Nahki Wells - The Right Attitude

Long Time Lurker · Post by **Long Time Lurker** » Thu Aug 31, 2017 5:41 am

Having read through the vitriolic thread about him, which didn't portray us fans in a very good light, I think a lot of us have forgotten what got us into the Premier League and what our key strengths are.

ATTITUDE AND TEAM SPIRIT

Our team doesn't consist of the most talented individual footballers in the Premier League. That isn't an appraisal that should be taken as a disparaging assessment of their overall ability and their value as players, it is simply an honest assessment of their technical skill sets. However, we do have one of the best teams in the league. A close knit group of players that work together, giving everything they have to secure a result from the moment they step on the pitch until the moment they step off it.

We saw that last week in the game against Tottenham, pushing all the way and not giving in until the final whistle. It was our team spirit and attitude that secured us a great result as much as technical ability. Which serves as a sharp contrast to the mega million players of Chelsea during the first half of our first game, who folded like a row of cheap deck chairs when their own spirit and attitude where tested.

It's all too easy for us to talk about pace, creativity and cherry picked highlights on Youtube but we shouldn't be ignorant of a players personality (especially in a social media world where information is readily available that can highlight character traits). The camaraderie that is evident in our team is something very special and valuable, but like all group dynamics it can also be fragile. No matter how strong a bonded unity is perceived to be the addition of a single "bad egg" can cause untold damage that can threaten the social environment and lay the effectiveness of a team to waste.

#MajeedWarisKickedMyDog

I will hold my hands up and state that Nahki wasn't at the top of my own list of players that I wanted to see us bring in during this window. Considering his injury and the fact that he probably won't play for us until early November he wasn't even on the list. The timing of the transfer does strike me as a little bit strange, because his price would have dropped further by the January window. Then again, an injury free Nakhi at 2-3m could have attracted more competition and pushed his price back up to 5m or more. Bringing him in now he also has a good opportunity to get to know the team and how we work before he challenges for a place in the team, which will benefit everyone.

At 5m he falls into my speculative punt pricing category, because in this window it really isn't a huge amount of cash to spend. By signing on the dotted line he has given us a chance and we have given him a chance. He provides us with something different up front and if he performs well we will have a bargain buy on our hands. If he doesn't step up to the plate and prove himself worthy of being a Premier League regular we can move him on a team that will suit him better. With a longer contract tied to his name I suspect we would be able to recover our expenditure from a Championship team quite easily and possibly a bit more.

What really impresses me about Nahki goes right back to the beginning of my preamble, his attitude, which is wholly evident in the following clips. He already knows some of the people at our club, he has stepped up to previous challenges (good and bad), he recognises the value of hard graft on the training ground as well as the pitch, he appreciates the underdog spirit and he understands the value of team work. In terms of attitude he strikes me as a perfect fit for Burnley, a player that will add to the overall team spirit and togetherness instead of jeopardising it. The lad can also play a bit as well.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TycNJU3DNio&t=781" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=35-Q4vHtiR0" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Nothing is ever guaranteed with a new signing, but given a chance and some support I wouldn't be surprised if he went on to do very well for us. And even if we don't sign anyone else in this window it could be a case of all's well that ends with Wells - (but we had better bloomin sign another defender, ideally a young un that can challenge for a spot and rack up the resale value points).

The Enclosure · Post by **The Enclosure** » Thu Aug 31, 2017 5:45 am

Good points Lurker.

Marlonspants · Post by **Marlonspants** » Thu Aug 31, 2017 5:54 am

Well said that man!

SussexDon1inIreland · Post by **SussexDon1inIreland** » Thu Aug 31, 2017 6:25 am

Great post
UTC

Woodleyclaret · Post by **Woodleyclaret** » Thu Aug 31, 2017 6:36 am

Some good points well made.
Some fans want us to spend millions on names
Personally, I have always had a more measured approach with our signings

ClaretCliff · Post by **ClaretCliff** » Thu Aug 31, 2017 6:56 am

Well said. Many of the comments on the Nakhi Wells thread were shocking. Give the lad a chance.

SkiptonClaret · Post by **SkiptonClaret** » Thu Aug 31, 2017 7:03 am

Really don't think it's that bad a signing at the reported £5m. Amazed at how many on here won't give him a chance yet appear to have elevated the limited Ashley Barnes to some sort of Luis Suárez.
Anyway, one of Vokes / Wood plus Walters, Wells and Barnes on the bench ? Don't see it....someone might just be leaving today.

bartons baggage · Post by **bartons baggage** » Thu Aug 31, 2017 7:14 am

Yeah lurker on the money with your op.
The Nahki Wells thread is what i look for on other football forums,some of the comments are nothing short of laughable.

Firthy · Post by **Firthy** » Thu Aug 31, 2017 7:46 am

How bad is Wells ankle injury. Does seem strange to sign a player with an injury unless it's just a sprain and nothing serious.

