Is Ricketts the 'Big One?'

[palexander]

After the superb news about Ricketts yesterday, I've begun wondering today if it is actually a signing that will make the rest of the league take notice?

I think we can all say that Ricketts career is on a nose-dive - for whatever reason. I think we would be saying as much if he had joined ColU...

I do think that if anyone can revive his career then it is the team at SUFC - Tilly and Brush have proven it can be done with players not held in high regard - such as the Goat and Gutts.

But from the outside looking in, I dont think anyone will care that we've signed Ricketts.

As improbable as the Lee Hendrie rumour is, it does make me wonder if we will actually make a 'bigger' signing than Ricketts in the next few weeks. Tilly has stated that he wants to sign at least one, but preferably 2 more strikers before calling his transfer deals to an end...?

 

[Barmy Army]

A former-international all be it for just 45 minutes playing for little old Southend prior to the age of 40? I'd say it's a big signing personally. Maybe other teams won't sit up and take notice of it because of the way he's played the past couple of years, but then how mant people looked at the signing of the Goat and made any noise, and look how that one benefitted us.

I can see him being a big hit here and a vital piece of the puzzle that secures us Championship football next season

 

[Leeboy]

as I said in a previous thread, for me personally I couldn't care less about his statistics, it's the fact that 'little' Southend United are attracting / have attracted high-profile recognised names - who would have thought this time last year we would sign Shaun Goater? Not me that's for sure

 

[palexander]

I wonder what we've had to stump up wages wise for Ricketts? The transfer deal is performance related and given Ricketts current form I guess that is mainly based on appearances, then goal targets, then promotion

 

[shrimperian]

This is a good point. After the intiial shock of the signing, we should take a reality check, because this could fall very flat if Ricketts doesnt work out. My gut feeling as the person who had the "sit up and take notice" conversation with Mr King, is that this is the signing to which he was referring. Ricketts was a free transfer after all and probably one of the best players available out there on such a deal within our wage structure. All this talk of Lee Hendrie is exciting but there is no evidence at all and I cannot believe that we could afford his wages. I think we would be more likely to get a player who was out of favour at his club, I think Hendrie played in the last few games of last season so why would he drop down? I do however have a suspicion that we are going to make another "name" signing next week. Dont getr me wrong, I havent seen Robbie Fowler in Boots or anything, I just think the body language and the way that one or two things have been said, would suggest that something else in on its way......but maybe I am being greedy!

 

[palexander]

Quote[/b] (shrimperian @ July 01 2006,12:53)]This is a good point. After the intiial shock of the signing, we should take a reality check, because this could fall very flat if Ricketts doesnt work out. My gut feeling as the person who had the "sit up and take notice" conversation with Mr King, is that this is the signing to which he was referring. Ricketts was a free transfer after all and probably one of the best players available out there on such a deal within our wage structure. All this talk of Lee Hendrie is exciting but there is no evidence at all and I cannot believe that we could afford his wages. I think we would be more likely to get a player who was out of favour at his club, I think Hendrie played in the last few games of last season so why would he drop down? I do however have a suspicion that we are going to make another "name" signing next week. Dont getr me wrong, I havent seen Robbie Fowler in Boots or anything, I just think the body language and the way that one or two things have been said, would suggest that something else in on its way......but maybe I am being greedy!

We have a Villa fan in the office, so I am aware of the goings on on their message boards.

I dont think O'Leary fancies Hendrie one bit. The times when he was fit last season, he was overlooked for Milner more often then not.

Trouble is, Villa have a very small squad with no depth AND no money to bring anyone in - well, they have around £3m which they earmarked for Milner who is staying at Newcastle.

I dont think Villa can afford (bodies wise) to allow a potential first-teamer out the door. If he does leave, he will probably go to Wolves or WBA for around £750,000.

Lee Hendrie WOULD be the big name signing to make people notice us thats for sure, but I am 99% certain it will not happen.

 

[Uncle Leo]

Quote[/b] (pboreham @ July 01 2006,13:00)]Trouble is, Villa have a very small squad with no depth AND no money to bring anyone in - well, they have around £3m which they earmarked for Milner who is staying at Newcastle.

I dont think Villa can afford (bodies wise) to allow a potential first-teamer out the door. If he does leave, he will probably go to Wolves or WBA for around £750,000.

Good mate of mine is the marketing manager for the online casino 32Red, who will sponsor Villa for the next two years.

32Red will have to cough up several hundred thousand pounds if Villa win the Premiership next season. Reckon their money is safe....

 

[shrimper4life]

From the article on the OS where Tilly says the signing will make the league take notice, i think this could be the player that geoff king was talking about a few weeks ago

 

[essexgirl]

Just had a text from a Bolton friend of mine, and she just hopes we dont expect him to score many goals as he's a lazy git!!!

 

[Andy_S]

Quote[/b] (essexgirl @ July 01 2006,14:35)]Just had a text from a Bolton friend of mine, and she just hopes we dont expect him to score many goals as he's a lazy git!!!

Which is why he scored so many goals for them and kept them in the Prem obviously.

Fans eh!?


As for Lee Hendrie, come on people.........

 

[Winchester Shrimper]

Ricketts is a huge player in the Southend scheme of things. However he is no bigger than the goat - I belive that there will be something bigger this week - why not - good gates, prize money and now championship money - if the intial outlay can be found (transfer and sign on fee) then I feel our club is ambitious enough to go for a huge name like Hendrie.

 

[Hong Kong Blue]

Whether Ricketts is the 'big one' for the club will depend a lot on whether he thinks he is the 'big one'.

I hope Tilly has done his research on this one. Ricketts has clearly got a lot of ability, but I'm always wary of getting players on the way down. The Goat had a fantastic attitude, Ricketts needs to match that.