Argus: Hammond wants to play in Championship

[BigGully]

I would think that DK would snap anybodys hands off if they offered anything near £100k.

But just because soemone puts in an offer, it doesnt mean that Hammond himself has to accept it, irrespective what the club might want.

So if someone offers £100,000 for Hammond and say £50,000 signing on fee, why wouldnt his agent say 'hang fire' a few months and you can have your man for free and give my client £100,000 signing on fee.

Hammond is £50,000 better off and the buying club are £50,00 better off.

 

[BensGrandad]

I accept that it is down to Hammond if he signs for a new club or not, but I was just stating that I thought that if a cluib offered £100k for him DK would say yes I accept you can talk to him. I do not think that the price would get to some of the ridiculous leves expressed on here like £250k +

 

[BigGully]

I accept that it is down to Hammond if he signs for a new club or not, but I was just stating that I thought that if a cluib offered £100k for him DK would say yes I accept you can talk to him. I do not think that the price would get to some of the ridiculous leves expressed on here like £250k +

But the point is why would a buying club or Hammond himself wish to move now, the financial rewards are likely to increase when he is on a free.

 

[BensGrandad]

Maybe he wants to sort out his future and if the terms were right he would sign.

The club might want to sign him if they thought that others might be interested in the summer as to put in a bid they must rate him so other teams could also.

 

[Knotty]

So much speculation on a subject about which most of us know a very tiny percentage of the facts!

My view is

1. Hammond is entitled to want to play in the Championship

2. He and his agent are entitled to try to get the best deal they can.

3. Dick is entitled to reject DH's demands if they do not fit into the club's wage structure or their estimate of his value. We can't afford what we can't afford.
(In that respect, I am absolutely delighted that Bas has gone).

4. We are all entitled to our opinions but they should be based on our knowledge of the facts, not on guesswork or what we want to be the case. Some people are using this as a stick to beat DK, because they want to be able to. (If Dick said 2 + 2 =4 some people would try to prove him wrong). If you know all the facts and both sides of the story, fine. If you don't, your opinions and gratuitous criticisms are completely valueless.

Let's make our judgements when we know both sides of the story and something has actually happened!

 

[BigGully]

Maybe he wants to sort out his future and if the terms were right he would sign.

The club might want to sign him if they thought that others might be interested in the summer as to put in a bid they must rate him so other teams could also.

As I said earlier there might be a club out there wishing to get the deal done and throw big money about, that would be beneficial to the club, assuming that we are unable to keep him.

But the likelihood is that Summer will be the time that he moves, if that is what he does do.

 

[BigGully]

So much speculation on a subject about which most of us know a very tiny percentage of the facts!

My view is

1. Hammond is entitled to want to play in the Championship

2. He and his agent are entitled to try to get the best deal they can.

3. Dick is entitled to reject DH's demands if they do not fit into the club's wage structure or their estimate of his value. We can't afford what we can't afford.
(In that respect, I am absolutely delighted that Bas has gone).

4. We are all entitled to our opinions but they should be based on our knowledge of the facts, not on guesswork or what we want to be the case. Some people are using this as a stick to beat DK, because they want to be able to. (If Dick said 2 + 2 =4 some people would try to prove him wrong). If you know all the facts and both sides of the story, fine. If you don't, your opinions and gratuitous criticisms are completely valueless.

Let's make our judgements when we know both sides of the story and something has actually happened!

I agree with your earlier points but totally disagree with you expecting only people that know 100% any of the facts.

That would disqualify nearly everyone on here, apart from me of course !!

This board is for discussion and opinion and I think it is valid to discuss things that effect the club.

People have views and some knowledge of things that happen within the club to different degrees.

Are going to accept what DK might say pubicly as what is really happening within the club ?

 

[Knotty]

I agree with your earlier points but totally disagree with you expecting only people that know 100% any of the facts.

That would disqualify nearly everyone on here, apart from me of course !!

This board is for discussion and opinion and I think it is valid to discuss things that effect the club.

People have views and some knowledge of things that happen within the club to different degrees.

Are going to accept what DK might say pubicly as what is really happening within the club ?

