Friday 29 August 2008

Primus debacle continues...

Yesterday he was "definitely" coming but the paperwork had "yet to be completed." Bearing in mind the uncertainty so far, this looks no more certain than Wednesday's "off" rumours. Reading between the lines, it looks like we might be trying to save face here and accept a shorter loan period than we want.

Primus would undoubtedly strengthen our current team and he would be a good signing in terms of his quality and his ability to settle quickly into the familiar surroundings of the Valley. However, he has been injured for 18 months and is 35 years old. He might offer us a little more consistency than Jonathon Fortune but Jon would probably not take too kindly to being demoted again, especially on the back of two attempts to sell him on in the last two years. If Primus comes, it should be for at least a season. That way we get the possibility of a settled defence for the year and an option to change it again in the close season if necessary. Coming in for a few months will be of limited value and he would need to be used as a second, rather than first choice on that basis. Imagine if he settles in quickly, forges the understanding with Hudson we need and then gets pulled back to bolster Pompey's Reserves in December?

The transfer window shuts on Monday, so it looks like we will lose any game of brinkmanship with Harry Daley. I wouldn't be surprised if Plan B is already underway to secure another low-cost centre-half before Monday.

2 comments:

  1. I agree, I think that the benefit to us of having him here just long enough to get his match fitness back is limited. We do need cover, however, and a nearly fit 35 year-old of his ability is probably better than Youga in the middle. Not to mention what happens if we have both Semedo and Basey unavailable for a game and one of the centre halves needs to go off for any reason.

    There could, also, be the opportunity for the loan agreement to be extended or even made permanent. There could be a deal similar to that of Danny Mills last season where 'Arry wants Primus to become important to us then he might expect us to increase the percentage of his wages we pay?

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  2. Good point KHA, the Danny Mills analogy is a good one, even if Greg Halford did a decent job in his place.

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