Saw highlights, and it was mostly Newcastle. The one Maritimo chance was a poorly defended corner. Maritimo... just two years ago since Sporting Fingal (now 'sadly' departed, RIP) put it up to them. I guess they must have improved since then. Not sure if it was his first start or not. I guess it probably was, unless he played in a cup last season.
Last season he played against Nottingham Forest in the Carling Cup, so tonight wasn't his debut. Delighted that he's getting a chance.
I had to google this to understand it. Fingal is a kindof a place in Ireland. Yeah, they went bust, but they were a pretend club anyway. They appeared for about 4 years with a budget that was outside of their capabilities, and with that budget, won a Cup title and qualified for Europe via the league, but then they disappeared again. I know folk will say the same about Dundalk if/when the club folds, but at least Dundalk have some history and haven't been buying success on the field.
Oh Alan Pardew - noticed he told the world yesterday that Demba Ba still has a £7million buy out clause. Idiot.
True this but he is young. Think we have lowered the age we expect goalkeepers to mature at based on the rare maturity of Hart at 25. I recall a stastic that I have just found again online that is: In the last 30 years, the average age of the first choice goalie in the team who has won the Premier League or the old First Division title is 31.3 years old. (And an even higher 32.7 just in Premier League years). In fact, 57% of such goalkeepers have been over 30, and 87% were aged 27 or older. So let's give him time. Think as has been said Hamer has had a great career path. League One now at Championship level. Certainly got the right path, just down to him to make the most of it.
Footballers have a limited shelf life, and without knowing Elliott's circumstances, this might be an unfair comment. Greed is rife in the game we love, especially among the top earners that refuse to sign their £5m a year deal because someone else is offering £6m, but it's different at this level. Before I had a family I would probably have taken a pay cut to stay at the club I love, but once the ankle-biters come along, the whole game changes. Hell, I'd probably move to Newcastle, get on all fours and be the bloody bench if it meant that I would earn more money in my limited career.
I think Robbie's deal was worth over £2.6m over 5 years whereas we were probably offering him @£600k over 3 years. I love Charlton and it was my dream of playing for them..... but..... I know which deal I would have accepted
Maybe in reality it would be different but I like to think I wouldn't have even considered joining Newcastle if I was Robbo. Leaving the club he had supported for his whole life, the only club who accepted his request for a trial when he was a little 'un, in order to join a manager who never game him a chance at Charlton.
