Sorry if this has been posted anywhere else - I did look but couldn't see it. - Big money move eh!!! And we flew someone all the way to China for the medical - what a waste of money:dismay: From the Dunfermline Press Bamba back in the fold after big money move collapses By Simon Harris SOL BAMBA returned to Pars first team action in last night’s 2-0 ALBA Challenge Cup defeat to Queen of the South after the big defender’s big money move to Watford fell through. Bamba was a shock inclusion in the side and played well despite only having returned from Paris in the morning following his involvement in the Olympics with the Ivory Coast. Boss Jim McIntyre told Press Sport after the game, “The deal for Sol Bamba is off. “Watford have pulled out of the deal for whatever reasons. The transfer was agreed and they decided to pull the plug on it which is very disappointing. “But we move on. Bamba is a good player and he is back in the squad. He only got back this morning and played very well so that was great commitment from him on that.” Bamba returned after the Ivory Coast were knocked out of the Olympic Games at the weekend. The French-born defender conceded a penalty as the Elephants lost 2-0 to Nigeria in the quarter-finals.
Sorry is this a suprise? I hought it was common knowledge that after the Rasiak signing that there would be no more "ins".
People claiming to be ITK were saying it was done and dusted. I guess that Bamba has been dumped to make way for Rasiak's wages. While I agree with that disposition (we have two right-backs who can cover at centerback), it heeps pressure on Rasiak to perform. It's a shame as it would have been exciting to havwe another huge lump in defense.
To be honest Bambi was never a signing I got to excited about. I'm happy with what we have for now. I think Marriappa can step up at centre back if needs be and we also have Avinel who I haven't seen much of TBH. I think the Rasiak signing was far more important.
I am rather concerned about our defence, and this makes me even more so. We need at least one, if not two more decent CB's, and I would sell McAnuff to fund them. IMHO McAnuff has been far to inconsistent for us, so we would not miss him, we also have plenty of cover in his position. Furthermore, we should get half decent money for him, because of his, IMHO, misguided reputation. Therefore I think he should go!!!
If we sold McAnuff our only winger would be Smith who seems to be playing a forward, Harley who at some stage may have to fill in at left-back and Ainsworth who I had high hopes for but he is going to have to really step up judging but what he's done so far this season. I wouldnt sell McAnuff based on that
Not saying he's the right player (I don't know anything about him) but the current squad is painfully fragile. I wouldn't mind Mariappa coming in for one or two games, but it's certainly not adequate cover for the whole season. We're not only talking about injuries and suspensions here, but also loss of form. The two imcumbents in the centre half berths are both prone to massive losses of form and we have no viable options to replace them (don't anyone dare mention Avinel). There is massive pressure on Rasiak, but less so than there would have been on Priskin and Hoskins if we hadn't signed him. Neither of the younger players are ready yet for a season of being first choice in the Championship, though at least can offer us something off the bench. I'd be dismayed, however, if Rasiak was injured for more than 2 matches in a row, as I think we'd be screwed. Basically, our transfer profligacy over the past 3 seasons has meant that now we are in a very vulnerable position. We have a first 11, who, when in form and fit are capable of competing in this league, but behind them is just nothing. 46 league games are a long haul and we just don't have the bodies to make it through. It's going to be a hard winter.
How up-beat and optimistic Moog. You're right - we have wasted loads previously - which to me - the almost Scottish view on spending during this window is a positive. To some extent I agree with your comments on the squad. check out this "2nd 11 lineup". _______________Lee Jenkins___Avinel____Mariappa____Parkes _______Williams/Bangura_____Francis/O'Toole Ainsworth_____Hoskins_____Robinson _____________Priskin MAYBE that team could survive league 1 but as a whole it's nowhere near CCC standards. Players in bold are players who've been on the bench so far.
It would have been good to have another defender but then I don't want us selling somebody like Smith to fund it.
Exactly. I can't see him being any better than someone like Mariappa, or even Dale Bennet/Aaron Beech etc...so it's no loss. If the worst came to the worst and someone like Demerit did get inured for a few months, then we can still loan short-term after the window closes!!
Maybe not better overall but different. We don't have any HUGE defenders anymore. We have pseudo-ball playing semi-quick ones. Plus Bamba was still relatively young so he could develop further. But we need to look at it as Rasiak in - Bamba out and in that equation - I am pleassed with the result.
We obviously had to pay more than we wanted to for Rasiak, still I am glad we did not give up on him, as I think he will be worth every penny!!! However, as I have already said elsewhere, we should now try and offload McAnuff to fund a decent CB or two, because we need CB's more than we need that overpaid waste of space!!!
I assume you're being sarcastic? I actually thought I was fairly measured and upbeat by my standards. At any rate, I agree with your Rasiak equation. Better to sign one striker who's proven at this level, than to bring in players in several positions who are not up to the grade.
We have all been assuming that we have pulled out of this deal because we can't afford him. However, maybe we have decided that we prefer some one else, or possibly we might be considering bringing in De La Cruz instead? After all Doyley IMHO is a better CB than he is a RB, so he and Mariappa might be being considered as adequate backup at CB, and De La Cruz would certainly strengthen us at RB? Whatever happens though, I really do think we need to strengthen our defence, as it is wafer thin at present IMHO!!!
for get aaron beech for at least 10 weeks,hes had two ops on his calfs!!! but they better not let him go,pacy centre half,very tall and only 18 and three quarters!!!! so still learning the game and a very good prospect for the reserves and even cup games
I'm not to upset as i don't think he'd have been a first team regular. Any signings we made this summer had to be obvious potential first team players. However i did hope we'd sign someone else on loan. After the performances ive seen i dont think it will be a disaster if we dont - think we'll end up midtable whatever happens (just a question whether it will be high or low) but i'd feel slightly more confident in the team if we had another CB
We could have done with someone like him in centre-mid against Forest from the sounds of it, with a bit more strength, energy and passing ability.
