Latvian 'keeper signs

Press Association this morning:

Crystal Palace have agreed terms with Skonto Riga for the transfer for Latvian international goalkeeper Aleksanders Kolinka for £600,000.
Kolinka has been training with Alan Smith's side and appeared in the World Cup qualifying match against Scotland last weekend.
Palace have also made a £3million bid for Southampton striker James Beattie as they continue to strengthen their squad.
Chairman Simon Jordan continues to show his intentions in the transfer market.
He said: "I have already spent over £3million on transfers since I took over the club, and these two bids continue to show our intentions of making Crystal Palace a real force in football at the highest level as soon as possible."

[Gooders]

So it would appear that no one was on the right track when we were speculating how much Jordan had told Coppell he could spend.

If this deal goes through that'll be nigh on 6 million and no one mentioned a figure as high as that.

I'm also reminded of a quote from Jordan a few weeks back along the lines of "sometimes I lay in bed thinking I'll go out and buy two players for 10 million tomorrow but then I think better of it".

Hmmm.

[Al From Bromley]

""I have already spent over 3million on transfers since I took
over the club, and these two bids continue to show our intentions
of making Crystal Palace a real force in football at the highest
level as soon as possible."
I must emphasise that this isnt a whinge, but, whilst I admire Mr Jordan for the many splendid things he is doing at the club, it may be a bit premature to start making such bold statements to the press. We all know he has the club's best interests at heart, but by saying such things you just leave yourself wide open to get shot down in flames by the press. His actions speak as loud as his words - and words can come back to haunt you!

(Just to reiterate what i said elsewhere)

[walderslade eagle]

Has anybody seen any footage of this guy playing? How did he do against the sweatys?

[Men At Work]

Played OK for what little he had to do. Stopped a couple of shots and looked dodgy on the odd cross. Perfect for a Palace keeper then http://www.cpfc.org/ubb/smile.gif

[Spikemeister]

He looked pretty impressive to me. Had no chance with the late goal.
Defitie tendency to punch rather than catch (pretty common with foreign goalies). Not afraid to leave his line, seemed very positive.

[Psychokiller]

I have a friend working in Latvia (he used to post on this board!) who I go and see occasionally and when we've watched Riga, Kolinka has always been top class - in the Martyn sense!

This guy will be a Palace legend, mark my words!

[Worthing Eagle]

he'd better be good...paying £600k to a latvian club must equate to paying an English club £2-3m?

I suppose we have to wait for a work permit now though......should get it just before Taylor goes back to Arsenal.

[Matty]

Well, maybe they put the work permits through in a job lot, the Arse said that theirs would be ready to go straight into the team on saturday.

oh, no, I was forgetting we're not a big premiership with the clout to buck the system (c.f. Leeds/Viduka CPFC/Foster)

[PeterH]

Originally posted by Matty:


oh, no, I was forgetting we're not a big premiership with the clout to buck the system (c.f. Leeds/Viduka CPFC/Foster)

Thank you Matty, when I mentioned something similar, I was almost told on this board to apply some ointment on the chip on my shoulder.

[trufan]

Well, at least the song's already taken care of. Russian folksong Kalinka (trad) could be a Holmesdale hit. C'mon lads . . . Kolinka, Kolinka, Kolinka in goal . . . Kolinka, Kolinka, Kolinka in goal! Oh come on, you MUST have heard it! On the count of three . . .

OK, I'll get me mandolin.

[trufan]

On second thoughts, maybe we should stick to "Latvia's, Latvia's Number One, Latvia's Number One . . ." http://www.cpfc.org/ubb/smile.gif

[walderslade eagle]

Trufan, I know the song you mean, its the one you see them do their cossack dance to! I'm with you on this one (although you'll need a balalaika not a Mandolin)

[trufan]

good spot walderslade. If I could've spelt balalaika, I'd have put that! Altogether now . . . Kolinka, Kolinka . . .

Originally posted by Al from Bromley:
I must emphasise that this isnt a whinge,

are you sure ?? sounds like it to me

[Al From Bromley]

i just don't think it does the club or fans any favours issuing statements which could come back to haunt us. We've had enough misery over the last 2 years having been the laughing stock of football during the Goldberg era. At the very least it leaves all of us open to ridicule from our mates "Oh I read that you are soon to be a major force in football"!

Eagles not ego's - it still aplies

[Fat Andy]

Somewhere it said that we signed him as at the moment we only have Gregg as cover for Taylor. Where will he be in the line of goalies?