As I write, the official City website has just confirmed the arrival of Johan Elmander from Galatasary on a season-long.
Earlier today – in not untypical fashion – Galatasaray’s technical director, Bulent Tulun, blurted out, to Swedish daily newspaper Expressen, confirmation that a fee had been agreed with his ‘new club Norwich’.
Whether the confirmation of a fee pertains to a ‘loan fee’ or an end of season agreement for a permanent transfer will likely remain a secret for now.
With Sky Sports News earlier reporting that his medical had been successfully completed, it appeared only a matter of time before Joe Ferrari and his team dusted down the ‘press conference’ signs. Instead the official City Twitter feed caught us all by surprise with a picture of Elmander wearing the shirt and holding aloft the scarf. The press conference can wait for another day.
What it does probably signal is the end of Hughton’s summer long search for strikers; one that has seen him scour all four corners of Europe for firepower in the hope of a collective improvement the on the all-too frugal 2012/13 record of just over a goal a game (41 from 38).
For Grant Holt, Simeon Jackson, Steve Morison and Chris Martin now read Ricky van Wolfswinkel, Gary Hooper, Luciano Becchio and Johan Elmander.
An improvement?
Of course time will tell, but on paper (not grass for the moment) the options at Hughton’s disposal look to be a notch or two higher than they were a year ago. Indeed if van Wolfswinkel’s ratio of one goal for every twelve touches of the ball continues things are looking more than a little rosy…
Certainly in terms of value we’re on another plane right now but – as QPR will testify – spending big means little if the players in question under-perform
Again, time will tell.
As well as being a doppelgänger for Grant Holt, Elmander also brings to the table similar qualities; big, strong, powerful and an ability to play ‘back to goal’. Throw into the mix a good first touch, 71 full international caps and a domestic goal-scoring ratio of almost one in three and it’s easy to see why Hughton and Ewan Chester perceive Elmander as one who can help the cause.
Interestingly, while now 32 years of age, Elmander is still a first choice striker for the Swedish national side and is in fact currently consigning one Ola Toivonen (heard of him?) to a place on the bench.
Sounds like a decent bit of business to me.
Clearly there will be those who question why City would want to trade a 32 year-old ‘old-fashioned’ centre-forward for a 32 year-old ‘old-fashioned’ centre-forward, but those same souls would be well advised to recall Holty’s words when in conversation last week with BBC Radio Norfolk’s Rob Butler and Paul McVeigh.
The big man wanted out – he made that abundantly clear – and to have kept him would have meant one grumpy Cumbrian, and that would have been counter-productive for everyone… well, apart from Ipswich.
Elmander on the other hand will likely arrive with an appetite belying that normally associated with one of such experience – his time at Bolton being less productive than elsewhere on his European travels – with unfinished business at the English top table.
I may be wrong, but remain to be convinced the same could be said of the aforementioned Toivonen and Quagliarella (or Alderweireld for that matter), all of whom transmit an air of ‘you’d be lucky to have me’.
Whether David McNally has one final trick up his sleeve in the shape of a central defender will be an interesting one. Clearly there has been work ongoing to bolster the squad in that area, but with Alderweireld’s being the only name mentioned with any level of intent, the suggestion is the striking department has been the top priority.
If the focus now shifts to defensive cover, McNally has twelve days and counting to place the final piece in a very sizeable jig-saw.
If not, with eight new faces having pitched up in the fine city over the summer months, there will be few complaints – particularly with Messrs Martin and Whittaker issuing timely reminders to the boss on Saturday of their ability to cut it.
Such was the composure shown by Russell Martin in the centre of defence one begins to wonder whether a Martin/Bassong combination may yet enter the manager’s thinking; stranger things and all that…
So… with Elmander now on board, Fer available, Hooper, Snodgrass and Pilkington all edging ever closer to full fitness, all eyes will be glued to #NCFC at around 2PM on Saturday for team news.
I can’t wait.
With all due respect to Grant Holt this is not a like-for-like replacement. Elmander, like Dion Dublin, has international class that Holt has never had. He may not have as big a heart, but we are getting to the stage now where heart is not going to be enough. I know some felt Holt was poorly treated over the England squad. I don’t. For me he was v=never quite good enough for that.
I’m still slightly puzzled by this signing though; how often will he play? If regularly then in what role? And if he is first pick how often will Hooper or the Wolf play? As for Becchio this seems to be another admission that what Hughton thought he saw certainly wasn’t what he got.t was a poor deal.
I would have expected to see another defender in place. Perhaps we still will. But overall though I like what has happened this summer.
I’ve always felt that Dutch and Scandinavian players are a good bet for our level; they seem better able to fit in and less inclined to sulk than the Spanish, French, Italians, colonial Africans or South Americans. Sure, if you are in the Suarez/Torres/Drogba league then you go for them. But we are not and picking up their compatriots who think they are as good, but actually aren’t, is a major risk.
I get the impression that’s what a number of Premiership clubs whom we would regard as rivals have done. We may see if that’s true when the high-spending Saints come marching in.
Yeah, nice piece Garry.
With Elmander’s twittering this has been out of the bag for a while.
It does indeed look like excellent business – a year load seems eminently sensible. Presumably he is back up / competition. It’d be nice to see another few like his Bolton/ wolves all time goal of the premiership though.
OTBC
Good signing and can play in Hoolahan role hopefully letting Fer play in his best position at the expense of Howson.
I still think we will be looking o replace Beccio with another (maybe Quagliarella) so don’t be surprised to see another forward longish a new defender.
There has been a lot of fuss that it’s an unnecessary signing or the ‘wrong’ signing – but we’ve got an experienced full international here who has something to prove. That’s clearly a step up from Holt. I’m looking forward to seeing how CH fits all his strikers in now…
Incidentally, Elmander isn’t on Twitter, the account in his name is a fake!
Johan Elmander >> Oh Man, Jeer Land!
Let’s hope that’s not what he’s thinking in 3 months time.
PL experience – yes,
international experience – yes..
what’s he got that Carlton Cole hasn’t?
Technical skills for a start, Anna. Elmander is not just a goalscorer, he is a creative player who will blend well with both RvW and Hooper, linking with the midfield and making things happen. Exciting signing!
Anna Ram, one for you….
Carlton Cole = ‘ell no, to AR/CC
Perhaps you and Rick Lime should get together and start a movement – which would be more than CC could offer (boom boom)
Elmander will definitely offer us more options but I hope we persist with the youngsters first. We have to evolve the team over the next 2-3 years, to establish ourselves as PL residents, not transients. Elmander is here for one season probably, to be used when needed, as cover or an impact player, and I would be happy with that.
I haven’t seen enough of Becchio in a City shirt to truly have an opinion, but his touch to set up Howson at the end of last season looked promising. However, it would appear that CH has made his mind up. So if he doesn’t intend using him then he should consider moving him on, which I think would be harsh, and, if we still have money in the pot, go for someone else – but not Carlton Cole !