Muamba Reshuffles Woking
![]()
New Woking boss
Fabrice Muamba has spent no time in chasing his targets before the season starts, snapping up
fifteen new players and releasing eleven in just a matter of days. Whether it is a good decision to bring in so many at one time is still to be judged but looking at the new players' careers, it's hard to say it's a concerning issue.
What the former Arsenal and Bolton midfielder has done though, is he has stabilised the clubs wage bill down by almost £2,000. And that £2,000 per week is extremely important to a club of Woking's financial structure, in effect, the club is saving just over £100,000 per year which is really something the board of directors will be happy about.
The rush of incoming players started with the addition of former Queens Park Rangers and Hibernian striker
Rowan Vine, who joined on a free transfer on the 8th of July - one day after the appointment of Fabrice Muamba as head coach. Vine's most recent club before Woking was a one season spell at Scottish Championship outfit
Greenock Morton, in which Vine scored four goals in twelve appearances before
The Ton's eventual relegation to League One.
The most high-profile player included in the influx of new arrivals is the recently-released Manchester City striker
Alex Nimely-Tchumeni, who, according to Muamba was the most frustrating player to buy. He knew his abilities - especially at this level but with great ability comes tough wages, it happens at all levels of football. Fortunately for Muamba, he negotiated a wage of under £1,000 per week for the Liberian-born Englishman - a very good deal considering the player's quality.
In terms of outgoing players,
Giuseppe Sole, the under-21's striker at the time of Muamba's arrival was first to leave. When you're a reserve team player and on over £400 per week, the chances of you staying are already very limited. Though, the feelings were mixed about the 26-year old striker being released, as he had played for Woking all his career - his first appearance for
The Cardinals was in the 2006/07 season, in which he became a first-team regular, scoring 12 goals in 42 games in the Blue Square Bet Conference Premier.
![]()
Rowan Vine as said before has very valuable higher level experience which is exactly what we've been lacking recently. He is known by many fans across the country - including Scotland. He is a luxury player and an affordable one to make a perfect combination
Only two years ago was
Marcos Painter playing regularly at left-back in the championship for Brighton & Hove Albion. Shortly after he took a step down to Portsmouth but excellent quality full-backs are a rare thing in these leagues, and fortunately, we're in luck due to Painter's arrival at minimal cost.
Akpo Sodje is something we've been lacking for years - a big, strong element up top to frighten defenders. He spent part of last season on loan to Macclesfield in this league so has valuable experience at this level which will go perfect with a young player like Alex Nimely.
After a long negotiation period, speaking to several targets, we ended up bagging
Julian Gray. Although at the deterring age of 34 years old, Gray possesses all the technical attributes you need in a left-winger at this level. 65 appearances in the Premier League across four different teams speaks volumes at this level, and it is the reason we are so grateful to own Gray on such a low wage as well.
Rohan Ricketts is a player I had been looking at previously, particularly in his spells at MLS side Toronto where he stood out as one of the best midfielders in the league but at Wolves also where they edged into 5th place in the Championship. His passing abilities really stand out and he makes a great central midfielder at this level.
Calum Angus is just what you need in a Conference defence. He can play all across the back line, full-back at either side and center back. The only worry is that despite growing up in England, he spent all of his playing career in Sweden, America and India which is helpful in some aspects but his absence in English football may become significant as time goes on.
Like Painter, we need to be looking at high-quality full-backs and I've found another one in
Bobby Hassell. Although lacking in height, the former Barnsley man makes up for it with his great leadership qualities as well as some decent attributes that are required to make a good right-back
Simon King has merely been a back-up option at his most recent clubs like Gillingham and Inverness Caledonian Thistle, limited to only 16 appearances in five years but late on his career I hope to revive it by winning promotion with him as center-back and a key part of the squad
Mark Gower has had a brilliant turn for the better in his older age, becoming a key part of Swansea's promotion push back in the 2010-11 season before playing at stadiums such as Stamford Bridge, Old Trafford, The Emirates of late. That's only one year ago. After a short spell at Charlton he has found his way to Woking where hopefully he will flourish amongst the part-timers in this league.
In his young age, we at Woking are hoping for
Michael Richardson's career to really kick-off here. Around players such as Mark Gower and Alex Nimely, we can only expect him to flourish. A youth career at the hands of Newcastle would only have given him a boost, as well as a few loan spells at League Two sides such as Accrington and Gillingham.
With the physical presence of Akpo Sodje, you need a player with a bright, fresh mind supplying him. That player will be
Laste Dombaxe. The Angolan winger is a bright spark at 19 years old, he possesses speed and agility better than any other at the club which is why we needed him. At the raw age of 19 things will only get better for him, especially at this level.
Alex Nimely. The pacey prodigy had a bright start at Man City, playing alongside a great strike partner in Daniel Sturridge once upon a time but unfortunately he couldn't match the England international's potential and has eventually been released seven years into his professional career at the Etihad, which included loan spells at Middlesbrough, Coventry and Crystal Palace. Nimely's pace and finishing is previously unseen at this level and will no doubt cause shockwaves across the grounds in this league.
As a back-up for the experienced Marcos Painter comes the young
Jordan Mustoe. At 23 years old the left-back has already made 57 appearances across League One and League Two which is some record for a 23 year old. The list of clubs include Barnet, Morecambe, Carlisle, Bury and Wycombe. Despite never making an appearance for Wigan, he was always reasonably high up the pecking order but was unfortunately released at the end of last season.
Daniel Galbraith was once one of the highest rated wingers in British football, with titans Manchester United picking up the Scotsman for £50,000 plus compensation from Hearts of Midlothian. Now, at 23 years old, the winger finds himself in the Conference Premier with Woking, shortly after spells in the Scottish Premier League with Hibernian, and also in the Irish Premier League with Limerick F.C. Like Dombaxe, Galbraith possesses blistering pace, and if on each wing, the pair will cause havoc for defences in this league
Although desperately lacking in experience, the keeper will only be back-up for current first team keeper Jake Cole,
Jake Larkins will be fighting for his spot as number one like no other. His lack of action thus far in his career - earning just five appearances in four years of professional football must be frustrating him. A step down to Woking will only improve him and maybe Woking's future.
Good luck!
