A Good Day to Bury Bad News?
With the club rightly wallowing in compliments following the success of Operation Riverside, an old cynic like myself couldn't help wondering if yesterday was a good day to 'bury bad news' to a coin a Labour party phrase.The departure of Talal El Karkouri came out of the blue, and whilst a transfer away from the club in the summer may not have been a huge surprise, the timing of it seems rather odd. Indeed, with Luke Young out injured and our midfield already decimated, it's hard to believe we couldn't have benefitted from having the varied options the Moroccan offers. Indeed fellow blogger Cynic Athletic may well have received an email from the player himself along the same lines.
There were rumours flying around in January that Curbs had fallen out with both El Karkouri and Deano, and although the former started (and excelled) against Man City, he never made the first eleven again. Meanwhile, Deano has since made it clear that his departure may not have been entirely amicable as was first portrayed by the club.
El Karkouri was a popular player amongst the fans, although he was prone to the occasional rush of blood to the head. Indeed his late error in the Carling Cup game against Blackburn can't have helped his cause as he tried to break back into the side after injury. I've commented here before (though no-one seems to agree with me) that he would make an ideal defensive central midfielder in a 4-5-1, thanks to his combative nature, pace and none too shabby passing ability. All in all, for just a million quid, he represented decent value.
Our form since the New Year has been reasonable, but certainly not outstanding (4 wins out of 14 League games) and hence in light of the departures of Deano, Murphy, Smertin and now El Karkouri, one has to hope Curbs has a masterplan in mind for the summer. Indeed with most of this season's youth team now working over the road at Makro, and the existing squad containing plenty of ageing deadwood, the club has little choice but to blow its well-managed transfer budget.
posted by New York Addick @ 12:38 PM
7 comments
NYA
I totally agree with you. I think TEK would have made a good centre midfielder as I said on Frankie Valley's site today. I think he would have made a good enough replacement for Smerts, even if only til the end of the season in a trial. First time I saw him was at Welling just after he signed and he played a pinpoint 60yard cross-field ball, from then on i was convinced he'd be at least as good in midfield as he was in defence. He's not gone for good as yet tho so fingers crossed.
Cheshire Addick
totally agree and have been suprised by his absence even from the bench.he also had the knack of scoring a few goals which our midfield seem incapable of doing.this latest move also brings to mind Curbs inability to deal with players and sometimes the sheer stupidity of some of his decisions highlighted by your comments re lack of bodies.
Just wondering why everytime a player wants 1st team football and leave in search of it. It's deemed by yourself as Curbs falling out with the player?
"I want first team football"
"sorry i'm going to stick with the lads that have ground out a result. Prove me wrong by working hard and putting in the effort"
"I want to leave then"
"ok"
Just find it all a bit daft that Curbs falls out with so many players yet those in the first team can't speak highly enough of the bloke and all those demanding to leave arn't in the side.
T
I deliberately play devil's advocate up to a point because if you want to read biased rose-tinted commentary about the club, you can read the website or matchday programme.
I think it's reasonable to ask the question about the timing of TEK's transfer - after all we have the biggest game for years on Weds and I'd have thought at least having him as an option would be helpful not only then but for all remaining games.
Since the start of the season we've seen four key squad players leave, and only one join. The majority of the remaining squad are either over 30 or (in my view) not good enough. With no youngsters coming through, I merely pointed out that I hoped there was a summer plan for boosting our ailing squad.
Curbs is a fabulous manager, don't get me wrong but he's not beyond criticism.
NYA,
One thought keeps crossing my mind since the departure of Murphy and Smertin is that perhaps CAFC are trying to trim the loss of £ 5.1m leading upto and since the announcement of the interim results.
Hence JJ, Lisbie & now ELK etc have gone on loan -- obviously that way it relieves the presure off the club in the short term as far as the wage bill is concerned.
I can't help but think that the club are trying to trim the wage bill however at the same time keep a positive outlook on things. ie to attract players in the summer.
(it has histoircally been mentioned by Curbs that the wage bill was getting a bit too close to the collar for Mr Murray $ CAFC)
Just a thought...
hmm ?
Admittedly paying £2million for Jeffers plus another £1million pa or so in wages certainly hasn't helped. I wish I knew the full story behind that one - a rushed panic signing if ever there was one.
NYA,
In response to the Jeffers comment, it is my understanding that CAFC paid £1/2m up front for a 2 yr contract to play 'x' games,but if Jeffers played 'x +1 ' games then we were liable to pay a further £2m - hence no further appearances.
If I correctly recall this was mentioned at the Annual AGM meeting this year.
But hey yes I know where you are coming from and it does infuriate me too.