The Hotel End

https://www.northamptonchron.co.uk/sport/football/revealed-the-enormous-number-of-league-one-players-out-of-contract-this-summer-3218746
Who you want?  8)

You could make a very good league 1 out of that list!

Groundhog Day.....we were told much the same last season...it was an embarrassment of riches, a buyers market, no need to rush in as there would be loads of quality players out of work......how did that work out for us?

We signed players for fees already contracted to clubs!

Thanks for that Gareth.

We should definitely sign Jordi van Stappershoef just for Toggle Tim.

;D

Chuks Aneke, Emyr Huws, Lee Nicholls, Chris Maguire - only names I recognise there really, and I don't think any are really gettable. I guess the full-time scouts might have a fair few more better ideas than I.

Sign um all.

As I’ve read elsewhere on here, defence are strong, CM is decent for league 2, strikers have generally succeeded elsewhere or have come from higher up the pyramid.

New GK and creative midfielder and we should be all set.

;D

I think from the under contracts, Horsfall, Sowerby, Chukwuemeka might be good enough. Jones (both), Watson fine to, but all out of contract.

Sowerby has been poor for me, I’m not sure what he’s supposed to be? He’s doesn’t get around, make tackles and break up play anywhere near as well as McWilliams, in attack he doesn’t create or score goals.

Sowerby’s become a better player by being absent the last month or so! Obviously there’s some kind of issue with Chuk as Brady didn’t trust him in a make or break match. Don’t know about Alex Jones, it would be a pretty major gamble given his recent history.

Defence still not strong enough and we could lose Jones and in midfield Watson. Thought that the forwards were pretty clueless in second half. Poor old Mitchell blamed for two goals; the first not completely sure it was as the scorer shaped to cross the ball rather than a shot on goal. Second was definitely a keeper error but no doubt those more expert will comment on. We probably wont see him again! All in all a very disappointing display by a side fighting for League 1 survival. As for the Brady Team yes there has been an improvement but it was not enough. The problem for JB is that he had a few very disappointing displays against the bottom 6 sides; similar to todays display. At the moment am not sure if he should be invited to be the next Manager as subbing Watson did not appear to be an effective move.

You’ve changed your tune. What a difference a day makes!

On balance, I think we need a new manager tbh.

Whatever he decides KT needs to do it ASAP to give the new man (whether it be Brady or not) all the time he needs to assess the squad and start recruitment.

I basically agree with Bungle's and Welly's opinions; for a side fighting relegation it was a disappointing display. Yes or No?

Yes. Like most weeks.

Something I’ve been banging on about for weeks!

Lee Nicholls released by MK...proper keeper...GET HIM IN!

+1

+2

+ 3

+4

= 10?

Last time I saw him he’d been on the pies but compared to this season’s no.1
+++++

Was that when he was playing for Wigan ?  ;D

+ whatever number we are up to.
Is this how the new committee works?

Makes you wonder why he’s been warming the bench at MK when at his prime age. That said, Bunn made a career out of it. I’d hope we are at least looking at him as an option.

Any thoughts why Nichols has been released? Seems a strange decision if in his prime. Always makes me nervous if Carton Lid is all for signing him. 8)

Andrew Fisher has been very impressive there and Nicholls would probably demand a decent wage, so probably makes more sense to go a cheaper number 2

+ 9

Didn't we have Fisher once?

To be honest, in my opinion, I reckon that all four of the players that MK released today could do a real job in our team.

Sorry to say that the budget will likely see them out of reach.

Yep on loan don’t think he played much

+10.

;D

Not that I’m disagreeing with this particularly but none of us have any idea what budget we are going to have for next season - we can speculate and probably won’t be far from the reality but it is just that, speculation.  Out of interest who are the MK 4?

+

https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/57008793

Thanks for that mate - Agard or Mason sound about right for us with our history of non-scoring strikers.  Plus Nicholls does look a bit on the chunky side in that picture - maybe it’s just unflattering!

Hi. We would love you to join our new ambitious re-structured club?

And I’m the manager.......Jon Brady.

Who??

Nicholls is a scouser who likes a drop of pop.

With Jon Brady being Australian I hope he's watching the Australian A league games on BT as there are some cracking players out there, and not just the British ones. It's easily the equivalent of League 1 and a lot of the Championship clubs. There are only 12 teams and any one of the goalkeepers would be good enough for us. As for a striker, Jamie Maclaren has scored 50 goals in 54 appearances for Melbourne City (owned by the City Group) including 5 in one game against Melbourne Victory. He had previously scored 40 in 53 for Brisbane Roar and 9 in 27 during a spell on loan at Hibs. The Aussie stats are out of date as well as he has scored a total of 101 goals down there. The problem is Man City would probably have first dibs on him as they did with Aaron Mooy and he would probably cost several million. Anyway I can dream.

Sutton United's pie muncher would be an upgrade at the moment!

As it happens Sutton United's current goalie is an Aussie.

Makes sense, they’re pie mad here.

Ryan Edmundson returns to his parent club. Marcelo Bielsa is unsure if he will make an appearance before the end of the season.

They are indeed, I was forced to ear one while watching the AFL at the MCG, the pies are massive as well!

We need another Center half as well because Lloyd Jones is 100% off.

Are you his agent now - hopefully yayo will come on at some point and let us know what’s going on.  I agree with others in that we need to get Watson and Jones to make quick decisions but the problem is that they are both going to be told by their agents not to commit themselves as they will have options.

I don’t need to be his agent to know he’ll be off, way too good for L2, a very solid L1 defender.
We shouldn’t wait around for people to make decisions this time around make them the best offer we can give them a week to decide then withdraw it and move on.

I don’t disagree that he is a decent centre back but the fact that Brady gave him the captaincy and that he is presumably local and he would be a certain starter might sway him?  As I said earlier the problem with giving Watson and Jones an ultimatum is that they will pretty likely be told by their agent to hold fire and assess their options.

Players have all of the power.

Decent players have all the power.

Both players should have been given improved terms 2 months ago but the club was tardy .
They will now both go for free i would imagine unless the captaincy and improved wages manage to persuade Jones .
If Hull and Blackpool want you , we have no chance and will get nought as usual .
Reference Oliver last season.

Snooze you loose Kelvin. 😴😴😴😴😴🥱

I would also like Jones to stay but think he will get better offers elsewhere. Let's not forget several posters were luke warm when he returned because of his performances the previous season when he was not 100% fit.He chose not to stay for the play offs because wanted to make himself available for offers.

I completely agree that it’s very unlikely that he’s going to stay but we’re not privy to discussions that he has had/will have with Brady - maybe Brady’s Aussie patter will sell him on staying!

Two months ago we didn't know which division we were going to be in?
Two months ago, the players could have been offered an opportunity to discuss new terms but declined or indicated that they would wait?
After a 4 goal season, would we have really been busting a gut to retain him (Oliver), especially as he already indicated unofficially that he was staying?

People like to blame clubs for contracts running out.  But they can't do anything if the player and/or agent wants to let their contract run out and see what comes.  
Unless the player isn't confident of attracting attention from other clubs, the players are always on a win/win situation.

Maybe they did. If Jones and Watson know they will have offers from other clubs, they are unlikely to be signing new contracts two months before the end of the season. Why would they.

Jones interview post match yesterday was definitely an awkward one for him, he's 90% certain to be off but didnt want to say so.

He probably will get better offers but how much better? I think I heard he lives in MK so if the likes of Oxford, Wycombe or Pish came in for him, with a better offer, he would go. But if the better offer is Gillingham, Cheltenham, Shrewsbury or Doncaster, it's got to be considerably better to justify the extra travel or moving costs when most clubs only give out 2 year contracts.
    All said and done, it's just a job for the players, they are not as attached to the club as we are.

You're last line sums it up, they are just like the rest of us regarding employment.  8)

And he looked up in pained surprise at the concrete hardened crust, of a stale Four n Twenty caught him in the ear and Manny hit the dust?

I think there are many other factors as well as just the league the team is in. Doyle turned down a contract at league 1 Swindon to move to league 2 Bolton. Also L Jones was one of many decent players unable to get a club until Christmas missing out on half a year’s salary. Wage, length of contract, location, likelihood of first team football and manager are just a few other factors.

This talk about Jones and Watson is getting boring, they will both be gone before the start of next season , if they have admirers higher up the Footie Pyramid then they will be off like with the Oliver situation last season money talks and Cobblers track record of late in competing against other clubs for players signatures is poor. Just accept the situation and move on.

not even sure watson would be missed that much - goes missing on far too many occasions and has proved time and time again he isn't good enough for league 1 and probably thinks he is too good for league 2

Aren’t we in danger here of making it sound like they’re Virgil van Dyk and Kevin DeBruyne - Jones didn’t have a club until after Christmas but admittedly has been good for us for 5 months and Watson has been decent at times this season - and gone missing at others - but he has done the rounds without ever really cutting it anywhere longer than a season?

I won't quote figures but Jones, Jones accepted extremely frugal terms on signing short term contracts to get them playing and in the shop window. Sheehan was only getting a third of what the two name sakes earns each week. Unless the basic wage is increased considerably, they will all leave!

I would be surprised if Sheehan is offered anything unless he's Brady's idea of an Assistant Manager. I'd be surprised if Lloyd Jones isn't offered a decent contract for a L2 club (probably not as much as he might be offered by a club higher up the ladder) and Striker Jones may or may not be offered something based on his qualities which the club is in the best position to assess and his physical condition (injury record).

If you go with 20 players all on the same level, each player takes 5% of the budget. Obviously that wouldn't happen.

Lloyd Jones would be worth a good 7/8% of the budget (whatever it is), Id install him as captain permanently. He's 25, a very very good player and one we could still potentially sell on so an 'asset' as such...

Alex Jones would be worth no more than about 4% of the budget. Worth a punt but his stock is pretty low after several seasons of no productivity.

So Id be offering Lloyd Jones a bloody good deal and build the defence around him and the Horse. Id do everything I could to keep him, within reason...

Lloyd Jones looks worthy of a deal, but i suspect he will have a better offer than we can/want to afford. Sheehan cant be offered any type of deal, way past his time, may be ok for non league part time.

We appear to be on the same page !

Agreed, it happens every year with our best players, will they wont they and its always the latter. Next will be spec about all the players we want, but wont get.

Surprised no one mentioned Luke Chambers coming back for the last part of his career.

Be very interested to see Bradys pulling power and the sort of player he can attract.

Not holding my breath

Think I read somewhere that Paul Cook was hoping that Chambers might sign up with them as a coach next year.  I haven’t seen enough of Alex Jones to be able to make a judgement - possibly something short term with him training with us in the Summer to assess his fitness? If Brady had rated Sheehan as a potential Assistant Manager or coach then he would have made him part of the Brady bunch?

Perhaps the players or their agents didn't want talks 2 months ago, it wouldn't be announced, maybe there are offers on the table already?
I don't think the club was slow offering Oliver terms last year, the mistake they made was waiting over a month for his decision.

