RECORD numbers of managers in the Kenna League this season means pickings will be their slimmest ever in the first transfer window two weeks on Friday.
Predictably, the best-performing available players combined would be top of the league and come from unfashionable clubs like Cardiff, Huddersfield and Wolves.
Available XI – 260 points
Etheridge – Cardiff goalkeeper – 23 points
Otto – Wolves defender – 31 points
Holebas – Watford defender – 30 points
Bennett – Wolves defender – 26 points
Wan-Bissaka – Palace defender – 23 points
Billing – Huddersfield midfielder – 22 points
Hughes – Watford midfielder – 21 points
Costa – Wolves midfielder – 20 points
Knockaert – Brighton midfielder – 26 points
Lennon – Burnley midfielder – 24 points
Ward – Cardiff striker – 14 points
Wolverhampton in particular enjoy overrepresentation among Kenna managers, no fewer than three Wulfrunians compete this season – Reds, ‘Pies and Casuals.
Even though eleven Wolves were signed in August, three are still at large awaiting vastly inflated price tags at the Kenna window on Friday 19 October.
But one available player name from Burnley stands out above the rest.
Aaron Lennon.
The winger has recovered from his personal problems to be a surprise package in the Kenna this season with 24 points already.
That’s two points less than Lokomotiv Leeds players Alexis Sanchez (£30m) and Alvaro Morata (£25m) put together.
Managers can anticipate to dig deep for Aaron Lennon, despite his patchy Kenna history.
Lennon burst into the Kenna off the back of World Cup appearances in 2006.
Vazmanian Devils paid a whopping £21.5m for the domestic services of the diminutive Yorkshireman following the international tournament, only to finish last in the league.
(Incidentally, only two players to feature in the Kenna that season were signed this summer: Jermaine Defoe and Cesc Fabregas. Rob Green remains unsigned.)
Lennon’s highlight of the rest of the noughties was a 2nd place finish with Recreativo Brockley in May 2008.
Since then the winger’s most notable contribution to the Kenna was a £14m signing for This is Sparta…Prague in 2013, where he ended up in a midfield with Jesus Navas, Jozef Fritzl and Jeremy Forrest.
TIS…P finished the season 20th, one place above the relegation zone.
It’s one of many lower table finishes Lennon has enjoyed in his Kenna career.
But with little on offer at the transfer window in two weeks, Aaron is bound to be snapped up.
The question is: will he continue to perform or will he leave his new manager stranded on the roadside?
Aaron Lennon’s Kenna career
August 2006 – £21.5m to Vazmian Devils (finished 9th – last)
August 2007 – £3m to Recreativo Brockley (finished 2nd)
August 2008 – £7m to the chairman (finished 9th)
August 2010 – £15m to Deportivo Kensington (finished 9th)
August 2011 – £10m to FC Testiculadew. Released in October and bought by Hairy Fadjeetas for £8.5m in February 2012. FCT won the double, Fadges finished 17th.
August 2012 – £8.5m to Greendale Rockets (finished 17th)
August 2013 – £14m to This is Sparta…Prague (finished 20th)
August 2014 – £3m to Still Don’t Know Yet (finished 18th)
August 2017 – £0.5m autofill to Judean Peoples’ Front. Released on October and signed in February 2018 to a desperate Young Boys manager for £13m (finished 12th).
Kenna table – week 7
Full scores available from The Rub.