Bordeauxclaret · Post by **Bordeauxclaret** » Thu Aug 31, 2017 7:49 am

OP sounds familiar somehow.

halfmanhalfbiscuit · Post by **halfmanhalfbiscuit** » Thu Aug 31, 2017 7:51 am

Firthy wrote:How bad is Wells ankle injury. Does seem strange to sign a player with an injury unless it's just a sprain and nothing serious.

I think it was follow up surgery to remove a pin from previous surgery.

joey13 · Post by **joey13** » Thu Aug 31, 2017 8:17 am

His attitude at Huddersfield has been poor and highlighted by Hoyle at a recent fans forum and was given an ultimatum to sign a new contract or find a new club .

BleedingClaret · Post by **BleedingClaret** » Thu Aug 31, 2017 8:21 am

joey13 wrote:His attitude at Huddersfield has been poor and highlighted by Hoyle at a recent fans forum and was given an ultimatum to sign a new contract or find a new club .

I don't think anyone subjected to the dourness of Yorkshiremen for a prolonged period of time can be blamed for wanting away.

RammyClaret61 · Post by **RammyClaret61** » Thu Aug 31, 2017 8:25 am

Joey Barton was a bad egg apparently. How did that work out for us?

Newty · Post by **Newty** » Thu Aug 31, 2017 8:33 am

Firthy wrote:How bad is Wells ankle injury. Does seem strange to sign a player with an injury unless it's just a sprain and nothing serious.

Not very. It was a follow up surgery to remove a pin that was fitted 10 years ago after an injury. Was quoted as being 4-8 weeks recovery time and I think we're on around the 4/5 week mark currently. More than likely been on his feet since the 1st week and more than capable of having a medical, contrary to some of the frothing at the mouth comments on the other thread.

Personally I'd expect him training on the grass with our lads by the time the international break is over at the latest. "Dyche" fit is anyones guess however!

LeadBelly · Post by **LeadBelly** » Thu Aug 31, 2017 8:34 am

I'm with most of the posts on this thread - maybe the "silent majority"?
Some of the stuff on the NW thread was unbecoming of Claret fans, sort of stuff you get on boards of teams like Chelsea (etc) when they fail to get the latest £100 m striker to replace the £50 million striker who's had a few off days or lose at home to a "little team".

UTC

Spijed · Post by **Spijed** » Thu Aug 31, 2017 8:36 am

Newty wrote:Not very. It was a follow up surgery to remove a pin that was fitted 10 years ago after an injury. Was quoted as being 4-8 weeks recovery time and I think we're on around the 4/5 week mark currently. More than likely been on his feet since the 1st week and more than capable of having a medical, contrary to some of the frothing at the mouth comments on the other thread.

Personally I'd expect him training on the grass with our lads by the time the international break is over at the latest. "Dyche" fit is anyones guess however!

You mean he won't be turning up for his medical in a plaster cast, on crutches?

Steve-Harpers-perm · Post by **Steve-Harpers-perm** » Thu Aug 31, 2017 8:41 am

joey13 wrote:His attitude at Huddersfield has been poor and highlighted by Hoyle at a recent fans forum and was given an ultimatum to sign a new contract or find a new club .

So all players who refuse to sign a new deal for a club have a poor attitude?

Newty · Post by **Newty** » Thu Aug 31, 2017 8:42 am

Spijed wrote:You mean he won't be turning up for his medical in a plaster cast, on crutches?

You'd think he was on life support if you read some comments.

Edit:- Or a double leg amputee.

Blyclaret · Post by **Blyclaret** » Thu Aug 31, 2017 8:46 am

Merge in thread with other Nahki Wells one

Lord Beamish · Post by **Lord Beamish** » Thu Aug 31, 2017 8:48 am

Bordeauxclaret wrote:OP sounds familiar somehow.

It's got a sort of Wessex twang, hasn't it?

Lancasterclaret · Post by **Lancasterclaret** » Thu Aug 31, 2017 8:50 am

Even it is him, Spice has got some serious competition in the verbosity stakes

DCWat · Post by **DCWat** » Thu Aug 31, 2017 8:51 am

Good post LTL.

For all the criticism of the signing, and I myself am one, you're right, if he buys into the team ethic and works his arse off, he's a chance to prove myself and others wrong.

My issue isn't Wells per se, more that I'd expect us to be pushing further for a player that will really make a difference, push us to that next group in the league, I just don't see that in Wells. Hope to be proved wrong though.

Turfytop · Post by **Turfytop** » Thu Aug 31, 2017 8:55 am

You didn't give waris much chance tho, did you lurker, you was constantly on here complaining about him, so don't have a go at other posters because they are not so keen on the wells signing.

joey13 · Post by **joey13** » Thu Aug 31, 2017 8:56 am

Steve-Harpers-perm wrote:So all players who refuse to sign a new deal for a club have a poor attitude?

