose is decent, good enough to solidify us in L1? I'm not sure. Replaceable? Absolutely.

Danny Rose is a huge loss. This ain't going too well so far is it? :-\

Phillips is an attacking right-back so I imagine that'd be the end for Moloney if we sign him.

KT confirms we won't be re-signing Rose.

Phillips is only 5'7", bit small for a CB...or is he a RB?

Surely we have room in our squad for 2 right-backs...?

How old's Moloney, 30-odd? Can't see him wanting to sit on the bench all season plus he'll be on a decent wage. Lelan was a good '2nd choice' right-back. Young and inexpensive.

The Danny Rose lesson ..... players come and players leave

He was a free having been released from another club

He did a good job ..... but its the bloke that now replaces him that is important,  whoever it maybe and however much we pay for him ..... judge him when he has played a few games for NTFC

Quite right Alfred.

Might be about to get a whoe lot worse!!!

Holmes to Charlton ????


http://www.cafcpicks.com/cgi-bin/drkish/display.pl?month=201606&date=20160603&time=1138

I'd put that firmly in the wishful thinking bucket right now.  For starters, the article is way off beam:  Martyn Woolford was put on the Blades' transfer list nearly two weeks ago, and since then Wilder has signed Mark Duffy presumably to play in what would be Holmes' position. Furthermore Charlton still have no manager at the Valley of Death.  So talk of signings seems very premature.

This is what you get if you don't tie down your players to decent contracts.

Contracts count for nothing in the modern footballing world. All players should be freelance and play for who they like on a game by game basis.  Ying Yang, Up Down, In Out, Easy come easy go.  I might get a run out that way when everyone buggers off one week. You could all buy shirts and have CrowMan printed on the back  ;D

Easy in hindsight to cherry-pick the players you believe we should have given 'decent' long-term contracts to.

I think byrom needs a good pre season and could do with losing some weight - it would help his mobility

Ian Taylor was a great midfielder for us even though he wasn't the most mobile. Byrom has never been a box to box player for us, has he? He also looks more cute and cuddly with a little more weight on  ;D

So if we offer Holmes a new contract  ... what do we do if he wont sign it ?

All of this uncertainty is due to wilder and knill leaving, I think the players and their agents are using the transition and uncertainty to engineer moves

All of this uncertainty?!

Is that one fringe-player leaving (who apparently wanted to leave while Wilder/Knill were still in charge) and another free agent who played less than 15 games for us taking a better/longer offer elsewhere? 

He's about 25-26 isnt he?
If he wants to play at a higher level, he will have to compete for his place (maybe that's why Nicky Adams is so desperate to stay in L2).
Page has already said there will be 2 players for every position. Nobody should expect to start every game - it leads to complacency.

Some incredible over reactions on here and on Twitter to Nicky Adams and Danny Rose leaving.

Almost like people are willing things to go wrong.

Two half decent players, Rose has never played in L1 (I don't think) and Adams tends to move a fair bit. Both are easily replaceable and probably with better.

Just checked he's 27, a few years younger than I thought. The point was from a career point of view he's at an age where he really needs to be 1st choice.

I signed Aaron Phillips on FIFA once and he was decent so we should be okay.

Rose is a significant loss IMO. He was only with us for a short time, but looked a quality player and suited our style of play. It's left a bitter taste that he'd left for a League Two club, albeit a larg one, when he could have been playing in a better league against some huge teams for this level (Charlton, Bolton, Sheff Utd, Coventry). I'm guessing it's the money that's swayed him, in which case it's a big worrying we can't/won't match what Pompey have offered.

I hope you're right and we will replace him with somebody better, but I don't think it will be as easy as you say.

It would be far more worrying if we were willing to match the inflated wages being offered by clubs like Luton or Portsmouth in their desperate bid to escape the basement division.

Good reverse logic  8)

Like a two and half year contract on a player who was 'injury prone' and maybe refusing to sign an extension with 12 months remaining?
You post so much rubbish...

You could be on about Ricky Holmes there.
I assume he's on the market too having just a year left..

This situation can only be judged when we see who is coming in. My worry is that Adams and Rose were very popular members of a very successful team last year which has to have some sort of affect on the playing squad. that aside things move on and we have to trust R.P to bring in the right quality to take us forward. 

No, just good business sense.  ;)

Becoming even better is only achieved through some kind of change. Think of football players as pieces of furniture in your house. Some serve a purpose for a short time and you move them on. Some of the more solid reliable pieces you try to keep and polish. Others will be taken by a burglar  ;)  

'Your house'? We don't own the house, KT does, so it's not even our furniture. We simply pay KT to look around his home 23 times a season.

Good of him to let us in at all really.

You are aware I was talking metaphorically don't you  :P

Not enough chairs for some in Kelvins house  ;D

Bring your own bean bags next season. The more beans we have the higher we will float upwards. We could also ask a few others to produce even more hot air than they usually do  ;D

Has anyone got a tall boy in their bedroom they no longer have a use for?

