Hammond: His lower-league career history

[Been there done that]

He divides opinion certainly! 95% of Blades think he's terrible & 5% think he's average (on a good day).

Yes, he's a 'Premiership player' by virtue of being a squad player at Leicester & part of the miracle that they experienced to stay up last season.

But....he looks like a bang average, jobbing, lower league midfielder, and has done since his first game for us. We are told he wasn't fully fit when he joined? Ok, but presumably he's up to speed now? Unfortunately, that speed is very very slow, & when combined with obviously limited technical ability, it makes for the type of performances we get from him week in week out.

Perhaps we are expecting too much? Well, maybe so, but for a loan player on Premiership wages, then aren't we entitled to get more value for our money?

The truth is, Dean Hammons always has been a lower league player as a simple search of his career history shows.

He started out at Brighton, when they were a bit shit in Leagues 1, with a couple of seasons in Championship (20th, & then relegated & bottom in 2005-6) In 2007-8, Brighton finished 18th in League One. For two years they were managed by Dean Wilkins (note the name), the brother of Ray 'the crab' Wilkins. Presumably the square passing instincts ran in the family?

In 2008 Hammond moved to.......COLCHESTER! They finished mid table League One.

After one season, he was signed by Southampton (now managed by Dean Wilkins), & still in League One.
Southampton's rise through to the Prem is well documented, & it could be argued that with the amount of future superstar Saints players either there, or to be signed, or coming through the ranks (Lambert, Lallana, Oxlade-Chamberlain, Schniederlin, Puncheon, Fonte,etc) the phrase "right place, right time" could well be applied..... Some say this is also applies in Adkins case, as he joined shortly after?

Fast forward to today & we have the same Dean Wilkins as coach, & our Nigel as manager, still believing that a primarily League One career player can still hack it at this level, at the age of 33, when the game as a whole has moved on in leaps & bounds since he was trundling around (in his prime) at Brighton, Colchester & Southampton.

Surely to God, we can't actually sign him this summer.....can we?

 

[Billyblade]

via Imgflip Meme Maker

 

[Lord Bos of Eckington.]

He divides opinion certainly! 95% of Blades think he's terrible & 5% think he's average (on a good day).

Yes, he's a 'Premiership player' by virtue of being a squad player at Leicester & part of the miracle that they experienced to stay up last season.

But....he looks like a bang average, jobbing, lower league midfielder, and has done since his first game for us. We are told he wasn't fully fit when he joined? Ok, but presumably he's up to speed now? Unfortunately, that speed is very very slow, & when combined with obviously limited technical ability, it makes for the type of performances we get from him week in week out.

Perhaps we are expecting too much? Well, maybe so, but for a loan player on Premiership wages, then aren't we entitled to get more value for our money?

The truth is, Dean Hammons always has been a lower league player as a simple search of his career history shows.

He started out at Brighton, when they were a bit shit in Leagues 1, with a couple of seasons in Championship (20th, & then relegated & bottom in 2005-6) In 2007-8, Brighton finished 18th in League One. For two years they were managed by Dean Wilkins (note the name), the brother of Ray 'the crab' Wilkins. Presumably the square passing instincts ran in the family?

In 2008 Hammond moved to.......COLCHESTER! They finished mid table League One.

After one season, he was signed by Southampton (now managed by Dean Wilkins), & still in League One.
Southampton's rise through to the Prem is well documented, & it could be argued that with the amount of future superstar Saints players either there, or to be signed, or coming through the ranks (Lambert, Lallana, Oxlade-Chamberlain, Schniederlin, Puncheon, Fonte,etc) the phrase "right place, right time" could well be applied..... Some say this is also applies in Adkins case, as he joined shortly after?

Fast forward to today & we have the same Dean Wilkins as coach, & our Nigel as manager, still believing that a primarily League One career player can still hack it at this level, at the age of 33, when the game as a whole has moved on in leaps & bounds since he was trundling around (in his prime) at Brighton, Colchester & Southampton.

Surely to God, we can't actually sign him this summer.....can we?

