New Signing Today

[prestonwcfc]

Question is though is it fair to change nicknames.

I have a mate from Sheffield who likes to be called Yorkie, trouble is on a recent night out we realised he had lived in Preston longer than in Sheffield and was most upset when we started calling him Lancy !!!!

[colinlayland]

My name is Colin,but I answer to Mike and a you.

[niels]

I fear that's not quite the whole story is it Colin?. Is it not true that you answer mainly to Margaret!

[Tim Munslow]

Tim wrote "big string physical presence" - ropey sort of comment that! but goes in line with all the other idiotic comments on here.

I thought the nickname habit was started by The Sun; Macca was first coined for Steve McManaman wasn't it?

[tim]

timmunslow said:

Tim wrote "big string physical presence" - ropey sort of comment that! but goes in line with all the other idiotic comments on here.

I thought the nickname habit was started by The Sun; Macca was first coined for Steve McManaman wasn't it?

if I had a quid for every time I've typed string instead of strong, I would be able to give Dave Boddy a few bob to buy some more new players!

[Tim Munslow]

I've just read this on Non-League Daily

"And Nwadike may not be the last Alfreton player to go down the Worcester City route this summer as they are understood to have made another bid to land Reds right back Ryan Clarke.

City were keen on Clarke (pictured) last season and it would appear they have rekindled their interest in the former Boston United player. "

Interesting eh what? Only snag is, whereas Nwadike was out of contract, Ryan Clarke isn't so we'd have to pay a fee. Since before we have, of course, acquired Graham Ward

[tim]

But Wardy is a central midfielder who showed some adaptability last season to play wing back, it isn't his natural or best position.

[Tim Munslow]

Didn't realise that - I thought he made a damn good job of it and looked a natural for that position. Perhaps the plan is to play Clarke there and push Ward into midfield then.

[Tim Munslow]

Going back to nicknames I see that Alfreton's chairman referred to Nwadike as "Macca" so perhaps we're going to be stuck with it!

[wh]

Isn't Rapid a natural right back? if so there wouldn't be any need for Clarke now.

[tim]

Rapid's a centre back, or so I thought.

[niels]

Looked more like a right back in the Carty testimonial match.

[nickb303]

May be a back 3 of Clarke Smudger + Rapid? Three ball playing centre halfs.

IMHO Clarke and Wardy are the two best right backs in the league.

[wh]

Alfreton official website views on things...www.alfretontownfc.com/press200607.htm

[andy]

The way that article reads suggests that the bits in quotes from their Alfreton Chairman Wayne Bradley are official - they relate only to Nwadike, not to Clarke. Anything else, including the bit about City having made an offer is presumably nothing other than speculation from someone else who isnt their Chairman.

[andy]

That said, if Clarke is our target, then very good news if we can get him. Preecey was clearly very keen on him last year. It would create very flexible options at the back, and in terms of midfield.

We could play very defensive if needed:

Danny

Clarke Rapid Hodnett Smudger Shabs

Ward, Nwadike, Findlay, Burley

+ 1 of Webster/Danks/Wilding



or a more adventurous

Danny

Rapid Clarke Smudger

Ward Clegg Nwadike Burley

Wilding Danks Webster


And many other combinations!

[Deleted]

I wish people wouldn't talk about signing Clarke. I don't want the dissapointment of not getting him.

[tim]

Exactly. When he's wearing a City shirt I'll believe he's signed, until then any speculation is not only futile but also potentially damaging.

[wonderfullcity]

we do need a strong center back, who is good aerially, to directly replace JT/. Rapid's best position is in the middle of a 3 as a sweeper, and is a direct replacement for Des Lyttle. He was signed in the position, and highly reccomended by Paul Carty, Carl Heeley, Jock Morrison, Rod Brown... so hopefully he we will do well in that position!

Troy has got potential, hopefully he will live up to it sooner, rather than later... i wouldnt mind having a player like him coming off the bench, and starting the odd game, it adds a bit of variety i suppose..

