Connor Wickham - possible short-term deal?

https://www.walesonline.co.uk/sport/...-move-26178589

Cardiff City are deciding whether to offer free agent striker Connor Wickham a contract with the club, WalesOnline has learned.

Wickham, 29, left League One side Forest Green Rovers last month after his short-term deal came to an end. The striker had interest from a number of teams last summer and even had a trial at Reading before joining the Gloucestershire-based side.

Wickham was keen to get games under his belt after years of being ravaged by injury hell. In his 20 games in all competitions for Forest Green this term, he scored nine goals. Now he is understood to be looking for a new challenge.

It is understood first-team coach Dean Whitehead helped to bring the former Premier League striker into the building before Sabri Lamouchi was appointed Bluebirds manager.

The player underwent rehabilitation with the Cardiff physios with a view to training with the Bluebirds, however that now appears unlikely as the club would be liable for any potential injuries caused should he suffer any while training with the team.

The centre-forward's injury record is clearly a concern for Cardiff, with a short-term contract likely to be the only way this deal gets over the line. He has played more than 20 league games in a single season only once since the 2013/14 campaign.

However, it all hinges on Lamouchi's assessment of the player. Cardiff are desperate for extra firepower in the squad and managed to bring in only one striker on deadline day in the form of Midtjylland front-man Sory Kaba.

Whether the Frenchman feels he has enough goals in the squad with Kaba, Callum Robinson, Kion Etete, Mark Harris and Isaak Davies as his forward options remains to be seen.

Wickham has 69 career goals to his name, during spells with big clubs including Leeds United, Sunderland, Ipswich Town, Sheffield Wednesday and Crystal Palace, which would put him behind only Robinson in the list of goals scored in the current Bluebirds setup.

But while Lamouchi has not ruled out the possibility of bringing in more players on free transfers, he did allude to the lack of match fitness as being a potential issue.

Wickham's last game for Forest Green was almost two months ago, a 1-0 win over Cheltenham Town in League One. Given he was rehabilitating an injury when he arrived at Cardiff, too, how much longer until he would be realistically match fit? That could prove the ultimate stumbling block.

There was a claim on 'another board' in late January that Wickham was training with Cardiff.

Seems he was 'in the building' (of course!) but not training - just working with the club physios on his fitness.

Not an inspiring potential signing but presumably a low risk and cheap way of adding to our options at the top of the pitch.

A free agent left back would be better.

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Originally Posted by jon1959

https://www.walesonline.co.uk/sport/...-move-26178589

Cardiff City are deciding whether to offer free agent striker Connor Wickham a contract with the club, WalesOnline has learned.

Wickham, 29, left League One side Forest Green Rovers last month after his short-term deal came to an end. The striker had interest from a number of teams last summer and even had a trial at Reading before joining the Gloucestershire-based side.

Wickham was keen to get games under his belt after years of being ravaged by injury hell. In his 20 games in all competitions for Forest Green this term, he scored nine goals. Now he is understood to be looking for a new challenge.

It is understood first-team coach Dean Whitehead helped to bring the former Premier League striker into the building before Sabri Lamouchi was appointed Bluebirds manager.

The player underwent rehabilitation with the Cardiff physios with a view to training with the Bluebirds, however that now appears unlikely as the club would be liable for any potential injuries caused should he suffer any while training with the team.

The centre-forward's injury record is clearly a concern for Cardiff, with a short-term contract likely to be the only way this deal gets over the line. He has played more than 20 league games in a single season only once since the 2013/14 campaign.

However, it all hinges on Lamouchi's assessment of the player. Cardiff are desperate for extra firepower in the squad and managed to bring in only one striker on deadline day in the form of Midtjylland front-man Sory Kaba.

Whether the Frenchman feels he has enough goals in the squad with Kaba, Callum Robinson, Kion Etete, Mark Harris and Isaak Davies as his forward options remains to be seen.

Wickham has 69 career goals to his name, during spells with big clubs including Leeds United, Sunderland, Ipswich Town, Sheffield Wednesday and Crystal Palace, which would put him behind only Robinson in the list of goals scored in the current Bluebirds setup.

But while Lamouchi has not ruled out the possibility of bringing in more players on free transfers, he did allude to the lack of match fitness as being a potential issue.

Wickham's last game for Forest Green was almost two months ago, a 1-0 win over Cheltenham Town in League One. Given he was rehabilitating an injury when he arrived at Cardiff, too, how much longer until he would be realistically match fit? That could prove the ultimate stumbling block.

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If he's able to stick the ball in the net without need crutches sign him till the end of the season

cant do any harm at this point, even if he can score 1 goal before picking up another injury, it is one more than we currently look to be able to score.

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Originally Posted by jon1959

There was a claim on 'another board' in late January that Wickham was training with Cardiff.

