A MESSAGE FROM PETER FREUNDBACKGROUND: Thank you all for being here. This is such an exciting experience for us. I just wanted to do a little bit of a background of myself, why I'm here and about buying Dagenham. It started with me being in a family business for twenty years, it was a plastic packaging business and I worked for my father, but I had this fantastic passion for sport. This then started to resinate on a business side; I was able to take over several different clubs, all baseball teams in the United States, and work on everything from the fan experience to the infrastructure, to the management of the club, to the commercial side, to the merchandising etc. So Craig and I run a baseball team called the Memphis Redbirds and we're fortunate enough to have won our championship this year, so it was a very exciting year for us. We have ventured into the football business, visiting Championship, League 1 and League 2 level football in England as well as running division two level soccer team in the US. Our partner in the United States, Tim Howard, is running the football side while I would say we're running the business operation side of things. Our love and passion for football, and for what happens here across the pond, was something that we couldn't ignore. We started looking at opportunities in the UK and in the year I've been here I have been to more Premier League matches I ever thought I would, and I've been to many Championship and League One matches. Certainly, I've also been to several matches here at Victoria Road. APPEAL OF DAGENHAM: Ultimately, what sold us on this club was the dedication of all of you, the supporters, and Steve, and just the crucial people that we were impressed with. Here was a club that financially had hit rock bottom and many of you helped support the club by writing personal cheques, volunteering, coming here because you love the club - that was something that resinated with us. It's your club, owners and investors come and go, but ultimately it's yours and not ours. There's a direct flight to London City every day, that's about twenty minutes from here so it couldn't be more convenient and that is a part of it, rather than having to go to, say, Barrow! Our philosophy is: we want what you want, for the club to be successful but also a really important part of the community. The community part is what drives me towards the sports business, it's the power of sport, and this club being important to it's community is critical. I realise that we got some flack on some new seats that we put in on social media because they can't score goals! The idea was that we have the opportunity to come into a beautiful ground and make some improvements, this is a marathon, not a sprint, so whether it's new seats or a new scoreboard that actually tells times, we want to do things that are meaningful in that they add value to the club, to all of you and that they make you proud. That's really as basic as it gets. ON-PITCH MATTERS: As far as on the pitch, I love Peter and am thrilled he's here; over time I've got to know him, his philosophies and how hard he's working for this club. What you saw in terms of activity with player signings over the last week was not easy, it was a day-and-night process so I must give Peter a lot of credit. It was a rollercoaster to get Balanta here and the couple which we announced yesterday, Smith and Manny, so it wasn't easy. Everybody always points to January for strengthening squads but when you're a third of the way through and you are where we are, you have to do things now and so I want to give everybody at this table credit for helping put the best possible team we can on that pitch. None of us are happy where we are, from that standpoint, and my goal is to have this club back into the English Football League. It doesn't have to be tomorrow but that's my commitment, to stick around and see this thing through. ON CRAIG UNGER: I was lucky to meet Craig three years ago when I bought the Memphis Club from the St Louis Cardinals'. Craig worked with St Louis Cardinals' for many years before he came to Memphis and ran the Redbirds. The owner of the Cardinals was probably one of the most beloved people in sport, his name is Baur DeWitt and he's a very famous sports executive, well he took me aside when I bought the Redbirds and said 'if for any reason you don't like or want Craig, I want him back.' - that was reason enough to always have him on my side. Ultimately, what sold us on this club was the dedication of all of you, the supporters, and Steve, and just the crucial people that we were impressed with. Here was a club that financially had hit rock bottom and many of you helped support the club by writing personal cheques, volunteering, coming here because you love the club - that was something that resinated with us. It's your club, owners and investors come and go, but ultimately it's yours and not ours. A MESSAGE FROM CRAIG UNGERThanks for all coming tonight. This is so much fun and, to me, the one word which sums up everything we want to do here is: opportunity. It's the opportunity to turn something into something great, the opportunity to engage with a great community who are passionate about their team and to do events like this which is the opportunity to sit down and have these conversations, talking about things and having some fun on the side. Echoing what Peter said about making a difference, we want to take the team from where it is back to the Football League but also, for example, giving Finley Connelly the chance to walk again and that is what we want to do. It's also about the community, the people who come together, it's about the experience. As Peter said, we got some sh*t about the seats but when