C/P Times A long thread but the last paragraph is still talking about Ellington - even if he has said "no". Hearts ready to let two more move on Phil Gordon Heart of Midlothian are ready to sell two more of the men who helped them to win the Tennent’s Scottish Cup in 2006 after entering into negotiations that could take José Goncalves to Celta Vigo in Spain and Roman Bednar to West Bromwich Albion. The Edinburgh club could earn up to £2 million with the sale of Goncalves, who plays for Portugal’s under-21 side, while Bednar is likely to go on loan to the Coca-Cola Championship club. Celta Vigo, like West Brom, are currently playing in the second tier of football, after their relegation from La Liga in May. Their coach, Hristo Stoichkov, is having to rebuild his team and has identified Goncalves as a signing target after watching the left-back play for Portugal in the European Under-21 Championships during the summer. They have offered £1.4 million for Goncalves, according to his agent, Adriano Di Vittorio, but Hearts are holding out for £2 million. Goncalves has not played for Hearts this season because of injury but has stated that he would like to leave. The 21-year-old arrived in January 2006, ostensibly from FC Thun of Switzerland, but via FBK Kaunas. Vladimir Romanov, the Hearts owner, arranged for his Lithuanian club to pick up the £600,000 fee for Goncalves but the player’s agent says that the left-back has now become a fully-fledged Hearts player in order to generate a better price in the transfer market. “The transfer was done in the summer because if a club wants to buy a player from Kaunas, the price is less than it would be in Scotland,” Di Vittorio said. “He has a contract for three more seasons in Scotland. He has been happy with Hearts but now another offer and the chance to play in another league has come, which is important.” Injuries have limited Goncalves to just 18 appearances for the Edinburgh club. Tony Mowbray, the former Hibernian manager now at West Brom, is trying to prise away another of the Hearts cup final team by taking Bednar on a season’s loan. Talks have taken place between the clubs but Hearts have yet to give a definitive answer on whether they will allow Bednar to leave. Mowbray could have a shortage of strikers if Nathan Ellington joins Watford and John Hartson — the former Celtic striker — moves to Swansea City, so Bednar would provide ideal cover.
Ellington would be an absolute quality signing and just what we need. Whilst I understand it when people say that we do not need another Striker I really don't agree. I know it has been said before but if King were to get injured the whole dimension would change. To have 2 proven tallisman would be immense and we would a lot more robust to injuries up front. Ellington and King together would be awesome with Henderson to come off the bench for a physical battle and Priskin to call on if needed. I only have to take you back to the Promotion season against the likes of Crewe and Coventry, No King and No Henderson = Trevor Benjamin! We may even have gone up automatically had they not got injured. It's all part and parcel of the game but Ellington in would strengthen the team greatly IMO.
I hear what you say but the fact of the matter is that injuries to Hendo and King would mean chances to shine for Priskin, Hoskins and Kabba. And while I don't think they are as good - I do believe they are good enough. Signing Ellington would mean that Priskin and Hoskins would never get to play. On the plus side it would mean Kabba had to go. I'd rather we concentrated our efforts elsewhere. Or even better - kept our cash for some REAL gems.
I think you misunderstand people's misgivings somewhat. Nobody would have any objection to a QUALITY striker coming to the Vic, but unless they are quality - like Ellington - then I, like many others, would be completely against it, as we have more than enough at the moment. We have yet to see anything like the best out of Kabba or Hoskins, and unless a new striker is real quality then it is not worth bringing them here. Ellington however is quality. Imagine have King and Ellington starting! Even Man U would crap their pants :]] I don't think for a minute he's coming, but we can all dream.
Agree with that, either sign quality or stick with what we have. Would love to see Ellington come though! Does anyone know if he's started a game for West Brom yet this season...?
No and he's been slated by the fans on their rivals site whenever he comes on. There's also been rumours that Hoskins may be loaned out to a League 1 side with Forest and Huddersfield mentioned.
So he obviously wants out then andd we know Aidy likes him, and he said recently he'd be going back in for a few so I can really see this one happening. Also be good to see Hoskins go on loan to somewhere like Forest for the season, who will be challenging for promotion, good experience.
where is the mention of Hoskins going on loan? Would be good for him. I really think he will do well at Watford. Very impressed with him against Gills. And to be fair he did alright in some prem games like Villa away, Blackburn at home. Could of all been different had Stewart given him a decent ball and not behind him
Nothing more than fans of both clubs appearing on Rivals and saying they've heard that he may be going to them on loan. So take it with the proverbial pinch of salt. The Forest one in particular may only because he's a Nottingham born striker who currently isn't making the first team regularly. Result = Journalist of local rag puts two and two together and comes up with the square root of **** all!
