As we are effectively starting from scratch, I thought it would be a good idea to have one thread to put new signings on as and when, so we can watch the team grow.
At the moment we have:
Greg Smith
Brian Prichard
Tony Barras
Paul Donnelly
Steve Settle
Scott Willis
Rod Thornley
Tony Evans
We also have the 2 lads from Alty coming to training, as I believe is Kevin Rapley.
Lets add as we go along. Nige says he wants 18 players, so only 10 to go!!!
Thats more like it - a forward thinking email!
why dont we go with what we have and go to the moss farm sevens league:laugh: :laugh: :laugh:
Barras and Rapley?
now im really depressed!
jono wrote:
[quote]Barras and Rapley?
now im really depressed!:([/quote]
I know eveybody has an opinion, and are free to express it, but please remember that this is an open forum which the players log on to read.
In my opinion, we will need Tony’s experience a hell of a lot this season.
As for Kevin, I think he joined us at the wrong time of the season, and we didn’t see the best of him. Let’s see what he is like after a pre-season’s training with Nige…we might be pleasantly surprised.
Hope that is the case but my dad was speaking to some Chester fans at the marine match and they could not believe we had signed Rapley. They did not rate him very highly. Suppose he does deserve a chance to prove himself just like everybody else coming in though.
I’m not too bothered who the new players are, as long as they are fairly decent and can get the job done. After all, having a few moderate players is much better than not having enough!!
Rapley didn’t perform too well for us last season, as he joined us at a bit of an ‘iffy’ stage into the season, so hopefully we shall see what he really hs to offer and maybe, just maybe, he may prove to be a fairly decent player for us. 
i say we just need a squad first then we can be picky. We have to give rapley a 2nd chance and i think that barras and pritch played more of a part in the clean sheets than coo and brownhill. Lets be thankful we have them. Settle and willis look like they will play a big part. Lets show the players we have the faith in them to go and do what the team of the last 2 seasons couldnt. Remember anything can happen in football
what is the situation re tom rutter
i spoke to brian pritchard tonight and he said that we have signed a massive centre half to play alongside himself who has played for leigh and hails from kirkby
NIGEL Deeley has added five fresh faces to his squad ahead of tomorrow’s friendly at Alsager.
The Witton boss told the Guardian on Monday that there would be ‘three or four’ additions before the weekend, but he’s gone one better.
“It’s been a really positive week,” he said.
“The training sessions have stepped up a bit and I feel that the team is really starting to take shape now.”
First up is former Leigh RMI stopper Liam Coyne, who spent the second half of last season at UniBond Division One North outfit Chorley.
He left Albion’s neighbours Winsford United after helping them to the North West Counties League Division Two title last summer to sign for Warrington Town before switching to the Magpies.
Deeley plans to use Coyne – a tall, powerful central defender who was a regular in the Conference National with Leigh – alongside Brian Pritchard.
“Liam is a monster,” he said.
“He’s impressed me with his performance during our fitness work and he should win everything in the air back there.”
Gary Scott penned terms this week after spending a week on trial with Deeley’s men.
The versatile defender, 30, left Blue Square Premier outfit Altrincham in the summer after making more than 200 appearances for the club.
And Deeley is delighted to have him on board.
“Gary is a great addition for us,” he said.
“He can play in either full back position or as an anchor man in midfield so I’ve got options with him around.”
Defender Tony Dunne has made the move to Wincham Park from Warrington Town, while Mark Drew is a ready-made replacement for Alex Brown.
Deeley plans to pair the ex-Chorley schemer with Scott Willis at the heart of his midfield, believing the pair’s attributes complement each other.
“Mark is a creative player,” he said.
“He has an eye for a pass and chips in with goals too so I’m hoping he can do the same job Alex did so well for us last year.”
Like Coyne, Drew was also at Leigh RMI during their spell in the Conference National.
An ex-Bolton Wanderers Academy graduate, he was at Rossendale before moving to the Magpies in November.
Former reserve team wide man Dan Skelton completes the quintet, who all should feature tomorrow, Saturday.
It’s all starting to come together nicely now then… At least we can field a team!!!
Keepers
Greg Smith
Defenders
Brian Pritchard
Tony Barras
Paul Donnelly
Liam Coyne
Gary Scott
Tony Dunne
Midfielders
Dan Skelton
Mark Drew
Steve Settle
Scott Willis
Forwards
Rod Thornley
Tony Evans
Kevin Rapley
It’s starting to look a lot better all of a sudden!!!
I wouldn’t include TB and Rapley in that just yet…
tony evans has signed for burscough. what is the situation with tom rutter and ben thornley
Well im glad that the team is finally starting to fall into place again!:laugh:
i think mark jones who played for us before going to b.p.a. would be a good signing
need some serious firepower up front and a spare keeper and maybe 2 mids
after watching todays game at alsager i think that more than anything we need a target man. i was quite impressed with the balance of the team and i am confident that we will do ok. good look to nigel deeley - a fellow wittoner.
Greenie wrote:
[quote]Keepers
Greg Smith
Defenders
Brian Pritchard
Tony Barras
Paul Donnelly
Liam Coyne
Gary Scott
Tony Dunne
Midfielders
Dan Skelton
Mark Drew
Steve Settle
Scott Willis
Forwards
Rod Thornley
Tony Evans
Kevin Rapley
It’s starting to look a lot better all of a sudden!!![/quote]
At Victory Park we’ll miss the massive Coyne, he’s a brute. Watch out the the card collection he’ll pickup during the season.
As for Mark Drew - pure quality and scored from free-kicks form upto 40 years! Unfortunately you signing him won’t be simple, as he’s under contract at Chorley. He signed last season and the club had an option for a further season, which the club took up in the summer. But it looks like Mark forgot this little detail until he spoke to our gaffa Tony Hesketh today! Expect a strongly worded letter of complaint to the league and FA!