Brett Holman

[pauliewalnuts]

What I do remember, though, is that pointless Peter Withe argument getting trotted out, "Well, I remember us once signing a journeyman, underwhelming striker, and he turned out to be Peter Withe!" which is totally irrelevant in any sense beyond crossing your fingers and praying it works out.

It's like signing a player who spends every waking hour pissed and saying "well, i remember once, we signed a player with a drink problem, and he turned out to be GOD".

That argument gets aired regularly on here.  Most recently in support of the Bowery and Westwood signings.  They may turn out to be good signings, and I hope they do.  If they do succeed it won't be because David Platt played for Crewe though.

Precisely.

[Percy McCarthy]

I think it is used more as an argument against those who seem to think it's impossible for unheralded players to exceed expectations.

[pauliewalnuts]

I think it is used more as an argument against those who seem to think it's impossible for unheralded players to exceed expectations.

At the same time, it is no indication that such players can be relied upon to do so. You're in trouble if you rely on that too much (not saying we are now, more the case of when we signed Harewood and Heskey we needed to be buying proven scorers of goals at that level - not crossing our fingers and hoping for the best).

[Risso]

I think it is used more as an argument against those who seem to think it's impossible for unheralded players to exceed expectations.

Is it not doing the opposite though?  I mean, I'm excited to see Westwood play, but is it not burdening him unfairly if people are expecting him to be the new Spoonface?

[john e]

I remember somebody on here responding to my criticism of Heskey with
'Successive England Managers rate him and I think they know a bit more about football than you.'

As john e remarked above, some on here hailed the Harewood signing as an under the radar masterstroke.
This despite the piss taking when it was rumoured the Dog Shit were looking at signing him.

That's not how I remember it (particularly the Harewood signing). I remember people trying to find some positives in a situation they had no control over, rather than going straight to "everything's shit" mode. Similar to the transfer window just gone, actually.

i remember it very well because it blew me away, just couldnt believe we had signed Harewood, and it was my start of losing a lot of faith in MON, i cant think of any other transfers that have affected me quite so badly

i had a bit of a run in with someone on here, cant remember who and it doesnt really mater anyway, but he was coming out with the stuff i posted, so thats why i said it,
i'm not saying i can spot a player and no one else can because i've also been proved wrong a few times about players i thought were good only for them to turn out crap.

 but really Marlon Fucking Harewood, that will take some beating, anyone could see that was only going to be a one way road to shit street

[Eckybloke]

Anyway, back to Holman.  I just think that Lambert is clearly a manager who places a gret deal of importance on ball retention, and as with most managers may prefer to play players he has bought himself rather than those he has inherited.

You're probably right but while ball retention is one thing, forcing the opposition into mistakes when you don't have the ball is easier when you have someone harrying them like Holman did against Newcastle.  I'm sure someone's already said it but you can't train an attitude like that.

A fact that won't be lost on PL given his emphasis on fitting  into what he wants the team to do rather than than  relying on occasional moments of individual brilliance (or individual mediocrity as we've been used to recently).

[Matt Collins]

Hardwood was up there with John fashanu and Steve stone as signings that made you just throw your hands up in the air and think "what the fuck"?!

[Mister E]

 but really Marlon Fucking Harewood, that will take some beating, anyone could see that was only going to be a one way road to shit street

Indeed - I seem recall attracting some criticism on here when I started calling him Deadwood - 'cos that's exactly what I thought of the signing!

[Rip Van We Go Again]

 but really Marlon Fucking Harewood, that will take some beating, anyone could see that was only going to be a one way road to shit street

Indeed - I seem recall attracting some criticism on here when I started calling him Deadwood - 'cos that's exactly what I thought of the signing!

Many, many people trotted out the
'But he did once score 16 goals in a season for West Ham' line.

If you think a player we sign isn't up to snuff, be honest and say so. Don't say he's good for the sake of it.

[Summers]

 but really Marlon Fucking Harewood, that will take some beating, anyone could see that was only going to be a one way road to shit street

Indeed - I seem recall attracting some criticism on here when I started calling him Deadwood - 'cos that's exactly what I thought of the signing!

Many, many people trotted out the
'But he did once score 16 goals in a season for West Ham' line.

If you think a player we sign isn't up to snuff, be honest and say so. Don't say he's good for the sake of it.

People think they can either support a player OR say he isn't good enough. When really you can do both. Heskey wasn't good enough, nor was Harewood - and I can openly say that. At the same time, however, I supported them both 100% when they were in a Villa shirt.

[john e]

 but really Marlon Fucking Harewood, that will take some beating, anyone could see that was only going to be a one way road to shit street

Indeed - I seem recall attracting some criticism on here when I started calling him Deadwood - 'cos that's exactly what I thought of the signing!

Many, many people trotted out the
'But he did once score 16 goals in a season for West Ham' line.

If you think a player we sign isn't up to snuff, be honest and say so. Don't say he's good for the sake of it.

People think they can either support a player OR say he isn't good enough. When really you can do both. Heskey wasn't good enough, nor was Harewood - and I can openly say that. At the same time, however, I supported them both 100% when they were in a Villa shirt.

exactly,
 i remember when Heskey scored that fantastic goal at Wolves, i was rejoicing as long and hard as the next man, but it didnt suddenly mean he'd had a great Villa career, or he was one of our super buys

[pauliewalnuts]

Hardwood was up there with John fashanu and Steve stone as signings that made you just throw your hands up in the air and think "what the fuck"?!

Fashanu is the one player of all those I can remember us signing that made me do that throwing-the-hands-up thing more than any other.

[Legion]

Awooga! Definitely. I think I had my head IN my hands, though.

[pauliewalnuts]

I can think of one good thing to say about Fashanu, though. He's very funny on Twitter.

[Rip Van We Go Again]

I thought Heskey and Harewood were cack, but I still shouted my support for them every game.

Probably wasted my vocal chords on them though, they were both about as useful as an ashtray on a motorbike.