Wickham

Given that Sol isn't on our books i'd would certainly be a shock! As for the others, if he wants them, take them. They will do him a job down there.

 

In all fairness, Andy Carroll didn't look that great at 18 years old. The Preston fans weren't impressed when he went there on loan. He managed to get into a bit of bother while he was there too.

But £10 million is still a gamble

 

Be nice if Perch/Loven/Routledge could be sold on to CH .. and Besty on loan for a season with a take back clause if we need him back at any stage .. still think he can do a job for us, but having him play regularly as well could be a good situation ..

 

Yeah, and that's why no one would have paid anything for him then. Now though, because he scored all those goals in the EPL and it was proven that he could be prolific in the top tier, he was sold for a huge fee.

Wickham hasn't shown anything, so I have no idea why these huge fees are being banded around. It's a gamble beyond comprehension because there is no shred of evidence whatsoever that he can cut it up here, and there's more evidence (so far) that he cannot. Someone may as well just pluck a teenage player out of the lower leagues at random and slap a £10mill price tag on.

 

All I know about him is from seeing him last game of the season year before this one when he scored in our 2-2 draw in the last minute and did a right little cocky **** celebration in front of me, well that and the media hype.
Apart from that I went onto the Ipswich board on the old 606 and the general consensus there was if a decent offer came in that they should accept it as they had what they thought a better prospect (whose name eludes me right now).
Has anyone actually seen him play more than one or two games to judge? Or is this another hyped young English player for the media to build up and then blame when he doesn't bring home the world cup with his other equally over-rated teammates?

 

All of what you say is very true and personally I would not want to gamble £10 million on him. However, anyone who can play at Championship level at 16/17 years old has got to have something about him. Whether he is capable of developing into a Premiership standard player, who knows. But like you, I would not gamble that much cash.

 

You say 'all those goals' but it was 11. It wasn't 'proven' that he could be prolific, but the potential was there. Michael Ricketts and Marcus Stewart did exactly the same yet people didn't throw stupid money at them.

I'd argue that £10mil for Wickham is no different to the £35mil paid for Carroll in terms of risk.

 

He's good at creating chances but from what I've seen he's not the greatest of finishers. So £10M is a huge gamble especially if they're expecting him to lead their attack next season ...

 

Anyone can play, but when it comes to being any good, it's a different story. Wickham has been thrown in the Championship at 17/18 years old, and he's got just 8 goals in 37 apps. Carroll got 17 goals in 39 apps in the CCC, albeit a bit older.

Wickham might find form and become a top class striker, but at the moment, there's not a shred of evidence that he can do anything like that in the top flight. It's madness.

Yes it was. 11 goals in 19 apps. It was proof that, on form, Carroll COULD score a lot of EPL goals with a top class app to goal ratio. Not much proof, but proof nonetheless.

I do think the price for him was ridiculous, but still, the evidence was there that he could do it. With Wickham though, there's zero evidence, and no evidence that he can even score in the Championship.

 

The 8 goals in 37 games doesn't really hold alot of weight as Keane played the lad on the LW for most of the season, so its not really fair to compare him goal scoring record against Carrolls who played the whole season up front

 

So why are people trying to pay £10mill for him as a striker when he's barely had any experience as a striker in the Championship? It doesn't make any sense at all.

 

The same reason Liverpool Paid £35m and £20m for Carroll and Henderson, over inflated prices for an english player that could be a great player, there taking a risk

 

I think Carroll needed another season. There have been so many one season wonders in the prem that it's difficult to say whether half a season can define you as a proven EPL goalscorer.

Marcus Stewart is a classic example, his first season in the EPL with Ipswich he got 19 goals, second season they got relegated he got 6 and then his first season with Sunderland he got 17.

 

I don't agree with you here. To say anyone can play at that level is ridiculous.

You are quoting Carroll's figures for our promotion year. When he was at Preston, at 18,(same age as Wickham) he couldn't hit a cow's arse with a banjo

 

Couldn't give a **** about Wickham

 

Why the **** are you commenting then?

 

Course they can. A manager decides to put a player in their Championship team and voilà, the player is playing in the Championship. Doesn't mean they're any good.

And exactly. That's why no one would have paid a penny for Carroll back then. Wickham can barely do much for a supposed striker too, so why is everyone wants to pay tons of cash?

It's a bit of a daft concept really. People seem to be insinuating that just because Carroll was **** at 18, but turned out great in the EPL, Wickham will be awesome because he's also **** at 18 but might become good.

You are right. However, in the world of football, you can only really go with what you've got. If I had to choose between a young player who has scored a few in the CCC, or a young player who has scored a few in the EPL, then I'd choose the EPL player. There's not much to go by, but there's just a little more evidence that he CAN score against some top class defenders and teams. With the other player, it's a pure gamble.

 

Yeah i'll go with you on that one. The difference will always be the price. It's Sunderland's money i spose.

 

Managers normally decide to put a player in their team because they think that they are good enough for that level. Very few players get to be picked to play at that standard of football at such a young age of 16 years old. Which would lead most people to believe that the lad must be pretty decent, especially as Ipswich have had several managers lately and they have all played the lad.

I am not insinuating that because Carroll was **** at 18, but turned out great in the EPL, Wickham will be awesome because he's also **** at 18 but might become good.

I am merely pointing out that you are saying that the lad's scoring record is not good, but neither was Carrolls at the same age and level.

I actually agree with you about Wickham's value, but I just disagree with some of your comments about the lad, bit too harsh.

 

Well i'm a Newcastle suppoter but live in Ipswich so know a bit about him.

In all fairness he hasnt played up front that often for town in full games.

He's either come off the bench or played on the wing so even though his goal talley doesnt look too impressive he hasnt played too many full games up front.

He's a good prospect for the future but i think another season in championship (with Chopra playing alongside side him) will prove what he has!