Hammill - the return of the prodigal son?

[saj]

Not questioning you, just not sure what you mean. How is the group stage different from knockouts and how does that affect Hammil?

After the group stages, changes can be made to the Champions league squads.

If we get rid of Pennant which is looking almost certain, then ideally we would like to replace him with some sort of flair player and Pennant is English and this is key factor because of the squad restrictions imposed by Uefa in the Champions League. Nabil El Zhar would be perfect or even Insua but both of them are foreign and neither came through our academy - to accomodate one of those players, we would have to get rid of some of the foreign players registered in the Champions League squad (Rafa could realistically get shot of Dossena for Insua). Therefore we would need to replace Pennant with an Englishman and Hammill is the only English flair player we have on our books and he fits into the quota restriction.

Its the same reason as Martin Kelly being included in the squad when hardly anybody had even heard of him and Hyypia was not included.

[AFII]

After the group stages, changes can be made to the Champions league squads.

If we get rid of Pennant which is looking almost certain, then ideally we would like to replace him with some sort of flair player and Pennant is English and this is key factor because of the squad restrictions imposed by Uefa in the Champions League. Nabil El Zhar would be perfect or even Insua but both of them are foreign and neither came through our academy - to accomodate one of those players, we would have to get rid of some of the foreign players registered in the Champions League squad (Rafa could realistically get shot of Dossena for Insua). Therefore we would need to replace Pennant with an Englishman and Hammill is the only English flair player we have on our books and he fits into the quota restriction.

Its the same reason as Martin Kelly being included in the squad when hardly anybody had even heard of him and Hyypia was not included.

Probably the only reason to why we take him back.

[Liverpool]

But can you see him getting a game in the Champions league? Pointless really.

[saj]

Probably the only reason to why we take him back.

Exactly - it initially didn't initially make sense as to why Rafa wouldn't loan him out for the rest of the season but this is (assuming he isn't loaned out again which I don't think he will be) the most likely reason, the Champions League Squad restriction

[saj]

But can you see him getting a game in the Champions league? Pointless really.

No I can't see him getting a game at all. But Pennant is almost certainly going to be sold meaning that we there will be 1 space for an English player on our books to be allocated for the Champions League squad. Lets imagine we have a mad injury crisis where Riera, Babel, Benayoun and Kuyt are all injured/suspended. Then a player such as Hammill could be used as cover or even fill in for them. It's better to be safe than sorry. Most people on this forum feel Darby is good cover for the RB. If Darby is seen as a good player for cover, then why can't Hammill be a good cover player? If anything, he's a better or rather more advanced than Darby as he has a lot more experience.

[Exiled_red]

Is he back at Melwood now? The FA Cup game at the weekend could be a good chance for him to get a run out and show what he can do

[The Birdman]

So Hammill has gone to Barnsley for 3 months.
I can't be arsed to read all through the thread but who was it who said he is better than Riera???
Lets hope he playes lots of games for them and kicks on or he's another we'll get 500k for in the summer

[Shaggy]

So Hammill has gone to Barnsley for 3 months.
I can't be arsed to read all through the thread but who was it who said he is better than Riera???

It was rage. Laughable huh. Good job for him that he banned himself from here.

[DannyMan2006]

It was rage. Laughable huh. Good job for him that he banned himself from here.

When was that?

[Shaggy]

Not sure...think we had a coupla good results and he couldn't stand it.