CRAIG Farrell has signed up for another year in Colin Walker's York City army.
The 25-year-old striker has agreed terms on a new contract and will put pen to paper tomorrow - becoming the 12th player to be retained ahead of the manager's raids in the transfer market.
Walker offered Farrell terms late last week but the Middlesbrough-born forward wanted to talk it over with his family before committing.
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Farrell netted 14 times last season despite enduring a campaign
hampered by injury. He started only 13 Blue Square Premier matches, making another seven league appearances as a substitute, and Walker estimated he had missed more than 80 days of training.
After overcoming a troublesome thigh injury, Farrell later bruised five bones in a foot and revealed he had played against Torquay in the FA Trophy semi-final second leg at KitKat Crescent with the help of pain-killing injections.
Two months on, Farrell is still troubled by the injury and while he has been back in training during the season's wind-down, he has been unable to sprint.
While he acknowledges it has been a difficult season, both
personally and for the team and supporters, he is determined to come back firing in pre-season.
"I'm delighted to have agreed terms," Farrell said. "This season this been very frustrating. Hopefully I will feel a massive improvement in the near future. I possibly shouldn't have played the second leg of the Torquay game. Things didn't go to plan and I caused some more
damage. But I felt it was pivotal to the season - we had the chance to go to Wembley - and I felt it was a game I should play in.
"There is grade one bruising on my foot - on five different bones. It is not a break, so that's good news. It doesn't sound like anything - a bruised foot - but it's painful and it's a slow process. Hopefully, I can come back fully fit and firing after the summer."
Walker said: "Craig will be an important part of my plans for next season. The major concern was that he has had a lot of time off this year. When he has played, he's scored quite regularly but he has had a lot of time off and we have had
discussions about that. He is very hard-working, he's very strong and has got pace and is a major asset."
[quote]Hopefully, I can come back fully fit and firing after the summer."[/quote]
I hope so as well Craig!
I think you've done well to get another contract but I feel this is a make or break year at YCFC for you.
Hopefully, I can come back fully fit and firing after the summer."
I hope so as well Craig!
I think you've done well to get another contract but I feel this is a make or break year at YCFC for you.
Posted by: yorkcity07, york on 10:03am Thu 1 May 08
No doubting the effort and commitment of Faz, but he has to start taking more of his chances in front of goal next season. Still think we need an experienced but not too old (25 to 30) conference goalscorer next season.
No doubting the effort and commitment of Faz, but he has to start taking more of his chances in front of goal next season. Still think we need an experienced but not too old (25 to 30) conference goalscorer next season.
Posted by: romfordpele, York on 10:09am Thu 1 May 08
When we are working with a smaller squad next season, how on earth does a man who missed 80 days of training get a new deal?
Never been a massive fan of Farrell. People say he works hard but he is caught offside far too often, poses no physical prescence and misses too many one-on-ones. Wouldn't start in front of either Brodie or Sodje for me.
When we are working with a smaller squad next season, how on earth does a man who missed 80 days of training get a new deal?
Never been a massive fan of Farrell. People say he works hard but he is caught offside far too often, poses no physical prescence and misses too many one-on-ones. Wouldn't start in front of either Brodie or Sodje for me.
Posted by: RodneyRowe, York on 12:59pm Thu 1 May 08
He can't finish, Hes like the Conference Dirk Kuyt. Works hard, closes down, chasing lost causes and any other number of cliches relating to strikers who can't score. Hes a terrace favourite but will he get us promoted? I'm not so sure.
He can't finish, Hes like the Conference Dirk Kuyt. Works hard, closes down, chasing lost causes and any other number of cliches relating to strikers who can't score. Hes a terrace favourite but will he get us promoted? I'm not so sure.
Wouldn't start Brodie ahead of Faz in a month of Sundays.
Sure, Faz has missed some sitters, but a record of 14 goals in 13 games started, plus a handful of sub appearances last season is pretty impressive. I'm pleased he's signed, and none of his injuries have been serious/recurring ones, so hopefully a full season will be fruitful.