you walk into this beautiful place, Victoria Road, we want you to be proud of it and I've heard from many of you on Twitter and social media about bringing new fans in, particularly younger fans. We want to develop the fanbase, winning will help too I understand that, so when the opportunity comes to return to the Football League we have to be ready to take it. It's going to happen, so we have to get the ground, fans and infrastructure ready for that. This is so much fun and, to me, the one word which sums up everything we want to do here is: opportunity. It's the opportunity to turn something into something great, the opportunity to engage with a great community who are passionate about their team and to do events like this which is the opportunity to sit down and have these conversations. a MESSAGE FROM PETER TAYLORIt's great that we had the first two popular fellas here tonight! I've got to say that I have explained to Peter and Craig how I am absolutely hating matchdays at the minute, but I do love the job, I love being here and I love the challenge - at the moment it's not working out. I did say at the earlier fans' forum that I was concerned that the young players wouldn't get a result or two and would drop their heads which unfortunately has happened, which is disappointing, but I also know that you all are probably not happy with the situation and I completely understand that. I can promise you everybody is working as hard as they can to get this right. On Tuesday night, I'll be honest, I thought we were hopeless. We looked tired and a little bit negative so that did concern me a lot. We've now got three new players who will be playing tomorrow so we're hoping that will give the changing room a lift and make us a better team. At the moment we're probably in the position where we deserve to be so we have to get better. I have to make some big decisions and make some signings if I can, but I really do appreciate the support even if I know I'm going to get some rascal questions tonight. There are certain players unpopular with you at the minute but they're probably unpopular with me too. I am absolutely hating matchdays at the minute, but I do love the job, I love being here and I love the challenge - at the moment it's not working out. I did say at the earlier fans' forum that I was concerned that the young players wouldn't get a result or two and would drop their heads which unfortunately has happened, which is disappointing, but I also know that you all are probably not happy with the situation and I completely understand that. I can promise you everybody is working as hard as they can to get this right. WE now have 27 players on the books. Are there any plans to get rid of a few Of them to make way for newer faces?PT: We now have 27 players and that's maybe four or five too many. That makes it difficult on the training pitch because having more than twenty outfield players makes it a bit awkward. There are certain players who have to train separately because it's okay doing a session with 24 players, but any more makes it a bit difficult. We will be looking to get rid of a few players but I just want to explain that things like that aren't that easy. Thankfully I got the job and I had a budget to work on in order to get certain players. I got a squad together for that money and I felt it was okay, we just needed some results. Now, because of a fantastic situation for the football club with the arrival of Peter and Craig, we're now in a position to strengthen the squad, and that's what I want to do because we have to improve not only in quality, but also experience. Now I have the go-ahead, I can bring players in but that doesn't mean straight away you can just get rid of some because they're under contract. If they're not in the team, they're the ones that clubs will be least interested in. You can get rid of great players but it's not as easy to get rid of those who aren't playing. We're trying very hard, we let James Blanchfield go out to Lowestoft, he's struggled here but will go out for a month and it'll do him good. We're still trying to speak to as many clubs as we can to get some out on loan, in an ideal world we'd let some younger players go out because they're not currently good enough but in a few years they will be. I agree that we have got too many and I'd love the squad to go down to 24 with two keepers, but I have also spoken to Peter and Craig about improving the team. Now, because of a fantastic situation for the football club with the arrival of Peter and Craig, we're now in a position to strengthen the squad, and that's what I want to do because we have to improve not only in quality, but also experience. Now I have the go-ahead, I can bring players in but that doesn't mean straight away you can just get rid of some because they're under contract. If they're not in the team, they're the ones that clubs will be least interested in. In the comeback against Boreham Wood, we ended the game strongly so why didn't we keep that side for the replay?PT: I suppose the game is all about opinions. The team that we finished with on Saturday played exceptionally well for fifteen minutes, but they were a small team and when you're playing against Boreham Wood, who've got about six 6-footers in the team, you have a problem because they'll score from set-pieces. I don't think we could start with the same side that finished because I still have to look at certain players and think whether they can play ninety minutes. I don't like starting a player that I know I'll definitely have to take off, but sometimes you have to do it. I respect that, though, and I did say that for those fifteen minutes, it was the best we'd played and the first time we'd asked