Saints sign Dean Hammond from Colchester

[SO16_Saint]

wonder who sanctioned the deal, as the U's boss left this AM

[Colinjb]

wonder who sanctioned the deal, as the U's boss left this AM

 

The chairman no doubt.

[SET]

wonder who sanctioned the deal, as the U's boss left this AM

 

 

i heard it was Edward John Smith

[Matthew Le God]

wonder who sanctioned the deal, as the U's boss left this AM

 

The chairman.

[Ivan Katalinic's 'tache]

Saw him a couple of times at Brighton. Good player, hope this happens. Generally sits in front of the back four and directs play; good passer; good organiser and decent at set pieces. Tall as well, so helpful when defending corners. Wilkins made him captain at Brighton and, my Seagulls mates tell me, was very disappointed to lose him but they needed the fee as he was out of contract at the end of the season.

 

Very surprised we've announced it before he's signed but it must be pretty much a done deal to have done so. I would hope he's not in the Colchester squad for tonight, if he's on his way to us? It would be just our luck for him to have a farewell appearance followed by a nasty injury!!

[Hatch]

I hope we don't sign him now after this thread.

 

To much whooosh.

[red&white56]

This is great news if it comes to fruition - I think we need to sort out the midfield before we do anything else.

[krissyboy31]

Colchester have called a press conference for this afternoon (Yes a real one!!). Maybe there are more underlying problems there.

[Scudamore]

I hope we don't sign him now after this thread.

 

To much whooosh.

 

Toomuch Whoosh? Not sure we wanna be signing players from non league...

[Colinjb]

Colchester have called a press conference for this afternoon (Yes a real one!!). Maybe there are more underlying problems there.

 

1 o clock I read. So we'll soon find out....

[Toadhall Saint]

Colchester have called a press conference for this afternoon (Yes a real one!!). Maybe there are more underlying problems there.

 

i'll guess Chairman Ok's this deal - Manager et al walk out?

[ecuk268]

See also /www.dailyecho.co.uk/sport/4551602.Saints_in_talks_with_midfielder/

[Colinjb]

Toomuch Whoosh? Not sure we wanna be signing players from non league...

 

Not sure, heard he is great in the air.

[Arizona]

HAM mond?

LAMB ert?

I'm very glad we're doing such meaty (Murty?) signings.

Roll on the return of Chicken George...

 

All we need now it to sign Brian Sausages from Aberdeen.

[.comsaint]

Colchester have a couple of very handy players in all fairness. Perhaps we ought to go back & see if we can nab another player or two...

[Smirking_Saint]

I am not great with Lower league football.

 

However he seems a tall battling midfielder and is obviously a leader.

 

Anyone know if he is really any good ?? I assume he is.

[Minty]

Another good medium-term signing IMO, like Lambert. Someone who has real quality at this level, and who may even do a good job for us in the CCC if the squad can galvanize and get promoted next year, but who is not too expensive.

 

This policy is exactly right IMO... quality players to help us get out of this division, who have the potential to do will in the CCC, but who ultimately we are not pinning our long-term future on. If they grow with us (like Murty did at Reading), so be it, and we benefit, but we are keeping our powder mostly dry for further signings in the years to come if and when we gain promotion.

[SO16_Saint]

blimey - didnt realise they're top of the league.

 

my gaze hasn't ventured that far up for a while!

[greg_hill]

..and by the looks of it, what a bloody good team we may have.

 

We're filling it with all of the other teams best players...only one way we're going if we do that! (Ok - hammond and Lambert so far - but still, it's intent IMO.)

 

But add to that we already have the best 'keeper and (if either stays) another of the best strikers in Rasiak or Saga. WT would probably rank in the top ten CBs of this league, too. He desperately needs a defensive partner, though.

[shurlock]

Excellent news.

 

Given the distinct lack of news until everything is signed, sealed and delivered (something which I dont have a problem with), this is quite a change in comms policy. Is the club already out doing to a goodwill tour, eager to reassure the fans?

[sentry]

will this go some way to satisfy the masses who think we are not doing enough

 

Murty

Harding

Lambert (the divisions best striker)

now this guy (a rival captain)

 

 

with more to come...does this show we are penny pinching or not showing intent..

 

ffs, a win tonight and it will be automatic promotion again..

