So its done. The constant reminder on Sky Sports News that we were yet to sign a first team player can irk us no longer, for we have reinforcements!Dean Whitehead was born Dean Joaquin Benoit Jersey Whitehead on the 21st January 1982 in Abingdon, Oxfordshire (Famous not only for our new midfielder, but also Kate Garraway, Radiohead and bun throwing). His footballing career started at Abington Towns youth team, before he joined Oxford United, progre sing through to the first team, before establishing himself as a regular starter. After being voted Us player of the year, he rejected a new contract and having caught the eye of Mick McCarthy, Sunderland only went and signed Whitehead. There he impre sed, and as Sunderland won promotion, he was voted Players Player of the Year. His second season did not go as well, for him, nor for Sunderland as they were relegated with a record low total of 15 points. Out went McCarthy and in came Roy Keane, who gave the captains armband permanently to Whitehead. Another promotion then followed, before a serious knee injury kept him out for 6 months. Since recovering, hes pretty much been a constant in their starting 11, and can trumpet blow the fact hes played just under a ton of Premier league games.It is however a fair comment to suggest Whiteheadss arrival Gio Gonzalez Jersey will not spur Stoke fans into hanging outside the Britannia Stadium in our hundreds with posters announcing Hands in the air! Whitehead is here! Not to worry though as there are some positives about our new arrival.His career does draw parallels to our part time video star and full time wing wizard, Liam Lawrence. Both joined from Sunderland, both were involved in their excruciatingly embarra sing relegation (all 15 points Tanner Rainey Jersey of it) and both joined the black cats from league two, from Oxford and Mansfield respectively. While Lawrences arrival was perhaps greeted with a touch more verve than Whiteheads, at the time some did feel Stoke had paid slightly over the odds at 500k, a sum that nowadays couldnt even get you half a Dexter Blackstock.When you look at some of the fees that are being bandied around for average and/or untried players (Zamora 5mil, Johnson 5mil, Dann 4mil etc), spending (an initial) 3million doesnt feel such a bad Blank Jersey deal. Were not being super bankrolled, so small incremental improvements are what were stuck with, you know, running a football club without running up a chasm of debt, as boring as it is.Stoke now have a plethora of captains to choose from. Higginbotham, Faye, Griffin and now Whitehead are all vying for the armband. Chasing Whitehead for the time that we have, is perhaps the reason an appointment has yet to be made and having captained Sunderland for the last 3 seasons hell clearly be in our Tones thoughts. I dont know what criteria you have to have, having never captained Carter Kieboom Jersey anything other than, well actually ive never captained anything, but i will say that Whitehead does have a very serious looking face, which may be vital in him accruing the captaincy. But without a doubt Abdoulaye Faye is the fans choice to replace silver fox Andy Griffin. Faye filled in last year in Griffins absence, and its unlikely Ricardo Fuller would be quite so brave when disagreeing if Faye was his captain this time around, a captain that can slam a revolving door. A captain that doesnt bowl strikes, he just knocks down one pin and the other nine faint. A captain that can play Ru sian Roulette with a fully loaded gun and win. Etc, etc, etc.We expect a few to move on in the coming days and weeks, which will in turn make space for and subsidise the signing of Whitehead and others (Well, hopefully and others). Seyi Olofinjana looks to be the first out the door, a 2.5million bid has been accepted from Monaco and he is said to be in France on Thursday for his medical.The fact remains however, that with 17 days until we begin our 2009/10 league campaign, Victor Robles Jersey a stagnant summer must soon bear fruition if we are to improve on last seasons 12th place finish.But as Burnley chase Darel Ru sell, let us remind ourselves of where we are.Were past Darel Ru sell, at Dean Whitehead, aspiring for a Zigic.
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