Rose is another player, like Adams, that is replaceable and I trust he will be adequately replaced. I wouldn't have minded him staying but I won't lose sleep over him leaving.

His performance at Pompey in the last game may have got him that move as he ran the show in midfield and obviously didn't go unnoticed. No Pompey players got anywhere near him and it's a good signing for them.

Rose deal to Pompey confirmed (2 year contact signed)  - sad to seem him got, but not a devastating loss in my opinion.

If we want to progress and improve, we may have had to get better in anyway!

http://www.portsmouthfc.co.uk/news/article/pompey-sign-midfielder-danny-rose-3134593.aspx

New signing announced at 3.15pm - anyone reckon it's NOT Aaron Phillips?

I think it's a Whine rack. We appear to be needing one of those  ;)

How tall?

6'6 with his high heels on  :-*

Aaron Phillips it is.

Not seen him play, but welcome aboard.

Aaron Phillips it is

Needed full back cover, young, experienced at this level, page must have seen him play. Not a bad start. Wonder what Cov fans think of him.

RP:
"The players who are already here did really well last season, our recruitment this summer is about adding depth, competition and quality to help and strengthen a very good group and Aaron fits the bill perfectly."
Need at least five more, I reckon: left-sided centre-back, left back, left-footed midfielder and two strikers.

Aaron Phillips: "I remember watching Rob play for Coventry as a kid - I'm really looking forward to working for him. I've been at Coventry since the age of seven so it's a bit crazy (to leave), but that's life - the manager didn't want me. I'm just looking forward to showing Northampton fans what I've got and give it all I can."

Cov fans aint singing his praises  :-X

Pompey fans weren't singing Ricky Holmes' praises...let's give him a chance FFS!

He is 22 and has played plenty of games at this level.
If he was hopeless it took Coventry a fair old while to recognise it!!!!
I think he will be a good addition.

Whirlwind 6 months for Danny Rose. Champions of league 2, best team in league 2 and now the biggest team in league 2 - What a CV.

Aren't they? Majority in this thread suggesting he should have got a new deal, albeit most would only have him as their 2nd choice RB.
http://www.skybluestalk.co.uk/threads/aaron-phillips-leaving.64997/

Couple Coventry fans I know are very surprised he's signed for us - Sounds a very attack minded fullback.

Coventry article also suggests that some fans would have kept him - so we shall see. Bit harsh on Brendad as he's always been one of my favourite players these last two years unless he can play left-back.

As for Adams and Rose: My 2 cents would be that Adams was a decent player who lacked pace that extra bit of pace his replacements had and was obviously out of the 1st team even in League 2 for a long period of time, so probably wasn't an amazingly unusual loss. Rose was 1st Choice midfielder for a reason towards the end of last season, and while I feel that O'Toole seemed to play a bit better with Byrom alongside him, I think Rose was probably the better player, and a good signing by Portsmouth. We could well do better now we're a division higher, that down to the Chairman and the scouts, who knows, probably depends on whether the backers have anything left over after saving the club in the first place.

There are times when the term "nutter" suits you.

Brendan will just have to battle it out like most other players do. As for Moloney playing left back - I doubt it and what about Buchanan? RP has already stated he wants two players for every position so expect another left back to arrive to challenge Buchanan also.

What's so hard to understand about having a squad with proper competition for places?

Phillips played against us in our win at Cov in the FA Cup and was taken off at HT. Not that there's any indication of his ability in that stat.

I am pretty unimpressed to be honest he's been released by Cov and turned up here, most Cov fans think his level is L2 or conference.
is he any better than BM?

No one is saying he's better than BM, Rob Page obviously rates him as better competition than Josh Lelan...

Do you not understand?

I wouldn't mind having your draws, very sturdy if a little well worn but with a lovely patina  :-*

..

 .......keep taking the pills Shakespeare

 A friend of mine plays for Coventry.  "Surprised we let him go".  I shall reserve judgement until I've seen him play.

I've always thought he is a bit Gary Barlowish from certain angles.

This could turn out to be a good signing I think, A lot of there fans seem to be sorry he's leaving/ Lets hope so.

Shrewsbury have this morning signed Alay Leitch-Smith and apparently James Collins is on his way to Sixfields.

Bit of a punt on Collins as far as L1 goes. But I liked him. Decent scoring record albeit in a great side.

As far as I am concerned Collins scored a few classy goals for us; the goals against Orient and particularly the winner against Pompey are good examples.

Out of Marquis and Collins I'd choose Collins, just because imo he's more of a natural goalscorer.

He scored seven in seventeen for bottom-four Shrewbury last season.

I think we'd still be okay in this league with Rico, Marquis and Collins.

Obviously we'd all like a massive signing but I would be happy with this being a CB rather than a striker.

Plenty of time left yet and more players to be released this month, but always good to get business done early.

I'm intrigued to see if we go with another youngster as cover for Buchs, he was outstanding last year.