questions of Boreham Wood. The shape that we played on Tuesday should've asked the same questions but the players didn't seem to play with the same confidence. I know that when I took Mullings off it got the biggest cheer of the night but I will make a little bit of an excuse for him because he's lost somebody very close to him and I think his family have been leaning on him to do all the plans for the funeral. It's not been easy for him, I'm being honest because I have to protect the player, but I can assure you that he's now saying all the right things. I need him to be a player for Dagenham & Redbridge. I understand that you've been disappointed with him in the last two games but I'm the same and I didn't like him on Tuesday either. However, against Ebbsfleet and on other occasions, when he's got it right he's been the 6'5 centre forward we've been after. I hold my hand up with Mullins but I can assure you he's better than you've seen. His performances have been nowhere near it and he will get that, but I firmly believe he will. I know that when I took Mullings off it got the biggest cheer of the night but I will make a little bit of an excuse for him because he's lost somebody very close to him and I think his family have been leaning on him to do all the plans for the funeral. It's not been easy for him, I'm being honest because I have to protect the player, but I can assure you that he's now saying all the right things. I need him to be a player for Dagenham & Redbridge. Liam Gordon is a really promising player who's won man of the match a couple of times, yet seems to get withdrawn regularly.PT: Well, when you say regular basis, I think he's played every game bar two. I love Liam Gordon and we have even been discussing a new contract, that's how much I think of him. This league has been a big test for him because he didn't play last year and this year he's had to play every game, which has put him under pressure. I saw him in the left-back position against Boreham Wood and he couldn't wait to give the ball to somebody else. I'm his biggest fan and I really want him to be successful, but I felt as though he needed a rest. He's had to play probably twelve on the spin so I felt he needed a rest and I'm going to rest him tomorrow (against Harrogate) as well. This league has been a big test for him because he didn't play last year and this year he's had to play every game, which has put him under pressure. I saw him in the left-back position against Boreham Wood and he couldn't wait to give the ball to somebody else. I'm his biggest fan and I really want him to be successful, but I felt as though he needed a rest. He's had to play probably twelve on the spin so I felt he needed a rest and I'm going to rest him tomorrow (against Harrogate) as well. What is the best position for Chike Kandi? He's played both out wide and up front in the past.PT: Well, he's got great pace but isn't as brave in the air as he should be to be a centre-forward. If you want to be a centre-forward you've got to be backing into centre-halves and attacking headers and he doesn't do that. Due to his pace he has played wide right, and when he's got it right has looked a really good player, but there seemed to be less and less end product and he wasn't going past people you'd expect him to for the pace that he's got. I'm not so sure he's got enough of a trick to be a winger but I'm also not sure he's got the intelligence or bravery to be a centre-forward. I'm looking for more end product from him. Great lad, and he should be a success, but his promise never leads to enough end product. When he comes off the bench he looks effective but isn't as effective from the start, Ollie Harfield's like that too and it drives you mad because you need players who are going to be there from 3pm until quarter to five. Due to his pace he has played wide right, and when he's got it right has looked a really good player, but there seemed to be less and less end product and he wasn't going past people you'd expect him to for the pace that he's got. I'm not so sure he's got enough of a trick to be a winger but I'm also not sure he's got the intelligence or bravery to be a centre-forward. Tomi Adeloye and Jack Munns are two great players yet never seem to be in the team. Why is that?PT: Jack Munns is somebody that I'm a big admirer of, he's been nowhere near match fit but now he is. People have asked why we didn't play him three matches ago but that's because he could probably only do twenty minutes or half an hour at that time. When he came on against Boreham Wood, he was the difference and he'll be playing with Balanta tomorrow so there we have two really clever players. There's a time where Munns joined us and wasn't fit, but has worked hard with the coaches and now he'll get a chance. As for Tomi Adeloye, I had a really good chat with him today about the type of thing that we need from a centre-forward. I don't want a centre-forward out on the left-wing too much and I don't want one who drops into midfield too much. On Tuesday he could've played a couple of people in. He's full of promise and has everything that he needs, he's strong and good enough, but he just needs a goal. He went through at Eastleigh and should've hit the target but didn't. There's a time where Munns joined us and wasn't fit, but has worked hard with the coaches and now he'll get a chance. As for Tomi Adeloye, I had a really good chat with him today about the type of thing that we need from a centre-forward. I don't want a centre-forward out on the left-wing too much and I don't want one who drops into midfield too much. Two players I've watched that we're not getting the best out of are Lamar Reynolds and Ben Goodliffe. Why?PT: Ben Goodliffe