Wilkinson played as the centre forward at Chesham and looked like he had some of the attributes to do it - good height, good pace, good runs, good link play. I think he might get some chances, he seemed to fit the mould for that number 9 spot. Not experienced at this level but neither was Stead last year in a slightly different role and he came on a treat.DSM wrote: ↑24 Jul 2024, 14:05 Think unless someone up to DB’s standard comes along he’ll start the season with happily with stead, Browne and Nicke, it’s more than we’ve had the previous 2 years
In terms of the offers I really hope it’s just DC and Idris as we expected and that there’s nothing which could potentially unsettle a Nicke, stead etc
I also would rather it was resolved before the season kicks off rather than carry players who don’t want to be with us.
Exciting times and so rare to be at the beginning of July and having largely completed our business for the summer.
Transfers 2024/25
Re: Transfers 2024/25
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- Posts: 578
- Joined: 30 Oct 2019, 23:21
Re: Transfers 2024/25
If there's anyone out there who says no to big john returning needs their head checked. Got us out this division, experience at this level. He might be 35 and people saying he's slowed right down... what I see of him at colchester last season he don't look any different to when he was at us if I'm honest. A strong powerful man who knows where the back of the net is, great man an player to have around the club and great back up to nicki, you can't expect nickie to play every game all season it's to much. He needs a rest every now and then, we have good delivery of the ball with the players we now have. Bringing big john on like 70th min for example imagine tired legs in the opposition and you.bring big john on.., will cause all sorts of trouble. I think he will be a perfect fit as he won't be playing every game because we have nicki but to have as back up for this season I think it would be a great addition.
Re: Transfers 2024/25
Dean wants us to press teams, especially in the latter stages of games when other teams tire and we’re hopefully better conditioned than them. You’re not gonna get Akinde pressing how Dean wants at his age.BarnetJim wrote: ↑25 Jul 2024, 05:24 If there's anyone out there who says no to big john returning needs their head checked. Got us out this division, experience at this level. He might be 35 and people saying he's slowed right down... what I see of him at colchester last season he don't look any different to when he was at us if I'm honest. A strong powerful man who knows where the back of the net is, great man an player to have around the club and great back up to nicki, you can't expect nickie to play every game all season it's to much. He needs a rest every now and then, we have good delivery of the ball with the players we now have. Bringing big john on like 70th min for example imagine tired legs in the opposition and you.bring big john on.., will cause all sorts of trouble. I think he will be a perfect fit as he won't be playing every game because we have nicki but to have as back up for this season I think it would be a great addition.
Re: Transfers 2024/25
I see where your coming from but wouldn't the wide men provide that? If they played tighter as a 3 and the wing backs push up?BeeArmy22 wrote: ↑25 Jul 2024, 08:29Dean wants us to press teams, especially in the latter stages of games when other teams tire and we’re hopefully better conditioned than them. You’re not gonna get Akinde pressing how Dean wants at his age.BarnetJim wrote: ↑25 Jul 2024, 05:24 If there's anyone out there who says no to big john returning needs their head checked. Got us out this division, experience at this level. He might be 35 and people saying he's slowed right down... what I see of him at colchester last season he don't look any different to when he was at us if I'm honest. A strong powerful man who knows where the back of the net is, great man an player to have around the club and great back up to nicki, you can't expect nickie to play every game all season it's to much. He needs a rest every now and then, we have good delivery of the ball with the players we now have. Bringing big john on like 70th min for example imagine tired legs in the opposition and you.bring big john on.., will cause all sorts of trouble. I think he will be a perfect fit as he won't be playing every game because we have nicki but to have as back up for this season I think it would be a great addition.
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Re: Transfers 2024/25
I'm not advocating that we necessarily re-sign Big John, but we really need a player, who can do exactly as BarnetJim says. It is all very well talking about us pressing teams in the latter stages, but what happens when teams do it to us?BeeArmy22 wrote: ↑25 Jul 2024, 08:29Dean wants us to press teams, especially in the latter stages of games when other teams tire and we’re hopefully better conditioned than them. You’re not gonna get Akinde pressing how Dean wants at his age.BarnetJim wrote: ↑25 Jul 2024, 05:24 If there's anyone out there who says no to big john returning needs their head checked. Got us out this division, experience at this level. He might be 35 and people saying he's slowed right down... what I see of him at colchester last season he don't look any different to when he was at us if I'm honest. A strong powerful man who knows where the back of the net is, great man an player to have around the club and great back up to nicki, you can't expect nickie to play every game all season it's to much. He needs a rest every now and then, we have good delivery of the ball with the players we now have. Bringing big john on like 70th min for example imagine tired legs in the opposition and you.bring big john on.., will cause all sorts of trouble. I think he will be a perfect fit as he won't be playing every game because we have nicki but to have as back up for this season I think it would be a great addition.
You need that outlet to take the pressure off the defence, hold the ball up and prevent the opposition from having a free run at returning it into the danger area. A player like this would also allow the midfield time to get on the front foot.
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Re: Transfers 2024/25
I could see a scenario where Akinde is used like Gary Hooper was (when, briefly, fit) last season. He's certainly a natural finisher who you can throw on when chasing a game.
