2019-20 National League South

[Raymondo316]

https://twitter.com/x/status/1151927490950193153

I would have thought Ricky Miller and then he mentioned played high up the professional leagues.

 

[Aberstone]

His grasp of the English language is appalling, not nearly as bad as I would 'of' though Raymondo316.

Ricky Miller has played in League 2 with Luton, then he was alleged to have punched a taxi driver (found not guilty) and that was the end of his career with the Hatters.

 

[Raymondo316]

Ricky Miller has played in League 2 with Luton, then he was alleged to have punched a taxi driver (found not guilty) and that was the end of his career with the Hatters.

He did play in League 1 for Peterborough.
Glenn has a knack of over hyping signings, so that could be his definition of high up the pro leagues.

 

[Pink Panther]

He did play in League 1 for Peterborough.
Glenn has a knack of over hyping signings, so that could be his definition of high up the pro leagues.

The man only deals in exaggeration and hyperbole, so whatever he says has no real context and becomes almost meaningless. Basically he intends to continue spunking money for a while yet until he gets bored or HMRC catches up with him.

 

[jbet]

Not sure on the details, but we managed to offload Ricky after just one season into a two season deal for rumoured misconduct.

Very complex xharacter who showed signs of brilliance for us but too infrequently. The only thing he was frequently known for was being in the nightclubs until closing time every weekend.

 

[doveranddover]

I think that’s why he won’t be back at Dover- no nightclubs!!

 

[Raymondo316]

Tamplin has made himself joint manager again

https://twitter.com/x/status/1152088602026958849

 

[Pink Panther]

Tamplin has made himself joint manager again

What could possibly go wrong. I've lost count of the number of times he's resigned then reappointed himself, not to mention sacking Harry Wheeler then reappointing him during the same season.

 

[Monkey Tennis]

What could possibly go wrong. I've lost count of the number of times he's resigned then reappointed himself, not to mention sacking Harry Wheeler then reappointing him during the same season.

Probably similar to the amount of times he's quit Twitter.

 

[jbet]

Him and Ricky Miller do seem like a match made in heaven, to be fair.

 

[Aberstone]

Comfortable 4-0 win against Watford's under-23's after defeats to Colchester and Chesham during the week. I was going to keep the anonymous trialist under wraps but it's already been blabbed on Nomads as Michael Phillips. Thoughts Raymondo316?

Interesting meet the manager evening, both Dean Brennan and Stuart Maynard spoke well. I won't divulge too much but they're looking to get Gordon Bartlett back involved within the club on a scouting level.

Billy Clifford and Matt Saunders have officially signed, the latter is on a player-coach basis.

 

[Raymondo316]

Comfortable 4-0 win against Watford's under-23's after defeats to Colchester and Chesham during the week. I was going to keep the anonymous trialist under wraps but it's already been blabbed on Nomads as Michael Phillips. Thoughts Raymondo316?

His agent has really fucked up.
At the end of the season he was telling people that he had offers from National League clubs and was even considering going to play abroad. So something has gone terribly wrong for him to now be trialling for a team at this level & even offering to take a pay cut to re-sign for us.

Pretty much our whole fan base wants him back, but it seems Still is pissed off that he only wants to return to us now due to getting desperate for a team.

In my opinion Phillips would be a good signing at this level....one of our other fans can probably go more in depth on his pros and cons, but I thought he was decent midfielder and a pretty useful right back as well (suits the attacking role more than a defensive one).

I just hope we got someone lined up who is a better player or Still has really dropped the ball big time with this one.

 

[Pink Panther]

His agent has really fucked up.
At the end of the season he was telling people that he had offers from National League clubs and was even considering going to play abroad. So something has gone terribly wrong for him to now be trialling for a team at this level & even offering to take a pay cut to re-sign for us.

Pretty much our whole fan base wants him back, but it seems Still is pissed off that he only wants to return to us now due to getting desperate for a team.

