Belfodil deal done - BOOM!!!!

[stainrodisalegend]

Di Carmine? He was young, inexperienced and from a sexy Serie A side with a cool kit too. Pellicori? Tomassi??

Crouch would near on guarantee promotion - would certainly be far more use than a untried kid whose never played in England! £5m for promotion is chicken feed. If we wanted to he could sit on the bench for his remaining 2.5 years on his contract. Plus, there wouldn't be any shortage of buyers if Harry felt he could no longer do a job in the PL. There's very little risk buying a 32 year old Crouch (experience, goals, good injury record).

Taarabt wasn't untried - we'd had him on loan for months previously and his ability (if not his attitude) were very well known throughout the country.

Stoke have said they won't sell Crouch so bit pointless saying we should sign him - we can't, even if we wanted to.

But agree this lad is a massive gamble. The scouting report someone posted up on him from an analysis of all his matches certainly doesn't inspire, but we just have to hope I guess...

[Del]

lets just give him a chance and support him FFS

Indeed. It's not rocket science really is it.

It also makes me laugh to hear comments like "Crouch would guarantee promotion".... hmmm yeah, becasue he's been inspiring the last couple of years for Stoke hasnt he, so much so he's spent large periods on the bench.

I surpose the Crouch brigade were over the moon when we signed him for £60k from Spurs and first saw him as he looked anything but a footballer and would be knocked over by a light breeze..... I expect there was a similar negative reaction without giving him a chance too. He then went on to do ok. That was then though and this is now, as he is anything but the answer.

Give this kid a chance as he may prove to be a revelation.... Where was Charlie Austin a few years ago...? Playing for Poole Town ffs. It's a good job people gave him a chance to prove himself isnt it.

[W12_Ranger]

So lets get another 34 year old who hasn't played in the champ for years and will cost us more money rather than a young talented player from Inter?
Do me a favour!!

Wasn't Tarbs that 'young unproven foreign kid' , once upon a time?

Let's be fair you know **** all about this lad from Inter like the rest of us. Crouch has a couple of seasons left in him question is who is more likely to push us over the finishing line and the majority would agree that would be Crouch. As for Taarabt he had a season and a half with us before our promotion campaign so hardly unproven we knew what we had.

[MYU]

Let's be fair you know **** all about this lad from Inter like the rest of us. Crouch has a couple of seasons left in him question is who is more likely to push us over the finishing line and the majority would agree that would be Crouch. As for Taarabt he had a season and a half with us before our promotion campaign so hardly unproven we knew what we had.

This is exactly the way I see it, but if it's going to cost us to much then I'd think twice about it. Long term I want to club to buy young and I'm sure whoever comes in, that we'll give them a chance.

[WCE]

Here's a different type of report on Belfodil which I lifted from another site.


The chatter in Italy has him heading our way imminently on a six-month loan deal with no option to buy. His stats are none too shabby and he looks a very good prospect. I remember him looking decent for Parma last season - and his return of 8 in 33 was good by Serie A standards - but I was still surprised when Inter bought him, paying a supposed 7.5 million for the right to 50% of him, ie valuing him at 15 million. I think the figures must be nonsense. But what's worth noticing is that Parma clearly rated him - hanging on to half his registration in the expectation that he would be worth seriously big money in the future. Inter also clearly rated him, and continue to rate him. Thus the lack of an option to buy. He has come on as a substitute in most of their games this season and was only dropped from the squad when he put in a transfer request, citing his desire for more game time to try and secure a place in the Algeria world cup squad. His chances at Inter have been slim, but he hasn't really disappointed. In all he's played just over 180 minutes in Serie A and scored once. A good return. In the Coppa Italia he played twice, scored once. Not bad, especially given that when they brought him on he tended to play as a wide man rather than as centre forward. Inter aren't a great side this last couple of years, its true. But they'll still be top six this year.