Is Lloyd still going to Milan 12 months ago? as that was a done deal...............or has something changed?

correct and someone that knows what he is talking about at last .
What people don’t realise is that we pay low wages to get people playing . The point is , once they have proved their worth we should reward them with a better contract .
We don’t early enough and then guess what - they clear off.

Yes he's going shopping with the missus next week to Milan!

I cannot emphasise enough how important I believe the recruitment is this time around? Always vital, this time it has to be spot on. We can’t afford any hands down the shorts, pitch wanderers with an attitude problem. That was the thing with the Graham Carr era bringing up players from the non league, there was a hunger to live the dream and succeed. I’m not suggesting that is the answer, just pointing out that the right professional approach is vital as alluded to with the new policy?

This is also one of the benefits of playing youngsters, boundless enthusiasm and desire to succeed? It’s really important we get the right blend of professionalism and experience coupled with ambition and enthusiasm? If we bring in or keep the wrong players then all this momentum will get killed stone dead. No Ash Taylor’s, Vent Spleens or other show ponies on an ego trip to sabotage the plan thanks.

I don’t think you ever did explain why he turned down the contract offer from AC Milan last summer?

Are they back in for him now?

You thought I was serious...please. I thought you knew it was a joke? ;)

I think that’s Matalan, spell checker on the blink again?

Careful mate most of the hard of thinking on here think we have a mid table budget, telling them we pay peanuts doesn’t fit their agenda.

;D ;D

I hope not. I prefer players I can spell, Watson and Jones are fine by me.

What’s our budget then oh mighty Oracle?

one hundred million dollars. But that still isnt enough and slows lack of ambition :afro

Don’t remember anyone saying we had a mid table budget, just probably not a bottom 4.
Surely it would make sense we signed L Jones, A Jones & Sheehan on peanuts. None had clubs and gone a while without a wage, two had injury issues and the other had failed to impress here at league 2 level. I’m pretty sure they were happy to get anything, they were big gamb1es for the club which paid off to varying degrees.
As for agendas try looking in the mirror!.

Exactly that. I’m not even sure what the debate is here, we obviously picked them up on the cheap, they had all been subject to many months of unemployment. Why would we have paid them anymore!?

Now is the time we reward Jones with a very strong league 2 wage and an armband!

It’s also disappointing that we didn’t build in an option to extend in the clubs favour. 

What was the story KC said about L Jones last summer?

I recall it came out in December time about how it took a while for KC to trust him again. Hence having to train for a month or so without being offered terms.

Something to do with him saying he was signing but never did??

This? https://www.northamptonchron.co.uk/sport/football/curle-lost-trust-jones-after-he-pulled-out-play-offs-town-boss-praises-defender-working-hard-win-it-back-3128916

I don't really feel Jones did much wrong. The season ended in a weird way. Luton, I think released players before the restart of the championship. He had an offer on the table and wanted to go for it. 

That’s the one! Different to what I recalled. Seems fair enough, an injury would of left him without an income (even if Milan were interested!).

Ironic you responded when I mentioned hard of thinking, it would be interesting to know where our budget was at the start of the season and then after the Jan window?
Irrespective of this the gross negligence by the chairman has seen us relegated yet again FACT.

Luke Chambers gets released by Ipswich!

was down at Sixfields today in the shop making some purchases and I saw Daniel Powell walking in the recepti

Emyr Huws also released.. He didnt do a bad job for us when he was here before

Please tell me that this is either a bad joke or mistaken identity?

if it wasn't him he has a twin brother

To be honest, I thought that when he was here. Unfortunately we saw the twin more than the footballer.

Good one!  The mind boggles if we bring a player that wasn’t good enough for us 2 years ago.  Having said that - a look at his stats from his time at Crewe (10 goals in 42 appearances) isn’t too shabby?

So the momentum is building, so far we are signing:

Lee Nichols
Luke Chambers
Daniel Powell
Emyr Huws.

I wonder if there are any players available that haven’t previously played for us?

No.

I struggle to think of a more frustrating Cobblers player than Daniel Powell, He's got it all, pace, build and football ability, if only someone could get him some "bottle" ! But if he had that he wouldn't have been released by MK, us or Crewe.

He’s probably now been round the block enough times to say that the penny isn’t going to drop for him but that won’t stop Manager’s from thinking they’re the one that can harness all that potential.

I see Mo Eisa and Ryan Broom have been made available for transfer from them down the river. Both decent players

I think that is more to do with their policy of transfer listing players in the last year of their contract...no way would they come here.

Ryan Broom has two years left on his contract. Looks like he hadn't been a success at Boro.

OK, so that's the GK position sorted.  ;D

https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/57069136

To old  ;D

Well, as the saying goes, "If you're old enough, you're good enough"  ;D

"Cian Bolger has an option in his contract"  ::)
Think Mitchell deserves another crack. Hopefully, Derby County will loan him out again... preferably to one of our League Two rivals vying for promotion!

I’m not convinced you know how to use the word ironic!. I thought you knew what the budget was with your ‘source at the club’. I’m no fan of KT and there are plenty of things to hammer him on without having to make up ‘facts’ about the budget.

Add Joe Widdowson to the list of available former Cobblers.

Where did I say the budget was fact, I was told that our budget at the start of the season was one of the lowest?
I think that probably improved a little after Jan when we signed some loan players, giving rise to James Whiting claiming it was not in the bottom four.
As for your knowledge of the use of irony here’s the definition so you can educate yourself,
Irony has two formal uses that are not as common in general prose as its more casual uses. One refers to Socratic irony—a method of revealing an opponent’s ignorance by pretending to be ignorant yourself and asking probing questions

No he didnt, he just watched the ball sail over his head.

Mitchell - i doubt it - you might understand why Derby are in financial difficulties if you knew the details .
Bolger - if he’s back here next season i will be amazed . Someone else will take him and Lincoln will be more than happy .

all depends on the money!

not really

Go on then... let us see if we will understand.

Have I missed something? What’s it got to do with Lincoln?

Quite a lot .

Like What? 

Knowledge is power... ::) 8)
JB needs to be careful who he allows information to be leaked to.

 ;D

Looks like we're going to be in for a summer of cryptic posts from Boot & Shoe, who may or may not know the truth on things  ::)

The only one I believe is ntfclad. His information is always correct. I agree with Deepcut JB need to be a little careful.

Just to be clear , i am not aware of anything outside of the public domain and cannot give cryptic clues about anything but some things are common sense and clear for everyone to see if you look hard enough .

But if it's that clear why not just post it ?

https://footballleaguefc.com/derby-county-2019-20-player-wages/

2 grand a week if you believe this website. Not bad!  ;D

One way of raising funds for those big summer signings I guess.

https://www.mirror.co.uk/news/uk-news/confusion-people-getting-covid-vaccine-24089627

He still thinks Stevenage away end has pillar supports which obstruct view. It hasn’t!

I have just googled 'Will Lincoln City be happy if Cian Bolger leaves Northampton?'

The results were inconclusive.

 ;D

 ;D

I am rather surprised that the club have not announced that certain players under contract are available for transfer. Usually we have played with 1 striker and 2 supporting wide attackers. We still have super Sam and will need to sign other wide attacking options. However, in the striking department we have Rose, Smith, Chuks and BAS with Jones invited back for pre season training, if we sign another 2 new strikers we then have 6/7 players for 1/2 positions which is too many.
Talking of strikers I see Mansfield have released Andy Cook, still only 30, whose strike rate in the lower divisions is quite impressive with 171 goals from 477 appearances (about 16 goals in a full season).
Regarding Bolger having an option in his favour of another season there was also an option on Korboa which must have been in the club's favour as he has been released. I wonder why the 2 options were different.

Brady has stated in the chron he wants to play with 2 strikers next season. I dont think he see Hoskins as a one of those.

With regards to Bolger i assume there is a relegation wage reduction and he will wait and see if he can get a better wage elsewhere

Surely Wigan or Wimbledon owe him a contract seeing as he played a part in keeping them up. 

 ;D ;D ;D ;D

John Joe O'Toole just released up at Burton

Pretty sure still has his house local

Would you have him back?

Thanks for your contribution. Very insightful.

He could be a useful squad player. But I think we need to be looking elsewhere. Jimmy really isn't keen on him though is he!

Assume you mean absolutely nothing then.

I bet you’re fun down the local.

I would not have JJO'T back as his best days are behind him. Could never understand Burton playing him at centre back as he never impressed there.

The problem with John-joe is you don't know which John-Joe you are going to get. Will it be the:

• Free scoring Bristol Rovers John-Joe?
• First spell sulky Cobblers John-Joe?
• Sent back from loan Southend John-Joe?
• Glorious midfield general Cobblers John-Joe?
• Jaded Cobblers John-Joe?
• Out of favour centre back Burton John-Joe?

It's too much of a gamble as to which one you'd get, especially now age isn't on his side. He'll always be a Cobblers legend though - probably best to leave it that way than sour the memory with an iffy return.

I know absolutely nothing about it, but the only logical explanation is that Lincoln are still paying some of his wages while he's with us as part of the transfer last year. If he leaves, they're no longer obligated to do that.

No, his best years are well behind him, so let's move on

I'm more intrigued by the Derby issue that we would understand if we knew the details?  ;D

Its true, if only you knew.  ;D

Ryan Allsop just been released by Wycombe, could be a great fix for our first team keeper?

Lewis Ward released by Exeter. He was on loan with us when he was at Reading, but I can't place him at all?!

Then why would you want him back?

Don't you know then? I thought everyone knew about that. ;D

Easy to find out. It’s in the public domain after all!

www.publicdomainfootball.com

There's a chance with Lloyd Jones...hes considering it at the very least...

So, are we saying he’s not 100% gone FACT?

That is a fact....but there other offers. He is based in Milton Keynes but family are all in Exeter! For me hopefully being made captain for the last game shows Brady's intent and belief in him...maybe that can swing it!

until he gets another offer

To me Jones is the one player we need to resign. Looks a very good centre half.

Apparently no other contract offers from other clubs at the moment for Lloyd. He is happy with the club and the manager and settled in the area. Wages aren't the sticking point with the new offer that has been made. The sticking point is surrounding the issue of whether we have sufficient firepower to make us competitive at the very top end of the of the division next season. Recruitment is key!

A job for our illustrious chairman to convince Lloyd of our intentions.

which translates as its a decent offer, but if someone better offers him the same he is off.

I guess Jones has a different opinion than some on here who feel Rose et al with be fine and score a decent amount of goals in league 2, I tend to agree with him.

Captaincy could be a clincher!

Cornell is available if we want him back as in addition to their released list Ipswich have told many of the players still under contract to look for other clubs. This includes Dai and their other 'keeper Holy who was rated quite highly during his time at Gillingham.

Shrewsbury have just released 12 players.
Donald Love, Ro-williams and Sean Goss could all do a job for us.
Donald Love played a few 1st team games for Man Utd under Moyes

I very much doubt Jones will sign. He was offered terms last summer but held out looking for a better offer elsewhere. Let’s not forget he only came here when he did because his preferred choices fell through.