I like Collins and would be happy if we signed him, however personally I prefer Marquis. Money being no object, I'd love to sign them both but I can't help but think that those two and Rico offer largely the same option with Hoskins our only variation up front. Realistically, my choice would be to sign Marquis and then go for a nippier, more mobile forward to allow us to chop and change a bit more.

I prefer Marquis. We also need a target man with pace.

Well their respective scoring records are very similar.
JM  6 in 15
JC  8 in 21
As mentioned elsewhere I'd take them both. Love the way Marquis gets in the face of the opposition. And Collins, well everybody loves a bad boy don't they?

Either would be welcome. I do like the attitude of Marquis however the coolness of finishing of Collins is a factor.

Tafazolli gone to the scum.  >:D

http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/36458821 (http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/36458821)

Please not Collins, and not Marquis either, he runs around a lot wanting to fight everybody on the pitch.
If I had to choose between the two it would be Collins although at an alleged £3k per week I think we can do much better

Has Jamille Matt been picked up yet?

Sounds injury prone !

As we haven't signed either Collins or Marquis yet,I'm hoping that means we're not going to.
Don't think either of them could help us survive in league one.

Any rumours the away shirt launch could coicide with the confirmation of a signing or two?????

Just seems a bit of an odd time to launch a shirt to me (9PM) and a bit of build up being created?

Nothing against our current strikers, they'll do well enough to avoid relegation, however we desperately need a proven striker at this higher level, a 20+ man, and I can't see us being able to afford it. The alternative is to "discover" someone who is to us what Vardy was to Leicester - oooh look, there's a flying pig!

We have more than one?

Rico and Hoskins.

Hoskins is a nuisance but he is not clinical enough.

And with that strike force we will avoid relegation?

Il have whatever that guys drinking

Why not? Playing the 4-2-3-1 formation with Rico up front, assuming he finds the form he's had over the past two seasons without injury, yes I think we'd comfortably avoid relegation. Hoskins is adequate as cover / part of a plan B though obviously it'd be preferable to get at least one (probably two) additional strikers in. Of course this would be reliant on Rico having players of the quality of JJOT, Holmes etc still playing behind him and chipping in with 10 goals or so apiece again.

As for Marquis / Collins. I wouldn't mind seeing both join, but I'd definitely prefer Marquis. Although a similar player, I think he does offer something slightly different up top. Collins I feel is too similar (and probably inferior) to Richards.

You asked if we had more than one striker, the answer is yes. We have two currently.

Love it how every year people comment about signing a marquee striker who will 20 odd goals etc....since when have we had the money do and do such a thing...every club wants one of those and those with the money to spend tend to get them. Mind you at least we don't have to put up with the "we need to sign a target man"

Bit harsh on Hoskins, he is only young, could go ether way however 10-11 goals was a very good return last year and he should improve with players like Rico around him. I agree he could be bit more clinical, still think there is more to come.

Likewise, he showed enough last year for me that he could be a real asset.

I'm not convinced a "20 goal" striker would be the right place to send all our money/wages, we have a midfield that is always capable of scoring if we have the same personnel.

I'd much rather a marquee centre back.  ;D

I think theres a chance with Hoskins that we could have an amazingly good striker. As I say, a chance...

If the kid can improve his finishing a bit he could be THAT 20 goal a season striker. His all round game is superb, he gets in the positions...but quite often sees the red mist when it comes to shooting. Its in his mind, he's got the talent...

They say you can't learn the art of good finishing and you either have it or don't....

Counter argument to that...Rico in his first spell with us couldn't finish for toffee, now he can.

So in short, I've got no point to make and am talking bollocks!

Well, Mr Slowe, you're in exactly the right place.

 ;D no offence ALi but some of these one liners can be  v funny!

https://twitter.com/fl1rumours/status/739872318600712192

Would his name fit on the back of our shirts?

Would certainly fit the bill for cover at left back/left mid, not sure if he would be starting centre back instead though?

I've heard we are one of a number of clubs trying to sign ex rangers striker Nicky Clark.
I've seen him play a number of times for queen of the south.
A VERY good player who will score plenty in league one.

I can help out there, that would be a v good signing   ;D

Must be good if endorsed by Man04.

I wonder if we're one of the clubs in for Billy Knott. My Bradford friend rates him very highly - Would seem a suitable Rose replacement.

I'm not sure if we are or knott.

Maybe.

Maybe Knott.

Heard he's already tied up somewhere else.

That's a hitch then?

This threads getting a bit ropey....

seems like someone is stringing us along ;D

Give someone enough rope and ...............

Got into so many good positions last season.

If he learns to take them, would be a real asset this season.

.....they will open a rope shop?

To Billy or knott to Billy. That is the question.

I'm a big big fan,

I just don't want us to start the season with huge expectations on him. As without both Marquis and Collins, we wouldn't have won the league

Can we get back to the actual rumours, Its Knott funny any more.

I cant Knott talk about other things.

Scott Davies reckons Holmes is leaving us, he also says Rose was right to join Pompey and he thinks both clubs will swap positions soon enough.

