From Eastsleepsport..... Strike sensation deal mooted Thu, Jun 21 2007 17:50 Watford are tipped to hijack Wolves' proposed deal to sign Southend striker Freddy Eastwood this summer. Eastwood was thought to be on his way from Roots Hall to Molineux following the Shrimpers' relegation to League One at the end of last season. However, Vicarage Road could be his next destination with Hornets boss Aidy Boothroyd hoping to steal in ahead of Wanderers. Eastwood shot to prominence last term after his free-kick dumped Manchester United out of the Carling Cup. Eastwood's arrival could see Hamuer Bouazza move on with the striker strongly linked with a switch to Portsmouth. The Frenchman was one of the leading lights last season as Boothroyd's men slipped out of the Premiership and caught the eye of a number of top-flight clubs. Pompey boss Redknapp has made no secret of his desire to spice up his attacking options and the 22-year-old would bring pace and strength to his Fratton Park strikeforce. Watford would be loathe to lose one of their star assets as they look to make an automatic return to the top flight but a bid in the region of £5million would test their resolve. Fulham manager Lawrie Sanchez has also been monitoring the player's situation as he looks to stave off the threat of another season of relegation worries. Eastwood and King up Front? I've see Freddy a few times and against the sc*m away last year he looked quality, hit the crossbar and then could have won it at the end! (Although playing at caravan land would have felt very homely!). Personally I can see this being announced very soon.............
Personally can't believe people don't rate him. I have said all along he's a quality player. Average players don't score winning goals against the best team in the Country for a crap side (When Eastwood scored the winner against Manure last season in Carling cup). He's a player that rises to the occasion, he plays with alot of determination and will to win. Would be a great signing. I think £1,000,000 plus Ashikodi on a season's loan deal is a good deal. I'd take that if I was the Southend Boss. I agree with Goldenballs...I can see this being announced and then Bouazza leaving to Pompey for about £4,500,000. Hope we can keep Bouazza, but in fairness he is a bit hit and miss...£4.5-5mil is alot to turn down for a relativley unproven player on a consistent basis.
Anything arround a millon (and they can Ashikodi free in that deal)I would say yes but the sums Southend were asking for earlier in the year after the United game were silly, 3-5million was being banded about. He certainly would not require a big wage (I presume he would require it all in cash though!) The only problem would be,with the allotments next door, the gates would have to be safely locked or we could have a load of caravans on them and all the building euipment and materials for the ground development would suddenly go missing, delaying our development yet again!
Don't really know enough about this guy, but I think we could do a lot worse. As for throwing in Moses as part of the deal, on a years loan yes, but I would not want to lose him permanently. With regard to Hammeur, if we were offered £5million, it would be thank you and goodbye, providing we sign a decent replacement for less dosh.
i will never understand tht lets sell a player who is settled in the squad and we know works well with our players for someone of the same ability but whos not settled in the squad and we dont know if they will perform or not its ludicris:]]
That was only directly from a free-kick though. Apart from the goalie, the opposition might as well have been Barcelona or Barnet for all they mattered. If he'd controlled a ball well and beaten two of their defenders before slotting the ball away then maybe it might have been more of an indication of him being up to a higher level, but he didn't. Effectively, based on your criteria, a cack player, playing for a cack team, who is cack at absolutely everything (first touch, pace, strength, finishing, heading, stamina etc.) except for free-kicks which he practises often and can slot away, should be considered above average.
Here's an idea Marlon and Hendo. Season 2005 / 2006 Championship's leading scorer with 21 and league's 8th highest scorer with 14. Tell me that we wouldn't take that again. The problem with the likes of Eastwood, Sharp, Hoskins is you are taking a gamble. Eastwood, admittedly in a poor team, only netted 11 from 41 last season in the league. Season before in Div 1 Eastwood scored 23 from 34, in Div 1 last season Sharp scored 30 from 45 and Hoskins 15 from 22 before he came here. All similar ratios but when they take the next step up it is much more difficult.
The main problems with that are firstly that if Marlon gets injured, or maybe even Henderson, then we could be buggered when it comes to putting away chances, as we were last season. Also, there are no guarantees that Marlon will even come back next season the player he was when we got promoted, in which case again we could again be buggered. All our other strikers are unproven or off the boil, so a proven consistent goalscorer would be needed to make sure the goals don't dry up again. I'm not sure Eastwood is that striker though. Why was it that suddenly after the Man Utd. game, he just stopped scoring in the League?!!