Emeka also looks a good signing... with his addition it now seems we will have, genuine pace, power, and ability, running through the spine of the team... we should be optimistic about the new season!

[si1268]

wonderfullcity said:

we do need a strong center back, who is good aerially, to directly replace JT/. Rapid's best position is in the middle of a 3 as a sweeper, and is a direct replacement for Des Lyttle. He was signed in the position, and highly reccomended by Paul Carty, Carl Heeley, Jock Morrison, Rod Brown... so hopefully he we will do well in that position!

I amazed people still want to go for this 3 central defenders and wingbacks nonsense especially after the evidence of last seasons entertainment which I thought was dreadful. Nwadike might as well hang up his boots cos all he'll be doing is chasing shadows as all the midfield were doing last season particularly the unlucky Tom Warmer.

[tim]

It's more a case of the manager wanting to go for it, and thus us mere supporters having to watch it, than it is a case of us actually wanting 3 central defenders. When tactics were being heavily debated on here last season, the 3-5-2 had precious few backers.

[si1268]

Point taken. I'm just hoping that last seasons formation was done to accomodate Des and that now he's gone...We live in hope.

[StopfordianWCFC]

tim said:

It's more a case of the manager wanting to go for it, and thus us mere supporters having to watch it, than it is a case of us actually wanting 3 central defenders. When tactics were being heavily debated on here last season, the 3-5-2 had precious few backers.

I backed 3-5-2 strongly - it can be the way forward in physical leagues. Swamp the midfield and hence grab possession.

It was 5-3-2 I didn't like - that gives the midfield away!

[si1268]

I don't think 3-5-2 works either. The diagonal ball from midfield creates havoc and it soon transforms to 5-3-2. Also the three central defenders always seem confused about who to mark and end up marking no-one to disasterous effect. If you can think of any circumstances in any league where 3-5-2 has worked on a consistent basis lets hear about it.

[B*ue dragonstander]

4-2-4 worked quite well once

[andy]

Myself, I dont really see a major problem with a diagonal ball from midfield towards the corners. Less dangerous, I would have thought, than an incisive ball through the middle.

Any threat on goal depends on a) the ball having the right pace on it so it doesnt go out of play, b) their player getting to it before ours, c) delivering a decent cross, d) their foward getting on the end of it, e) the effort ends up on target. Many more things can go wrong with that sort of attacj than a midfielder beating one player and shooting (which is how we conceded a good portion of our goals last year).

At CN level, I wouldnt expect to concede as many from wide balls as through the centre.

[wonderfullcity]

andy i think u make a great point! compressing the midfield will put more pressure on teams, and stop them playing around us and through us!... as we shud play higher up the pitch, teams will revert to a long ball, to get in behind us.. which we should deal with due to more pace in defence..

i think des not being very quick meant we played deep. and allowed teams to play in our half more.

3-5-2 is a good way to set up in this league and is a more attacking formation, IF you have the right personnel! i now feel we have that

[StopfordianWCFC]

si1268 said:

I don't think 3-5-2 works either. The diagonal ball from midfield creates havoc and it soon transforms to 5-3-2. Also the three central defenders always seem confused about who to mark and end up marking no-one to disasterous effect. If you can think of any circumstances in any league where 3-5-2 has worked on a consistent basis lets hear about it.

I played it for years and have the medals to prove it - albeit only at a local football level. You need a good defensive midfielder to sit in front of the back three to play it well (a makalele type) and then the three defenders can quite happily mark the 1, 2 or 3 attackers sent forward by the opposition. As Andy suggests, in my experience the opposition rarely made it past the midfield to cause a regular threat!

[suv]

I've not been around this week
is "Nwadike" pronounced "ike" as in "bike or mike"
or "ike" as in "wakiki beach" or "kiki" the frog in Hector's House
or "ike" as in " "icky thump" as in The Goodies or White Stripes
I hope it's the last example
"Nwadike Thump" this could be Daily Mirror or Sun headline when he scores!!!!

[tim]

try "wadeekey" or "nawadeekey" to get somewhere near. The N is not quite the same as it was for Peter Ndlovu, which was "unlove".