:rant: :rant: :rant: RIGHT im starting to get really fecked off with the downbeat response to our dealings to date in the transfer market. We didnt need to sell any players and blackwell stated that, fine i accept this but lets look at the players that have left since the start of the year.
Alan Quinn - £600,000 to ipswich -
Robson was in charge and quinn was never going to get in the team. Robson didnt want him there so Quinny made the right move.
Leigh Bromby - £650,000 to Watford -
See above note, simply put he couldnt get in Robsons team.
Geoff Horsfield - RELEASED -
See top note and omit "Robson" in favour of "Everyone".
Chris Lucketti - Free to Huddersfield -
Again wasnt getting in the team and following the arrival of Ugo, never was gonna get in the team. Good move for him.
Rob Hulse - £1,750,000 to Derby -
Was never going to be the player he was after his injury. That and the fact that while injured the club brought in beattie who instantly became number one choice. They couldnt play together and he's moved to a club where he is straight into the first team. Oh how many goals has he scored by the way?
Luton Shelton - £1,000,000 to Valeranga -
Brought in with great promise, teased us with his pace and threatened without actually doing much. Again once Beattie arrived and sharp was there too he was never going to get a luck in, unless all our strikers were injured by which time we would be in trouble anyway.
So offset those with the players brought in since the start of the year:
Gary Speed - £250,000 from Bolton -
He is the midfield general. No doubts about it. Holds a presence both on and off the pitch that other players can learn from. Yeah he's had off moments but then which united player doesnt. It something that we all should be use to by now. He will commend the middle until such a time that he hangs his playing boots up and continues in the coaching staff where he will still have a positive effect on the team.
Ugo Ehiogu - Free from Rangers -
Probably a big surprise to most. definately to me. Wasnt sure that he would stick around, had an awful few first games and was obviously not fit or ready for match games. Blackwell comes in and hes a tower at the back. Probably not a guaranteed starting eleven player, but cover nonetheless. And QUALITY cover at that.
Sun Jihai - Free from Man City -
The utility man, a player that has played in pretty much most positions around the pitch. At the back in the middle he confident there. I was surprised by his signing, and to be completely honest was expecting him to be shipped off to chengdu without even seeing the inside of the changing rooms. But he has come in, and played a blinder. Touch is fantastic, confidence seeps out and at this very moment in time would be a strong contender for signing of the summer.
Greg Halford - Season Long Loan from Sunderland -
A name that has been knocked around for quite some time. Warnock wanted him more than once. He's here, been on the scoresheet, looks strong and can whip the throws in like bromby used to. So far been played on the right side but can cover easily enough at right back. May need to calm his aggression a little but depending on the agreed fee, at the end of the loan could be a bargain.
Darius Henderson - £2,000,000 from Watford -
They needed to sell and we bought. Widely regarded by many of the written press as one of the best strikers in the league. Had injury problems, but is back. Has got on the scoresheet allbeit at huddersfield (Which we needed). His success will all be determined by Blackwells prefered partnership up front. He's strong has the potential to be another QUALITY signing.
David Cotterill - Undisclosed from Wigan -
Just what we needed. Pace. Keef isnt the player he used to be, doesnt have the pace anymore although he can still put a good ball in, when his head is in the game. We all knew we needed someone like him, what he added at the end of last season was brilliant we all saw that. Not the finished article by any means but can already do the job we need him to do.
Matthew Spring - On Loan from Luton -
Havent seen much of him personally, but blackwell has included him in his teams where ever he has been. So he must have something to bring in. He signed him at leeds, and at luton and now here. Maybe he will work, maybe he will be cover and nothing more. Couldnt say, but he is here and its another player we have at our disposal who will no doubt be on the lower side of the wage bill.
So by and large i think that the players in out weigh the players out considerably.
Which ever way you look at it
in the last week
we have really weakened our squad
Armstrong, Stead, Tonge all gone with no one in
As for the latest players out of the door, weakened the squad i dont agree. I dont mean in any way that they werent an advantage to club, or that they werent good players, but i dont believe that we will miss them.
Armstrong - Transfered to Reading -
OK not the ideal move as far as we are concerned, a direct competitor to us but then most teams in the league could be classed as that. We all know how tight this league can be. A decent fee for him too. He wasnt getting in the squad as Naysmith was keeping him out. Inperspective an international player was keeping him out of the squad, funny that isnt it. Naysmith has had a good start to the season, another player who looks much fitter than he did before. Yes he may get injured, but then we have options to cover that anyway. SJH can play on the right to cover and in comes Del again. So i wish him well but not a loss that should be mourned over.
Stead - Loan to Ipswich -
A fantastic player, but more a supersub in recent times than a starting forward. No doubt he has commitment and drive and has been a fantastic servant of the club since his arrival. The goal against wigan on the last day of the season was evidence enough of that. Shame it wasnt enough. But lets face it with Beattie, Sharp and Henderson he was never going to be first choice, and he wanted games. So he's out on loan. Ipswich have an option to buy at the the end of that time (01/01/09). Doesnt mean they will, nor does it mean that we will sell. Although unlikely we may keep him, but if he is gauranteed starting lineup at ipswich then thats where he will stay. Best of luck to him.
Tonge - £2.5m to Stoke -
Has never regained the form from the cup playoff season. Teased a little at the end of last season but hasnt restarted the new season in the same way. Has lots of potential, but has needed a move to kickstart his career again. I know we dont have another player like him at the moment, but squinny has shown alot of promise so far and i think he will take up this position comfortably with the likes of carney covering the left side. Again best of luck to him but i think we all knew he needed a move.
Dont think we will miss them substantially. I may be proved wrong, they may come back to haunt us. Who knows!!
