MOTHERWELL FC: FRANCIS JEFFERS, MARQUEE SIGNING?

MOTHERWELL FC: FRANCIS JEFFERS, MARQUEE SIGNING?

Can he really be called that

At Motherwell FC, we are used to signing youngsters, untried English team periphery players and the odd journeyman here and there. Gone are the days of spending proper transfer fees for squad augmentation.

In the past few seasons, the Loanee route has been our path to unearthing fleeting gems. Instant classics without long term gain.

Ruddy and Jutkiewicz are perhaps the most notable of these, with the Bosman ruling bringing in others like Porter. Coke, Humphrey, Randolph, players who have all given something to the squad, with the latter 2 being amongst the few to fully commit to the club.

Steve Jones has had a cracking start since signing on and was rewarded with the scrappiest of scrappy goals to put us on our way to a cup win on Saturday. Gunning also seems to look the part in Stevie Hammell's absence.

While their signings have pretty much gone under the radar, the signing this week of free agent Francis Jeffers, has had much more publicity.

Bursting into the Premiership aged 16, he made his debut for Everton at Old Trafford. Plaudits were lauded upon him from an early age. Comparisons to Gary Lineker were not in short supply based on his Everton run and his Emgland U21 scoring record. If he was 16 today, ironically he would be the new Wayne Rooney.

However, the early promise failed to sustain and after amassing just over £10 million in transfer fees and failed attempts to get back in to the Premiership with Blackpool and Everton, by way of Sheffield Wednesday and Australia, he has arrived at Fir Park.

The press have declared his decision to join us as a Marquee Signing. But is he really?

To me, the definition of a Marquee Signing would be that of a player who has consistently played well at say a higher or equal level, or someone whose mere name would add 1000 odd bums to seats at Fir Park.

In my time as a Well fan, I would say as far as Marquee Signngs go, Davie Cooper, Tommy Coyne, and John Spencer would be truly in that bracket. Maybe even Andy Goram.

The signings of these players brought about great publicity for the Club, generated excitement amongst the fans and media and had an air of positive expectancy about them.

With Coop, although getting on in footballing years, we paid very little for one of the all time Scottish greats, and I return we got some immense performances from him. And a Cup. TC signed from Celtic and was an instant hit, with his knack for banging in the goals continuing at Fir Park.

Spenny was signed in a time of turmoil and was essentially still a Premirship striker when we got him on loan. Scoring the winner on your debut v Rangers doesn't get more Marquee than that! His actual signing wasn't so impacting but as one of the highest paid players we've had and for what he was capable of in the first 6 months, the Well faithful took to him.

Likewise with Goram, arguably Scotland's best ever keeper, The Goalie was signed during Boyle's free spending days. After having watched the likes of Woods, Howie, Scott Thompson, Garry Gow and Mikko Kaven regularly play hot and mainly cold for us, having a premier keeper between the sticks was a godsend.

While never reaching the heights of his stint at Rangers, the calibre and character of the Flying Pig again hyped up the Fir Park masses.

What all these players have in common is that when we signed them, we knew what they were capable of and that's why we were excited to see them in the paper with their Well shirts back to front.

Jeffers is a different kettle of fish altogether.

While, like those above, he has had a lengthy footballing career, it's not as fulfilled as theirs. A goals scored record of 17 in ten years for a striker is not that great. In his time at Arsenal, he scored half as many goals as defender Giles Grimandi.

His most successful spell of the last decade was at Sheffield Wednesday, where for every 2 goals he got, he got himself sent off. (5 goals, 2 sendings off). He also aged some good through balls in Australia, according to a Newcastle Jets fan online.

He has also previously failed to score in the SPL with Rangers.

Not the traits associated with a Marquee Signing for me. If he had proved himself worthy of the £10million that has been spent on him and he was recovering from a really bad injury and looking to get fitness back at Motherwell, then aye, I'd call that Marquee.

As it stands, I would say his signing is just as noteworthy as that of Jones and Gunning. That's not to say that I'm not happy with bringing Jeffers aboard.

Despite all the negatives I've picked up on, I think he could be a good signing. Ever the optimist. I believe his influence and experience, as stop start as his career has been, could go along way to improving the game of Murphy, McHugh, Smith , even Casagolda.

He has played at the highest level, he's been unlucky with injuries, and he's been around a bit. He's stated that the chance to work with one of his Evertonian heroes,Stuart McCall, is something he is looking forward.

This could be his Indian Summer, a last chance to prove himself in the British game. It's certainly a gamble for both Franny and the club. For Jeffers, if he can't cut it at Motherwell in a poor SPL, then where can he? Is he capable of doing enough to get back to the upper Championship level that most SPL players seek?

For us, it's more of the same really. If he comes in ahead of the younger forwards, then their development is scuppered in giving Jeffers a chance. If he does well, then he will likely be gone in the summer, if be does poorly... he'll most likely go in the summer.

It would be too much to think that 4 months at Motherwell banging in the goals would lead to him staying for another season. As I've stated before, there is no loyalty in football these days and for that reason, regardless of what "The Fox In The Box" does, I'd be mightily surprised if he is wearing Claret and Amber next season.

As long as when he dons our colours and performs to his best this season though, he will have my full backing. A Spencer-esque debut on Saturday would be a good start.

Going back to the Marquee thing, unless we get taken over by some foreign conglomerate, the only real Marquee, bums on seats, hysteria inducing signing we will likely see in the future will be James McFadden's mooted return.

If and when Faddy comes back, as long as he is fit and capable of the impact he had before, I will happily build that Marquee myself!

Up The Well!!!