TRANSFER NEWS
Norwich City: Darren Eadie on Abu Kamara transfer saga
Eadie believes that decision was out of character for the person he knew as a City academy hopeful, and feels it was the wrong one for him.
“One of the events that unfolded towards the end of the window that I did just find a little surprising was Abu Kamara’s desire to leave Norwich having just returned to the club following an impressive spell on loan with Portsmouth last season,” he said.
“I know Abu well from his time as a pupil at Langley School and always found him to be a quiet and unassuming lad. I’m therefore pretty sure his bold decision to hand in a transfer request might have had some outside influence involved.
“I guess it’s a sign of the times in today’s game that young players want first-team action as soon as possible in their careers. While I appreciate it was 30 years ago that many of my team-mates went out and enjoyed beneficial loan spells, I don’t ever recall anyone returning to the club and almost demanding first-team action.
“I just wonder if Abu might have been better served to have given it until January to see what opportunities came his way here at Norwich before making the decision to jump ship.”
The 49-year-old says Norwich reacted to Kamara’s desire in the right way, however, and that there’s no room in football clubs for wantaway players.
“While it is always a shame to see good players move on, it’s part and parcel of the game,” he continued, speaking in the Canaries’ matchday programme. “I do believe that once a player wants to leave, then the club’s sole focus should be to obtain the best possible price for that player and move them on.
“On that front, I think it must be acknowledged that our sporting director Ben Knapper has worked impressively to obtain very generous fees for the players who felt their futures were better served elsewhere.”
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