Kearney Can
Arkadiy Bakunin followed in the footsteps of past coach Ouyang Shung-Tat by endorsing American striking talent. Where Ouyang is commonly regarded to have botched it as his signing Miguel Reed never clicked properly with then main striker
Chen Chiew-Yen, Bakunin hopes to go one better with 29 year old
Wilson Kearney, signed for a mammoth S$3.6 million from troubled German Division Two side FCN. "Kearney's credentials are impeccable, as he has 54 goals playing in the tough German upper divisions, and before that in the Swedish Division Four with Arsenal FF.
Ulf Hjortlind will benefit from having an older head as his fellow forward. Yes, yes, I guess it's no secret that Kearney will be the preferred partner. No one buys a player for that price to warm the subs bench."
As the fans clamoured for a view of their latest hero, the club spokesmen were frantically answering calls from supporters, both disgrunted and exhilarated . "Half of them want to fire Bakunin for dumping what is effectively Grilled Bird's net stadium gate profit for the season, and then some, on an "old man" going downhill. The other half want to kiss him for bringing in the second half of a fantastic strike pairing."
The sophisticates hinted that Bakunin was trying to kill two birds with one stone as Hjortlind has shrunk into the background after his explosive hattrick against Shadow Chaser FC and brace versus Geyland Eagles United. "Hjortlind pales when he is told to be the lone point man - he needs someone to feed off," self-styled tactician Zhou Ji-Xian analysed. "Frankly, Kearney is indeed that someone, judging from his record. Both even have similar styles, but Kearney is adaptable and can probably play as an out-and-out holding striker, knocking balls down for the younger, faster Hjortlind. That is, if he can regain the form that saw him hit five goals in the German Division Two this season. Also, he will help Grilled immeasureably in corners with his height, as Grilled have been bad at corners ever since they lost the aerial presence of Kau and Hobson to the second team." He continues, "Financially the deal is also sound since with the global 25% rise in ticket prices next season, cash in the bank now will arguably be devalued and is best invested in players."
Bakunin in his official statement maintained that he had the shareholders' interests in mind. "Kearney may not be a true bargain, but I am adamant that I have not overpaid either. In fact, he has arrived pretty cheaply for his quality. True, he may have been underperforming recently, but class is permanent whereas form is temporary. He's already showing signs of perking up in a new environment." When asked about Canadian
Joe Stern and if Stern's less than sterling showings would see him sold to replenish the club's kitty, Bakunin said, "Stern and Kearney are very different players, but they both figure highly in my opinion. Grilled Birds is in a good way now, as we haven't sold any of our six highly-rated midfielders, each worth at least S$3 million even at end-of-season market rates, and maintain a crop of youth talent. Even with today's signing, Grilled is hardly in the red, and we do not need to offload any more players yet." Bakunin ended by rubbishing speculation that Kearney was a panic buy for the the inevitable qualification decider and that Kearney was his second choice after Romanian Stoian Dobrescu, whom Bakunin reportedly bid on but who went to his home league's Fochistii for over S$5 million.
Wilson Kearney himself was not available for comment as he was still undergoing additional medical testing. His agent though maintains that the American was a willing partner to the transfer, and is already disappointed that he remains suspended for the end-of-season meeting with Chinablack through prior suspension.
