WHAT A SUMMER! WILL DAGGERS' SPENDING PAY OFF?
With the owners always focussed on a football league return and an extremely inadequate showing last season - the consortium are (in the words of Peter Freund speaking to Digger Dagger Matchday) 'more committed than ever'. So - Will this ambition and change of tact pay off? That's the question.
Some big shoes to feel, has
the former Barnet man, after the departure of Manny Onariase at the end of last
season – the Daggers CB partnership of Clark and Manny broken (or Clark, Manny &
Croll in the back 3). However, at this level, and at Dagenham especially, we get used to
football league standard players that we have acquired being picked up by those
football league clubs so we must now move on and assess the new outlook.
Here is what Callum and ex-Daggers captain, Ben Nunn had to say on the deal:
Reynolds joined from the
Bees continuing the ‘Barnet & Redbridge’ gags, having made 65 appearances
for the Bees over the past two seasons. The 30-year-old central defender has
also had previous National League experience, a watchword for this transfer
window – EXPERIENCE – mixed with youth. The aforementioned recruitment tactic
and dynamics in the squad were mentioned by Steve Thompson in a statement to fans before
a single signing had been made. Back to Callum’s experience and it goes from Barnet
to other ‘local’ clubs Aldershot Town and Boreham Wood, amassing 177 appearances
in total in the National League.
An impressive CV, so let's hope he impresses even more on the pitch.
Elliot Johnson -
Another Barnet man making the switch to Victoria Road due
to yet another major outgoing for the Daggers in Liam Gordon. Elliot Johnson, a left
sided CB and LWB who likes to get forward.
Here are some initial reactions on Twitter from McCallum and Elliot himself at the time of
the signing:
So, some brief stats on the new Daggers number 3 and his
career stats, rather respectable for a player at this level, (even if he is a
Barnet legend!). He made over 230 league appearances for the Bees over a
10-year stint from 2010-20 – being just 16 in 2010, it wasn’t until he was 18
he made his way into the first team setup at The Hive. He has appeared for
Barnet therefore in the past 8 seasons with 4 being in League Two and the other
half in the top-flight of non-league football.
"I'm a defender that
likes to play with the ball rather than without the ball, but I can dig in and
defend as well if needed. I like to start attacks from the back and get the
team moving forward’’
Speaking to Daggers TV
I think this is a fantastic replacement on the face of it with a 25-year old who likes to get forward with an absolute wealth of experience. His will to get forward and sheer versatility is key for the McMahon way as he likes to have at least 2 formations in 3-4-3 and 4-2-3-1; Johnson able to play in a back 3 and as a wing-back. However, with all these signings we will wait until they perform on the pitch when it counts and judge these new players by that.
Dean Rance -
A tenacious midfielder, hate him in opposition: love him
in your team. Dean Rance is another experienced leader who was most recently
captain of Aldershot where he made 24 appearances last campaign, but most
notably an Ebbsfleet man. He made 203 appearances for the Fleet under McMahon
who knows him only too well, with the Daggers manager working with him for
around 6 years! The gaffer played with him in the heart of the Ebbsfleet
midfield before manging him for 3 years so this is a player Daryl has full
faith in.
“I think he is a player that the
fans will love, he is wholehearted and a winner. He is a leader, which is
something that we have lacked and was highlighted last season.’’
Daryl Speaking to Daggers TV on Rance
He is a central midfielder who isn’t known for his
goal-scoring, in an area we have huge depth in already within the squad –
competition for places for sure. With the likes of Brundle, Phipps and Robinson
all vying for that place in central midfield, though there are bound to be
injuries and suspensions. So, if they were to get injured I believe it’s one of
our strongest positions on the pitch now and another strength is the number of captains
and leaders we have in our ranks.
Rance joining that list along with Callum Reynolds and Mitch Brundle whom have all held the role at their previous clubs as well as other natural leaders like Justham etc. - this is something Daryl wants in abundance. When I asked him on the matter of defending set-pieces (where our record is woeful) he expressed it’s vital to have good organisation in these situations which we lacked last campaign.
I doubt we’ll get anything less than
100% aggression and desire from the new number 4 who reminds me of Brundle with
extra venom – let’s see how he gets on on the pitch!
