Monday, July 25, 2011

Football Digest: Warnock in Defender Swoop; McLeish to Finally Land N'Zogbia; Balotelli's Unlikely Advisor

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QPR have signed defender Danny Gabbidon on a 12-month deal. The 31-year-old centre-half left West Ham at the end of his contract in June, and had been on trial with the Hoops, featuring in three friendlies on the the recent tour of Cornwall.

"I'm delighted to be here," Gabbidon told the club's official website after becoming manager Neil Warnock's third summer signing following the arrivals of England forward Jay Bothroyd and the Wales international's former Hammers team-mate Kieron Dyer.

Gabbidon added: "Neil played a big part in me joining, I've been quite impressed by him. He's straight talking, which I like. If you're doing something right I think he'll be the first to tell you and, if you're not, he'll be the first to tell you again.


"As a player, that's what you want. I was impressed with what he had to say about the club and what he wants to do this season. Hopefully I can bring experience to the table having played in the Premier League for a number of years."

After a slow start, Warnock is making up for lost time in the transfer market, and the Rangers manager said: "Danny's impressed me in the 10 days or so that he's been training with us.

"He's just the type of player we need - a quality defender with plenty of experience. I hope I can reinvigorate his career, because a couple of years ago I thought he was one of the best defenders in the country."

McLeish to Land N'Zogbia at the Second Time of Asking
The last time Alex McLeish had an offer accepted for Charles N'Zogbia, the Frenchman didn't even do him the courtesy of bothering to turn up to discuss terms. Some 12 months on from that rather embarrassing snub, you're left with the impression that it might be a slightly different scenario this time.

Where last season the coveted Wigan Athletic midfielder seemingly deemed it beneath himself to discuss his personal demands with Bimingham City, then managed by the Scot, the 25-year-old is expected to swiftly put the finishing touches to his £60,000-a-week move to Aston Villa, after the Blues' West Midlands rivals had a £9.5 million bid accepted by the Latics.

Roberto Martinez, the manager, has the consolation of being allowed the vast majority of the fee to spend on reinforcements, according to chairman Dave Whelan, as Wigan come to terms to life without perhaps their best player for the past two seasons.

 

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Source: http://www.fanhouse.co.uk/2011/07/25/football-digest-warnock-in-defender-swoop-mcleish-to-finally-l/

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