It won’t make or break our season either way...

After this season I think 3 of the back 4 being kept would be a huge improvement.

Not sure about that as probably will match any offer made by most League One Clubs and more! Perhaps a genuine aspiring Championship Club might be more realistic. Would like to see him resign if only to ensure some (sages) are wrong.

Sam Baldock realised by Reading, might do a job for us?

But surely recruitment is going to be a longer term process and won’t necessarily be something we’re going to be able to do within weeks? Is he going to hold off making a decision until we make signings in which case it might not be for weeks/months?

At 32years?

I'm interested to see your main reason for wanting Jones to re-sign. Get one over other fans, as usual.

Brady remains optimistic that Jones and Watson will sign
https://www.northamptonchron.co.uk/sport/football/boss-brady-optimistic-watson-and-jones-will-stay-on-at-cobblers-3235572

Probably the most important announcement after the manager - the head of recruitment - has yet to be announced ......

I keep on harping on about so apologies but who was it on here that said Marc Webber had tweeted that it was going to be Ian Atkins or have I dreamt that?

You didn't dream it Irchy. Someone definitely mentioned it. He's currently scouting for Wolves, so maybe he won't be released until the Prem season has finished - if it's true of course.   

Paul Coutts, Mark Duffy & Josh Morris released by Fleetwood.

All had they’re moments and a bit old now but maybe the creative spark we need in L2?

In answer to your question Irchy....he is going away on holiday next week, coming back, then is going away on holiday again after a week again...time to ponder and reflect. I think if he is unsure after that then the club will have to move on and look at other players.

I take it you mean Lloyd Jones and not the question raised about Ian Atkins  ???

Indeed Teachers Pet....sorry messaged after work and 3 beers in so my prose isn't as coherent as usual!

I find your message (its hardly an opinion) appears to suit your personal agenda; I still hope that the Club is successful in resigning players and prove those who feel other wise incorrect! Under the circumstances you should be prepared to consider withdrawing your cheap jibe 'get one over........as usual' comment.  
 

KVV? Yes please. ;D

I'm only half joking

Normally I'm against going back for old players but on a free transfer and on a performance / appearance related contract (due to injuries in the past season), I'd fully support us re-signing KVV! He is a very talented player for L2 level and I don't think we saw the best of him whatsoever. Could Brady coach better results from him than JFH and Curle could? I reckon so

The great Kevin "I'm too good for division 2" van Veen let go by a club that narrowly avoided dropping out of the league. No I would not want him back, he didn't want to come the first time and had a half arsed attitude when he was here. I would rather have a player giving 100% for 90 minutes even if less gifted than KVV who flits in and out of games and your lucky to get 45 minutes. I cannot see him wanting to come back after getting a standing ovation when he was sent off. As a Sc***horpe fan says it is a matter of if he is fit, if he is in the right mood, if he has team mates on the same wavelength then you will get the odd decent performance, too many ifs.
I see PNE have released, the often talked about on here but I've failed to see why, Nugent along with Louis Moult and Billy Bodin both who have had injury problems.

Blimey brave opinion as it will inflame some. 8)

Sc***horpe have also released Abo Eisa, Alex Gilliead and Jem Karacan who are all decent.  Moult and Bodin would be worth a look if fully fit but I’m guessing they’ll be on a decent wage.

I too liked Kevin, not sure if he would fit in Jon Brady et al team concept of a team of good Britishers?

On a separate note, where is he going on these holidays?

Italy, Milan

 ;D

Red List if he somehow gets there and then a 10 day at Holiday Inn on return

Are you serious?

Unfortunately, yes he will be...  8)

No of course not as I naturally assumed you weren't or was it sarcasm?

Italy is on the Amber list

the band are possibly back together again

??

Player, assistant or head of recruitment?

Calderwood as assistant perhaps?

I know he's assistant at Blackpool atm & being linked to the managers job at Orient but if he still lives local, you never know I guess...

He was meant to be our head of the International Academy back in October 2020...

https://www.ntfc.co.uk/news/20202/october/calderwood_international_academy/ (https://www.ntfc.co.uk/news/20202/october/calderwood_international_academy/)

He is still local - he lives in Boughton.

If we resign Vent Spleen it appears our new recruitment policy will be to bring in petulant show ponies with an attitude problem and a disruptive influence in the dressing room? Not totally convinced that’s the intention?

Was he? Or was he a player who wanted to win every game which wasn't necessarily reflected in the rest of the dressing room??

He was just mis understood, a complex character  :P

Parrish as assistant? The club are having a bit of a dig at him on Facebook this morning talking about him scoring a tap in against Cardiff in the playoffs...

 ;D ;D Brilliant

His Twitter Account Slogan HARD WORK beats talent, when talent doesn't WORK HARD!!!!!!

Seems to fit with JB's stance

Pure speculation on my part but he was academy manager for us (although I think that was before Brady's time) and is currently U23 assistant manager at Wolves (who also employ a certain Mr Atkins...)

He has strong links to the club though, which is also something Brady seems to value

He could have warned us about BAS before we paid money for him!  ;D

That’s just what I was thinking - if we get Parrish as Assistant Manager and Atkins as Head of Recruitment are we recreating the Wolves set up and if so why didn’t we get any warnings about BAS.  Who knows, he might come good next season but he’s shown nothing so far to suggest it.

Sean Parrish is a good mate of Sammo.

Will we get to wear the Portuguese kit?

Among a long list of released Swindon players are Missilou and Hallam Hope.

If Curle get's the Oldham job permanently, both will probably end up there!

I've always rated Hope tbh...still only 27

No surprise with Missilou, as for BAS he needs a job that involves rolling around on the ground, breakdancer ?

Lee Novak from Bradford has been released he wouldnt be a bad signing if brady can get the best out of him

So Powell got released by Crewe, backs up my spot at Sixfields the other day

It’s ironic that with all the ex Cobblers being “linked” this is probably the one that least excites me and the one most likely to happen.  I suppose he could do a job in League 2 but he’s been in and out of Crewe’s side a lot due to injury this season.

A mature, logical and interesting interpretation that puts my somewhat emotional outburst to shame. Still think he’s a knob though.

 ;D 8)

If he is resigned it just shows the ambition of the club

Long time no see.

I think the most important signing for us is going to be the goalkeeper, who was the last dependable one we had? Who would be available and decent for L2?

I don't think we will see any strikers in unless some move on, think Chuk should be starting every game at L2 level if he is still with us.

On the current squad, is this what we have at the moment?

GK: Woods (Academy)

Defenders: Harriman, Bolger (Maybe gone), Horsfall, Mills, Dyche, Flanagan

Midfielders: Sowerby, McWilliams, Cross

Forwards: Hoskins, Chuk, Rose, Smith, BAS

Bryn Morris is on the release list for Pompey today. I for one would be happy to see him return! I think he is a League One level player and could see him being someone to control games for us in League Two. Also if we are going to play two strikers as Brady mentioned I think McWilliams and Morris will be able to play as a two in the middle of the pitch quite well as they compliment each other's skillsets nicely. What are everyone's thoughts on Morris returning?

It’s all about opinions but not for me thanks. He started off pretty well but then it got to the point where I didn’t even realise he was playing. Plus he is very, very slow.

6/10 for me. Not quite a midfield general, not quite a dominant tackling type, not quite a quality ball player. An ok sort of player so wouldn’t be thrilled to see him sign, but we could do worse if that makes sense?

I wouldn’t sign Morris, If we didn’t already have Sowerby contracted then maybe but I would rather see the budget spent elsewhere on more creative midfielders.

Exactly, Morris pretty much the same type of player as Sowerby, who's already in contract so a definite no from me...

JB has said he wants pace, power & athleticism...that in itself rules out a Morris return...

So many players available so the sooner we appoint the head of recruitment the better...

Unfortunately the pace, power and athleticism thing would apply to Daniel Powell - just a shame JB didn’t add end product.

Bang on the money for me OCoole. Would definitely do a job for us.

Don't we still have Dylan Berry as a goalkeeper, he was the choice ahead of Woods before he got injured.

I think so, can't see him listed anywhere though.

Yep I’d definitely have him back, miles better than Sowerby, a McWilliams and Morris pairing would be more than good enough for the pub league.

I wonder will you ever post without making any form of derogatory comment ??

It’s a little bit worrying that if we get Morris back, Watson and Lloyd sign we only have 2 spots in the starting line up left to fill, a RB and GK.

Last year our RB was one of our strongest players.

Last year our starting 11 bar a couple of individuals were absolutely piss poor.

Arguably 4 or 5 spots, as we will need new wide players (Hoskins might not be guaranteed a start) along with a new forward. Mills might have competition at LB also.

In my opinion the centre back and centre midfield areas were by far our strongest areas of the pitch last season and do not require revolution particularly as the comparative quality of the division will be comfortably worse next year. We need considerable improvements in our goalkeeper and wide players. A midfield playmaker with a bit of pace who can play between the lines would also make a huge difference. The wide players need to have the ability to beat their defender 1v1 and have decent delivery. Once these are in place I can actually see our forwards scoring a lot more.

So you basically want the midfield 3 that was consistently embarrassed in league 1. Progress.

Why on earth would we be clammering to resign anyone from this f***ing terrible season.

I reckon I agree with your posts more often that any other poster. And this is bang on the money for me. I’d be devastated if we had two of them let alone three.

I just think we need to be cautious with how we use our budget for next season. For me it’s clear the two areas where as much as possible needs to be spent are creativity and goal scoring. There is also no guarantee our top scorer (from midfield) will resign too, our attackers were woeful last year with under Brady goals more likely to come from the full back and centre back than a striker.

I'd find Morris a pretty underwhelming signing. He fills a shirt and does little wrong, but it's hard to say what role it is he fulfils in midfield. He'd make an adequate squad member as he could act as reasonable cover across a few midfield slots, but coming from Pompey I suspect he'd be looking for more money than we should be spending on a reserve.

Watson won fans player of the year and was our top scorer, and McWilliams came 3rd in the POTS vote. But you’d be devastated if both were still playing for us next year? It’s so reductionist the old  ‘everyone’s bad start it all again’. Do you really think it’s a good idea to have a complete new starting eleven?

Completely agree, we have areas in the team that are more than good enough to get us promoted and others that aren’t even close!.

Ash Taylor’s been released at Aberdeen!!
Would be great to see him back.......... Jokes

Another maligned player who before he became an untouchable for some was Player of the year!

Taylor would be very decent in League Two I reckon, bit of an donkey but could do with a dominant aerial presence. Obviously would have to be for a fraction of the wages he was on for his first stint here.

I dunno, it was when we dropped into League two last when he became awful. He was better in League 1 for some reason.

Interesting looking at the team stats where we were horrible. Really poor at possession and passing completion, but so were Gillingham who did fine. There were some more surprising finds as well. Our tackling sucess was near the bottom of the table. We attempted the least amount of dribbles in the league. Our shots on target was terrible, but in particular in the 6 yard box we were bottom by a bit.