is a young lad who was at Boreham Wood reserves before going to Wolves. He was a 17-year old playing under 23's football and now all of a sudden he's in men's football and playing every week. He's going to be a good player, a good number 5, but at the moment he's switching off at times and he's learning the hard way. He's a good lad, a good player, a good organiser and a good talker but we're not an easy team to play for at the moment. As you can imagine, we're a young team low on confidence. We're gonna bring in some more experience which will make us more organised. On his day, Lamar Reynolds could be anything but again, a bit like Kandi, hasn't produced enough end product. If you put Lamar Reynolds on the teamsheet the opposing manager will talk about him as somebody who can go past two or three. He needs a goal, he needs to make a goal, but he's a decent lad trying to make things happen and at the minute he's finding it a little bit tough. Again he could end up being a second centre-forward. Maybe he's over-trying, but if he gets it right, he's bloody exciting. Ben Goodliffe is a young lad who was at Boreham Wood reserves before going to Wolves. He was a 17-year old playing under 23's football and now all of a sudden he's in men's football and playing every week. He's going to be a good player, a good number 5, but at the moment he's switching off at times and he's learning the hard way. He's a good lad, a good player, a good organiser and a good talker but we're not an easy team to play for at the moment. As you can imagine, we're a young team low on confidence. ELLIOTT Romain: Why did we let him go to divisional rivals Maidstone United?PT: I expected that to be the first question to be honest! He's a great lad who can work his socks off. I feel that if we get the plays we want, Elliott wouldn't be in the starting XI. I said to him that we're in a pickle because I've got to bring in some fresh faces, and I then told him Maidstone had come for him. A month earlier, they rung me and I said no but this time I said yes. The reason I done that is that i didn't think he was consistent enough either. We didn't know what was going to happen when he got the ball and he wasn't very good with his back to goal, and he always wanted to get hold of it and take people on himself. I don't want to knock him because I know he'll go to Maidstone and get goals, I have no doubt about that, but my target is to get better than that. Hopefully in a month's time or even less, you'll look at our front line and think 'you know what, Elliott Romain wouldn't have got into this front-line' - that's my target. He'll go to Maidstone and get goals, I have no doubt about that, but my target is to get better than that. Hopefully in a month's time or even less, you'll look at our front line and think 'you know what, Elliott Romain wouldn't have got into this front-line' - that's my target. Gavin Hoyte featured at the start of the season but seems to have gone missing in recent weeks.PT: Gavin Hoyte is the one player who it hurts me more than anything not to play. I really believe he's a top professional, I had him at Gillingham and know very well that he's a great lad to have around. If I had to choose between him and Ben Nunn in terms of passing, I'd go Ben Nunn. To create something we need people on the ball who are better in the full-back position. With Hoytey, what you know is that if you put him anywhere on the pitch, he'll give you absolutely everything. I hate it when he's not playing but he's working. I just feel, especially at home, we need Ben Nunn. Hoyte's best position is probably right centre-back of the three. To create something we need people on the ball who are better in the full-back position. With Hoytey, what you know is that if you put him anywhere on the pitch, he'll give you absolutely everything. I hate it when he's not playing but he's working. I just feel, especially at home, we need Ben Nunn. Hoyte's best position is probably right centre-back of the three. You've spoken about getting more experience in on many occasions. Are there any more signings imminent?PT: Yes. I know nine points from 48 is sackable but that's the last thing I want to happen. As much as I want to go home and kill myself after a game, I am full of determination to get it right. I'm lucky to have some new people in the football club and they've spoken to me about what we need. I know how much we could spend before and that's changed now, but I still spend it as if it's my money, so I won't pay over the odds for somebody who was good three years ago. I can assure you everybody we look into, we look into. You never get everything right in football but as long as you look into the background, it'll work. We've already spoken about a couple tonight, but I'm very determined to get us out of this hole. We will bring in the right ones. Please don't fall into the trap though, of thinking those who aren't playing will do better than those who are and that's not true. The ones in the stand may have had a nightmare as well. Somebody who was good two years ago, you may think he'll do well, but he may not. At the moment we've signed three players this week and I think you're going to love Balanta. I knew him ten years ago and he changed our season at Wycombe then, and that was when he was eighteen. He was clever then, but he's cleverer now and if he stays fit, he'll be amazing. The other two players, one's a younger centre-half and we wanted more experience but this one is better than we've currently got. The boy Smith a has great experience, will make the right decisions and will make us hard to play against. I didn't have to be here tonight but felt that I had to. Nine points is embarrassing but I promise I