SIGNED - Nicky Shorey

[blythspartan]

I think that we should trust BM and NH on this one. It looks to me that with the signings we have made so far that there is a real intent for us to stay up this season and not to become a yo yo team. In certain areas we will bring in the quality needed such as Pog and Guthrie but this also means that because the club want continue to balance the books there may not be the same quality in other positions. However, we should never underestimate the value of the team, as players can play at a much higher level if they are given their right job in the team. The reason England struggle is because our players are playing with lots of technically gifted foreign players that make them look better than they really are, so when they come together they can't keep the ball.

[Cypry]

Don't quite get all the "Harte's not good enough" stuff on here - he was fantastic last season, and whilst there's always the fear that he'll get done for pace, I challenge anyone to come up with more than 3 examples of us shipping goals due to him being done for pace last season.
He seems to have a really good understanding with Gorkks, who is always ready to cover if it looks like Harte is going to lose out, whilst Harte slips into the centre to cover Gorkks - seems to work, and without Harte we'd seriously miss his set pieces...

Shorey on a free would be excellent backup IMO...

[Cape Town Royal]

A left back who is a bit past him prime and good at set pieces? Think we already have one of those...

This is a good question... at they're prime who was the better player Shorey or Harte...

I'd have to say Harte, and i think its born out my his performances now, this guy is/was clearly a quality full back, realised he had no real pace a few years ago and has adjusted his game to make it work for him.. If we are going to sign another left back, i'd rather have someone who is younger who can learn off of Harte / cover for Harte as we need to through the season..

I was a huge fan of Shorey, but is he hungry for it...? Harte clearly is and thats enough for me..

[dogzbollox]

Don't quite get all the "Harte's not good enough" stuff on here - he was fantastic last season, and whilst there's always the fear that he'll get done for pace, I challenge anyone to come up with more than 3 examples of us shipping goals due to him being done for pace last season.
He seems to have a really good understanding with Gorkks, who is always ready to cover if it looks like Harte is going to lose out, whilst Harte slips into the centre to cover Gorkks - seems to work, and without Harte we'd seriously miss his set pieces...

Shorey on a free would be excellent backup IMO...

Agree about Harte - dunno about Shorey tho - here's more than 3 examples of him being at fault in one game! including a missed penalty

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UC19e8TU8jk

Edit: Yes yes ok I just remembered he scored one as well...

[JezD]

What a joke this is... Shorey is no better than Harte. We already have a slow, old, set piece specialist who plays at left back, we don't need another one. We need someone with a bit of pace, who can offer more support going up and down the wings, and not get caught out/exposed because of lack of pace.
I used to love Shorey, he's a true legend, but he's not what we need at the moment. I don't care about his experience. Whenever I see him playing for WBA he looks half the player he was when he was with us. Please don't do this BM, will be a waste of your wage budget.

[Handsome Man]

He was great for a while and we missed him dreadfully when he left, because we no longer had a defender who could carry the ball up to the half-way line. Perhaps he is our second best player ever?

However, he was awful in his last season with us - the complete opposite of Sidwell. He really didn't try and couldn't give a toss because he knew he was off to better things. I would like to see him go and warm the bench somewhere else.

Our second best player ever? Really?

He got an England cap.

I'm hardly being Mr Controversial, here.

[tomrfcurz]

Could do a lot worse and with Guthrie in the side for set pieces i do think this will strengthen the 11 if he was to come in rather than Ian Harte. However much, there is no doubt in my mind he is better than Harte as a left back

[Avon Royal]

He was great for a while and we missed him dreadfully when he left, because we no longer had a defender who could carry the ball up to the half-way line. Perhaps he is our second best player ever?

However, he was awful in his last season with us - the complete opposite of Sidwell. He really didn't try and couldn't give a toss because he knew he was off to better things. I would like to see him go and warm the bench somewhere else.

Our second best player ever? Really?

He got an England cap.

I'm hardly being Mr Controversial, here.

So other than Robin Friday, he's our best player ever?

[Ian Royal]

He was great for a while and we missed him dreadfully when he left, because we no longer had a defender who could carry the ball up to the half-way line. Perhaps he is our second best player ever?

However, he was awful in his last season with us - the complete opposite of Sidwell. He really didn't try and couldn't give a toss because he knew he was off to better things. I would like to see him go and warm the bench somewhere else.

Our second best player ever? Really?

He got an England cap.