If this year is all about the data, I guess that is what we'd be looking at.

That's not what I said.
In my opinion Morris would do a job for us in league two in central midfield, with or without McWilliams alongside him.
It's the other 4/5 positions ahead of the back four that Brady needs to do a job on.

100%, and I'm sure that Brady will agree. Oh, and the keeper too!

I think I would prefer Lloyd Jones and Horsfall to Ash Taylor.

Ash Taylor, no thanks.

πηγαίνεις στον εαυτό σου γαμώτο γαϊδουράκι.

Google translate is a wonderful tool.  ;D

Hope it made you chuckle 😂

Because when we dropped into League 2 he tried and failed to force his way out of the club to Peterborough

Hes better than what we have contracted and would do a job in league 2.

I hope we sign him if I am honest.

Eeyore... ;D

https://www.northamptonchron.co.uk/sport/football/jon-brady-on-loan-players-and-towns-goalkeeping-situation-3238102

I would assume with 5/6 strikers on the books, we are relying on some of those leaving before anymore coming in.

I doubt there will be many in line wishing to sign them!

Not many would disagree with this; you have already called for opinions if Morris was resigned with mixed results. If JB resigned Mitchell would people go along with JB’s decision?

Signing Chuck on a pro deal is a must this summer, for me he should be starting next season along side a newly signed striker.
Might be crazy but I do think if Smith is asked to leave he will secure a club with ease injuries permitting.
Can’t make my mind up on Rose, but has scored plenty in league 2 before.
BAS might be okay for league 2 if he stays on his feet.
Wouldn’t be a massive risk signing A Jones.

If we somehow get L Jones, Watson and Chuck to sign I think we will be right up there however at this stage I think we would be lucky even if 1 of them signs.
Huge summer ahead.

Opinion might be split on Morris, I don't think it will be on Mitchell.

Mitchell will be working for a living and playing semi pro v soon.
As for BAS, IMO he is the worst striker I have seen at any club for a very long time, what compounds this is the fact he thought he was too good for L1 and the Cobblers. I predict he will like it even less in the agricultural L2 and spend most of the season injured. A far better strategy would be to a) loan him to anyone stupid enough to pay his wages or b) sell him  :P

The determining factor in whether BAS , Rose and Smith will be at the club next season will be whether someone takes them off our hands at the same wage level or not .
Smith and Rose have a chance - BAS might as well paint the West Stand to earn his living .
Morris - not really . We need creative players with pace .

Does anyone think we have a realistic chance of signing an aging goalie (33+) from higher divisions that might get released in the summer?

Seems to be quite a few from the Championship that might be available, but guessing wages would be too high for us.

Would happily have Nicholls back after getting released by MK, he is still reasonably rated by their supporters it seems.

Completely agree, I think L Jones needs to sign first and then the keeper as absolute priorities.
We are light all over the pitch but the spine of the team is where you spend you cash.

I think if we can offer a 3 year deal to a strong keeper and sell the project of getting promoted and then establishing in L1 then it should be a possibility to do this. I think Ryan Allsop would be a great option for this - integral for getting Wycombe first settled in L1 then getting promoted to the Champ. According to Wycombe fans he is one of the best shot stoppers around under the Champ and was unlucky to lose his spot to Stockdale and to be released.

A cheaper option might be Callum Burton just released by Cambridge, only 24 but apparently played the second half of the season for them and a big part of getting them promoted, very unlucky to be released according to the U's fans - local so would be a good option even if just a back up?

What about Lee Nichols, a good age only 28, pretty experienced with around 150 games for the donkeys and was good when on loan from Wigan. A good height for a keeper and decent shot stopper. Probably lives locally. Worth a punt

Already been suggested on page 2 of this thread! ;D

Would be happy with either Lee Nicholls or Callum Burton (just released by Cambridge United, who's fans ain't happy about it) as our new number 1

If both have been released ie surplus to requirements by 1st and (an ex) 2nd League sides it says a lot they are probably not good enough for League 1. We should be aiming for a keeper who is without doubt capable at League 1 level and if possible also the Championship.

If you have never seen Burton play how are you sure he isn't L1 level? Cambridge fans saying he was their best keeper!

Players get released for all sorts of reasons. Do you know they've been released because the clubs deem them not good enough for League 1?

I know the club are trying to build a set up for the future, I wonder when they are planning on reaching the Championship ?

Perhaps they've cleaned out the old broom cupboard and found Cardoza's 5 year plan! ;D ;D

That seems ridiculously simplistic, we would have never signed Ricky Holmes on that basis who Portsmouth & their fans thought wasn’t good enough for league 2. Players who are universally deemed good enough to play at a certain level are not going to join a lower division club than that as they are obviously going to get better offers.
With goalkeepers in might not be a case they are released because they are not good enough but because the club don’t want to be paying a first team wage for a guy who might sit on the bench all season or because the player might want first team football.

there will be a reason Nicholls has been released by MK - it might be down to fitness from looking at him !
I would say there is more chance of Cornell coming back than Nicholls .
There must be a lot of keepers that want a first team chance that are currently third choice at decent clubs. It’s a case of if we can afford their wages .

Erhun Oztumer released by Charlton. Still only 29 and would solve our need for a playmaker to play through the lines. The question is would he sign for us?

No chance I would think, but a great player.

Agree, at his best a very good player.

Surprised that he is only 29 (30 at the end of this month), thought that he could do a decent job the couple of times I saw him against us for Walsall.

Surely, we could afford Callum Burton from Cambridge?!

I think I read somewhere that Brady has links and relationships with numerous Premier League clubs youth and development set-ups, one of which would be Liverpool where Barry Hunter is Chief Scout - Hunter and Brady would have been close from their playing days at Rushden & Diamonds.  It will be interesting to see if he exploits this link.

Yes, there was talk of JB going to work there himself. Think he had an opportunity...

Hopefully he’ll be able to source some raw diamonds both permanently and on loan - I think the market place for more established players is going to be incredibly competitive.

I think a few younger, cheaper options will allow him to spend more on key players. He said as much for the goalkeeping position. Wouldn't surprise me if one or two of the young players released by KC are resigned.

I had thought of this recently, would resigning Lashley as backup GK be a possibility. Was highly rated (according to some on here) and has spent the past season gaining experience - essentially on loan

I thought he was the best young keeper to come through the academy for a number of years so would be happy with this. JB might go for young keeper with more experience though.

Who has he been playing for?

https://twitter.com/efl_hub/status/1394679900318179336?s=20 (https://twitter.com/efl_hub/status/1394679900318179336?s=20)

Another random one from Twitter?

I watched him at the Arsenal FA Youth Cup game and thought that he looked like a very capable goalkeeper.  Granted it's only from that one game but I was surprised when he was released!

I thought it was Kettering but after some research it appears to be Cogenhoe (same level as Wellingborough & Rugby Town)

Hakeeb Adelakun, former Sc***horpe midfielder has been released from Bristol City, aged 24 and always impressed me when playing for Sc***horpe. Might be in our wage range ?

Good shout but why hasn't he been playing at Bristol City?

https://www.northamptonchron.co.uk/sport/football/retained-lists-all-the-players-to-have-been-released-by-league-one-clubs-so-far-3240515

Pick up your trolley before you wander the aisles...

Will it be Aldi or M&S?!

 ;D

Be interesting to see what Chambers does. At 35 he may have a season or two left and the only reports I've read he was on £4k a week at Ipswich, although never know how accurate these figures are.
From the highlights I've seen he'd still do a decent job in league 2. Difficult to know if he'll still get someone to see him as a 'name' signing or if he'll be happy just to play for anyone in the twilight of his career. Didn't realise he is in the ten top Ipswich players for appearances. Over 700 career appearances in total, so he has done well with injuries.

I wonder what the longest spell between stints for our club is?

The only thing about Luke is that he's been at Ipswich for 9 years so he's probably got kids in school, he could well be settled in Suffolk.

Good player who I’d be more than happy to sign, was on loan at Hull earlier in the season, my guess is he will probably get better offers than us.

Which gives him the option of Colchester and errrr....Felixstowe?! They do school from home these days  :P

A14, A45.
Players travel a lot further than a couple of hours. I would have thought, Cobblers, Cambridge, Stevenage, MK, Southend, P*sh... would all be good for his family life.
Who wants him, who can afford him and what level does he want to play at will be key though. I would guess only P*sh could get close to his current salary but doesnt match their recruitment policy. Cant see him going non league, cant see Cambridge getting close to a salary so between us and MK. Assuming either want him.

I'd offer a 2 year contract and pay for his coaching badges, or a journalism course etc

It would firmly frame our place in the football world as a club who gets a player on their way up, or way back down. That's why it's so exciting when we see the likes of JJOT, Bayo and Ricky Holmes playing some of their best stuff.
Out of the ex players I'd be happy to see him back.

I love the fact we discuss why players who have been released by other clubs won’t sign for us,  ;D

Not being funny, I really liked Chambers when we had him and I've followed his career with interest. He's done really well and been a very good player.

He's 35 though. When you get into that territory you start to get an increasing amount of niggling injuries that take longer to heal, as we've seen in recent seasons with McCormack and Sheehan; great players who really add to the team when they play but if you look at them in a cost-per-game basis I suspect they don't offer great value for money.

As much as my heart says it would be lovely to see him back to finish his career where it started, I can't help but think our money would be better spent elsewhere.

I take your point but he’s not been injury prone throughout his career and we’re desperate for a sprinkling of “old heads” and leaders. Thiago Silva hasn’t done bad for Chelsea and he’s older than Chambers?

Exactly, 700+ games! We must have realistic expectations on the kind of players we can attract. He could still be way outside of our affordability so maybe a pointless target. He may even decide to retire, he must have a tidy pension, who knows?!
I'm sure he'd do a great job for us, a leader, potential captain and would definitely ping a measured ball rather than the usual hoof we are used to.

I'm sure he's built up a tidy pot over the years. If he still feels an affinity with the club he may comeback but I dont think it'll be for the wages we can offer. What's his desire for football like?

If Colchester are interested in him we would, surely, have to offer substantially more with them being 15 minutes from Ipswich and us 2 hours, unless he is thinking of moving house.

IF L Jones re-signs is there a need for Chambers and would he be willing to be back-up? As surely Brady would continue with Horsfall and Jones as his preferred CB's

Am I missing something, why do we want a 35 year old ex player, 36 in  the early part of next season, we’ve just had a couple of those all be-it not ex players, who managed a few games between them.
Sign Lloyd Jones and get a young lad in who maybe we can make some money for running costs out of.

Yes I'd like to see Lloyd Jones signed but if he decides to move I think Luke would be a very good signing for a year. It's a bit harsh comparing him to McCormack & Sheehan who were both injury prone before they came, Chambers doesn't have that label.

For the amount of money that Chambers would likely ask coming from a club like Ipswich, if we have that money it should be given to Lloyd Jones.

At this stage of their careers Jones is the better player and by the end of next season the difference will be even more evident as Chambers will be 36.

