Recruitment

[The Crowing Cockerel]

The loss of Cian Dillon once again highlights the fragility of our squad and options. Barring the Chelmsford debacle, he looked to have formed a decent understanding with Lamar Reynolds. So now we're back down to one recognised striker with only Sam Youngs and a couple of youngsters (Ackason and Davis) able to assist. Unfortunately Tommy Wood has never really delivered, and Harry Lodovica was understandably exiled to Whitehawk. I'm not claiming that 20-goal-a-season strikers grow on trees, but we seem to have a real problem identifying/attracting goal-scorers. Its interesting to see Ruben Shakepoke scoring goals for Slough having attracted a fee for his services while at Welling. Meanwhile, Jake Hutchinson is banging them in at Step 3 for Folkestone as they march towards the title and promotion. Both looked desperately poor in a Town shirt.

Meanwhile, Dagenham have picked up Stan Leech from Isthmian North on a free transfer and he is already banging in the goals. The likes of Greg Cundle leave Welling and move sidways to Ramsgate. Dorking pick up Patrick Casey on loan from Charlton - he promptly scores 3 in 4 games....

Surely, given our location and catchment area, there has to be some serious untapped striking talent available? Its not as if we're in a remote location such as Truro?!

[ETFC2001]

We never had a problem identifying talented strikers when in step 3 though, which is interesting. We unearthed a few gems.

Not too sure Wyllie would of been a 20 goals per season striker though in this league to be fair. On that note, I’m fairly surprised he hasn’t come back to us yet on loan. I mean, it seems the perfect move for 1. The club 2. Wyllie and 3. Gillingham. 

Edited January 2 by ETFC2001

[ETFC2001]

But you’re right, we don’t play an attractive attacking way, so why would strikers come to us? As you say it, Shakpoke, Hutchinson etc all looked fairly poor here. But with their new teams, scoring goals, looking happy etc. 

I’m not really sure any striker around our level would want to play for us at the moment. It’s negative football (granted it can get us results), I don’t think we can offer that much money so the only thing we really have going for us is our location.

I believe the only strikers we can get are young youth players from clubs in the football league that has somewhere in the contract that we have to play them a certain amount of minutes/games to keep the relationship going for other loanees to come in and out. I believe this happened last year with Kaunda, and I wouldn’t be shocked to see it again this year after now Cian has gone.

I really doubt Sam Youngs is going to score 18 goals this season in the league like he did last season, so I’m really wondering who’s going to chip in. The most likely looks like Reynolds, but I can’t say I’m too impressed.

[andyetfc]

5 minutes ago, ETFC2001 said:

But you’re right, we don’t play an attractive attacking way, so why would strikers come to us? As you say it, Shakpoke, Hutchinson etc all looked fairly poor here. But with their new teams, scoring goals, looking happy etc. 

I’m not really sure any striker around our level would want to play for us at the moment. It’s negative football (granted it can get us results), I don’t think we can offer that much money so the only thing we really have going for us is our location.

I believe the only strikers we can get are young youth players from clubs in the football league that has somewhere in the contract that we have to play them a certain amount of minutes/games to keep the relationship going for other loanees to come in and out. I believe this happened last year with Kaunda, and I wouldn’t be shocked to see it again this year after now Cian has gone.

I really doubt Sam Youngs is going to score 18 goals this season in the league like he did last season, so I’m really wondering who’s going to chip in. The most likely looks like Reynolds, but I can’t say I’m too impressed.

We can’t rely on players coming and going on short term loans as it does nothing for the team overall and there must be a problem if the only thing going for us is our location.

 

Edited January 2 by andyetfc

[ETFC2001]

1 minute ago, andyetfc said:

We can’t rely on players coming and going on short term loans as it does nothing for the team overall and there must be a problem if the only thing going for us is our location.

 

I agree. One month loan deals with football league teams are simply not good enough anymore. We need a striker that can come in, long term. But if we don’t want to pay the money, or simply can’t, then you settle for less.

I’m really struggling to see the benefits of playing up-top for Enfield Town outside of location at this current moment in time. Compared to atleast 15-18 teams in our league, we lack funds, facilities and a system where the striker will most likely not have a clue what type of service he’s going to get every weekend.

I think we honestly have one of the best support in the league, so you may see that as a positive as well that you’re going to be playing in-front of a loyal fanbase who will (mostly) always back you unless you’re not performing well. 

[The Crowing Cockerel]

3 hours ago, andyetfc said:

We can’t rely on players coming and going on short term loans as it does nothing for the team overall and there must be a problem if the only thing going for us is our location.

 

But that seems to be the way clubs get by throughout this league. Each and every single club is reliant upon loanees: Dorking, Eastbourne, Farnborough, Hampton...have all in the last couple of days announced loan signings/extensions. I guess it comes down to the fact that loans are 1) Cheap - you either pay a very small % or nothing towards the salary plus some travel expenses/insurance contribution in return for guaranteed game time; and 2) You might just land yourself a real gem of a player.

I suspect Gavin will try to get another loanee in up front. We can only hope whoever he is can save our season.

As an aside, I reckon Eli Ackason and Olly Davis would do very well if we were to end up at Step 3 next season - and they were to remain with us.

[The Crowing Cockerel]

Ade Azeez released by Hemel today. Perhaps worth a punt on this experienced striker - if we can scrape the cash together - given our forward line woes.

[ETFC2001]

13 hours ago, The Crowing Cockerel said:

Ade Azeez released by Hemel today. Perhaps worth a punt on this experienced striker - if we can scrape the cash together - given our forward line woes.

Already at Welling.