I agree that people are entitled to their opinions, but some don't leave it at that. How can you have an opinion that so heaviliy criticises someone, be it DK or DH, when you do not know the facts? That IS gratuitous criticism and therefore valueless.

It is impossible to actually 'accept' what anyone says until you see what they say borne out by what subsequently happens. I have no idea if Hammond's agent is tellng the truth and without a formal statement from the club, I have seen nothing from the club from which I can form any opinion one way or the other.

If and when that happens I might be criticising one side or the other, or even both!

 

[Beach Hut]

How many chances do you get in a career that at the most is 18 years ?

He has to go for what he believes is the best offer at the time and good luck to him.

 

[Conkers]

I haven't had time to read all the posts but i'm guessing if Hammond went to Colchester this transfer window, it doesn't mean he was after Championship football does it? I know Colchester are only 5 points adrift of safety but they have got some work to do to turn around their form and start winning otherwise Hammond will be playing against us next season!
I get the feeling we won't see Hammond in a Brighton shirt next season. Spending 6 figures (supposedly) on a midfielder does seem a little odd, unless DK was/is expecting Hammond to leave. The money could have been spent a little more wisely else where (ie. Left Back, Wingers, Striker, Backup GK etc.).

 

[BigGully]

I agree that people are entitled to their opinions, but some don't leave it at that. How can you have an opinion that so heaviliy criticises someone, be it DK or DH, when you do not know the facts? That IS gratuitous criticism and therefore valueless.

It is impossible to actually 'accept' what anyone says until you see what they say borne out by what subsequently happens. I have no idea if Hammond's agent is tellng the truth and without a formal statement from the club, I have seen nothing from the club from which I can form any opinion one way or the other.

If and when that happens I might be criticising one side or the other, or even both!

Spin comes out of both the club and by players and their representatives, both sides feed us lies, some of the time.

I think it is quite healthy for debate to continue on here, criticising individuals when an opinion is made is also legitimate.

I still beleive that some on here do have some inside information and do sometime wish to share it.

 

[BigGully]

I haven't had time to read all the posts but i'm guessing if Hammond went to Colchester this transfer window, it doesn't mean he was after Championship football does it? I know Colchester are only 5 points adrift of safety but they have got some work to do to turn around their form and start winning otherwise Hammond will be playing against us next season!
I get the feeling we won't see Hammond in a Brighton shirt next season. Spending 6 figures (supposedly) on a midfielder does seem a little odd, unless DK was/is expecting Hammond to leave. The money could have been spent a little more wisely else where (ie. Left Back, Wingers, Striker, Backup GK etc.).

Who is the player that DK has paid 6 figures ??

Unless your talking about £000000 !

 

[Conkers]

Who is the player that DK has paid 6 figures ??

Unless your talking about £000000 !

The £100k mark was being thrown about alot of Thomson was it not?
It was either £25k or £100k (ish) that was being touted so I have no clue what it is!

 

[Silent Bob]

The £100k mark was being thrown about alot of Thomson was it not?
It was either £25k or £100k (ish) that was being touted so I have no clue what it is!

Well I've heard between £25k and £75k, never £100k. I think it was obvious we needed a midfielder anyway, regardless of Hammond staying or going. If he does go we may need another.

And it looks very much like he is going doesn't it? He MIGHT stay IF we go up. Pretty unlikely.

Elphick for captain?

 

[Conkers]

Well I've heard between £25k and £75k, never £100k. I think it was obvious we needed a midfielder anyway, regardless of Hammond staying or going. If he does go we may need another.

And it looks very much like he is going doesn't it? He MIGHT stay IF we go up. Pretty unlikely.

Elphick for captain?

Ok I change my stance from 6 figures to: Nearly 6 figures. Even if it was only £75k that's still alot of money to be paying for a player, especially as we rarely ever pay for a player!
Yes it was obvious we needed another midfielder but I would have thought the priority would have been another Striker or perhaps a Left Back (unless DK was confident Richards would stay for the rest of the season at the time).

 

[BigGully]

The £100k mark was being thrown about alot of Thomson was it not?
It was either £25k or £100k (ish) that was being touted so I have no clue what it is!

I beleive that there was no fee paid for Thomson.

 

[ATFC Seagull]

I beleive that there was no fee paid for Thomson.

