Matty Blair

[stuey]

Not sure if there's other threads about him. Looked and couldn't find any.

Anyway does anyone know if Mattys any closer to signing a contract? I know we offered him reduced terms, like Coppinger, but not heard much since.

Personally I'd love him to sign. Very versatile player who always gives his all

[dknward2]

We have offered a contract as you have said however he has asked to speak to other clubs before making a decision we have agreed. Matty lives near Coventry I believe and I guess he is trying to get somewhere closer to save him traveling in most days for training

[roversontheup]

I thought Matty and his family had bought a house in Rossington?

[scawsby steve]

Cheltenham are after him.

[roversdude]

Any further news on Matty any idea if he is training with us. I guess players being out of contract/unattached may be a stumbling block to training with a team with a view to signing or just getting fit

[idler]

In the past teams have brought trialists in and allowed local players not signed to us to train pre-season to get fit after injury or the summer break.
This allowed us to have a look at players and have sufficient numbers for squad games and tactics. I can't see us forking out to test players that we have little chance or intention of signing and I think that most clubs will be the same. I imagine Matty will be training near home before committing himself.

[roversdude]

Yeah that was my point Idler. You never know maybe agents will dig deep and pay for the testing of their clients lol

[Filo]

Yeah that was my point Idler. You never know maybe agents will dig deep and pay for the testing of their clients lol

Not a chance an agent would consider doing that, it costs them money

[selby]

  It gives them a chance to include the U18s then who are back next week in internal games instead of trialists which could work at bringing their standards up more quickly than usual.

[idler]

It brings their standard up but doesn't test the first team as much as stronger opposition would.
No easy answer is there? 🙁

[selby]

  I am only talking of in training idler, we have got behind closed door friendlies to test out the first team. The great Hungarian team used to play lots of games against works teams, the reason the coach gave was to teach them to absolutely dominate teams and score lots of goals.
  It worked against England.

[phil old leake]

I wonder if Blair and Sadlier will play in any friendliest on the off chance they sign

[drfchound]

DM has said that the door is still for them if they want to stay.

[Alan Southstand]

The door is very still at the moment, hound!


 

[drfchound]

I saw the wink Alan, but for those that didn’t, I havent suggested that it might still be open next week.

[silent majority]

I wonder if Blair and Sadlier will play in any friendliest on the off chance they sign

No. The regulation around training because of Covid is so strict that anyone who is not part of the match day squad is not allowed in.

[northern soul]

I wonder if Blair and Sadlier will play in any friendliest on the off chance they sign

No. The regulation around training because of Covid is so strict that anyone who is not part of the match day squad is not allowed in.

SM - I'm assuming we'll, and I accept this is a bad choice of words, take a bit of a flyer with some signings, with limited options available re trialists?

I'd assume it'll be a combination of talking to player, seek out views from other trusted people in the game, videos & scouting analysis.
Basically everything except actually seeing the player in person, and how that player reacts to situations and the other players?

I know you're not actually involved, but I would hazard a guess that's close-ish?

[silent majority]

I wonder if Blair and Sadlier will play in any friendliest on the off chance they sign

No. The regulation around training because of Covid is so strict that anyone who is not part of the match day squad is not allowed in.

SM - I'm assuming we'll, and I accept this is a bad choice of words, take a bit of a flyer with some signings, with limited options available re trialists?

I'd assume it'll be a combination of talking to player, seek out views from other trusted people in the game, videos & scouting analysis.
Basically everything except actually seeing the player in person, and how that player reacts to situations and the other players?

I know you're not actually involved, but I would hazard a guess that's close-ish?

I think we've had a very good idea who we wanted to sign long before we got to this point. Adam Henshall has said that pretty much since the day he arrived.

So, I would say yes to your assumptions but much more detailed in the way that makes a trial pretty much superfluous. In other words we wouldn't be taking a flyer with anybody, but all signings have some element of risk.

[northern soul]

I wonder if Blair and Sadlier will play in any friendliest on the off chance they sign

No. The regulation around training because of Covid is so strict that anyone who is not part of the match day squad is not allowed in.

SM - I'm assuming we'll, and I accept this is a bad choice of words, take a bit of a flyer with some signings, with limited options available re trialists?

I'd assume it'll be a combination of talking to player, seek out views from other trusted people in the game, videos & scouting analysis.
Basically everything except actually seeing the player in person, and how that player reacts to situations and the other players?

I know you're not actually involved, but I would hazard a guess that's close-ish?

I think we've had a very good idea who we wanted to sign long before we got to this point. Adam Henshall has said that pretty much since the day he arrived.

So, I would say yes to your assumptions but much more detailed in the way that makes a trial pretty much superfluous. In other words we wouldn't be taking a flyer with anybody, but all signings have some element of risk.

SM - Thanks. I appreciate it would be more complex than my simplistic view.

[ravenrover]

So no try before you buy

[MachoMadness]

Let's be honest, who's the last player who we signed after a trial who ended up being a genuinely great signing? Most of our quality signings are head hunted anyway, and I imagine it's the same at most clubs.

[IDM]

The only reason I can see for a trial is for the manager to judge how a new player may “fit” within the squad.

A trail needn’t be to judge a player’s skills and abilities - that should be something already known by the scouting etc..

[silent majority]

So no try before you buy

Well the loan players will be a 'try before you buy' in as much as we always ask for first options if/when they become available.

[the vicar]

Wasn’t Jon Taylor On some sort of trial with us

[silent majority]

Wasn’t Jon Taylor On some sort of trial with us

Don't think so.

But Ben Whitehead was.

[scawsby steve]

Wasn’t Jon Taylor On some sort of trial with us

I think that was Paul Taylor, Dave.

[ravenrover]

So no try before you buy

Well the loan players will be a 'try before you buy' in as much as we always ask for first options if/when they become available.

And free agents?

[Jonathan]

Wasn’t Jon Taylor On some sort of trial with us

Don't think so.

But Ben Whitehead was.

Just had to google him. Decent goalscoring record at Cirencester but struggled for injuries at Weston-super-Mare...