Caught In The Webb
Hovaness Noubaryan bolstered the Grilled squad with 25 year-old Scottish defender
Gilbert Webb, who at S$10.1 million became the tenth most expensive incoming transfer in Birds history - and the second-most in that position, behind only Cup hero Sylweriusz Zywczyn.
Like "
Sid", Webb takes a mean set-piece, but otherwise prefers to tidy things up in the centre. With the returning
Yuki Irie now 37 years of age, and
Hoàng Trung Quá hitting 35, it came as no surprise that Noubaryan had long been looking at bringing someone in. This turned out to be Webb, from Dutch Division Four Hantas FC.
"Gilbert's a proven centreback, who we trust will do a great job alongside
Yuta Nakakita." Noubaryan declared, as he posed with Webb holding the Number Five jersey previously worn by fan favourites such as Zhao Jing Wei, Ola Martinsson and Seytek Djekshenkulov. "In terms of tackling and distribution from the back, he's as good as it gets. Clean player, too!"
Grilled's stiffest rivals for Webb's signature were German fourth division side Fortuna Firsni 854, who were searching for a direct replacement for their former Italian stopper Italo Loscanna. Fortunately, Webb was looking for a bigger change, having also spent three-and-a-half seasons in Poland with F.C. Kuki-Legia W-wa before joining Hantas FC.
Famously taciturn, he did deign to emphasize that he was all about defending first, and everything else second. "Not here to make friends... but I wouldn't mind too much."