Seems he was 'in the building' (of course!) but not training - just working with the club physios on his fitness.

Not an inspiring potential signing but presumably a low risk and cheap way of adding to our options at the top of the pitch.

A free agent left back would be better.

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Pray for Bob, because we know what is coming now. That ball is getting lumped up to the big men.

[Not an inspiring potential signing but presumably a low risk and cheap way of adding to our options at the top of the pitch.

A free agent left back would be better.[/QUOTE]
Agreed. A LB is the priority if there's one out there. Not a bad option to have on the bench though, behind Robinson and Kaba, or instead if one gets injured, as long as it's a short term deal.

Hes worth a gamble.

I heard from one of the FGR coaching staff he was speaking to us before christmas, FGR were speaking to him about extending his contract till the end of the season, but nothing came of it

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Originally Posted by blue matt

I heard from one of the FGR coaching staff he was speaking to us before christmas, FGR were speaking to him about extending his contract till the end of the season, but nothing came of it

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He turned them down, he had better offers. Ie us.

No.

Please.

No.

Just no.

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Originally Posted by jon1959

There was a claim on 'another board' in late January that Wickham was training with Cardiff.

Seems he was 'in the building' (of course!) but not training - just working with the club physios on his fitness.

Not an inspiring potential signing but presumably a low risk and cheap way of adding to our options at the top of the pitch.

A free agent left back would be better.

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If he's in the building we just need him to get on the grass go through the protocols and join the group, get game time into his legs, and for him to buy Into the programme and the process can begin!!!

No I don't know what it means either 🤷*♂️
There must be better out there, on the other hand he can't be any worse than Harris

If he is fit then go get him.

Even though FGR may be a lower standard than the Championship, I am sure he could score from twelve yards given the opportunity.

In training and off the bench see what he's about.

Beggars can't be choosers.

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Originally Posted by Pedro de la Rosa

He turned them down, he had better offers. Ie us.

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rumour has it, he had 4 better " irons in the fire " but none have materialised yet

I appreciate that we are shopping in poundland but an injury prone player who was not kept on by a struggling team in a lower league.

We really are in a whole heap of trouble.

Jesus Forest Green Rovers rejects, what the hell is going on!

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Originally Posted by Majorblue

I appreciate that we are shopping in poundland but an injury prone player who was not kept on by a struggling team in a lower league.

We really are in a whole heap of trouble.

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Originally Posted by North Cardiff Blue

Jesus Forest Green Rovers rejects, what the hell is going on!

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FGR wanted him to stay till the end of the season

An extremely injury-prone player who scored six goals in League One this season for the team who are rock bottom of that division, and who last played a game two months ago.

Yes, ladies and gentlemen, it has indeed come to this.

Stick him in the boardroom but keep him well away from the pitch.

Surely it’s a free hit. He is not worse than the current offering. We’re up shit creek.

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Originally Posted by Des Parrot

Surely it’s a free hit. He is not worse than the current offering. We’re up shit creek.

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If he signs and puts in as much effort as he did at Forest Green then we'll be even further up the Creek. I'm not sure he offers anything we haven't already got.

The only way I'd consider Wickham at this point is on a pay as you play basis, and it's obviously highly unlikely that he'd be up for that.

He does have ability for sure, but it's too risky on any decent contract.

If he scores even one goal that's one more than the current lot will score.

contract to the end of the season, its not a massive risk

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Originally Posted by Majorblue

I appreciate that we are shopping in poundland but an injury prone player who was not kept on by a struggling team in a lower league.

We really are in a whole heap of trouble.

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Agree. Step by step, bit by bit, we're putting together a weaker squad, one which compared to nearly all the rest in this league is significantly poorer. I think I'd actually be concerned if this was for matched in league 1, let alone the Championship.

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Originally Posted by blue matt

contract to the end of the season, its not a massive risk

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He'd want a good few quid though Matt, he won't play for peanuts, obviously thinks he can get a decent move.
Even £10k a week is big for us at the minute if he gets crocked.
Might be worth it if he was willing to take a low wage though, just to prove himself.

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Originally Posted by Ninja

He'd want a good few quid though Matt, he won't play for peanuts, obviously thinks he can get a decent move.
Even £10k a week is big for us at the minute if he gets crocked.
Might be worth it if he was willing to take a low wage though, just to prove himself.

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Would any club pay him 10 grand a week with his glass body? You wouldn’t have thought he’s calling the shots on terms.

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Originally Posted by Ninja

He'd want a good few quid though Matt, he won't play for peanuts, obviously thinks he can get a decent move.
Even £10k a week is big for us at the minute if he gets crocked.
Might be worth it if he was willing to take a low wage though, just to prove himself.