All in all, he seems a bit of a bellend.

Who is Scott Davies?

Not sure I could tell you without looking him up - but Nostradamus he isn't. He hasn't exactly pushed the boat out with those predictions.

Who ?????

http://www.thephantomoftheopera.com/people/cast/scott-davis

I am afrayed knott  ;D

We might have some breaking noose on a signing shortly. but we might knott

Well he used to play for Oxford United and now plays for Oxford City, so he knows a thing or two about dropping down the leagues and not considering it a backwards step! ;D

Any chance of us getting Joel Ekstrand?

Not sure he'd want to, or we could afford it but he has been released and hasn't played much since his injury.

Or maybe Dan Burn?

Big lad, was rated by some quite highly.

 I like it !!! ;D ;D ;D

Good news for us!

http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/36492590

That could be one of the most important signings of the summer. But then again I remember Giles Coke agreeing to sign. Unfortunately agreeing to sign is not the same as signing.

Massive for us if he does!

Sorry to bring everyone down but Wilder effectively signed two first choice keepers last year didn't he?

Yes but I don't actually think he realised that at the time..I'm sure he signed Clarke as the first choice but struck lucky in a sense with smith

It's only massive for us if he signs an extension to his contract in the next few weeks - if he doesn't he'll be free to leave next summer

http://www.crawleynews.co.uk/COLUMN-d-choose-Portsmouth-Northampton-ex-Crawley/story-29375360-detail/story.html#ixzz4B4KI3OX7

Pretty certain there was a skysports article about us being in him for when he went to Crawley. Certaintly seems a random piece to decide to write unless there was some biterness to us somewhere along the line.

Not that I disagree with this hypothesis of Portsmouth having a higher celing, it just seems a random fluff piece to write. Maybe Appleton's envy is contagious.

Here's a list oll premier league and championship out of contract players ...

Maaybe one or two on the champ list we might be looking at?

http://www.astonvilla.vitalfootball.co.uk/article.asp?a=7520941

Would be happy with Kyel Reid, Tommy Rowe and Wes Thomas from that list. The first two would help with the left sided void left by Adams/Rose

Tommy Rowe has signed for Doncaster

I understand people coming on the "it's early - don't panic camp"
However other clubs are signing players...

Full believer it get your players in early, its a bit frustrating the pace we are going at if im honest, even few hints would be nice. In the Collins, Marquis front a stance on them would be welcome.

I think KT is very closely guarded when it comes to leaks and Rob Page is new to the role so not enough people know him to glean information out of him yet!

In other news, I hear Malcolm Christie has been invited for pre season training.

Strangely enough I agree with you Slowey (Not about Christie obviously) and also chuck in the fact that KT and Page seem to be going about things with a very high standard of professionalism. Something we're not used to at board level.

I wouldn't describe binning the goalkeeping coach without even a phone call as 'professionalism' - if true, of course.

Why mention it then?

Because it's not errr professional?

Calm down Bodie and Doyle  ;D


(https://www.squidge.org/~peja/professionals/duo01.jpg)

And once again nobody knows for sure do they, just more idle speculation

Jacob Blyth released from Leicester would he be worth a gamble?

Nope, they don't. But why let that get in the way of provoking bad feelings and instigating a spiral of shite.

Anyone for a Walnut Whip?  ;D

(http://www.whoateallthepies.tv/wp-content/uploads/2012/02/walnut-whip1.jpg)

Jamar Loza (Norwich) has been released, always turned out well on FIFA.

Maybe we could get Nick Powell if our midfield all runs off to other clubs?

Loving all the speculation, been a while since people were this curious about what happens to the squad.

😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂

This guy was brilliant on Champ manager, Should we sign him?

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tonton_Zola_Moukoko

Jeremy Casey thinks we need at least eight new signings:

"If the 17 currently contracted do stay with Northampton, and let’s hope that is going to be the case, then I still think Page is going to have to probably bring in eight players to ensure the club is ready for the rigours of the new campaign."

We certainly need a couple of strikers. You could argue that we currently only have one out-and-out forward.

Rodney mentioned 'if true of course' ...........Einstein.

It was a good assessment. Much as we all would like to know what's happening, Page would be a bit dim to tell us all and by doing so, reveal his hand to other clubs as to his targets. Just sit in the sun - if you can find any - and have another drink. All will happen in due course. Zzzzzzzzzzzzzz

I love it how people look at the Prem and Champs released players list and then form a wish list of totally unrealistic and / or unaffordable options.

All tongue in cheek I guess. I'm guessing the reality will be a clutch of solid if unspectacular names that Page is familiar with. I doubt he'll be taking a punt on any unknown quantities.

That's not pessimism, just reality. He'll be looking for a solid start first and foremost

I do like these threads. I like the change of name to "Summer Transfer Targets" from the old "Summer Transfer Rumours ". Does that make it real ?  ;D

I used like the old "rumours" tag.
And by rumours it used to mean any player of any description.

John Marquis has just signed for Doncaster #SignJohn

That for me is about Marquis's level!