 

In premiership terms its like

 

murty = neville

harding = cole

Lambert = Torres

Hammond = lampard

[OfnPanad]

At least we're adding ''captains'' down the spine of the team.

 

Now all we need is a CB....who is the captain of his current team

 

...ermm...don;t want to piddle on your bbq but wasn't Wotton Plymouth captain?

 

Seriously this Hammond lad sounds like exactly what we need.

 

COYR!

[Minty]

I would suggest it's simply at a stage where whatever is left to do, is considered a formality, so Cortese/Pardew (and I assume Colchester too) are happy for the news to be released.

[kpturner]

sorry. thought you were being dim, not just unfunny.

I try.

[Clifford Nelson]

Since he is an offensive midfielder with a goal ratio of about 1:10, who will be his defensive partner. Morgan, Gillet or Wotton? Since Gillet is out of favour, and nobody wants Wotton, how's Morgan as a defensive midfielder?

[hypochondriac]

Anyone have a link to a Colchester forum talking about hammond?

[shurlock]

In premiership terms its like

 

murty = neville

harding = cole

Lambert = Torres

Hammond = lampard

 

As long as you dont have gerrard and lampard in there together, we'll walk this league:D

[Verbal]

If the team is improving in inverse proportion to the sinking IQ on this thread. let's hope we achieve true imbecile levels soon-ish.

 

And to those with the Hammond organ witticisms - stop it, you're showing your age.

[kpturner]

Since he is an offensive midfielder

What is offensive about him? He looked OK in the OS picture.

[Colinjb]

Since he is an offensive midfielder with a goal ratio of about 1:10, who will be his defensive partner. Morgan, Gillet or Wotton? Since Gillet is out of favour, and nobody wants Wotton, how's Morgan as a defensive midfielder?

 

I get the impression that Hammond is just as comfortable in a defensive role as he is attacking. He can work aggresively work box to box allowing room for Spiderman to be creative and rangey.

[SO16_Saint]

http://forum.cu-fcchat.com/viewforum.php?f=5

[Toadhall Saint]

If the team is improving in inverse proportion to the sinking IQ on this thread. let's hope we achieve true imbecile levels soon-ish.

 

And to those with the Hammond organ witticisms - stop it, you're showing your age.

 

 

Nowt wrong with that - I was hoping to get a Ray Manzurak (sic) line in somewhere!

[St.Patrik]

Their forum have crashed : / Dont they have Baj or Stevegrant to help them out ?

[Ponty]

That board seems to be having server issues due to high traffic. Who'd have thunk it?

[Colinjb]

http://forum.cu-fcchat.com/viewforum.php?f=5

 

"Due to unprecedented traffic levels, the board is temporarily disabled, please check back later."

 

We never used to get polite appologies.

[shurlock]

http://forum.cu-fcchat.com/viewforum.php?f=5

 

Temporarily disabled - the invading hordes have arrived:smt117

[Pancake]

"Due to unprecedented traffic levels, the board is temporarily disabled, please check back later."

 

We never used to get polite appologies.

 

I believe one of our better ones was "The server is down for *whatever reason*. Its a nice day, go outside in the sun" or similar.

[SaintRichmond]

Absolute rubbish!! None of the players loaned out were allowed to play against us.

 

Tut Tut ... Apologies .... what I meant was that, although they may not have been allowed to play against us .... they DID contribute to their (respective) Teams points toatal .... which did count against us, and the other two relegated Teams, at the end of the season .....

 

 

 

 

 

...... Don't get so Tetchy Rupert .........have a lie down, ....there's a dear .... or possibly deer.....

[SO16_Saint]

"Due to unprecedented traffic levels, the board is temporarily disabled, please check back later."

 

We never used to get polite appologies.

 

aint that nice!! all we get is "fark orf, we're closed"

[Armitage Shanks]

Just had a call from a good friend who supports Colchester. To say he is ****ed off is an understatement. Hammond is the key man in their side. The majority of their play is done through him. He's big and commanding, a good tackler, very good in the air and knows where the net is. Stick him right in the middle of the park and use him as the axis around which everything revolves. Sounds a good signing.

[Colinjb]

I believe one of our better ones was "The server is down for *whatever reason*. Its a nice day, go outside in the sun" or similar.

