[Archived] Vince Grella Signs

[den]

Well that's very kind of you.

I do try to see the positives in his game Gord, but the negatives such as a big lack of pace and in my opinion being a pretty ordinary passer of the ball, just stop him being an influential midfield player. I'm not taking his fitness problems into account either.

Let me put it this way. If he could stay fit enough to gain some kind of consistency in his performances, then he might have something to offer, but I don't see that he's going to do either of those things.

[47er]

He is slow and maybe that's why some of his tackles are a little late. Not a bad passer of the ball but too slow-thinking to make it count. The basic problem is that he is a defensive central mid-fielder and its almost impossible to play both him and N'Zonzi in a 4-4-2 set-up.

None of this matters anyway because he is never,ever fit. A total waste of 4M, on the payroll but can't play. We've been done.

[Jonnolad]

We need to keep Grella at all costs, especially if fit. I know a lot of people on here don't really rate him, but with no offence intended, I believe those people are 100% wrong. Grella is a quality midfielder, who we would struggle to replace with someone better. He has not set the world alight while playing for us, but I would say that 80-90% of the games he's played for us he has stabilised us both in midfield and in defence very, very well. He is a strong link in the team and his presence turns us into a decent team. Whenever he's been in the lineup we have passed the ball along the ground a lot more than we do without him.

I'm not being funny but you seem to be either deluded or are thinking about a different player.

In some games last season he was diabolical for us. Everton at home (before he was substituted at half time), he literally couldn't pass to one of his own players - even 10 yard no pressure passes. For Man City away his defending was laughable - Alan Hansen even had a special slot at the end of MOTD to single out and highlight how bad he was (it was probably the most we featured last year on there!). His idea of last man defending consisted of standing to one side to allow Robinho through and then waving his arms in the air. This is supposed to be a defensive midfielder! In his best games for us last year (and even these were few and far between), the most you say about his performances would be competent - certainly no man of the match stuff and certainly very little to justify £4m.

As for this season - I definitely don't remember when he has stabilised our midfield and defence very very well. He's only started in 2 games we actually won so far - against Villa and the mighty Wolves. There was nothing special against Wolves and the best thing he did against Villa was getting sent off, because that's when we actually started to play. His last full game for us was our home loss against Spurs - fine stabilising of our defence from him there! He didn't feature in our excellent wins against Burnley or Portsmouth, and he only came on very late on after the game was completely won against Bolton. Feel free to enlighten me though – what games did he stabilise our midfield and defence very very well?

Of course all this is not even mentioning his massive and main drawback - he can't stay fit.

At £4m, for me he has to be in our top 5 worst ever signings. We'd never be able to get anything near that for him now and it's unlikely we'll have that kind of money to gamble with any time soon either. The most we could possibly hope to get for him would be £1.5m, but even then I don't think anyone would want him because of his crock record.

Don't tell me though - "he'll come good". When will that be then? It's soon going to be 2 seasons he's been with us. Personally, for £4m and his undoubted £30k+ a week wages (probably more), I think he should be coming good far far sooner.

Complete waste of wages IMO.

[joey_big_nose]

Well that's very kind of you.

I do try to see the positives in his game Gord, but the negatives such as a big lack of pace and in my opinion being a pretty ordinary passer of the ball, just stop him being an influential midfield player. I'm not taking his fitness problems into account either.

Let me put it this way. If he could stay fit enough to gain some kind of consistency in his performances, then he might have something to offer, but I don't see that he's going to do either of those things.

I find Grella frustrating. He is technically competant and when he plays it is easy to see we retain the ball much better and are much more fluid. He also seems to be more up to speed and closes down well (how we missed that against City....). He also can make the odd intelligent forward pass - however these are too infrequent. If he was fit he would be a regular starter I have no doubt.

On the other hand he seems to be made of glass and the wrong side of 30 so you have to say we should just about give up on him.

He has started and completed a shockingly low percentage of games. If there is a chance to sell (the notion that anyone would buy him in his current state seems ludicrous to me) then we should.

Otherwise we just have to grit our teeth and hope that one of these bargain guys we are looking to pick up has quality, and we will continue having to pay the Aussie's wage until his contract expires. There is little alternative I think.

