- Oct 17, 2008
- 12,908
I personally find the signing of Dean Hammond extremely disappointing. Hammond was, for us, a decent League One player many years ago - in the context of a middling side. We are now a Championship team who, I believe, should be strengthening in our push towards the Premier League.
I saw Hammond at an away fixture (it proved to be his final appearance in an Albion shirt - or so we thought) intentionally dive in two footed, about fifteen minutes into the match. He got a deserved straight red card and, arguably, cost us the match, I would say not coincidentally in the middle of his ongoing contract dispute with Wilkins/Knight. He subsequently moved to Southampton for a knockdown £250,000, where he served out the remainder of his suspension.
Subsequently, playing (and captaining) one of our rivals hasn't helped his popularity here (neither than infamous gesture he made at Withdean) - the guy isn't exactly proving himself to be a real fan favourite. In fact, he comes across (even now, I'm sure) to most as a lower-league mercenary - like most professional footballers.
But my reasons aren't actually personal, I genuinely question what exactly Hammond offers that Dicker, Sparrow or even Vincelot don't already within the squad. Hammond was always a plodding, hard-working box to box midfielder with a good touch but no real pace or outstanding quality to shout about; is this what we need? From what I have seen, when we are poor it is often due to a LACK of pace and ingenuity in the side; we can look extremely one-dimensional with so many square-passing midfielders in the side (these rigid (i.e. Bridcutt/Dicker/Sparrow)line ups under Gus often coincide with our very poorest performances/results under his tenure)) - I would argue that Hammond is exactly what we DON'T need. As a season ticket holder at the time of Hammond's 'success', he was playing alongside the likes of Kerry Mayo, Richard Carpenter and Marc McCammon - who I'm sure are all lovely guys, but not exactly pushing-for-Premier-League material. Now, a few years on - surely no quicker, loathed by some fan and not needed by a struggling Premier League side, I question our ambition in signing him.
In earnest, I think this signing is extremely negative; re-signing Crofts - a better all-round footballer who went on to get Premier League experience after leaving us, and who left on good terms, was one thing - re-signing Hammond is a different kettle of fish and very troubling. I'd go for Vincelot (deemed surplus) over Hammond any day.
I saw Hammond at an away fixture (it proved to be his final appearance in an Albion shirt - or so we thought) intentionally dive in two footed, about fifteen minutes into the match. He got a deserved straight red card and, arguably, cost us the match, I would say not coincidentally in the middle of his ongoing contract dispute with Wilkins/Knight. He subsequently moved to Southampton for a knockdown £250,000, where he served out the remainder of his suspension.
Subsequently, playing (and captaining) one of our rivals hasn't helped his popularity here (neither than infamous gesture he made at Withdean) - the guy isn't exactly proving himself to be a real fan favourite. In fact, he comes across (even now, I'm sure) to most as a lower-league mercenary - like most professional footballers.
But my reasons aren't actually personal, I genuinely question what exactly Hammond offers that Dicker, Sparrow or even Vincelot don't already within the squad. Hammond was always a plodding, hard-working box to box midfielder with a good touch but no real pace or outstanding quality to shout about; is this what we need? From what I have seen, when we are poor it is often due to a LACK of pace and ingenuity in the side; we can look extremely one-dimensional with so many square-passing midfielders in the side (these rigid (i.e. Bridcutt/Dicker/Sparrow)line ups under Gus often coincide with our very poorest performances/results under his tenure)) - I would argue that Hammond is exactly what we DON'T need. As a season ticket holder at the time of Hammond's 'success', he was playing alongside the likes of Kerry Mayo, Richard Carpenter and Marc McCammon - who I'm sure are all lovely guys, but not exactly pushing-for-Premier-League material. Now, a few years on - surely no quicker, loathed by some fan and not needed by a struggling Premier League side, I question our ambition in signing him.
In earnest, I think this signing is extremely negative; re-signing Crofts - a better all-round footballer who went on to get Premier League experience after leaving us, and who left on good terms, was one thing - re-signing Hammond is a different kettle of fish and very troubling. I'd go for Vincelot (deemed surplus) over Hammond any day.
