Ben Coker | Vital Football

Ben Coker

Played less than 40 games in last two seasons, currently injured it seems.
 
I was quite indifferent to this as a rumour until I watched all three of the videos and understood the background.

Croker was clearly a talented individual before his ACL/LCL injury in November. He has played over 200 games for Southend, was made Captain by Chris Powell and was invested in Southend - showing the commitment and talent that the Cowleys look for.

He is primarily a left-back, but can play left-midfield, but is still in the stages of coming back from injury (albeit very strongly) and is out of contract. So the equation seems to me to be, can we sign a potential Championship level player, for nothing, on the understanding that we are supporting his recuperation (and therefore paying his wages) with a view to having a player that is of a very good quality available some time in 2019/20. If this is on a contract of 2 years, then (presuming that he comes back as strong as he was before the injury) we may have two or three potentially saleable assets at left back and can make a return on our proven sports science team's work.
 
Well, that looks pretty final, plus the mention of "see you next year" with the Imps playing Sarfend. Wiki also has him now as a free agent having turned down a contract offer at Southend. Looks a good L1 player & solid playing record, though the video is a bit misleading as he's only scored 4 in 200 games for the Shrimpers. Where does that leave Toffs though? Wouldn't have seen a LB as a top priority in recruitment terms, unless DC has different plans for the squad for L1.
 
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Hortin has RT'd Coker's message from earlier in the week so if he's going that, you'd assume it's done.
 
Well, that looks pretty final, plus the mention of "see you next year" with the Imps playing Sarfend. Wiki also has him now as a free agent having turned down a contract offer at Southend. Looks a good L1 player & solid playing record, though the video is a bit misleading as he's only scored 4 in 200 games for the Shrimpers. Where does that leave Toffs though? Wouldn't have seen a LB as a top priority in recruitment terms, unless DC has different plans for the squad for L1.

Toffs is a great player but maybe a bit suspect defensively, so when we're up against a real quality right winger a more traditional LB may be required. Hopefully Coker can cover other positions so he's not just sat waiting for those situations.
 
Toffs is a great player but maybe a bit suspect defensively, so when we're up against a real quality right winger a more traditional LB may be required. Hopefully Coker can cover other positions so he's not just sat waiting for those situations.
this guy has played 200 L1 games, what is to say he isn't better than toff going forward too. could be coker playing, and toff sitting waiting... or toff playing somewhere else? or toff being £££ cashed in.