Re: Transfers 2024/25
I think the idea is TK wants Akinde back for the vibes basically for our promotion campaign.
Once a Bee ALWAYS a Bee
Re: Transfers 2024/25
I’d prefer a comparison to the role Brian Stein used to provide or Nicky Evans, than Hooper !
Re: Transfers 2024/25
Everyone’s entitled to their own opinion but in mine, football isn’t the same game it was 5 years ago. The game is all about trends as managers try to find ways to increase the performance of their team by small margins to give their team an edge. In this current cycle of football, the big man number 9 who is used as an out ball from the goalkeeper doesn’t exist. In 22/23, we came 5th playing frenetic back to front football without a lot of control, which Dean alluded to in the Beespod interview recently. Last season we improved massively and added 12 points onto our previous total, simply through holding onto the ball for longer and giving our attacks more chance of succeeding.Norfolkbee wrote: ↑25 Jul 2024, 08:47I'm not advocating that we necessarily re-sign Big John, but we really need a player, who can do exactly as BarnetJim says. It is all very well talking about us pressing teams in the latter stages, but what happens when teams do it to us?BeeArmy22 wrote: ↑25 Jul 2024, 08:29Dean wants us to press teams, especially in the latter stages of games when other teams tire and we’re hopefully better conditioned than them. You’re not gonna get Akinde pressing how Dean wants at his age.BarnetJim wrote: ↑25 Jul 2024, 05:24 If there's anyone out there who says no to big john returning needs their head checked. Got us out this division, experience at this level. He might be 35 and people saying he's slowed right down... what I see of him at colchester last season he don't look any different to when he was at us if I'm honest. A strong powerful man who knows where the back of the net is, great man an player to have around the club and great back up to nicki, you can't expect nickie to play every game all season it's to much. He needs a rest every now and then, we have good delivery of the ball with the players we now have. Bringing big john on like 70th min for example imagine tired legs in the opposition and you.bring big john on.., will cause all sorts of trouble. I think he will be a perfect fit as he won't be playing every game because we have nicki but to have as back up for this season I think it would be a great addition.
You need that outlet to take the pressure off the defence, hold the ball up and prevent the opposition from having a free run at returning it into the danger area. A player like this would also allow the midfield time to get on the front foot.
The calibre of player we can sign is not going to be able to hold the ball up from a long kick successfully more than let’s say 20% of the time. That means out of our 5 long kicks, 4 are being headed by the opposition, and of those 4 at a push we might win the 2nd ball twice on average. So realistic best case scenario is of those 5 long balls, we have the ball higher up the pitch 2/3 times. The other 2/3 times we’ve given the ball straight back to the opposition to then come and attack at us and the cycle repeats.
I don’t like it because it’s boring but the managers that are successful at the moment are all about reducing risk. If your team plays out from the back, your team can retain possession and go from back to front 5/5 times. If you go long, you’re relying on things you can’t control happening every time. It’s a trade off that the top managers don’t want to take.
I wouldn’t mind having Akinde back fwiw. He offers something different as you say, but if having him in the team means we change up our style and go long, like we did with Harry Smith, he will be a net negative to us.
Re: Transfers 2024/25
I see where your coming from but wouldn't the wide men provide that? If they played tighter as a 3 and the wing backs push up?BeeArmy22 wrote: ↑25 Jul 2024, 08:29Dean wants us to press teams, especially in the latter stages of games when other teams tire and we’re hopefully better conditioned than them. You’re not gonna get Akinde pressing how Dean wants at his age.BarnetJim wrote: ↑25 Jul 2024, 05:24 If there's anyone out there who says no to big john returning needs their head checked. Got us out this division, experience at this level. He might be 35 and people saying he's slowed right down... what I see of him at colchester last season he don't look any different to when he was at us if I'm honest. A strong powerful man who knows where the back of the net is, great man an player to have around the club and great back up to nicki, you can't expect nickie to play every game all season it's to much. He needs a rest every now and then, we have good delivery of the ball with the players we now have. Bringing big john on like 70th min for example imagine tired legs in the opposition and you.bring big john on.., will cause all sorts of trouble. I think he will be a perfect fit as he won't be playing every game because we have nicki but to have as back up for this season I think it would be a great addition.
Re: Transfers 2024/25
Do we know where the rumour started re Akinde?
Re: Transfers 2024/25
Imagine the penalties we would convert....
Barnet showing all the flair of Rupert-the-Bears trousers, but lots more style!
Re: Transfers 2024/25
He’s just been confirmed as a new signing at Braintree
Re: Transfers 2024/25
Could Akinde come on in a Gash type role / number 10....
Hold up ball, feed runners and chip in with goals.
I suspect he has lost pace where a shimmy off shoulder found the space to shoot / win penalty.
Edit.... for Braintree
I thought he could rock up at Braintree / Ebsfleet / Billericay / Hornchurch... and so he has!
Hold up ball, feed runners and chip in with goals.
I suspect he has lost pace where a shimmy off shoulder found the space to shoot / win penalty.
Edit.... for Braintree

I thought he could rock up at Braintree / Ebsfleet / Billericay / Hornchurch... and so he has!
Last edited by hoofer2 on 25 Jul 2024, 12:10, edited 1 time in total.