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even at 10 K a week, its only £150 k ( ish ) till the end of the season, a few goals from him might keep us up, its only Vinnie's Money, its worth the risk to me :hehe:

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Originally Posted by GL1Blue

If he signs and puts in as much effort as he did at Forest Green then we'll be even further up the Creek. I'm not sure he offers anything we haven't already got.

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9 goals in 18 games for a struggling side, albeit further down the league.

Of the strikers he'd be in competition with for a place,

Robinson 6
Harris 3
Etete 1

I'd suggest he's a better short term option than Harris or Etete.

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Originally Posted by The Lone Gunman

An extremely injury-prone player who scored six goals in League One this season for the team who are rock bottom of that division, and who last played a game two months ago.

Yes, ladies and gentlemen, it has indeed come to this.

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A player who would be signed as a short term, cheap backup to Kaba (who prior to the Luton game hadn't played in two months), providing a physicality we don't have in other strikers.

A sicknote who has scored more this season than any of our strikers and only 1 less than Robinson, Harris and Etete combined.

Yes, ladies and gentlemen, it's a cheap, sensible option. Works out? Could help us stay up, could end up with a longer deal. If we get relegated? No compo as his deal expires, he along with Lamouchi won't be here next season.

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Originally Posted by Ninja

He'd want a good few quid though Matt, he won't play for peanuts, obviously thinks he can get a decent move.
Even £10k a week is big for us at the minute if he gets crocked.
Might be worth it if he was willing to take a low wage though, just to prove himself.

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He’s out of a job,waning zip. Why would we pay him 4 or 5x what Forest Green paid?

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Originally Posted by Des Parrot

He’s out of a job,waning zip. Why would we pay him 4 or 5x what Forest Green paid?

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Hopefully we won't, that's the point.
He seems to be holding out for more than most clubs are willing to chance, clearly.

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Originally Posted by Ninja

Hopefully we won't, that's the point.
He seems to be holding out for more than most clubs are willing to chance, clearly.

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The point is he might be better than what we've got, which is about the most damning comment you can make about our summer recruitment.

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Originally Posted by logic

9 goals in 18 games for a struggling side, albeit further down the league.

Of the strikers he'd be in competition with for a place,

Robinson 6
Harris 3
Etete 1

I'd suggest he's a better short term option than Harris or Etete.

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He scored 6 in 16 games in the League for them, similar return to Robinson. Is there space for them both in our side, I'm not sure and I'd certainly rather Robinson over Wickham.
We need people who will defend from the front, Wickham certainly didn't do that for Forest Green.
Forest Green have thrown money around in this latest transfer window, I doubt that money would have been an issue if they wanted Wickham to stay until the end of the season. Purely a guess but I would have thought that they didn't want him to stay on and it doesn't seem he's had loads of offers from other clubs.
Saying that if he signed and scored a few goals I'd be more than happy!

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Originally Posted by GL1Blue

Forest Green have thrown money around in this latest transfer window, I doubt that money would have been an issue if they wanted Wickham to stay until the end of the season. Purely a guess but I would have thought that they didn't want him to stay on!

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Appearance or minutes based clause that they didn’t want to invoke I read. (GoL I think)

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Originally Posted by Pedro de la Rosa

The point is he might be better than what we've got, which is about the most damning comment you can make about our summer recruitment.

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It speaks volumes.
I could rant at this point about good players not wanting to come, lack of investment, and above all that, the embargo mess which also screwed us.
I'll refrain though. I can't be arsed dealing with snipers who can't accept the harsh reality of the situation.

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Originally Posted by logic

9 goals in 18 games for a struggling side, albeit further down the league.

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It’s 20 games. Two of those goals came against South Shields. Another was scored against Alvechurch.

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Originally Posted by Des Parrot

Appearance or minutes based clause that they didn’t want to invoke I read. (GoL I think)

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That makes sense then.

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Originally Posted by The Lone Gunman

An extremely injury-prone player who scored six goals in League One this season for the team who are rock bottom of that division, and who last played a game two months ago.

Yes, ladies and gentlemen, it has indeed come to this.

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Could this be the guy that fires us up to the PL for the 10 year stint Tan was on about in a recent interview…..

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Originally Posted by Hilts

Hes worth a gamble.

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That's easy for you to say; you don't have to find the dough.

Because he's employing a small army of lawyers, Vinnie's down to his last quadrillion Malaysian ringgits and only has a small state pension to supplement his pile.

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Originally Posted by The Lone Gunman

An extremely injury-prone player who scored six goals in League One this season for the team who are rock bottom of that division, and who last played a game two months ago.

Yes, ladies and gentlemen, it has indeed come to this.

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This signing, if indeed it does happen, takes me back to he dreadful years of Hibbert's 'Reign of Terror'. Signing other teams, always historically poorer than us, more-or-less cast-offs. Wickham might still be wanted by FGR, but they are currently bottom of League 1. Sadly, with Tan at the helm this I feel, is the shape of things to come