Potential Players Edition 2 : Golden Oldies
By Quayle
June 11 2005
In edition 2 of Potentital Players, and this week we look at the Golden Oldies of the rumours this week. We include some well known faces. The three for this weeks are : Portsmouths Shaka Hislop, QPRs Jamie Cureton, and well sort after, Leeds Juliam Joachim.
Edition number 2 in Potential Players, so here we are again, we look at three players who have been rumoured in the past week, whether it be outrageous or likely. Today all the rumours are off an older variety.
Target No.1 : Shaka Hislop (Portsmouth) - Goalkeeper
Availability/ Realistic? : Shaka is now 36 and, although, for a keeper, still has a couple of years left in him, his current club Portsmouth are searching for a young keeper. So he is available, but is he likely to come to Rovers? Well if he can't cope with life in Premiership then maybe the lower leagues will suit him, but the prospect of having two goalkeepers over the age of 30 is not great, as they probably only have 4 years left at the maximum.
Potential For Rovers : There's no denying that Hislop is a quality keeper and at League One wouold be one of the keepers in League One, but shouldn't Brian Little look at a younger keeper as back up for now and one who can progress when John Achterberg hangs up his gloves. Shaka's age is a big issue as he has'nt got 5, 6 years left in him that a younger keeper will have.
Career Stats :
|
Clubs |
Fee |
League |
English Cups |
Other | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Apps |
Goals |
Apps |
Goals |
Apps |
Goals | ||
|
Portsmouth |
Free |
93(0) |
0 |
7(0) |
0 |
0(0) |
0 |
|
West Ham |
Free |
105(0) |
0 |
18(0) |
0 |
9(0) |
0 |
|
Newcastle |
£158k |
53(0) |
0 |
14(0) |
0 |
6(0) |
0 |
|
Reading |
Signed |
104(0) |
0 |
13(0) |
0 |
9(0) |
0 |
Likelihood : On one side he could be coming to get some first team appearances under his belt, but on the other hand his age seems to be a big no no for me, but who knows, we might see him in a white shirt next season. I rate this rumour 4/10
Target No.2 : Jamie Cureton (QPR) - Striker
Availability/ Realistic? : Probably, the most realistic rumour we have heard apart from Luke Beckett. Jamie has been released from QPR and is available on a free and will more than likely move down the league ladder.
Potential For Rovers : As has been said loads of times now, Tranmere are after a striker who can score, and really poach a goal. And without doubt Cureton can do it, and with relative ease. With him also being a free agent, it helps a lot with Rovers, who are not looking to give away money, and will keep their hands firmly in their pockets. But again age may come into it, Jamie is now 30 so will this affect a transfer?
Career Stats :
|
Clubs |
Fee |
League |
English Cups |
Other | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Apps |
Goals |
Apps |
Goals |
Apps |
Goals | ||
|
QPR |
Signed |
20(23) |
6 |
3 |
1 |
0(0) |
0 |
|
Pusan |
Free |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
|
Reading |
£250k |
74(34) |
50 |
9(3) |
3 |
6(1) |
2 |
|
Bristol R |
£200k |
161(9) |
68 |
17(1) |
4 |
6(0) |
2 |
|
Bristol R |
Loan |
6(0) |
4 |
0(0) |
0 |
0(0) |
0 |
|
Bournem'th |
Loan |
0(5) |
0 |
0(0) |
0 |
0(1) |
0 |
|
Norwich |
Trainee |
13(16) |
6 |
0(3) |
0 |
0(0) |
0 |
Likelihood : He's free and available and looking for a club, and without doubt Tranmere should be appealling to anyone looking to play in League One. But perhaps age is not the thing Little is looking for this term, with the transfer of Hall to Chesterfield begin a great example. I rate this rumour 6/10.
Target No.3 : Julian Joachim (Leeds United) – Striker
Availabilty/ Realistic? : Again Julian is another player who is on a free, but he has had many interest from other League One clubs, non other than Walsall were he spent the latter part of last season on loan. But Brian Little is very fond of Julian from his Aston Villa days, maybe this can swing him our way.
Potential For Rovers : Joachim is a prolific striker and can link up with anyone, he is very fast and has a great ability to finish. But once again its the age thing, at 31 is slowing down all the time, but perhaps this is were he can help. All of Rovers strike force are under/or are 21, apart from Eugene Dadi. Hume being 21, Zola 20 and Dagnall only 19. So could he help steer the Rovers boat?
Career Stats :
|
Clubs |
Fee |
League |
English Cups |
Other | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Apps |
Goals |
Apps |
Goals |
Apps |
Goals | ||
|
Walsall |
Loan |
8(0) |
6 |
0(0) |
0 |
0(0) |
0 |
|
Leeds |
Free |
10(17) |
2 |
3(1) |
0 |
0(0) |
0 |
|
Coventry |
Swap |
41(15) |
11 |
5(0) |
3 |
0(0) |
0 |
|
Aston Villa |
£1.5m |
90(51) |
39 |
18(5) |
5 |
6(3) |
1 |
|
Leicester |
Trainee |
77(22) |
25 |
11(3) |
4 |
4(2) |
2 |
Likelihood : I think because of Brian Little's connections with him, it makes Julian a huge reality, but who knows who he opts for, but without doubt it looks promising. With Walsall and others involved tough it might be a tough race to the finishing line. I rate this rumour 7/10
Tranmere have been linked with all kind of wierd and wonderful players, but who do you really want, let us know and why, email me at quayle@totaltranmere.co.uk, and your player could feature in next weeks article.
Talk about the selections on the Total Tranmere Message Board.