Majority of Blades fans would not sign Hammond for obvious reasons . However it will be Adkins shout , and no doubt will be signed to bring stability , professional , and character back into the dressing room . Hammond fella doesn't seem a leader of men , but if we are having a mixed bag of youth , then experience is a must .

As discussed before its down to whether or not us fans feel we are getting value for money from Hammond .

Player coach job on the way , and if we are backing Adkins , we have to trust his judgement on all in comings / outgoings .

We need a midfield who don't have a disability blue badge on there car window screen. Some good young urns around Hammond and the bloke will look a different player .



UTB

 

[BushBlade]

I think Pardew was manager when Saints signed him.

Right place right time at both Southampton and Leicester. That's lucky.

 

[GRUMPY BLADE]

. Some good young urns around Hammond and the bloke will look a different player .



UTB

Bollocks

Speed was a yard short and five times the player Hammond ever was.

slow = slow, even Dr Marc Bonar can't change that.

Get shut please Nigel.

 

[Woodwardfan]

I'd prefer Michael Doyle to Dean Hammond anytime.

Doyle is no world-beater and he is just 18 months older than Hammond but Nigel Adkins believe me when I say that I noticed all that work Doyle did off the ball, all the mileage he put in, how many balls he won, all the aggression he had, how relatively mobile he was, how he got into the final third when we needed goals.

Doyle has that sort of body and personal commitment to his profession that help him to get up and down the field and last 90 minutes every game as he is doing at Portsmouth - always on the team-sheet and rarely substituted.

Forget Hammond, bring Doyle back instead. I'm not serious but surely we can't seriously be signing Hammond on a contract. Any footballer who signs a contract should be fit enough to finish games, not get booked every game and as a midfielder should occasionally play a forward ball, assist team goals and score goals every now and again (OK he scored at Southend).

 

[TJB.]

The decision on his future is quite possibly the biggest test of the gaffer's tenure so far.

One would imagine that, with his contract being up at the end of the season, there was some form of gentlemen's agreement when he arrived on loan. This was probably made in good faith that Mr. Hammond could still perform to the same standards which he had under Mr. Adkins. Naivety on Nige's part? Possibly, but we needed a bit of strength in midfield and, despite the fact that every other move he makes is a foul, you can't argue that he's not beefed us up when we were lightweight in midfield. He was crap from the get-go, but at least he got stuck in a bit, and at the time there weren't many of our lot doing that.

Nige has said he likes attractive, quick, attacking football and you'd guess that that's what he wants to play here once he gets chance to build a squad. Any starting XI with Hammond in it is going to be substantially slower. His legs are going. Only about 1 in 5 passes is actually any good and his disciplinary record is that of a man who has lost a yard of pace over the past year or longer. 29 appearances, 73 fouls and 12 yellow cards! Guaranteed 2 or 3 fouls per game.

I'm tempted to say that I'm alright with him coming as long as it's on a free and he's on drastically reduced terms, but I'm not sure that's true. Head says he'll be fine as backup. Heart says I don't want him here because he's old and slow and bobbar at football.

 

[Lord Bos of Eckington.]

Bollocks

Speed was a yard short and five times the player Hammond ever was.

slow = slow, even Dr Marc Bonar can't change that.

Get shut please Nigel.

I actually don't rate him , but if he is part of Adkins bigger plan than so be it . Some players in the team even make Brayford look a twat , so I am willing to give Hammond the benefit of doubt .

He will sign on a free and it's up to Adkins . If it works great , if it doesn't Adkins shoots himself in the foot and his judgement is questioned.

We either sack Adkins or get off our high fucking horses and support the bloke.

UTB

 

[bornablade]

I'd prefer Michael Doyle to Dean Hammond anytime.

Doyle is no world-beater and he is just 18 months older than Hammond but Nigel Adkins believe me when I say that I noticed all that work Doyle did off the ball, all the mileage he put in, how many balls he won, all the aggression he had, how relatively mobile he was, how he got into the final third when we needed goals.