I really hope that we are not even considering signing a 35 year old, regardless of his injury history, as it has not proved particularly successful in recent seasons. That would also apply to Nugent who has been often touted on here.

This. 100%.

The biggest mistake we make year in year out is building a team to get promoted (yes, we do get promoted or come close fairly often from league2), and then once up, having to adapt to league1 with a totally different team. Calderwood took us up with the likes of Taylor, Jess, Dyche etc.

Its alright having one or two, experience is very important. But we always end up having loads of 30plus players!

Spend the £ elsewhere on the team. Chambers wouldn't touch us for less than 2 grand a week, why should he? Unless of course he lives in or near Northampton. Great player for us and he's been a great player since, but lets not forget a bang average league1 club has released him so he cant be that bloody good any more can he?!!

The other point is that Lloyd Jones could be worth a decent sum of money to us halfway through a 2 year contract or so whilst Chambers will be worthless.

An easy choice for us if that's the choice we have to make.

It’s interesting that according to Wikipedia L Jones has only made 95 career appearances at the age of 25 - he really needs to kick on now and we have given him the opportunity and the captaincy to boot.  I just hope he’s listening to the right people.

So that’s it then, we’ve made a decision, we are not going to sign Chambers, who was not going to sign anyway, we are going to sign Lloyd Jones, who also isn’t going to sign.  ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D
With purpose like this you can see the need for a committee.

 ;D

I would only like to pointlessly add to the pointless debate that Luke Chambers missus family have property here and still live in the County I do believe.

But perhaps he wants to keep a safe distance from the mother-in-law.

Hands up for a fan owned club, anyone?   ;D ;D

Next item on the agenda….Bayo   ;D

Can we add this as a metric for our new data driven approach?  ;D

Every year its same old dross.

Like everyones playing football manager .

As always we won't sign anyone on here mentioned by some quite out of touch fans. Our best players in Jones and Watson will leave and everyone will be underwhelmed who we do sign.

Then everyone will start talking about Morley/Hill or the Wilder years

Is he coming back?

Christian Lee is coming out of retirement.
Got bags of potential, he could be our first million pound player!!

Yeah, another important KBI is to achieve a combined first team age of 350. He really helps the average.  ;D

Malcom Christie is doing TV work these days so we can count him out. Looks like our only option is ex players

Are you sure?? I'm certain I saw him in the club shop the other day  :o

I saw Bayo in Pizza Hut, Frankie and Bennys, TGIs and Mc Donald’s?

Which night?

Last Tuesday.

After he'd been in the Club Shop?

You saw him as well  8)

.. wasn't that Ali Gibb, when Rangers were in for him ?  8)

Ali Gibb = Sam Hoskins.

I think you'll find Wendy got a restraining order to stop all that; the bloke was in there all the time making a nuisance of himself, always angling for a contract.

My god, you're right.

Quick, someone send Stevie G the Sammy highlight reel.

So Owlie what’s kept you away for 7 months?

More likely the chip shop. ;D

No he’s not. Ali Gibb was much worse and only scored two goals. His crossing tended to go out for throw ins on the other side. However, I’m pretty sure he left to play in a higher league with Stockport

Too far away and she becomes an overnight guest, reckon he could be up for moving a bit closer, but not too close. Needs military style strategic planning.

So, are we in agreement? Chambers is a no but Bayo is a maybe. - Are we the committee?   

If we are looking at old players, ones who have a connection to the club, and a link to the management team... Larry is only recently retired! Could be an option from the bench. Especially with Atkins being DoF

Chop the head off Super Sam, replace it with Ali Gibbs and in my mind at least you get the same barrel chested slightly forward leaning slightly manic player.
Didnt Ali become a lawyer? I seem to remember he was studying whilst (invariably) sat on the bench for us.
I wonder what's gonna happen to super Sam once his career ends, not that I expect that to happen any time soon. He must have at least another 200 games for us left in him.

I think that was Josh Low who was studying to be a lawyer.

Stalker Alert !!!!!!!

Turns out Ali is now senior physio at Bolton academy (according to wiki) so I got that one wrong.
Josh Low a lawyer eh? Who'd have thought.

Down in Bristol. I'm sure he earns more now than when he was a pro-baller.

https://www.linkedin.com/in/josh-low-a078ab79/?originalSubdomain=uk

Professional people often don't earn as much as you might think. Some do, many don't.

Neither do footballers! He'll be OK and still only 42. It's good to see a footballer carving a decent career after the game. Most of them are consumed from a young age and must struggle to varying degrees once on the scrap heap.

I didnt have Josh down as a future lawyer, I gotta admit.

https://www.northamptonchron.co.uk/sport/football/carr-believes-cobblers-must-target-two-centre-forwards-this-summer-3245358

https://www.ntfc.co.uk/news/2021/may/martin_foyle/

Foyle returns as head of recruitment.

Is it time for a cheeky bid for Morton whilst manager-less WBA balance the books?

It’s back to Charlie and the Chocolate Factory for the little scamp.

Currently he is our 'little scamp' that opposition teams don't like playing against.  ;)

Fcuk me he annoys the sh1t out of them as well!

Motherwell Fans on Twitter think we will look at Louis Moult

;D ;D

???

Nope.
Ali Gibb was linked with a £1m move to Rangers after the West Ham cup game.
Christian Lee was being touted to be be our first 1m sale when he started playing after his move from Doncaster.
Unfortunately that never happened🤨

That’s good to hear strikers are a priority, hopefully Rose, BAS & Smith will be made available for transfer

Oh, you know, just generally minding my own business. Us owls have to work hard to keep warm in the winter months.

Not so much away, just not motivated by much that was happening to feel the need to share it on here. I like to tune in to these bi-annual rumour threads more often, mainly to check Malcolm Christie is definitely still signing.

Good to hear all is well tho'. I suspected it might have been the poor form!

I can see Rose and possibly Smith getting some interest but it depends what they’re on I suppose, as for BAS who in their right mind would take him after the season he has had?

Derngate for a Panto?

It’s behind you!

“Oh no they won’t”

Guess which one? I’ll give you a clue, he has fell over and left a glass slipper behind.

They couldn't get Sir Norman Wisdom this year, he'll be an ideal replacement.  ;)

Normans a far better footballer than BAS though.

He was, he was also a decent boxer... ;)

I assumed it was the plight of Wednesday.

I heard BAS has got the lead role for this Christmas’ extravaganza at the NEC - Bambi on Ice.

Only just got that Forever - Good one!

Am I right in thinking if Brentford win the play off final we will be due extra money on the Goode transfer?.

Yes and we would get some kick back from Toney,  Newcastle have clauses and we would get some of that.

Any money Newcastle make on IT = cash for us.

Hopefully a bit of a win-win - if Brentford go up we get £ for Goode and if they don’t Toney will likely leave and we get £. If Brentford go up and Toney also leaves then we’re laughing!

It'll reduce the debt owed to our custodians that's for sure.

Why would we get anything from Toney? He’s a couple of moves on from Newcastle.

I never understand why people think this about ex players 3 or 4 moves down the line. It makes no sense

The only thing you would continue to get is agreed installments.

anyone thinking we will get anything substantial ( or at all ) for a Toney move must be living in fantasy land.
At least we have Graham Carr on board who will certainly know the details of that deal .
Ivan has a lot to thank Emile Sinclair for .
If Emile wasn’t so utterly pathetic , Wilder would never have brought him on in those early games and the rest , my friends is history .

At a guess, if there have always been sell-on clauses in Toney's transfers since leaving us, then we will be due a % of a % of a %. So got to doubt it would be enough to change our budget at all, even if the fee was huge.

The agreement was that the East Stand gets completed when Toney scores the winner in the Champions League final.

;D

I think we can assume that neither Jones nor Watson are keen to re-sign for us (two weeks since they had offers). Any news on Pollock ?

Jones on the beach in Portugal (or Milan)...there is a chance with him!

Really hope we've put clear deadlines in for both Jones & Watson to sign...obviously want them both to but we can't let this drag on or accept the old  "gentlemens agreement" like what happened with Oliver  ::)

Same goes for Bolger, who hopefully will find another club, as he won't get any game time under Brady and this will free up a decent L1 wage.

Yep, it’s like deja vu.

Unfortunately that’s the risk we’re going to have to take with our only decent players - we either wait for Lloyd to have had his 2 holidays and hope he decides to stay or we draw the line and move on to possibly inferior alternatives.

Agreed....when we sold him to Newcastle for the paltry fee of 250k or whatever it was we could have had an agreement where we got a cut of his sell on value. He moved to Peterborough for a reported £650k so we could have got a bit then. (50% of any profit might have netted us another £200k for example)
But really, if anyone things we'd get a cut of Peterborough's profits when they sold him to Brentford, then you need to have a word with yourselves!! Peterborough apparently inserted a load of sell on clauses which could see their original £5m rise to £10m...... and i'm sure that if Toney does make the Premier League, or he does an "Olly Watkins" and moves elsewhere for megabucks then Posh will get a few more millions in the bank.....as for us, we sold him cheap because the Chairman at the time needed a bit of cash. We had our chance and blew it.....as usual!

Incorrect... Newcastle have sell on clauses with Posh,  we have sell on clauses with Newcastle

There is a knock on everytime he moves for more than we, Newcastle or Peterborough sold him for.

If Peterborough make a profit so do Newcastle and therfore we get a slice.

Didn't say it was a big slice,  but its still cash.

You would be surprised at some of the kick backs we have had over the years,  for players you probably dont even remember.

Suprise me.

How long ago did a transfer from one club to another stop being a simple single transaction and turn into a multifaceted deal involving adds on and clauses in favour of former clubs?

£250k ???
i would seriously question that figure or anything like it .

https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/56868097
Maybe shed some light for those that didnt see it

so Carr stitched us up?

Why Aye man.
He was working for Newcastle at the time so I guess he did his job.
All together now...... he’s got no hair but we don’t care.......

£200k for a young unproven player at our level isn’t bad business but shows our place in the world. He’s certainly not the player that left us and could have gone either way. P*sh have nailed it when it comes to cashing in on talent.
Wonder what the £250k for Richard Hill equates to today? There’s an example of how things can quickly turn sour!

£258K in 1987 would equate to around £750K in today's money, less than we got for Goode.

Emmmm compound inflation is about 3.3% linear so it’s nearer to £800k, unfortunately that doesn’t really tell the full story, it’s not just the inflation on the capital it’s the overall market place, their is way more money in football now, mainly coming from advertisers and of course broadcasting, streaming etc so the whole value of footballers has been inflated, so MR Hill would have probably gone for well over a million.

It's all relative I guess as there weren't many lower league players going for (the equivalent) of £750k back in the 80's. They are disproportionally higher these days so difficult to compare. In real terms it's probably a bigger story than the £1m or so for Goode, which is relative peanuts.

Edit....or what MW said  :P

;D

It seems crazy to think the world record transfer in 1982 was £3M then in 1984 it was £5M both for Maradona.

