Yeovil Town have the fourth worst goal scoring record in the National League this season. Not one of our 26 matches so far this season has seen more than three goals scored.
As of Wednesday, February 9, our record against the current bottom six, reads: Played 6, Won 0, Drawn 4, Lost 2.
We need some goals. So if Glovers manager Darren Sarll has quite a lot on his plate taking on multiple roles, I thought I’d step up to the scouting department and do my bit.
Following the 2-1 defeat to Wealdstone Sarll said he would ‘ask the question’ to try and get a ‘spike’ or a ‘character’ onto the pitch.
So I got out the notepad and pen, headed off to the ‘Free Agent’ section of Transfermarkt, set the filters to ‘has boots, will travel, play for little, has hit cows arse with banjo at least once’ and had a scroll…
It wasn’t all 45 year old washed up nobodies, there were even some names I’d heard of.
I’ve tried to be realistic, assume we have a maybe a couple quid and an out of date bovril to pay a player from the Joe Quigley sale and here’s who I have found.
We will start with former Tottenham, Morecambe and YEOVIL TOWN striker, Shayon Harrison.
Remember him? His one contribution as a very young loanee from Spurs was one of the goals in *that* 3-3 draw with Exeter back in 2017 (shudders)
He was released from his Morecambe contract at the end of last month having only played a few games for them and you’d assume would be open to offers on a short term basis.
He at least knows the area, knows what to expect and can probably take a short term deal knowing he wouldn’t be confined to deepest, darkest Somerset forever.
Next up a young lad by the name of Brandon Barker, a one time Man City youth prospect who spent a short stint on loan at Oxford from SPL champions Rangers last season and did score a few goals.
He has represented England at youth levels and has been let go of his deal from Rangers on the final day of January presumably to allow easier access to other deals either North or South of the border.
Yes, Yeovil is a LONG way from Glasgow, but how about it for 3 months, make a name for yourself and alert a few EFL clubs for the new season?
Ok, this next one is very much pie in the sky, but you know, I’m straw clutching.
Remember Jerome Sinclair? All the talent in the world as a youngster at Liverpool and Watford and was meant to be destined for greatness.
But, unless ‘Greatness’ is a small suburban area just outside of the Bulgarian city of Sofia where he was last seen on loan in 2021, it never really happened.
Of course, at just 25, he’s probably setting his sights much higher than the middle of the National League, but he and Sarll would have crossed paths at Watford as he bounced around between the first team and reserves… fancy doing your old gaffer a favour, Jerome?
And finally, Jermaine Hylton is on the list, only 28, plenty of games (and not a shabby amount of goals) at the likes of Motherwell, Ross County and Solihull Moors
He was released from his deal at Newport earlier this year and needs a new club.
Rewind back to 2018/19 he and a certain Adi Yussuf scored nearly 30 goals between them for Solihull as they finished in the National League play-offs, have a word Adi, get the band back together!
There are forwards out there, and of course I know it seems the money has run dry and the questions the Manager refers to seemingly never get answered the way he’d like, but I enjoyed the process of seeing what is out there, even if nothing really comes of it.
…and don’t worry Darren, I don’t charge scouting fees.