Doyle has that sort of body and personal commitment to his profession that help him to get up and down the field and last 90 minutes every game as he is doing at Portsmouth - always on the team-sheet and rarely substituted.

Forget Hammond, bring Doyle back instead. I'm not serious but surely we can't seriously be signing Hammond on a contract. Any footballer who signs a contract should be fit enough to finish games, not get booked every game and as a midfielder should occasionally play a forward ball, assist team goals and score goals every now and again (OK he scored at Southend).

My opinion of Monty is the same as your opinion of Doyle. He had his negatives but he always gave 100%. The play off final against Burnley in particular sticks in my mind. Doubt there was a blade of grass Monty didn't cover that day. Desperate to do well for the Blades.

Today's set up - it's the general work ethic that I miss most.

 

[Woodwardfan]

My opinion of Monty is the same as your opinion of Doyle. He had his negatives but he always gave 100%. The play off final against Burnley in particular sticks in my mind. Doubt there was a blade of grass Monty didn't cover that day. Desperate to do well for the Blades.

Today's set up - it's the general work ethic that I miss most.

Couldn't agree more and know what, Monty had one of his best seasons in the Premier League where the players like time on the ball. He chased and harried them all game long and they didn't like it. Trouble is Monty defied the law of averages with the ball as he found the opposition far more often than not.

I've watched him a bit playing Aussie football and he's slowed himself down and plays well within himself, still fit though.

Hammond does that, plays within himself when on the ball and seems incapable or unwilling of quickening or altering his game when more is called for.

Take that recent Southend defeat, if Doyle and Monty had been playing for us that last 20 minutes there would have been no chance of such a submissive reaction. FFS the only bloke ruffling feathers was their bearded midfielder and they were winning, that is hard to bear.

 

[Finn Keane o' Balmaqueen]

If Hammond was any good, nobody would be eulogising over Doyle and Montgomery.

Now, was it Zinedine Montgomery or Johan Doyle?

 

[BushBlade]

If Hammond was any good, nobody would be eulogising over Doyle and Montgomery.

Now, was it Zinedine Montgomery or Johan Doyle?

When Doyle was here (until the cockney walk) there were frequent posts about how Doyle was a poor man's Monty. Who in turn was a poor man's Booker. Who wasn't as good as Trevor Hockey....,

 

[Been there done that]

The decision on his future is quite possibly the biggest test of the gaffer's tenure so far.

One would imagine that, with his contract being up at the end of the season, there was some form of gentlemen's agreement when he arrived on loan. This was probably made in good faith that Mr. Hammond could still perform to the same standards which he had under Mr. Adkins. Naivety on Nige's part? Possibly, but we needed a bit of strength in midfield and, despite the fact that every other move he makes is a foul, you can't argue that he's not beefed us up when we were lightweight in midfield. He was crap from the get-go, but at least he got stuck in a bit, and at the time there weren't many of our lot doing that.

Nige has said he likes attractive, quick, attacking football and you'd guess that that's what he wants to play here once he gets chance to build a squad. Any starting XI with Hammond in it is going to be substantially slower. His legs are going. Only about 1 in 5 passes is actually any good and his disciplinary record is that of a man who has lost a yard of pace over the past year or longer. 29 appearances, 73 fouls and 12 yellow cards! Guaranteed 2 or 3 fouls per game.

I'm tempted to say that I'm alright with him coming as long as it's on a free and he's on drastically reduced terms, but I'm not sure that's true. Head says he'll be fine as backup. Heart says I don't want him here because he's old and slow and bobbar at football.

29 appearances, most of them completely forgettable, & in many of them hes been subbed off, mainly (probably) cos he'd been booked & therefore becomes a liability for a red due to his lunging tackling.

 

[Been there done that]

29 appearances, most of them completely forgettable, & in many of them hes been subbed off, mainly (probably) cos he'd been booked & therefore becomes a liability for a red due to his lunging tackling.

And......we still haven't forgotten the last-minute totally unnecessary sliding tackle(?) at Old Trafford that cost the club reply revenue of approx. £1m.