To be quite honest - if we're looking for a solution for this season, neither Sharp nor Eastwood is the answer. I think Aidy is looking at Eastwood and Sharp because in two seasons, with our young strikers gaining more experience and developing - we could have a potentially leathal strike force with Eastwood/Sharp up front and Hoskins playing behind the main striker - so I think IF we sign another youngster from league 1 - it will be for the future. BUT - I think we have what we need "for the future" in Tamas, Will, Theo and Moses. All four have the potential to become a prolific striker and an important player for us. We have the talent! What we don't have is depth when it comes to prolific strikers here and now. But the thing is - if we sign Earnshaw (without letting anyone go) - none of the younger strikers would ever get a match. Too many ahead in the pecking order. And they need matches to develop - so it's a catch 22 potentially. In my honest opinion - our first priority is not a striker. We have players who can put chances away. What we need is a steady supply line. With Jobi we have 3 decent wingers - altho' at least two are better at cutting inside and shooting than they are at crossing. But I feel a Claus Jensen type central midfielder is required to create chances from the center of the pitch. That's when a player like Hoskins comes into play because he has a knack for running deep at just the right time to avoid going off side - we just don't have anyone who can play the through-ball to him. This ended up a lot longer than I had expected. My points: 1. Neither Eastwood nor Sharp is a solution here and now! 2. I'd rather get a good attacking midfielder with a knack for thru-balls than a striker.
Lowerrous there is a Southend season ticket holder at my work who said a few months ago that Eastwood went right off the boil after the Man Utd game and it was put down to all the attention he was getting from press and other clubs. Whether he can recapture the form that he had the season prior remains to be seen and tbh I think I would rather we went for someone a little more proven at the Championship/Premiership if possible, although i know these players are at a premium.
As krisvad said, a creative midfielder should be top priority. We haven't had a creative midfielder at the club for years. Unfortuantly there aren't many around and they are usually expensive.
Which is why Aidy should go all out to get Claus Jensen - he's available and only rumours about CCC clubs after him have surfaced. The thing is - from what Aidy have said - he does not agree with us on the midfielder priority :rant:
Krisvad - that is true. Welcome to more hoofball Seriously though, it will be intersting to see if Aidy tries to change our style of play. I don't see it personally - I think Aidy believes in high tempo, physical football that tends to bypass central midfield and is either long route one or get the ball to the wingers.
Looks like we are going to have to pay over £2 million minimum if we want him. Norwich have had a £1.5million bid for Southend striker Freddy Eastwood rejected as he is "worth a lot more" to the Shrimpers. The Canaries are looking to overhaul their frontline this summer and have already held talks with Scunthorpe striker Billy Sharp after agreeing a £2million fee with the Iron for his services. But they will have to up their bid for Eastwood if they are to sign him as well. Wolves had a £1million offer for the 23-year-old rejected earlier this summer but even Norwich's improved bid leaves him "dramatically undervalued" according to Southend chairman Ron Martin. He told the Evening Echo: "Norwich have made a bid for Freddy but I have told them that they are not offering enough. "Freddy is worth a lot more to this football club than £1.5million. That is what I've told Norwich and I still don't want him to leave
The thing is it does not need to be hoof ball to be quick and direct. Lyngby - my club in Denmark - play a very direct and fast pace style. We use fast and technically gifted forwards and only one real central midfielder. The other "midfielder" usually plays behind the two strikers. Defensively it's a gamble but offensively it works. Lyngby let in quite a few goals this season but scored even more. In 29 games this season (one remains) Lyngby has scored 68 and let in 39. It is 2.34 goals for and 1,34 against on average.
He wants to leave it 7 days until he tells us, i guess that means he still wants to speak to Wolves? I wouldn't say no to Eastwood, but i hope Bouazza doesn't leave if he arrives because Bouazza (imo) is now a key winger, not a striker.
Rinaldi! Rinaldi! Rinaldi! If the truth of the story is as bad as the writing, then pigs will grow wings before Eastwood ever joins this club.
I think you are indeed forgetting we have Rinaldi, who could well become a very good playmaker as his vision is certainly there at least, but also we have Williams as well. Yes he is injured, but he should be back before christmas no?
l like the hendo bit ..... In other transfer news Darius Henderson has once again laughed off speculation linking him to Leeds. Sources close to the player said he would rather retire than move to that club classic.............
Obviously not the most reliable source but..... Southend marksman Freddy Eastwood now has a straight choice between Vicarage Road and The Valley. Wolves have dallied around for too long and it is said Mick McCarthy will now turn his attentions to Stephen Elliot, a former protégé from Sunderland. Aidy Boothroyd and Alan Pardew are now locked in a two horse race for the Shrimpers number 10. Charlton are flush with Bent money, whilst Watford are also ready to splash the cash from Ash(ley) Young. £2.75m bids have been lodged, with add ons including sell on fees also taken into account. Shrimpers Chaiman Ron Martin has been at pains to say he wants Eastwood to remain at Roots Hall - but now its time to let the Romany wind his merry way up the Leagues. What is for certain is that whoever does land the talisman will be getting a skilful strieking sensation for the campaign ahead. From Vital Football!!
For that sort of money, if this is true (which I sincerely doubt), then that is far too much for someone who basically didn't score for the previous half a season. The person who writes this stuff is an absolutely diabolical journalist.
