Thomas and Hayfield

[Paul1978]

Have to say our management team and scouting network have found 2 quality players from the lower levels of the English pyramid. Remarkable too think Thomas was 2 divisions lower than Conference South. Hayfield also a great signing from 1 level lower. Love it when a player is signed from lower levels and makes it. Last player I can really think of is Andy Sandell but I guess there's way more. Can anyone else remember any successful signings from lower leagues in recent years? Does stillman not come on this forum anymore. He'd answer this question instantly. Incredible knowledge that legend of the club.

[comrade powell]

Rex Mannings

[Dave]

Rex Mannings

[Paul1978]

Mannings good but replaced by an even better player in Thomas. Tight budget means he had to go.

[comrade powell]

Maybe that was so but his few appearances suggested his face didn’t fit.

[Paul1978]

I forgot Joe Raynes. How could I possibly forget him. He's one of our own too.

[Paul1978]

Maybe that was so but his few appearances suggested his face didn’t fit.

Maybe it didn't fit or maybe Thomas was being lined up mid way through last season. Beckhams face didn't fit with Ferguson and the bloke with the best right foot ever got booted out because of his relationship with posh spice.

[comrade powell]

Or perhaps both could have been accommodated in the squad at the expense of another?

(and good try but I’m not biting regarding Beckham! )

[PHILB1973#]

I should had just posted a link to the Alex Fletcher thread as he's ex Tivvy.

[Paul1978]

Or perhaps both could have been accommodated in the squad at the expense of another?

(and good try but I’m not biting regarding Beckham! )

Who would you leave out our current squad for Mannings?

[Paul1978]

I should had just posted a link to the Alex Fletcher thread as he's ex Tivvy.

Wow forgot he was signed from a lower level too.

[Peter Newman]

Not sure what is meant by recent years but how about Darren Edwards.

[comrade powell]

Or perhaps both could have been accommodated in the squad at the expense of another?

(and good try but I’m not biting regarding Beckham! )

Who would you leave out our current squad for Mannings?

I’m not talking about the current squad as Mannings isn’t part of it. I’ve posted many times on my opinion of last season’s midfield and he and Spokes were the only ones released. Who I’d leave out is irrelevant - but two of our midfielders have made three starts so far between them. I think Mannings could have offered more than that. Did you watch him at all last season?

[Digger]

Maybe that was so but his few appearances suggested his face didn’t fit.

Despite being ' a player I've been after....,'

[Paul1978]

Or perhaps both could have been accommodated in the squad at the expense of another?

(and good try but I’m not biting regarding Beckham! )

Who would you leave out our current squad for Mannings?

I’m not talking about the current squad as Mannings isn’t part of it. I’ve posted many times on my opinion of last season’s midfield and he and Spokes were the only ones released. Who I’d leave out is irrelevant - but two of our midfielders have made three starts so far between them. I think Mannings could have offered more than that. Did you watch him at all last season?

Never seem him live but I can't see how he's better than Thomas. No way. So the correct decision has been made to release Mannings. Haven't followed WSM performance this season. Is he playing well. I assume he is. Sorry powll I've only just started reading the forum again so haven't seen posts about last seasons midfield. That's all history now anyway.

[Paul1978]

Do you mean Mannings is better than Lines and Frear. I guess those 2 started 3 games between them. I'd rather have Lines and Frear than Mannings and Spokes. They offer invaluable experience in the dressing room as well as on the pitch. They'll be needed at some point with such a small squad. We seam too have many leaders on the pitch.

[Paul1978]

Maybe that was so but his few appearances suggested his face didn’t fit.

Despite being ' a player I've been after....,'

doesn't every manager say that on a new signing. Can't exactly say anything else. Some players succeed some fail. This is history. Time to move on.

[BenE]

There seems to be one player each season who never gets given a proper chance. I think the expression is that 'the manager doesn't have confidence in them'. It is difficult to judge how good or bad they are.
But you can get an idea by how their career goes afterwards. Chippenham and especially Taunton seem to be able to resurrect the careers of some of our flops / discards.
I thought Freer was lucky to be retained but he will not let you down wherever he plays so is useful on the bench. At times last season Lines was our standout player so it is surprising he has started so rarely but I suppose Smith's improvement is the reason for that.
I would pick out Russe as being the best import this season.

[Paul1978]

There seems to be one player each season who never gets given a proper chance. I think the expression is that  'the manager doesn't have confidence in them'. It is difficult to judge how good or bad they are.
But you can get an idea by how their career goes afterwards. Chippenham and especially Taunton seem to be able to resurrect the careers of some of our flops / discards.
I thought Freer was lucky to be retained but he will not let you down wherever he plays so is useful on the bench. At times last season Lines was our standout player so it is surprising he has started so rarely but I suppose Smith's improvement is the reason for that.
I would pick out Russe as being the best import this season.

yes russe, greenslade and parselle all ex chippenham and we've certainly poached there best players the last few years. however surprisingly chippenham still recruit well and seam to hold there own in conference south so fair play too them. hopefully will keep poaching there best players.
who have chippenham and taunton resurected?. think most went to taunton when they were southern league. last season they were nearly relegated. stearn of course a legend. loved him. ball loved too. mcootie was decent. lloyd james ex football league player, jarvis can't stand him, sims burgess gone on loan too yate. chippenham, eddie jones who dont track back and spokes, dont know much about spokes but im sure ruuse is better. chippenham never resurected adam mann, ryan brunt. im strugging too think of one resurection who went to chippenham.

[Dave]

adam mann

There's another one plucked from levels below who flourished. Just a shame for us that his heart wasn't in it at all for the last six months or more while pursuing a modelling career, delighted for him that it's worked out though.

[Guest]

On resurrections I’m told Luke Spokes is running games for Chippenham - almost played every minute. He’s not a JG midfielder so wasn’t going to hack it here but I know he was highly thought of by his peers here.

[Paul1978]

On resurrections I’m told Luke Spokes is running games for Chippenham - almost played every minute. He’s not a JG midfielder so wasn’t going to hack it here but I know he was highly thought of by his peers here.

Russe over Spokes any day. Watch Russe celebrations on you tube when we win. He's like Harris, Hoggy, Holloway. Every good side needs a fired up player. Raises fans and players around him. I'm sure your instigating but if you believe Spokes should be in our small squad at instead of Hayfield, Russe, Lines or Smith fair enough.

[Luton Roman]

On resurrections I’m told Luke Spokes is running games for Chippenham - almost played every minute. He’s not a JG midfielder so wasn’t going to hack it here but I know he was highly thought of by his peers here.

Horses for courses, and Russe exactly right for this track at the moment.

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