One in, one out? Savage open to wheeler-dealing
Macc ponder bringing in a new striker and allowing an existing player to leave
I may have spoken too soon when suggesting that Rollin Menayese would be Macclesfield’s final piece of transfer business this season. The former Aldershot Town centre back, signed as a free agent two weeks ago, was thought to be the missing piece of the jigsaw to complete the Silkmen’s promotion puzzle.
However, in Robbie Savage’s ‘Diary of a Football Manager’ column for Football365.com, it has been revealed that Macc’s Head Coach has: ‘….been trying to wheel and deal his way to signing a forward this week while one of his players waits for a move of his own’.
The insightful weekly column, which takes readers behind the scenes at Macclesfield FC, contains the following nuggets:
Savage is looking to add to the squad’s attacking options
There is currently no headroom in his first-team budget for new signings, unless an existing player departs
Macclesfield made a ‘very good offer’ to an unnamed forward to join the club for the remainder of the season. The player subsequently demanded a sizable increase on the terms offered which have been deemed unrealistic - the deal is now ‘dead in the water’
An unnamed Macclesfield player wishes to leave for more regular playing time. Savage was prepared to sanction the sale, but no longer can because his forward transfer target has fallen through
So it’s as you were for the Silkmen’s squad for now, unless progress is made on an alternative striking option. Watch this space, as they say. Savage’s Football365 column contains lots more interesting info than the summary I’ve provided above, so have a read to gain the full lowdown and see Robbie’s previous diary entries.
Which Silkmen player could leave?
Understandably, the identity of the Macclesfield player seeking a move away will be kept tightly under wraps. But let’s take a look at the possible candidates.
Tom Clare
The burley forward hasn’t featured for Macc since coming off the bench in the 5-1 demolition of Lancaster in November. Since then, Tom has been taking part in promotional opportunities overseas as football once again takes a back-seat for the former reality TV star.
It’s something of a pity (for Macc) given the often maligned striker made an encouraging start to the season scoring four goals, including in the 3-1 home win over Guiseley. Tom has struck me as a better player than he is often given credit for and it would have been interesting to see how many goals he could have bagged in Savage’s free-flowing attacking side.
Clare is rumoured to be on a ‘pay as you play’ deal for Macc. It seems unlikely that he’d swap the sunshine (and earning potential!) abroad to return to the UK and sign for another club. Clare has made 13 appearances this season, but only two of them have been starts.
Dontai Gabbidon
Gabbidon only joined the Silkmen in September from FC United of Manchester and has made 11 appearances (three starts, all in cup games), predominantly as a left winger / wing-back. He has impressed, none more so when scoring his only goal for Macc with an amazing lob against Ashton in the FA Trophy.
Until coming off the bench against Gainsborough earlier this month, his last appearance was against Blyth in the league on 23 November. Dontai’s absence hasn’t been explained by the club, but it is believed he has been recovering after unfortunately being involved in a car accident. It’s wonderful to see him back, safe and well, and let’s hope he can really start to flourish now in a Silkmen shirt.
But competition for Macc in wide positions is fierce, and Gabbidon currently finds himself behind the likes of Sean Etaluku, Justin Johnson, Neil Kengni and Brandon Lee. Will he stay and fight for his place or elect to move on?
Elliott Whitehouse
The forgotten man. Out of all of Macc’s summer signings, Elliott Whitehouse was the one I was most excited about. The former Sheffield United youngster has enjoyed a distinguished career in the lower reaches of the English football league as a box-to-box midfielder, before dropping down to play in the National League and National League North. Last season, Whitehouse bagged 10 goals for Chester before he decided to leave and join the Silkmen in what seemed a real coup for the club.
Sadly it’s not worked out for either party, so far. Elliott, who has suffered some major injuries in his career, sustained another one for Macc against Hyde in the August bank holiday fixture which has ruled him out ever since. Prior to that, Whitehouse still seemed to be getting to grips with his role in Macc’s midfield during pre-season and in the Silkmen’s opening league games.
He has recently returned to light training duties and been warming up with the rest of the squad on match days, but it doesn’t appear that his return to first-team duties is imminent. And even when he is fully fit again, Whitehouse is behind John Rooney, Laurent Mendy and Danny Whitehead in Robbie Savage’s midfield pecking order. Time to knuckle down and go again, or seek a fresh start elsewhere?
Alex Curran
Curran is a contender to be one of Macclesfield FC’s finest ever players and has racked up over 100 appearances and nearly 50 goals since joining the club in 2022. Following the departure of James Berry, Curran became the Silkmen’s shining light and finished top scorer last season with 23 goals. A gifted creative talent and clinical finisher, Curran deserves his legendary status amongst Macc supporters.
