Dundee United… our very own gigolo!

By: Martyn | July 14th, 2008

As for Aaron Ramsey, there is not a lot to add to this story as it dominated news mediums for weeks. In one way, perhaps his sale can involuntarily benefit us in the short and long-term future. It should prevent the sale of key first teamers like McNaughton, Loovens, and Johnson – all three of whom would command a combined total of roughly £5m. Therefore, retaining multiple core elements of our squad has to be seen as a virtue. In addition, unless Jones wastes it all on the entire Rangers FC reserve team front-line, we have a £5m straight payment from Arsenal’s vast coffers that could allow us to bring in players ready for a 46-game slog with the primary XI. Let’s just hope as much of the wonga as possible is put back into the team (along with the supposed £3m Spurs gave us for Gunter), and my words about retaining other players as a result of Ramsey’s departure don’t turn out to be famous last words!

Another story that has been in the local rag this summer is Ridsdale’s £500k bonus. Bear in mind this link is from a source that thinks nothing of adding numerous herbs to the broth, but it gets the story across nonetheless. As to my opinion, here’s putting a hopelessly happy-go-lucky spin on things. A. We should be thankful that details of it have been released for a start. The supposedly transparent regime seems at last to be transpiring. Long may it last (pfft, yeah right). B. In delaying the court case, it is arguably true that Ridsdale has done more than his fair share of helping this club. C. Whether or not you agree with the amount as a matter of moral principle, such is the world of football (and city bigwigs too) nowadays, extortionate figures like a half-mill tend to be the going rate of such payments. Ultimately, if Ridsdale delivers success on the pitch this season (and his decision to back an under-fire manager is vindicated), then folk will either forget about this supplement to his already heft pay packet, or consider it money well spent.

Then again, to put the realistic, negative spin on things: WHAT THE F*CK??!! I THOUGHT WE COULD BARELY AFFORD DECENT PLAYERS!!!!!???? JHFJHFKUGFHKJ!!@@!~#. So concisely and eloquently put, I’m sure you’ll agree.

Also departing at the conclusion of last season were a host of second year academy players not deemed good enough to make the step up, a young striker signed from Newport County called Matt Green (Torquay United), Trevor Sinclair (released), and David Forde (Milwall).

It’s interesting to see that Charlton have signed a young striker we released several seasons back, Stuart Fleetwood. He never made the breakthrough at Ninian Park, and then spent several seasons at teams in the lower leagues such as Hereford and Accrington Stanley. Despite an initial goal flurry for the former (including a hat-trick against Coventry in the League Cup), he soon faltered, and ended up at Forest Green Rovers in the Blue Square Premier League. The Gloucester-born front man finally found his feet, scoring a ton of goals in a team that flirted with the play-offs thanks by and large to his goals. He didn’t find the net anywhere near as regularly in the second half of the season, but clearly, Alan Pardew believes he can make a mark in this league. Us City fans will cast an interested (yet hopefully not envious) eye over how he fares, so good luck to him, aside from a particular pair of 90-minute sessions!

Returning from a loan spell (during which he apparently flourished as a full-back) at Dundee United was Irish midfielder Willo Flood. However, the door he re-entered was clearly one of a revolving nature, as it’s straight back up to the same stomping ground in the land of clichés such as Loch monsters and haggis. Seemingly, The Arabs are becoming one of those spotty teenagers that help you pack your bags at the checkout in the supermarket, as they have now also taken Warren Feeney on loan for the season too. Well, every little helps. And seeing the back of Feeney yet again is news more warmly received than one of Betty’s famous hot pots in the Rovers Return.