Alfie May didn't become a full time professional until just short of his 24th Birthday at Doncaster ! His last two seasons at Cheltenham he has become a one goal every two match scorer. Despite being 30 in July his career is on a upward curve not a downward curve like so many of our signings in recent years: Watson, Gunter etc who had had long careers at a higher level.
Personally feel the best comparison would be Holmes who was excellent when he signed from Northampton.
IF he signs needless to say a relationship close to a big number 9 could work well. I personally didn't think Leaburn was as sharp as the season wore on so assuming Miles is still here come August then it could help his development as well.
IF, is still the word until Scarfy appears and i's are dotted and t's are crossed behind the scene.
Signing May would suggest that 433 is perhaps not on the cards , 352 or maybe even a 442? Although I do wonder where that would leave the likes of CBT and Campbell in a 352 as I couldn't see either operating as a wingback.
Quite often in a 352 teams have one defensive wing back and one more attacking. So it wouldn’t be unusual to have say Sessegnon right and CBT left of the 5.
A front two of Leaburn and May should be pretty potent at this level. Especially with Aneke coming off the bench for the last 15-20 mins every 2 months.
Signing May would suggest that 433 is perhaps not on the cards , 352 or maybe even a 442? Although I do wonder where that would leave the likes of CBT and Campbell in a 352 as I couldn't see either operating as a wingback.
Impact subs? 3-5-2 won't always work and we will need a plan b. 2 quick and direct carriers of the ball is a good option on the bench or if we need to go all guns blazing
A front two of Leaburn and May should be pretty potent at this level. Especially with Aneke coming off the bench for the last 15-20 mins.
With you until you mentioned Aneke. Got to see him being fit as a bonus. Can see Kanu being more involved and us bringing in another striker.
What’s clear is we need to replace Rak-Sakyi’s goals. May has scored around 20 at this level in the last two seasons, appears to want to come here and is available relatively cheaply. That frees up money to be spent elsewhere. Finding a wide player capable of 15+ is likely to be harder and more expensive.
The reactions from Cheltenham Twitter are comforting (for us), they appear absolutely devastated he’s off.
They adore him over there. This is the highest Cheltenham have ever been in their history and May is the talisman of that progress. It's easy to forget what a small (not in an arrogant way, just genuinely) club they are. Their record fee spent is still £50,000 and them managing to stay in L1 is incredible work. May has two 20 goal L1 seasons and they will really struggle to replace him. The problem they have is that he's already given them quite a lot of loyalty, especially after Guardiola and Foden praised him in a cup match a couple of years ago and teams started looking over the hedge, and they can't afford to pay him any more. We're doubling his salary and it doesn't even come out at that much. He's also nearly 30 and has one year left on his deal so they can't demand a huge fee for him. If I were a Cheltenham fan I'd be seriously concerned about relegation if they can't find another gem to sign
If Aneke were to be fit enough to play in 35 games next season we would probably be in business. Is money to be spent on transfers, or intensive bionic medical intervention for Chucks? I’m not even sure what his physical problems are, does anybody know?
The reactions from Cheltenham Twitter are comforting (for us), they appear absolutely devastated he’s off.
They adore him over there. This is the highest Cheltenham have ever been in their history and May is the talisman of that progress. It's easy to forget what a small (not in an arrogant way, just genuinely) club they are. Their record fee spent is still £50,000 and them managing to stay in L1 is incredible work. May has two 20 goal L1 seasons and they will really struggle to replace him. The problem they have is that he's already given them quite a lot of loyalty, especially after Guardiola and Foden praised him in a cup match a couple of years ago and teams started looking over the hedge, and they can't afford to pay him any more. We're doubling his salary and it doesn't even come out at that much. He's also nearly 30 and has one year left on his deal so they can't demand a huge fee for him. If I were a Cheltenham fan I'd be seriously concerned about relegation if they can't find another gem to sign
Add to the fact he's a local lad (born in Gravesend, grew up around Dartford) and is close with his family, and has 2 small kids, then a move to us makes sense.
