After a summer involving lots of hype from Lincoln City manager Peter Jackson, the expectations to say the least were quite high for most Lincoln City Fans. During the summer months Jacko had dipped into the transfer market and signed his 'fantastic seven' - these were seven players who he felt would most definitely strengthen the squad. They were also said to be his first choice transfer buys. In the past at Lincoln City we have been used to signing players who no-one else seemed to want!
The seven players in no particular order - all signed as free transfers were:
Aaron Brown, Rob Burch, Frank Sinclair, Kevin Gall, David Graham, Stefan Oakes and Janos Kovacs. He also signed Sam Mullarkey from non-league Lincolnshire team Grantham Town.
When these signings were made each player was hyped up by Jacko to make it sound like we had signed a team of world beaters! It made for an exciting summer as a Lincoln City fan, just for a change!
Rob Burch was brought in as a replacement for Alan Marriott who was controversially not given a new contract which would have seen him given a testimonial match as he would have passed the magic ten year barrier playing for the same club. Disgruntled fans Internet message boards wondering what their local hero had done to not deserve a new contract. The jury was definitely out on Rob Burch as he would be scrutinised by the 'Marriott mafia' for the first few months of his Lincoln City contract. I think he has done a good, consistent job from the start. He commands his area well by shouting at players constantly, collects the ball from crosses easily, is a good shot stopper and his distribution skills are also top notch.
Frank Sinclair was brought to Lincoln with hype surrounding him that he was the best signing Lincoln have ever made! That has since been proved to be a load of nonsense as 19 year old Danny Hone, son of former Imps player Mark Hone has kept Frank out of the team. Danny came through the Imps ranks as a Youth Team Player and has become a fixture as a centre back this season. He has a contract with Lincoln City until 2010 but i likely to be snapped up by another team by then as scouts from Championship clubs have been watching him this season.
Janos Kovacs has been paired with Danny Hone at centre back. He has made one or two errors of judgement but has performed reasonably well.
Stefan Oakes arrived at Lincoln with the reputation as having one of the best, if not the best left foot in the lower divisions. Jacko claimed that his left foot can peel carrots! We hoped for good things from this midfielder who on his day commands the midfield like a lower division Steven Gerrard, but who has mostly disappointed this season. He has regularly been out injured and when he has played he has with doubt played some wonderful left footed passes but has in my opinion appeared to look lazy and uninterested for the most part.
Aaron Brown was brought in to fill the left back slot. He started as left back at the Don Valley Stadium on the first day of the season but was soon found to be out of position quite regularly. Then he got injured and his slot was fill by the industrious Lee Beavers. Lee has taken his chance and claimed that position for now. Aaron has played fleetingly in the first eleven - up front and on the left wing. I think we can use the term utility player here!
That brings me onto the last three signings - all strikers! Kevin Gall joined on a loan spell until January but has recently been informed that he will no longer be needed at the end of the spell.
David Graham helped get Torquay United promoted to League 1 back in 2003/04, and scored over 20 league goals in the process. Since then his career seemed to have been hit by controversy. However, Jacko was willing to give him a chance to repeat his goalscoring skills of his first spell at Torquay United. So far he has only played a few times for Lincoln and like Kevin Gall has scored no goals yet which considering they were both brought in as strikers is pathetic to say the least.
Sam Mullarkey has just turned 20 and in the few appearances I have seen him wearing an Imps shirt he seems to have the potential to do well.
It would seem that the much hyped 'fantastic seven' haven't really turned out to be that fantastic at all. It all sums up to a poor season for the Imps so far. Some onlookers will say Jacko has won a Manager of the Month award - that may well be true but we haven't won since then!
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