Anthony O'Connor signs and Darcy Blake training with us

Was a while ago now but I thought Blake was good for us when we had him at Championship level and apparently he was heads and shoulders above everyone on the pitch at Rodney Parade in April according to a poster on the farm.

O'Connor sounds decent as well going by what my mate who's a Torquay fan said.

I was at that game and don't remember him being 'head and shoulders above everyone else on the pitch' at all. He wasn't even the best left sided player in the game!!

That said I have good memories of him at CCC level and he was decent for us then. A very full blooded player who tackles hard!

Darcy Bussell would have been more watchable.

To be clear, Anthony O'Connor has signed on loan from Blackburn until January. Darcy Blake is training with us, I said a few week ago Darcy was to sign. had his photo taken then some thing went wrong.

Blake was a good loan signing- let's hope he can play as well this time- very versatile defender too (which we need). I think Newport offered him a contract but he turned it down.

What defensive position is O'Connor (as he's 6'2"). BBC report says he is banned for Cambridge game after being sent off for Torquay in their last game-

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O'Connor is a RB/ CB-

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I'm sure from memory Blake was a RB who was left footed. Does he play LB?

So we've signed O'Connor (relegated with Torquay) to go alongside Norburn (relegated with Bristol Rovers). Doesn't exactly scream promotion push! Lets hope they are cannier signings then they look.

Blake is a weird one, if he's available on a free, and plays the same position as O'Connor, you wonder why O'Connor was signed. Perhaps Sheridan potentially wants both, in which case you must think that either Blake or Mellor might play on the wing instead of Full back.

At least we are getting the defensive cover we need. Still need some extra creativity somewhere in the midfield I reckon.

Another RB signed and one in training! JS does know we need cover on the left too? and on the wings and probs in the middle.

Angry wrote:

Another RB signed and one in training! JS does know we need cover on the left too? and on the wings and probs in the middle.

And up front.......and in goal   

Angry wrote:

Another RB signed and one in training! JS does know we need cover on the left too? and on the wings and probs in the middle.

Probably dont need cover on the left. We have Mchuge,Purrington and Mellor has played there before .

Big concern for me is Right Wing Position and Central Midfeild.

Lewis A, is not a winger, he trys his best and works hard but should be back up only in this position.
Nathan T, is raw, although i do like him, adds alot of skill and excitement, and has a terrific left peg.

Midfeild, Cox is superb, covers the pitch well, tackles and plays effective balls. Ollie however, although has a superb pin point passing range and works hard should be back up, and a decent midfeilder brought in to partner Cox. Easier said then done.

Also depends on the formation Sheridan is going to use.

He might opt for 4-2-3-1, which would accomadate the current squad, and can be very effective if played correctly.

we need someone who can play there naturally and not just makeshift and mellor hasnt played there before.

Angry wrote:

we need someone who can play there naturally and not just makeshift and mellor hasnt played there before.

What like Purrington or McHugh!

Angry wrote:

we need someone who can play there naturally and not just makeshift and mellor hasnt played there before.

Exactly.

Purrington is 18 and has only played about 5 senior games.

McHugh is a CB who played a bit at LB (and wasn't rated by Bradford fans there. And reports after pre-season with us are that he clearly ISN'T looking good at LB).

Mellor is a RB who has dabbled on the left but played the vast majority of his youth and pro career at RB.

Same for Darcy Blake.


It's great to have options, but I'd have liked it a lot more to sign a proven career LB with Purrington for back up/rotation. It looks like fielding a back line this season will be a constant juggling act, moving players around - CB to RB/LB - right side to left - 3-5-2 to 4-4-2 to 3-2-4-1.

I was expecting more of an emphasis on specialists over generalists. With the exception of Hartley, every signing this summer seems to have been in mind to play two or three positions.