daniel8157

I dont think its a great signing but I will support the guy 100%.

On ability to get goals - Lee Hughes all day

I dont think he would be a good signing but I trust DP.

If we sign him great but if we dont I wont lose any sleep over it. I'm sure DP will bring in a quality CB either way.

I guess DP sees him playing some part this season with him playing in both the friendlies so far but I guess we sill have to wait and see. I wasnt overly impressed with him in the Hyde game but you cant really make any judgement on someone in 45 mins but DP obviously thinks he's got something and hopefully he will push for a place in the first team. Cant beat having competition for places. Hopefully we will have two future starts in him and Brooke.

Try google maps. if you put in the shay, halifax it will find it and use the route planner on there

Dont get me wrong, I like Rubes and I would be perfectly happy with him and Greegs as our CB's. I'm just saying I personally prefer Haining. I think if we did sign high we would have 3 good CB's.

I think on an abilty scale, I think they are both at a similar level. I think Taylor would be valued higher as midfielders and forward do tend to be more expensive than defenders.

I think £500k-£700k with a sell on % would be a good bit a business. Spend £100k-£200k on replacing him and the same again on a striker with a bit left over to help with the club running costs.

Can't say a care anymore tbh

Granted, he's not quick but people make out like you could walk past him. A pacey striker is only a problem if he gets in behind the defenders which would be hard to do if you have two CB's that can read the game well. I would personally would feel more comfortable with Will and Greegs at the back than with Rubes and his amazing back-pass.

I dont know why everyone goes on about Hainings pace, he's not that slow.

From the Chron ATHLETIC are giving goalkeeper James Spencer the chance to resurrect his football career. The 24-year-old, who is training at Boundary Park, was one of five trialists who appeared in last night’s 2-0 victory at Hyde United in their opening pre-season friendly. Athletic are looking for goalkeeping cover for Dean Brill after allowing Greg Fleming to join Scottish side Dunfermline on a season-long loan. They were alerted to the availability of Spencer, who was released by Rochdale at the end of the season. Spencer made his debut for Stockport County at the age of 16 in 2002, going on to make 108 first-team appearances and at one time being linked with lucrative moves to Sunderland and West Brom. But after having limited opportunities in 2006/07 he joined Rochdale that summer on a two-year contract. Spencer made only 22 appearances for Dale in his two years at the club as he suffered a double hernia and stress fracture of the hip. He joined Chester City on an emergency loan for their final five matches of the season, but was unable to prevent them being relegated from the Football League. Manager Dave Penney said: “James has a lot of experience with Stockport and Rochdale and looked like being a top keeper at one stage, but he has lost his way. “It was probably a bit unfair last night as James didn’t have a save to make. He probably wanted shots flying , but I wasn’t really able to judge him.” Penney added that he has to decide soon whether to bring in an experienced replacement for Fleming or go with rookie Josh Ollerenshaw on the bench and bring in a loan player should Brill be injured. Central-defender Will Haining was another of the trialists, but the identities of the three other players used were not disclosed. Athletic suffered another injury scare when Neal Eardley was taken off with a tight calf muscle. Eardley, a half-time substitute, lasted barely 20 minutes before he was taken off but that was a precautionary move as much as anything. After a double training stint yesterday and match last night, there was no rest for the players who were forced to report in at eight o’clock this morning for a session in the swimming pool. Penney was pleased with Athletic’s workout last night, saying they looked sharp and bright in the opening 45 minutes

Hyde United 0, Athletic 2 MANAGER Dave Penney may be creating a new-look Athletic team, but it was two survivors from last season who secured last night’s victory at Hyde United in their opening pre-season friendly. Goals from Danny Whitaker and Lewis Alessandra earned Athletic a win at Blue Square North side Hyde which ought to have been far more emphatic than the scoreline suggests. They were denied three times by the crossbar and, together with other openings, they could have triumphed by a far wider margin in what proved a satisfactory workout. There will be far more rigorous challenges further down the line in pre-season, but there was little which could be faulted from this encouraging display. The one irritating part of the night was the presence of un-named trialists in the Athletic line-up which turns reporting the facts of the match into a farce. Surely if players, some of whom were foreign, appear in a competitive fixture in front of paying customers, the fans have a right to know who they are watching. Apart from trialist keeper James Spencer, the former Stockport and Rochdale shot-stopper, Athletic fielded a completely different line-up in each half as new-boy Dean Brill was made to wait for his debut. Spencer did not have a shot to save so it was almost impossible to evaluate him. Penney’s line-up for the opening half was far stronger than the one used for the second period when Spencer and Will Haining were among five trialists used, the other three remaining anonymous. You would imagine seven or eight members of the first-half side will be starting the season’s opening fixture against Stockport County. Of the new players, Dean Furman caught the eye in the opening half as he relished the role of ball-playing midfielder. He sprays passes around with ease and was likened in style to former Latics favourite Neil Kilkenny. New signings Joe Jacobson and Pawel Abbott also starred in the opening half, while Jon Worthington beefed up the midfield in the second period when Athletic fielded a far less experienced side. Athletic opened the scoring in the 12th minute when Chris Taylor provided the assist for Whitaker to confidently cut back from his right to left foot before curling an exquisite shot into the top corner from outside the penalty area. Abbott provided a delightful touch to create an opening for himself as he fired against a post when he ought to have been celebrating. Athletic added a second goal shortly before half time when keeper Josh Ollerenshaw, who Athletic loaned to Hyde for the opening period, failed to gather a long punt forward and Alessandra had a relatively easy finish. It was all change in the second period in which Athletic must still be wondering how they failed to increase their goal return. First-year professional Chris Rowney, a midfield player in the Nick Henry/Mike Milligan mould, forced a decent save from Hyde keeper Michael Jones. Athletic’s unknown giant trialist central defender, who is believed to be from London, saw a terrific shot strike the crossbar and at the death he was denied by a super stop by Jones. Striker Chris O’Grady, back from the wilderness after three spells out on loan last season, also made an impact in the second period when he was denied by the crossbar, a fine save from Jones and a goalline clearance. FIRST HALF (4-4-2): Spencer; Lomax, Hazell, Gregan, Jacobson; Smalley, Whitaker, Furman, Taylor; Abbott, Alessandra. SECOND HALF (4-4-2): Spencer; Eardley (Trialist 68), Trialist, Haining, Black; Lee, Worthington, Rowney, Trialist; O’Grady, Wolfenden.

Joe Colbeck Years Club App (Gls)* 2004–2007 Bradford City 101 (8) → Darlington (loan) 006 (2)

I love the new shirt. best in a while. Better fit, better material and looks better than the home shirt (dont have the flux yellow so cant compare to that)

Didn't cover himself with glory for the second goal, couldnt do a great deal for the first. Hard to judge off 45 mins of football. I dont think Smalley played as bad as people are making out, made some good runs and played in a few nice crosses. IMO we looked a lot better than this time last year (and a lot fitter) I think our midfield will be a lot stronger this year than last.

Good summary. Now you mention it Abbott does kind of remind me of Porter.

I did like the look of Abbott some nice touches, didnt realise how tall he was (quite funny when he was stood with Lewi and Wolfy before the game)

Oh yeah im certain DP will have another striker in by then, im just saying thats the one area I think we are lacking a little (and obviously need another CB)

Agree with you, def need another good striker. I do think Abbott will score a few just think he's lacking a bit of match sharpness

Agree with most of that (still not 100% on COG)

That might be the lad that came on near the end. If it was he didnt really have enough pitch time to make a judgement.

Lee did look good. There no 4 did look ok but Haining didnt have much to do apart from win a few headers.

your right, my mistake.