[The Crowing Cockerel]

Plenty of players signing for mid-table Isthmian sides who would really improve our team. We clearly can't compete with also-rans in the league below - let alone clubs at Step 2. The latest example would be Jon Benton joining Billericay. He tore us apart for Maidstone last season. Assuming its the ownership model and finances which limits us rather than scouting/attractiveness of our style of play and management?

[The Crowing Cockerel]

Cian Dillon and Olly Davis gone.

Looks like we'll be returning to the dark days of 1 up front - because we haven't got anyone else!

[No bull Towner]

16 minutes ago, The Crowing Cockerel said:

Cian Dillon and Olly Davis gone.

Looks like we'll be returning to the dark days of 1 up front - because we haven't got anyone else!

Well bringing Joe wright back isn't going to solve all the problems that's for sure 🤦‍♀️

[Albury_Walker]

14 minutes ago, No bull Towner said:

Well bringing Joe wright back isn't going to solve all the problems that's for sure 🤦‍♀️

He'll be gone again soon , Can't  believe he wants to damage his reputation that much 🤣

.  Anyway what's wrong with Flappy 🤔

Doing a great job there by my reckoning . 🤣

[ETFC2001]

Replace Cian and Davis with… Joe Wright. A keeper who we got rid of to make our former keeper happy.

The Rhys Forster debacle gets stupider by the second. 

Edited January 9 by ETFC2001

[No bull Towner]

2 minutes ago, ETFC2001 said:

Replace Cian and Davis with… Joe Wright. A keeper who we got rid of to make our former keeper happy.

The Rhys Forster debacle gets stupider by the second. 

Wright was never no1 and left because he wasn't going to be no1 for this season either. Whilst the GKs continue to take all the flack for losses the club is screwed. Over paying players who are past their prime and eating up the budget is not the recipe for success nor is 'jobs for the boys'. Any way it is what it is and will wait to see who's picked off next 🤣

[Outoftowner]

Not so sure why everyone's so worried about our keepers. Seems to me , they're the least of our worries compared to the outfield players. I'm disgusted at Davis leaving. He only got back into the team two matches ago , scores a goal and then he's snapped up by Hemel Hempstead for christ's sake. People say money talks, and it does of course, but in the long run there'll only be money teams competing.Unless Enfield get a big money backer they'll be sinking down as well. For me, lack of fair competition laws and genuinely caring about communities has gone out of the window. It's dog eat dog and we're the next meal.

Edited January 9 by Outoftowner

[djwilf]

Gk is last line of defence.    Think our most recent holder of that position was probably much busier than he expected.  

Think todays in and outs are huge and as each week passes we are in a more unfavourable position.   Not looking forward to the remainder of this season.

[The Crowing Cockerel]

TBF, Olly Davis probably didn't want to be relegated from NLS two seasons in a row! Gavin clearly viewed him very much as a luxury player - hence benching him for most of the 12 games he played. So far in his career he's shown glimpses of potential but has yet to prove himself a real game-changer. He has all the attributes, but I think he probably needs a season at Step 3 to really develop. Plus I think he's more of a winger than an out-and-out centre forward.

[No bull Towner]

Really disappointed as it appears the squad is going downhill now where as it should have been being strengthened to avoid the drop. Wright is better than Mr Flappy but not better than Forster so no upgrade there. Who on earth is going to replace Dillon or Davis as both were head and shoulders above the rest? Ackason should be starting as him and Gallimore are the only other players who look like they want to make things happen.  Youngy, Mickey and Thommo I suspect are top earners, are lorded as better than they are and possibly hold more influence than they should. Thinking Benjamin will be picked off if not under contract. Really hoping Gav has some outstanding loans coming in or we are going down! Just thinking out loud as feeling deflated.

[The Crowing Cockerel]

49 minutes ago, No bull Towner said:

Really disappointed as it appears the squad is going downhill now where as it should have been being strengthened to avoid the drop. Wright is better than Mr Flappy but not better than Forster so no upgrade there. Who on earth is going to replace Dillon or Davis as both were head and shoulders above the rest? Ackason should be starting as him and Gallimore are the only other players who look like they want to make things happen.  Youngy, Mickey and Thommo I suspect are top earners, are lorded as better than they are and possibly hold more influence than they should. Thinking Benjamin will be picked off if not under contract. Really hoping Gav has some outstanding loans coming in or we are going down! Just thinking out loud as feeling deflated.

1. Joe Wright is an ungrade on Mr Flappy. I'm not saying he's going to single-handedly keep us up, but we certainly know what we're getting and its positive that he wanted to come back to us from a promotion-chasing Step 3 club and after the way he was discarded in pre-season. He was very much part of our survival last season.

2. Gavin was very downbeat post-Totton about the prospect of recruiting. He has consistently had this problem. Presumably most of that is down to the finances. As he has previously made clear: we were a pretty easy 'sell' at Step 3, but almost impossible at Step 2.

3. I note that the 'X' club admin was quick to highlight that Cian Dillon technically remains on loan with us. Assuming Cian's hamstring hasn't magically repaired, Gavin is going to have to pair Lamar with Eli. If he'd managed to secure another striker I'm pretty sure the club would've announced them in order to soften the blow of the loss of Olly Davis.

I just wonder whether a different manager might've had more joy on the transfer side of things...?

[The Crowing Cockerel]

On 09/01/2026 at 14:22, The Crowing Cockerel said:

Cian Dillon and Olly Davis gone.

Just watched the Dover v Hemel highlights from today. Olly Davis had an outstanding debut - hitting the bar to set up the first, hitting the post, and generally running Dover ragged.