Steven Whittaker on 4 year deal!

[Lets be aving you! 0]

"I fully understand what your saying but if you believe we are getting in a new LB, CB, RB then why do we need him. We already have Alya, Bennet, Ward, Barnet, Tierney, Martin, Francombe plus Whittaker "

 

Of those you mention, Whittaker will be well ahead of Francomb, while Ayala & Tierney both spent long spells out injured (whereas this guy has already made about 300 appearances and has only just turned 28).

 

Also, who''s to say that, for example, Ward or Barnett will not be leaving or loaned out?

[smooth 114]

He certainly isn''t a player that we will be all going out to get his name of our shirts. But I can''t believe so many have not heard of him, when so many talk about a love of football. He has been around a while and knows a team that is expected to win, he knows a winning mentality and he knows how to do it. To bring in a player of that calibre to our team on a free is amazing but also the fact that a player of this calibre may be a squad player is even better.We have a defence that was poor last season, a handful of clean sheets and very creaky, we have added a player who can bring a little stability and this wealth of experience to the table. As mentioned Whitbread and Drury have left and hence this signing covers one of these players. I do think we need a starting centre half and I do think we need a right back. But this signing for four years is going to be one that allows to assist in developing these young defenders to play at the highest level as they get older and more experienced. That is invaluable to this team Ayala, RB are two centre halfs who can develop. R Martin is steady and has experience in leading the group and are LB and EW  have experience but all have shown an ability to not close out games in the highest division. This signing can help on the training ground and on the field with ten minutes to go.Lets look forward to the other signings that will come through our door but do not under-estimate what Whittaker is bringing to our defensive group.

[Phillip J Fry 0]

Top post Smooth.

[Icecream Snow 777]

I think the fans are sceptical after the whole Peter Grant debacle, where we found out how weak the SPL was. Hucks tells a legendary story of asking Julien Brellier why he wasn''t passing to him, when he was in space 25 yards away, only to be met with a "I can''t kick the ball that far" in reply. Or Ian Murray, who could play in any position,........ badly.The SPL is weak. Most of the "better" Celtic/Rangers players ended up at Middlesborough, struggling to tread water, so it''s hard to see Whitaker pulling up trees. Though Hughton did mention a "fresh start" so maybe he meant "kick up the arse".Having said that, we have a young, injury-prone defence, and we need some older heads in the dressing room (especially after Drury, Wilbraham, Whitbread etc have departed).

[Tangible Fixed Assets anyone? 0]

[quote user="Ernie"]

I cant believe hes been signed as a first choice right back, therefore, logically he is a squad player/stop gap which begs the question why have we signed him on a 4 year contract?  Apart from Ruddy who has just resigned for 4 years who else have we in recent times signed for 4 years?  [/quote]

Pilkington

[Ernie 0]

[quote user="Tangible Fixed Assets anyone?"][quote user="Ernie"]

I cant believe hes been signed as a first choice right back, therefore, logically he is a squad player/stop gap which begs the question why have we signed him on a 4 year contract?  Apart from Ruddy who has just resigned for 4 years who else have we in recent times signed for 4 years?  [/quote]

Pilkington

But he was what only 22?

[tom cavendish 0]

"Also, who''s to say that, for example, Ward or Barnett will not be leaving or loaned out?"Leon has a very young family and has bought a house in Norfolk so I seriously doubt that he is going to want to go out on-loan and be away from his family. Ward has a new contract.

[YankeeCanary 0]

A few random thoughts on this:

• Of course we must give the player a chance before making judgment
• We don''t know what his intended role is
• We do know that Norwich conceded more goals last season than any other team except for the bottom four. Indeed, we conceded almost 25% more than the league average and a big challenge before the start of the coming season, therefore, is to significantly shore up our defense.
• A 28 year old player who has been competing, for the most part, against teams that would struggle in the English Championship division, being awarded a 4 year contact is surprising. 
• If some of us are either underwhelmed at this signing compared to what is obviously required to shore up a weak defense then some of the other players ( both signed and unsigned ) as well as potential targets will be watching the next few weeks carefully to see what our greater intentions are.