Paul McCallum -
Our new number 9, a striker with a proven track record
and GOALS in abundance. That’s Paul McCallum from what we’ve seen elsewhere and in pre-season where he has scored his fair share already. Let’s hope for the
same when the season gets underway on Saturday; it’s safe to say I along with
others are expecting big things and for Paul to be the main man in our bid for
promotion. Also, further into the football league in the next 3 years as the number no pressure!
Just some of the reactions on social media are below:
For more on my reaction to the signing of the summer click this link for the article which I wrote on the day of his announcement.
An exciting young and local talent whose interview with Daggers TV excited many Daggers after he joined from Hornchurch but also some
impressive stats. George was involved in upwards of 45 goals in the last two
seasons and the 22-year-old was a huge fan favourite at Hornchurch.
McMahon has warned against fans expecting too much too
soon from Saunders who is making the leap from Step 3 to 1 of the non-league
pyramid. However, many I’ve spoken to at Hornchurch, his former coaches, as
well as Urchins boss Stimson, have all hyped the player up saying he could easily
have moved onto the football league this season – casting doubt by saying we
won’t keep him for long.
But we have got him for now and I wrote 5 reasons why he was a fantastic signing, on the day he signed; here are some reactions following
the confirmation of Saunders being a Daggers player.
Darren McQueen -
His manager Daryl McMahon, with whom he is re-united said
this:
"I'm delighted to have
Darren join us here at Dagenham & Redbridge. He's a player that I've worked
with before when I was at Ebbsfleet. He’s extremely quick, plays on the
shoulder and is a good finisher”
Speaking to Daggers TV
Here is a highlights reel of the best of what McQueen is
capable of.
Kai Brown (LOAN) -
Trialist A Kai Brown signs on a 6-month loan from Ipswich and has really impressed so far this pre-season in a Dagenham shirt – getting a
fair amount of goals and assists. Not only do his numbers so far look promising
but he looked very comfortable on the ball with an abundance of creativity. The
centre attacking midfielder is one of three stand-out players in his position;
with Deering and Balanta to contend with. However, the latter’s injury struggles
last year had a profound impact on the team so to have this depth and quality
in such a key position is never a bad thing – there’ll be competition for sure.
Here are, again, a few reactions to the signing and Kai Brown himself on joining on loan:
A tweet I put out when this loan deal was announced was that our loan signings have been among our best signings in recent years; Ben House, Alex Reid; Conor Wilkinson* (*initially) for example - so let’s hope Kai can follow suit!
Kai Brown is a player that Daryl McMahon knows well, having coached him at Dagenham & Redbridge a number of years ago when they were both part of the clubs' academy setup.
Despite his age of just 19, he is more than capable of impressing and helping the team achieve their collective goal of promotion even if he is only here until January and not beyond.
Bailey Clements -
On joining the Daggers, Clements spoke to Daggers TV and
said this…
"I like to bring the ball
out from the back, I like to play through the thirds, but ultimately I'm a
defender and when it comes to defending, I like to be as strong and physical as
I can and keep the ball out of the goal. I can play left-back, left wing-back,
anywhere along the defence really."
He has little
in the way of experience in men’s first-team football and the defender himself
admitted he’s out of his comfort zone, so let’s see how he fares.
Adrian Clifton -
Last, but by no means least, Adrian Clifton who comes in to
further bolster the Daggers attack. The 9th new signing McMahon has
made and it’s a great one as he is proven to an extent in the National League; Clifton
bagged 14 goals for Maidenhead United during the 2018-19 season.
He also has 100 appearances in the National League, having
worked his way up through the non-league pyramid, he is by no means the first-choice
striker and most probably behind McCallum and McQueen. But, he does offer great
physicality up top and an alternative up-front: say, it isn’t McCallum’s day,
Adrian could be the man to come on and nick a goal.
This is a view that Daryl confirmed when speaking to Daggers
TV:
"Adrian is an experienced
striker, he's been around the National League for a long time with the likes of
Maidenhead, Havant & Waterlooville and Bromley. He's played in the lower
levels of non-league as well. He's a target man, a handful to play against and
I think he adds another dimension to our front-line."
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