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Beckford at Finch Farm?

I am informed by someone one door up from my auntie's dog that Jermaine Beckford was at Finch Farm today.

If true, that could mean a couple of things.

1. He was just being shown around ahead of a rumoured meeting with Villa.

2. He was getting a "two bob" medical ahead of the rumoured June 1 availability on a free.

3. It was the Yak back from the World Cup 3 stone lighter after failing to get in the Nigeria team.

I have not seen enough of Beckford to have an opinion on whether he'll make it but on a free I guess it makes more sense than hanging on to Vaughany and picking up his medical bills.
Jay Harris, liverpool Posted 27/05/2010 at 21:23:19

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Charlie Percival
1 Posted 27/05/2010 at 21:59:20

I was informed that Hatem ben Arfa took the ended up in Finch Farm also....

This could mean:
1) He took the wrong turning;
2) He wanted to commiserate with Saha about being cut from the 30;
3) He wanted to touch Fellaini's hair.

Andy Morden
2 Posted 27/05/2010 at 22:18:28

My Mate's Nan is Rooney's new fave, ahem, Escort and she reckons he will resign for Everton in 2011.

Shit, the season of silliness is here again.

And who can blame Ben Arfa for wanting a feel of Felli's hair...

James Flynn
3 Posted 28/05/2010 at 00:05:19

Saw an article stating he's getting a physical to finalize a deal. How good is Beckford? Seems Moyes doesn't make many mistakes in evaluating talent.

How do we see Beckford for next season. Step right in? Squad player? What?

Pat Finegan
4 Posted 28/05/2010 at 00:29:28

Beckford is similar to Landon Donovan in that he has been great at a low level of competition. When Donovan came in there were mixed opinions of how he would adapt, he turned out well. Hopefully, Beckford will do the same but we really don't know. He could just turn out to be a squad player or even a total flop.

I think the real question lies in whether or not he will be able to function as a lone striker.

Joel Webb
5 Posted 28/05/2010 at 00:57:12

It was just a decoy while Ibrahimovic slipped through the back door.

James Flynn
6 Posted 28/05/2010 at 01:42:49

OK Pat (5), thanks. Here's hoping. Think we can read this as Yak is gone?

Eric Myles
7 Posted 28/05/2010 at 02:30:06

But the difference between Beckford and Donovan, Pat, is that Donovan has been playing first team international football against the best national teams in the world for some years, so playing against the same players in a better league was not a big jump.

Pat Finegan
8 Posted 28/05/2010 at 02:44:55

Eric, I think, if anything, Beckford would have less of a learning curve than Donovan because he has been playing the English style of football his whole life. The difference between league one and the prem is a whole lot less then the MLS and the prem.

James Flynn
9 Posted 28/05/2010 at 03:02:30

Well guys, since LD's learning curve was so much shorter than most expected, here's hoping Pat (9) is correct and Beckford makes an immediate impact for us.

Martin Clark
10 Posted 28/05/2010 at 06:09:08

Scored some quality goals for Leeds, the goals the same size so just hope he can hit the net the same amount of times next season!

Mike Gaynes
11 Posted 28/05/2010 at 06:19:02

If there's one thing Beckford has, it's the one thing we need the most. PACE. The kid can fly.

Jimmy Saville
12 Posted 28/05/2010 at 06:32:23

Beckford is seriously disliked by many Leeds fans. His attitude is shite to say the least. I live in Leeds and have brothers-in-law who are Leeds fans.

Leeds played two up front for a lot of games. Not how it's done at Goodison!

Having pace in the old Third Division is different to having Premier League pace!

The goal may also be the same size but the quality of defenders and goalkeepers is a lot higher!

Worth a punt on a free? The boy's got lots to prove!

Keith Slinger
13 Posted 28/05/2010 at 16:58:17

Charlie Percival: PMPL

Trevor Lynes
14 Posted 28/05/2010 at 17:17:53

One thing is certain... he does score lots of goals if given the right service. Unfortunately Vaughan is not a goal scorer and is still very raw. Beckford does have pace and with good prompting from midfield will score goals for us. He is not a lone frontman but then no other small striker is. Defoe, Owen and Lineker all needed support up front as will Beckford.

Paul Thompson
15 Posted 28/05/2010 at 17:39:55

Trevor: Beckford is 6 ft 2 ins ffs.

Let's face it, no-one knows whether he will make the transition, but this deal is a no-brainer. Free transfer, can be sold on if it doesn't work out. Has pace and a goalscorer's instinct. Likely to start by coming off the bench and running at tired defences. It's then up to him to earn the right to more pitch time.

