Due to releasing my season preview over the weekend, the weekly transfer roundup in the National League has been slightly delayed, but the extra few days brought some of the biggest signings. Sides who were looking depleted have now replenished, and the title favourites also added another top talent to their ranks. As the season creeps ever closer, I look at the transfer winners and losers from the last 9 days.
Winners
Halifax Town
One side who have featured on these lists more than most is Halifax Town, and they have found themselves on both sides. This week they have continued their rebuild, adding several experienced defenders, an area which had been gutted by departures to the EFL. Halifax added 3 top defenders this week, with the arrivals of right back Sam Minihan (Stockport), centre back Festus Arthur (Hull) and fellow central defender Tom Clarke (Fleetwood) a real positive for the Shaymen.
Minihan is a full back who found game time hard to come by at Stockport last season, but one who acquitted himself well whenever he did get the chance to deputise for Southam-Wales, adding to his cult hero status which he earnt at Stockport.
Central defenders Arthur and Clarke come in to replace Maher and Bradbury, who left for the EFL, and many believe their arrival at the Shay could mean the imminent departure of young centre back Debrah. At the time of writing this move hasn’t materialised, and the additions of Festus and Clarke look to be immense regardless of Debrah’s future. Arthur is a hulking central defender, one who also has National League experience due to his time with Stockport, adding to the wealth of former Stockport players that have joined Halifax this summer. At 6ft2, Arthur is an aerial threat, scoring 2 goals in 32 games in the National League, and his athleticism should be key to handle the wealth of larger strikers seen at this level.
Tom Clarke is a central defender with a wealth of experience, and the Halifax born defender finally returns to the Shag, having played for them 14 years ago in 07/08. Despite being 34, Clarke is no slouch, and his drop into non-league is surprising; he made 35 appearances in League One, captaining Fleetwood on at least 8 occasions in 21/22. Many would have expected Clarke to remain in the EFL, so Halifax’s capture of the defender who has made over 125 appearances in the Championship must be seen as somewhat of a coup. Clarke won 67.5% of his defensive duels last term, showing he still has plenty to offer Halifax; and if Debrah does stay he would be a good mentor for the 21 year old.
Halifax’s additions haven’t been purely defensive this week; they’ve also added Burnley front man Rob Harker. I don’t know a huge amount about the 22 year old forward, but to have been on the books at Burnley for 4 years he must have been highly thought of. Stylistically he should be a good fit too, as Burnley’s style is more suited to the rigours of non-league than many other top flight sides. At 6ft2 Harker is sure to be a physical presence up top, and be will be tasked with replacing the goals lost in Billy Water’s departure, a man who wasted no time in finding his scoring boots at Barrow, as he scored what proved to be the winner in their opener against Stockport.
Boreham Wood
Boreham Wood also had an impressive week, bringing in 2 creative players to compliment their sturdy squad. 20 year old Zak Brunt joins on loan from Sheffield United, and the Blades midfielder has a wealth of experience at this level, having had loan spells at Southend and Notts County last season. Brunt earned rave reviews during his time with the Seasiders, yet at Notts the fanfare was more tempered, with Brunt often drawing criticism; Wood fans will be hoping they get the former. Brunt ranked extremely highly in the passing categories, with the 20 year old making the most smart passes per 90 minutes in the division (1.52, 2nd- Ruben Rodrigues – 1.31). Brunt also ranked 7th for deep completions, making 1.38 per 90, and if Garrard can play Brunt further forward, the youngster could flourish.
The man who sits one place above Brunt in the deep completion rankings, with 1.46 per 90, is Erico Sousa, who also arrives at Meadow Park this week. The Portuguese attacker is extremely versatile, meaning he could operate out wide or through the middle. Sousa is an interesting signing for Garrard as his natural positions aren’t currently a feature of his system. Whether this means he will give Sousa a free role further forward, or even if he is planning on experimenting and deploying him as a wing back, remains to be seen. What is clear though is that Sousa was a key part of Grimsby’s promotion last term, and has playoff experience, something which could be vital for Wood this season.
