That Dean Hammond..

[GrayBlade]

He wasn't so bad that he'd have failed a medical. He was just slow. He'd have probably got away with it if he'd have just sat in front of the defence and had a runner either side.

Possibly BB, if he could tackle cleanly, win headers and pass a ball, but for me he had absolutely nothing going for him, at least at this this stage of his career.

My point regarding the docs and physios was that they will have watched him run and timed him before he put pen to paper, and it's hard to imagine how it didn't raise a few eyebrows, assuming they'd looked at videos of him playing for Leicester. He never looked right from day one (in my opinion of course). Adkins more than anybody should have seen what he'd lost, which is why I think the whole deal, especially his 12 month extension option stinks mate.

 

[itsinyerblood]

Possibly BB, if he could tackle cleanly, win headers and pass a ball, but for me he had absolutely nothing going for him, at least at this this stage of his career.

My point regarding the docs and physios was that they will have watched him run and timed him before he put pen to paper, and it's hard to imagine how it didn't raise a few eyebrows, assuming they'd looked at videos of him playing for Leicester. He never looked right from day one (in my opinion of course). Adkins more than anybody should have seen what he'd lost, which is why I think the whole deal, especially his 12 month extension option stinks mate.

I'd concur with your opinion Gray, Hammond was either an acquisition of monumentally poor judgement, or Adkins judgement was so far off the chart that he was incapable of recognising a decent player if he tripped over one. Wilder has shown that it's possible to recruit quality players. Perhaps Adkins was drawn towards mediocre players, maybe he saw them as capable of being team players, but whatever the reasons behind his recruitment we looked ordinary and often poor. So much for his record of getting a couple of teams promoted, he'd clearly lost whatever magic he once possessed.

 

[Grappler]

Hard water mate

http://www.anglianwater.co.uk/_assets/media/12673_ANW_WQ_11_How_Hard_is_my_Water_(4)_SS.pdf

 

[Bladesman]

I'd concur with your opinion Gray, Hammond was either an acquisition of monumentally poor judgement, or Adkins judgement was so far off the chart that he was incapable of recognising a decent player if he tripped over one. Wilder has shown that it's possible to recruit quality players. Perhaps Adkins was drawn towards mediocre players, maybe he saw them as capable of being team players, but whatever the reasons behind his recruitment we looked ordinary and often poor. So much for his record of getting a couple of teams promoted, he'd clearly lost whatever magic he once possessed.

Billy Sharp is mediocre.

 

[GrayBlade]

Billy Sharp is mediocre.

Even a broken clock is.....

 

[Bladesman]

Even a broken clock is.....

Bit like these endless pointless threads on old news.

What about that Michael Higdon? I heard he is still shit.

 

[itsinyerblood]

Billy Sharp is mediocre.

There's an exception to almost every rule.

 

[Lazerblade]

Could you imagine being a Coventry fan. We take fleck off them and send Hammond as his replacement !

 

[The Crab]

Could you imagine being a Coventry fan. We take fleck off them and send Hammond as his replacement !

Thats what happens when you throw tennis balls. Sow the wind, reap the whirlwind

 

[Treeton Blade]

Hammond and Coventry have parted company.

Hammond has contacted Russell Slade, & told him he dosen`t think he can get up to speed for the demands of League One!

 

[Bladesman]

Hammond and Coventry have parted company.

Hammond has contacted Russell Slade, & told him he dosen`t think he can get up to speed for the demands of League One!

Where you erd dis pal?

 

[The Crab]

Where you erd dis pal?

'erd it from Lemony Snicket's Home for Hasbeen Footballers, for footballers whose reputation was bigger than their actual talent, he's booked into the Vinny Jones wing

 

[I should coco]

I'd concur with your opinion Gray, Hammond was either an acquisition of monumentally poor judgement, or Adkins judgement was so far off the chart that he was incapable of recognising a decent player if he tripped over one. Wilder has shown that it's possible to recruit quality players. Perhaps Adkins was drawn towards mediocre players, maybe he saw them as capable of being team players, but whatever the reasons behind his recruitment we looked ordinary and often poor. So much for his record of getting a couple of teams promoted, he'd clearly lost whatever magic he once possessed.

I think Adkins relied on the fact that Hammond had done it before for him at Southampton. He thought his 'character' and experience would be enough and obviously couldn't be arsed to do any scouting. Hammond's legs had gone and that was obvious to anyone.

We've had the 'wise older head' in midfield before and it has worked okay. Kammara, Cowans, McCall and Speed all made their experience tell and were very useful players for the short time they were here. From day one, Hammond never looked like joining that group.