21 pages in....

Almost as painful as our season

It' taking a long time to appoint JB's experienced assistant, or have I missed something.

Someone somewhere mentioned Calderwood as he still lives local, but as he's still in the play offs with Blackpool atm, things will have to wait.

Someone else mentioned Parrish (currently at Wolves)

Someone itk must know something?

My Dad and I went for a hospitality tour during our promotion year.

Wilder was asked a question about the Toney transfer and was openly livid about the fee we received. He clearly had a sense that he had the potential to make it big.

The problem is that at our level and track record we are never going to make the mega bucks. We need to get into the same dealing league as P*sh to be seeing the £5m+ sales. They also go onto become players they never would if they hung around. If he’d stayed and had a good season we may have seen £1m+
It’s just nice to look on and see a local lad being successful, especially an ex-Cobbler. If it wasn’t so far north maybe Wilder could have had him back.

So an actual rumour at last...Rob Hall released from Oxford United

Good player, would certainly be a thumbs up from me.

My only concern would be how his knee is holding up, didn't he have a really bad ACL injury and keeps re-injuring it?

In that case, he's bound to end up here then!  :(
Nuttall anyone?

Yeah he fits the cobblers criteria, been injured, doubtlessly talented, loaned to FGR then released.
He would need to prove his to prove his fitness first with a very robust medical, we need to move away from signing injured players FFS!

This afternoon’s headlines:
1) Lee Nichols signs for Huddersfield - not that he was ever going to give us a second look!?
2) KC signs a 2 year contract at Oldham- proving the very relevant adage that Dominic Cummings has been chatting about all day ... “the s***ter you are the more you progress!” Aka “The Peter Principle!”

3) Ex Cobbler, Mark Hughes, signed up by Joey B. - 34 year old but might do a job fir them?

Forgive my ignorance but how are clubs signing players when the transfer window is not open. They may have been released by there clubs but there contracts run until 1st of June don't they, or have I missed something.

They have pre-agreed the terms for their contracts at their new clubs in advance of their current deal ending. Technically any player over 24 in England can agree to move elsewhere domestically free of inter-club compensation once they enter the final month of their contract, whether their club has placed them on the release list or offered them a new deal. They can actually agree terms with another club outside of England after entering the final 6 months of their deal - although that's not so much of a problem when you have a squad such as ours!  ;D

https://crewe.nub.news/n/crewe-alex-locally-born-midfielder-on-the-radar?fbclid=IwAR3QDaebv6joiWLm6iw_00IV5twsrlqtXoKvGTYN_qHXeuF83dl509CIJII

Could be paper talk but as I said weeks ago I think they will both leave.

TBH I was surprised when Watson was still with us for this season!

Really? He isn't that good! Like, good enough for someone to take a gamble on him with a free maybe, but he's not a standout League 1 player.

I would agree with Welly that perhaps Watson is 'not that good', but having said that yet again it would seem our 'player of the season' has up and left us immediately after picking up the accolade.  On another matter, can anyone inform me what with KC agreeing a full time contract with Oldham Athletic that it means we do not have to pay the rest of his outstanding contract with us?

Watson has one significant attribute...arriving on the edge of the box in a timely fashion and putting a shot away from a loose ball/lay off. He's very good at that.

I think aside from that, he's a fine league2 player, but very average in league1. BUT goal scoring is a huge attribute to have, so that kind of masks everything else where he's probably not great.

This isn't a slur. If we'd had 11 average league1 players we'd have finished midtable in league1! He's therefore just the right sort of player we need at this moment in time. Get us out of league2 (again), then stabilise us in league1!

I shouldn't of thought a club like Crewe will have much weight in terms of them being in league1 versus a league2 team. It will come down to £. He's 27, unlikely he will ever play above the lower two divisions. They bobble about in the lower two divisions just like we do. If its exactly the same contract being offered, hypothetically, he'd probably go with the club closest to home. Different for a player who is 22/23/24 because their aspirations will be to play as high up the pyramid as possible, regardless (within reason).

Id say we've got a much more realistic chance of keeping Watson than Jones. I too though would be surprised if either signs for us. I don't have much faith at the minute that we are going to be pushing the boat out financially to put in a strong challenge next season, the next few weeks will either blow that lack of faith out the water or confirm it. Fingers crossed I'm wrong, obviously!!

Does he still live up North?

He has been with us, MK and Barnet in the last 5/6 years so thought he may be settled down here by now.

Think Watson/McWilliams would be a fine midfield pairing for us in L2.

Hopefully have news on him and LJ soon though, otherwise it's back to the norm for us in waiting for our best players to re-sign, they don't and then we rush into picking up whoever might be available for the sake of it.

See the Rob Hall rumour is picking up some traction, really hope we do a thorough medical like MW suggests if that is the case.

Managed 18.5 games per year since 2013. Can't see him being any more use than Marshall would have been. I don't know why you would ever risk picking up a similar player when its seemingly a gamble if they will work out. The risk/reward does not add up.

He lives in Market Harborough

Hall isn’t that good a player to merit the risk for me.

Someone’s got to.

Harboroughs all right. Can anyone recall the name of the pub, on the corner, that had sawdust on the floor?

Finger on button comment so easy to agree!

Our lemon of a centre half has decided he doesn’t want to be here next year

Great news Bolger is leaving

That’s great news, I hope someone told him the feelings mutual.

YES!!!

Hopefully, KC will sign him again...HOOF...worst NTFC captain ever!

Will free up at least two decent L2 wages I'd guess

i bet the instant the second hand ticked passed the two week time frame on Bolger , the club sent the email to say his time was up - thanks very much .
Absolutely useless and the fact Lincoln paid most of his wages still is testament to the fact they think the same thing .

I wonder if Wolves would ..........nah.

https://www.northamptonchron.co.uk/sport/football/incomings-expected-soon-after-brady-meets-with-his-transfer-targets-3253035

https://www.northamptonchron.co.uk/sport/football/pollock-set-to-sign-new-deal-as-talks-continue-with-watson-and-jones-3252867

sadly we took him lock stock and barrel .
I would imagine we would pay his taxi fare if anytime was interested in a loan and then his weetabix every morning in a B&B

Duo in advanced talks with Crewe
https://twitter.com/zoneefl2/status/1398199101393616898?s=21

If that's the case we should withdraw the contract offers and get on with looking at others.

Doesnt mean they will leave. They could be in advanced talks, but if they are paying less than we can offer they may well stay

True, but also means they could keep us waiting and drag things out whilst they listen to every other offer and then sign for someone else anyway.

Hope we have set a deadline for them to have made a decision by.

Was it The Talbot?

Nothing on their Forum to support the Twitter tweet! Not surprising as the Twitter report lacks specific details.  Just hope we have offered Jones and Watson competitive contracts which are beyond the likes of Crewe.

With Bolger gone, we should be able to offer Jones a decent enough deal to commit.

Yes thank you.

Pollock has signed a new contract. That's great news if his injury problems are behind him.

Good news.

Hopefully Scotty is fit and will continue to get game time and develop.

He could be the Watson replacement if watson leaves

I would not be adverse to that if it means we can spend the money elsewhere.

Different type of player ixwouod have thought? More likely to fill the role Morris played.

The article in the Chron says Jones and Watson will be decided by the end of next week.
This to me is JBs first test! If they are still sniffing around for a better deal elsewhere by then, then withdraw the deal and look elsewhere.
If jones and Watson keep us fanning around until the end of June it will be last year all over again.
I trust you to do the right thing JB. No sign by Friday 4th, no sign at all!

The Swan

Happy in this instance to personally agree. >:D

ps of the two prefer Jones

Good news indeed....could be a valuable asset going forwards, both immediately and potentially in the future. Have always thought he looked mature for his age on the pitch..... a bit like McWilliams just with a bit more of the wow factor.....

Personally I disagree. From what we saw of him before under Curle he was more similar to Watson in the way he ended up in the box frequently and has a good strike of the ball on him. Perhaps Brady will see him better off trying to keep things ticking over from deeper midfield like Morris though!

Fair enough, all about opinions!

The Swan is in Braybooke. Not Harborough. And Shoemender has just kindly refreshed my memory bank, and he is correct, it was the Talbot.

I remember about 20 or more years ago, it was part of some sort of social “experiment”, in which the police tolerated, or turned a blind eye to, the smoking of illicit substances. Unfortunately it didn’t last long.
I think it closed a few years ago.

Thats the place. Oh yeah. I just looked on streetview, and it now is a charity shop.

The Three Swans in MH.

Thats not what you said, is it?

👍🏻 Not quite!

Toney puts a little bit closed to an extra half million payout for Goode. Matt Grimes captaining the opposition.

Come on you bees  :afro

James Heneghan has tweeted that "it's not a lot" but he doesn't know the exact amount. Certainly not half a million  ;D

Ivan Toney strikes me as a bit of a c@ck?

Absolutely nothing wrong with a bit of confidence, swagger and self-belief in a striker. He had it from day one when he broke into the team with us at 18 and without his goals we might have gone out of the league.

On the flip side, this season we've seen what happens when your strikers lack confidence and self-belief - it ain't pretty.

I thought he came over quite well, he was just over excited (with some justification).

Strikers  need that selfishness and confidence. Good luck to him in everything he does. He was only 16 when he debuted for us. Seems like he’s been around for ages yet only 22.

Or, even 25.

Thought he came across fine, he’s had an amazing season and deserves all the success.

Probably not the best place to post this, but the champions league  final, is on Youtube free of charge.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mnO3QQY5Jwo

Are we owed anything for Charlie Goode getting to the Premier League?

Is Charlie Goode anywhere near premier league standard? No way.

You'd hope we'd put in some decent clauses after being caught out before...but this piece looks more like sell on incentives, rather than a promotion one... ::)

https://www.northamptonchron.co.uk/sport/football/thomas-goode-transfer-was-very-good-deal-cobblers-2948684 (https://www.northamptonchron.co.uk/sport/football/thomas-goode-transfer-was-very-good-deal-cobblers-2948684)

I'm pretty sure Posh get another cool 1 million from the Toney deal now too (but those fvckers know how to negotiate a deal!)

I didn't think that he was Championship standard... ;)

Nor did Brentford 😂

Absolutely that.

He has proven the right to have the confidence and swagger, fair play to him.. It’s when players that try and have swagger without any justification that’s laughable. Take BAS for example, thinks he is to good to be here but hasn’t proven why!

If we are due any money from Brentford's promotion we can consider ourselves lucky as he has hardly made a contribution to their success.
Harry Kane will probably move abroad now to avoid the possibility of being marked by Charlie.

Yes, he must be petrified at the thought of being marked by Goode.

Why all this downer on Goode did ok for us all the way to the bank? Has he had a decent chance at Championship level? Let alone at Premier level!

Unfortunately when he first appeared for Brentford he attracted comments like "not good enough" and "definately a lower division player". I think he would certainly have been good enough for us in Division 1 and possibly he could make it at Championship level but I doubt he will have a Premiership career.

