we scouted Thiam before we signed him. I can't believe anybody looked at that thought "that'll do" for free, ne'mind pay a million quid for it. Makes Kevin Donovan look world class.
That's made me think about that 70s BBC show "The Big Time" where ordinary folk got dropped into the world of professionals (singers, actors, etc.) One week, they had a bloke called Lol Cotterill playing football for Liverpool, although it was only a testimonial game, Tommy Smith's I think. If I remember correctly, his one big chance was a diving header which he fluffed. For years after, me and my mates called all diving headers "diving Lols". I don't mind Thiam, but watching him in action there are times when "Lol" seems strangely appropriate.
Conan in negative post shock! I asked him once before if there was any of the current squad he had a good word for. You can probably guess the answer. I'm now wondering if we've ever had a player he had a good word for.
Someone needs to be held accountable for thinking he was worth a million of any currency. It's like we've been conned like when Southampton thought they had a talented relative of George Weah.
He was a very young 1-4 striker when we signed him, so clearly showed good potential. Like all players of that age and plying their trade at a lower level they are a punt. Look at the amount of forward players we have signed from non league etc over the last few years, non that I can recall made it with us, yet it almost impossible to watch the results come in and not see an ex Red on the scoresheet for another team. Suspect the issue people have with Thiam is actually the fee
I seem to remember people making a song and dance about the need to get him signed at the time and I'm pretty sure if he hadn't been signed there'd have been hell to pay from a few on here.
Why ? What about when i Why ? No one is made accountable when its the other way , for example Mawson, Houihane etc . Transfers are always a gamble , some work, out whilst others do not, but we should not play the blame game every time its a negative .
I tend to agree however I would assume we signed him as punt with hope rather than expectation that he would work out. So far it isn't working out and unless there is a big improvement he won't be with us beyond this contract.
Thiam is a result of a string of yet unexplained events some of them involving a French connection which occurred during 2017. Hecky was being sidelined - and others were making decisions on his behalf. Hecky knew a quality player and a bargain when he saw it. Others at the club obviously didn’t. In saying that - I hope Thiam is able to prove us wrong.