With the imminent departure of Roger Johnson to Wolves, (though don’t take it for granted, Wolves fans are painfully aware of previous targets missed out on in the final minutes. they previously lost out to US when we picked up Scott Dann.), our defence is even more ’cause for concern’ to some fans, speculation that Scott Dann is the subject of bids from Stoke and Liam Ridgwell is being looked at by the Baggies would suggest – if true – that the only defenders remaining from last season could end up being Steven Carr, David Murphy and Curtis Davies. With all due respect, this is hardly going to put the fear of God into Championship opposition!
With this in mind, I thought I’d have a look at Steven Caldwell, a player obviously highly rated by Chris Hughton. Certainly highly rated as a Bosman free transfer, anyway!
Caldwell is Scottish, which makes you wonder did Alex McLeish ever look at him? He’s 30 years old, so only two years older (and £7m cheaper) than Roger Johnson. He began his professional career with Newcastle United, before Hughton’s time, spending time at Blackpool, Bradford and Leeds on loan, before moving to Sunderland, where despite 76 appearances in three years, he had a disappointing time with injury and not being in Roy Keane’s plans, had to move onto Burnley. He captained Burnley, and found his leadership credentials, that have led to Hughton praising him for being a ‘big influence for those around him both on the pitch and in the dressing room’. Deputy to Carr then?
Steven has ‘totted up’ ten Scottish caps, and was Burnley’s club captain during his two and a half years there. He missed very few matches through injury, so his resilience wasn’t in question at that time, but he only played ten times for his subsequent club, Wigan Athletic. Roberto Martinez, he who turned down the Villa, said “He is a leader on and off the field and a totally committed defender who will add fantastic competition to the squad.” (from BBC). Presumably he didn’t add such fantastic competition, as he wasn’t retained, but Chris Hughton will be hoping this was an error in Wigan’s judgement. Presumably, at this stage in his career, the Championship will be the better arena for his talents.
Caldwell himself said of his time at Wigan, “The first six months were great. It coincided with Gary being injured and I seemed to be involved a lot but the last three to four months were frustrating. It’s a case of sitting down with Roberto and having a chat to decide what is best for everybody. I certainly need to play more football than I did last season.” (from the Daily Record)
Critically for us, he has seen promotion from the Championship twice, with Burnley and Sunderland. Exactly the sort of player with the perfect experience for what we’ll be going through next season.
Hopefully, he’ll play a key part in our squad, perhaps as back up to Dann and Davies, perhaps a starter every week if Dann departs, but – either way – let’s hope his experience rubs off on our squad, which is shaping up well, and hopefully will have some more new arrivals before season starts. Let’s hope for Caldwell it’ll be three promotions come May.
Keep Right On
I’ve seen him play a few times and although he isn’t as good as Johnson, he is an adequate cover type of player. The worrying thing is that Blues initially released 12 players as soon as they were relegated. With Gardener, johnson and McFadden gone and with Foster, Ridgewell, Dann, Furguson, Zidic ang Jerome about to rake in another £40 million on top of the £14m alraady recouped. Where does it leave our beloved club???
21 players out and £55 Million recouped + a massive saving on wages. 5 free transfers in so far. can we expect to get in anoth 20 Bosmasns? are there 20 to 30 other bosmans any good still out there??
it seems strange a club of our stature is selling the family silver so willingly, especially given that the blues have qualified for europe, something even Liverpool were not capable of.
Last seasons failures were as a result of the squad being too small to play so many games. it makes me wonder how we will make a sustained push for promotion with a massively reduced squad and another 15 games to play?? who will be playing in the Europa League, the Accadamy kids??
There is a more sinister scenario to consider. The Chinaman looks like he will spend a singnificant spell in Jail if found Guilty 915 years +) he is due to appear in court in August at which time all his assets will be taken over. are his assets in Blues now being liquidated before the courts in Hong Kong can sieze them???
The fans deserve answers. is there about to be criminal acts to strip assets and abscond?
915 years? bloody hell.
Should be out in time to see his team win their next trophy then !!
not 915 years, i’m sure he will get some time off for good behaviour. still he’ll make a bob or 2 cutting hair in hong kong nick
Boom and Bust – I think we are in for a long road ahead only sorrows for the next few years before the joys – but they will come. Chris H. needs all of us to back him all the way. We’re in for a relegation fight – but don’t turn on Chris. H. he is a top man and a pure pro. respected by all. I supported them through the Kumars (pigeon sh** shirts and all) – it will be the same now. It’s never been easy to be blues fan. Where did it go wrong this time ?? McCleish broke up a side with chemistry when he wouldn’t buy Benitez – I said it at the time – keep a winning side together – you never know what makes it tick in football – but Benitez kept all the defenders on their back foot and allowed Jerome more room. Then we put Jerome up front on his own – against prem. defenders – what joke. KRO. let’s roll our sleeves and support whoever manages to get out on the pitch. McCleish might come and go, Pannu and Young – but the fans go on forever – stick together and get behind them.