Michael Duberry signs...

[wightyellow]

Im not arguing about the merits of Duberry vs Creighton, but accoring to the font of everything we have never lost to gateshead or ever conceded 7. (imagine coneding 7 and winning!)

OUFC's record against Gateshead
Manager Season Date Competition Attendance Venue Result Score
Chris Wilder 2009/10 27-03-2010 Conference 5986 Home Won 2-1
Chris Wilder 2009/10 26-09-2009 Conference 1144 Away Won 1-0

[JoeyBeauchamp]

I think he was referring to Wrexham losing at home to Gateshead 2-7 with a certain M Creighton playing

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/footbal ... 394905.stm

[Paul Cooper]

I suspect there's an implicit acknowledgment here by Wilder that letting Creighton go was a bit of an error, and the lack of experience probably cost us.

Totally disagree. Wilder decided that Creighton was not good enough. He admits that bringing a big experienced centre back is what we need, but under no circumstances is this an implicit acknowledment that letting Creighton go was an error.

Mark Creighton was a decent Conference centre back. He has proved nothing but that in my view.

[GodalmingYellow]

Hmm.

2 year deals to 35 year olds isn't usually sensible.

We definitely needed experience at centre back as we relied far too heavily on Worley last year, who should really have had the opportunity of breaks from play during the season at such a young age.

But my concerns here are that Duberry is likely to be on very high wages reducing the amount available for other players and potentially causing difficulties with other players' wage demands. He may well not have the legs any more. And we may not get full seasons from him to justify the wages and 2 year commitment.

OUFC has been down the road of signing named players before, and rarely do they end up justifying the cost.

However, on the flip side, ignoring his age and wage costs, he may be just what we need, and Wilder is right far more often than he is wrong.

I would like to hear Wilder come out and confirm that the club have not broken the bank for this signature and that he fits in with a sensible wage structure at the club.

[Snake]

Hmmm. We’re all going to be going “Hmmmm

[Baboo]

I disagree - giving two year deals to 35 year olds last seen wandering around the reserve teams of Scottish strugglers is hardly the way we want to be going.

Reserve team? He played 33 games in the SPL last season!

Still Scotland

Keep looking and I'm sure you'll find more negativity somewhere.

[JoeyBeauchamp]

Reserve team? He played 33 games in the SPL last season!

Still Scotland

Keep looking and I'm sure you'll find more negativity somewhere.

I have - his Twitter page

[Hog]

I knew he'd had a bit of bother at Leeds but I didn't realise &quotclub officials&quot had considered ending his contract in such an, ahem, unconventional, way*

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/footba ... truth.html

*okay, it is the Daily Mail!

[Out of the gloom]

I’d have preferred a few years younger and more experience in divisions 3/4 than Premier League and SPL.

Not too worried about wages budget. We’ve already signed Whing and Smalley who had other offers. Only Burge (or replacement) and backup goalkeeper required. Theses signings are expectation raising.

Will be interesting to see whether he becomes a character-around-the-squad signing (e.g. Hargreaves in his second spell) or a regular starter.

As always judge him once we’ve seen him. Welcome and good luck.

[slappy]

It doesn't seem to matter what length of contract you've got, the club seems quite good these days at sending unwanted players out on loan with a view to leaving.

I'm not sure how they manage this, compared to the days of Eddie Hutch.
Is it perhaps they are offered a lower wage, but with higher win and promotions bonuses? or The player would rather be playing somewhere else than not at all?

[GodalmingYellow]

It doesn't seem to matter what length of contract you've got, the club seems quite good these days at sending unwanted players out on loan with a view to leaving.

I'm not sure how they manage this, compared to the days of Eddie Hutch.
Is it perhaps they are offered a lower wage, but with higher win and promotions bonuses? or The player would rather be playing somewhere else than not at all?

Wages not usually an issue, as the player will still receive the same amount when out on loan as when at his registered club. The only difference is who pays it. I would imagine most players prefer playing somewhere rather than bench warming

[Yellow-Robbo]

Wooooahhh.

To be honest i'm a bit shocked by all this negativity! I don't care if he is 35, he is an experienced centre back that played 33 games in the SPL last year and once cost £4.5 million. When was the last time we signed someone like that?

Wright was a hell of a player when he had a beast by the side of him and I for one wouldn't mind seeing how Wright and Duberry pair up. Worley can only benefit by having a guy like this around, even if he isn't playing every week!

I understand people querying his 2 year contract, but even if it doesn't all work out in the first year, Dubes will be splashing about his experience and know how to all of our defence. He didn't just play at centre back in his career! I may be a closet Chelsea fan, so obviously a little biased but I think we should look at this signing in a positive way.

Like others have said, i'd be very interested to know his wages. Hopefully there is a still a chunk left in the budget.

[SmileyMan]

I may be a closet Chelsea fan, so obviously a little biased...

You are Mike Reed and I claim my five pounds!

[Yellow-Robbo]

I may be a closet Chelsea fan, so obviously a little biased...

You are Mike Reed and I claim my five pounds!

- haha, I knew something like that was coming. The Chelsea link is family, i'm Oxford born and bred

[Hog]

The St Johnstone fans seem to love him

http://www.weareperth.co.uk/vforum/show ... hp?t=15996