Roque Santa Cruz is currently under going a medical ahead of his proposed move to City.Santa Cruz is set to face what will probably be the most rigorous medical examination of his life, City are said to not be taking any chances and want to make sure that the injury prone player is over his injury problems.
I have to admit I will not be all that bothered if Santa Cruz fails his medical, there are plenty of players out there that are as good as him and probably for cheaper too. At the same time I have a little feeling that Santa Cruz could be good for City, I have been studying videos of him to try and decide if I like him or not and to be honest I am still not sure. I did however find a new appreciation for his ability, he is probably better than I have been giving him credit for.
Santa Cruz should be a City player by the end of today or early tomorrow, so watch this space!
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Yes Im with you on this one. Usually when you spend £15-£18m million on a player excitement is the key word, with this one im not sure either. Im not sure its because the transfer has been running for what seems like forever, or its because i didnt want fat sam to get the money or even if im just not that bothered. Still looking a the stats if he stays injury free, and thats a big if, he really could be the target man we have been missing.
ReplyDeleteWould it be wrong of me to hope he fails the medical? I just cannot make any sense of this signing, especially at this price. We certainly need a big man up front to hold the ball up and bring others into play but do we need to take the risk on someone with a terrible injury record and a poor goal scoring record. If we are only gooing to have one big man in the squad then we need to bconfident he can get his share of goals and more importantly play most matches. I'm not a huge Crouch fan but he still looks a more sensible option to me.
ReplyDeleteThe way Hughes has doggedly pursued RSC given all the wealth at his disposal, he must be absolutely adamant that this is the right guy for the job. I'm going to have to give him the benefit of the doubt on this one and trust his better judgement.
ReplyDeleteHi Gary,
ReplyDeleteInjuries apart, he's top notch. Exactly what we've been missing. A target man or spearhead, call him what you want. I've admired him for years. Trust our medics, trust MH and trust me: he'll be good for us, like I said, injuries apart...
Anom,
I hear what you're saying about Crouch and it probably is a safer option, but Hughes has faith in RSC and this guy is far better than anything we've had for a long while. Remember David Cross...Bobby Shinton...Stuart Lee...Derek Parlane...Jo & Vassell!!!
Parlane was good for us, shouldn't be bracketed with the others.
ReplyDeleteWe definitely need a target man and Santa Cruz is a target man, if he is a top class target man is a different question.
ReplyDeleteI think I am coming across in a way that suggests I am totally against signing Santa Cruz, well I'm not. I am just not sure and with not seeing a lot of him last season due to injury that didn't help.
Clearly the guy has quality, we saw that a year or so ago but that will be no good if he is stuck in the treatment room all season. Some players are just flakey when it comes to injuries and I don't see why we should expect a player who has spent half of his career injured to suddenly be fine. If he picks up a bad injury and we have to tackle the season with no target man then Hughes will have some serious questions to answer. And I am not one of the Hughes out brigade, I just think this deal is high risk on various levels and we have the money to pursue players who would represent a far lower risk. I take all the points on here but I think this deal is a mistake.
ReplyDeleteIt could be a huge mistake and may be the kind of thing that will lose Hughes his job.
ReplyDeletePossibly, fellas.
ReplyDeleteI think this (or any) debate hinges on the fact of your viewpoint. Glass half full or half empty. Despite 33 years of jibes, mine has always been (well nearly - div 2!) half full. I had to convince a fellow blue the other day that Barry was a good signing!
I have to agree that this could go pear-shaped, but he's more than capable of giving us 20 goals with SWP and Petrov whipping balls in and Stevie n Robbie slipping balls through, so let's wait n see.
My glass is more than half full and Tevez would top it up even further.
Anom,
I'll replace Parlane with Tony Cunningham if that's okay!
Well I hope that Santa is successful if he signs and he probably can score goals with the service on offer to him, but bottom line is he can only score goals if he isn't injured!
ReplyDeleteCol, as for having to convince someone about Barry well thats ridiculous. There is nothing to suggest that Barry will be anything less than a top signing.
Who knows, we may get a second 'target man' as well, which will ease our worries.
ReplyDeleteIf he could add Toure and/or Lescott and Tevez, then possibly Eto'o (or similar).
We would have a damn good chance this season.
'We are not, we're not really 'ere!'
I think we need two centre halves Col. Toure is starting to look nailed on to me with either Lescott or Upson joining him. Dunney looks to be on his way which is fair enough. I sincerely hope we keep hold of Richards and Nedum. Both still likely to progress and very decent back up. I'd like to see us buy a creative midfielder just as a different option. Personally I think Benayoun would be a good signing and would offer something very different for a reasonable price, especially if Elano leaves but so much is going to depend on what formation Hughes is looking to play next season, I suppose.