Totally agree that we should only bring in better than what we have and if we can't then don't bother. Fact is, I believe that Ellington is better than what we have (Henderson, Priskin and Hoskins). I don' think we can not sign a player like Ellington based on the fact that Hoskins and Priskin are not given a chance? Football can be a cruel game and if you are not performing then you will be replaced. If we don't sign another forward then Priskin and Hosking may both come good but if we can improve on what we have then we should. Fact is, whatever you do there is always a risk, we might buy Ellington and he may not do the biz, equally we may decide to give Priskin and Hoskings a go and find out were lumbered with a couple of dead beats (that's not my oprinion by the way!). In summary, I belive Ellington we help make us an even stronger team so if we can buy him then we should!
C+P in blue and red from another thread a few days back: - Quote: Originally Posted by Siggy View Post We are not a striker short. Sure, we'd miss Marlon, but the only way to avoid that is to have someone else of that class, and they would be expecting to play in the first team. We have adequate striker coverage. We could use a backup winger since I'm not convinced that Macnamee and Hoskins are consistent enough in that position. We could also use a battling midfielder, but Bang-Bang has shown that he can fill that spot if needed. My Reply to siggys original quote I could not agree more, we do indeed have adequate striker coverage; BUT, WE DO NOT HAVE TWO QUALITY FIRST TEAM STRIKERS!!!! We have adequate strikers by the hat full and some of them have the potential to develop into quality players, though IMHO none of them are ready yet!!! So we need another quality striker to partner Marlon!!! Probably a season long loan deal, then by next season, one of our "adequate" strikers may have developed enough to step in as Marlons main strike partner. As you can see, I am of the opinion that we do need another striker, but someone who is good enough to go straight in as first choice along side Marlon. Nathan Ellington is the type of player that could do that. As for those who think it is a bad idea to bring in another striker because the likes of, Hendo, Hoskins, Tamas and Kabba would be pushed out, I disagree with you on that point. Both Hoskins and Kabba have become utility type players, who can play up front or out wide, so I see them as cover for both positions. That leaves Tamas and Hendo, who are the main cover up front. There you are all catered for, and still room for A QUALITY STRIKER THAT WE DO NEED IMHO!!!
I don't think Hoskins has had a fair crack at the first team at all. He is a striker, and that is why we signed him. So play him as a striker and give him a couple of games for gods sake! Cup matches and reserve games will not improve him!
So far, both our league games have been potential 6 pointers against possible promotion rivals. In those games it is pretty well essential to play what Aidy considers our "best" team not to experiment.
True - but Potguy's idea is good enough. Let Hoskins play striker - or even better - in the hole - behind the striker. Hoskins behind King I believe would be awesome. He reads the game really well, joins the build-up then moves into position, he's a good passer of the ball and he CAN score goals. Against sides with slower defenders I think Will behind Marlon would be perfect.
If he wanted to join he would have done already on one of the other occasions we've tried to sign him. Don't want him.
I don't see the point of Hoskins being here if we are trying to sign another striker. Give him a run of games and see what he can do!
Calm down I didn't say 'OMG I WISH WE HAD PLAYED ALL OUR RESERVES AGAINST WOLVES I HATE THE FIRST TEAM'. :]] I only said we should be giving Hoskins some games, and actually I think will be part of our best team if he gets a run. You have to experiment to get anywhere in football, and I don't count playing him as an experiment as he has been here for 8 bloody months.
http://boards.rivals.net/default.asp?sid=919&p=16&style=2&forumId=6547&action=1&replytoid=2117148529 http://boards.rivals.net/default.asp?sid=898&p=16&style=2&forumId=6712&action=1&replytoid=528359793
Hoskins will need to earn a place, same as anyone else. He'll undoubtedly get a sniff at some point, either in cup games or as a sub, so needs to grab the chance and shine. If he doesn't, ship him out on loan.
Nor did I say you said that. Just because somebopdy disagrees with you that doesn't mean they need to "calm down"
