Red Bulls give BWP wings
Ok, I have a new game. Instead of getting yourselves all het up about who we have or more appropriately haven’t signed, let me tell you some transfer news of some old Valley favourites.
Whilst Darren Bent is training with the U12’s at Aston Villa waiting for Joe Kinnear to give Alan Pardew the approval to talk to our esteemed ex-striker, the highest profile summer moves involving ex-Addicks were those for Jonjo Shelvey and Bradley Wright Phillips. Valley academy graduate Jonjo’s £5m move to Swansea from Liverpool meant that we were due a six-figure sell-on fee but where that went is anyone’s guess.
Yesterday it was announced that BWP completed his move to New York Red Bulls (subject to a work visa) where he will join Lloyd Sam and Ruben Bover in a hat trick of ex Addicks competing for a first team place alongside Thierry Henry and Tim Cahill. BWP has been given the no.99 shirt and hopefully it won’t be long before I can catch him in a televised game.
For those interested Sam has appeared in the majority of the Red Bulls games this season, which started in March and has scored 3 times. Bover has only started 6 games and has been used sparingly from the bench.
We’ll quickly pass over Jerome Thomas’ move from West Brom to Crystal Palace but it is a bit of a mystery to me that he has managed to spend almost his entire career in the Premier League.
Danny Haynes, who most of us were sad to see leave especially since he hasn’t been replaced, dropped down a division to collect a valuable 2-year contract with Notts County.
One of Birmingham City’s early additions was Darren Randolph, who has moved back to England from Motherwell. Millwall have a couple of ex-Addicks in their midsts. Nicky Bailey signed on a free as did previous Valley loanee and perennial fouler Lee Martin, who was released by Ipswich.
Yeovil picked up another ex-loan player Danny Seaborne, who was released in the summer by Southampton.
Scunthorpe have a whole new forward line made up of Chris Iwelumo, who joined the Iron from Watford and 58-year old Deon Burton will join the big man up front after leaving Gillingham, for whom he scored 12 goals. Scunny is Burton’s 15th club.
Alan McCormack, who was very popular at Swindon, turned down the offer of a new contract and instead signed for Brentford where I am sure he was influenced by his old mate Paul Hayes.
Waggy of course moved to Bristol City, Charlie MacDonald has gone on to have a very decent career since being released by Charlton over 11 years ago and made a move from Leyton Orient to Lee Johnson’s Oldham, who I think are a good outside bet to reach the League One play-off’s.
One player who left Scunthorpe was Akpo Sodje who signed for Tranmere Rovers, managed by Ronnie Moore. His ex-Charlton playing brother Sam Sodje released by Portsmouth in July.
Barry Fuller is another former youth prospect that has carved out a good professional career. The 28-year old centre-half joined AFC Wimbledon after Barnet were relegated to the Conference. The Dons also signed ‘keeper Ross Worner from Aldershot, also relegated.
Popular ex-Addick John Sullivan will hope to make the no.1 spot his own at Fratton Park after numerous spells as a squad player at various clubs. He signed for Pompey in May.
Finally, and I am sure I have missed some, but I saw that Matt Fry, who was very well thought of at West Ham is now at new Conference side Dartford after leaving Concord Rangers in the summer.
