Gillingham bag two
They had to bag one after losing a player before the season started. Nathan Thomas signed for Steve Evans three weeks ago, but has been released from that loan and allowed to join Carlisle because his family didn’t settle. I’m sure, 100%, it has nothing to do with Steve Evans’ methods. After all, who ever heard of a player regretting signing for Evans?
I do recall many moons ago a player called Joey Beauchamp who moved from Swindon to West Ham only to move back again without kicking a ball, so it does happen. In that instance, I imagine West Ham went out and grabbed a new player. Evans has grabbed two.
One is Mark Marshall, a player I think I identified as one we might have made some good of. He’s been with Charlton most recently and is a direct replacement for Thomas.
The other new face at Priestfield is Mikael Mandron. Sadly, he’s another I like the sound of. I’m sure you’ll be aware of who he is if you’ve read my stuff before; he’s formerly been with Eastleigh, Sunderland and Colchester. He didn’t do well for the U’s last season, but they did play him out wide. Evans will play him at the head of his attack and, sadly, will likely get goals out of him.
Blackpool full back worry
Blackpool are, in my eyes, a side to watch closely this coming season. They’ve recruited well, they had a good side last time out and I believe they could be a real dark horse.
I like Ryan Hardie, he’s just gone there from Rangers and will add a nice dimension to their attack, but they’re desperate to hang on to their two star players.
I heard my brother describe a frightening event last night as going ‘from 20p to 50p and back again quickly’, (I’ll let you figure that one out) and I imagine that’s Simon Grayson every time his phone rings. Curtis Tilt is one player they want to keep, a monster of a defender who is as mobile and ferocious in the tackle as a combination of Michael Bostwick and Harry Toffolo.
Today it’s been revealed that Middlesbrough fancy their full back Marc Bola, another player they’ll be desperate to keep. Bola can play left back, left wing back or even left midfield. He was sold by Arsenal and made for the north west last summer, having a storming season. If the Tangerines lose him, it’s a tough job to replace him at short notice.
Ipswich play hardball with two clubs
Queens Park Rangers and Norwich are both after players from Ipswich, but Paul Lambert is not in the mood to start selling this late in the season.
QPR want Alan Judge. That’s no surprise, Mark Warburton worked with Judge at Brentford and obviously understands a decent player when he sees one. Lambert doesn’t want to sell though, not unless the price is right.
“An offer has been made that is nowhere near what Marcus is looking for so there’s no real news on that side of it,” said the Ipswich boss. “The ball’s in QPR’s court now. They are trying to do something but it’s nowhere near the level Ipswich are looking at.”
One player they might not be able to hold on to is Andre Dozzell. He’s a 20-year-old midfielder who has played for England up to Under 20 level and really shouldn’t be in League One. Here’s the kicker; Norwich want him. Imagine, it’s like us being relegated into the National League, Grimsby winning League Two the same season then swooping in for Ellis when we’re on our arse.
Ipswich have slapped a big price tag on the young lad’s head, thought to be £5m, and there is no surprise there at all.