Rating Our Previous Summer Signings Part 1

 Whilst we await our first signing, there is a lot of discussion around how important the summer transfer window is this year. I think our past few summer transfer dealings played a part in Alan Devonshire’s resignation as much of the support had lost faith in his recruitment abilities. As we have seen in various comments by Ryan Peters in the post season, Dev’s chief scout Lee Devonshire (I wonder how he got the job?) remains in post which has caused some concern. 

So on that note I’ll be looking at his transfer record over the past 5 seasons over two posts; evaluating whether the players were a hit or miss, and then giving the transfer window an overall rating out of 10. I will however, only be assessing players signed during the summer transfer window. 

 

2021/2022

The club lost some vital players that summer; 19 goal striker Daniel Danilo-Orsi and talented winger Josh Coley earned moves to full time clubs after excellent seasons. We also let go our centre midfield generals James Conley and Rohan Ince, along with our first choice right back Seth Twumasi leaving amongst others. 

Emile Acquah - Not the best first season at the club but was an absolute beast by the time he left. A perfect Dev style striker. Verdict: HIT 

 

Charlee Adams - An excellent playmaker style midfielder for us for a number of seasons before he fell out with Dev. Verdict: HIT

Dylan Asonganyi - A forward who scored no goals in 8 appearances before being loaned to Kings Langley in February. Verdict: MISS

 

Sam Beckwith (Loan) -  Initially signed as a back up midfielder from Luton Town where he had won the club’s Young Player of the Year award, wasn't always a regular in the side this season but looked bright when he did. Verdict: HIT

 

Kane Ferdinand - Spent 5 years at the club which have each yielded diminishing returns. Feels harsh as he did have some decent games for us, in particular in this first season, but ultimately disappeared too often when we needed him. Verdict: MISS 

Will De Havilland - A great signing, our most consistent defender over the last 5 years. Verdict: HIT

James Holden (Loan) - Did very well on loan at the end of the previous season so hopes were high when he arrived on a season long loan. However, he was sent off in our 6th game of the season and could not get his place back in the side. He only played sporadically including in 4-0 losses to Boreham Wood and Solihull before his loan was terminated in January. Verdict: MISS

 

Jack Senga (Loan) - Came on work experience loan, didn't play that much before returning to Reading and to be honest I can remember very little of him. Verdict: MISS

 

Overall Verdict: HIT -  7/10 - A positive window due to the excellent signings of Adams, Acquah, and De Havilland. Danilo-Orsi and Josh Coley were always going to be near impossible to replace and most of the loans didn't work out. We were also lumbered with Ferdinand who wasn’t even half the player of either Comley or Ince which is probably the main negative. I suspect Asonganyi was a cheap gamble and not much of a loss so overall we came out on top. 

 

 2022/2023

Another summer of losing a couple of our best players with top scorer Josh Kelly finally seeking out full time football at Solihull and Ryheem Sheckleford joining high flying Chesterfield after a stand out previous season. Regular starters George Wells, Shaun Donnellan, Nathan Blissett and Manny Parry all departed as well, with some of their losses (Donnellan) being felt more than others.

Andre Alexis Jnr -  A goalkeeper more well known for French Big Brother and being a TikTok star. Despite being an excellent shot stopper he struggled with every other aspect of goalkeeping and looked close to a blunder at any given moment. Verdict: MISS

 

Koby Arthur - Hyped up by Dev upon signing as a player who could go on to play at a higher level. Only played 18 times and didn't pull up any trees. Spent the next season at Hereford in the NLN before dropping down further divisions. Verdict: MISS

 

Zico Asare - An excellent right back and a great replacement for the departing Rykeem Sheckleford. Had very few bad games over the next couple of seasons, always solid. Verdict: HIT

 

Sam Beckwith - Signed after spending the previous season on loan. Started slowly but one of our best players and a great LB by the time he departed for Rochdale. Verdict: HIT

 

Adrian Clifton - Unfortunately, he was not the player he once was for us. Ended the season on loan at Hampton. Verdict: MISS

 

Samson Esan - Signed and then played about 20 minutes of league football before going out on loan and being released at the end of the season. Verdict: MISS

 

Temi Eweka - I always rated Eweka, who was signed from Bracknell. Dev never really appeared convinced and he spent some of the season on loan at Slough where he did very well. Has had a good career post Magpies as well but never given a proper run in the team. Verdict: MISS

 

Cole Kpewaka - Was touted as a classy left centre back/left back with great potential when signed. He did ok, scored a couple of goals but his appearances were restricted by injury before he left at the end of the season. Verdict: MISS

 

Ashley Nathanial-George -  Put in some of the best individual performances I saw at York Road during our stay in the National League. Always looked dangerous, particularly against the big ex-league teams. Unplayable on his day. Verdict: HIT

 

Idris Odutayo (Loan) - Without doubt one of Dev's best loan signings. Supposedly had attitude issues but a brilliant LB for us who could and should clearly have played at a much higher level. Verdict: HIT

 

Overall Verdict: HIT-  6/10 - A tough one to judge as there were some excellent signings along with some real dross and missed opportunities. You have to give the recruitment team credit due to finding pretty decent replacements for Kelly and Sheckleford and an improvement on Wells at left back. With Beckwith, Asure and Nathaniel-George all earning moves to decent clubs after some great seasons with the Magpies, it’s just about a hit. 

In the next blog post I'll be looking at the following three seasons. Until next time, see you on the Bell End. Up the Mags!