bigmick wrote:I know very little about the bloke but trust the decision of the manager, especially given he has chased the bloke for the best part of two years. One thing that has impressed me greatly is the way in which both the Fijanoord (god knows how you spell it) fans and management have been quick to pay tribute to Kuyt's attitude and professionalism. It seems that whatever his football ability, we are picking up a player who is keen to do the right thing on the pitch, and whose application and team ethic is beyond question.
If we compare the acquisition with the last couple of times we paid huge money for strikers the starkness of the contrast couldn't be more pronounced. We paid 10 mill' for Diouff, seemingly on a whim and a prayer. An untried and unproven maverick of a footballer who disappointed almost from day one, his lack of potential as an out and out front man was matched only by the disgusting way in which he conducted himself in a red shirt.
He was followed by the hapless Cisse. This time there had been more research and we were assured that we were buying a real gem. There were flashes of individual brilliance from the Frenchman, glimpses of lung bursting searing pace but precious little in terms of team play, of game appreciation. Selfishness and petulant sulking came in equal measure every game and it was hard to escape the notion that nobody had bothered their erse to ask about the quality of the man not the footballer. Was he one you'd want on your side in the trenches, one to take up the mantle for his teammates in a battle?
Nothing in life is certain and even less in football. Nobody can guarantee that the new man will be value for money, a prolific goalscorer or become a legend in the red shirt. I quite like the fact though that at least we are buying somebody who comes with a character reference. We can at last be certain that he will he will contribute to the team ethic with his work and application, that ultimately he will try his best. Of this it seems we can be certain, and in that and our managers judgement I am happy.
Couldn't agree more mick.....
Which is why I still have serious doubts bout Bellamy and Pennant.... I'm just praying the bubble doesn't pop and the beasts within these 2 don't come out and smear the red shirts with tar....
Of course I trust in Rafa and I'll support them until proven wrong but me gut's telling me otherwise....