I'm hardly being Mr Controversial, here.

I'd put him top 10 so it's not too bad a shout IMO.
In no particular order:
Sigurdsson
Kitson
Friday
Sidwell
Wdowcyzk
Hislop
Shorey
Little
Roberts
And still room for someone quality who I've inevitably briefly forgotten.

[Gav]

Our second best player ever? Really?

He got an England cap.

I'm hardly being Mr Controversial, here.

I'd put him top 10 so it's not too bad a shout IMO.
In no particular order:
Sigurdsson
Kitson
Friday
Sidwell
Wdowcyzk
Hislop
Shorey
Little
Roberts
And still room for someone quality who I've inevitably briefly forgotten.

Death?

[Franchise FC]

He got an England cap.

I'm hardly being Mr Controversial, here.

I'd put him top 10 so it's not too bad a shout IMO.
In no particular order:
Sigurdsson
Kitson
Friday
Sidwell
Wdowcyzk
Hislop
Shorey
Little
Roberts
And still room for someone quality who I've inevitably briefly forgotten.

Death?

That's a bit harsh for simply forgetting Doyle

[Gav]

[Got the T-Shirt]

All this old and past it stuff...... really?

Nicholas "Nicky" Robert Shorey (born 19 February 1981 in Romford, Essex)..

I would not put 30 years of age as past it!!! Otherwise when September comes for me I am doomed!!!

[Platypuss]

All this old and past it stuff...... really?

Nicholas "Nicky" Robert Shorey (born 19 February 1981 in Romford, Essex)..

I would not put 30 years of age as past it!!! Otherwise when September comes for me I am doomed!!!

Going by your maths skillz, it's already too late....!

[Got the T-Shirt]

All this old and past it stuff...... really?

Nicholas "Nicky" Robert Shorey (born 19 February 1981 in Romford, Essex)..

I would not put 30 years of age as past it!!! Otherwise when September comes for me I am doomed!!!

Going by your maths skillz, it's already too late....!

alright even at 31 he still not past it in terms of modern day footballers... my point still stands...

[Ian Royal]

He got an England cap.

I'm hardly being Mr Controversial, here.

I'd put him top 10 so it's not too bad a shout IMO.
In no particular order:
Sigurdsson
Kitson
Friday
Sidwell
Wdowcyzk
Hislop
Shorey
Little
Roberts
And still room for someone quality who I've inevitably briefly forgotten.

Death?

Tempted to add him given his marvelous record, I'll admit.

[Hoop Blah]

I think it comes down to application and motivation more than being 'past it' as such.

I'm sure he's still physically capable and hasn't lost his touch and ability on the ball. What can make all the difference is just wanting it that little bit more and, of course, whether or not he would truly fit how McDermott would want his left back to play (I don't think the latter would be a problem). We've seen how good he can be, and it was consistent performances over a number of years that proved his quality, so it's not like he had one good season and has struggled to recapture that (the John Mackie effect).

If we think he's got the desire and attitude to prove himself all over again then I'd be pretty happy to have him back. His age is the least of the problems if he's on a free.

[TheLawnMowerMan]

He got an England cap.

I'm hardly being Mr Controversial, here.

Careful now - remember who the England Manager was.
He hardly knew what he was doing and I think a lot of very average players got caps during this period.
As things stand you'd have to include caps for other home nations to be considered, especially the Oirish ones.
Doyle was a regular international player, and Sidwell played (briefly) for Chelsea - I'd put both of them easily above Shorey.
Don't forget Webb and Dixon either, and if we can include on loan players then Upson, Leighton and Woods would have to get a mention.

OK - I was joking about Leighton

[Reading4eva]

He got an England cap.

I'm hardly being Mr Controversial, here.

Careful now - remember who the England Manager was.
He hardly knew what he was doing and I think a lot of very average players got caps during this period.
As things stand you'd have to include caps for other home nations to be considered, especially the Oirish ones.
Doyle was a regular international player, and Sidwell played (briefly) for Chelsea - I'd put both of them easily above Shorey.
Don't forget Webb and Dixon either, and if we can include on loan players then Upson, Leighton and Woods would have to get a mention.

OK - I was joking about Leighton

Even I got a call up from McLaren

[moonwalklikebas]

Really dont know how any of you are dissing a player who played for his country at Wembley against Brazil in the starting 11.

Surely everyone on here would trade in everything for that! A solid LB, on a free. What harm could he do!