In my opinion Phillips would be a good signing at this level....one of our other fans can probably go more in depth on his pros and cons, but I thought he was decent midfielder and a pretty useful right back as well (suits the attacking role more than a defensive one).

I just hope we got someone lined up who is a better player or Still has really dropped the ball big time with this one.

A couple of our players, defender Michael Chambers and striker Dipo Akinyemi, have done this; turned down a contract extension after having a decent season and gone looking for something bigger. I think it's a massive gamble and so far they both seem to be in limbo. If other clubs see you and fancy you they'll make some sort of approach. Another of our players, midfielder Nathan Ferguson, got an offer from Crawley and left with everyone's best wishes. I wouldn't say he had a spectacular season but Crawley obviously saw him and liked the look of him. (I can see why, he's got all the physical and technical attributes to go higher and they've backed themselves to polish him and help him realize his potential.) However once you're a free agent and you have to go around asking for a chance I think it's taking a big gamble.

Chambers has appeared in pre-season matches as a triallist for Carlisle and Wrexham, and the consensus on their supporters' forums was that he did quite well and could be good enough for them. But I think you've probably got to be a bit exceptional to get a contract via that route. Carlisle were willing to have a longer look at him but they've just signed a 32 year old left-footed centre back (Chambers' exact role) from Bradford with over 200 League appearances who was out of contract. He may not actually be any better than Chambers (aged 25) but he's already got 200 League appearances behind him so all the Carlisle coaches and scouts will have seen him and know about him. By comparison Chambers is just a non-league player (one of many) who had 3 seasons at Palace a few years back without making the grade there.

I don't know whether Akinyemi ever got close to being taken on elsewhere but he's now back at Dulwich on a non-contract basis and seems to be on the naughty step, making just one appearance in pre-season so far while Danny Mills and Ade Yusuff are the preferred strikers. Akinyemi was in and out of the side for much of last season but ended as top scorer with a respectable 18 goals in a lower half of the table side. Aged 21, he's raw and a bit naïve, but if he'd just got his head down and trusted our management's guidance a good season in a stronger Hamlet squad could easily have brought him to the attention of bigger clubs. However he now seems to have gone backwards and I wouldn't be surprised if both he and Chambers end up with other clubs in our division with similar or lower prospects.

 

[GodsGift]

Billericay signing Wes Thomas by the looks of it. That can't the "massive" signing Tamplin was on about, surely?

 

[#Beebot]

Billericay signing Wes Thomas by the looks of it. That can't the "massive" signing Tamplin was on about, surely?

In fairness that is a big signing by NL South standards and he should do very well there. Could very well be the highest paid player in that league.

 

[Pink Panther]

In fairness that is a big signing by NL South standards and he should do very well there. Could very well be the highest paid player in that league.

It's going to depend largely upon the player's attitude and approach. H must have played 300 Football League games over 10 years, but he started in non-league as a youngster so he'll know what to expect. As long as he's properly fit and has a professional attitude he'll be a lot more use than an ex-Premier League player like O'Hara or Pennant who thinks he can just turn up on a matchday and wing it.

 

[Aberstone]

I'm looking forward to this season, Havant look the stand-outs on paper but they've signed a lot of players on the wrong side of 30 which is always a concern. It's wide open this year and quite frankly I have no idea where we'll finish (although I'm reasonably confident we won't be involved in a relegation scrap), we could be title contenders or just as easily finish in the bottom half.

 

[Pink Panther]

I'm looking forward to this season, Havant look the stand-outs on paper but they've signed a lot of players on the wrong side of 30 which is always a concern. It's wide open this year and quite frankly I have no idea where we'll finish (although I'm reasonably confident we won't be involved in a relegation scrap), we could be title contenders or just as easily finish in the bottom half.

Havant have been proactive and brought in a proven manager who took his last club up from this division and established them in the National Division, so they're favourites for me if only by default. However managers like that don't always work their magic instantly at a new club.

