Genuine pace is a real asset in any division, so it was somewhat surprising to see perennial impact substitute Danny Haynes swap Ipswich for Bristol City this week. At a mere £400,000 will the player prove a snip, with the change of scenery proving to be the launch pad for the young attacker who showed such promise when he burst into the Ipswich first team, or will his career continue to stagnate as it has done in the past year? Six Plus Five has the views of Ipswich season ticket holder Nick Woolnough and Bristol City season ticket holder Doug Stewart on a transfer that has divided opinion amongst both sets of fans.
The Ipswich view
Nick Woolnough
Despite the fact that he failed to fulfil his initial promise, Town fans will always have fond memories of Danny Haynes. Any player that scores the winning goal against your fiercest rivals in three separate fixtures is always likely to gain cult status, and for a while Haynes was held in high regard amongst the Portman Road faithful. On the rare occasions that the former Charlton trainee was played in his best position up front, his pace stretched opposition defences and his direct running and powerful shooting made him a highly unpredictable, but highly entertaining, handful.
In Haynes’ second season as a professional, Ipswich manager Jim Magilton slowly moulded him into a player capable of making an enormous impact down the right wing. The 21 year-old’s kick and run approach took him beyond many worried full-backs and he finished the 2006/2007 season in tremendous form. However, the following campaign began slowly for Haynes as Jon Walters made the right midfield spot his own, while Counago and Lee formed a solid partnership up front. Despite a few displays of quality in the second half of the season (most notably against Portmouth in the FA Cup, a display that once again saw him linked with Premiership sides) Haynes’ game had hit a standstill.
“So what is it Gary Johnson has seen in Haynes?”
Last season that standstill became a decline as Haynes dropped further down the pecking order and failed to score a league goal. Fans began to ridicule him for constantly leaving the ball behind and seemingly showing no awareness of where the touchline was. It simply became clear that he was no winger, and probably not technically good enough for the Championship. But then came interest from Bristol City and Plymouth, much to the surprise of Ipswich supporters.
So what is it Gary Johnson has seen in Haynes? Firstly, at £400,000 he isn’t too much of a gamble. Wigan and several other Premiership clubs were thought to be readying £2m bids a year or so ago so perhaps the potential is there, even if it has remained untapped for a while. That will be Johnson’s greatest challenge, drawing improvement from a player who many have branded arrogant and severely lacking in streetwise football know-how.
While Haynes may not want to hear it, he is a superb impact substitute and as a result, at such a minimal fee, could prove to be a decent buy. Even if he doesn’t set Ashton Gate alight and command a regular starting place, the rule to allow seven substitutes next season makes him a handy option from the bench against tiring defences. Johnson will rightly remember the way in which Haynes got Bradley Orr sent off before exploiting the gaps that his departure left in Ipswich’s 6-0 thumping of the Robins back in 2007. That is the Haynes Bristol fans will hope to see, and he may well make an impact.
Ipswich have generally prided themselves on not releasing players only to see them go on to bigger and better things and given that they have pocketed a nominal fee from this deal, they will hope that record isn’t tarnished. Keane clearly didn’t rate Haynes, but with a bit of work, Johnson may be able to polish this rough-around-the-edges character into a real diamond.
VERDICT
May find he’s swapping one bench for another – but Robins could still reap the rewards.
The Bristol City view
Doug Stewart
Danny Haynes started his career with a bang, but by the age of just 21 he has been told by Ipswich he is surplus to requirements. Voted the 2005/2006 most improved player at the club and scoring four against the Canaries in his career, you would have thought ‘the boy done good’. But as the 2008/09 season was drawing to a close Haynes found himself watching the former Catalan wonder-kid Giovani dos Santos playing wide right and having only racked up eight starting appearances all season. So then, is Haynes all washed up, or is he like a talented racehorse that’s been held back to lengthen the odds for that big win later on?
One thing that cannot be argued is that the £400,000 fee could turn out to be nominal should Haynes establish himself as a worthy first team player at Ashton Gate. This is a league whereby unproven players can cost up to £1.5m, and established talent, such as Roger Johnson (formally of Cardiff) can be seen leaving clubs for up to £4-5 million pounds.
Haynes has predominately been used wide right under Magilton’s reign, but can equally play as a forward. His ability to beat players for pace and strength can be a delight to watch at times but the inconsistent nature of his end product has often tainted his otherwise natural ability to cause problems for an oppositions defence.
It is likely that Gary Johnson will use Haynes as a right midfielder serving up a much needed dose of competition for the equally quick and inconsistent Ivan Sproule. This was a role that was handed to no less than five different players over the course of last season.
The Ashton Gate faithful are likely to reserve judgement for the time being; after all this is a player that has previously displayed glimpses of star player potential, but more recently has failed to feature on the pages of hot property. However this is a sensible and astute purchase for Bristol City who cannot lose from this deal. They will either gain a strong, versatile squad/bench player, therefore still justifying the price tag, or an exciting and bold leading star, reinvigorated by a fresh challenge, leaving egg firmly on the face of the dismissive Mr Keane.
VERDICT
A player with a strong attitude and point to prove, always good for a buying club.
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