It may just be the start of June but at times it feels like it’s Pantomime season with all the gossip and rumours doing the rounds on social media!
If it’s not bad enough seeing player after player linked with your club in social media, how about claims by a national TV sports network reporting your club had been snubbed even though that wasn’t quite true?
That is what happened yesterday [Thursday, 31st May] after Sky Sports had revealed Posh had agreed a fee with Colchester United for striker Mikael Mandron. Although that was fact, what they next reported a couple of hours later was, according to Posh Chairman Darragh MacAnthony, “nonsense”!
Did the player reject Posh or didn’t he? Oh yes he did! Oh no he didn’t!
The TV network were claiming that the 23-year-old Frenchman had snubbed the offer from Posh but that was quickly denied by MacAnthony who explained the process by which Posh, and most teams, work:
We have agreed terms with clubs for at least 5 different strikers, then we assess contract costs/demands, then make decision on who to sign. This one was deemed not worth pursuing cost wise quickly & agent was told 🙂 Hence an hour later him leaking to Sky Sports that nonsense ???? https://t.co/Frj7Wh1Fu2
— Darragh MacAnthony (@DMAC102) May 31, 2018
Mandron’s physique certainly fits the bill for one of the strikers Steve Evans wants to bring in. He is big and likes to back into defenders while holding the ball up. At 6 foot 3 inches, he also has the ability to get his head on the ball at set-plays which will be a big tactic next season.
MacAnthony also said on Twitter that although Mandron was on the list of strikers Posh are looking at, he was a “long way down the list”! Which makes you wonder why it even got to the stage of agreeing a fee and negotiating of terms! Have Posh been knocked back by the clubs etc for the strikers higher up the list or could it be simply those preferred players are currently on holiday so nothing will be done until they get back?
Whatever the reason, it looks like Posh may have had a lucky escape with Mandron after a Colchester fan tweeted:
I’m a Colchester fan and sat through multiple games watching Mandron last season. If he’s the standard of player you want to get you in the championship then don’t be surprised when you fail. The bloke couldn’t trap a ton bag of sand
— Ben Halliday (@benhallidayCUFC) May 31, 2018
After scoring only 10 goals in 49 appearances for the U’s last season while also picking up 10 yellow cards and one red card, we’re glad he has escaped our clutches.
Let’s hope the next striker linked with Posh has better pedigree and potential.
