i think we're stocking the cellar with young strikers, like Gnonto and Perkins hoping they mature like a fine wine and make a tidy profit by the time they're ready to put on the shelves.
I find it odd, he’s played international football and playing first team for his club. Perkins was on verge of the West Ham. Why give that up to play U21s football here?
for Gnonto $$ and maybe the glamour of the PL Perkins one is harder to understand. We're led to believe that he didn't feel he was going to break into west ham's first team because Moyes doesn't trust youth... but he had actually been given an opportunity. So then why come to our 21s? Maybe the spammers wouldn't offer him a long enough contract?
Marsch said at the weekend that he didn’t want to let James go but had to as he wanted to bring a striker in instead of him. That suggests to me that Gnonto will be featuring at least in the match day squad otherwise what was the point in sending James out on loan if Gnonto won’t be involved anyway
Exactly. James was a starter or used as a substitiute in every match he was available for and therefore a valuable squad member. This new lad better feature otherwise the deal makes even less sense than before.
Well that's the million dollar question when your manager has already previously stated last month: “But we know who he is. And with him it'd be more of a long term project. And maybe you can then with that comment read into whether it's going to happen this transfer window or if it can't happen, this transfer window or not, or in the future." and then after signing him... admitted that we were going to leave him in zurich for a 'window or two' to develop. doesn't sound like swapping one first team regular for another. There is a strong stench of bullshit coming from elland road on the whole James/Gnonto thing
Makes no sense to me either way. Then I look at West Ham and Leicester with their managers moaning they haven't been allowed sign anyone and makes you wonder. Of course their squad were stronger to begin I suppose
I’m guessing each one of us would hope he’s a world beater and plays regularly. That maybe the case, but I don’t see it happening soon, though quite happy to be proved wrong. I think they were desperate for striker cover, once Rodrigo got crocked, and unsure when we might be able to get 90 minutes out of Paddy. DJ clearly wasn’t the answer to that problem.They had this lad lined up for January, so it was an easy option, once Gakpo and Dieng deals went tits up.
On Perkins I did some digging months ago when it was first mooted that Leeds were hoping to buy him. According to WHU blogs, fan pages etc Sonny Perkins was involved in a training ground bust up with the club captain and then got into a massive dispute with Moyes. Perkins its said told Moyes he should now be paid as a first team player not as an academy youth player. The longshot is that Perkins agent got involved and it seems was hawking him about some prem clubs. When we actually signed him there was allegations made about tapping up etc, but again looking at WHU fans pages Perkins wanted first team wages and didnt feel appreciated? We normally only buy players with the right attitude so sounds dodgy to me, but fans are split over him some angry at letting him go and some calling him billybigbollox
So we are just writing Gelhardt off then. Created a couple of chances for himself against Everton and thought he linked up really well at Brentford. For a 20 year old kid I think he's doing great and it wouldn't strike fear into me if he was the only striker available this season. He's done OK, just missing a goal or two to his name.