If Adkins had swallowed his pride and just used Hammond doing his 'unseen work' on the training ground, he may have had more joy with the fans. The problem is that he refused to recognise the reality of the situation and tried to suggest we were stupid, by missing all the wonderful stuff Hammond did.

The saddest part is that at £14k per week last season and the £5k for the additional contract it's nearly another £1m spunked out of the club.

 

[Treeton Blade]

Where you erd dis pal?

It was on newsknow Coventry, from their local rag.

 

[The Crab]

It was on newsknow Coventry, from their local rag.

Did you see the clicky "Tennis Balls 5 for £1 at Sports direct"

 

[GrayBlade]

Bit like these endless pointless threads on old news.

What about that Michael Higdon? I heard he is still shit.

Forget Higdon, who the f*ck signed off £1.2m for Horsefield?

 

[BushBlade]

Possibly BB, if he could tackle cleanly, win headers and pass a ball, but for me he had absolutely nothing going for him, at least at this this stage of his career.

My point regarding the docs and physios was that they will have watched him run and timed him before he put pen to paper, and it's hard to imagine how it didn't raise a few eyebrows, assuming they'd looked at videos of him playing for Leicester. He never looked right from day one (in my opinion of course). Adkins more than anybody should have seen what he'd lost, which is why I think the whole deal, especially his 12 month extension option stinks mate.

It was a poor signing and a big error of judgement from Adkins but we've signed players before who haven't been particularly fit, like Shipperly and McGrath.

What I would question, is how involved are our owners or their representatives in the process. Someone obviously gave Adkins the green light. After Wallace and Hogdon you'd think we'd look at these things, particularly given the amount of money we spent on him. Or do we just give the manager a blank cheque and then whinge when it doesn't work out?

And no, I'm not saying they should be constantly interfering but at some point in their career every manager is told 'no, you can't have him'. How many magic beans will we buy before we realise there's no such thing as a magic bean?

 

[Sean Thornton]

I think Adkins relied on the fact that Hammond had done it before for him at Southampton. He thought his 'character' and experience would be enough and obviously couldn't be arsed to do any scouting. Hammond's legs had gone and that was obvious to anyone.

We've had the 'wise older head' in midfield before and it has worked okay. Kammara, Cowans, McCall and Speed all made their experience tell and were very useful players for the short time they were here. From day one, Hammond never looked like joining that group.

If Adkins had swallowed his pride and just used Hammond doing his 'unseen work' on the training ground, he may have had more joy with the fans. The problem is that he refused to recognise the reality of the situation and tried to suggest we were stupid, by missing all the wonderful stuff Hammond did.

The saddest part is that at £14k per week last season and the £5k for the additional contract it's nearly another £1m spunked out of the club.

Even at his peak Hammond shouldn't be mentioned in the same sentence as Cowans. As for when they played for us......

 

[Sean Thornton]

It was a poor signing and a big error of judgement from Adkins but we've signed players before who haven't been particularly fit, like Shipperly and McGrath.

What I would question, is how involved are our owners or their representatives in the process. Someone obviously gave Adkins the green light. After Wallace and Hogdon you'd think we'd look at these things, particularly given the amount of money we spent on him. Or do we just give the manager a blank cheque and then whinge when it doesn't work out?

And no, I'm not saying they should be constantly interfering but at some point in their career every manager is told 'no, you can't have him'. How many magic beans will we buy before we realise there's no such thing as a magic bean?

I'd guess Sharp and Hammond were the first names given to the board by Mad Nigel as part of his rebuilding plan. Trusting him initially has to be a necessity surely?

 

[davidblade]

It was a poor signing and a big error of judgement from Adkins but we've signed players before who haven't been particularly fit, like Shipperly and McGrath.

What I would question, is how involved are our owners or their representatives in the process. Someone obviously gave Adkins the green light. After Wallace and Hogdon you'd think we'd look at these things, particularly given the amount of money we spent on him. Or do we just give the manager a blank cheque and then whinge when it doesn't work out?

And no, I'm not saying they should be constantly interfering but at some point in their career every manager is told 'no, you can't have him'. How many magic beans will we buy before we realise there's no such thing as a magic bean?

The thing is players like McGrath may of been has been, but Hammond was never even been a has been.

 

[Sean Thornton]

The thing is players like McGrath may of been has been, but Hammond was never even been a has been.