 

[sitwell]

How many coaches is Adkins going to recruit to deflect blame away from himself ?

 

[Alfreton14Blade]

Player coach job on the way , and if we are backing Adkins , we have to trust his judgement on all in comings / outgoings .

 

[Ricky]

It is a worthwhile thread to point out that Hammond's pedigree isn't quite as good as is assumed. He's barely played in the Premier League - even Southampton (Adkins) loaned him to Brighton after they were promoted - and has spent most of his career in the third division or at the bottom end of the Championship.

He did seem to establish himself more in his late twenties but how much of that was due to being surrounded by players too good for League One at Southampton and the subsequent momentum they built going into the Championship?

I think we all saw his two promotions with Southampton and Leicester and assumed he was a good player at Championship level. Leicester will have done the same after seeing him play a part in Southampton's promotion. I suppose sometimes average players get carried along in decent teams and can be effective in certain circumstances, especially those with a good mentality as Hammond seems to have.

I have no doubt Hammond had something about him and was considerably better than he is now, but I don't think he was ever as good as most of us assumed when we signed him.

 

[blades78]

And......we still haven't forgotten the last-minute totally unnecessary sliding tackle(?) at Old Trafford that cost the club reply revenue of approx. £1m.

Add on the approx £500k on loan fees and wages for him.

Hammond is regularly getting subbed, either because he's knackered or close to being sent off. Surely, Adkins is thinking that Hammond is not up to it anymore.

 

[Ricky]

The consolation with the £1m or so he cost us at Old Trafford is that we wouldn't have spent it on the squad anyway.

 

[blades78]

He's been subbed 4 times in his last 7 appearances.

 

[Lord Bos of Eckington.]

It is a worthwhile thread to point out that Hammond's pedigree isn't quite as good as is assumed. He's barely played in the Premier League - even Southampton (Adkins) loaned him to Brighton after they were promoted - and has spent most of his career in the third division or at the bottom end of the Championship.

He did seem to establish himself more in his late twenties but how much of that was due to being surrounded by players too good for League One at Southampton and the subsequent momentum they built going into the Championship?

I think we all saw his two promotions with Southampton and Leicester and assumed he was a good player at Championship level. Leicester will have done the same after seeing him play a part in Southampton's promotion. I suppose sometimes average players get carried along in decent teams and can be effective in certain circumstances, especially those with a good mentality as Hammond seems to have.

I have no doubt Hammond had something about him and was considerably better than he is now, but I don't think he was ever as good as most of us assumed when we signed him.

Don't think the majority of us fans knew him from Adam or how good or bad he was . It was Adkins who kept harping on about him , and how glad he was to get him signed on loan.

Either Adkins is a bad judge on players these days or he is desperate . Whichever , he is in charge at the lane and we cannot do a lot about it .

Is Hammond a mirror of Adkins , bang average , no idea , but both have a lot to prove .

UTB

 

[Bladesman]

When Doyle was here (until the cockney walk) there were frequent posts about how Doyle was a poor man's Monty. Who in turn was a poor man's Booker. Who wasn't as good as Trevor Hockey....,

We get rid of a player and replace them with someone even worse. It's quite impressive that we manage to do that everytime, you would think one day by chance we would land someone better even on a free transfer.

 

[BushBlade]

We get rid of a player and replace them with someone even worse. It's quite impressive that we manage to do that everytime, you would think one day by chance we would land someone better even on a free transfer.

It's even more remarkable when you consider how many players we've signed since Warnock left. But less remarkable when you look at the managers we've had.

 

[Bugboyblade]

The problem I see with Hammond was the hype surrounding him. He was the man who was going to solve our CM problems and he hasn't . All this about him being a premiership player doesn't help. He's a ageing squad player from a premier league club. I think maybe if he'd come from say Bury or Colchester we wouldn't be so critical of him. We've signed older players before but the likes of Cowans, McCall or Speed but they were a better class of player who may have lost a yard of pace but not their footballing brain. Mr Adkins obviously likes him and I think he will sign him and make him skipper.