ReplyDeleteI've grown quite attached to Dunney and like him. He's a battler and has saved us on numerous occasions. I know he's made a fair few howlers too, but it would still be a shame to see him go as he may have been less proned to mistakes if he had a world class partner beside him reducing the pressure. Ah well.
ReplyDeleteI don't think we should sell anyone (except the obvious fringe players). Elano is handy to keep, but he could go. I totally agree that Ned n Micah HAVE to stay.
Benayoun? Not a bad shout, but who's gonna be sub? This is a big test for Hughes now.
It is nothing to do with whetheer your glass is half full or half empty Col. Admittedly any signing presents an element of risk especially at the price levels that City are currently dealing at. However, surely the manager can weigh up all aspects of a player (form, ability, injury record, attitude etc) and minimize the risk. I am assuming we won't buy two target men, I just can't see that happening, and I don't think it is pessimistic to suspect that a player who has dodgy knees and a host of other injury problems over the years might be an injury risk over the course of the season. This is surely just realism? We were absolutely crying out for a big man up front at times last year and if Hughes depends on a player who is not dependable and we end up facing the same problems for much of this season then that will be a disgrace because it is fairly predictable. Hughes made a massive error by putting all his eggs in the RSC basket in January but we have more time and options this summer and personally I cannot understand why he is choosing to do the same again. I sincerely hope we don't end up writing off another season because Hughes has an obsession with this fella.
ReplyDeleteI wouldn't like to see Dunne leave either, but if it is to bring Toure in then..........
ReplyDeleteAs for Dunne's mistakes have people noticed that an extremely large amount of them have happened since Distin left.
Benayoun is a good player and I am a fan of his but I am not sure he would fit in our team.
I don't see why Benayoun wouldn't fit in the team. I'm not talking about him being on the pitch for 90 mins every week but there as an option. We are really well catered for in terms of holding midfielders but if Ireland picks up a knock or loses form then creating chances from the centre of midfield becomes a bit of an issue in my mind. Benayoun can play out wide, as a creative midfielder or just behind the front man. He has a great through ball on him, is a good finisher and runs his balls off. I think he'd be a great option for the manager. Personally I'd let Elano go. He is a decent enough player but I suspect his negative effects on the squad/club outweigh his performances these days. I know what you mean about Dunne, really good player and I'd love to see him stay but in all honesty for where we want to go, he is going to end up being a bit part player and I think it is only fair to let him go elsewhere and remain a big fish at this stage of his career.
ReplyDeleteBenayoun is not gona leave Liverpool to settle for a bit part role. When will he start for us, hardly ever is my guess.
ReplyDeleteHe isn't gona get in our team above Ireland, Robinho or SWP and we will need one of our defensive midfielders playing, so I don't know where he fits in?
You can't buy a player like Benayoun and expect him to sit on your bench.
Good point, Gary.
ReplyDeleteTo the other Anom (why can't you put your name on? Is it the same person I've just spoke with?) Opinions are either optimistic, pessimistic or a mixture of both = realism.
There are varying degrees in all of us, but I suspect your glass has much less in than mine (no it's not alcohol - too early for me!), hence our differing viewspoints. So debate has everything to do with my analogy.
I can't my name on because I can't be arsed registering Col. One man's half full glass is another man's easily pleased. He may be better than what we have but RSC presents a huge risk and if you're are happy to see our club spend 18 million quid on a player with huge injury problems and see my perfectly reasonable cause for concern as my glass being empty (which is a criticism in my eyes) then that is your business. All I can assume is that I am more concerned about how our club spends vasts sums of money than you are. Gary, if we are to think about challenging the top 4 then we need to get past this idea that every one plays every game. We need a squad of quality players. If Ireland gets injured then things look a bit tin in terms of attacking central midfielders.
ReplyDeleteNah but Benayoun would be a waste of time I know what you mean but for whats on offer he won't leave pool.
ReplyDeleteBy the way mate you can still put your name you don't have to register.
Not a criticism, bud and I do take your point. It's not ideal. Just responding to you (if it was you!) about the glass half full having nowt to do with it when it does regarding varying opinions.
ReplyDeleteI DO care BIG TIME and to get back to the crux of the matter, I maintain RSC can get us 20 goals. It's obvious clubs will squeeze us for every penny, but I'd rather get RSC than stick with what we've got - we have to buy someone, don't we? And who else is really available?
Has Crouch ever got 20 goals before? Will Eto'o really come?
I hope he passes the medical, but he may not.
HE'S PASSED IT!!!
ReplyDeleteLet's wait in see, fellas...