 

[BushBlade]

I'd guess Sharp and Hammond were the first names given to the board by Mad Nigel as part of his rebuilding plan. Trusting him initially has to be a necessity surely?

No, working with him and listening to what he wants is a necessity. Scrutinising his potential signings isn't 'not trusting him'. If you took someone on, would you just hand him a couple of jobs for your best clients and leave him to get on with it or would you keep an eye on him until you were happy he knew what he was doing?

It doesn't have to be one extreme or the other.

 

[Sean Thornton]

No, working with him and listening to what he wants is a necessity. Scrutinising his potential signings isn't 'not trusting him'. If you took someone on, would you just hand him a couple of jobs for your best clients and leave him to get on with it or would you keep an eye on him until you were happy he knew what he was doing?

It doesn't have to be one extreme or the other.

I'd assume he assured them he did know what he was doing. Imagine if he'd wanted to sign Hammond and the board said, no and he'd walked. There'd be uproar, "what do the board know about football etc".

 

[BushBlade]

I'd assume he assured them he did know what he was doing. Imagine if he'd wanted to sign Hammond and the board said, no and he'd walked. There'd be uproar, "what do the board know about football etc".

Sometimes the board have to make unpopular decisions. He wouldn't have walked far before realising that after Reading his stock was starting to fall.

You've turned my specific point into a general one. What I said was that after he'd had his medical we should have had second thoughts. And then turned round and said 'he's fucking knackered Nige and we're not paying this much for him. We've been bit on the arse overpaying for players who haven't had the impact our manager promised, see that beardy bloke over there, and we've been bit on the arse signing crocks, see that bloke on crutches over there, or the fat cunt.
Now go and find someone who can fucking run around a bit.'

 

[Sean Thornton]

Sometimes the board have to make unpopular decisions. He wouldn't have walked far before realising that after Reading his stock was starting to fall.

You've turned my specific point into a general one. What I said was that after he'd had his medical we should have had second thoughts. And then turned round and said 'he's fucking knackered Nige and we're not paying this much for him. We've been bit on the arse overpaying for players who haven't had the impact our manager promised, see that beardy bloke over there, and we've been bit on the arse signing crocks, see that bloke on crutches over there, or the fat cunt.
Now go and find someone who can fucking run around a bit.'

Specifically, what did Hammonds medical show? Were the board appraised of the results? How much did NA demand we signed him?

Does anyone know or is it all supposition on your part ?

 

[Bladesman]

I'd guess Sharp and Hammond were the first names given to the board by Mad Nigel as part of his rebuilding plan. Trusting him initially has to be a necessity surely?

I thought Morsy was his main target along with Burn.

I got the impression we ended up with Hammond on loan around October time because we failed to land Morsy in the summer. I assume because Wigan had more cash to throw around than us no doubt.

 

[Sean Thornton]

I thought Morsy was his main target along with Burn.

I got the impression we ended up with Hammond on loan around October time because we failed to land Morsy in the summer. I assume because Wigan had more cash to throw around than us no doubt.

I may be wrong but I thought the Hammond pants down, sorry deal took some time to get over the line. Possibly because it took him a couple of weeks to complete the 100 m sprint in the medical.

 

[Grizzly blade]

Adkins gave his list of players to Brannigan. Adkins was trusted, Brannigan was authorised to get those players.

Players that were expensive. In essence, Brannigan did a good job, as he managed to find a way to get these players in the budget allowed by the board. His was not to question why, but to do or die. When the board realised Adkins was a chump it was too late, we were lumbered with his dross.

Adkins, and Adkins alone is responsible. He demanded his players, he made the calls on who he wanted. Thankfully, the plonker has gone. Interesting that his biggest achievement was at a club where they had a policy of identifying players for the manager to work with. Adkins biggest problem is that he thinks he is better than he is.

Anyway, sick of talking about the bloke. We have a man who knows what he is doing.

 

[Bladesman]

I may be wrong but I thought the Hammond pants down, sorry deal took some time to get over the line. Possibly because it took him a couple of weeks to complete the 100 m sprint in the medical.

Til October to get him on loan? We signed him around the time club were talking about reducing the spending in. It was not long after Mal Branningan got the boot which says it all really.

Then we didn't strengthen in January and the rest is history.

 

[Sean Thornton]

Til October to get him on loan? We signed him around the time club were talking about reducing the spending in. It was not long after Mal Branningan got the boot which says it all really.

Then we didn't strengthen in January and the rest is history.

My recollection, rightly or wrongly is that we were linked with him well before but that he was waiting to see if he had a role at Leicester.