He refused to sign one last year because he said he wanted to play for a premier league team , when Huddersfield were promoted he still wouldn't sign .
And did I say all players who refuse to sign have a poor attitude , no , I was just pointing out what Wells had done .

Steve-Harpers-perm · Post by **Steve-Harpers-perm** » Thu Aug 31, 2017 8:58 am

I'm just wondering what makes his attitude different from other players that won't sign new deals? Keane, Ings, Gray...........

joey13 · Post by **joey13** » Thu Aug 31, 2017 9:00 am

Gray didn't have a particular good attitude did he ?

Steve-Harpers-perm · Post by **Steve-Harpers-perm** » Thu Aug 31, 2017 9:02 am

I've no idea I didn't work with him on a day to day basis.

So it's just certain players who have bad attitudes when it comes to not signing new contracts?

UpTheBeehole · Post by **UpTheBeehole** » Thu Aug 31, 2017 9:08 am

Newty wrote:Not very. It was a follow up surgery to remove a pin that was fitted 10 years ago after an injury. Was quoted as being 4-8 weeks recovery time and I think we're on around the 4/5 week mark currently. More than likely been on his feet since the 1st week and more than capable of having a medical, contrary to some of the frothing at the mouth comments on the other thread.

Personally I'd expect him training on the grass with our lads by the time the international break is over at the latest. "Dyche" fit is anyones guess however!

Going 5 weeks back takes us to 27 July. He hadn't had the surgery by then.
Going 4 weeks back takes us to 3 August. He hadn't had the surgery by then.

Wells hasn't been involved with Huddersfield's pre season training, because he's been injured.

He'll be nowhere near fit enough for months.

Desperate, desperate signing from a scouting network with contacts limited exclusively to the midlands up. We've had hundreds of millions of PL money and the scouts are still only producing Huddersfield's fifth choice striker. Close it down.

http://www.examiner.co.uk/sport/footbal ... i-13459545

Rileybobs · Post by **Rileybobs** » Thu Aug 31, 2017 9:19 am

UpTheBeehole wrote:Going 5 weeks back takes us to 27 July. He hadn't had the surgery by then.
Going 4 weeks back takes us to 3 August. He hadn't had the surgery by then.

Wells hasn't been involved with Huddersfield's pre season training, because he's been injured.

He'll be nowhere near fit enough for months.

Desperate, desperate signing from a scouting network with contacts limited exclusively to the midlands up. We've had hundreds of millions of PL money and the scouts are still only producing Huddersfield's fifth choice striker. Close it down.

http://www.examiner.co.uk/sport/footbal ... i-13459545

Except he's not Huddersfield's fifth choice striker. They're very light in that department.

UpTheBeehole · Post by **UpTheBeehole** » Thu Aug 31, 2017 9:21 am

Rileybobs wrote:Except he's not Huddersfield's fifth choice striker. They're very light in that department.

Steve Mounie
Laurent Depoitre
Collin Quaner
Elias Kachunga

All above Wells in the pecking order at Huddersfield.

Rileybobs · Post by **Rileybobs** » Thu Aug 31, 2017 9:29 am

UpTheBeehole wrote:Steve Mounie
Laurent Depoitre
Collin Quaner
Elias Kachunga

All above Wells in the pecking order at Huddersfield.

Depoitre hasn't even played for them and Quaner has averaged 1 goal in 10. Different types of player.

Hudds town ST holder friend of mine isn't too disappointed to see Wells leave but has acknowledged that they need to bring in another striker if/when he does. He also reckons it's a decent signing for us.

UpTheBeehole · Post by **UpTheBeehole** » Thu Aug 31, 2017 9:30 am

Wells hasn't even played for them either.

There's not a single Huddersfield fan disappointed to see him go. He's so limited.

Rileybobs · Post by **Rileybobs** » Thu Aug 31, 2017 9:32 am

UpTheBeehole wrote:Wells hasn't even played for them either.

You're absolutely correct, other than the 144 times that he has played for them.

UpTheBeehole · Post by **UpTheBeehole** » Thu Aug 31, 2017 9:33 am

We're talking about this season. He's 5th choice this season.

Newty · Post by **Newty** » Thu Aug 31, 2017 9:34 am

UpTheBeehole wrote:Going 5 weeks back takes us to 27 July. He hadn't had the surgery by then.
Going 4 weeks back takes us to 3 August. He hadn't had the surgery by then.

Oh sorry, he's precisely 25 days (3 shy of 4 weeks) into a 3-6 week recovery time.

Wells hasn't been involved with Huddersfield's pre season training, because he's been injured.

The article you linked says he has?

He'll be nowhere near fit enough for months.

