Connor Wickham for £10million?

[Squiggles]

Re: Connor Wickham for £10million?

It depends on who else we're targeting.

Players like Walcott, Bale, Lennon, etc, have proven good investments in recent years, and the Americans will have noticed. Whether or not Wickham has proven as much as those mentioned before they moved is very debatable though.

 

[gareth_thomas]

One could argue that the money is better spent on young talent..

Wickham may cost $10 million... but his wages would be significantly less than the majority of shite 'experienced' players we are looking at..

If you look at Poulsen.. adding his transfer fee/wages/additional sign on fees the difference wouldnt be that dramatic..

however, its quite easy to see which signing is worth gambling on..

 

[LarryHagman]

I don't know if he's any good but I remember 4M being too much for Ronaldo & 5M each being too much for Walcott & Bale. Never mind.

My cockney chum in the know tells me that Arsenal are in pole position for Lukaku (who I don't know) & Hazard. He also tells me Lass Diarra is going to Spurs & that they are in the hunt for a block-busting striker (he doesn't know who tho, maybe whatshisface Frenchman at Madrid). He says he has not heard of Wickham being linked with either North London club.

 

[gareth_thomas]

Arsenal would be a good club for both of those lads...

Surely it's only a matter of time before players get pretty annoyed with Harry's addiction to signing new players.

 

[KopKing]

£10m is a lot of money for a young lad who wouldn't make the first team. Its a bit silly to compare him Rooney at that age who was a 'boy man' and had proven himself at the highest level.

 

[HC]

spurs are making all the right noises. They can buy who they like aslong as someone snaffles up modric.

They are half the team when he's kept out of the game.

Hopefully we'll see berba-carrick style exodus sometime in the next 18 months to set them back another 5 years

 

[King Binny]

http://www.dailystar.co.uk/football/view/168718/Connor-Wickham-to-stay-at-Ipswich/

TEEN sensation Connor Wickham will snub a big-money move to the Premier League next month – to see out the Championship season with Ipswich.

Liverpool, Manchester United, Chelsea, Tottenham and Arsenal have all been trailing the teenage striker.

Ipswich boss Roy Keane admitted he would have to listen to offers for Wickham, 17, but sources close to the star insist he plans to stay at the club until the summer.

Wickham starred as England Under-17s won the European Championship in May – scoring both goals in the semi-final win over France and the winner against Spain in the final – and has since made his Under-21 debut.

 

[the count]

Liverpool and Arsenal target Connor Wickham signs new deal with Ipswich

By Mel Henderson


Ipswich striker Connor Wickham, 17, signed a new, improved contract to take him through to the summer of 2013.

Wickham, who has already won England Under-21 honours, is valued at £10 million by the Tractor Boys and has been the subject of interest from London giants Tottenham and Arsenal, as well as Liverpool.
Teenage kicks: Connor Wickham in action for Ipswich against Arsenal in the first leg of their Carling Cup semi-final

Teenage kicks: Connor Wickham in action for Ipswich against Arsenal in the first leg of their Carling Cup semi-final

He told the club website: 'I've been here since I was 12 and feel I'm at the right club to progress as a player. I'm enjoying my football here.'

New Ipswich boss Paul Jewell added: 'Connor is a terrific prospect although we have to remember he's still only 17. He's got a lot of learning to do but he's got a good attitude and has shown he wants to do that.

'I'm looking forward to working with him and hopefully one day he will be playing in the Premier League - with Ipswich Town.'

 

[King Binny]

Connor Wickham has signed a new long term contract that will keep him at Portman Road until 2013.

The 17-year-old striker - who has been the subject of media speculation linking him with a host of Premier League clubs all season - put pen to paper on the deal this afternoon.

"I've been here since I was 12 years old and feel I'm at the right club to progress as a player," Connor told the Club website.

"I'm enjoying my football at Ipswich Town and am looking forward to the future here and playing my part in helping the Club reach the Premier League."

Town boss Paul Jewell added: "Connor is a terrific prospect although we have to remember he's still only 17.

"He's got a lot of learning to do but he's got a good attitude and has shown he wants to do that.

"I'm looking forward to working with him and hopefully one day he will be playing in the Premier League - with Ipswich Town."

Town Chief Executive Simon Clegg said: "We're obviously delighted that Connor has committed himself to the Club by signing a long term contract.

"He's viewed as a very good prospect by people at this Club - and in the game in general - and we are now confident that we will see him in an Ipswich Town shirt for many years to come."

 

[King Binny]

Jewell says he hopes he has some wisdom to impart from his time as a frontman with Liverpool’s youth and reserve sides, Wigan, Bradford and briefly Grimsby: “I hope so, although I wasn’t a very good striker!†he joked.

“He needs to know the game and he’ll get that as he goes along and as he makes mistakes. Hopefully, we can give him that little bit of help to make him become a player. He’s got all the raw materials, he’s got to put them together.

“When you’re 17 and a young player, you do have your peaks and troughs, so I’m really keen not to put too much pressure on the lad. But he excites me.â€

Taking the pressure off the Hereford-born striker is something Jewell sees as vital: “I think it’s really important, and I’ve said this to Connor, that we don’t expect too much of him. You forget that he’s only 17, looking at the size of him. He’s built like a man mountain, he was outstanding against Arsenal.

“But we have to be careful not to put too much pressure on his shoulders. There are very few young players, Rooney was probably one of them, who are ready to go and play at the top, top level. Players mature differently.

