Witton last night signed experienced striker Dean Crowe for season 2007/2008. Dean’s previous clubs include Stoke City, Luton Town, Northampton Town, Bury, Plymouth Argyle and Oldham Athletic before playing in the Unibond League for Leek Town.
After a brief spell with Leek Dean had a spell out of football but returned to the game at the end of August 2005 with Stockport County. Dean was released and has now signed for Witton Albion.
He has played one game already for the Albion, scoring twice in a victory over Barnton in last season’s Mid-Cheshire Senior Cup.
I think the squad already looks stronger than last year, so no reason not to be optimistic about the coming season. I think that one or two players who have left over the summer may come to regret the lure of the Bradford lucre.
[br][size=1]Posted on: June 29, 2007, 11:57:25 AM[/size][hr]More info…
A few people who saw him play for us against Barnton said he looked impressive and wanted to know why he just played the one game, I’m guessing he was doing Jim a favour and liked what he saw? Another good signing, looking at the squad of players we have now I can’t really see that many (if any) weak areas.
I agree we look to have replaced those who left (they must be mad!!) with quality replacements. This is a testimony to Jim who hasn’t lied down after a big dissapointment but got on with it trying to get us to go one better this season. If we have a weakness it’s again perhaps the holding player in midfield and the goalkeeping. If Danylak gets injured then we might struggle. I guess the answer there is though that we have the likes of Tom Spearitt, Ian Kearney, Dave Tickle and Liam Brownhill, and Chris Royle all of whom could do a job in midfield if required. I guess with the connections we have with Crewe we could probably borrow a keeper if it was to just cover an injury to JK. So yes I think we have the basis of a strong squad and hopefully plenty of competition for places. This is important to stop any complacency if there were any which I doubt with our lads!!.
Excellent signing. Jim has achieved some fantastic signings for the club this summer and the squad looks very strong for next season. I think Jim, Nigel and others deserve applauding for their efforts.
A little disapointed to read that despite finishing equal first in the league, Mona feels that we may struggle to perform without a player (Danylyk) who has not played for the club before. It does not say much for our existing midfield which I thought did well.
What i think Mona was saying is that most of our players seem to be of a creative vein, and we are maybe a little short of options in the ‘engine room’. If Danylyk is infact a holding midfield player, then he does appear to be the only specialist player that we have in that position. I know Tom S filled in there last season, but if there is one area in which we may need cover then that would be it. We are covered now in central defense, and at the moment seem to have options at fullback also. The wings seem to be covered, and the attacking options also look pretty impressive.
Connors and Clegg both provided the ‘steel’ in midfield last year, but they both left so i think Mona is just wondering out loud who is going to fill their shoes this coming season.
Like I said before we are looking pretty good in all departments but being witton (and football) supporters what we all tend to do is look at weakneses in our team we have very few, Mona I think was looking at the ‘steel’ department that most believe all teams need, I for one think Lloyd and Brown can get stuck in when needed and when you think how much Connors cost us in fines and missing matches… well lests see what happens
Didn’t mean to upset the applecart and that was what I was getting at purely that we have cover all over the pitch except in the goalkeeping and midfield steel department. To be honest I don’t think Connors gave us the steel that much anyway as you say injuries and suspensions stopped him playing a lot of games. In no way is this a go at Jim but if we are to go one better this year we need to adapt our style for some games and thats where the extra steel comes in. I think Alex, Rob Lloyd, and Peers are all great players but sometimes you need physical force to win games and teams like Fleetwood and Gateshead and even Frickley won’t let you play our flowing football. The one game that stood out for me last season was away at Hednesford where we gave a battling rather than pretty performance and came a away with a 1 nil win. We will need a few of them this season if we want to win the league outright as well as our more accomplished football type performances. I think our squad looks better than last season and maybe someone like Ian Kearney could move into midfield if we get short(Strength, height, mobility and a reasonable passer of the ball). I want to emphsise that for me its not gloom or doom I think we will be ok with the best manager in northern non league soccer.!!