Depressingly he is contracted to the club until August 2012 which is frankly ridiculous. Along with Diouf and Salgado he is going to be an expensive millstone round our neck.

[Steve Moss]

Depressingly he is contracted to the club until August 2012 which is frankly ridiculous. Along with Diouf and Salgado he is going to be an expensive millstone round our neck.

Reid, MGP, Dunn and Hoilett are all done the end of this season. I'd guess that Reid is on 30k/week, MGP on 45k/week, Dunn on 40k/week, and Hoilett on 20k/week. While I really hope Dunn and Hoilett re-sign, if they don't then the club has 135k/week for replacements. This is massive and could result in a positive transformation of the squad.

Salgado has the balance of this season and the next on 40k/week (estimated). So September 1, 2011 we have 40k/week available. And I think Rigters is done then, also. Call it 60k/week.

Diouf and Grella both (I think) leave Aug., 2012, which means come September 1, we have another 80k/week (estimated) available.

So if we can stay up and get to the summer, we will be able to make improvements to the squad every year for the next three years. This is oddly cheering.

[John]

Interesting to see how long he stays fit for this time.....problem is every time he comes back, he needs to build up his match sharpness then breaks down again.

Not difficult, but he is one of our better central midfielders and we are more compact when he is in the team.

[BigUts]

He is, in my eyes, a vital cog in our midfield machine. Takes no prisoners and breaks down opposition attacks. Ala Man City away...Richards would have never scored THAT goal had Grella been in the side!

[super_arran]

He is, in my eyes, a vital cog in our midfield machine. Takes no prisoners and breaks down opposition attacks. Ala Man City away...Richards would have never scored THAT goal had Grella been in the side!

Agreed.

He'd of taken one for the team and probably chopped him down haha

[47er]

He is, in my eyes, a vital cog in our midfield machine. Takes no prisoners and breaks down opposition attacks. Ala Man City away...Richards would have never scored THAT goal had Grella been in the side!

How can he be "vital" if he's almost never available?

[Majiball]

Interesting to see how long he stays fit for this time.....problem is every time he comes back, he needs to build up his match sharpness then breaks down again.

Not difficult, but he is one of our better central midfielders and we are more compact when he is in the team.

Can we have a sweep-stake?

I reckon he'll complete 53 minutes before a wandering fly bumps into his knee and he's back on the table.

To be honest if the interest from Russia was real and can be re-kindled before the summer, i'd move the lad on. He's always going to be fragile player and we can't afford our first choice players to be constantly sat out.

Extra TV cash, several players going out of contract as well (A club even wanted Rigters???) and we have an opportunity to cement our place again. Some of that money must be given to the Youth. The rest can sign some players and we can restore some balance to our squad.

We do desperately need a injury free, decent central midfielder and I just can't see it being Grella.

[Tyrone Shoelaces]

Has he ever played two consecutive games the whole way through ? After nearly a season and a half we've no idea how good or bad he is. I can't think of another player with an injury record like that. hang on a minute , yes I can. Dunny and Reidy. When it comes to sorting out who's staying and who's not I think we can only afford one glass back in the squad. As we've given Dunny a new contract it looks like Grella and Reid will get moved on. Then we go and sign another midfielder who's likely to take whilst the end of March to get match fit.

[super_arran]

Has he ever played two consecutive games the whole way through ? After nearly a season and a half we've no idea how good or bad he is. I can't think of another player with an injury record like that. hang on a minute , yes I can. Dunny and Reidy. When it comes to sorting out who's staying and who's not I think we can only afford one glass back in the squad. As we've given Dunny a new contract it looks like Grella and Reid will get moved on. Then we go and sign another midfielder who's likely to take whilst the end of March to get match fit.

Yeh, he had a good run of games before this last injury.

He was looking decent and affective in the middle of the field. Breaking up the oppositions counter attacks and spreading the play well.

IF he could stay fit; I think that he would be an important player for us during the arse end of this season.

[Blue blood]

Can we have a sweep-stake?

I reckon he'll complete 53 minutes before a wandering fly bumps into his knee and he's back on the table.

To be honest if the interest from Russia was real and can be re-kindled before the summer, i'd move the lad on. He's always going to be fragile player and we can't afford our first choice players to be constantly sat out.

