It's clear Cleverley had an influence over his decision. https://www.watfordfc.com/teams/first-team/cleverley-hes-one-my-best-mates-football It's one of those things. Welbeck's at a point in his career where he needs to drop out of a big club, and feel the love a bit. He's still at a good age, and has plenty of ambition to kick on. It doesn't sound like he's coming here for a pay day. He signed for football reasons. He's going to be a good fit at the club, and that's sooooo important to have a really positive dynamic within the club. It's one of those hidden things, but you have to have a good team spirit, and I mean a genuine one, in order to have any sort of success.
One of the hidden elements I like most about this signing is it's a clear signal to the other players they need to be on top of their match day performances consistently or they will easily be shown up. One of our noticeable issues has been the missed chances spurned in too many games. This is the type of clinical predator the team have been yearning for since our arrival in the PL. I can see a one up top actually working now when needed & we have many different angles of attacking systems with a player of this calibre. Must be in the top 5 high profile signings. Well done to the club for making this happen.
This signing is nothing but positive. The poor man has had is misfortune with injury, but he now has an incentive (both from a footballing and financial point of view) to prove himself and prolong his career. He is only 28, potentially 5+ years at the top level. If his injuries curtail his career into the future, he will be the most disappointed. We will move on. If he is fully fit, we have bagged ourselves a massive bargain.
The real winner here is Mrs Gomes. No need for an awkward shopping trip to Brent Cross to buy the latest Brazilian wonderkid a pair of trousers with holes in the knees.
Can't see how this is anything other than a fantastic signing. If you look at Welbeck's injury record he's been incredibly unlucky rather than having chronic issues. It's never been the same injury, and there's very few little niggling injuries. Used correctly he can definitely stay fit. Per minute his goalscoring record is fantastic and that's mostly from the left. He's worlds ahead of Deeney or Gray technically and is the first really big name we've signed since coming up. Attitude is spot on too - been liked everywhere he's been. If he stays fit he will be so good in our system. Even with Sarr I felt our attack was short - an Injury to Deeney pretty much screwed us. Come on, Welbeck or Okaka?
Javi’s yoga will keep him in shape, he will be this seasons bargain signing. Claiming a place in euro 2020 squad and taking Watford on a European adventure. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
So 4 full England capped players in our first team? Not too shabby. Quite a British team these days. As king as the club have protected themselves against the (very likely) possibility that he will barely kick a ball in anger for us, this is a good deal. Hopefully he stays fit
I am happy with this signing but I imagine this is the first time in a decade Welbeck has been classed as “clinical predator”. Jeez..
Wouldn’t Bobby P have been a bigger name, esp from the POV of attracting higher level Europe based players? Not a biggie, though. How much of getting injured is psychological? Some players refuse to see themselves as injured. With others, you sense a fatalism which so often bears fruit. In the world of work, it’s funny how people who work for themselves don’t get sick.
Not trying to find a negative, as this imo is a really good signing, but reading the interview with him, just a bit surprised he didn’t sign at the start of the window and do the pre-season with the team?
The article from The Athletic suggests he was still being paid by Arsenal until 31 July. I suspect if he moved before then he’d have lost out financially.
Allows his agent to observe the market & be more definite in his dealings in the last week of the window, I suppose. Also, enabled Welbeck to avoid all the hassle & effort of pre season.
Rather poignantly, my text autoprompt thing was insisting I wrote Welbourne rather than Welbeck. Different types of player.