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Steven Howard


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It seems that there's very much two opinions, one being DJ has lost the plot completely, the other that signing Howard could be a masterstroke.

I'm behind the one that clearly Kevin Davies was first choice, and the COG issue has been handled badly but cannot be changed, so lets get behind Steve Howard as everyone that pulls on the blue and white shirt for the first time deserves.

Yes he may be 36 and signed from League One relegation certainties, but he's had a good career and scored goals wherever he's been, many of them crucial ones at crucial times. Take into account that he's never been that mobile anyway, and so loss of pace isn't going to be a major negative factor, the main thing is that he's got the power in the air that's punished us on a few occasions, and isn't afraid to stick his head/boot in where it hurts for the cause.

Have we signed him as the main front line striker? Clearly not, he's very much an impact player who will offer something completely different to the rest of the (current minus COG) squad for the last 15/20 minutes if we're chasing the game or looking for a late winner. It's the alternative option sometimes lacking. Think about the number of times we've thrown Madine on for similar lengths of time, and the results have been mixed, if Madine's court case goes wrong we're left with Maguire, moving JJ up front or someone from the Dev. Squad. It was clearly a stick or twist choice for DJ and the few £1000's it'll cost us until the end of the season to have Howard with us, rather than not, is money well spent.

Is this is last chance in football? Probably, so what an opportunity for him, one that he would never imagined when he signed for Hartlepool. He will have gone there for family reasons, coming from the North East, and it's not worked out for him seemingly due to lack of service and creativity - sound familiar?? Well taking DJ's other signings Olofinjana and Holden, as a bundle they offer a lot more than the give it to Antonio Plan A, B and C we've employed for most of the season.

We've seen Coke, Prutton, Lee and even Llera at one point force their way into the team through hard work, the first two struggling to get into our team in League One, and there are a few parallels to be drawn with Howard. Of the teams we have left to play, I would say only Barnsley and Millwall have big strong centre-halves that would prefer to play against someone like Howard rather than a Madine or Lita type of player.

Given that we know Beevers' game inside out, he can be bullied at times, and Saturday's game will be scrappy and hectic with Foster no doubt wanting to volley anyone that moves, that's those two games, again where he could prove his worth.

Either way he's one of us now, and if he scored a crucial 89th minute winner at L**ds he'll be a legend in the same category as COG for his winner last season, albeit in different circumstances!!

UTO

STEEEEEEEEEEEEVE!!!

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