Yesterday was Transfer Deadline Day. As I sat and watched Sky Sports desperately try to keep my interest with all sorts of bombastic horse shit I wondered why everyone gets so hyped up. When I was younger I fell for it all the same. The shouting, the bright colours, the nonsensical wailings - it was like being at a kid’s birthday party.
It was a party that Bolton Wanderers arrived at fairly early, had a bite from the buffet and then snuck out early because they had better things to do.
We signed Cardiff City winger Craig Noone. That came as no surprise - nor did the hundreds of ‘Bolton signing no-one’ jokes that I was subjected to by text and by hilarious office bantersaurus rex type muppets. Tres hilaire, dickheads.
Lame wisecracks aside, I think this is a cracking signing for Wanderers. I was expecting him to come in on loan but no, we have him on a permanent deal for the next two seasons - which is a huge bonus.
I see him as an upgrade on Sammy Ameobi, which I don’t mean to sound like an insult, but Noone has what Sammy doesn’t - a proven Championship CV. It’s fair to say that he began his career in the lower leagues, working his way up through spells at Southport, Plymouth Argyle and Exeter City before finding his place at Brighton & Hove Albion in 2011. He has spent the last five seasons at Cardiff, playing almost 200 games for the club including 14 in the Premier League.
He has a solid goalscoring record, equivalent to Filipe Morais or Sammy himself and I think he’ll be a real threat for Wanderers on the counter attack.
I’m absolutely delighted he’s signed and cannot wait to see him in the team. Welcome Craig, to the biggest club in the world.