I personally think one of our great failings this season was constantly changing the striking line-up. McEwan started the trend, and Mr Colin continued it. As long as they are fit, I'd say it should be Sodje and Faz starting every game and give them a chance to build an understanding.
Wouldn't start Brodie ahead of Faz in a month of Sundays.
Sure, Faz has missed some sitters, but a record of 14 goals in 13 games started, plus a handful of sub appearances last season is pretty impressive. I'm pleased he's signed, and none of his injuries have been serious/recurring ones, so hopefully a full season will be fruitful.
I personally think one of our great failings this season was constantly changing the striking line-up. McEwan started the trend, and Mr Colin continued it. As long as they are fit, I'd say it should be Sodje and Faz starting every game and give them a chance to build an understanding.
Wouldn't start Brodie ahead of Faz in a month of Sundays.
Sure, Faz has missed some sitters, but a record of 14 goals in 13 games started, plus a handful of sub appearances last season is pretty impressive. I'm pleased he's signed, and none of his injuries have been serious/recurring ones, so hopefully a full season will be fruitful.
I personally think one of our great failings this season was constantly changing the striking line-up. McEwan started the trend, and Mr Colin continued it. As long as they are fit, I'd say it should be Sodje and Faz starting every game and give them a chance to build an understanding.
Wouldn't start Brodie ahead of Faz in a month of Sundays.
Sure, Faz has missed some sitters, but a record of 14 goals in 13 games started, plus a handful of sub appearances last season is pretty impressive. I'm pleased he's signed, and none of his injuries have been serious/recurring ones, so hopefully a full season will be fruitful.
I personally think one of our great failings this season was constantly changing the striking line-up. McEwan started the trend, and Mr Colin continued it. As long as they are fit, I'd say it should be Sodje and Faz starting every game and give them a chance to build an understanding.
I think Farrell has the best all round game of all the strikers we've had this year. Works hard, hold the ball up, not bad in the air, good movement and pace. His obvious weakness is his finishing but his goals per game ratio was an improvement on last seasons and he played a lot on the right at the start of the season. If he stays fit and is played regularly I think he will score a hatful.
I think Farrell has the best all round game of all the strikers we've had this year. Works hard, hold the ball up, not bad in the air, good movement and pace. His obvious weakness is his finishing but his goals per game ratio was an improvement on last seasons and he played a lot on the right at the start of the season. If he stays fit and is played regularly I think he will score a hatful.
Reg, it's misleading to portray Farrell's goalscoring record this season is 14 from 13 starts.
In open play, in the league, he has 5 from 20 appearances. A much more telling statistic.
He is not, and never will be, a natural goalscorer and shouldn't be regarded or treated as a line-leading forward.
Reg, it's misleading to portray Farrell's goalscoring record this season is 14 from 13 starts.
In open play, in the league, he has 5 from 20 appearances. A much more telling statistic.
He is not, and never will be, a natural goalscorer and shouldn't be regarded or treated as a line-leading forward.
Posted by: Charlie N, Thirsk on 10:27am Fri 2 May 08
[quote][bold]dave[/bold] wrote:
I think Farrell has the best all round game of all the strikers we've had this year. Works hard, hold the ball up, not bad in the air, good movement and pace. His obvious weakness is his finishing but his goals per game ratio was an improvement on last seasons and he played a lot on the right at the start of the season. If he stays fit and is played regularly I think he will score a hatful. [/quote] Couldnt agree more, when Faz wasnt playing at the back end of the season we hardly won a game. I think he is a confidence player and does well when we are all behind him. Keeping him fit is a must
dave wrote:
I think Farrell has the best all round game of all the strikers we've had this year. Works hard, hold the ball up, not bad in the air, good movement and pace. His obvious weakness is his finishing but his goals per game ratio was an improvement on last seasons and he played a lot on the right at the start of the season. If he stays fit and is played regularly I think he will score a hatful.
Couldnt agree more, when Faz wasnt playing at the back end of the season we hardly won a game. I think he is a confidence player and does well when we are all behind him. Keeping him fit is a must
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