“I keep forgetting his only 17, you look at him, he’s 6ft 3in, he can run, he can play, he can score a goal. He’s got a lot to learn and he’s keen to learn, which is a great thing. He’s got an exciting future ahead of him and hopefully that’s with Ipswich.â€

The new boss hopes the England U21 international can avoid further fitness problems for the remainder of 2010/11: “I was looking at the stats and he’s been in and out and up and down with injuries, little niggles.Hopefully he can keep injury free, have a run of games and score some goals.â€

 

[King Binny]

The goal they were raving about over the wkend.

Connor Wickham Goal

"It was a great goal and if anyone else had come on the pitch he'd have gone past them too.

"It was like Thierry Henry against Tottenham in a north London derby all those years ago, where he picked the ball up and went past everyone.

"It should do bundles for his confidence. He's got that in his locker and deserves a lot of plaudits.

"He's got huge potential and all the tools you need to be a top-class footballer, but I have to be really careful not to put too much pressure on his very young shoulders.

"We all know he's a centre-forward and that's where he'll end up playing. But he's doing such a good job for us out on the left and it's an education for him because it's another string to his bow.

 

[Fabio]

Good goal but the defence barely tried

 

[red_maradona]

unbelievable stuff from a 17yr playing competitive football at a high standard. If we got him I could see him getting a few games when carrol and suarez are not playing upfront.

 

[The Duck]

I know he must have been knackered but the celebration needs work...

 

[Modo]

This lad could join in the summer.
But £10 Million is a hefty sum to pay.

 

[keniget]

That was playground stuff. He barely looked in control of the ball as he approached a defender.

 

[hamstrung_pigeon]

[quote author=keniget link=topic=43069.msg1281151#msg1281151 date=1297102976]
That was playground stuff. He barely looked in control of the ball as he approached a defender.
[/quote]

The pace was what surprised me. It was bloody slow!

 

[HC]

You're all being very harsh.

It was late on and I think to say he wasnt in control of the ball is a bit silly to be fair.

 

[Fabio]

Defenders still didn't try and put a tackle in

 

[Sunny]

I've watched a bit of this lad now and really don't see what all the fuss is about. The defender chasing him just gives up as well

 

[Pesam]

I'd much rather we spent the money on Andy King of Leicester. He's playing for Wales tonight if any of you are watching. Here's his 2 goals from the weekend.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/eng_div_1/9389152.stm

 

[King Binny]

Liverpool manager Kenny Dalglish made a surprise visit to Chesterfield on Tuesday night to watch young England stars Connor Wickham and Wilfried Zaha.

The pair were in action for England U19s against Germany, and Liverpool are keeping a keen eye on both.

The news that Dalglish is eyeing long-term signings will delight Liverpool fans too, with the expectation that the legendary Scot will be given the job on a full-time basis.

Wickham, who scored a stunning goal against Sheffield United last weekend, has been attracting attention for some time. And Crystal Palace youngster Zaha has been on Liverpool’s radar for months.

Dalglish will be anxious to build on the club's twin signings of Luis Suarez and Andy Carroll.

 

[Fabio]

It wasn2 stunning! The "he's english" hyperbole is being wheeled out by the press already?

 

[Avmenon]

It can get a bit much,admittedly.

The way they were going on about Jack Wilshere last night you'd think they were talking about Maradona.

 

[Wizardry]

[quote author=Avvy link=topic=43069.msg1282917#msg1282917 date=1297335699]
It can get a bit much,admittedly.

The way they were going on about Jack Wilshere last night you'd think they were talking about Maradona.
[/quote]

To be honest, Avvy, I think he's a stand-out.

It's not his physical prowess - which isn't bad by any means - but his footballing brain is tremendous. I know a number of Arsenal fans who think he can be the best in the world - and they originally thought he was pretty average.

 

[Avmenon]

Dont get me wrong, I think he's a great prospect.

Guess I was a bit ticked off with Fat Bastard and Southgate frothing at the mouth.

And a bit jealous.

Wenger gets Walcott,Ramsey and Wilshere and we get Babel.

Was it Adrian Chiles with them?

 

[King Binny]

Connor Wickham produced another attacking masterclass as Ipswich continued their revival under new manager Paul Jewell.

The 17-year-old England Under-21 striker, a £10m target for a host of Barclays Premier League clubs headed by Liverpool and Tottenham, added to his wonder goal against Sheffield United with three more in this Ipswich rout.

The visitors struck when Rovers defender Sam Hird sent a 25th-minute header looping into his own net and Colin Healy swept an instant 12-yard shot past Woods after being set up by Lee Martin eight minutes later.

Wickham put the game beyond Doncaster in the 42nd minute when he hit a first-time volley into the far corner following keeper Gary Woods' parry from a Healy drive. Gareth McAuley headed in the fifth.

‘I told Connor at half-time to go out and get another goal, and he replied that he was going to get two,’ said manager Paul Jewell.

‘That is a measure of the lad’s confidence. He really is a top talent.’

Making a good return from injury it seems. 4 goals in 4 games so far this month.

 

[King Binny]

Re: Connor Wickham for £10million?

Connor Wickham's hat trick- Doncaster v ITFC 15-02-11.mpg

Too many goals that the presenter confused a fk as a corner? 😛

 

[doctor_mac]

Took the second very well on his left. Team this boy up with the golden generation coming through the academy and we'll be league champs for a clatter of seasons. Maybe.

 

[Akakabooto]

[quote author=doctor_mac link=topic=43069.msg1286042#msg1286042 date=1297845232]
Took the second very well on his left. Team this boy up with the golden generation coming through the academy and we'll be league champs for a clatter of seasons. Maybe Definitely.
[/quote]

We might end up getting a good deal too with Jewell being their new manager. 😉