Thetownend.com

http://www.swindontownfc.co.uk/page/NewsDetail/0,,10341~2301161,00.html

At least he's got experience at this level I suppose.

I'm well off on gossip. Didn't know this was coming.

errr...

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/m/motherwell/9369930.stm

Motherwell's proposed loan signing of Leeds United striker Mike Grella has fallen through because he has already played for two clubs this season.

Well he's a striker and we need goals.

Surely his song must be based on Rihanna's number 1 hit 'umbrella'?

We've got Mike Grella, ella, ella, ella.

On the OS says he's signed and is in the squad for tomorrow.

He played for Long Island Rough Riders, which is possibly the best name of a football team ever.

This will be classed as a short term/emergency loan deal. So I think it's all good, I think.

Decent signing at this level..

I can read, thank you.

Just wondering how the fuck we can be exempt from a FIFA rule that Motherwell fell foul of?

Sounds like a decent signing though, quite pleased with that.

I thought he went on loan to Motherwell then it got cancelled as he'd already played for two clubs?

Can he even play? Will he score the goals that fire us to a points deduction?

Only got 10 league starts, hopefully he can bring something to the table. Certainly can't hurt.

What about Deportivo Wanka who play in Peru?

Maybe because this is probably an emergency loan the rules change slightly?

Doesn't count for emergency loans, hence we were able to sign Obika.

Why didn't Motherwell do the same then?

Imbeciles!

Did not see this coming at all.

ahh, that explains it.

Good signing.

Is that their official nickname?

Happy days. Much needed. Good signing. Fair play Wilson/Fitton.

Decent signing, could be just what we need, or could do no good at all.

Another Leeds player !

I might go tomorrow now!   borrow a motor...

Don't know. Can you do emergency loans between two different FAs?

A very good signing which will bring some much needed grunt either in the middle or up front.

Grella has experience and has been around a bit. He's turned down loan moves already this season, so our ex-Leeds posse have probably been instrumental in getting him here - well done Douggie and Co :nod: and to Fitton and Wilson  :clap:

some people on this thread are saying this is a good signing, can I just ask what are they actually basing their opinion on, have people seen him play, do we know what his strengths and weaknesss' are, what can he bring to the team, signing smacks of desperasion (sp) to me.

I think the desperation thing is fair enough, what with us being fucking desperate and all.

I would say no wins in 10, 2 in 20 and bottom 5 really calls for desperate needs. Oh, and Rooney didn't want to drop down a few leagues.

- Tony Robbins

In life you need either chocolate chip or rum and raisin.

-Baskin Robbins

Signing Grella a player who was on the fringes of Leeds promotion winning season last year coming off the bench several times, he has also scored goals for Carlisle in our league this season and had a good goal scoring record in the American League really smacks of desperation to me, cannot believe we are stooping to these depths for signings, please bring back Pericard and Dossevi to replace this joker Grella!

I don't know if he's any good, but another option up front can't hurt...

I thought Obika was the last throw of the dice....but this really is, no idea about Grella, but it sounds a bit like gorilla, so might be what we need up front.

I am really sorry and people will jump on me for yet another pop about a newbie but that comment reeks of thisis

Correct me if I'm wrong but didn't he play for Leeds v Man U in the Cup last year and did very well?

Think your thinking of Becchio as Grella was an unused sub in that game.  The line ups are on here: http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/fa_cup/8433901.stm

Why do you think it's desperation and he isn't a good signing? Have you seen him play?

Good. Worth a punt. Beggars (for points) can't be choosers.

Pretty certain the "emergency loan" thing is a fudge by the Football League, not really recognized let alone approved by UEFA and FIFA.

Supporters on forums suggest he played really well for Carlisle, but didn't score many as was playing a wing role, rather than central striker, and so was getting lots of assists.

From what I've read, Carlisle wanted to sign him for the rest of the season but Ken Bate's turned it down. Maybe this was in part related to Motherwell being interested, whihc fell apart as you can't play for 3 clubs in one season under FIFA regs (cross border) so he could only then sign for another English club... which has benefitted us!! :D

If Carlisle like him so much, we should give him a chance...

COYR!!  :beers:

didn't they rate pericard too?
oops

Can only remember seeing him play once, on the telly, and he looked v tidy on the deck. It's another option - and competition. Anybody who was at the game on Saturday can appreciate that we need numbers in up top.

I'm a member of the local Swingers club by the same name.

What's your strike rate like? I suppose every hole is a goal.

1 in 4 my aim isn't what it used to be.

I dont want to talk about the other 3.

Doesn't look bad.  We'll see Saturday....

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5v3rzDTPOlo

Just in from a good friend and Leeds season ticket holder..