Extra TV cash, several players going out of contract as well (A club even wanted Rigters???) and we have an opportunity to cement our place again. Some of that money must be given to the Youth. The rest can sign some players and we can restore some balance to our squad.

We do desperately need a injury free, decent central midfielder and I just can't see it being Grella.

35 minutes. That's my guess.

Totally agree about getting him and a couple of others off the books, Salgado, and possibly Diouf. With Grella and Salgado stuff a transfer fee, let's just get them out of the door and off the wage bill.

edit: btw i think he is a good player. I also think this matters little as he will never ever be fit enough to show it.

[thenodrog]

Can we have a sweep-stake?

I reckon he'll complete 53 minutes before a wandering fly bumps into his knee and he's back on the table.

I like Grella but I'm just hoping that SA doesn't allow him to warm up before the match.

N'Zonzi's done great but he could really do with a rest to re-charge his batteries and regain his sharpness imo.

[bluebruce]

Reid, MGP, Dunn and Hoilett are all done the end of this season. I'd guess that Reid is on 30k/week, MGP on 45k/week, Dunn on 40k/week, and Hoilett on 20k/week. While I really hope Dunn and Hoilett re-sign, if they don't then the club has 135k/week for replacements. This is massive and could result in a positive transformation of the squad.

I'd expect you've overestimated all of those wages, but I feel I can practically guarantee you're way off with Hoilett. He is 19, came through our youth system, and only broke into the team this season, and is on a deal that expires this summer (so we can assume he signed it at the very least two years ago). No way on God's green earth is he on 20k p/w. That's probably more like what we may be willing to offer him now.

[philipl]

I doubt Nzonzi needs a rest so much as needing to have the right players around him. In that respect, I recall Nzonzi shining on the odd occasion he was paired with Vince when Vince was playing well.

[T4E]

Goes off at half time today.

[RibbleValleyRover]

Surely this is one of the worst possible games to put him back in? Against a physical and strong Stoke side.

I'll be amazed if he lasts the full 90 and is available for selection the following game.

[John]

Surely this is one of the worst possible games to put him back in? Against a physical and strong Stoke side.

Was thinking the same, surely he will be on the bench.

[DeadlyDirk]

Not even on the bench unless I missed it, probably got injured getting out of bed this morning.

[Tyrone Shoelaces]

Not even on the bench unless I missed it, probably got injured getting out of bed this morning.

Probably hurt his foot putting his slippers on.

[Steve Moss]

I'd expect you've overestimated all of those wages, but I feel I can practically guarantee you're way off with Hoilett. He is 19, came through our youth system, and only broke into the team this season, and is on a deal that expires this summer (so we can assume he signed it at the very least two years ago). No way on God's green earth is he on 20k p/w. That's probably more like what we may be willing to offer him now.

You could well be right. What would we be paying him or players in similar circumstances, like Olsen or Jones?

[Majiball]

35 minutes. That's my guess.

Totally agree about getting him and a couple of others off the books, Salgado, and possibly Diouf. With Grella and Salgado stuff a transfer fee, let's just get them out of the door and off the wage bill.

edit: btw i think he is a good player. I also think this matters little as he will never ever be fit enough to show it.

I'd want a fee for him and your right he's not bad when he's one the pitch. I do wish the man would vary how he passes his long balls though he persistantly dinks them which puts back spin on the balls, not easy to control.

The premiership is the most intense league in the world, he's just not up to it. But given Middlesbourgh even managed to keep woodgate fit theres always the chance that we could, but we need to look away from our current staff for the solution as they obviously haven't figured it out.

Call teeside Uni, rovers.

I like Grella but I'm just hoping that SA doesn't allow him to warm up before the match.

N'Zonzi's done great but he could really do with a rest to re-charge his batteries and regain his sharpness imo.

No warm-up for Grella, can I change my sweepstake time to 1 minute.

I worry about N'zonzi he's young and needs some guidance at times, the more time he spends without the less chance of him reaching his potential. He needs a guide on the pitch and Andrews pointing skills aren't up to the job.

[Amo]

Maybe we should follow Spur's suit with Ledley King, and just have Grella do light training on a Friday?

[RibbleValleyRover]

He's in the squad tonight for the reserve game.