Walter Pandiani to Birmingham

thejollyrodger

Blues sign Uruguay ace

Blues sign Uruguay ace
01/02/2005 - 10:50:03
http://breaking.tcm.ie/2005/02/01/story187285.html
Birmingham have signed Uruguay striker Walter Pandiani on loan from Spanish side Deportivo La Coruna until the end of the season.

Pandiani, who scored 50 goals in 128 Spanish league appearances, was signed in the final few seconds of the January transfer window.

Blues are now awaiting international clearance for the player in time for the Barclays Premiership clash with Southampton tomorrow night.

The 28-year-old drew the attention of European clubs in 1999 after scoring 17 goals in 35 games for Uruguayan side Penarol.

He was signed by Depor and loaned back to Penarol, but in the 2000-01 season he was back on the fringes of the Galician side’s starting XI and hit a Champions League hat-trick against Paris St Germain.

His goal against Real Madrid at the end of the 2001-02 season booked Depor a ticket for the Champions League, but he was loaned out to Real Mallorca that summer.

He responded with 14 goals in 33 league games for the Balearic Islanders and hit the same number of goals the following season for Depor in 28 appearances, and started only 15 of those games.

He scored six goals in La Coruna’s 2003-04 Champions League campaign, including one in each leg in the aggregate victory over reigning champions AC Milan.

Fond memories of him in the Riazor (not). I wonder if he is still up to the job in the premiership

Slash/ED

I don't like him, not so much for the goal but for the crappy celebration that followed. Eitherway, he could be a very good signing for Birmingham, they don't seem shy to invest in their squad and it's paying off for them so far.

MrJoeSoap

Hasnt been up to much recently, seems to have lost his scoring touch. Guarantee you if he gets clearance he scores against us tomorrow.

eirebhoy

Still though, he's Deportivo's second highest scorer with 6 goals in the league, a bit strange that they're letting him go when they're struggling. He hasn't started for Depor in 5 games either.

Iago

He won't last too long...

Sky Sports News wrote:

Walter Pandiani has revealed his disappointment at joining Birmingham City, and insisted he had set his heart on a move to Fiorentina.
The Uruguayan striker sealed a last-minute loan switch to St Andrews on transfer deadline day, and will stay with Blues until the end of the season.
However, he has done little to endear himself to his new fans by claiming he was virtually forced to accept a move to the Midlands by parent club Deportivo La Coruna.
"I'm leaving Depor feeling very hurt," he told Cadena Cope.
"I hope I will not return. I wanted to go to Fiorentina but Deportivo - maybe on purpose - took time sending the fax, and I am in Birmingham - just where I didn't want to be."
Pandiani left Depor after a very public fall-out with boss Javier Irureta, and believes he had no choice but to move on.
"After my declarations (criticising Irureta) I was looking for a change of scene because I could see Irureta was trying not to play me."
The 28-year-old is in line to make his Birmingham debut against Southampton on Wednesday night, but could get a frosty reception from some fans after his less than flattering comments.

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Doesn't bode too well does it.

Seems like a bit of a tosser.

eirebhoy

Pandiani left Depor after a very public fall-out with boss Javier Irureta

Wasn't very public over here. Knowing that he's only moving because of a row and not his form he could do very well for Birmingham.

eyerer

i found it hilarious that his first action at his new club was to tell them he was disappointed to be there
future fans' favourite?

TwoShedsJackson

Generally regarded as a twat at Deportivo too, I believe. What possesses someone to come out with something like that before he's even kicked a ball for Birmingham? Moron.

I know it's not the most glamourous destination but I suppose the idea that Fiorentina didn't come in for him because he's not bloody good enough wouldn't cross his mind??

Chucky the tree

MrJoeSoap wrote:

Hasnt been up to much recently, seems to have lost his scoring touch. Guarantee you if he gets clearance he scores against us tomorrow.

haha, i hope you had money on that!

MrJoeSoap

Chucky the tree wrote:

haha, i hope you had money on that!

Wouldnt you just know it!

BolBill

I don't rate him that highly but hes 10 times the striker Heskey is.

eyerer

BolBill wrote:

I don't rate him that highly but hes 10 times the striker Heskey is.

so is my sister

Shred

Quote from Steve Bruce on BBC today:

"Walter Pandiani arrived yesterday with no boots, and he doesn't speak a word of English, but he'll give us a lift."

He must have brought the car so

thejollyrodger

Depor have a policy of selling their best players and looking for new talent to keep them up near the top. I know things have kind of went down hill recently but that was their policy. And I dont know if it really applies to Pandiani.

his first action at his new club was to tell them he was disappointed to be there

and

Quote from Steve Bruce on BBC today:

"Walter Pandiani arrived yesterday with no boots, and he doesn't speak a word of English, but he'll give us a lift."

HAHAHAHA

Classic stuff. Cant really see Pandiani taking the premiership by storm.