Cards on the table, I used to play cricket with Alfie, still friends with him on Facebook, but no, not going to message him out the blue (not seen him in 8 or 9 years) for info.
My favourite Alfie story is the first time I played cricket with him. He was 15, but small for his age, so came out to bat with pads up to his waist and his helmet making him look like a bobble head. If you didn't know him you'd have thought he was 12 at most.
Opposition fielders all close in, first ball his skips half way down the track and deposits the ball over the sight screen.
Couple of years later I was skippering the 2nd XI, he had a sensational preseason, some, some big scores and even bigger hits. First team nicked him pretty sharpish.
A front two of Leaburn and May should be pretty potent at this level. Especially with Aneke coming off the bench for the last 15-20 mins.
With you until you mentioned Aneke. Got to see him being fit as a bonus. Can see Kanu being more involved and us bringing in another striker.
What’s clear is we need to replace Rak-Sakyi’s goals. May has scored around 20 at this level in the last two seasons, appears to want to come here and is available relatively cheaply. That frees up money to be spent elsewhere. Finding a wide player capable of 15+ is likely to be harder and more expensive.
A front 2 will definitely be good news for Kanu. He can’t play on his own up front but has looked much better whenever he’s been paired with Leaburn
If Aneke were to be fit enough to play in 35 games next season we would probably be in business. Is money to be spent on transfers, or intensive bionic medical intervention for Chucks? I’m not even sure what his physical problems are, does anybody know?
Highly ambitious for a guy who's appeared in 22 league games in 18 months. He started only 5 games and hasn't completed 90 minutes since January 2022.
Such a shame we probably won’t sign May today. Would have blown some fans minds to see us pay a fee, announce a signing before the window officially opens and without the takeover completed.
May signing has to be viewed positively. He’s just the type of player we should be looking at getting. Him and Leaburn should be a handful for most of league one. Important that we don’t stop there though. We definitely need another striker although I’m guessing that will be a loan. If May sets the standard for our targeted players we’ll be in the hunt but one swallow does not a summer make.
Not too fussed about us not getting him as he’s probably not even better than Clare (though if he had signed I would be calling him the Stevenage Cafu)
Comments
we can sign him anytime
His last two seasons at Cheltenham he has become a one goal every two match scorer.
Despite being 30 in July his career is on a upward curve not a downward curve like so many of our signings in recent years: Watson, Gunter etc who had had long careers at a higher level.
Personally feel the best comparison would be Holmes who was excellent when he signed from Northampton.
IF he signs needless to say a relationship close to a big number 9 could work well.
I personally didn't think Leaburn was as sharp as the season wore on so assuming Miles is still here come August then it could help his development as well.
IF, is still the word until Scarfy appears and i's are dotted and t's are crossed behind the scene.
let's hope the latter...
let's hope we can hang on to Leaburn, get the feeling they could make a great partnership
What’s clear is we need to replace Rak-Sakyi’s goals. May has scored around 20 at this level in the last two seasons, appears to want to come here and is available relatively cheaply. That frees up money to be spent elsewhere. Finding a wide player capable of 15+ is likely to be harder and more expensive.
Is money to be spent on transfers, or intensive bionic medical intervention for Chucks?
I’m not even sure what his physical problems are, does anybody know?
Cards on the table, I used to play cricket with Alfie, still friends with him on Facebook, but no, not going to message him out the blue (not seen him in 8 or 9 years) for info.
My favourite Alfie story is the first time I played cricket with him. He was 15, but small for his age, so came out to bat with pads up to his waist and his helmet making him look like a bobble head. If you didn't know him you'd have thought he was 12 at most.
Opposition fielders all close in, first ball his skips half way down the track and deposits the ball over the sight screen.
Couple of years later I was skippering the 2nd XI, he had a sensational preseason, some, some big scores and even bigger hits. First team nicked him pretty sharpish.
Apologies for being pedantic but after reading the Grim reaper of Charlton rumours Richard Cawley above, you did mean a medical at Charlton 🤷🏻♂️