[Webbo118 0]

[quote user="TRAVIS ASKEW"]As someone else said.... what an embarrassment some of you are. Can''t believe some of the garbage spouted! A few claim to have seen him and i quote... "can''t stress how poor he is".... B*ll*ks Ive followed City since i was 6 or 7 which is close on 40 yrs. We are in a superb position just now and although i had reservations about CH I''m willing to take on board what those (who know him better) have said. This is 1st signing since coming to Norwich and may well be cover rather than 1st choice, and will no doubt sign more players. Whittaker is a decent signing. Yes I''ve seen him play, no i dont like Rangers/Celtic so don''t care that much about them. He''s been a constant in the Rangers side including the time when they''ve struggled on and off the field over the last few years. Well done Mr Hughton a free signing for a decent squad player has to be applauded. Wait till you''ve seen him play 5 or 6 times THEN make your minds up.[/quote]

 

Were truer words ever spoken? Never heard of him? Says it all really about some of the posters on this Forum.

[Webbo118 0]

[quote user="MC Fearfull "]Yeah I think he is a decent player but we will see how it goes, I just cant help feeling a bit guilty for signing him given the whole Rangers situation.[/quote]

 

Why? Rangers have blatantly cheated to gain an unfair advantage over a considerable period of time. It gives me no pleasure in saying that as Rangers has always been my Scottish team and a trip to Ibrox is invariably an enjoyable occasion.

[YankeeCanary 0]

Apologies for the appearance. My input was done in bullet format but, for some reason, this does not work for me, even after hitting the "compatibility" yab.

[Rudolph Hucker 0]

Your computer is also spelling ''defence'' incorrectly.

[YankeeCanary 0]

[quote user="RUDOLPH HUCKER"]Your computer is also spelling ''defence'' incorrectly.[/quote]

 

I''m afraid you''re allowing your domain to cloud worldy thinking. You''re being very British here, Rudolph, perhaps even "defencive."

[YankeeCanary 0]

''worldly"

[Officer Tillys small Willies (Nigel,lappy) 0]

JESUS WEPT!!!!!!! So we''ve got at the very least back up for 3 positions on a FREE!! and still people moan like fu*k. We could sell him in four years and still turn a profit yet people are out whinging. On the plus side for the lad hes in great company

Ruddy= not as good as forster

Holt= journeyman

R.Martin= who

Ryan Bennett= another who

Paul Lambert= oh him that manager of Wycombe and Colchester, well he wont take us far.

What a joke its Hughtons judgement as defender id trust more than the halfwits who have watched youtube or played football manager9-10-11- and 12 or somebody who know someone who''s mate lives in Lancashire "but he commutes to Penrith so he must know whats going on". Sort it out fellow Canaries. Trust Hughtons judgement or fu*k off. The first thing hes done for us is being slated by a good 60% at least on here it doesnt bode well for the bloke does it.

THAT BE ALL!

[YankeeCanary 0]

[quote user="Grantham Canary"]JESUS WEPT!!!!!!! So we''ve got at the very least back up for 3 positions on a FREE!! and still people moan like fu*k. We could sell him in four years and still turn a profit yet people are out whinging. On the plus side for the lad hes in great company Ruddy= not as good as forster Holt= journeyman R.Martin= who Ryan Bennett= another who Paul Lambert= oh him that manager of Wycombe and Colchester, well he wont take us far. What a joke its Hughtons judgement as defender id trust more than the halfwits who have watched youtube or played football manager9-10-11- and 12 or somebody who know someone who''s mate lives in Lancashire "but he commutes to Penrith so he must know whats going on". Sort it out fellow Canaries. Trust Hughtons judgement or fu*k off. The first thing hes done for us is being slated by a good 60% at least on here it doesnt bode well for the bloke does it. THAT BE ALL![/quote]

 

I see you saved the best for last.

[Officer Tillys small Willies (Nigel,lappy) 0]

[quote user="YankeeCanary"]

[quote user="Grantham Canary"]JESUS WEPT!!!!!!! So we''ve got at the very least back up for 3 positions on a FREE!! and still people moan like fu*k. We could sell him in four years and still turn a profit yet people are out whinging. On the plus side for the lad hes in great company Ruddy= not as good as forster Holt= journeyman R.Martin= who Ryan Bennett= another who Paul Lambert= oh him that manager of Wycombe and Colchester, well he wont take us far. What a joke its Hughtons judgement as defender id trust more than the halfwits who have watched youtube or played football manager9-10-11- and 12 or somebody who know someone who''s mate lives in Lancashire "but he commutes to Penrith so he must know whats going on". Sort it out fellow Canaries. Trust Hughtons judgement or fu*k off. The first thing hes done for us is being slated by a good 60% at least on here it doesnt bode well for the bloke does it. THAT BE ALL![/quote]

 

I see you saved the best for last.