We should be aiming for better - lets hope we get it  :afro

Facebook will be full of whingers tonight about Marquis

Shame, I liked him.

I don't know any "Rumours/targets, but, the last manager who said "there is no rush...." To sign players, ended up filling the squad with dross and getting sacked by Christmas.  :-\

Who was the last manager to say he was in a rush to sign players?

We was always going to be quieter this year, new manager has to settle - and he's in possession of a team that just romped League 2. Only tweaks will be needed.

John Marquis has signed for Doncaster on a 2 year deal

You were beaten to that exclusive, see above. Like Glastonbury, I'm not that dissapointed.

typical student - girl chasing beer swilling layabout and to cap it all late >:(

Oi Evers, cut him some slack, he isn't a student, his names comes from his favourite mode of transport - half a bicycle.

Lets make it clear. This time last season we were all rejoicing that Wilder had fulfilled his promise and 'done his work early'. So you cannot have it both ways.

I would now like to see some activity. There is plenty of time, thats obvious. BUT players are getting snapped up. Perhaps we will have a day when 3 or 4 are all announced at once? They may be just keeping it quiet. KT is very PR savvy as we know.

The next 2-3 weeks will be telling. Players report back to pre-season training soon!

You're a bit angry at the moment....

 ;D ;D

Sorry Uni - just thought you were a student. Buy you a pint next time.

I used to be a uni student, I now travel to work on a uni cycle. Its easy to get confused. I will accept your offer of a pint though. Snake bite and black please!

Still a student...

;D Not sure I could drink the stuff anymore! I've looked to change my user name but dont appear to be able to

NTFC Twitter feed

May have some player news for you later today, make sure you are on the Cobblers Wall. Some clues to follow as we go

"First clue, he is a striker with plenty of Championship and League One experience": NTFC twitter.

Adam Le Fondre or Lee Novak?

Would be delighted with either but imagine ALF would demand a much higher wage than we could offer. Novak played a lot of League 1 football, hoping its him after his performances for Chesterfield last season.

Nicky Maynard  ?

GH

The new striker has played and scored against us in the past.

Surley Grant Holt if it's GH?

Have they given Wilkinson a playing contract as well as Paddy Kenny?

He has played PL as well...

Glad to see we ar finally making some signings.

Has played and scored in a play-off final.

Alex Revell

We'll have a different one each match...

Revell or Makail Smith?

 ;D ;D ;D

Could be, but he was widly tipped to follow Slade to Charlton

http://citiblog.co.uk/2016/06/07/charlton-hope-sign-mk-dons-striker-alex-revell/

Alex Revell confirmed

Underwhelming.

Why? Turned down offers from MK and Sheff Utd to join us. Good signing IMO

Dont know a great deal about him but welcome!

I just read this on wikipedia, looks like we'll be well covered in goal next season

On 16 April 2016 away to Preston North End, with no substitutions remaining and the score level at 1–1, Revell replaced goalkeeper Cody Cropper in goal in the 81st minute after Cropper was sent off for a foul inside the penalty area against Preston's Eoin Doyle, resulting in a penalty being awarded. Revell saved the resulting penalty taken by Joe Garner. The game finished 1–1. The incident was widely reported in the press with Revell receiving high praise for his performance.

+1

I think it's a solid signing!

Massivly - Hope this is not a statement of our intent

Ageing journeyman with poor goals ratio = underwhelming.

Welcome nonetheless.

I'll take Rob Page / Chris Wilder / Karl Robinson's opinion over your, thanks.

A bizarre reaction. He's a decent player, just what the Cobblers need in L1. 6'3", and can lead the line well. (he can also go in goal....)

Yeah I don't think it's too bad a signing either. Welcome Alex.

Scored 28 goals in 150 appearances for Rotherham.

Ticks the experience box but is far from prolific and at 32 and 6'3 I doubt he's very quick.

First impressions he sounds very similar to Rico but prepared to wait until I see him play until I make any actual judgments.

I agree Razor - Welcome never the less and the best of luck Alex!

with him being 32 and Rico older the other other options up top are now going to be importnant

Some people are hard to please.

Tall striker, experienced at L1 level and some spells in the league above.

Good addition for me, especially as his link up play is excellent.

Im surprised people are not to impressed. I didnt want us to sign Collins and Marquis because they are similar to Rico. Revell gives us something different, at 6ft3 hes a solid target man option and something different to Rico.

This last bit is key I think. Revell is the sort of signing whose success could depend massively on our retention and recruitment in other areas.

Replace Adams with better, keep Holmes and add one more to play in the three (assuming we keep the system) and an experienced target with the ability to hold it up and bring others in will be a welcome addition.

I think it is valid to highlight the similarities with Rico. However, as we well know, Rico will not play 46 games this season and so another option in the same mould won't be any bad thing.

All that said, we absolutely need to add some pace up top. Someone not disimilar to Hoskins, but more polished and with experience at this level. Important that we have the ability to switch it up and play someone who can stretch defenders and/or exploit tired legs from the bench.