will turn it around. At the moment we've signed three players this week and I think you're going to love Balanta. I knew him ten years ago and he changed our season at Wycombe then, and that was when he was eighteen. He was clever then, but he's cleverer now and if he stays fit, he'll be amazing. The other two players, one's a younger centre-half and we wanted more experience but this one is better than we've currently got. The boy Smith a has great experience, will make the right decisions and will make us hard to play against. NOW that Peter Taylor has left the room, how many games has he got left!?PF: I have to say this has been such an education for me! Here's what I'll say about Peter: from day one, as honest as he's been to you is how he has been to us. The budget that was given to him was small, but we weren't losing massively every week and there was nobody more frustrated than Peter. If we give Peter the resources to build the team the right way, we can do well. Here's what I'll say about Peter: from day one, as honest as he's been to you is how he has been to us. The budget that was given to him was small, but we weren't losing massively every week and there was nobody more frustrated than Peter. If we give Peter the resources to build the team the right way, we can do well.
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This is a game that shouldn't be happening. After such a dominant and controlled display on Saturday, Boreham Wood should have secured safe progression into the first round of the FA Cup, and they would have were it not for a miraculous late comeback which typifies the ethos of the greatest competition in the world: anything can happen. Quite how a side who didn't have a shot on target until the 87th minute managed to score twice deep into stoppage time remains a mystery, but lessons would've been learned as we look to cling on to the lifeline which we have been handed.
As such, we have a replay at Victoria Road which will be played to conclusion, meaning the very nervy prospect of extra time and even penalties. While the Daggers will have a much-needed injection of confidence following the manner in which we ended Saturday's tie, we can't rely on similar dramatics this time out because if we perform as we did mostly against the Wood, they will progress and our comeback at Meadow Park will be merely a good memory, rather than a springboard for the future. Although they will naturally be dejected, Boreham Wood have a good incentive to secure a trip to Southport at the beginning of November, which is the fixture that awaits the victors. Just yesterday the Daggers announced the signing of Angelo Balanta from Boreham Wood. He can't feature tonight due to being cup-tied from his appearance against us on Saturday but his lack of inclusion within their squad will still help us. Conversely, though, it will galvanise the club and make them more determined to beat the team who've just taken their best player. As it has been mentioned, a trip to Southport will be the fate of the winners tonight. In a draw which contained the likes of Portsmouth, Charlton and Coventry, going to Haig Avenue is distinctly underwhelming however, with them sitting bottom of the National League North, it does present the opportunity to make the second round. All of a sudden you're one win away from a possible trip to a huge Premier League team - and that's all the incentive you need to carry you through tonight. More in Saturday's performance, to say we were terrible would be harsh because we did start brightly in the first ten minutes of both halves, without really troubling the keeper. In a weird way it was the seemingly decisive second-half goal that made us better because we had nothing to lose at that point, which is what inspired the scenes that followed. Overall, we weren't great but we also showed glimpses of quality. We just need to see more of them. The game changed when we brought on Munns, Harfield and Adeloye; in my opinion, they all need to start tonight's game and the subsequent league fixtures too. It gives Taylor somewhat of a headache given that we're gradually getting more depth and quality into the squad. Hopefully we're as brave tonight as we were in the last four minutes at the weekend. It's essentially a free hit for us, a bonus match, so I hope we don't come over all nervous and panicked. Boreham Wood are a good, organised side with a confident and quality manager, Luke Garrard, at the helm. Naturally following the departures of big names such as Ferrier and Andrade, they are a weaker team this season but still possess talent such as Shakes and Umerah, who demonstrated their abilities against us in the initial clash. It's a testament to the well-run infrastructure of the club that they can continue to sustain their place at this level with the lowest crowds in the division. They know a lot about FA Cup runs after making the second round last season so the prospect of a good journey will be massively enticing for them. However, I back us to show Angelo Balanta that he made the right decision. Let's continue the upward curve we're currently on, Up the Dags. Just a solitary point from a possible eighteen in the league, coupled with the departure of popular forward Elliott Romain, meant that the honeymoon period which followed the arrival of our new American investors had well and truly worn off as the very realistic threat of relegation loomed. However, from the moment Luke Pennell completed a last-gasp miracle at Boreham Wood in the FA Cup at the weekend, there seems to have been a sudden rise in optimism. There had been pressure on the club to make a signing ever since the aforementioned Romain sale and we've delivered the first of hopefully