would be very happy to see SEB at the club... [I can't imagine any Prem clubs being willing to take him even if he does score bucket loads for us] A low risk option for us and personally think he fit's the bill as best as anyone out there, is actually pretty strong and holds the ball well, as well as being able to run in behind teams and find space in the box. A bit similar to Jason Scotland, although with probably a bit more pedigree As for Hunt, not for me. He recently had everything lined up at Blackpool but it fell through as he was unwilling to take a pay cut from his previous deal and therefore (very sensibly) Blackpool said... "err No thanks then." not the sort of player we should be looking at in my opinion.
King - its being reported that SEB already has a deal lined up with Palace but he cant play for them as its outside the registration period for the 25 man squad!
The fact that SEB is likely to come here should be welcomed BUT this does show yet another example of the short termism that Evans wanted to get away from! A real signal of intent would have been to sign him until the end of the season with the intention of a permanent deal depending on where we finished in the league. What we are faced with is another DJ Campbell scenario and it is galling that our once proud club is being used in this way and Evans is entirely to blame. I believe that MM has been dealt a ****e hand by Evans and we will not get anywhere with this patch and mend approach year after year. We are lucky that MM is a loyal and honest man and will not jump ship until his contract has finished, but this is a golden opportunity wasted. Whats the point of having a top class manager and not backing him? If Evans had allowed some money to be spent on one or two decent recruits in the Summer to add to what we have got I am sure that we would be in a far better position then we are now. So yes SEB coming here will give us a much needed boost but the fact remains that we are being run badly by an owner that has all but lost interest. Just one other example of this is the disgusting prices we have to pay to come and watch a football match at Portman Road. A higher than average price for a lower than average product and whats all the more ironic is that Evans has built his fortune on flogging tickets!
A few points on this thread; 1. As a team we are creating as many chances, if not more than most teams in this league, problem is we are not taking them.! 2. Holloway was interested in taking SEB in the summer, he has not so now, just like him being linked with us it is speculation/rumour no more that that he has a deal lined up with Palace in January, an awful lot can happen between now & then. 3. I dont think this potential deal is that simillar to DJ after all SEB has been injured for most of this year so far, he clearly does need to get/prove his fitness before any longer term deal would be offered, by us or anyone else. 4. I hope we do take him on a short term deal, if it goes well offer a longer term deal in January then it is up to him.!
I'd certainly welcome the signing, he's got decent pedigree at this level. Even if he's not that clinical finisher, IMO he will bring another dimension to our play which none of our strikers offer currently, that will to get in the penalty box and play on the shoulder of the last defender. I think a deal until the end of the season would be a good one for the club and the player and it seems to be one which we are looking at atm, we don't really want another NRC situation but I doubt Mick will take any messing around from a player, especially as he's managed him before. We don't want to be used as a stepping stone by the player, so a deal until the end of the season means he can't leave us in January if he suddenly hits form but if it takes longer for him to hit form then the player at least has a contract until the end of the season, by which point if things have gone well we will have hopefully negotiated a new contract. I do see what Tractorbhoy is saying though and for me it's a problem I mentioned last season with having McGoldrick in the team, even though he's a great player. Problem is when he's in the team we always lack something upfront, if he's played with a target man (Lee or Murphy) we then lack that player to run on the shoulder of the last defenders and be in the right place at the right time. But then if we were to play him with someone upfront like SEB or Chopra we then lack a target man to play the long ball to or someone to attack the crosses which come in the box and this is vital to the way Mick wants to play and how we have played so far this season, alot of our goals have come from Cresswell crosses. In a way McGoldrick isn't a Mick type signing because I think he is the kind of player to play in a team who play tippy tappy football. But it would be a nice problem to have and if Lee keeps his fitness I think the 4 of Lee, Taylor, McGoldrick and SEB would be a good forward line and offer us some decent options. No doubt currently McGoldrick is our best player but I think possible Lee or Murphy playing up with SEB would be a more effective and balanced partnership. I'm tending to agree with JWM about Taylor, I think it's similar to the JET situation in that I'm not sure Mick is entirely comfortable with where to play him in a 442 particularly as we have McGoldrick who is very consistent in that position, whereas Taylor is a bit of a livewire and unpredictable and I'm not sure Mick is comfortable with unpredictable. But one think Taylor has got over JET is he certainly is tireless and tenacious, which I'm sure Mick looks at favourably. As for Hunt, I think he would improve us, particularly as he is proper winger but I doubt he will sign due to his wages and really although he is more suited to the wing he's quite similar to what we've got in that midfield, particularly Tabb.
Hoppers I agree with the points you make but I have to go back to my initial point about Evans and the way he is running the club as a whole! This does have the air of desperation about it! MM was saying in the Summer and it has been well documented that 'he is delighted with the squad' he has got (or words to that effect) and that he wouldnt be looking to bring in anyone else! Don't get me wrong, I am delighted if we can pull this deal off but I am still not convinced that we are moving in the right direction.
Oh ok... Wasn't aware of that. Personally I would be very surprised if that is in fact the case. I would imagine Palace will be looking to spend a bit if they need too in January rather than go down this route.
I would prefer to either bring someone in long term or persist with the players we have at the club...............but that said Mick knows better than me so will just see how it goes.
At least our lack of quality up front is being addressed if only in the short term, Im just a bit worried that this has been made public before the deals been done. MM clearly doesnt think that anyone we currently have can make the step up.
Sign SEB and play 3 up front. What's the worst that could happen?! Oh yeah, we'd become leakier than Delia
Joining thread a little late. But tag line I've seen on sky tonight ref SEB is a mutually beneficial deal. Read into that what you will.
Lets just get him signed up ( if the wages are right/ he's fit ) and then moan about the owners vision etc should he leave us in January. What are peoples thoughts on Hunt? Could add much needed balance to the left side.
Agree just sign SEB up, we can worry about January in 3 months time. Hunt, I think the chances of him signing are zip, would I like him to sign, yes he would do a good job in this league.