 

[BushBlade]

The problem I see with Hammond was the hype surrounding him. He was the man who was going to solve our CM problems and he hasn't . All this about him being a premiership player doesn't help. He's a ageing squad player from a premier league club. I think maybe if he'd come from say Bury or Colchester we wouldn't be so critical of him. We've signed older players before but the likes of Cowans, McCall or Speed but they were a better class of player who may have lost a yard of pace but not their footballing brain. Mr Adkins obviously likes him and I think he will sign him and make him skipper.

I don't really understand how he's been labelled a PL player when he's played there about twelve times. IMHO you're a PL player if you play a significant part of your career there, not just a few games.

The hype didn't help and Adkins talks far too much, he needs to STFU a bit, but my mate who is a Leicester fan was texting me to say what a good signing he'd be for us so it's not just Adkins who rates him.

There's an argument that he might not now be good enough and although I don't believe it to be the case, I won't argue against it, against people who've seen him play every game, as it's subjective as much as factual but to start pretending he's always been a bit crap is, in my opinion, disingenuous thundercuntery.

 

[Bladesman]

I don't really understand how he's been labelled a PL player when he's played there about twelve times. IMHO you're a PL player if you play a significant part of your career there, not just a few games.

The hype didn't help and Adkins talks far too much, he needs to STFU a bit, but my mate who is a Leicester fan was texting me to say what a good signing he'd be for us so it's not just Adkins who rates him.

There's an argument that he might not now be good enough and although I don't believe it to be the case, I won't argue against it, against people who've seen him play every game, as it's subjective as much as factual but to start pretending he's always been a bit crap is, in my opinion, disingenuous thundercuntery.

So Monty has played more Premier League football than Hammond!

 

[BushBlade]

So Monty has played more Premier League football than Hammond!

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jordan_Stewart_(footballer,_born_1982)

 

[Bladesman]

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jordan_Stewart_(footballer,_born_1982)

Forgot about him!

Guess we can chuck Nosworthy in as well while we are talking about Premier League appearances. Some players really do just steal a living.

 

[finlaytheblade]

Majority of Blades fans would not sign Hammond for obvious reasons . However it will be Adkins shout , and no doubt will be signed to bring stability , professional , and character back into the dressing room . Hammond fella doesn't seem a leader of men , but if we are having a mixed bag of youth , then experience is a must .

As discussed before its down to whether or not us fans feel we are getting value for money from Hammond .

Player coach job on the way , and if we are backing Adkins , we have to trust his judgement on all in comings / outgoings .

We need a midfield who don't have a disability blue badge on there car window screen. Some good young urns around Hammond and the bloke will look a different player .



UTB

Agreed Bos if Adkins stays and I will be very surprised if he doasnt,then we have to trust him to build the squad as he sees it and if he thinks Hammond can do him a job ( he must have leadership skills or why was he captain at Brighton, Soton & Leicester ) so be it as his job rests on him getting these things right for next season . Regarding Hammond s history I did post the fact ( when he signed on loan ) that he wasn't a premiership player and a large part of his career has been spent in this division (recent seasons he's played mainly championship ) but as I said earlier Adkins and Wilkins rate him there jobs hinge on them getting t right. Nigel Pearson signed him for Leicester and gave him an extention for another year so he must rate him also.
This season was Hammonds last big pay day and his next contract wherever he is will fall in line with his age and the division he finds himself in.
If it's with us let's back him and whoever Adkins fields in our famous red and white shirts , surely the stripes will be back, next season, I have missed them !!!.

 

[BushBlade]

Forgot about him!

Guess we can chuck Nosworthy in as well while we are talking about Premier League appearances. Some players really do just steal a living.

It's like life really. Some people work hard and become successful, others work hard and don't. Some are so talented they don't need to work that hard. Some enjoy working hard and just do it regardless, others don't but push themselves to succeed and may take the foot off the pedal when they have and are financially secure.

Football would be a simple game if it were played by robots but it's not, it's played by people and people can be unpredictable, unreliable, lazy and mental.