Classic Bolton. Just when you think they’re having a good window they go and do something like that. Did they learn nothing from the Magennis transfer?
Ahadme isn’t good enough and letting him go in any way is a positive. But he’s clearly an honest pro who always gives 100% so if\when he goes he doesn’t deserve anything but good wishes.
He's the kind of player that would go there and get a dozen goals, a few assists heading it on to a strike partner and he'll go down as yet another target man striker that didn't work out at Charlton.
(Tucudean, Gray, the last season of Stockley, countless others)
Was never Ahadmes fault he cost so much, poor judgement from the powers that be to spend that much on him, hopefully he goes now and has a decent career at a league one level
No doubt Kelman will be motivated to have a very good season personally as well. Outside chance of making the USA squad for a home World Cup this time next year.
Surely there must be more to the hapless Ahadme than the forlorn stick insect who ran about earnestly as the fulcrum of Nathan's press-the-fcuk-out-of-the-oppo until they make a mistake gambit that morphed by dint of failure into a hoof it into the general direction of Gus strategy? When our season was transformed, following Nathan's abandonment of plan A and either:- lucking into a winning system with Small on the right, TC with licence to drift wide left and Godden again/ achieving success as a result of a natural tinkering process* (*delete as appropriate) Gus appeared to be scapegoated and consigned to the naughty step. I genuinely don't know what Nathan expected from Gus in that first half of the season. Maybe one of our many talented CL analysts could enlighten me. But I sure as hell can't believe, on the evidence, that we were playing to his strengths
I think he could well be a good signing for us but that fee if true is over the top.
Is it though? In today's market... a 23 year old who just scored 27 goals last season. How much did brentfors pay for Tony and market has gone bonkers since
He has 1 year left on his contract and has had 1 good season in his career.
I’m not saying he’s not a good signing, I actually think he’s a very good player and I’m glad we’re getting him but 3.5 upfront is too much in my opinion. I’d have expected it to be more like 2 mill upfront with add ons.
How nice is it to be having a debate about us overpaying for players after spunking 9 million 🤣
If I wake up tomorrow and find Bobby Ewing in the shower, I will realise this last few months has all been a dream and we are still languishing in League One.
Ahadme leaving is a real bonus - I thought we would have to take a hit on the wages and loan him out for at least this season. As much as he’s an honest pro, i genuinely couldn’t care less whether or not he goes on to have a decent career. Sick of seeing crap-mediocre players over the last 5/6 years and he’s very much up there with the Gilbey’s etc
I'm happy we've signed Kelman as we need a striker but if the fee is true then i think it's crazy. I totally get that he's young and we've bought him for the potential and the sell on value if he does well, but personally when we're in year one in the championship and looking to survive, if we've got that kind of money to spend on a striker then i think maybe spending half that and outbidding Wrexham for someone like Ryan Hardie would've been smarter. Go with someone tried and trusted to keep us up and then spend big next summer on a striker.
That said, i totally trust Jones and Chapple so if they think he's worth it, then who am i to question them?!
The suggested fee may be a bit high, but we do need a goal scorer and if not Kelman then who better was available to sign at a lower fee? Possibly no one.
I would like to see footage of you driving him there, no doubt you telling a younger and fitter bloke how crap you thought he was, and the reaction that would bring.
Not necessarily fitter, usually carrying an injury
I would like to see footage of you driving him there, no doubt you telling a younger and fitter bloke how crap you thought he was, and the reaction that would bring.
Yes, he might criticise Billyboy's driving, which would be very hurtful.
No doubt Kelman will be motivated to have a very good season personally as well. Outside chance of making the USA squad for a home World Cup this time next year.
That is a very good point friend. As an American, I hope we can be somewhat successful next Summer haha. Right now Kelman is pretty far down the depth chart: Pepi, Sargent, Wright, Agyemang(Though my God Derby overpaid) and Balogun also when he is at it, are all above him right now I would say. He will have to be quite exceptional for us(Hopefully so of course) for Pochettino to call him in. Regardless, I think NJ will get the best out of him if he does end up at the Valley.
Kelman is not necessarily a mirror of Godden. For instance,he got 5 assists in the league last season. Godden managed 1. And if he is to prosper goals wise I think our assist rate will have to significantly improve. He had good service from the likes of Gailbraith (6 assists), Donley (10) and Ageyei(8) I had assumed that Small and Campbell would've topped our assist tree but they didn't get near it. Small with 3 and Campbell only mustered 1! Edwards,Berry and the departed Aneke topped our list. Each with 5.
If Kelman is to prosper, the service from those around him will really need to pick up from last year.
Ahadme leaving is a real bonus - I thought we would have to take a hit on the wages and loan him out for at least this season. As much as he’s an honest pro, i genuinely couldn’t care less whether or not he goes on to have a decent career. Sick of seeing crap-mediocre players over the last 5/6 years and he’s very much up there with the Gilbey’s etc
Is he expected to leave on a permanent?
We could well still be taking a hit on his wages if it’s a loan to Bolton.
Ahadme leaving is a real bonus - I thought we would have to take a hit on the wages and loan him out for at least this season. As much as he’s an honest pro, i genuinely couldn’t care less whether or not he goes on to have a decent career. Sick of seeing crap-mediocre players over the last 5/6 years and he’s very much up there with the Gilbey’s etc
Is he expected to leave on a permanent?
We could well still be taking a hit on his wages if it’s a loan to Bolton.
If we are open to anything then I suspect we’ve already factored in/written the full cost of those off already and anything that reduces that cost will be a bonus.
Comments
(Tucudean, Gray, the last season of Stockley, countless others)
Claimed in here Kelman will cost around £3m and include a 20% sell on clause.
When our season was transformed, following Nathan's abandonment of plan A and either:- lucking into a winning system with Small on the right, TC with licence to drift wide left and Godden again/ achieving success as a result of a natural tinkering process* (*delete as appropriate) Gus appeared to be scapegoated and consigned to the naughty step.
I genuinely don't know what Nathan expected from Gus in that first half of the season. Maybe one of our many talented CL analysts could enlighten me.
But I sure as hell can't believe, on the evidence, that we were playing to his strengths
Possibly no one.
https://x.com/marciles/status/1949217124158681199?s=46&t=ynww82GMl7VKBjthBflU0g
What about Kelman, can we get back to the important stuff, Today … maybe 🙏
For instance,he got 5 assists in the league last season. Godden managed 1.
And if he is to prosper goals wise I think our assist rate will have to significantly improve.
He had good service from the likes of Gailbraith (6 assists), Donley (10) and Ageyei(8)
I had assumed that Small and Campbell would've topped our assist tree but they didn't get near it. Small with 3 and Campbell only mustered 1!
Edwards,Berry and the departed Aneke topped our list. Each with 5.
If Kelman is to prosper, the service from those around him will really need to pick up from last year.