But so far this season has been a frustrating one for Alex. He has gradually worked his way back to fitness after an injury disrupted his pre-season preparations, preventing him from making the starting eleven until Whitby away in late August. From there, Robbie Savage handed Curran eight consecutive starts, however he seldom looked like his old self and the arrival of D’Mani Mellor has seen Alex frequently drop to the bench.
In total, Curran has made 34 appearances this season, but just 18 of them have been starts, registering three goals. In cameos, he has appeared to be rediscovering his best form, most notably when bagging a brace against his former club Curzon Ashton in the FA Trophy. But he’s not kicked on since then. They say form is temporary and class is permanent, which certainly seems applicable to Alex Curran.
We know he can deliver in abundance at our current level and in the National League North, so let’s hope he recaptures his magic touch in a Macclesfield shirt again soon.
Justin Johnson
Perhaps a controversial suggestion given that Johnson has made the second highest number of appearances (36) so far this season (level with Laurent Mendy and Max Dearnley), and only one behind Luke Duffy and Danny Elliott. The flying winger is also Macc’s fourth joint highest scorer (alongside Duffy) with eight goals, behind Paul Dawson (9), D’Mani Mellor (15) and Danny Elliott (27).
But some patchy form and the arrival of Sean Etaluku in November has meant that Johnson is no longer a guaranteed starter in Robbie Savage’s team. A player who prefers to play on the front foot with little appetite for defending, Johnson has not always convinced playing as a wing-back in a 3-4-1-2 formation as opposed to being a more conventional winger in a 4-2-3-1 set up.
When on song JJ can be a real handful and is undoubtedly a match winner at Steps 2 and 3 – quick, direct with a fearsome strike on him. In his previous standout campaign prior to joining Macc, Johnson was named in the National League North’s team of the season for Chorley after scoring 14 goals and registering 11 assists. He’s not hit those heights yet, but with 13 league games remaining this season there’s reason to believe that Johnson will reach double figures – still a decent return!
At 28, JJ is in his prime and could be a real asset next season for the Silkmen if he can find more consistency. However if not, how long will Johnson remain content to be sat on the bench at this stage in his career?
Savage’s striker search – five suggestions
Attempting to identify attackers Macc could be interested in is like trying to find a needle in a haystack. Robbie Savage and his coaching team have acquired an encyclopaedic knowledge of football league and non-league players throughout the pyramid, plus Savage’s enviable list of contacts (ex-players, managers, coaches, scouts and football agents) will mean that his phone never stops ringing.
To illustrate the point, who would have thought the Silkmen’s scouting network would have stretched to signing a player (Rollin Meyanese) who was previously at Aldershot, some 200 miles away from the Leasing.com stadium? It’s not just about identifying the right players for the right fee, but also determining whether their character is a good fit for the squad and if they are able to relocate and transition to the Silkmen’s (currently) part-time training model.
The other point to debate is do we need another forward, and need one right now with promotion almost in the bag? Would it not be more prudent to preserve transfer funds until Macc know which league they are playing in next season?
Those against the idea of bringing another body in will argue (with some justification) that, between them, Danny Elliott and D’Mani Mellor have scored 42 goals and counting so far this season. Danny’s stats (27 in total, 21 in the league) make for even better reading given the Silkmen’s top scorer went nine games without a goal in a barren spell between August and September. D’Mani has also been a revelation, either as a second striker alongside Elliott or as a ‘number 10’ just behind him.
However…both (particularly Elliott) have been guilty of being wasteful in front of goal on occasions, spurning big chances, as evidenced once again against Basford last week. And whilst Savage has lavished nothing but praise upon his two forward talents, he’s also openly admitted that as a collective the team can’t keep on squandering huge opportunities in the manner they have been.
With better finishing (and better defending, granted!), two of Macc’s three league defeats (against Mickelover and Ashton) could easily have been wins.
The counter argument (but not one I subscribe to) is that: “if Elliott and Mellor were more clinical finishers they wouldn’t be playing for Macclesfield”. But here’s the rub. They are playing for Macclesfield, and Macclesfield are likely to be in the National League North next season, facing better teams and better players. They are unlikely to be gifted some of the chances they’ve received on a plate from Northern Premier League defences at the next level up, so it must be considered whether they will be as effective as a consequence.
Of course, both players are huge assets to the club and can continue to develop aspects of their games and improve. But equally, it’s Savage’s job to ensure the squad remains as competitive as it can be if the club is ultimately going to achieve its short and medium term ambitions.