Good signing for me, providing we supplement it properly.

100% agree

Hi MK fan here in peace.

About revell he is one of the most hardworking strikers you'll see, always chasing lost causes, however he lacks ability, not a great finisher and his only real positive attribute about him is his ability to leap high in the air and win headers. So I think you should be disappointed if he's your main ST as he should be deployed as an impact sub, any questions regarding revell- feel free to ask.

Hugely disappointed by that I have to say.

Journeyman on the way down

Our journeyman on his way up went to Newcastle...

If we can now find a 35 year old striker we can field a front 3 with a combined age of 100.
Hopefully another striker is on the way, if not don't expect to many goals next season in what could be our one and only year in league one.

Whats his favourite food?

Another new signing at 4pm

Is Revell on a two year contract?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=37IL56df32w

Formal bids for Ricky Holmes have been turned down today.

Pretty obvious that Holmes will go at some point, at least we'll get good money for him.

Raheem Hanley - 22 year old left back on a two year deal. Yet to make a first team appearance.

http://www.itv.com/news/wales/2015-11-12/swansea-player-raheem-hanley-banned-after-admitting-drink-driving/

Anyone remember the last time we signed a young defender from Swansea?

(http://www.ntfc.co.uk/cms_images/daniel-alfei-640178-1934831_478x359.jpg)

You can't talk about a players character as a person and then sign someone who does this...

Raheem Hanley looks decent based on this youtube video granted they probably cut out the guff stuff

https://youtu.be/r_kPEm0Gan4

Looks rapid

General thoughts online from people that have seen him play at U21 player is that he was always highly rated and can apparently also play in CM. Odd that he never got a loan spell anywhere before though.

Been announced?

Bobby Charlton says this is the best Wembley goal:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yWLYOocAGs8

Young man in mistake shocker

Need I remind you of the players Chris Wilder signed in his career after they made mistakes, some far more serious than this?

What Hanley did was silly and reckless, but he's served (is serving) his sentence and should be left to get on with it.

He is worth far more to the club this season than cash.
IMO without him this season we will be relegation candidates.
With him possible promotion candidates.
We got him for nothing,I'd hold onto him and cement our league 1 championship status.
If he then wants to leave so be it although if we actually sign some quality players with Ricky and John joe et al we have a chance of promotion.
For me it will say a lot about the board and the clubs future prospects if we feel we have to sell.

Depends which club(s) want him...

Well going by that reckoning all Swansea must be s*** then

And where did you hear that ????

Firstly being young is not an excuse.

Secondly, it's got nothing to do with Wilder/Smith etc. It's a point about Page, in his first month as manager, saying the person they are has an impact on whether he signs them or not, then a couple of days later this. Page's level to judge a persons character is not as high as mine obviously.

If Leeds are one of the clubs interested in Holmes then he will go - there's no way that we're going to be able to hold onto him once his head has been turned.

Jeremy Casey on Twitter. Nothing more has been said though.

He won't even be half the player he is now if he joins someone like Leeds. He thrives on being a flair player / show off and if it doesn't go right at Leeds the fans will be right on his case. It's one thing doing it in front of 5,000 fans who love you, but doing it in front of 25k at Leeds against championship defenders? No chance.

He won't even be half the player he is now if he joins someone like Leeds. He thrives on being a flair player / show off and if it doesn't go right at Leeds the fans will be right on his case. It's one thing doing it in front of 5,000 fans who love you, but doing it in front of 25k at Leeds against championship defenders? No chance.

I agree entirely mate - grass isn't always greener on the other side, with us he thrives as the main man but at a club like Leeds he'll soon find that everything won't revolve around him

He'll be getting the biggest contract of (probably) his life, right at the peak of his career. Absolute no brainer - even if it doesn't work on the footballing side.

No brainier that he should take the opportunity, just think it's highly unlikely it will work out (see Jason Crowe)

Blimey - anybody?

Somebody mentioned wanting to sign Jamille Matt? Gone to Blackpool

http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/36533370

            I think it will be tough for him, but who knows, Good luck to him, I wish him well.

Ricky Holmes has handed in a transfer request!

Oh dear, it's not good news if it's true. He doesn't want to be part of our future. Let's just hope we get some decent money if and when he leaves.

Head Turned and gone  :'(

Unfortunately not surprised but he did well for us whilst he was here...good luck to him.

I'm adopting a glass half full approach today. This is shaping up to be a summer of exciting ins and outs. New manager, coaches, players. Footballers, managers, owners etc  move on. It's only us who remain. I'm actually looking forward to seeing what Page brings to the building.

Me too Rodders. I reckon we've been in a far worse position for about 45 of the 50 years I've been watching them. It's all exciting stuff for me right now.

By the way, I'm looking forward to starting to read your book as of tomorrow.