If there was a possibility that we were about to sign a young talent from a top six side in England, playing almost every game (though as substitute) for a Liverpool, say, and scoring once every two games, I reckon we'd think we were about to stage quite a coup. Of course we probably won't. And if we do, he could well end up as another Macheda. But his career so far is much, much more promising than Federico's. Why would he join us? Well, apart from the grotesque salary we are no doubt dangling his way, it may be that he genuinely does want playing time and feels that he is more likely to get it with us in the Championship than with any Premiership side. If he does arrive, my only worry would be that to entice him here we might have had to guarantee him a certain number of starts (fitness permitting, of course). If that were the case, it wouldn't mean playing a mandatory 442 as he's comfortable in a advanced midfield role, but it would mean that if he turns out to be Macheda mark two, we'd be stuffed.

[oldhoop]

Here's a different type of report on Belfodil which I lifted from another site.


The chatter in Italy has him heading our way imminently on a six-month loan deal with no option to buy. His stats are none too shabby and he looks a very good prospect. I remember him looking decent for Parma last season - and his return of 8 in 33 was good by Serie A standards - but I was still surprised when Inter bought him, paying a supposed 7.5 million for the right to 50% of him, ie valuing him at 15 million. I think the figures must be nonsense. But what's worth noticing is that Parma clearly rated him - hanging on to half his registration in the expectation that he would be worth seriously big money in the future. Inter also clearly rated him, and continue to rate him. Thus the lack of an option to buy. He has come on as a substitute in most of their games this season and was only dropped from the squad when he put in a transfer request, citing his desire for more game time to try and secure a place in the Algeria world cup squad. His chances at Inter have been slim, but he hasn't really disappointed. In all he's played just over 180 minutes in Serie A and scored once. A good return. In the Coppa Italia he played twice, scored once. Not bad, especially given that when they brought him on he tended to play as a wide man rather than as centre forward. Inter aren't a great side this last couple of years, its true. But they'll still be top six this year.

If there was a possibility that we were about to sign a young talent from a top six side in England, playing almost every game (though as substitute) for a Liverpool, say, and scoring once every two games, I reckon we'd think we were about to stage quite a coup. Of course we probably won't. And if we do, he could well end up as another Macheda. But his career so far is much, much more promising than Federico's. Why would he join us? Well, apart from the grotesque salary we are no doubt dangling his way, it may be that he genuinely does want playing time and feels that he is more likely to get it with us in the Championship than with any Premiership side. If he does arrive, my only worry would be that to entice him here we might have had to guarantee him a certain number of starts (fitness permitting, of course). If that were the case, it wouldn't mean playing a mandatory 442 as he's comfortable in a advanced midfield role, but it would mean that if he turns out to be Macheda mark two, we'd be stuffed.

Great post. makes a lot of sense and may (unlikely) put some peoples mind at rest!

[Jeems]

Loving all the analysis, cant wait for when this kid eventually signs...for someone else, knowing our luck!

[West London is Rss]

Crouch is a NO NO NO NO.. Give this young kid a chance, Inter spotted something so he must have something.

The poor old kid aint even signed and some of our fans are already on his back!

[Del]

Here's a different type of report on Belfodil which I lifted from another site.


The chatter in Italy has him heading our way imminently on a six-month loan deal with no option to buy. His stats are none too shabby and he looks a very good prospect. I remember him looking decent for Parma last season - and his return of 8 in 33 was good by Serie A standards - but I was still surprised when Inter bought him, paying a supposed 7.5 million for the right to 50% of him, ie valuing him at 15 million. I think the figures must be nonsense. But what's worth noticing is that Parma clearly rated him - hanging on to half his registration in the expectation that he would be worth seriously big money in the future. Inter also clearly rated him, and continue to rate him. Thus the lack of an option to buy. He has come on as a substitute in most of their games this season and was only dropped from the squad when he put in a transfer request, citing his desire for more game time to try and secure a place in the Algeria world cup squad. His chances at Inter have been slim, but he hasn't really disappointed. In all he's played just over 180 minutes in Serie A and scored once. A good return. In the Coppa Italia he played twice, scored once. Not bad, especially given that when they brought him on he tended to play as a wide man rather than as centre forward. Inter aren't a great side this last couple of years, its true. But they'll still be top six this year.