He’s not looking to replace Elliott and Mellor, but more so to compliment them whilst adding much needed strength and depth to the Silkmen’s firepower, which is threadbare following the absence of Tom Clare, and the previous departures of Courtney Duffus and Kielan Adams.
We can’t afford to stand still and Savage, with his unquenchable thirst to improve Macclesfield on and off the pitch, is never going to rest on his laurels. And as supporters we’d soon call him out if he was. You can’t be a manager and bemoan your side’s tendency to miss big chances and not seek to try and address it, either through specific coaching or exploring alternative striking options. In Savage’s case he appears to be doing both.
So which strikers might be on the Silkmen’s radar, either now or in the close season, as we look to enhance our squad? I’ve identified the following five players who could be potential options, although admittedly some targets are more ambitious than others.
Mo Touray, Chorley
Touray, who played under former boss Michael Clegg at Warrington Rylands, was rumoured to be on Macc’s summer shopping list. The 25 year-old attracted a host of interest after scoring 17 goals in 36 games for Rylands, but opted to join Chorley who are amongst the play-off contenders in the National League North. So far, Touray has scored four goals in 24 appearances for the Magpies, but has found himself on the bench recently. Could Savage be monitoring the former Wales U-21 international?
Kurt Willoughby, Oldham (currently on loan at Chester)
Any attempt to lure Willoughby to Macc would be an ambitious move, and only probably realistic in the summer given that the striker is currently on a season-long loan at Chester from parent club Oldham. It’s not worked out for Willoughby at Oldham, and he’s found himself loaned out to Ayr United in Scotland and his former club Chester where he scored 20 goals in 44 games for them in the 2022-23 season.
The nippy Willoughby, who can play out wide or through the middle, was previously prolific in non-league for Clitheroe and FC United of Manchester, where he averaged almost a goal every other game. That earned the 27 year-old moves to AFC Fylde and York. He’s only found the net three times for Chester in his return spell though and could be deemed surplus to requirements by Oldham at the end of the season.
Joe Garner, Oldham
If Savage wants to opt for experience to see Macc over the line in the Northern Premier League, Joe Garner could be an outside bet. Now 36, the former Preston and Rangers striker has gradually slipped down the football pyramid in recent years, turning out for Fleetwood, Carlisle and Oldham.
Garner has become a bit part player for the Latics in the National League this season, restricted to only seven appearances and a solitary goal. However, he could prosper in the Northern Premier League and add goals to Macc’s forward ranks in a similar vein to when Nicky Maynard did for the Silkmen prior to his retirement. But would Garner be prepared to drop down to Step 3 at this late stage in his career?
Darren Stephenson, Farsley Celtic
Savage likes pace and power, so could Stephenson be on the Silkmen’s radar? The 31 year-old has netted three times for National League North side Farsley this term who are embroiled in a battle against the drop with the likes of Radcliffe and Marine.
Stephenson’s appearances / goal ratio in non-league has been better for other clubs: Chester (63/10), Stockport (71/10), but his most prolific period saw him score 25 goals in 58 games for Chorley, albeit several years ago. He might not be a name that immediately springs to mind, but nor did D’Mani Mellor, and he’s turned out well!
Scott Quigley, Eastleigh
Quigley is definitely one to monitor. The 32-year-old striker has scored twice in 14 games for National League side Eastleigh this season, but currently finds himself out of favour. However, he possesses excellent pedigree having twice earned promotion from the National League to League Two. In the 2019-20 season, Quigley was the National League’s top scorer with 20 goals as he helped Barrow to promotion playing with our very own John Rooney.
The target man repeated the feat with Stockport, bagging 10 goals in 37 appearances in the 2021-22 season to help County return to the football league. Quigley has also played on loan for Port Vale and Rochdale during his career, so might favour a move back up north. An imposing figure at 6’4, Quigley is no slouch either playing on the deck, or when it comes to pace. Like with Kurt Willoughby, Quigley wouldn’t come cheap, but he’s the type of forward who could make a real difference for Macc.
And finally…do you recognise this mystery player who has been training with Macc?
No, neither do I. The unnamed player has appeared on the Silkmen’s social media channels in training photos this week, pictured above next to Alex Curran and with no.21 on his shorts behind Laurent Mendy and Elliott Whitehouse. He might be a player from the Silkmen’s International Academy, or could possibly be a trialist.
Whoever he is, it seems unlikely that the mystery man is the striker Macclesfield tried to sign earlier in the week. The mystery player above has appeared in training photos taken on Tuesday and Thursday, after Savage made it known that the deal to sign his preferred forward target was ‘dead in the water’.
We’ll have to see what comes out in the wash!