I don't think we were ever seriously linked with him, there were just a few on here who suggested him as a loan option. Obviously he's on fire this season, but he showed little sign of that being likely ahead of this season.
I'm pretty smug around my mates at the moment, they all said he was ****, however I said he was gonna come good.
It all goes to show how valuable a striker/ attacking coach is at a club. For me we not only need one to re-educate our strikers in some of the basic disciplines of their role, but also to advise Bruce on forward targets.
Boyd was a strange sale to a relegation rival, and I'm not sure that's just on hindsight. He really wasn't that bad for us anyway.
I agree, some people (Brady is another) haven't easily got in the team despite looking decent. While others like Huddlestone kept their place just on reputation.
I'm the same with De Gea, when he started at United and was getting slated every week I said to my mates that he'd develop into a top 3 keeper in the world and was ridiculed for it.
I just told my mates I wasn't remotely interested in the current or future form of Manchester United and Tottenham players. But that's just me.
12 mil for Long and his (or should I say his wife's) willingness to go made it good business. Boyd tried hard and akwats gave 100% but when you marry the money received for who we brought in with it then I have to say I'm happy with the decision made. As soon as a probkem was flagged up on Austin the club were right to walk away, let's not forget 'arry got him for half the price we'd agreed due to the potential injury highlighted. Personally couldn't crib about any of the three decisions, injuries happen in football, we're just experiencing a particularly bad run, which is just the rub of the green, but certainly couldn't have been anticipated before the decisions on these three deals were made.
Agree 100%. Our new assistant should be known for his attacking knowledge for many reasons including assessing talent in this area of the field.
Not at all on all 3 of them. Long is doing nothing overall for Southampton. Certainly not worth the £12.5m we got for him. Boyd again was sold for good money and other than injuries would not get a look in here. Glad he is doing well for Burnley mind. Austin is one bad knee injury away from the scrap heap. Without Austin Dqpr would be almost down now. At the time all these deals were done none of them were a mistake. It was great business for us.
