last year, at the end of July
The Boulding brothers settle for Valley Parade
Michael Boulding has an impressive goal tally for sure and he has been tagged as a target for City for a long time this summer but in terms of alarm bells there is very few that the 32 year old has not clanged.
Boulding joins City after the sort of on off chase which never has brought us much joy in the past. His father insists that the decision to join City has nothing to do with cash but one cannot help but be reminded of the transfers of Ashley Ward, of Lee Power, of Benito Carbone when thinking of this deal.
City’s best signings grasped at the chance to come to Valley Parade with both hands.
Then there is the injury picked up in training with minutes to go of a training session before a game which saw him able to go home rather than to Farsley. In itself not a problem - an injured player should rest - but hardly that desire to settle in to City.
Nevertheless Rory Boulding played that night. What are we to make of Rory and the deal that brings him in his brother’s pocket? How much elevation does the younger get to please the elder? How does McCall deal with Michael if if offers the opinion that Rory deserves a starting run out?
We are to hope that Michael is just pushing for his kid brother not pushing him into places he should not be. These are alarm bells but in a world where Christiano Ronaldo is a slave perhaps this is just Michael using player power and making his own decisions.
The biggest alarm though sounds when one recalls Mansfield’s brilliant, spirited display at Valley Parade last season after which I commented that the team would not be relegated should they play like that more often.
Boulding scored in that game. His 25 goals in a relegated side that can play so well but often did not makes one wonder how the striker fits into that or any of the many teams he has played for? Is the one of those players who while impressive gets more out of a team than he puts in?
Chris Waddle’s time at City was brilliant to watch but Shaun Murray got us out of the bottom two. Wayne Rooney’s second season at Everton was much worse then the year after he left and Tim Cahill took his place. These were good players who for whatever reason did not fit.
Let us this is not the case with Boulding. Let us hope that there worries are unfounded and that the alarm bells are pre-season tension playing on the mind. After all all indications are that this reason is very much make or break.
We welcome both Boulding brothers with the same - if not more considering Michael’s three clubs in the last month - enthusiasm they join us with.
In 12 months time though this double signing and how the relationship between the two is handled could very much decide Stuart McCall’s future.
July 24th, 2008 at 20:24
It all seems a bit like Bobby Petta from a few seasons back. There was a right old will-he, wont-he saga all close season for him if I remember right. When he finally put the C&A on he didn’t put in the effort the Valley Parade faithful demand.
In fact tracking back was more difficult than quantum physics for that lad. But McCall says Michael Boulding offers something different, pace and ability to get behind defences and unlike our other quick boy in the form of Omar Daley he can hit the onion bag on a regular basis.
Let’s see shall we?
July 24th, 2008 at 21:44
Rather have Boulding than Beckett.
I think BfB has hit the nail on the head here. Is a striker who scores 25 goals in a relegated team merely unlucky to be playing with poor team-mates, or did he get 25 goals by not passing to those team-mates all season? Only time will tell how he plays with Thorne, Barry et al. However I’m impressed with the quality of City’s pre-season signings and, looking at the balance of the squad that Stuart has, it’s going to be attacking football all the way.
Can’t bloody wait.
July 25th, 2008 at 9:16
Well Im glad th whole ordeal is over. Whether we signed them or not, just glad no one has to keep thinking about whats going on.
Here is to 2 weeks hard work to get ready for the season. Ultimately if elder Boulding gets us the goals to get out of Legaue 2, then no one will care. Look at our squad and the squad of a mid table League 1 side such as Northampton. There isnt much difference between the 2.
McCall is a tough character - I really believe he knows what he needs to get out of the league. Everyone who knows me knows last season I was shouting for height and presence in the middle of the park - he has signed McLaren for that (albeit Bullock started this off). I also felt that we needed a real leader at the back - he signed Lee, who often proved City’s foil when playing for Donny (apart from Tom Kearney’s only goal in his entire life - maybe).
I cant see him allowing player power to take over. How would that unsettle the squad he has assembled?
I think we have got a very good attacking line up now with a solid base. A lot can be learnt from the Dutch group games in Euro 2008 - De Jong and Engelaar holding centrally and using wide attacking midfielders with fluid up front movement. Now there is no comparison in the quality of players there, but this is how City need to adapt their style.
The big question for me is how Bullock and McLaren work together. One has to sit. Otherwise we are looking at another Schuey/Bridgey situation.
July 25th, 2008 at 9:27
When news broke of the signing of the Bouldings I was certain that I would be in a minority who had misgivings.
Strangely, although the other close season signings (albeit with minor concerns about their ages) have been very well received, the signing of Michael boulding - who everybody at our level and above was chasing, was not !
The fans I’ve spoken to aren’t too happy…. so far no one seems too pleased. In the main, the reasons why fall into the following general criticisms:
1. We should’nt have fallen for “take me, take my brother”. The younger boulding takes up a berth that could - and should - have been occupied that other striker Stuart had been talking about “one, perhaps two more strikers”. said the manager.
2. We were supposed to be looking for Barry Conlon with goals: A target man who would not only knock the ball down for Thorne but would weigh in with around 15 goals next season himself.
3. At 32 years old he’s just had one great season at relegated mansfield. Prior to that his record is pretty much one goal every 3 games. can we be sure which Michael Boulding we’re going to get? was last season the exception to the normal 1 in 3 rule.
All in all the fans remain to be convinced and are concerned that Stuart may have made a rod for his own back.
July 25th, 2008 at 11:40
No concerns, McCall has his first choice striker!
Great pre-season signings and looks like City can finally mount a serious challenge to get back to where they belong!
July 31st, 2008 at 7:37
Considering Paul Hodgson’s comments. At 3 he talk about a 1 in 3 hit rate - well that is as good as a certain ex-L666ds guy Robbie Keane. I wonder whatever happened to him………………