When we signed him

everyone - and I mean everyone, pundits, rivals, fans, me, you, just everyone - thought it was a simply brilliant piece of business.

Turns out, he couldn't cut it in the Prem - he did beef up a tiny bit but he's too wispy; and his awareness was awful. Feed him the perfect pass in the perfect place and he'd do well with it, I think; but still a few looks at him were enough for most people (including me) suddenly not to rate him any more.

He was our record signing, so it's particularly significant for us. But in the bigger football world, strikers for that money are a) never top class, b) always gambles and c) usually end up failing.

I think it was a decent punt at the time. I do like the fact that our Board will take the odd punt. Neil Adams was a punt that didn't work out. But Alex Neil is a punt that's looking rather good at the minute. You can't take those kind of calls and expect 100% of them to work. The same Board took both calls. Give me that Board over one that would have appointed Arry and Warnock in some order or the other any day.

Still and all Ricky's dead meat and the most profitable - or least lossable - way we can offload him, we should. He was s**t in the Prem; if anything he'd be worse in the chumps.

Posted By: Old Man, Apr 7, 19:18:37