The Middlesbrough official web site is reporting today that their new signing, Frenchman, Didier Digard claims he snubbed Portsmouth, Newcastle United and Monaco to eventually sign for Middlebrough.
Didier Digard – impressive youngster turned down Newcastle
Apparently the 21 year-old youngster, who Newcastle were said to be interested in, has claimed he snubbed a host of clubs to join the Middlesbrough club.
Digard told the club’s official website today:
“I am very pleased to be joining Middlesbrough because it is a project that is totally different to Paris Saint Germain,” “I know you are trying to build something here.“
“Gareth Southgate was a big influence on my decision to come to Middlesbrough. I had the opportunity to go to other clubs – including Monaco, Newcastle United and Portsmouth – but I was very impressed by Gareth.”
“I know he has a great relationship with the players and it was clear he knew exactly what he wanted to do with the club. He convinced me this was the club for me.”
“I know the Middlesbrough players because I have seen them playing important Premier League games on TV in France.†“I like the way they play and I am looking forward to being a part of that,â€
“I know that the challenge is to get in the top seven or eight places in The Premier League and to have the chance of get into fifth place and qualify for the Uefa Cup. That is what I want to help Middlesbrough do.”
“If I can help the club achieve their ambitions, then I can achieve my ambitions too. I have to perform well for Middlesbrough and for the France Under-21 team and only then I can hope to be picked for the full French side.â€
The presence of fellow countryman Jeremie Aliadiere at The Riverside will presumably help Digard settle down while he starts his English lessons, as he continued:
“At the beginning it is perfect to have Jeremie here. I don’t know him personally but of course it is good to have a French-speaking player to help me.”
“But it is important for me to get to know all of the players and to feel part of the club so I will be taking English lessons as soon as possible.”
Let’s be brutally honest, here – as Newcastle fans this is very disappointing news because , make no mistake, this boy looks very good and a potential star of the future.
He would have been heralded as an excellent buy if we had managed to get him to Tyneside.
We also believe that what Didier says is 95% likely to be the truth, because he would hardly tell fibs on his first interview with the Middlesbrough official web site.
It’s an excellent signing for the Teesside club, no doubt about it, and it’s not easy for us to say that, and we also think Gareth Southgate can turn into a very good manager. In fact all 3 north east clubs right now have top class managers.
The only thing we can potentially learn from this, is that Kevin must be allowed to talk to every player potentially coming to the club.
We have to allow Kevin to speak to these potential signings so he can sell the club and his vision to the players.
That’s something that will be very difficult for Dennis Wise to do right now, let’s face it – as a Londoner who has only just joined the club. We do expect him to get better as he’s at the club longer, but Kevin’s also the manager the players will be playing for.
We’re not blaming Dennis at all, don’t get us wrong, but surely the manager always has to speak to the players about his vision for the club.
And of course there’s nobody better doing that than Kevin Keegan – although Gareth seems to have done a good job – at least with Didier.
Gareth was a great player, who Bobby Robson almost signed for us when he managed Newcastle, and there’s no doubt he’s a great guy – and very down to earth, but this one is still a difficult one for us to take.
Boy, we’re feeling a little bit depressed right now, where’s those pills. 🙁
Comments welcome.
204 comments so far
HATE PRAWN SANDWICHES
Jul 9, 2008 at 5:43 PM
Comment #81NUFC do something anything!!!!! we want signings!! and soon!! just so frustrating!!!!!!!!!!!
Lacedaemonian
Jul 9, 2008 at 5:44 PM
Comment #82Usual fabricated agent bollocks. Newcastle linked with every player going purely to raise wage demands. I used to laugh at Bryan Robson when it seemed he was interested in every single available player. The world is turned to cack and football appears to be the greatest example of this. It used to be the music industry but now it is Sky Sports and tabloid journalism.
I remember when PSG used Newcastle to increase the value of Weah in his transfer to AC Milan. They sold us Ginola on the cheap by way of apology, though in truth he was the most hated man in French football at that time.