Or in less than 3 weeks max, according to the article you linked.

ten bellies · Post by **ten bellies** » Thu Aug 31, 2017 9:35 am

Let's face it, we have some right drama queens on this board, reflecting the tabloid nature of 'sports journalism'. We have a successful professional management team running our club very well, yet these snowflakes come on here to scream their derision at every decision made by the club, then melt away, time after time, when their yelping is proved wrong.

UpTheBeehole · Post by **UpTheBeehole** » Thu Aug 31, 2017 9:36 am

He didn't go on their pre-season tour.

He hasn't had a proper pre-season. He's fit for nothing for months.

It's desperate.

Spijed · Post by **Spijed** » Thu Aug 31, 2017 9:43 am

UpTheBeehole wrote:Wells hasn't even played for them either.

There's not a single Huddersfield fan disappointed to see him go. He's so limited.

You say there's not a single Huddersfield fan disappointed to see him go. Perhaps you should read their main forum instead of saying something that clearly isn't true.

http://downatthemac.proboards.com/threa ... hi?page=18" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

boatshed bill · Post by **boatshed bill** » Thu Aug 31, 2017 9:43 am

Game changer from the bench (when fit enough)?
We haven't had many attacking options recently, perhaps this is why SD wants him

UpTheBeehole · Post by **UpTheBeehole** » Thu Aug 31, 2017 9:44 am

boatshed bill wrote:Game changer from the bench (when fit enough)?
We haven't had many attacking options recently, perhaps this is why SD wants him

He came on as a sub 12 times last season. He scored once, and that was when he came on at half time in a 3-1 defeat.

He couldn't change a lightbulb.

Burtonwoodclaret · Post by **Burtonwoodclaret** » Thu Aug 31, 2017 9:48 am

Just been talking to a keen Huddersfield supporter who thinks that we have a player in Wells who will fit into our squad and style of play He is fast and needs a big man to feed off . We need a nippy player and we have a couple of big men now . This is what SD will have seen. He may well be the player who comes off the bench and turns defeats into draws and draws into wins.
Once match fit he could be a revelation . Let's wait and see. Welcome to the turf Nakhi !

UpTheBeehole · Post by **UpTheBeehole** » Thu Aug 31, 2017 9:53 am

It would be lovely, with all our millions and millions in the bank, if we could sign a striker who didn't rely on someone else in order to play well.

KefkaClaret · Post by **KefkaClaret** » Thu Aug 31, 2017 9:58 am

Wells refused to sign a contract at the beginning of last season and once it looked like promotion was on the cards he begged for one and was refused. If one of our players did that you would want him binned off instantly. He's supposed to have the right attitude?

Spijed · Post by **Spijed** » Thu Aug 31, 2017 10:05 am

UpTheBeehole wrote:It would be lovely, with all our millions and millions in the bank, if we could sign a striker who didn't rely on someone else in order to play well.

You mean like Wood?

UpTheBeehole · Post by **UpTheBeehole** » Thu Aug 31, 2017 10:07 am

Spijed wrote:You mean like Wood?

Well, we're still after a different type of striker aren't we.

I mean like Ings.

HiroshimaClaret · Post by **HiroshimaClaret** » Thu Aug 31, 2017 10:40 am

He could well turn out to be a good `un and let`s hope he will be. There`s certainly scope there and he clearly has ability HOWEVER signing somebody pre-treatment table does seem bizarre.

boatshed bill · Post by **boatshed bill** » Thu Aug 31, 2017 11:03 am

UpTheBeehole wrote:He came on as a sub 12 times last season. He scored once, and that was when he came on at half time in a 3-1 defeat.

He couldn't change a lightbulb.

Perhaps I'm trying to spread a little ray of optimism

And trying to see some reason behind the signing.

lucs86 · Post by **lucs86** » Thu Aug 31, 2017 11:21 am

Don’t know what’s gone on with his Hudds contract (opposing stories on this thread) but players are allowed to leave clubs and not sign contracts without their attitude being brought into question.

Dyche has had a reported interest in him for a good amount of time, we’re a relatively local bigger club, he might have (correctly) fancied his chances of a move to us, in which case why sign a new deal? Also seems as though he’d fallen down the pecking order and been mostly used out of position under Wagner. So again, fair do’s on not signing a new deal.

Looks like a player that Dyche has liked for a while (says something about his attitude/character) has got the move now for a really small fee. This is a good thing for us, I don’t know what people are freaking out for. I read somewhere else Andre Gray scored 1 from open play in 2017. I’m backing Wells to better that.

Mala591 · Post by **Mala591** » Thu Aug 31, 2017 11:30 am

Loads of natural ability (youtube). Improve his fitness and focus (which SD will definitely do) and we might just have the right player at the right time and for the right price.

Not without risk but a definate yes for me.