 

Yeah, that was 'alright.'

[Toadhall Saint]

Just had a call from a good friend who supports Colchester. To say he is ****ed off is an understatement. Hammond is the key man in their side. The majority of their play is done through him. He's big and commanding, a good tackler, very good in the air and knows where the net is. Stick him right in the middle of the park and use him as the axis around which everything revolves. Sounds a good signing.

 

 

Sounds even better!

[SaintRichmond]

Not sure, heard he is great in the air.

 

... You mean he's like Biggles ????

[ottery st mary]

Just had a call from a good friend who supports Colchester. To say he is ****ed off is an understatement. Hammond is the key man in their side. The majority of their play is done through him. He's big and commanding, a good tackler, very good in the air and knows where the net is. Stick him right in the middle of the park and use him as the axis around which everything revolves. Sounds a good signing.

 

Very much the description given by Claridge report in the Guardian as mentioned above.....Sounds sooo good:)

[benjii]

Can't say I've seen the guy play but I'm still excited by this possible signing:

 

1) Replacement for Wotton presumably so should see our ball use and retention improve;

 

2) Clearly accomplished at this level;

 

3) A signing which will really hurt the departing club, which is in our division.

 

On paper then, excellent.

[Minty]

Just had a call from a good friend who supports Colchester. To say he is ****ed off is an understatement. Hammond is the key man in their side. The majority of their play is done through him. He's big and commanding, a good tackler, very good in the air and knows where the net is. Stick him right in the middle of the park and use him as the axis around which everything revolves. Sounds a good signing.

 

If this is true (and I have no reason to doubt it, obviously!) then he could be potentially the single most important signing we make.

 

Players like him, MAKE the team play football. They create space for themselves, they demand the ball, they keep the play simple, until such time as they spot an opening or can prompt a move. If nothing is forthcoming, they keep possession, but when an opportunity arises, they exploit it. Performences like Huddersfield will still happen, but it's less likely when you have midfielders who want the ball, infact DEMAND it, from the defence, and force the pattern of play.

 

The more I hear, the more I like.

[Thedelldays]

Another good medium-term signing IMO, like Lambert. Someone who has real quality at this level, and who may even do a good job for us in the CCC if the squad can galvanize and get promoted next year, but who is not too expensive.

 

This policy is exactly right IMO... quality players to help us get out of this division, who have the potential to do will in the CCC, but who ultimately we are not pinning our long-term future on. If they grow with us (like Murty did at Reading), so be it, and we benefit, but we are keeping our powder mostly dry for further signings in the years to come if and when we gain promotion.

indeed...it is good buying real quality for the league we are in...quite exciting really..

 

Murty

Harding

Lambert

This new guy..

 

all would be wanted be at least 20 teams in this league

[ottery st mary]

Steve Claridge seemed to rate him a couple of years ago:

 

http://www.guardian.co.uk/football/2007/sep/25/newsstory.brighton

 

 

Sounds ideal.

 

Good spot and well worth the read:)

 

 

I will have to change my location to coaching our new midfielder Hammond.

 

The reports to his all round game with Defence marking at corners and set pieces sounds what the doctor ordered.

 

COYRs

Edited 18 August, 2009 by ottery st mary

[krissyboy31]

Tut Tut ... Apologies .... what I meant was that, although they may not have been allowed to play against us .... they DID contribute to their (respective) Teams points toatal .... which did count against us, and the other two relegated Teams, at the end of the season .....

 

 

 

 

 

...... Don't get so Tetchy Rupert .........have a lie down, ....there's a dear .... or possibly deer.....

 

Because every post on every thread manages to get back to Lowe. Move on FFS!!!

[.comsaint]

If this is true (and I have no reason to doubt it, obviously!) then he could be potentially the single most important signing we make.

 

Players like him, MAKE the team play football. They create space for themselves, they demand the ball, they keep the play simple, until such time as they spot an opening or can prompt a move. If nothing is forthcoming, they keep possession, but when an opportunity arises, they exploit it. Performences like Huddersfield will still happen, but it's less likely when you have midfielders who want the ball, infact DEMAND it, from the defence, and force the pattern of play.

 

The more I hear, the more I like.

 

Ditto. He "sounds" like the exact type of player/midfield general/playmaker we've been crying-out for since I don't know when...years!