SIGNED - Hope Akpan

[W&E Royal]

He's 21 years old, what is wrong with that. Let Brian sign who he wants to sign, this player is probably a bit like Leg but probably better.

[chris2703]

Except Marcus Williams, Brett Williams, Karl Sheppard, Bongani Khumalo, Tomasz Cywka.....

Ill accept marcus williamss and Khumalo, but neither invovled transfer fees, so his record on spending money is still pretty good. Bret Williams and Karl Sheppard were signed for as dvelopment prospects not for the first team. Tomasz Cywka well that was jsut anodd we didnt need him and got purely as cover not to be in the starting XI.

[Big Foot]

Don't even remember this bloke being that good on Saturday?

[Maguire]

Except Marcus Williams, Brett Williams, Karl Sheppard, Bongani Khumalo, Tomasz Cywka.....

tbf to Cywka he was a 1st team squad player and did alright when he had a chance.

The others were bombs.

Akpan - yeah glad we're signing someone who got domin8ed by our cup side on Saturday

[winchester_royal]

Seriously? Are you c*nts writing off a 21 year old who's been the best player in a team near the top of League 1 without him playing a game?

Crawley fans think he's destined to play in the prem. He has good pedigree having come from the Everton academy. Is a good age. And because his contract his up in the summer we'll get him quite cheap.

Just because we've signed him doesn't mean we won't be looking for experienced prem players as well.

[Colin Cheeselog]

Personally I'm pleased we're planning for next season, it would be naive not to.

I'm looking forward to another promotion challenge and winning more games than we lose. That's far more enjoyable than hoping we can be the least shít and finish 17th.

[Pepe the Horseman]

Can someone tell me a bit more about him please?

[soggy biscuit]

Hope Akpan, woooaaah, Hope Akpan, woooaaah
He's homophobic, he'll probably be quite sh*t

[MouldyRoyal]

Personally I'm pleased we're planning for next season, it would be naive not to.

I'm looking forward to another promotion challenge and winning more games than we lose. That's far more enjoyable than hoping we can be the least shít and finish 17th.

Yep agree.

It's entirely sensible for us in our position to be prudently planning for next season as opposed to chucking all our eggs in one basket and hoping for the most miraculous relegation escape ever (possibly, I've not checked that stats there...).

['lista]

The Madjeski pitch he graces,
He'll break your leg (in two places).

[Tilehurst End]

Can someone tell me a bit more about him please?

6 yellows and 2 reds in a division where you are allowed to tackle.

[madreadingfan]

We better of had a look at him longer then the 1 match he played for against us like sky sports says seems like a bit of a panic buy. Anyway I won't judge until I see how he's like

EDIT: There's no YouTube clips off him therefore he must be shit.

[Super Kevin Bremner!]

Akpan, there's no need to feel down.
I said, Akpan, pick yourself off the ground.
I said, Akpan, 'cause you're in a new town
There's no need to be unhappy.

Akpan, there's a place you can go.
I said, Akpan, when you're short on your dough.
You can stay there, and I'm sure you will find
Many ways to have a good time.

It's fun to stay at the y-m-c-a.
It's fun to stay at the y-m-c-a.

They have everything for you men to enjoy,
You can hang out with all the boys ...

It's fun to stay at the y-m-c-a.
It's fun to stay at the y-m-c-a.

[Simon's Church]

Can we write a Zenit style open letter to the club to let them know we don't want homophobes here.

#AkpanOut

[Wimb]

Foolish to write him off, could be decent but the last Everton trainee we signed (Sheppard) was hardly a wonder player.

Low cost gamble again, no real harm done, just underwhelming in the present circumstances.

[cmonurz]

Well, benefit of the doubt to him I guess.

His track record isn't great, but surely Brian wouldn't have signed someone like this if he didn't feel Akpan was maturing.

Not a massively exciting signing, another indication we are preparing for the Championship.

[winchester_royal]

Foolish to write him off, could be decent but the last Everton trainee we signed (Sheppard) was hardly a wonder player.

Low cost gamble again, no real harm done, just underwhelming in the present circumstances.

Only low cost because he had 6 months left on contract. Otherwise Crawley fans reckon he'd have gone for >1m. Palace have had bids rejected for him this window, so it's not like we've taken this guy out of obscurity.

Think the comparison that needs to made is with Tom Rogic. Similar ages, similar rapid development shown over last 12 months, similar position.

I'm more excited about this than I would be by signing a 32 year old prem mercenary here to pick up his final pay packet and wouldn't really contribute anything to our team. Because let's be honest, any players with experience at this level and who would be good enough to single handedly keep us up will have no desire to join us unless we offer seriously silly money.

[holsgrove breaks a leg]

say goodbye to pearce and morrison...

[melonhead]

why?

[RobRoyal]

Crawley fans think he's destined to play in the prem.

Having heard this rumour, so do I. Doesn't actually entail him being any good, mind.