Later in the week Wood announced the capture of Jack Payne from Crawley Town. Payne is another good midfield addition, one who is slightly more combative than Brunt and Sousa, something he showcased in his 35 League 2 appearances last term. Payne won 61.9% of his defensive duels in those 35 appearances, adding some real grit to Wood’s midfield, and complimenting the flair Garrard brought in earlier in the week.
Altrincham
Perhaps the biggest transfer news of the week came in the form of Toby Mullarkey staying at Altrincham, as confirmed by Charlie Walden (@WallySpire). A transfer saga I have mentioned a few times over the summer, Mullarkey is one of the best central defenders in the league, and is undoubtedly Alty’s key man. However, despite Cook highly rating the defender who wins 69.9% of his defensive duels, the Spireites weren’t prepared to pay the fee quoted, thought to be in the 6 figure region. You can understand both parties stance; on the one hand, Chesterfield will feel the fee is too high for a player who has never played above this level, but on the other Mullarkey has only just signed a new deal at Altrincham, and is their key man.
Altrincham might have found themselves on this list for simply retaining Mullarkey’s services, but Alty have also been active in the market themselves, brining in 2 fresh faces. The Robins brought in former charge Jamie Jones, who should form one of the finest centre back partnerships in the division alongside Mullarkey. A 6ft3 ball playing defender, Jones already has over 100 appearances for Altrincham. He also made 25 appearances in League 2 for Barrow last season, in which time he won 63.55% of his defensive duels and played 9.12 progressive passes per 90, both impressive figures. The Robins have got themselves the perfect partner for Mullarkey, meaning they have had a fine week, in which they also brought in 23 year old attacker Alex Samizadeh, who scored 7 in 12 for Leatherhead last season.
Losers
Yeovil Town
Yeovil have actually been quite active this week, bringing jn 2 new names, but it’s the calibre of player and nature of the deals that makes me worry for the Glovers. First through the door was Sam Pearson, a highly rated winger who has already won youth honours for Wales. The signing of the Bristol City man should therefore be a positive one, and it is, but the nature of the deal has left many Yeovil fans worried about the financial state of the club. Pearson only joins on a one month loan deal, meaning that if he is to impress for the Glovers he isn’t guaranteed to stay past his one month.
Perhaps more worryingly was the response to their second signing of the week, Ben Richards-Everton, who joins from Barnet following his release from the Bees. Whilst Barnet have recruited positively in defence, Yeovil have picked the scraps up of a defence that conceded 89 goals, the second worse in the division. Yeovil are a side I tipped to struggle, and with signings like this it’s easy to see why. I don’t think Richards-Everton is a bad player, he even won 68.62% of his defensive duels last season, but for a side that finished 12th you really would be expecting more ambitious signings.
Notts County
The majority of the people reading this are probably like myself, Notts fans, however this week has been a poor one for the Magpies. No new signings have been made, and the loss of a marquee player like Cal Roberts means it was inevitable Notts would end up in the losers column this week. Whilst many have, quite rightly, pointed out that Roberts doesn’t really fit the system Luke Williams will likely employ, there is no getting away from the fact that Notts have lost one of the best players in the division. 25 year old Roberts joins former teammate Jayden Richardson at Aberdeen, and the mercurial left footer will be high on confidence after firing 16 goals last term, along with 6 assists. Roberts is a fine footballer, one who has a deadly left foot, but it’s the creative side of his game, which is often under appreciated, where he excels.
Roberts made 0.91 key passes per 90, 2nd most in the National League, and he made 2.06 deep completions per 90, the most in the division. What Cal also has is something which can’t really be quantified by stats; that game winning X Factor, the ability to turn a game on its head, either from a dead ball or through a long range screamer. And with rumours circling that midfield stalwart Matty Palmer may also follow Roberts out the door, this week has certainly been one to forget for the Magpies. It’s not all doom and gloom in Nottingham though, with new boss Luke Williams confirming that new signings are on the horizon; what area will be strengthened remains to be seen.
xN: Expected Nonsense 