You have to laugh Brentford giving it the big one, can remember going to Griffin Park a few time when they were sh1t.
Easiest relegation bet if you fancy.

I also remember going there when we were s*** 😂

I havent got a downer on Charlie.
Quite the opposite, I thought we did good business selling him for a million, although I doubt much of that will have gone back into the playing budget.
I said at the time he wasnt good enough for the Championship if you care to look, and nothing since has changed my mind.

Clearly no transfer rumours then  ??? Going by the subjects being discussed on this thread  ::)

Where's ntfclad when you need him.

Ed Upson - midfielder from Bristol Rovers.

Apparently interested along with Bradford & Walsall.

Give Bayo Bayo a shout too.

I'll keep them coming  :P

Apparently in talks to sign Coventry City defender Jordan Thompson.

Anyone fancy another  :o

Charlton midfielder Darren Pratley along with Portsmouth & Gillingham.

Mark Marshall interesting Port Vale, Morecambe and Bolton.

Max Ehmer - defender from Bristol Rovers.

Us and Ipswich  ;D Ipswich have no chance then  ;D

This is not Windy's windmill.

Its the rumour mill...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dzwqBgWKalI

Play it and watch our next signing appear from the door.

I'm definitely choosing to interpret this as cryptic clue rather than a joke that Mickel Miller is returning from the Millers  8)

What has this Jordan Thompson been doing?, according to wiki since 2017 he has made only 30 appearances and only 6 for Coventry the rest for non league clubs.
Darren Pratley is now 36 and even if we are interested he will probably join 1 of the other clubs mentioned.

Excusing the ill placed sarcasm but Goode at his best might indeed give Kane a game to remember.

Blackpool getting promoted may well help is keep a player that we all want to stay .
But it’s still a long shot

Nuttall?  ;D

You’ve got to love Cobblers fans, talking about rumours of players and why they won’t sign because we are sh1t.
We should have signed LLoyd Jones on a longer contract in Jan, also letting M Marshall go is another mistake.

My favourite, Windy gets p1ssed on cider.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dsj29y7URNk

Nothing like getting p1ssed while operating rotating heavy machinery, a good lesson for a kids back in the 70’s

Windy Miller despite being pissed on the job was a true visionary of his time.

He refused the chance to "move with the times" as he was often accused by Brian Cant. However tempting he didn't want to take the fat Euro grant on offer to expand his mill and take on cheap Polish workers on zero hours contracts. He didn't believe this to be the future, just an unsustainable bubble of boom and bust, neither did he see the long term benefits for anyone of hiring cheap temporary foreign workers with no heart or desire.

Instead he concentrated on quality and especially sustainability, he could see how important this would become with mounting pressure on the environment from all the rapidly expanding businesses. Now and with the benefit of Brexit he sells his local homemade organic flour to artisan bakers throughout Islington, he also makes a killing from his equally organic "Windy" cider now selling for £15 a bottle in trendy bars around London and Manchester.

The big factory down the road who stole a lot of Windys market back then is now closing as they cant find enough cheap labour for their mass produced bleached flour shite, the local British people out of work don't want to work in a mill they want to be instagram influencers.

Cheers Windy, keep testing that Cider for quality and have one from me. A true visionary indeed.

Kin ell, how long did it take you to think that out, and then post it?

Quality!!   :P

Agree on the first point. Why didn’t we have an option in the clubs favour in the deal!?

Marshall I disagree with. Had one good game in about 20. Well below the standard required and I bet he wasn’t cheap either!

 ;D Not long, I have lots of time on my hands and a repetitive job!

Classic kids TV the quality of we will never see again, although I suspect back then the truck driver would've been on the sauce too.

It’s all about opinions mate, let’s see who we replace M Marshall with?
Yet another sleepy, can’t be arsed, eye of the ball decision the club constantly makes with regards to player contracts, Lloyd Jones contract should have been tied up ages ago.
It’s all tone from the top Thomas can’t be ar5ed then why should I!

Fabulous story. Made me chuckle. You did miss out the all important ending though ...
Windy contributed £30k to Boris to help him fund his 3rd divorce and 4th wedding. The Conservative Party made Windy a peer and now he has an exclusive deal for flour and cider based products at Wetherspoons.
Everybody lived happily ever after - well at least Sir Windy, Boris and Wetherspoons did!

You forgot the bit about Windy’s cider made for some excellent hand sanitizer on account of the high alcohol content, Boris made a quick call and a £50m contract later Windy now lives in the Bahamas and couldn’t give a fcuk.
That’s why I’m a Tory true blue, free market enterprise and a few contacts, it could be yoooouuuuuu.

could be a week for the pleasure beach

Calderwood?

Attention seeking??

He seems to be getting good at that!

More interested in us tying up a goalkeeper than an Assistant as this point.

Anyone heard any rumblings on this?

From a supporters perspective it’s in danger of all looking a bit messy - is Calderwood the prospective DoF or Assistant Manager? I’m sure Ian Atkins’ name was mentioned in despatches but that’s gone quiet? I’m sure (I hope) things are clearer behind the scenes but it would be nice to be kept in the loop as we need to be in a position to start to recruit on the pitch properly as soon as possible.

Is ‘Caveat’ your general approach to most things Cobblers?

Is denial yours?

You're completely right.... you shouldn't be ar5ed.
I'll miss your insight but what's right is right.

Thanks for that “Woody” it must get really uncomfortable?

Roll up, roll up…

Good or bad?

Should we expect an announcement tomorrow?

We off to the circus? The big top?

Is Billy Smart or one of the Chipperfield's signing?

A fùcking circus? Does that mean we've tempted Joey Barton away from Bristol to be assistant manager?

Just marking cards, unsure of how imminent but am told we’re close to our first

Had a text last night but was told this morning that a deal has moved on since then

From Witton Albion, midfielder.

Do you know the name of said player? If so, in your opinion, is he any good?

https://www.wittonalbionfc.co.uk/teams/171192/player/billy-smart-2043111

??

Only recently signed a new deal for next season.

I'd like to hope that if we wanted a player from tier 7 then we could settle a transfer fee with their club  ;D

Now you are joking  ;D

Have nether denied the Cobblers

It’s not that Smart chap

Is it Billy Thick or Billy Sharp then? Are we signing the Baldes captain?

I do but am sworn to secrecy for now, all signings at our level are hard to judge really aren’t they so my opinion probably doesn’t hold much value  ;D

We won't hold you to it  ;D Ok, at least tell us the position they play? Was roll up, roll up a clue?

Marking cards, roll up... somebody with the surname of a card reader perhaps!

Fortune? Devine?

If we get to clues I’ll start messages with CLUE  ;D

Jamie Mackie (out of retirement!)
Marek Suchy

Go on, drop us a vague clue  ;)

We need someone who is capable of going 'forward' and shooting when shouted at to do so by those in the crowd!  ;)

Who we are going to sign in the close season is always fascinating but I can't help feeling we are going to have to see a significant improvement from many of the lads already in the building for next season. I wonder what's been said to them. They need to pull their finger out.

Above all else, we need what we needed last year and frankly every year. A seasoned experienced campaigner who can influence the dressing room and drive the team during the game. Ideally one that can make it from the tunnel to the pitch without collapsing though. Ian Taylor MK2 would be very lovely thank you.

Another very good keeper up for grabs as Joe Day was released by Cardiff today. Didn't get into the side there but was brilliant in League Two previously at Newport County. Wouldn't be cheap but possible on a longer contract? Personally I think the keeper is one position not to scrimp on. Sign a really good number one and have faith in them.

Andy Lonergan has been released by West Brom 37, 6’4 and years at a highish level? Phil Jagielka as well and there you go. Easy this recruitment lark, don’t know what all the fuss is about.

Grandpa FC!

These young uns are alright for 10 minutes but they’ve got no stamina.

Anyone that starts with the phrase “ he wouldn’t be cheap” can be automatically ruled out .
The first news may well be about who is staying or otherwise.

Mitchell is resigning on a 5 year deal, to take us to the UCL.

"He wouldn't be expensive...."  8)

He’d need to be a net positive contributor and only ever back up. 😎

I don’t mind Mitchell at all. Some made him the fall guy for many of the games last season!

Not long now

Must. Not. Bite.


Also confirmed by James Heneghan. This will be a sign of what to expect this summer. Excitement, or bargain basements. Bring it on.

I’ve had the maracas out and I’ve thought of our new signings song already

That’s a decent clue- West Indies connection?

Bez from The Happy Mondays to provide vibes?

https://www.ntfc.co.uk/news/2021/june/nicke_kabamba/

New Goalscorer  ::)

https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/57318253

https://youtu.be/YicJPLT1dWU

My whelmed? It is under.

Don't be... he thinks he'll score a lot of goals here

The best thing you can say is that there are slight echoes of when we signed Oliver - having said that at least Oliver had a league track record. I’m assuming this would be a Foyle signing as he was working up in Scotland.  It doesn’t look great for Harry Smith that we’ve signed him.

This is the pond in which we are fishing .

You miserable sods!

Look, we've had plenty of strikers firing on all cylinders that have been **** here, Harrad, Constantine, and plenty of strikers who were misfits and became amazing, Bayo, Oliver. Like everybody, he has at least 5 games before I'll make my mind up on him, let's see the lad show what he can do before we decide if we are happy or not with the signing.

9 goals is more than twice what any of our strikers got in the league last year.

A decent 1 in 3 record across his career but the vast majority of those goals have come at a very low level. His goal return at national league or higher is considerably lower, however having just watched the scout report video the club have put out there's some really good hold up play, layoffs and knock downs. He looks like a more mobile version of Oliver.

I think someone with those attributes doing the dirty work alongside Rose could prove an effective combo. Welcome aboard the good ship Cobblers, Nicke!

Exactly, but I'll give him a bit longer than five games to adjust to the increase in standard... ;)

If Kabamba was coming in with crystal clear potential to score 20+ goals a season, he wouldn't be coming to Cobblers!
Vadaine Oliver came in with similar figures and worked his socks off and acheived a new career peak

Read that Kabamba was a sprinter in his youth and has some serious pace so even if he offers nothing else, he can stretch some teams
Something we havent been able to do in 2/3 years since Curle came in really

I'd have 11 track runners out there if I could!

Apparently he can't keep his footing, imagine him & Ashley-Seal upfront.  :D

One thing I will say is with Brady's background as a coach & his obvious intelligence as a person, I think he's a good bet to improve some rough diamonds.

We are starting to amass a lot of strikers! would make sense to get rid of a few. I would think Smith & Rose would probably be the most easy to offload.

Good luck Nicke. We wish you every success.

One comment regarding footing - Kilmarnock play on an artificial pitch which may be part of the problem.

Have we got enough right backs?  8)

Clarity beat me to it...but of course, Richie (the Valens) Wellens' La Bamba will be sung, chanted, hummed...and finally destroying brains around Sixfields for the coming months!

Seems like a decent signing and not sure what some people are expecting with a limited budget.
Importantly JB is getting to pick his own team and we’ll soon see if he is going to work some league two magic.
The keeper situation will be the biggy.