many big-name signings. While it will take much more than this to even stave off the threat of the drop, let alone build for a promotion-challenging team next term, it's definitely a good starting point. Ángelo Balanta has been a thorn in the Daggers side for a couple of years now and brings a good dose of pace, power and flair to an attack severely lacking in those attributes. In a squad which is already the most youthful in the division, Ángelo also has a good amount of experience to bolster our ranks. At 28, he possesses a good knowledge of the league having been instrumental in Boreham Wood's run to the play-off final last campaign, forming a great understanding with the equally-crucial Morgan Ferrier and Bruno Andrade. His crucial opener in the semi-final at Sutton United last season was one of eleven he scored throughout the whole campaign, which is impressive considering he played almost the entire season in the hole behind the striker as an advanced midfielder. This campaign he's netted three goals, which includes an opening day winner against ourselves. Recently, however, he's been absent for a month or so through injury and in his return to action, also against us, on Saturday he didn't look his usual energetic self. Disappointingly, that might mean that we will have to wait a little longer to see him make his first appearance for us, given that he doesn't look fully recovered from injury. The fact that he played the majority of last season in the hole shows his versatility and, as well as operating in that role in behind the forward, he can play out on the left flank or even as a main striker himself. Overall it's a really good signing from the club, almost reminiscent of that glorious yet ultimately self-detrimental month where we brought in Morgan Ferrier and Michael Cheek. Although it sounds like we've spent a lot of money by our standards on this signing, it goes without saying that lessons have been learned from how that ended up last time. Yet this could be a landmark moment in our ascent back up the footballing pyramid. Hopefully this sets the tone for more impressive additions which enables us to steadily improve. Irrespective of this or any other transfer we bring in, though, the priority remains staying up, before starting afresh with a squad next season which will challenge. For the first time in months, I cannot wait for the next few weeks as a brighter future emerges. Terry Harris, Morgan Ferrier, Ben Nunn, Femi Ilesanmi are just a few examples of the personnel to pass between Victoria Road and Meadow Park over the last few years and this latest signing is just another example of the positive relationship which exists between the two clubs. Their Chairman, Danny Hunter, is somebody who always conducts himself fantastically well and he was open about the events which culminated in Balanta arriving in East London. “Dagenham’s Steve Thompson then asked us to give them a ball park figure that we would at least consider. So, I asked for what I felt was a substantial fee commensurate with Ángelo’s ability, with a waiver included that linked this transfer to the Morgan Ferrier deal at Walsall, in which Dagenham held a 20% stake. “I felt the chances of our demands being accepted by Dagenham were very minimal, as it would turn this into a substantial transfer fee and deal. I also felt that by setting the bar high, it would be the end of their interest, but Dagenham perhaps surprisingly accepted it and still wished to speak with the player. “I, along with Luke Garrard, initially hoped that Ángelo would turn down the chance to move to Dagenham – which in truth he initially did, by declining the chance to even talk with them – and that I thought was the end of the matter… “However, after receiving a phone call from our old player and Dagenham skipper Ben Nunn that evening, and after sleeping on it, Ángelo had a change of heart. Ang felt that he wanted to talk with Daggers’ gaffer Peter Taylor, and as I’m a man of my word, and as both clubs had already agreed terms, permission was given. “After two days of negotiation between Ang and Dagenham, I then received a phone call from Dagenham’s Steve Thompson to say that both the player and Dagenham had reached agreement. “In truth, the Dagenham hierarchy throughout this process, have conducted themselves impeccably and our player simply decided he wanted to go. We all know, that they’ve got themselves one hell of a player, and like Luke, my staff and our supporters, I’m very sad to see him go… “Ángelo when fit has in truth been quite brilliant for us, but his circumstances and his priorities have seemingly changed. Everyone could clearly see that in his performance on Saturday, as his mind was understandably elsewhere. “But that performance apart, from the first moment Ang walked through our door, he has been an absolute pleasure. The memories we’ve all shared together are too many to mention, and it must be remembered, that our academy boys are also losing a very popular PASE coach and I’m losing an important member of my day-to-day staff. “People may question why I have accepted the deal, but I feel every player does perhaps have a trigger price and at 28, Ángelo has his. I also felt at 28, that it was only correct for Angelo to be allowed to talk to Dagenham, as the offer we accepted was substantial and the offer he received was also a considerable one.” Most transfers involving us recently have had disappointing repercussions, so this one is a pleasant and much-deserved surprise. Hopefully we do manage to get, as Boreham Wood's chairman described him, 'one hell of a player'. Before then, though, let's go and give them more misery to contend with by earning a place in the FA Cup first round at their expense.
