Sunday signing

[karldew]

Looks like someone’s signing today..

Looking at the picture at the lake I’m guessing Charlie Lak(e)in.

[ChrisBx]

Harry Clifton. 2 year deal with an option for a 3rd.

[MachoMadness]

Good shout, whoever that was on the rumour mill!

[DonnyOsmond]

He got engaged last year

[vaya]

Harry Clifton. 2 year deal with an option for a 3rd.

Media department have missed a trick by not getting Bernie Clifton involved. Both of them riding up on an Ostrich.

[Chris Black come back]

Harry Clifton. 2 year deal with an option for a 3rd.

No idea what he is going to be like but it is very good news that not only are we getting these all done early but pretty much all of them have been 'we've liked him for a while' or 'we've been after him'. Actually sounds and feels like there is an actual plan behind our recruitment strategy!

[DonnyOsmond]

He's a very versatile player, with a decent engine on him. Spent most of his career in CM, but has featured on either wing a fair bit and also both full back positions. Will be a solid option filling in as backup IMO.

[ncRover]

Looks like someone’s signing today..

Looking at the picture at the lake I’m guessing Charlie Lak(e)in.

I thought Lakin might be the Rowe replacement but this guy has a better fitness record and is more local.

Good signing. Experienced but still a good age.  Looks like he’ll be a pressing machine and will get stuck in, which is what the midfield balance needed.

[StocksArmy]

Will compliment Bailey brilliantly this one. I feel that barring a GK we are becoming well equipped to get out of this league.

[Chris Black come back]

Got booked against us in the 1-5 this season.

[Scooter]

He has been one of Grimsby’s best players the last few seasons

[GazLaz]

Not blown away by this one. Hopefully Grant can get plenty out of him. Ok at getting in goal scoring positions but not enough to the rest of his game for me.

[Spud]

Not blown away by this one. Hopefully Grant can get plenty out of him. Ok at getting in goal scoring positions but not enough to the rest of his game for me.

Sounds like Biggo then.

[GazLaz]

Not blown away by this one. Hopefully Grant can get plenty out of him. Ok at getting in goal scoring positions but not enough to the rest of his game for me.

Sounds like Biggo then.

Kind of. Don’t think he will get in the strongest XI.

[Draytonian III]

He’s been there most consistent/best player for the last few seasons, must be a big move for him as he’s a Grimsby lad and a Mariners supporter

[Jonathan]

Not blown away by this one. Hopefully Grant can get plenty out of him. Ok at getting in goal scoring positions but not enough to the rest of his game for me.

Sounds like Biggo then.

Kind of. Don’t think he will get in the strongest XI.

Get what you’re saying here but it’s about building a team / squad and the energy and commitment he offers will be an important part of that.

[dickos1]

Yep agreed, every signing can’t be a marquee signing.
He looks like someone who can play a number of positions which is good for any squad

[craigdrfc]

Every squad needs squad players, and this lad (who I know nothing about at all) appears to be extremely versatile. Happy with it.

[deebee]

If he is like the other Cliftons from Grimsby he may be dancing around the opposition players next season.

[ForsolongaRover]

43 appearances for Grimsby last season by a player who sounds as though he gives 100%. Surely he is the sort who any League 2 manager would want to sign. He sounds like a Tommy Rowe type who will commit in the same way as Craig. One reason why we were so poor in 2023 was because some players did not put in enough effort, especially when we went behind. A full season in League 2 is a hard slog and we are not going to win every game playing skilful attractive football.

[sedwardsdrfc]

Remember Matty Blair been a top player for McCann. Filling in lot of positions and always bringing tons of energy and commitment.

In a better team these type of players can just stick to what they are good at and give the ball simple to better players.

Maybe not 1st 11 material but with the injuries we get he’ll play plenty

[Drover]

Not blown away by this one. Hopefully Grant can get plenty out of him. Ok at getting in goal scoring positions but not enough to the rest of his game for me.

Sounds like Biggo then.

Kind of. Don’t think he will get in the strongest XI.

Get what you’re saying here but it’s about building a team / squad and the energy and commitment he offers will be an important part of that.

Agree Jonathon,with better players around him and getting better coaching/team spirit there is every chance he could flourish more under our current management,AKA Bailey,Moly etc

[drfcsteve]

I like that we are building a team of players that are ours and are a good age. I expect we’ll strengthen with some loans but we’re not entirely reliant on loanees like past seasons.

[danumdon]

Not blown away by this one. Hopefully Grant can get plenty out of him. Ok at getting in goal scoring positions but not enough to the rest of his game for me.

Sounds like Biggo then.

Kind of. Don’t think he will get in the strongest XI.

Get what you’re saying here but it’s about building a team / squad and the energy and commitment he offers will be an important part of that.

Agree Jonathon,with better players around him and getting better coaching/team spirit there is every chance he could flourish more under our current management,AKA Bailey,Moly etc

Totally agree. GM has obviously a plan for him. Can't remember too much of him from our games last season against Grimsby but then they did play dire as an opposition right across the board.

Sounds like he will be very versatile, with the right encouragement, and desire on his part i'm happy to have him here and will judge him on what he does for us, in our squad with our management team.

GM getting his work done early can only be good for all.

[Copps is Magic]

Reading 7 pages of comments on the Grimsby forum and all pretty consistent - hard (beyond hard) working midfielder who runs his knackers off. I think, given Close and Westbrooke, this coversan asset we don't currently have, and hopefully gives the forwards more licence to play. So it seems a good signing but interesting to see how the midfield all fits together.

[DonnyBazR0ver]

Well, that's a bit sneaky. Catching most of us off guard and signing someone on a Sunday....Well, announcing it anyway.

This lad sounds like he'll be here to compliment and/or compete with Bailey  and Broadbent. I guess McCann has now all the options depending as he sees fit, with potentially playing two holding midfield players plus a Close or Westbrooke, or one anchor with Close, Westbrooke and Sbarra in front in a diamond?

I wonder now we've made these initial signings, McCann will go for a break before returning to complete our business , which of course could be loans, so it may go quiet for a couple of weeks.

[Jonathan]

This lad sounds like he'll be here to compliment and/or compete with Bailey  and Broadbent.

I’m hoping he’s got more to offer than telling Bailey and Broadbent how good they are. Although we all like a compliment so if he is as nice as you imply it can’t be a bad thing.

[Northants Nomad]

This lad sounds like he'll be here to compliment and/or compete with Bailey  and Broadbent.

I’m hoping he’s got more to offer than telling Bailey and Broadbent how good they are. Although we all like a compliment so if he is as nice as you imply it can’t be a bad thing.

Love it Jonathan - a bit of pedantry on a Sunday afternoon in the sun always brings a smile. To be fair, though, the difference between complement and compliment is a commonly-missed point. Perhaps, in this case, we might even see the whole DRFC crowd complimenting him on being the perfect complement to Bailey and Broadbent.

[BobG]

We could be complimentary about their complementary nature couldn't we?

BobG

[5minstogo]

Well, that's a bit sneaky. Catching most of us off guard and signing someone on a Sunday....Well, announcing it anyway.

This lad sounds like he'll be here to compliment and/or compete with Bailey  and Broadbent. I guess McCann has now all the options depending as he sees fit, with potentially playing two holding midfield players plus a Close or Westbrooke, or one anchor with Close, Westbrooke and Sbarra in front in a diamond?

I wonder now we've made these initial signings, McCann will go for a break before returning to complete our business , which of course could be loans, so it may go quiet for a couple of weeks.

McCann is on holiday at the moment.