At least 3 or 4 on here are underwhelmed; of whom two already sharpening their knives. Talk about Deja Vu ::) Can see where JB is coming from; a team likely to bulldoze their way out of League 2!

Here’s what Killie fans think of him, my personal favourite is “ he’s nowhere near our level”
Enjoy.
https://www.killiefc.com/forum/index.php?/topic/11580-kabamba/

From the highlights reel he looks to be strong with a solid touch. We needed someone who could play with their back to goal last year. I think he looks a very good signing, a target man with a bit of mobility.

Without wishing to be argumentative, who has said anything about what our budget is likely to be?  I wouldn’t have thought Brady, Foyle (and Calderwood to come?) would have signed on for the “project” without assurances that we’re going to give it a decent crack?

Ba la la la Kabamba......

damn, too slow

me, not Kabamba, hes supposed to be rapid

https://www.killiefc.com/forum/index.php?/topic/11819-kabamba/

"That’s a much higher level that I expected"

https://salarysport.com/football/sky-bet-league-one/northampton-town/

At first glance he appears to have the physical attributes which we lacked last season: power and pace. However, we’ve made ‘first glance’ signings before and they haven’t got us very far.

I’d like to know the extent to which KT’s much-heralded new data-based approach was used for this signing. For instance, is his percentage of aerial duels won and his ratio of hold-ups to lay-offs significantly better than what we have already? (Killie fans’ testimony would suggest not.)

Also not sure that getting a former loanee full back to say a couple of words about his mate constitutes a thorough ‘character reference’.

I’m not getting at Kabamba per se here - as others have said he could well do a Vadaine Oliver and prove a very astute signing. What I’m concerned about is whether the recruitment process in general has improved. The first thing I would be asking KT/JB if I was a journalist (or in one of the open forums) is simply: tell me how this signing is evidence of an improved recruitment process.

Having read the Kiliie forum appreciated this comment :
" think there is a player in Kabamba if properly coached .Wasn't that lobg ago he was supposedly being scouted from Bournemouth .a very frustrating player reminds of Jerome Varielle "

The top two here is hilarious, jesus.

So we have one of the new strikers in, I am neither over or underwhelmed.

Time will tell if he is any good, remember how many people bemoaned Oliver last season and he bagged more than just a few at Gillingham this season.

Interesting to see exactly how "quick" he is compared to our current crop.

Killie fans though haven’t seen our useless bunch of strikers for comparison, 9 goals would definitely be a big improvement on what our guys got!.

No argument here. Wasn’t suggesting our budget isn’t competitive for league 2 but how many league 2 players generate any serious excitement, especially before you see them?!
If we get Atkins, Calderwood, Chambers, Bayo and why not Trevor Morley, we’ll have no money left.  :P

once we get rid of BAS and Smith we may have a bit more spending power , but who is likely to take them ?
I believe people will realise after this summer’s recruitment that actually the problem within this club is actually much deeper set .
No one has taken the club forward financially in a long time and questions must be asked over what happened to the Goode and play off money from last season.
Everything is in place from a football management point of view but no one can keep being expected to over perform by 10 league positions per season to cover up the cracks .

The Goode money was used for good old ‘running costs’ and meant that the chairman didn’t have to write any cheques until the end of April......
The playoffs would have cost the club money, there was no income, and the loss in match day revenue was negated by the FA cup run money and the PL bailout cash......

This playing budget crap. You need a team, players that will go the extra mile and never give up. Just ask the Morecambe fans what is possible. And it happens every year up and down the country.

Didn't we have that last season?

Your right the playing budget is crap, KT is throwing his toys out of his pram because the nasty council won’t give him his cake and eat it.

I can’t believe I’m going to defend KT here but….
If you are in a few million deep, plus playing to an empty stadium, anyone in their right mind would cut their cloth accordingly. Whether it is a big bucks sale, cup run etc, I don’t foresee the ‘profits’ being thrown at additional playing budget for the foreseeable. The only time we may see some bigger wedge is if we start flirting with the potential drop.
You have to assume we have a budget that is in the ball park of enabling some league two success on the pitch, so having the right management team is essential. IF JB ever starts complaining about a lack of resources then his credibility will probably already been left long behind him.

Because he's going to be brilliant. Next.

Give him a chance, he could be our new Vadaine Oliver

I didn't get the first la bamba clue despite being obvious, probably because its annoying shite,

I first thought of afrika bambaataa and Soul Sonic Force  :afro

Maybe my age or just the drugs I take.

https://www.thesun.co.uk/money/15133532/english-football-league-money-troubles/

This is possibly a bit racist and lazy but watching his highlight reel he looks like he could be a bit like Jamille Matt.  Hopefully this is the case as Matt has always been a handful at this level.

I think some fans can't make their mind up what they want.

Bring back the days when we used to turn up at the County Ground and support whoever was wearing Cobblers colours irrespective of their previous exploits, have the usual 'lost again' comments amongst us socially that night and forget about it until the next game.

But he’s not.

Spot on transfer info...

Apparently nicke kabamba once went on holiday to Blackpool as a youngster....

Or are we about to do some business with Blackpool in the next few days/months/years ??
Any more transfer clues??

No one has ever taken this football club forward financially, not one owner has managed to do that. Our two home grounds haven't helped that.

Secondly, not sure if you've been around Planet Earth recently, but football clubs haven't been able to earn a lot of money over the last 15 months and are still two months away from maybe starting to, although that's still TBC. The fact they've all managed to complete an entire season is quite a feat. So where do you think the Charlie Goode transfer money and the money from the FA Cup run has ended up?

Certainly not on refurbishing a house in Church Brampton.

Hence the big if. I’m sure he won’t and always prefer those accountable manager types. KT has shown faith on the back of a relegation, so I’m sure JB will want to show what he can do with a clean slate…or KT couldn’t be arsed to roll the dice again.
I predict we’ll be at the right end of the table this season….as long as he signs a goalie  :P
If not the merry go around will continue….

a little premature with your numpty comments even by your standards .

Wasn’t always the case as can remember Roly Mills, Leck, Everett and Sanders getting the ‘treatment’; no internet then but can remember some vocal opinion ringing out!

Oh me sides  ;D
Obviously your info didn’t stretch to today’s signing  ;D

I can match you’re accuracy....
We are about to sign some players who have league one/two experience before the season starts....

Not able to give names though blah blah blah

Just leave it to ntfc lad whose the only in the know poster left on here nowadays.

One source of genuine info and loads of guessers /attention seekers.

I have no idea whose signing and to be honest I’m not too fussed as unless Kelvin pulls his finger out and builds the much trumpeted redevelopment it will be a fourth season of sixfields exile for me.

Something needs to change and sadly the only certainty is unlike other clubs the change will not be bought about by the apathetic fans of Northampton who are more than satisfied bobbing along forever in league two...

Enjoy a few more seasons of on and off the field stagnation.
Il visit when things change

UTC

I prefer a successful team doing well in League 1 and support growing! Then that might be the time to think about redevelopment. Horse first followed by carriage! Without a successful side nothing much will happen!

You just cant keep away, can you?

Touche

oh dear .
Have you sought any kind of help at all ? It is freely available and people to talk to at the end of a phone .

Is there another thread where moaners and bigger picture stuff can happen and we can keep this clear for ntfclad to give us clues or anyone who has spotted Bayo in the sixfields McDonalds?

Here here...

Yes, you've got all the others to choose from  :)

In the voice of a Geordie, I fcuking luv moaning me.
Northampton fans special subject would be moaning, they even moan about people moaning.

Moan all you want, every club does it. Just thought this was a transfer window thread thats all haha
It gets tiring reading through the same comments about the greater picture behind the club between the odd actual whisper about an actual transfer or thoughts on transfers

You actually make a good point. We are notoriously misabable and this might be half our problem. Right, lets all fix this with a happy smiley disposition at games and general goodwill to all players. Glass not half full but overflowing from now on. Watch us smile our way through the leagues with the happiest bunch of players on record  :) ;) :D ;D

Come on ntfclad...who's in the pipeline? It's far better to be disappointed in advance.

We’ve signed Barry the barrel from Wellingborough Town and Big Steve from AFCRD (keeper), wages were a bit of an issue but it’s all sorted now, KT found a fiver in an old pair of jeans and the deal goes ahead

Good idea. Maybe we can call it the Shoemaker thread  >:D

Great! When's the official announcement  ;D

They hung up

You've just undone all of your good inside work, everyone knows Barry plays for Finedon.  :P

When the XXXXXXL shirt is ready

You’re not to far from the truth there.

The poster in question has already posted 4 statements in the closed season of transfer or staff movements, none of which have happened.

Agreed, if every poster followed suit and spouted nonsense a couple of times a day the message board would become worthless.

Best leave matters to the likes of NTFC lad rather than guessing with no substance.

Even a broken clock is right twice a day.

Indeed.

To put it into perspective, 526 people have been on this message board today. If each one guessed a club that we maybe in talks with one way or the other. There would be no point in this message board.

Easiest to let those that are in the know share in information they have, rather than spouting nonsense...

Can see you are an ‘if’ poster. Relatively few people post itk rumours on here. Out of the 500 odd viewing today only a small fraction perform this service(dry humour?). This fraction is diluted in any case down to 1 or 2 posters. If posters know of a transfer rumour with NTFC mentioned simply post it with a caveat if needs be. For me it is interesting rubbish’ 😇

Another player to have just been released from Kilmarnock who I wouldn't mind seeing at the Cobblers - Mitch Pinnock. Decent wide player only 26, did well at Dover and Wimbledon previously. Sure that Foyle will be aware of him?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RzGWb1AL63w (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RzGWb1AL63w)

I asked a monkey hanger mate about Kabamba, he said he has the skinniest legs he’s ever seen and then added he wouldn’t swop any of their current strikers for him!

That's certainly not filling me with confidence.

I'd imagine he'll take up place similar to where Miller was playing at the end of the last season rather than an out and out number 9, unless they change formation.

Given that he’s 6ft 3in and doesn’t look like he’s ever played out wide I can’t see him being anything but an “out and out” centre forward. I’m sure Evers will comment but I’m concerned by the fact that he’s 28 and has never scored an English league goal. Like Bungle referred to, I would be intrigued as to how and why he was identified as it wouldn’t appear that he has been outstanding anywhere he’s been.

I think the club used the new data engine enriched with AI, The algorithms used were somewhat like x-y x 3.142 = cy then they held a committee meeting and KT decided he was fučking cheap.

We get it, you don't like KT, but must you tell us in every thread?

It’s a JOKE lighten up a bit, the sun is shining, relax and your right and if you knew what I did you wouldn’t  like him either.

Yet again trying to build yourself up with inuendo. I do hope for you sake that what you think you know is not illegal, because if it is and you do nothing you then become an accessory and are open to the same level of prosecution that they are. Obviously this does not apply if you are married to DB or KT, which could explain some of the viriol you exude.