He's Knott going to be coming to us apart from when he'll be wearing the blue of Gillingham.

im not suprised in the slightest at holmes going , it does show however our intentions as a club , we cant keep hold of players and contracts are worthless , if holmes was in a 3 year contract im sure if he winged slightly that he wasnt happy the club would just let him go , if smith and or jj also depart the team that the chairman wanted to keep together will be a shell of what it was
some people say holmes isnt ireplacable , well lets see who comes in eh , my money is on us not replacing with a player equal or better
so far the signings for me have been ok squad players and it was slightly concerning how big a deal page made of signing a non scoring journeyman centre forward
i think we will have to pay a price for the success of last year

still it could all change with a couple or 3 decent signings

Gareth bale anybody, nah not good enough  ;D ;D ;D ;D

No thank you as he is a loser...........................today!

Spurs kept Bale, did they? United held on to Ronaldo? No club can hold on to a player if he really wants to leave. Why can't supporters be patient? Wait for the squad to form, for the season to start?

If by being undisclosed, it allows us to get a better deal when we spend money ourselves, I'm all for it. It's not like knowing what the value is or not is going to change what we've got for him. What's the highest transfer fee we'd ever received previously, £500k ish for Bunn?

We won't replace him with like-for-like quality, there's no way you guarantee that a replacement would be decent even if you spent it. Some of this money will come back into the pot either on wages or transfer fees, no point spunking it all though, I'd rather some was kept back so we don't have to end up on the brink of folding again, and after all, Holmes was a free transfer to begin with.

Makes sense - especially as this quote from the Chron and other media says:

"The attacking midfielder has signed a two-year deal at the Valley, leaving the Cobblers for a ‘significant’ undisclosed fee".

Read more: http://intothevalley.proboards.com/thread/19613/breaking-ricky-holmes-summer-signing#ixzz4BlamHv7E

I suspect we may have some funds to play around with now?

Holmes, Ajose and Novak... Charlton should be scoring a few goals next season.

From whats been happening to us lately I hope Mr Page is reverting to old style Cobblers defence with quick deadly counter attacks. Please sign some strong capable defenders!

Not bad for a basket case of a club!! A few weeks ago we were all saying Wilder would be mad to go there.....he didn't, but they got Slade, and have now spent roughly £1.7m on those three players

Chron says we are in discussions with an experienced central defender who has international experience.

Matt Upson?

Probably international experience with Wales and on his way down the football league ladder

Hope it's not another 30plus has been.

F*ck me it's happy on here isn't it.

Christ.

My guess is reda Johnson,released by Coventry.

Danny Collins ex Rotherham

Rwyf wrth fy modd Danny Collins

Danny Higginbotham  ;D ;D

I'd like to think that between them page and Melville would have more than enough between them to identify decent central defenders. Also I would hope that rodders will continue to develop with the benefit of their experience

Or David Artell is resigning!

Novak - free transfer
Ajose - £800k
Holmes - £900k????

 It will come as no suprise to you when I say I agree with you.

A few ideas of who the defender might be here: http://www.yakspace.com/ntfc/posts/205 - 3 already mentioned on here, but a couple of others too.

Gabriel Zakuani from Pish?

Page registering as a player?

I go away for a week and it's all kicked off!

Think Revell will be a smart signing, despite peoples views. Hopefully more appearances as a sub/backup than as our starting striker.

Pleased we have a backup left back with something to prove, hopefully will keep Buchs honest and may even turn out to be a decent signing in the long run.

Not pleased to lose Holmes, but if we have received a decent amount of money then fair play to KT he has made the right move. Interested to see who we get in to replace him, and how much money they throw at the replacement.

I'm not sufficiently motivated to register and confirm this for myself but Zakuani joining us is being widely touted on the Posh boards apparently.

I have been looking on the Chron website all morning and I cannot see anything about this.

It's on there in the piece about Page strengthening squad:

'Page is believed to be in talks with an experienced central defender with international experience, and further signings are expected ahead of the squad returning for pre-season training on July 1.'

Read more: http://www.northamptonchron.co.uk/sport/football/cobblers-boss-page-concentrating-on-recruitment-following-holmes-departure

I wouldn't expect it to be the other way round, would you?

Dave Artell

Got a degree as well , went to same Uni as Hallam.

So I believe we are now in need of:

2x wingers
1x centre mid
1x centre back

Being greedy
1x Hoskins improvement

Probably a GK if/when Smith leaves.

Seems about right, barring anyone else leaving.

Hopefully Smith is really the only candidate that other clubs will be looking at.

We desperatly need a forward. Very little in the way of fire power and no pace up front.

The two wingers we need are absolutely vital to how we perform next year. Hopefully Jacobs can do his usual trick and struggle to perform in the Championship... before a loan move to a League 1 club....

MK let Upson go didn't they? Sure he got a cap or two?

Adam El Adb is a name I've heard today.

Pretty sure he got injured in the FA Cup replay. Ironic if he came here.  Too old though.

you "assume" he wont play 352

Not El Abd or Upson

If you know something, just say it. With your track record no one is likely to believe it anyway ;) ;D

Did John Terry sign a contract extension at Chelsea? Can't remember...