It appears we are every clubs/agents bartering tool these days. Glad we did not sign this kid to be honest, I dont recall him playing that well in the games I saw last season though he is only 21.
Inler looks a far better prospect and has played very well at a higher level (better league).
daiv
Jul 9, 2008 at 5:45 PM
Comment #83c
Comparing MA with FFS is hardly a ringing endorsement. FFS was the pits and nothing could be worse. Are we supposed to be pleased that we have got something better than the pits?
Punk Skunk
Jul 9, 2008 at 5:45 PM
Comment #84So why, when playin’ for england on the left, does joke hole ALWAYS cut in from the left, on to his right foot?..
…He’s played no more than 2 handfuls of good games since he was at wetspam!..
…& i actually think he got better under mourinho???..
micepie
Jul 9, 2008 at 5:47 PM
Comment #85Don’t forget that we had a desperately long time last summer without signing anyone, everyone feeling more and more restless before we finally got quite a few in. Some would argue they weren’t the players they wanted but despite BSA’s awful time at the Toon I believe he got at least some good ones amongst the misses.
HATE PRAWN SANDWICHES
Jul 9, 2008 at 5:52 PM
Comment #86The thing is one extreme to another!!!
FS spent and wasted money MA squeeks!! we need someone inbetween!! who is willing to spend but not through money away!!
normski1930z
Jul 9, 2008 at 5:52 PM
Comment #87dont get me wrong joe cole is a good player but he isnt in the same bracket as gerrard,if both players came up for transfer gerrard would cost three times as much as cole…
HATE PRAWN SANDWICHES
Jul 9, 2008 at 5:55 PM
Comment #88normski – who’s the better player
Gerrard or Lampard?
normski1930z
Jul 9, 2008 at 5:57 PM
Comment #89toughy that like sarnies but if i was offered one or the other i would have to go for gerrard.
Kash2
Jul 9, 2008 at 5:58 PM
Comment #90Gerrard!!!!!!!!
HATE PRAWN SANDWICHES
Jul 9, 2008 at 6:00 PM
Comment #91just lampard has scored almost twice as many goals than gerrard since both joining the premiership!!
Midjew
Jul 9, 2008 at 6:03 PM
Comment #92Goals isnt EVEYRTHING. You cannot say Lampard even compares, Gerrard RUNS liverpool, you could NOT say that about lampard, he just shoots, NOTHING ELSE.
normski1930z
Jul 9, 2008 at 6:03 PM
Comment #93aye but gerrard is younger and has had some bad injuries where as lampard played about 100and odd games on the bounce without getting injuries which i suppose is a massive plus for lampard….they are both class tho..
HATE PRAWN SANDWICHES
Jul 9, 2008 at 6:06 PM
Comment #94Midjew – all I said that lampard scored more goals! thats all! I must agree with you all I also would like Gerrard with lampard as back up?
normski1930z
Jul 9, 2008 at 6:06 PM
Comment #95what about this one then sarnies gerrards bird or lampards bird??
Lacedaemonian
Jul 9, 2008 at 6:10 PM
Comment #96ZeTom – Good call on Ledley, I thought Everton had signed him. Apparently the deal did not go through.
Beattie
Jul 9, 2008 at 6:12 PM
Comment #97I reckon he’s just saying it to suck up to the fans (all 7 of them)
regardless of us, he “turned down” the FA cup holders, who are in europe, and Monaco who play in the city of Monaco, to go to the glitz and glamour of Boro? yeah right
HATE PRAWN SANDWICHES
Jul 9, 2008 at 6:12 PM
Comment #98Hard one normski, both young sexy women! has to be lampards
HATE PRAWN SANDWICHES
Jul 9, 2008 at 6:14 PM
Comment #99both expensive???
normski1930z
Jul 9, 2008 at 6:16 PM
Comment #100still i would rather have kirsty g like choccy fingers and 3 in abed….mmmmmmmmm
Richard L
Jul 9, 2008 at 6:19 PM
Comment #101Hope he enjoys playing in front of all those empty seats then
normski1930z
Jul 9, 2008 at 6:19 PM
Comment #102heres a question to all of yous say that lampard was at liverpool and gerrard was at chelsea how do you think both teams would fair????