Sounds like a good foil for Benyon.

Without wishing to be hypercritical, I was rather hoping for a gorilla up front to give us some sadly lacking physical presence...I don't much like the sound of "not an out and out striker"

If it means he's not a scorer but a maker of goals, then I suppose it might work out for Obika or Benyon, if fit.

Fuck it, i'll have him in behind Benyon and Obika...

This was posted by a Leeds fan on another Website

Another Leeds fan here, although living in Swindon I do follow your results closely. He's a very intelligent player who personally I feel has never really been given much of a chance with us. Last season Beckford and Becchio were ahead of him, and now we have Somma and McCormack too (and Paynter who has been shocking). He has a great footballing brain, has a knack of getting into good positions and spotting good runs. It's because of this Carlisle played him in a more midfield role (which he doesn't like), hence why he only scored 3 goals in 10 games. With an extended run up front, I feel he'd probably be able to score a fair few. Up top with Benyon or Obika he could do very well. And if he does do well, there's even a chance you guys could get him permanently, considering we normally play 1 up top, sometimes 2, and he's 5th choice. Carlisle fans loved him when he was on-loan there earlier in the season

So 5 goals all season - 1 league, 4 cup (2 of which anybody on here could of scored)

Exciting stuff (sarcasm) Let's hold back on how good he is until we see him play Saturday.

Went for Paynter and ended up with his understudy! :bye: :bye:

Time will tell I guess(we don't have a lot left)

You're right lets wait and see. Strikes me some people wouldn't be happy even if we signed Rooney. I mean he's scored about 5 all season and 2 of them were penalties blah blah blah.

Must be better than Dossevi surely.  Looks like he could be fit for Saturday, as he trained this morning in the open session at the Country Ground.  Struggled to score even in training, which just about sums it up.

Good signing imo.

So, who went to the training session today then?

Did anybody heckle?

Popped over there lunchtime, didn't go into the ground and there was a fucking long queue just for autographs!
Bought the away shirt for £19 from the shop.

Loving your avatar Tans, it's very gay and hypnotic, i'm nursing a semi just watching it.

glad to be of service

The whole team were training on the pitch.  We got there after it had started, so don't know what the reception was like when they all came out.  Wilson did an interview quite near the end, although you couldn't hear a word he was saying as the microphone was crap.  Shaun Hodgetts then asked us to show our appreciation for him and I have to say there wasn't a great deal of applause and there was a bit of heckling from a group behind me.

He didn't hang around to sign any autographs at the end either and a few people commented maybe he was worried about being asked awkward questions. Douglas was totally put on the spot by one bloke asking him why it had gone so wrong this season and whether he thought a new manager would change things?  He didn't say no.....

I wouldnt want Rooney here.  My grandmother is still alive.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mike_Grella

Brilliant.

I've been looking for a good reason to divorce STFC, I think I've just found it.

If they start singing "USA" at the County Ground, I'll start the divorce proceedings immediately.

Good player maybe.......we need goals and plenty of them.....can't see him getting them.

Hope i am wrong.....1 in 30(know a lot was substitute) don't really suggest he will prove me wrong.

Grella did a number of interviews for the LUFC matchday programme, links to scanned copies below for those interested.

Starter for 10                 http://issuu.com/dazed_and_confused/docs/mike-grella-starter-for-10 (http://issuu.com/dazed_and_confused/docs/mike-grella-starter-for-10)

Fantasy football              http://issuu.com/dazed_and_confused/docs/mike-grella-fantasy-football (http://issuu.com/dazed_and_confused/docs/mike-grella-fantasy-football)

Five Card trick                http://issuu.com/dazed_and_confused/docs/mike-grella-5card-trick (http://issuu.com/dazed_and_confused/docs/mike-grella-5card-trick)

27 of the Leeds games were as a sub so hardly a good indication, Carlisle started him in 10 games this season alot as a wide player and he scored 3 goals.

A Leeds fan I know described him as a Sheringham-type player.... fingers-crossed.

plays like a 45 yr old?

I am really hoping he clicks....can he play Saturday?

I'd still take a 45 yr old Sheringham over Dossevi and Pericard.

Maybe "I'd still take a" wasn't the most appropriate phrase to use.

Have we ever had an American play for us ??

And no Migz doesn't count because he's some weird Brazilian-Yank hybrid.

Yep Roy Wegerle

Oh and good news for Tans, Grella is on Twitter.

Yes he can.  Benyon, O'Brien, Misun, Pericard all out.  Dossevi not 100pc but training apparently.  Dossevi at 80 percent.  Jesus what a thought.
  

If Migz doesn't count, then neither does Wegerle, as he was a Saffa Yank hybrid...

Fixed