[/quote] Thankyou Y.C unless thats some form of American wit, its hard to tell with you lot across the drink

[Larson E Whipsnade 0]

It may not be a done deal . The consortium that now owns Rangers assets claim he is not a free agent and may start a legal challenge against the move.

[Larson E Whipsnade 0]

http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/18560798

[Buncey 1]

[quote user="Larson E Whipsnade"]It may not be a done deal . The consortium that now owns Rangers assets claim he is not a free agent and may start a legal challenge against the move.[/quote]Don''t worry about that, Whittaker, and the other Rangers players, are by law allowed to leave the new Rangers club. This is under TUPE regulations that given protection to employees when the company they work for is transferred to another company. My partner, a solicitor who specialises in contract law, says that Rangers will have some serious egg on their face if they go court.

[York Canary 29]

Snap up Naismith quickly too then

[Hog 0]

I just hope this is not what they meant when they said they would be looking at Europe for new signings, for me this is still very much lower league, could be an inspired signing but I am just a tad underwhelmed.........

[Ernie 0]

I am not the manager nor have I seen him play so yes he might well turn out to be an inspired signing.  However for some posters to slag off other posters for having an opinion on this for feeling its a unispiring and a surprising signing given its also on a 4 year deal an opinion based on simple facts is a tad unfair.  Last year was a fantastic year for us and we all want to see us progress as a club, we have come so far and we dont want to blow it now and no one is suggesting we should be signing players like Messi to compete more that it should be young players up and coming with potential or even proven quality players that will add and improve on what at present is still a good squad.  Unfortunately I dont see Whittaker as either, however if its as an experience older head to help out the younger players then fine but again why 4 years?  Just because hes free and cheap isnt a good enough reason for me we have in the past gone down this route with predictable results.  As I have said before I am not the manager and I will trust his judgement on this but dont shoot me down for thinking the same as an awful lot of other people.  Question, do we really need to sign 7/8 players with a mix of squad players as well as first team players (personally I think we have enough squad type players) or 3/4 players that you expect to go into the starting 11 which in turn will strenghten the bench and the squad.  I know what road I would perfer, but thats just my opinion.

[Unhinged Canary 375]

[quote user="Webbo118"]

[quote user="MC Fearfull "]Yeah I think he is a decent player but we will see how it goes, I just cant help feeling a bit guilty for signing him given the whole Rangers situation.[/quote]

 

Why? Rangers have blatantly cheated to gain an unfair advantage over a considerable period of time. It gives me no pleasure in saying that as Rangers has always been my Scottish team and a trip to Ibrox is invariably an enjoyable occasion.

[/quote]One which will be considerably cheaper next season........ [B]

[Webbo118 0]

[quote user="Larson E Whipsnade"]It may not be a done deal . The consortium that now owns Rangers assets claim he is not a free agent and may start a legal challenge against the move.
[/quote]

How are they going to afford the legal fees? I know, how about pretend they''ve got the money then file for administration when it comes to paying the bill.

[Webbo118 0]

[quote user="Unhinged Canary"][quote user="Webbo118"]

[quote user="MC Fearfull "]Yeah I think he is a decent player but we will see how it goes, I just cant help feeling a bit guilty for signing him given the whole Rangers situation.[/quote]

 

Why? Rangers have blatantly cheated to gain an unfair advantage over a considerable period of time. It gives me no pleasure in saying that as Rangers has always been my Scottish team and a trip to Ibrox is invariably an enjoyable occasion.

[/quote]

One which will be considerably cheaper next season........ [B]
[/quote]

 

There is always a positive side to everything. You sometimes have to look a bit harder to find it.

[Nuff Said 5,868]

[quote user="Ernie"]

personally I think we have enough squad type players.

[/quote]

In defence?

[Nuff Said 5,868]

[quote user="Ernie"]

personally I think we have enough squad type players.

[/quote]

In defence?

[Tangible Fixed Assets anyone? 0]

[quote user="York Canary"]Snap up Naismith quickly too then[/quote]

I believe he may have gone to a Swiss team.

[Oz Canary 0]

Just got off the phone from a Rangers mate of mine who told me that he thought we''d picked up a really good player in Whittaker.

He said he will do a job for us and plays anywhere across the back.

I feel better now as my mate is a good lad and always gives me the inside scoop about Rangers players.