Will
Jul 9, 2008 at 6:19 PM
Comment #103“I like the way they play and I am looking forward to being a part of that” – shame the boro fan’s don’t agree with this statement, based on their attendances. haha
Midjew
Jul 9, 2008 at 6:19 PM
Comment #10450m to Spend:
Van Der Vart – 14m
Gomez – 12m
Veloso – 12m
Cueller – 6m
Bridge – 6m
——————Given——————-
Beye—–Faye/Taylor–Cueller–Bridge–
——–Jonas——-Veloso——N’zog—–
——————-Owen———————–
——–Gomes————-Martins—-
WOW what a team!!
NOW THAT would challenge ANY CLUB in the premiership!
Tom_Toon
Jul 9, 2008 at 6:21 PM
Comment #105Chelsea would do worse with Gerrard than Lampard because Lampard scores a lot of goals and they have Ballack and Essien who do the jobs tat Gerrard does at Liverpool.
Midjew
Jul 9, 2008 at 6:22 PM
Comment #106If lampard was at liverpool they would be an average Prem Team, as Gerrard keeps them together and i believe most players sign for liverpool because he is there.
And Chelsea would not be any better off, as gerrard would not have as much influence, that is where he shins and that would be taken away.
The Entertainers
Jul 9, 2008 at 6:23 PM
Comment #107Not at all disappointed to lose out on this guy and no its not sour grapes.
Firstly he could not get into a struggling PSG team. A team who had a worse league season than us!!!
The lad may have potential, but they are ten a penny out there with potential and its luck and judgment that play equal parts sometimes in player recruitment.
The price seemed a bit steep, but i suppose thats the going rate for a raw recruit these days.
Still plenty more fish in the seas, just hope we are casting our nets!
normski1930z
Jul 9, 2008 at 6:24 PM
Comment #108midjew dont mean to piss on ya pastie but veloso 12mil try 20 mil,vdv 14mil try 18/19 if ya lucky,gomez or gomes not sure which one ya talking about but 15mil gomes, 17 mill for gomez….
toooooon fan
Jul 9, 2008 at 6:28 PM
Comment #109tom toon and daiv need to lighten up and enjoy this great summer sunshine we are having
Lull
Jul 9, 2008 at 6:28 PM
Comment #110The only player i really hope we sign for now is Inler. Get him sign!!!!
Tom_Toon
Jul 9, 2008 at 6:30 PM
Comment #111haha toooon fan, its been raining 9 hours non-stop where i am.
HATE PRAWN SANDWICHES
Jul 9, 2008 at 6:30 PM
Comment #112out of all those players If he could afford them and they would come I would have to take Super mario and VDV for 32 mill for both!!
normski1930z
Jul 9, 2008 at 6:31 PM
Comment #113tooooon fan what summer sunshine its peeing doon here in gosforth……
sean667
Jul 9, 2008 at 6:32 PM
Comment #114why gomez did`nt look that hot for the money, can`t you chuck owen up front and fit inVDV?
toooooon fan
Jul 9, 2008 at 6:32 PM
Comment #115is that y ur a moody little git then?????
sean667
Jul 9, 2008 at 6:33 PM
Comment #116us southern fans too would like some sun……………….ok ready for the backlash on that one
Tom_Toon
Jul 9, 2008 at 6:33 PM
Comment #117go back to your restaurant, kk is waiting for you to take his order.
Tom_Toon
Jul 9, 2008 at 6:34 PM
Comment #118sean, i am in cambridge and the weather is dire.
toooooon fan
Jul 9, 2008 at 6:35 PM
Comment #119calm down here u go again it is so easy to wind u up
HATE PRAWN SANDWICHES
Jul 9, 2008 at 6:35 PM
Comment #120although Gomez had a bad Euros he is a fantastic player his stats say it all for his club stuttgard