THE CONCRETE ROUNDABOUT (TCR)

New signing just announced, striker apparently.

Permanent deal from Norwich, ex-Arsenal academy/U23 player. Was on loan at Southend last season and scored 7 goals in 28 appearances.

Hopefully he's more "one for the future".

EDIT: Having looked into him a bit more he seems like he has a lot of potential and clearly we're going to do more business in that area of the pitch.

Happy with this, quick and we need depth upfront, and a player who is actually ours who we can develop. Our biggest issue last year was we ran out of strikers, so we’ll done Sweeting and co

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Most pessimistic poster - 2020

Maybe a Charlie Brown replacement. Only 20 so could be a good player for us longer term. He should get lots of chances in pre-season so we can judge his quality then

I will also add, Filthy, for how many years have you said we should do what Peterborough do and sign a gem from non league? We finally sign a young striker who performed well in the national league last year and your underwhelmed it’s the first of what would be many signings, why are you underwhelmed?

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Most pessimistic poster - 2020

I'm not going to pretend I've heard of him before. Inevitably this signing will have some fans feeling underwhelmed, however he seems to have done well for a crap Southend side. From his clips he can seemingly play all across the top and is very strong, athletic and quick. Young too so someone for Manning to develop and mould.

We desperately lacked numbers upfront last season so to get a striker in early is great news. Remember, there is still a month until contracts end for many players, that's when we have a chance to make a move for more experienced EFL players. For now though, this is a good bit of business.

Yeah happy with this if he's a squad player with a view to him initially being brought him as a backup to Eisa and another striker.

Literally no point anyone commenting on this signing negatively, none of us have seen him play. At 19 he scored 7 goals having converted from winger. At this stage we don't know whether Manning will transition to a different formation next season or go with one of at least 3 formations we used last season. He could be coming in to play as a support striker/winger in which case he's got all the attributes sweeting will be looking for or he could be another poacher to supplement eisa in which case he's got the strength, low centre of gravity and pace to stretch and trouble league one defenders and will have the perfect tutor in eisa to help him with his composure, decision making and finishing.

Regardless he's only just turned 20 so noone knows how good or bad a signing it is as he doesn't have a career of data we can judge him on, what he probably does have is the Raw attributes and skills Liam sweeting and Manning are looking for and to polish for the position and role they see him playing in the team.

Save the negativity.

Mate I'm allowed to be underwhelmed not every signing is going to be spectacular.

As long as he's been brought in initially as a squad player as backup to Eisa and another striker then I'm happy with this. We have to have a certain level of expectation after last season and he's following in the footsteps of attacking players like Twine, O'Riley, Eisa, Watters, Parrott etc.

It's still early and yes, hopefully he does turn out to be a 'gem'.

Again, it's all about the context in which he's been brought in. From reading Sweeting's comments just now he uses the words "great potential" so it does seem like he's been brought in for the right reasons and there won't be an expectation upon him straight away.

Very much a Charlie Brown-type signing as someone else said.

Hopefully he turns out to be a good signing for us.

Sounds good to me. Does seem like he's had experience in a variety of positions so that's a bonus.