If Kei Kamara’s first day in the Colney ‘locker room’ is anything to go by, it could be an interesting few months. I say interesting – early indications suggest this could be the case – but even if they’re quite the opposite, we’re still sure to know all about it.
Mr Kamara – or @keikamara as he likes to be known– is a Twitter devotee and, as such, will likely take those of us who are that way inclined along on his EPL journey; all in 140 characters or less.
Already we’ve had pictures of him in his City training kit in said ‘locker room’ and another with one Darren Huckerby – colleagues from their San Jose Earthquake days. Even prior to his arrival, Kamara was engaging with members of the Yellow Army via the social network, and now that he’s finally made that long awaited journey across the pond – new working visa intact – we should expect a blow by blow account of his introduction to the quirks of Norfolk.
All a far cry from his humble beginnings in a war torn Sierra Leone – as described on the EDP website – where as a teenager he fled the bloody civil war in a leaky wooden boat and headed for the Californian sunshine.
Whether the next leg on his amazing journey is a successful English Premier League career remains to be seen – his four month City trial will decide – but one can be sure that if it doesn’t work out it won’t be for the want of trying.
Seldom has a new City signing been so overtly happy to be here and if that enthusiasm translates into performances and goals then there could yet be a glorious further twist in his story. With a brief taster of the Premier League being afforded to him by Tony Pulis in the Staffordshire badlands ( a seven day trial back in December) Kamara can now familiarise himself with the more traditional form of English ‘soccer’. At a mere 6ft 2in one suspects he lacked the necessary stature for a prolonged spell in the Potteries.
With Harry Kane having been returned to sender – his first-half appearance against Luton being a rather inglorious way to bring his Canary career to a close – Chris Hughton finds himself back to ‘as you were’ in terms of striker numbers, but with a different looking mix to his striking pool.
Still his equation is to perm one (or two) from four, but time will tell whether the current four are of a richer mix than the pre-January pool.
In terms of form, there is little doubt that Luciano Becchio is in a richer vein than Steve Morison, albeit if your staple is a 10 or 15 minute cameo then there’s little opportunity to find any.
That Becchio’s Championship strike rate is deserving of a crack at the Premier League is not in doubt – 19 reasons this season alone – but I’ll wait to be convinced that City have again trumpted Leeds in their ongoing game of transfer whist.
Despite what some would have us believe, Morison is a good player who contributed hugely to last season’s successful campaign. Yes, he went off the boil a little in the second half of the season – name me a striker that hasn’t – but still he had the mettle to emerge from it, and celebrated with that glorious equaliser at the Emirates.
Following his single-handed demolition job on the Swansea defence – Ashley Williams et al – back in October 2011, I can distinctly recall enthusing about ‘one of the best examples of centre-forward play that I can remember’ on my post-match stroll over Carrow Bridge. Granted, I am prone to exaggeration – particularly amidst the buzz of a City win – but you get my gist.
That Morison chose to keep himself to himself – didn’t indulge in the rabble rousing of others – and didn’t chose to engage with directly with fans via social media may have ironically counted against him. No reason why it should of course – each to their own – but some seem to prefer those who’ve come through the ‘Andy Hughes School of PR’. To their credit the Snake Pit’s support of ‘Moro’ was unswerving.
I may be alone, but I’ll miss him – even the odd scowl. I suspect that Leeds and Morison could be a good fit.
So… if one’s ability to communicate on social media is the key to success, then who’s to say the Kamara Norfolk adventure won’t extend into the 2013/14 season and beyond. Of course, a few goals will also help.
Anyone know if Becchio is on Twitter?
FOLLOW US ON TWITTER @norwichcityMFW
Leave a Reply