An Angelo from above has come to save Dagenham's season. Oliver Hawkins. Morgan Ferrier. Sam Ling. Corey Whitely. Fejiri Okenabirhie. Mark Cousins. Michael Cheek. No set of supporters are more used to losing their best players than those of Dagenham & Redbridge in the last year. The fact that every website article or phone vibration could be delivering news that the latest fans' favourite is gone typifies the hardships we've had to endure and, although new ownership seems to have delivered a brighter future, it's clear that this trend looks set to continue.
Even the amount of departures in the last year couldn't lessen the sense of shock when the news filtered through that Elliott Romain, a player on whom our survival hopes are hugely reliant, had left for Maidstone United this afternoon. As usual the timing of the transfer was fantastic with an FA Cup tie at Boreham Wood, which offers the incentive of a potential 25k cash bonus, on the horizon and surely this means our preparations have been disrupted. However, the fact that it came just a day before a cup clash surprisingly isn't the most bizarre thing about this sale. With our financial predicament now stable, there isn't actually a need to get rid of players, let alone important ones. Plus...why Maidstone? Selling to a direct relegation rival is practically footballing suicide. The only positive is that there will, undoubtedly, be new signings of a better calibre than Romain. This is what was suggested by the striker on Twitter, where he clarified the reasons for his departure. ''To avoid speculation...I was told team improvements/a change-up were going to be made and was asked if I'd be interested talking to Maidstone. I would have happily stayed if my position in the team wasn't going to be affected. Hope that clears things up.'' It bodes well that we seem to be lining up some big signings but getting rid of a big player before those are officially announced is risky at best. We've seen before how deals can be scuppered at the very last minute so I hope that we already have some guaranteed arrivals. That said, irrespective of who we're going to bring in, it would've been nice to keep Romain because he's been massive for us this season. Aside from that, he seems like a great character to have around. In the not-too-distant past, hearing about the departure of Romain would've generated little more than a shrug of the shoulders because he'd largely been dismissed as an unsuccessful John Still signing. Despite arriving to a sea of optimism, he failed to really get going at Victoria Road and was twice loaned out as he struggled for minutes, living in the shadow of Ferrier, Whitely, Cheek etc. However, this season he's been a complete revelation and I doubt there will be a single Dagger happy to see him go. Only time will tell whether the decision proves beneficial for us, but an undisputed fact is that we have helped a direct rival in the league and weakened ourselves in the process, albeit temporarily. Maidstone will get a fantastic player with a good eye for goal and work rate unrivalled by any in this division. He will be sorely missed here; his work-rate really epitomised what it meant to play for the club in a time where that mentality was rapidly waning. He's similar to Jamie Cureton in the sense that his love for the game is evident whenever he plays, and he's the type of player that will earn respect even if he doesn't plays well, because he always guarantees that no defender will get an easy ride. That's what we've voluntarily sacrificed. Romain turned his fortunes around at the club and deserves tremendous credit for it. He either scored or assisted 42% of our goals this season which is a testament to the influence he had on the side. He will go on to better things in football I'm sure, but for us it's just another case of what could've been. I wonder whether we'll be dwelling on that very comment in April because, at the minute, this season only seems to be going one way. If this departure will teach us anything it's that the new investors are here for the long-term, even if it means condoning strange short-term decisions. So far there's been no honeymoon period - we've picked up one point from a possible eighteen, our goalkeeping coach has left for a more stable job and now our top scorer has followed suit. However, with new signings imminent, there will be better times ahead. We simply have to spend money to have any chance of digging ourselves out of the gaping hole we find ourselves stuck in. |
WRITERArchives
January 2024
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