Chelmsford and Bath each seems to have something to build on from last season but a lot of the other stronger teams seem to have had a change of manager and a lot of fairly like-for-like players swapping clubs. Maidstone is a big club in this division but the squad looks a bit unconvincing following relegation, although you could probably have said the same of Torquay and Woking this time last year.

 

[Raymondo316]

Hes like a kid playing Football Manager

 

[GodsGift]

Rumours this end it's Matt Rhead.

 

[Raymondo316]

I wouldn't exactly class Rhead as being stronger & better than Akinfenwa, but hey this is Tamplin and we all know he loves overhyping his signings.

Either way Wes Thomas & Matt Rhead upfront in the National South would be be absolutely absurd.

 

[EnglishRed]

A couple of our players, defender Michael Chambers and striker Dipo Akinyemi, have done this; turned down a contract extension after having a decent season and gone looking for something bigger. I think it's a massive gamble and so far they both seem to be in limbo. If other clubs see you and fancy you they'll make some sort of approach. Another of our players, midfielder Nathan Ferguson, got an offer from Crawley and left with everyone's best wishes. I wouldn't say he had a spectacular season but Crawley obviously saw him and liked the look of him. (I can see why, he's got all the physical and technical attributes to go higher and they've backed themselves to polish him and help him realize his potential.) However once you're a free agent and you have to go around asking for a chance I think it's taking a big gamble.

Chambers has appeared in pre-season matches as a triallist for Carlisle and Wrexham, and the consensus on their supporters' forums was that he did quite well and could be good enough for them. But I think you've probably got to be a bit exceptional to get a contract via that route. Carlisle were willing to have a longer look at him but they've just signed a 32 year old left-footed centre back (Chambers' exact role) from Bradford with over 200 League appearances who was out of contract. He may not actually be any better than Chambers (aged 25) but he's already got 200 League appearances behind him so all the Carlisle coaches and scouts will have seen him and know about him. By comparison Chambers is just a non-league player (one of many) who had 3 seasons at Palace a few years back without making the grade there.

I don't know whether Akinyemi ever got close to being taken on elsewhere but he's now back at Dulwich on a non-contract basis and seems to be on the naughty step, making just one appearance in pre-season so far while Danny Mills and Ade Yusuff are the preferred strikers. Akinyemi was in and out of the side for much of last season but ended as top scorer with a respectable 18 goals in a lower half of the table side. Aged 21, he's raw and a bit naïve, but if he'd just got his head down and trusted our management's guidance a good season in a stronger Hamlet squad could easily have brought him to the attention of bigger clubs. However he now seems to have gone backwards and I wouldn't be surprised if both he and Chambers end up with other clubs in our division with similar or lower prospects.

Chambers has just signed for us (Wrexham). It'll be interesting to see how much he plays. We've been trialling three at the back so if we carry on with that he'll get more game time as currently he is behind Pearson and Lawlor (our other CB Manny Smith is long term injured unfortunately) who had 20 odd clean sheets last season.

 

[Raymondo316]

Rumours this end it's Matt Rhead.

You were right

https://twitter.com/x/status/1154451261539926017

 

[Pink Panther]

Chambers has just signed for us (Wrexham). It'll be interesting to see how much he plays. We've been trialling three at the back so if we carry on with that he'll get more game time as currently he is behind Pearson and Lawlor (our other CB Manny Smith is long term injured unfortunately) who had 20 odd clean sheets last season.

Left of the back three is his ideal position, it's where he's played for Dulwich for the last three seasons. He played so well over the first half of last season I thought a National Division side might come in for him at the end of the season, but the team got stuck in a poor run, he was handed the armband when our captain (Magnus Okuonghae) got injured and his own form dipped.

