We've made the move to Neil, now, so if he thinks Andreu can offer something more to what we already have, then I think we should go along with that. After all, he knows Andreu much better than we do. It would be great if the YouTube clips would show more of the all round play rather than just the goals. His scoring rate is good though, even for a stiker, and he does seem quite clinical in front of goal. Perhaps that's why we could afford to let Lafferty go.
If Dorrans comes as well, with Lafferty the only one leaving, then I agree that this could prove to be a very good window after all. Hope it's true.
To be honest, I'm with Carrabuh. Nothing about Andreu that really excites me much. Don't get me wrong, if he replicates his Scottish League form for us then I will be delighted, but I'm not holding up any hopes. I understand why Neil has bought him, but I think he'll only be a squad player and to assume he is the sort that will make or break promotion is expecting too much of him. We have plenty of players who, if they play to their level with the rest of the team, should win us promotion. I don't see Andreu making much difference albeit that I by no means think he's pointless. A fit, in form Dorrans, I feel is a much safer bet for helping us for the final push.
Who'd have thought Grant Holt would've set Carrow Road on fire the way he did when Gunny signed him? Not saying he'll be the next Holty but who knows....
The Mirror is reporting this morning that Dorrans will be allowed to join Norwich. Not sure if this is a permanent deal as, I presume we lodged his details with the f.a., and a fee has been agreed, of whether it will be a loan. Good news if true.
I remember we were all thrilled when we signed the Belgian but he didn't do much in the few games he played in & is another one that takes ages to recover from injury. I hope he gets back in the squad & starts showing his undoubted class. Seems crazy that with the number of midfielders in our squad we had to chuck Whittacker in .
I'm surprised a bit by this negativism about a player who came up through the Monaco youth system and has a decent career history (he and Dorrans both played at Livingston) and 13 goals in 23 matches (two as sub) in the SPL is worth noting. Other than that and the fact that Neil knows him and wants him here, what do we actually know about him? If he scored at half that rate down here, it would still be good for a striker, never mind a midfielder. Dorrans is a good player, but he's only scored 9 goals in his last 100 games. Admittedly that's in the EPL, but 1-3 goals a season is hardly 'exciting'. I know there are other aspects to consider, but why don't we have a look at Andreu in a City shirt before we start dismissing him as a 'squad player'.
Sorry - I appreciate it looks like negativism but that's not my intention. All I mean is that I see no reason to hype up expectations of Andreu, partly because I know so little about him. We have a particularly dangerous habit of hyping up new signings, like RvW, and then it comes back and bites us. My expectations for Andreu are just simply that he looks like a tidy acquisition to add good depth to our squad. If he can replicate his Scotland form, that would obviously be amazing, but I don't expect him to be able to do that. But don't let that make you think I think he's a bad signing, I don't. He's a gamble, but a pretty good gamble when compared to shelling out £8m on RvW so if it doesn't work out at least it won't be so expensive. Dorrans, because I know a bit more about him and don't view the pure goal statistic as so important, is the safer bet for me. Of course, it still might not work out there either or he may indeed just be a squad player. But my expectations are higher with him, so definitely have more to lose.
Just read on the EDP website that we may delay the Dorrans loan deal until the end of Feb, as by doing so he'd be available to play in any play-off games and the final on May 25th (max loan is 93days). "But given the longest spell City could bring in a player for is 93 days, plus the increasing likelihood the Canaries’ promotion hopes will rely on a play-off berth and May 25 final, they may hold fire until the end of February before making a move." http://www.edp24.co.uk/sport/norwic...loan_move_from_west_bromwich_albion_1_3943109
Fair enough Rob. I agree about not 'hyping up' expectations about new players and I certainly don't want to do that, but we do need further options at AM and the fact that we could have two new players there is good. Andreu also seems to be versatile and I wonder if he might add to the wide options as well. I suppose the hope that we may have found a goal-scoring AM for £1m makes the gamble that much more exciting for me. None of us expected Jerome to settle in and score the way he has been, so the fact that perhaps we might have found another such bargain tempts me. At £4m, Dorrans will carry higher expectations.
Thats assuming of course that we haven't blown our chances of a play off place by the end of February.
Christ, it doesn't take a lot to impress you if you consider that comment "brilliant" or even in the slightest part amusing
It did highlight the dilemma that Neil and McNally are facing though, Munky, especially considering that we face Wolves, Watford and Blackburn in February.
Four points from Watford and Blackburn I hope. We are better away from home, especially against the better sides where they take the game to us. While I said I am not going to get excited about Andreu until I've seen him, if he can finally be the answer to our three-season long problem of unlocking well-organised counter-attacking teams I will be over the moon...