Typical "I know something you don't, but I couldn't possibly mention what I know" attitude, pathetic.

Gabriel Zakuani

Interesting, ex Posh. Is Shaun Brisley signed up anywhere for next season?

Are cobbler Rob & cobbler Ron the same person? They have just answered the question asked of them, by supplying the name.

Hearing this too...ex scum but would be a decent signing imo...only just turned 30 too

The name I keep hearing is chiellini but I think that's because I'm watching Italy on itv.

I know nothing, it was just a guess

He is a player that posh are glad to have let go.
By all accounts they say he is well past his best but may still cut it in league two.
Given that you'd have to be dissapointed if it was him.

Do 'they'? Where are these multiple accounts?

Sam Hoskins provides the latter.

On the posh forum.
Go to the thread where they discuss the retained list.

Although 35 I'm surprised no ones mentioned Gordon Greer.

Bloody hell Shoey, not more oldies !!!!!

If Hoskins is the answer to the lack of pace up front, then I think we should give up now.

Ian Taylor was no spring chicken but I thought he showed more commitment in his spell here than others half his age.
Yes with older players you can fall into the trap of one final payday but there are some players more than willing to play their hearts out.
I'd be very happy with Gordon Greer having read Brighton fans opinions of him.
Not that I know who is being lined up though!!

Ian Taylor was premiership class and playing in a central midfield role rather than a defender or forward reliant on pace.

Sam Hoskins pace........ ;D
Sam Hoskins level in League 2.

I love players that sign from Boro or were there previously. On the whole they go on to be exceptional performers once out of the bog.
Think Hall(?) Benjamin, Chard, Quow, and more recently Brisley.

It took him a while to get going, I remember him getting plenty of stick when he first played for us.

You use the adjective exceptional performers a tad lightly - Hall was NTFC and went to play for them. Only Benji and Chard were good , Quow was indifferent and for me so was Brisley!

Don't forget Quinn!

How can you forget Kelvin Langmead!!

Nana

Jim Hall started with us as a young centre forward, went to Pish, did much better, then came back to end his days with us a crocked old centre half.

Where's the link to the Posh forum about Zakuani?

Ian Benjamin? Steve Massey? Not exactly bad players.

Sacrilege! Jim Hall and crocked in the same post.

Don't think Jim Hall played centre half very often, Billy Best and Don Martin were strikers who later played at the back.

Massey came from Gillingham?

Massey came from Posh. Never played for Gillingham.

1973–1978   Stockport County   101   (20)
1978–1981   A.F.C. Bournemouth   97   (19)
1981–1982   Peterborough United   20   (3)
1982–1983   Northampton Town   60   (25)
1983–1985   Hull City   42   (9)
1985–1986   Cambridge United   31   (11)
1986–1988   Wrexham   43   (10)

Unfortunately, at 58 he's too old to be a summer target.

Just really hope Page's signings work out, We don't want signings like this again

(https://i.imgsafe.org/47a667cdd7.png)

I refer you to the answer I gave some time ago.
Please follow those instructions and you will get to a page where Peterborough fans were only to happy to see the back of zakuani.
He may well be the reincarnation of pele for all I know but I am only trying my best to alert you to fans opinions of him and those who have seen much more of him than you or I and as a consequence maybe have a better idea of his abilities/limitations.

Brislet indifferent? Quow I admit should have split up years ago.

Of course Langmead.
My point is they seem to do better when they leave the bog than when we send them there Barnes, Adcock etc.

After Ricky leaving and Adams and seeing this again. Makes you winder if contracts 2 years, 3 years etc. are actually worth the paper that they ate written on.

It won't take an awful lit for him to be an upgrade on Cresswell shoey!!!

Maybe, although they do it sitting down now...  8)

In the case of Holmes his ongoing contract was the sole reason we received £xxx,xxx as opposed to £0 so I'd say in that instance it was worth considerably more than the paper it was written on.

Wakeley "woosh" Gage?

Would add some height at the back.

If he joins we should judge him on how he plays for us. Change of scenery and all that.

I agree with that sentiment I was merely pointing you in the direction of the information you asked for.

People need to remember with these signings that we're not a big club. We can't just go out there and beat the lives of Coventry, Charlton etc to a promising up and coming talent. We're a small club with small crowds and with no infrastructure (which KT is working on) we have a pretty small budget too.

So basically were shyte then and just should be glad of the fact right?

We may as well just pack it all in then, right?

Well said Jolly - imo 2nd good post in a week. What are you on?

Ajudication ::)

Sorry, I have been too busy of late making us scarecrows to sign  ;)

My girlfriend has decided she doesn't want a long distance relationship.  My rent is costing nearly 50% of my wages.  I am nearly bald and what hair I have left is grey and white.  I am 2 stone overweight.  My primary source of pleasure is wine, TV and football.

I will worry about transfers if we haven't brought any young hopefuls in from L2 by mid July.  In the meantime if I have to worry about it I will just jump in the canal with a rock round my neck.