Four keepers and counting

Confusing signals in Addickland today.

Sure, it was no suprise that we signed goalkeeper Yohann Thuram-Ulien on loan from Standard Liege, as it has been talked about ever since Duchâtelet took us over and the Belgium press had confirmed a done deal for most of last week.

Confusing in that I question why we need another goalkeeper, and whether or not Thuram has been foisted upon Powell. Duchâtelet will want Thuram to play games, because he cost him €2m and under Liege manager Guy Luzon he has only played 3 Pro League games and 3 times in the Europa Cup.

On the flip side, this may just be the beginning of a Duchatelet/Powell rebuilding process and this may just be the start of a plan to strengthen the squad.

Thuram was signed from French Ligue 1 side Troyes for €2m in the summer but has played second fiddle to Japanese International Eiji Kawashima at Liege. He began his career at AS Monaco debuting at 18-years old.

Now Thuram may well be good, he was well regarded at Troyes, well enough for Roland to write a big cheque, and being a #2 ‘keeper at club top of the Belgium League is no slight. If this was a striker of a similar stature, then no doubt we’d be falling over ourselves!

However, there are a couple of things. This is the way Duchâtelet operates, and maybe if Powell doesn’t play him then that is all well and good, but Thuram needs games not training or some new mates, and I will be interested to see how this plays out.

Alnwick does not deserve to be dropped, and whilst he could’ve ‘been rested’ tomorrow, Thuram was signed too late anyhow.

Ironically we now have three goalkepers whose contracts run out in June. Possibly not the stabilising affect Chris Powell was hoping a takeover would bring.