Elvis Hammond

[wirralsimon]

My first posting here, so apologies if this has been asked before.

A few years ago now Brian Little signed Franz Carr on loan from Sheffield United and, for a few short weeks, we all watched his amazing runs as he skipped through defences like a knife through butter and marvelled at Brian Littles abaility to unearth a player of his quality, and the signing was quickly made permanent.

A few weeks later we realised that there was no end product (either decent passes or goals) and he faded into mediocre obscurity and subsequently followed Brian Little to Villa where he had equally little impact.

I can't help getting a massive sense of deja vu from Elvis. Despite his ability to go on impressive runs he only seems to have scored 2 goals in senior football (despite being a 24-year old striker), some of his decision-making at the end of his runs looks distinctly iffy and his finishing has yet to materialise.

Can anyone tell me if my sense of deja-vu is misplaced?

Simon

[davieG]

My first posting here, so apologies if this has been asked before.

A few years ago now Brian Little signed Franz Carr on loan from Sheffield United and, for a few short weeks, we all watched his amazing runs as he skipped through defences like a knife through butter and marvelled at Brian Littles abaility to unearth a player of his quality, and the signing was quickly made permanent.

A few weeks later we realised that there was no end product (either decent passes or goals) and he faded into mediocre obscurity and subsequently followed Brian Little to Villa where he had equally little impact.

I can't help getting a massive sense of deja vu from Elvis. Despite his ability to go on impressive runs he only seems to have scored 2 goals in senior football (despite being a 24-year old striker), some of his decision-making at the end of his runs looks distinctly iffy and his finishing has yet to materialise.

Can anyone tell me if my sense of deja-vu is misplaced?

Simon

Your deja-vu is probably more reliable than anyone's ability to see into the future so I guess the answer is No

[Ricey]

His end peoduct id 'iffy' but regular football in this league will soon improve that.

I can't ever see him being a prolific goalscorer but he will get a few and be a handful.

[Ric Flair]

I think it would be unfair to say he's a wrong'un and will never score, but it's also unfair to say he's on the brink of a hatful of goals. The only positive thing I can say is, he looks dangerous and as far as scoring goals go he did knock in about 13 reserve goals in 15 or so matches for Fulham a year or so ago.

Whatever happens, we'll only see the best of Elvis if he's given a run of games in the first team. I've seen some shocking players score alot of goals in the league we are in and there's no reason why he can't score. Confidence and hunger for success often out shadows talent in this league and I believe Elvis has the talent so if he gets confident and match fitness he could be a regular scorer.

P.S. Franz Carr was a winger, so they are rarely prolific anyway.

[wirralsimon]

P.S. Franz Carr was a winger, so they are rarely prolific anyway.

True, but a winger who can't pass or shoot is of limited value to a team!

That said, nobody would be happier than me if it turns out I was talking Bollox. I'd love Elvis to make it!

Simon

[Anish]

I've seen enough of Elvis to believe that he has the attributes to be a top striker for us. I just think he needs to work on his finishing and I hope he gets to play up front rather than on the wing. I'd like to see Elvis and Hume start up front the next game, both players work their socks off (if what we hear about Hume are correct) and they will cause a few problems for opposing defences I'm sure.

[Hitesh]

I've seen enough of Elvis to believe that he has the attributes to be a top striker for us. I just think he needs to work on his finishing and I hope he gets to play up front rather than on the wing. I'd like to see Elvis and Hume start up front the next game, both players work their socks off (if what we hear about Hume are correct) and they will cause a few problems for opposing defences I'm sure.

It would be nice to see but i cant see CL doing that. He will play De Vries and Hume I reckon or MDV and Elvis with the other two (Dublin and Hume or Elvis) on the bench.

[Austin]

good luck to elvis hope he does well! deserves a run out!

[Thracian]

Depends on how good the coaches are.

He gets into excellent situations, often through being the first or the quickest to react. Coaches can help him develop a "hit the target" philosophy. That's what they're paid for - to get the best out of different talents.

You can't coach speed, you can't coach instinct and it is difficult to effectively coach a natural shooting technique but Hammond appears to have all these attributes. What is missing is the ruthless end product. You can coach attitudes. What a gem he'd be would be to develop. Nothing but plusses in my view.

Another key to being a striker is being able to relax - rather like a sniper. The ability to stay ultra cool at the point of striking for goal is a learnable technique - something that can be ingrained on the training ground. If a player is anvious it can help to get him imagining he's already got 18 goals for the season when he goes out.

Also get shoot zones in his head. Whenever he gets the ball within 30 yards he has to shoot, no alternative. Make being greedy in and around the box instinctive. Any decent coach should be able to get 12-15 goals a season out of Hammond from, say, 35 starts.

Devising and conducting training sessions/routines for groups of players is the easy part of a coaches job. Developing the strengths and obliterating the weaknesses in players requires a man with knowledge and a man who understands psychology backwards.

Trainers need knowledge of the best routines and their effect plus the spirit and personality to put them across. Coaches need brains and the ability to manipulate/inspire different personalities. I'm sure we've got trainers at City but I'm not sure we've got coaches.

Levein has specifically signed young players he believes can be moulded into something special. But that will only be the case if he's got Grade A coaching staff to help him.

[breadandcheese]

We only paid £225,000.

If he turns out to be a decent player for us, then I think we'll all be happy for the club to pay up the extra £125,000.

If he doesn't, it was only a small gamble with a probable remaining £250,000 to spend in January (based on an estimate of how much of the upfront £2 mill the board would sanction for transfer fees).

Either way, I think Elvis will add something to the team, providing options upfront (i.e. play Elvis & Hume upfront for a pacey duo or drop one and play Dubin for aerial threat, or play De Vries for strength and ability to hold up the ball)

[Durnerz]

Elvis is a good option to have, i've been impressed with his performances on the wing and in the last 10mins of previous matches how many times have we looked to the bench only to see big, slow strikers as our only option? At least with Elvis we've got someone who looks like he can make something happen be it on the wing or down the middle. I watched him in the warm up against Hull and his finishing was very impressive so given the openings and the breaks which he hasnt had too much of yet i'm confident he can net a few.

[Hullfox]

Does anybody really believe in Deja Vu?

[Hullfox]

Does anybody really believein Deja Vu?

[Craig]

[shen]

Does anybody really believein Deja Vu?

Deja Vu's exist though. It's a chemical reaction in our brain that quickly reproduces something we have just experienced, and that makes us think it's something we've experienced before. Quite interesting I think

[Austin]

shen u just caused deja vu because as i read that they explained what deja vu was on th e tele!

[cisono]

Ah number 18 for him!