If there was a possibility that we were about to sign a young talent from a top six side in England, playing almost every game (though as substitute) for a Liverpool, say, and scoring once every two games, I reckon we'd think we were about to stage quite a coup. Of course we probably won't. And if we do, he could well end up as another Macheda. But his career so far is much, much more promising than Federico's. Why would he join us? Well, apart from the grotesque salary we are no doubt dangling his way, it may be that he genuinely does want playing time and feels that he is more likely to get it with us in the Championship than with any Premiership side. If he does arrive, my only worry would be that to entice him here we might have had to guarantee him a certain number of starts (fitness permitting, of course). If that were the case, it wouldn't mean playing a mandatory 442 as he's comfortable in a advanced midfield role, but it would mean that if he turns out to be Macheda mark two, we'd be stuffed.

Great assessment.

Another question for the Crouch fan club who seem to think he'd guarantee goals and or promotion much moreso that this kid, what logic is that based on exactly? At Spurs he had 1 in 6 average, and and Stoke 1 in 4 average, most of which form balls lumped into the box..... He's getting older and worse year on year and would be looking for a final pay out. This lad as a young player had a 1 in 4 ratio for Parma in a league with much more defensive mentaltity.

No brainer for me as Crouch has been a spent force for years.

Add to that a club in our situation needs to think finacially also. Crouch if signed would have no future sell on value, whereas this kid would.

[WeAreQPR12]

You make some very fair points Derek but lets not pretend Crouch is sh it and would only be here for the money.

He has a soft spot for the Rangers and would put in a shift every week.

The fact that Hughes doesn't want to sell him makes this argument pretty pointless but lets wait and see this Italian kid. I am happy that he is at least a so called striker but I hope we have done some homework because I'd much rather we bought from the english league as it would certainly be less of a gamble.

[WeAreQPR12]

You make some very fair points Derek but lets not pretend Crouch is sh it and would only be here for the money.

He has a soft spot for the Rangers and would put in a shift every week.

The fact that Hughes doesn't want to sell him makes this argument pretty pointless but lets wait and see this Italian kid. I am happy that he is at least a so called striker but I hope we have done some homework because I'd much rather we bought from the english league as it would certainly be less of a gamble.

[acricketer]

Harry now saylng he is unclear at the moment about where this deal is

[Del]

You make some very fair points Derek but lets not pretend Crouch is sh it and would only be here for the money.

He has a soft spot for the Rangers and would put in a shift every week.

The fact that Hughes doesn't want to sell him makes this argument pretty pointless but lets wait and see this Italian kid. I am happy that he is at least a so called striker but I hope we have done some homework because I'd much rather we bought from the english league as it would certainly be less of a gamble.

Havent said Couch is sh1t, but he's anything but a guarantee of goals which is the suggestoin some are making. He's never been prolific and never will be. He's also not the sort of player who would score any more goals in this league than he does in the prem as his game is based on balls into the box. I would also fear with a beanpole up front, if he ever came back, players will revert to a long ball game, which is the last thing we want to see.

Also i get sick of hearing players have soft spots for clubs and would put in a shift, it means nothing if their game is lacking. DJ Campbell was a fan and was awful for us. Everyone on this forum has a soft spot and would put in a shift but would hardly be the answer.

[West London is Rss]

Sorry if already posted but if Belfodil can turn on the talent he had at Parma then we have a heck of a player.. Good addition to help Charlie boy

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=50ogR-akGSg

[bakes8]

Get more a sense of his ability from this one vs Real Madrid.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=djah05nKnm8