I'm glad he's landed a proper big club, not someone who might be down the wrong end. He's got all the tools to make a go of it as long as he gets the starts. He's at least 6'4", good ball-player and passer, composure, discipline, positional sense, strong in the air and won't get bullied or outmuscled. If there's a weakness maybe he could have greater agility or acceleration, but he's not slow as such and is generally bright and alert enough not to get caught out. He's just turned 25 and I notice it's just a 1 year contract so it's really a make or break season for his football career. I think he worked as a school sportsmaster, so at least it should be fairly straightforward to leave that role at this time of year and find a similar job at the end of some future season if necessary.

 

[Pink Panther]

I wouldn't exactly class Rhead as being stronger & better than Akinfenwa, but hey this is Tamplin and we all know he loves overhyping his signings.

Either way Wes Thomas & Matt Rhead upfront in the National South would be be absolutely absurd.

I've never seen the guy play, I know he's been part of the Lincoln success story under Danny Cowley, but having googled him I see he was already in his thirties when he went there following three seasons at Mansfield with a rather poor goals-per-game record, he only played lower level non-league before that, and at the age of 35 this will be the first time he's been at a club outside the north/east Midlands. Given the general state of flux and uncertainty that seems to prevail at Billericay this just seems "typical" to me rather than indicative of long-term progress.

I've just seen this article that's barely a week old. Would be interesting to know how much Bi££ericay are paying, both transfer fee and wages. (All perfectly legitimate money on which all obligations to HMRC have been fully satisfied of course.)

https://www.lincolnshirelive.co.uk/...news/matt-rhead-uses-teddy-sheringham-3101671

 

[Luke Imp]

I've never seen the guy play, I know he's been part of the Lincoln success story under Danny Cowley, but having googled him I see he was already in his thirties when he went there following three seasons at Mansfield with a rather poor goals-per-game record, he only played lower level non-league before that, and at the age of 35 this will be the first time he's been at a club outside the north/east Midlands. Given the general state of flux and uncertainty that seems to prevail at Billericay this just seems "typical" to me rather than indicative of long-term progress.

I've just seen this article that's barely a week old. Would be interesting to know how much Bi££ericay are paying, both transfer fee and wages. (All perfectly legitimate money on which all obligations to HMRC have been fully satisfied of course.)

https://www.lincolnshirelive.co.uk/...news/matt-rhead-uses-teddy-sheringham-3101671

Bar a couple of years with us, he's not about scoring goals so I wouldn't read too much into that. He'll win just about everything in the air.

Must be on a decent wage (aside from it being Billericay) because he wasn't keen on his Stoke to Lincoln commute. Are they FT?

 

[Seventyseven]

...and The Circus continues ad nauseum

 

[Pink Panther]

Bar a couple of years with us, he's not about scoring goals so I wouldn't read too much into that. He'll win just about everything in the air.

Must be on a decent wage (aside from it being Billericay) because he wasn't keen on his Stoke to Lincoln commute. Are they FT?

I'm not certain what their training regime is, but they're presumably paying him similar or better money than he was on at Lincoln if he's agreed to move so soon after signing a new contract with Lincoln, and if he's not going to relocate then I wouldn't think Stoke to Billericay is going to be any easier than travelling between Stoke and Lincoln.

* Edit

Apparently Billericay have just reverted to part-time training 2 evenings a week:

https://www.echo-news.co.uk/sport/1...on-and-sign-ben-nunn-from-dagenham-redbridge/

 

[John Still]

I'm not certain what their training regime is, but they're presumably paying him similar or better money than he was on at Lincoln if he's agreed to move so soon after signing a new contract with Lincoln, and if he's not going to relocate then I wouldn't think Stoke to Billericay is going to be any easier than travelling between Stoke and Lincoln.

* Edit

Apparently Billericay have just reverted to part-time training 2 evenings a week:

https://www.echo-news.co.uk/sport/1...on-and-sign-ben-nunn-from-dagenham-redbridge/

But paying full time league one wages, players must be laughing all the way to he bank or the cash in hand they get.

 

[Aberstone]

Michael Phillips confirmed then with a second announcement to take place later on today.