Exiles poised to swoop for strikers

7:00am Tuesday 30th October 2012 in Sport Photograph of the Author By Michael Pearlman

NEWPORT County boss Justin Edinburgh met with director of football Tim Harris yesterday to finalise their plans for a renewed assault on the transfer market.

The Argus understands the duo are working from a shortlist – as Edinburgh alluded to after Saturday’s 3-2 defeat to Woking – and hope to press on with negotiations this week.

Any arrivals are likely to result in departures from the club and the Argus understands Edinburgh’s main focus is on reshaping his attack.

The Exiles have played their best football in a 4-3-3 formation with new arrival Conor Washington, top scorer Aaron O’Connor and playmaker Danny Crow all certain to avoid the axe.

However, summer signings Jefferson Louis and Ryan Charles and youngster Jake Harris could all be in the firing line as Edinburgh looks to recruit.

Edinburgh likes to have six attackers fighting for three spaces and it could well be a case of two out and two in this week.

It had been expected that Edinburgh would look to sign another defender but that’s a situation that isn’t felt to be pressing.

With Ismail Yakubu, Andrew Hughes, Andy Sandell, David Pipe and Tony James all likely to be available for next Tuesday’s clash with Cambridge United, Edinburgh isn’t short of numbers.

There is a feeling that should any defender pick up a long-term injury that would be the time to add a replacement with former Bristol Rovers defender Byron Anthony’s situation being monitored as he’s currently unattached.

Any moves will be loans, likely short-term ahead of the transfer window in January.

Meanwhile, Exiles defender Sandell insists the club aren’t going into panic mode despite conceding nine goals in a week where they lost at home twice, including being dumped from the FA Cup by lowly Yate Town.

Sandell was County’s best player on Saturday, curling home a marvelous freekick.

“We conceded sloppy goals early on Saturday and you always give yourselves an uphill task, we’re disappointed with how we defended,” he said.

“But we aren’t luckily top of the league, we’ve got quality and ability and need to put things right.”

Sandell felt his side missed influential defender Ismail Yakubu. “The Yak was a big miss in both boxes, he’s been vital for us,” he said.

“We need to show character in the next couple of weeks.”

Comments(14)

gitto says...
8:20am Tue 30 Oct 12

How can JE not be short of numbers at the back with 5 players for 4 positions, when he wants 6 players for 3 positions up front.
When your playing your best midfielder out of position at right back because on injuries..... something isn't right!

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b3talover says...
9:47am Tue 30 Oct 12

Can't we sign Byron Anthony on non-contract terms? Just as cover?

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RSATaffy says...
1:31pm Tue 30 Oct 12

Of course a cynic would say that in order to win you obviously need to score one more than the opposition. So if the defence are conceding 3 we need sufficient strikers to score 4! Umhh.

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idrischarles says...
4:11pm Tue 30 Oct 12

As far as I can see things, our midfield give the ball away too easy. I think this is only a blip Justin will sort it out!

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netala says...
5:23pm Tue 30 Oct 12

i agree with "gitto" it seems hypocritical to say you need 6 viaing or 3 places up front, and 5 for 4 at the back. personally i think the defence is the most important area. get that right and then work forward, by not conceeding .gives confidence to the forwards to push forward an score

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Adrian Williams says...
7:21pm Tue 30 Oct 12

We need cover at the back - any County fan will tell you that. Byron Anthony is out of contract - it's simple, so just do it

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Ranger12 says...
7:24pm Tue 30 Oct 12

I agree with RSA taffy there is no point in recruiting a defender and using up scarce budget on a defender to sit on the bench. Who do the crowd want on the bench to turn or rescue games forwards not defenders. Bringing on two defenders if you are a goal down with 20 mins to go is not going to win anything. Strikers who score will get you out of this league nil - nil draws will not!,!

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Blurt NPT says...
12:00am Wed 31 Oct 12

our poor defending has cost us the recent games. The
Yate matches saw our strikers firing at a net defended by a keeper possessed with the spirit of Saint Iker. Any other day there would have been a shed full of goals. We were stuffed by Yate down our right side with players almost dribbling the ball into our net. Defenders please.

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COUNTYVOICE says...
2:04am Wed 31 Oct 12

a well balanced team wins matches.

you pick a team to cover for all eventualities, that means a bench consisting of a goalkeeper, defensive, midfield and attacking options.

I WAS ASTOUNDED to read (after all the argus ads had bounced around in front of the article) that edinburgh is in the market for MORE STRIKERS.

get rid of ryan charles by all means he has never done very much, but getting rid of JAKE HARRIS???????

this kid practically saved the county last season with his late goals in the league and in the cup. he is a NATURAL GOALSCORER AND GOAL POACHER.

BUT THE POOR lad hasnt even been given a chance this term.

THE DEFENCE DOES NEED STRENGTHENING not the ATTACK .
YOU NEED COVER AND COMPETITION FOR PLACES ALL OVER THE PARK.

i agree with comments made by another contributor, that this new defender wouldnt be shuffling around but would give the other defenders a KICK UP THE ARSE and stop them thinking that they are automatic choices for playing, and get rid of the complacency and mistakes.

i agree with the contributor above, you build from the back and not by packing 10 attackers in the opposing penalty box.

so JUSTIN stop throwing your rattle out of your pram and get a more balanced team.

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Adrian Williams says...
6:52am Wed 31 Oct 12

Well said Countyvoice

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netala says...
10:18am Wed 31 Oct 12

well said {county voice} jake harris as done nothing wrong, but is pushed to the side lines, he is a super sub. ,but he deserves a longer run to see is full potential. ryan charles as flattered to deceive. he is an expensive liability, also the "tank" contributed vey little and maybe be allowed to ply his trade somewhere else.

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Ranger12 says...
6:34pm Wed 31 Oct 12

It is amazing how some players capture fans imagination Jake Harris been one. He scored some goals last year but is clearly not good enough and plays his best football on the message boards just like Darryl Knights last year. People seem to forget that JE sees these players every day in training so is in a far better place to judge who is worth a team place and a place on the bench.
Maybe before the critics attack JE,it is worth noting he saved a very poor side from relegation and with limited budget compared to some, taken a new squad to top of the league. Now we may not sustain our early league pace but for a club the size of County out of the league for 20 plus years, no own ground etc staying in the Conference is an achievement J E appears to have almost achieved this already this season.

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netala says...
7:37pm Wed 31 Oct 12

wow aren`t you easily pleased. we`ve been starved of success , we saw it with dean holdsworth, and we want more. after last season`s fiasco,then mr. edinburgh`s intervention, starting this season so well . we cannot let him sit in his ivory tower, without voicing our opinions, and concerns. everyone of us wants the county to succeed ,and we all hope J.E. is the man to do it

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COUNTYVOICE says...
10:15pm Wed 31 Oct 12

bravo netala.

been a county fan for 31 years, and it is deep in my heart. i want only the best for the club.

and would HATE to see a second chance of securing promotion out of the conference wasted, especially after the first season opportunity of being 2nd at the turn of the year.

i still cringe after losing to YATE and its so blindingly obvious whats needs to be done that justin seems to be doing the complete opposite.

justin prove all us cynics wrong..............

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