Ok, he can be a bit of a twat, but if that were the main criteria for making signings, there wouldn't be many heading our (or anyone else's) way.

Andy Crooks
16 Posted 28/05/2010 at 18:19:10

Jimmy Saville, like you I have serious doubts about Beckford, But... he has an arrogance about him which has made me change my mind. I am beginning to think this just might be something good. He has a lot to prove and I predict he will prove it.

Charlie Percival
17 Posted 28/05/2010 at 18:38:10

Jimmy Saville, Leeds fans hate him because he's fucked them off for a proper club.

Charlie Percival
18 Posted 28/05/2010 at 18:39:41

I have a Leeds fan who goes to most games from North Wales. They were ranting and raving about Beckford until he handed in a transfer request, then he was crap, bad attitude etc.

Coincidence???

Karl Masters
19 Posted 28/05/2010 at 18:54:08

Also coming are Scharner, a young Belgian and perhaps a very big signing if we sell anybody.

Definitely not coming are Kyle Naughton or Rasmus Elm!

Ash Passmore
20 Posted 28/05/2010 at 19:34:21

I hear Lord Lucan is close to joining the club. Seriously, with the money situation anybody on a free is going to tempt BK. What about Joe Ledley? — he's on a free/compensation.

Dave Wilson
21 Posted 28/05/2010 at 19:54:39

How good is Beckford? Nowhere near as good as Charlie Austin.

If Swindon don't qualify, somebody will get the fella for a song... please let it be us.

Derek Thomas
22 Posted 28/05/2010 at 21:14:52

If we get Beckford it will be like signing a new player...no, honestly it will, well infact like 2 new players!

If he gets what seems to be the average nowadays 15 league goals, hopefully he won't be as....

Fat and lazy as the Yak.

Injury prone as Saha...and even better.

FREE and cheap(ish) he won't be on what passes for our top wage scale.

Play a waiting game with WHU, get them up to £10 mill take the money for the Yak, who came, lets not forget with a bit of a rep. for being keen as mustard at the start of his terms at various clubs and then tapering off... so in the best life of Brian tradition.

What's the Yak ever done for us?? Scored some goals versus poorer clubs. How many in the big games when it mattered?? And as for that pen!!

James Stewart
23 Posted 29/05/2010 at 00:21:01

Being from Leeds, I have seen a lot of Beckford. I expect he will surprise a lot of people. Especially the ones writing him off. He reminds me very much of Andy Cole. He will miss his fair share of chances but I have a sneaky feeling he will be our top goalscorer next season.

Chris Wilson
24 Posted 29/05/2010 at 04:02:25

Well, it appears that Villa were in for him too. So at least there seems to be a demand for him.

Neil Vaughan
25 Posted 29/05/2010 at 10:47:52

Let's not forget Brett Angel scored LOADS of goals in the 3rd Division...

Andy Morden
26 Posted 29/05/2010 at 10:53:11

Pace is a valuable commodity, but you have to have nous as well. You cna be as quick as you like in the prem, but you'll be sent up blind alleys if you don't know how to use it. Difference between say Jermaine Defoe and Andy Johnson. Not to mention technique and anticipation. Cadamarteri had bags of Pace but was a headless chicken. Would be interesting to see if Beckford can step up.

Paul Gladwell
27 Posted 29/05/2010 at 11:00:30

Neil, you could always see Brett Angel was not mobile and Beckford is.
Give the lad a chance, he will no doubt be up for it and he wont be under too much pressure and will be coming up against defenders who have never marked him before and could prove a bit of a suprise for them and us alike.

Ben Jones
28 Posted 29/05/2010 at 15:53:16

I think Beckford has the nous though Andy, he's scored that many goals in League 1. Yes, it's considerably a lower level than the Prem, but he's a goalscorer, his finishing looks excellent to me.

It's just whether he can handle playing the harder defenders of the Prem, that's the key. He may do or he may not, but either way it's still a good signing because it's for free, we can just sell him if he does awful.

I see him beginning as a squad player, but knowing the Yak and Saha's injury records, he'll get his chance. If he takes his chance, he could be an excellent signing for us.

Like Andy says, he's arrogant, but he has that arrogance of a Didier Drogba for example that I like, and score goals. Before anyone else says I'm comparing to Beckford to Drogba, I'm not, but him for a free seems a good signing to me.

A couple more frees though as squad players would be nice. Ledley, Scharner or Petrov would all be good squad players for us, and for free.

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