The trick on these kind of afternoons is trying to work out just what the Canaries have let themselves in for; what kind of player and character have they signed in Jon Otsemobor after the 5ft 10in defender was officially unveiled today as Norwich's first fresh face of the summer.
The answer, in simple terms, is a player that wily old Crewe boss Dario Gradi actually signed twice – once on loan from Liverpool and once on a free from Rotherham United.
Not only that, but the 24-year-old right-back is also the kind of player that Gradi made vice-captain of his beloved Railwaymen side – not through, it would seem, the strength of his personality, but the power of his performances.
OK, so come this Christmas and Gradi had firmly ripped the armband off Otsemobor's sleeve as he – alongside his defensive pal Billy Jones – refused to sign a new Gresty Road deal, but even then Gradi kept playing the lad.
Or at least until the middle of February when a niggling injury gave the Crewe chief the chance to start playing right-backs new and left Otsemobor packing his bags in the background for the last three months of the season.
“Jon's performances have been terrific since we fell out over the contract,” Gradi told the Sentinel newspaper late last autumn when pupil and mentor fell out.
“He is out of my hands, as is Billy Jones now. And for all I know he could have signed for somebody now.
“He could have agreed a contract with Blackpool or someone else we are playing for instance, which is the stupidity of the situation,” said Gradi, clearly frustrated that he hadn't been able to get the one-time Liverpool trainee on a new deal and, therefore, to be able to command a transfer fee for him this summer as and when someone of Norwich's ilk came a-calling.
“A less honest player might think he ought to let in three goals in that case, but I can't fault Jon's attitude when he has played.”
Which is to the player's credit. And while he may be labelled a 'one-time Liverpool trainee', he has actually played in the Premiership for the Merseyside giants – four times in the 2003-2004 season.
He actually made his debut for the Reds a year earlier in November, 2002, in a 3-1 Carling Cup win over Southampton. Then aged 19, the lad must have had something about him to be lining up in the same team as Steven Gerrard and Co in the first place – even if various loan moves and free transfers would then follow.
Equally, Gradi is no fool and has been picking up disregarded talents for years; taking Otsemobor out of Rotherham United on a free would – traditionally – have found Gradi re-polishing the diamond and then selling it on again for a sizeable fee.
That was the plan – to polish and re-sell. Alas for Gradi, the fact that his 24th birthday fell in March left him perfectly placed to secure his own destiny this summer. He could walk out of Cheshire on a Bosman-style free and whatever saving Norwich had made on a transfer fee could then, in theory, be translated into a rather more lucrative, three-year deal for the player.
For 20-year-old team-mate Jones that option wasn't open. Out of contract, his fee will have to be set by a tribunal unless Crewe and Preston North End can come to an agreement after the youngster left Wolves trailing in his wake and joined Paul Simpson at Deepdale.
Hell occasionally hath no fury like a Crewe manager scorned as Gradi whipped the vice-captaincy off his right-back. Whatever, appeared to be the player's response.
“I'm not disappointed and won't kick up a fuss,” said Otsemobor at the time. “I was buzzing when I was made captain.
“Dario said I'd be a captain through my performances, rather than ranting and raving, because that's not me. But it's his decision.
“I've got nothing but respect for Dario. He has been a very good person to me and I think he's a great manager.”
A great manager that, nine times out of ten, knows a good player.
Which is clearly what Grant believes he has signed – a move that will get Jurgen Colin thinking.
“He is one that we have been watching for some time,” Grant told the club's official website this afternoon.
“He is strong, athletic and quick andis a very good young defender,” said the City chief, now back from his summer break and clearly in a mood to get things moving transfer-wise.
“He still has a lot to learn, of course, but it was no surproise to me that he was in the League One team of the year,” added Grant.
“He's comfortable on the ball as you'd expect from a player who learned his trade at Liverpool and played a lot of games at Crewe where Dario Gradi always encourages attractive football.”
The Canary manager – with potential deals for both David Marshall and Billy Sharp sat in his in-tray – also cited versatility as another string to the new-boy's bow.
“As well as full-back, he can play centre-back or as part of a defensive three.
“Of course, he's still got some learning to do and he's going to be in there competing for a place in the first team with everyone else, but I'm delighted to add a player of his quality to the squad,” Grant told the official website.
“I'm sure the fans will like him when they see him play and, hopefully, he will be a major asset to the club for years to come.”
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