Signed on 18 month contract. Wouldn't have been my first priority, but I suppose you have to sign who is available and affordable when you get the chance. I guess will be cover for BWP. Interesting that CP said we signed him because we didn't have any pace in the squad. I would feel mildly insulted if I were Waggy. In fact, I wonder if this signing signals that Waggy will be leaving us in the window. *** sorry, just noticed Greenwich's thread on same topic. Mods, please delete my thread ***
Do you remember we were talking about this a few days ago, Eddie? The need to get in a speedy striker to take advantage of the through-pass was my wish for January. I do believe we have our man. I didn't see this one coming. Great move, methinks!
Nah, cant see the enthusiasm for him, his scoring record is appalling for a striker. Sounds like a runner who DOESNT know where the goal is - unlike someone else we got who originated from Ipswich (ok, originally from us, but you get where im going with this)
It's a gamble whether our coaching staff can help him realize his potential. His goal-scoring record has not been great (1 in 6) and the fact that clubs no bigger than us, Ipswich, Bristol City and Barnsley, have all let him go for free or for a nominal fee is not encouraging. CP has worked wonders with Kermit, but we cannot expect that every time. If he thrives on through passes along the ground it may help us to return to playing soccer on the deck. Some of the seven-feet-high passes to BWP when up against Senderos and Hangeland were ridiculous. I see his role as cover if BWP is injured or rested and replacing BWP 20 minutes from time as sub. If he hasn't cost too much in wages or inducements to sign then it is worth the gamble, but I don't see it as a signing that will improve the regular team. Mind you, with an already very good team and a restricted budget, the latter is a hard thing to pull off. Probably the only way we can improve the first XI without spending a fortune we don't have is either by signing a very good left-midfielder (allowing JJ to move inside) or by singing a better midfielder than Russell/Stephens/Hughes/Pritchard, all good players competing for the same slot, and all with their different strengths and weaknesses but none "automatic selections". (Alonso too may yet be added to the options, according to CP).
In terms of goal scoring record, whilst it is an indication of an established striker you only need to look at kermogant, last two seasons 46 appearances and 4 goals. Thats abysmal yet 15 games for us and 7 goals. But I do agree Haynes seems a strange choice and Powells comments are probably his biggest mistake of the season, quite offensive to waggy, evina even in terms of his pace comment. But maybe the God aka Powell is doing some reverse psychology to spur the others on. Mid season, top of the league, won more games than any other team in the country, easy to rest on your laurels. Lets let Dannys performance on the pitch tell us what he's made of. Has Powell let us down in the transfer market so far!?
With only 5 people allowed on the bench, there are going to be some seriously unhappy players in the squad, people like Hayes,Waggy and Evina who didn't even make the bench on Saturday. Never mind the 1st team, Haynes will be struggling to make the subs bench!
Thank you for the welcomes and the compliments, you're too kind! HA As for the team, well, I must say personally I have wanted to see waggy and evina feature more, mainly because of their pace. But as pointed out earlier by others, the bench is going to be a crowded place!
Did the clubs agree to the 5 sub rule, or was it enforced? It's such a bloody stupid rule that it makes me mad!
SLP say the fee was 50k and Haynes agreed to a pay cut in order to push this deal through. Great bit of business at those prices!
A majority of clubs voted for it, but I imagine the vote must have been close. Incidentally, where do all these subs go, do they sit behind the valley dugouts?
If we are winning 3 or 4 nil with 15 minutes to go, then it would be great to send on the likes of Popo and Azeez etc - the experience they gain from such a cameo is great for the player, and great for supporters to see the up and coming stars of the future. But without the luxury of 7 subs, the spaces on the bench have to be filled on a purely tactical basis. It is an utterly useless change in the rules.