Official club site has "undisclosed fee".

 

[BigGully]

Official club site has "undisclosed fee".

I beleive the undesclosed fee is £0.00.

 

[Mendoza]

remembering what Steve Claridge had to say

Dean Hammond, Brighton & Hove Albion


Steve Claridge
Tuesday September 25, 2007
The Guardian


The thing about Dean Hammond that surprised me most was just how much he had changed physically since I last saw him during my time at Brighton on loan two years ago. I am not sure if he has filled out too much but he has filled out more than I would have liked, which means his mobility wasn't quite as sharp as I remembered, but there were extenuating circumstances for that and he is the type of player a team should be built around - that is how highly I rate him.

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He is Albion's club captain and has scored in every home game this season, but when I went to see him one or two things happened that probably were responsible for the fact that he didn't get into areas best suited to his play. A defence that sat back too far meant he was too deep at times to support his forward or get into goalscoring positions and his fellow central midfielder was much too similar, which left them playing far too close together.
Of the two, Hammond should have the licence to get forward at every opportunity to use his strength and ability in the air because he was definitely the more dangerous half of the partnership.

His team-mates trust him with the ball even in tight areas and so they should because he has got a fantastic first touch and his retention of the ball is excellent. Defensively, too, he is spot-on, which is a real plus, and in fact when defending at corners he marked one of Yeovil Town's biggest players, Scott Guyett, matched him then mastered his aerial ability. He was just as impressive defending at free-kicks - when the ball was cleared he did not rush out before the danger had passed, like I used to do, but stayed with his man. During this game his patience and concentration were rewarded when the ball was lobbed back in and his challenge on the player he had been marking saved a certain goal.

His 20 goals in 118 league starts is a fair return but with the attributes he has he could improve on that. There are no worries about him flinching out of tackles either because he threw himself into challenges with relish. He marks in front for throws, which is another example of how his enthusiasm sometimes leads him to get caught up not only doing his own job but that of other players as well.

I would like to see him play at different paces, preferably in fits and bursts, particularly when making runs into the opposition's box, because he tended to do everything at the same tempo.He does not always communicate as strongly as he might and twice he and another player went for the same ball, which on one occasion meant they denied each other a great opportunity to score.

He is a player who has matured tremendously over the past two years as the team has evolved and he has taken the responsibility of captaincy in his stride. But he has to be aware that it is hard enough to play for yourself and he should focus on looking after his own game before selflessly looking after his team-mates. If he does that and realises his potential, Brighton have a player with a fantastic future.

Age 24

Born Hastings

Position Midfield

Height 6ft

Weight 11st 9lb

From Trainee

Heading 9/10

Passing 9/10

Tackling 8/10

Pace 8/10

Team responsibility 9/10

Valuation £750,000

 

[Lady Whistledown]

Read between the lines, guys, from where I'm sitting, it strikes me that neither side is being particularly unreasonable.

(1) Dean Hammond wants to try his luck at a higher level. Fair enough, most of us have ambition in life. I don't know if he's necessarily Championship level, but he's entitled to have a go, and that's unlikely to be with us in the near future. And if he's a free transfer, any future employer has more money to spend on his wages, so let's be realistic here: that's what he's aiming for, never mind this "looking for a better deal" with the Albion.

(2) Lots of players have some kind of loyalty clause connected to their signing on fees or bonuses- ie if they ask to leave the club, they lose the money, but if the club decides to move them on, the player still gets the cash. Therefore, on the assumption that Hammond has such a clause in his contract, it's in his interest for his agent to suggest that the club are forcing him out (because they're failing to recognise his "true worth"), rather than the player being secretly desperate to move on. The most common trick in the agents' book, and if that is the case, then it's working pretty well so far, judging by the number of people queuing to have a go at the club.

(3) On the basis that Hammond probably does want out, who can blame the Albion for wanting to know where they stand? What's wrong with asking the player or his agent to clarify the situation? If the club know he won't be around next year, they can plan accordingly, particularly in respect of lining up replacements. I have no problem with Dick Knight wanting answers in that respect.

(4) I think we're marginally better off with Hammond than without, but hey, if someone wants to offer us a couple of hundred thousand right now, I'd bite their hand off.