August 1, 2012 [h=1]Goldyâs Logic: calling Wolvesâ bluff on Fletcher, laughing at Steve Bruce[/h] please log in to view this image Stephen Goldsmith considers a yawn at Bruce's latest outburst A last word, from Stephen Goldsmith, on Tigers ungaggable new boss and a suggestion that calling Wolverhampton Wanderersâ bluff may not cost us the services of Steven Fletcher. As always, and to the annoyance of my friends, I made a series of predictions, in some cases more like theoretical requests, during last season and again once we had entered this pre-season limbo. These thoughts prbab, a recipe for bringing out the best and worst of the imagination. As tempting as it may be to start believing ridiculous stories that link us to players that weâd like to see wearing red and white next season, I kept my transfer suggestions to the realisitic, or maybe even boring, depending on your perception. More on the Sunderland transfer suggestion later. But if I may, I will just bring up one quick correct prediction that I did indeed make during pre-season. Now I donât gloat at this and, in fact, deliberately retreat from bragging about its accuracy since it was probably one that was made by every man and his dog. Rather than an incoming Black Cats transfer, It is was one involving that loveable ex-manager of ours, whose decision to sign his strikingly below-average son, following yet another release from a club, was as near to a certainty as you will ever see. When the dislikeable Alex Bruce inevitably starts to contribute to Hullâs conceding of easily avoidable goals, and with it draw âdaddyâs boyâ jibes from the crowd, we can all wait in anticipation for his Father to start blaming it on the fact the fans havenât taken to him because of his Leeds connections, or something else as patronising or inaccurate. While that development was a given, I can honestly say I never expected Bruceâs latest outburst, and with it all the nonsense that is his version of events, his now infamous theory as to what caused his departure. I had honestly felt that his cringeworthy ramblings had reduced his image, already a mess, to an unidentifiable wreckage, so much so that he would attempt to salvage it once he found work. Dignity from Steve? Not a chance. I wonât give this topic any more attention as it no longer deserves it and Jeremy Robson has covered all angles brilliantly anyway. Suffice to say that if I could speak to him directly and offer him PR advice, it would simply be: âSteve, ssssshhhhhhhhh.â Luckily, another development surfaced the day after Mr Bruceâs yawn-inspiring utterances, one that I had been hoping for all throughout last season. Unluckily, it seems it may drag on for some time yet. Anybody who has been subjected to any of my theories and predictions would confirm that Steven Fletcher has been a favourite of mine for some time. Not an obvious stand out performer, the ex Hibs man seems to be one of those well kept secrets that, once you are made aware of it, you wonder how you didnât realise the truth all along. A bit like the fact that Santa isnât real, or so they say. For any of those still undecided on Steven, or simply ignorant of his abilities, I simply draw you to two stats. Now, as John McCormick pointed out recently, stats donât always tell the full story, however these two I deem to be relevant. When a side play without the ball for large periods as weâve tended to under Martin OâNeill, itâs certainly handy if you have somebody who will convert any chance you may get. Fletcher finished second in the entire Premier League last season for the Clear Cut Chance conversion rate, behind only Frank Lampard whose penalties were included in his percentage. The tables and a little summary can be found by clicking here Add this to the fact that he scored the most headers in the division and this helps to make this case for him as the focal point Sessegnon and McClean have been missing so much. Once we add the delivery of Larsson (or his replacement) to the equation then they, too, should be licking their lips over just how many of their passes and crosses will turn into actual assists. While Bendtner was good at bringing others in to the game by dropping deep and keeping possession, his refusal to burst a lung in his desire to get back into the box was frowned upon (and then some) by a Sunderland crowd that has always demanded 100 per cent effort in every game, from every player. So is there a forward realistically within our reach who can do both? Well you see where Iâm going with this. Watch his second goal in Wolvesâ 2-1 home win against us for proof of him starting and finishing a move. So much to my delight the club made a £10m offer for Fletcher last week, only for the subsequent news to be that it was rejected. The latter piece of news surprised me if Iâm honest. While some people may think OâNeill has waited until funds were made available through exiting players before making this bid, I donât buy that as being the sole factor, and think he and Ellis Short have also shown an element of refusing to go in head first and too early, causing a cat and mouse saga potentially dragging out the entirety of the summer. Stale Solbakken will not want to start the season with a player he is resigned to losing, especially when he could start rebuilding with the funds. An earlier bid would have been a statement of intent, sure, but it would have played more into the hands of Wolverhampton Wanderers. For all Sir Niall Quinnâs brilliance and god-like work at the club, you feel he would have fallen into this particular transfer naievity. And as much as I was surprised that this generous offer was rejected, I am quietly confident if we call their bluff that their decision could be reversed. I also really hope Villaâs interest is dead in the water as some are reporting. Their apparent lack of funds can save us all from the now customary bigger, smaller or (realistically) equally sized clubs debate. Their interest would worry me on the grounds that he wouldnât have to up sticks and move. That would be an ironic geographically based reason for rejection as normally I doubt moving to the North East would bother a Scotsman. Scots tend to settle here quite well. A Scottish former colleague once told me Geordies and Mackems were just Scottish people with their heads kicked in. Maybe that could be our selling point? Thereâs no Iron Bru on draught in our pubs, so itâs as near a resemblance to Scotland I can muster. But I really, really hope this gets sealed. It will be the happiest Iâve been with a signing since that bloke who took a sideward step for extra gold. Darren somebody or other?
