Green deal off - Collins says no

[stainrodisalegend]

Mirror and other outlets reporting that the Green to West Ham deal is off because Collins refused to go the other way as part of the deal. This comes after an authorative report from a journo well plugged into West Ham that they are in any case now satisfied with their existing number two. Not only is it frustrating to not get Collins - though that is his decision and not something anyone can blame our club for - but does that mean Smithies was signed for nothing? Sure, we need a reserve keeper but for a long while we survived with Murphy who cost nothing and played about twice a season in the micky mouse cup or whatever - if, as some suggest, we can't buy a centre half until we sell someone then this seems like a very strange sense of priorities. £2m for a reserve likely to play a handful of games a season is a heck of a lot of money in the Champ when we are scrimping so much elsewhere. Why not have stalled on Smithies till we knew about Green? It was not as if, as far as I know, anyone else was after him. Odd one.

http://www.newsnow.co.uk/A/789147148?-294:802:0

[californiahoop]

If we could get Tomkins that would be cool.

[Marsh67]

Problem is if Green gets injured we will need a good back up and as Green only has one year left on contract he will be going anyway next year so plan for the future rather than get caught cold.

[Yousef]

I have a feeling Smithies will be No.1 at some stages during the season or perhaps Green get injured.

[bakes8]

Ffs. Just tell Green he's on the bench, he will soon find his way out.

[Bluehoop]

Ffs. Just tell Green he's on the bench, he will soon find his way out.

Ha ha - just like he did when he got dumped on from a huge height by Hughes. Sitting on the bench week after week to watch Cesar make gaffes that were excused because he's a "name". No, Green did his time like a true professional without a single complaint, worked hard, got back in because of an injury and performed to the highest standard, just to get dropped again when Cesar was fit. If he is here still and gets benched green will do the same again because he is a proper professional and nothing can change that fact

[klonk]

Mirror and other outlets reporting that the Green to West Ham deal is off because Collins refused to go the other way as part of the deal. This comes after an authorative report from a journo well plugged into West Ham that they are in any case now satisfied with their existing number two. Not only is it frustrating to not get Collins - though that is his decision and not something anyone can blame our club for - but does that mean Smithies was signed for nothing? Sure, we need a reserve keeper but for a long while we survived with Murphy who cost nothing and played about twice a season in the micky mouse cup or whatever - if, as some suggest, we can't buy a centre half until we sell someone then this seems like a very strange sense of priorities. £2m for a reserve likely to play a handful of games a season is a heck of a lot of money in the Champ when we are scrimping so much elsewhere. Why not have stalled on Smithies till we knew about Green? It was not as if, as far as I know, anyone else was after him. Odd one.

http://www.newsnow.co.uk/A/789147148?-294:802:0

a long time with murphy as no 2?

last season mccarthy was no 2
the season before cesar
the season before green
the season before cerny...

was murphy ever really a number 2?

[stainrodisalegend]

a long time with murphy as no 2?

last season mccarthy was no 2
the season before cesar
the season before green
the season before cerny...

was murphy ever really a number 2?

I thought he was often on the bench? My bad if not.

My point though still stands. Smithies, like McCarthy, was clearly signed either as the number one or being told he was very likely to become number one. Will he be happy to sit on the bench? And was it a sensible use of scarce resources if he is benched?

Goalkeeper is a unique position. Outfield players being first choice or reserve is often blurred. Henry probably wouldn't feature in our strongest 11 but owing to all sorts of factors will probably play 30 plus games this season. Not the case with a reserve keeper.

[Itsonlyagame]

hindsight, the number one weapon of the critical.

[Martinmalta]

McCarthy went straight into CP first team after signing from us and Speroni was made substitute. If we did have the guts to do the same here, maybe he will still be an R player. Either Green stays or not, Smithies must have his fare share of playing time.

[Shepherds Mush]

McCarthy went straight into CP first team after signing from us and Speroni was made substitute. If we did have the guts to do the same here, maybe he will still be an R player. Either Green stays or not, Smithies must have his fare share of playing time.

Speroni was injured not automatically replaced

[stainrodisalegend]

hindsight, the number one weapon of the critical.

Hardly earth-shattering hindsight. You don't buy a new house until you are sure you have sold the old one...

[QPR1976]

I think we'll still bring in another CB before the window closes, even if no one leaves. Just might be on the cheap without any more incoming funds.

Then
Another GK, only if Green leaves
Another M/F, only if Fer, Santos or Hoilett leave
Byrne only if Phillips leaves
A Striker (& better aboves) only if Austin leaves.

IMO

[klonk]

I thought he was often on the bench? My bad if not.

My point though still stands. Smithies, like McCarthy, was clearly signed either as the number one or being told he was very likely to become number one. Will he be happy to sit on the bench? And was it a sensible use of scarce resources if he is benched?

Goalkeeper is a unique position. Outfield players being first choice or reserve is often blurred. Henry probably wouldn't feature in our strongest 11 but owing to all sorts of factors will probably play 30 plus games this season. Not the case with a reserve keeper.

stainrod... you are right, he was often on the bench, but he barely made any appearances for us - one start and one sub game in the league and 4 league cup matches over 4 seasons (to be fair that's probably all the league cup games in that period). but whenever the number 1 was injured before the match, it wasn't murphy that we turned to for cover.

[Kit]

Last season we moaned because when we lost Remy we didn't have a replacement, so this time fearing Greeno may go we sign a replacement so we are covered but now we moan as we should have waited until Green had gone ? Whatever happens Smithies will be Number One next season and will push Green this season, IF, Green doesn't go.