Anyone for Ashton?

[scarface]

Amid all the roumours that were after Ibrahimovic and Trezeguet what would you say to seeing Dean Ashton in red? Sami and Carra had a nightmare against him in the fa cup and in my eyes is what we need, big strong deceptively fast for his size and can score with both feet and his head and has been working hard all summer (aparently) with sherringham on his creativity! And is comfortable with being on the bench for west ham! Just wonder what price west ham would have him at?

[MrMichael]

Decent player like but I just don't think they'll sell him, they haven't had him long at all, paid a fair wack for him themselves, and don't seem to be in a position where they need to sell for anything other than silly money.

I think it'll be Kuyt :D

[scarface]

My biggest problem with kuyt is you dont know what your getting with him! Your either gonna get a van nistelrooy banging 25-30 goals or your gonna get a kezman bangign in shit all! if were gonna challenge chelsea and man u then we need proven prem quality, not someone who may need a season or two to settle or someone like morientes who'll never settle!

[armitage]

I agree. Shame we didn't go in for him this time last year. If Rafa's got a fault IMO it's that he looks for young players and foreign players, but not necessarily at established players in the lower leagues. Maybe needs a couple more scouts?

[scarface]

good point! but then again i think rafas been scared off by the value of english players! remember he wanted swp but couldnt afford him pennant

[MrMichael]

My biggest problem with kuyt is you dont know what your getting with him! Your either gonna get a van nistelrooy banging 25-30 goals or your gonna get a kezman bangign in shit all! if were gonna challenge chelsea and man u then we need proven prem quality, not someone who may need a season or two to settle or someone like morientes who'll never settle!

I think Kuyt's a very different proposition.

I've spent quite a lot of time in an little Ajax footy bar in Amsterdam watching games, they all think he's the dogs in there and would be delighted if anyone took him away from Feyenoord. He's not that pacey but he is a real English style forward, hard working, not afraid to go wide or mix it with defenders, scores messy goals as well as good strikes. He is very much a Rafa style player, 110% commitment, team player, and he knows where the net is. Now we have pace with Bellamy and Gonzales I think he'd be as good a bet as anyone on the market. Reminds me a lot of a young Shearer to be honest if thats not too big a build up. All the Dutch fans I've spoken to say he's out of sight better than Kezman and very suited to English play and conditions. I think we'll have him you know :D

[PTP]

I know we were closely linked with ashton as a youngster a while back, for some reason (unsure why) why never went for him - To be honest I never thought he's be good enough but he really came on last season for West Ham - i'd suspect that West Ham would want something silly for him.

I agree, you don't really know what you will get with kuyt, so if feasable it would probably be a safer for for dean ashton.

[scarface]

but then again look at kezmans goalscoring record in holland was awesome and hes quite pacey! the prem is pacey and that was half the problem with morientes and kezman couldnt deal with it! just think we should be looking at someone whos proven in the prem!

[Rich]

I think Ashton a few years ago, was similar to Neil Mellor - he's a 'big' lad, and is wasn't concrete whether he could make that step up. We definitely had first refusal on him too, but decided not to bother.

After West Ham has paid

[scarface]

Yea your probably right overpriced english players again! why is it like that?

[Jayesh87]

He will end up at Newcastle in my opinion.

[Neuklon]

He's a bit too slow imho and I'd prefer somebody who offers us a different dimension. I'd like Saha but sadly he's down the road.

[MrMichael]

Ah, but Bellamy will offer us that different dimension though I reckon :)

[Neuklon]

Ah, but Bellamy will offer us that different dimension though I reckon :)

True, but I was talking to a Newcastle fan who said he was fairly injury prone. Without Bellers we're a bit flat-footed.

Farfan would suit me rather than Kuyt (who lacks tachnique). But Rafa has intensely scouted Kuyt for 18 months or more.

[MrMichael]

He is undoubtedly quite injury prone, but certainly no more so than St Mike ever was. All the Geordies I know are gutted we've got him. A lot of people rate Farfan but that migt well be something to do with him being rude on FM06.... didn't he turn Pompey down for a