Page 30 - 370167 LP253351 A Love Supreme Magazine - A5 48pp (Issue 260) v2

HIT MISS OR MAYBE?
As the January transfer window approaches, it seems like an appropriate time for us to look back at our summer signings and assess how they’ve done for the Lads so far this season.
ELLIS SIMMS: HIT
Simms started like a house on fire, scoring a brace on his debut and then getting another goal in his first SAFC home game. The goals dried a little and then he got a lengthy injury soon after. He’s back fit now and back scoring against Birmingham. He’s performed well when fit, although he looks better in a front two next to Stewart. So far so good, and I’d say signing Ellis on loan was a hit!
AMAD DIALLO: HIT
What a player! To be honest I was unsure about his signing after the first couple of games, especially when Tony Mowbray said he is so frustrating because he doesn’t want to shoot. But he’s gone from strength to strength and must be one of the first names on the team sheet. It’s clear to see why Manchester United paid £37m to sign Amad from Atalanta. His close control, agility and composure are unbelievable. Now he’s in full flow he’s one of the biggest talents in the Championship and judging by his celebrations and post-match antics he’s really bought into the fanbase and loves playing week-in, week-out.
DAN BALLARD: MAYBE
Ballard was excellent at the start of the season, but an injury against QPR kept him out of action for months. Hopefully he’ll return stron- ger. Certainly, a good sign- ing from Arsenal, but it’s got to be a maybe just due to a lack of game time.
ALEX BASS: MAYBE
I was tempted to put Bass as a hit because of his ‘Hand of Cod’ moment against the Mags Under-21s. But he was clearly signed to provide backup and competition for Anthony Patterson, who has performed so well that Alex hasn’t had a sniff. His debut came in the cup against Sheffield Wednesday, where he was pretty poor and arguably at fault for one of their goals. Ultimately, he hasn’t played enough to label him as a miss, but I’d be surprised if we saw the ex-Pompey keeper in the first team barring a Patto injury.
ABDOULLAH BA: MAYBE
The teenager looked really good in his substitute appearances, but when he started against Cardiff it became apparent that he wasn’t ready to start games yet. I have full confidence that he’ll come good, because his ability to carry the ball and evade being closed down by opponents is something that not many players in our side possess.
There’s a lot for the lad to learn though, against Cardiff he was sloppy on the ball, na- ive, and showed a worrying lack of positional aware- ness. Hopefully he can
get his head down in
training and work hard
on the defensive side
of his game and show
Tony Mowbray that
he’s mature enough to
get another chance soon.
30 | ALOVESUPREME | ISSUE260