Martin Ling`s Signings

[portugull]

Martin was appointed manager in the summer of 2011 and in season 2011/12 he signed the following:-

Bobby Olejnik - top drawer signing. Sold to Peterborough after one season for material profit.
Rene Howe - Another top signing.
Brian Saah - excellent signing after slow start.
Nathan Craig - very good signing.
Ian Morris - jury still out.
Daniel Leadbitter - progressing well this season.
Martin Rice - number two keeper.
Taiwo Atieno - released after one season.
Angus MacDonald - loaned from Reading for 3 months.
Ryan Jarvis - loaned from Walsall

After reaching the playoffs and losing four top players (Olejnik, Robertson, Ellis and O`Kane) Martin signed the following players for the current season:-

Michael Poke - an excellent signing.
Aaron Downes - inspired signing.
Billy Bowdin - £70 grand but yet to justify fee.
Ryan Jarvis - move made permanent and beginning to prove his worth.
Craig Easton - good signing, experienced player.
Thomas Cruise - good pedigree but so far few opportunities.
Karl Baker - short term contract.
Angus MacDonald - loan from Reading hopefully to end of season.

In fairness to Martin Ling I would hope that the majority of supporters would accept that Martin`s signings have been very good. Olejnik, Howe, Saah, Craig, Poke and Downes have all proved to be excellent players at league two level. Only one signing has been released, Atieno who I note has just joined Barnet after being without a club.

I hope I have not missed anyone out but anyone who knows anything about professional football knows that signing players particularly in the modern game is a risky business. I hope the above demonstrates that Martin Ling`s track record in two seasons is a good one. Lets hope he can find a real gem this month with a habit of putting the ball in the net.

[AustrianAndyGull]

Good post portugull and it is clear from that list that he has made some very astute acquisitions on a next-to-nothing budget. The ironic thing is IMO that the one player who cost a fair bit is most probably the biggest failure. I think we all know i'm referring to Billy Bodin. I know a lot of you still think the lad will turn it around but i don't in a million years so for me, Billy is the worst signing in terms of value and returns on the pitch.

Howe, Olejnik, Downes, Saah, Poke, Easton, Craig and Morris are all absolutely immense signings IMO whilst the jury is still out on a few others. Atieno along with Billy and Ricey are players clearly not good enough for us , no offence meant to either player it's just my opinion but the rest you can't argue with. To have only 3 players who i don't rate out of 18 is good, solid management at any level and i don't think that Lingy has difficulty in identifying players and trying to bring them in if he really feels it is necessary. Obviously they're not all going to turn out to be great signings but he hasn't done too bad at all thus far. The way in which he uses them is another debate however but best left for another thread.

[ferrarilover]

You missed Bodin (Bowdin...?) being on loan last season.

A superb summary which will draw some criticism from those who suggest that Morris deserves to be ranked in the same manner as Tom Cruise (which happens to be my stance)

Not sure how much you've seen of Karl Baker, but I really like him. I know Supergulls (apologies to him if I have remembered this incorrectly) doesn't think he's first team material, and I bow to his superior knowledge in that regard, but from what I've seen of him, in style and approach, he's Bodin Mk ii.

Your little rundown here has rather shown me just how unlucky we have been with injuries this season. Just as Morris, Jarvo and Lloyd were finding some good form, they are injured, and not just for a week, but for bloody months at a time. I can't recall us ever having a player out for a whole season before, which is what Morris is looking at (according to GoodLuckGull on another thread, and we have no reason to doubt him).

At the risk of being a little unfair to Billy, given the way the season has gone, we might have been better off had it been he who was unavailable, rather than Lloyd. Macklin is a genuine wide man, meaning not only do we have his pace available, but we have a space in the middle for Nathan Craig.

Much to ponder.

Matt.

[gurneygibbs23]

i know bodin hasnt justified his fee, but we have seen he his capable from his loan spell and that swindon wanted to keep him and the interest from other clubs.

He clearly has no confidence, lets hope he gets a goal soon and the form will return... then i bet we will be eating our words and it will be like a new signing

[stefano]

i know bodin hasnt justified his fee, but we have seen he his capable from his loan spell and that swindon wanted to keep him and the interest from other clubs.

He clearly has no confidence, lets hope he gets a goal soon and the form will return... then i bet we will be eating our words and it will be like a new signing

Absolutely spot on. Bodin is an excellent player but a young player with a long way to go before he is the finished article. I am confident he will play in the Championship (not for us I hasten to add!). I said the same thing about Ashley Barnes when he was being slated by the Plainmoor faithful for his performances for us. Yes he was crap here, but you could see what he was capable of. Didn't take him long either to be banging them in at Championship level. Bodin I think will take a little longer and he has got this present confidence blip to get over. Once he does though he will be very much on our asset list for future income.

I agree completely with Ferrari as well in respect of Cruise and Morris. Both players bring a lot to our squad at this level and both could play higher.

Saturday without a game. Looks like a walk up to Cross In Hand to catch some live action albeit the other football code!

[portugull]

I like Billy and I too think he will come good. I just feel that so far he simply has not justified the fee. I suspect Billy would agree.
Martin Ling will be proved right. Hat trick against Exeter Billy? No pressure. You can do it. Just believe!

[AustrianAndyGull]

I think if we write off this season in terms of Billy Bodin and give him the summer to recouperate, refocus and get some confidence back then hopefully Ling will prove me wrong and be justified in signing him. If he has another poor first half to next season then i think we can safely say we have done our money (IMHO). I sincerely hope Bodin can resurrect his Gulls career as it will mean he is doing well for us and we may get a future transfer fee higher than what Lingy paid. Only time will tell but in the meantime he should have our support out on the field of play at all times. ( We are perfectly within our rights to voice our displeasure , if any, on here though if we feel it necessary - just not during games ).