Guess who?
Resident tfi mole Steve B has suggested that Lawrie Sanchez’s first signing is possibly going to be announced at the weekend. The player has agreed to join, the two clubs just have to agree a fee. Well, we can’t know a name at this point, but it’s not someone on the board’s radar. And - and this is the interesting bit - it’s a signing that Steve says will suggest the type of *person* Sanchez is going to sign.
Well. Does that mean he’s buying on character? Good or bad? For giggles, I went through some premiership squad lists and looked for people who were a) not particularly needed by their club or who might be available and b) had a character of sorts. Here is my list:
Jerome Aliadiere - I’m sure I remember something
El Hadji Diouf - general misdemeanors, mainly involving diving and/or spitting
Nicolas Ankelka - general
Joey Barton - general
Claude Davis - alleged razorblade misdemeanors against Adi Akinbiyi
Anton Ferdinand - general but extreme idiocy and offensive… aura
Lee Bowyer - evil
Carlton Cole - general idiocy
Marcus Bent - thug in appearance if not nature. Has played for very many clubs. Bad egg?
Sean Davis - !
Mido - general
Emile Heskey - “too nice”
Henri Camara - Bouba’s mate
Danny Shittu - huge person. Is that a type?
As you can see, I didn’t have much luck. It also shows me that very few footballers (in my eyes) have a famously affable personality. I was originally looking for famous leaders and things, but they’re really not there. Or are they? Anyway, the above list is just pie in the sky, but it’ll be interesting to see what comes to pass in the coming days. Silly season is upon us!
UPDATE: Steve says “The type of PERSON comment was made because it will show that LS wants real 110% commited players who the crowd will love……….aka Bullard” I don’t think he means aka Bullard, that would be weird, but there we are. So who now then? Damned if I know.
Funny thing “character”. Hard to define but you know it when you see it. For me, on the limited evidence of early season, Bullard is the ideal character - gumption plus real skill.
Every team needs one or two (or three) characters - but not eight or nine. I hope Sanchez is not trying to turn us into the Wimbledon of the oughties. If he is, I can tell him it won`t work. A team needs brain as well as brawn to stay in the Premiership these days. Bags of effort and the odd elbow are no longer enough. And if you don`t believe me, ask Watford and Sheffield Utd!
Wing Half
22 May 07 at 3:08 pm
Hello WH. Yeah, hard to know where he’ll turn next isn’t it? Richard Dunne?
Someone with pace and skill on the left wing would be nice too…
weltmeisterclaude
22 May 07 at 3:10 pm
Very funny list, but you forget Paolo DiCanio.
As I read your list, I was reminded of a line which Harvey Keitel’s character from the movie Pulp Fiction said (Mr. Wolf, I believe), “Just because you are a character, doesn’t necessarily mean that you have character.”
How bout Darren Bent or is he destined for a larger club?
George H.
22 May 07 at 3:52 pm
Na, Bent’s going to cost a fortune unfortunately. I have no idea who it’ll be, Richard Dunne or someone. I’m increasingly thinking we’ll land Emile Heskey though. Not sure why.
weltmeisterclaude
22 May 07 at 5:27 pm