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Originally posted by Jimbokav1971:
Despite performing heroics in the Conference South Playoff Final, Jonathan Briggs will not be with the club next season. His youth contract has expired and he will not be offered a new one.
Disgraceful way to treat a club hero! Did he just play the one game, or did he play in the Guiseley game too?
Barnet's Ramon Calliste scored his 3rd International goal in his appearance as Wales hammered Azerbaijan 4-0 in Cardiff. Fulham's Ryan Shawcross was in the match squad but didn't feature. Ryan now has 23 Welsh caps but worringly has only picked up 2 this season.
The Grays board have announced that the transfer budget for this season will be £1,000.00. They will let me keep 55% of any monies I bring in through the sale of players.
Gary Battersby has been voted Grays' Player of the Year by the supporters. I personally would have gone for Barnet player Jonesy. Maybe the fact that he was only a loan signing made the difference. Gary did have a good season. He played some part in 43 games, scored 2 goals and created 10 assists. Surprisingly, he received only 1 MOM award. He is currently valued at £22,000 and is has 4 years left on a £100pw contract.
Acadamy goalkeeper Mark Cox has been promoted to the U18's squad. The 15 year old looks pretty poor at best to be honest. He's a local lad and is on a £10pw contract.
Gary Crosby who was promoted from Coach to Assistant Manager last year, has reported that the players retuened to the club today ready for pre-season training, but that 3 players were injured and unable to train.
17 year old midfielder Gary Naylor is suffering from a virus. He will be out for between 6 days and 3 weeks. Gary made 6 starts last season but I don't think he is ready for the next step.
Experienced keeper Nicky Eyre is still recovering from his ankle injury that he received during the playoffs last season. He is due back in the next couple of days.
Right winger Adam Hall broke his foot towards the end of the last season. He will return to training in about a week.
Barnet player Jordan Fitzpatrick has revealed to his manager Brian Borrows that he is unhappy with the recent sale of goalkeeper Craig Gill.
The midfielder made clear his belief that the club cannot hope to succeed if they continue to sell their star players.
Gill had made a good finish to last seasons league campaign, and had taken over from Paul Jones as the first choice keeper. Gill has signed for Premiership Aston Villa for a fee of £600,000. He is now valued at £1,200,000. With Paul Jones also having left the club in a £50,000 deal that took him to Premiership Leeds, (where he is currently valued at £825,000.), and out of favour Sean O'Neill having joined Grays on a free , it remains to be seen who Borrows will select as his first choice keeper.
It's not only keepers that have been shown the door at Underhill. Winger Steve Fisher has been sold to Stoke for a paltry £150,000, exactly a year after he joined the Bees for £350,000 from Bournemouth. Midfielder John Rutherford has also left and has joined Ipswich for £40,000. less than a year after Borrows paid £725,000 for him.
If Borrows continues to sell the clubs brightest talent, and then squanders the proceeds on players who he then sells on at a loss, it appears that Barnet will be destined for another season of dispair and a long term future of financial uncertainty.
It's time to register squad numbers for the coming season. It makes me realise that I still have 2 players in the squad who played for Grays 6 years ago when we were last at this level. Nicky Eyre has asked that he keep his old number 16 bit I have a little phobia that means that all keepers must have a squad number ending in 1. Nicky will therefore be given number 21. The other who has played for us at this level is 24 year old right winger Adam Hall. Adam will get the 15 shirt.
I've brought in 7 players during the close season. Two are key players and will play an important role in the forthcoming campaign.
Sean O'Neill is a 27 year old keeper who was capped at U19 level by N.Ireland. Sean arrived on a free from my old club Barnet where he made 86 league appearances in 5 years. He has been deemed surplus to requirements and has joined the recent exodus of quality keepers. I get on really well with Sean and was always confidant of securing his signature once I knew he was to be released.
Centre half James Curtis has joined us on a 1 year contract. The 33 year old will add a wealth of experience after a career at Gateshead that involved him being promoted to League 2 twice via the playoffs. He was named in The English Conference Select in both 2012 & 2013. At 6'7" he is a giant of a man and will bring aerial ability and strength with his abundant experience.
Colchester have been made 5-4 favourites to gain promotion from the English Conference this season. As we have been given odds of 25-1, it appears that the bookmakers have us tipped as an outside chance for promotion.
Charlton have signed Barnet's Jordan Fitzpatrick for a fee of £825,000.
Fitzpatrick made 35 first team appearances for Barnet last season.
He's sold a key player to one of his rivals, AGAIN . Yes he got a few quid for him, but how do you replace a key player like that. Jordan had made 229 league appearances during his 9 year spell at the club, chipping in with 15 goals and 15 assists.
The first competive game of the season sees us entertain Hednesford. They finished 11th in The Conference last season, so they should prove a good test. I've been able to pick from a full strength squad as we have no injuries for a change, but if I'm honest I'm not happy with my own tea, selection. I haven't been able to sign the goal scorer that we so needed and so have to start with Saunders and Nolan up front. I don't think that either are god enough, but don't have anybody better. I decide to go for a big strong team and try to outmuscle the away side. I've picked 8 players in the squad who are at least 6 foot tall and hope that giant centre half James Curtis will prove a threat from set-pieces. I suppose I'm trying to emulate the type of play that brought European football to Bolton in 2005. Big, strong, hardworking players playing direct at a high temp and trying hard to gain an advantage from set peices. Despite bolstering the squad with some much needed experience, I still field 4 teenagers and only have 3 players over 24. The time for growing up has arrived.
Sean O'Neill will start as my first choice keeper after his arrival from Barnet. Last seasons skipper, Gary White starts at full back with penalty king Chris Matthews and Big James Curtis partners Francis Mead at centre back and will captain the side. Surely the imposing figure of 6'7" Curtis will strike fear into the opposition as soon as he leads us out. Adams and Battersby play in the middle, with Scott Clark on the left and new signing, (again from Barnet) , Tony Berry, playing on the right.
Our joy at playing our first game in the Conference for 6 years is shortlived as we concede after only 5 minutes. We play better in the 2nd half but don't really threaten too often. Left back Chris Matthews is shown a 2nd yellow card with 20 minutes remaining and we start our league campaign with a loss :thdn:.
, it remains to be seen who Borrows will select as his first choice keeper.
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