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Andrews Signing Sets Up Leadbitter Exit to Pompey
Andrews Signing Sets Up Leadbitter Exit to Pompey
Thursday, 11th Aug 2011 22:38

Blackburn Rovers midfielder Keith Andrews will complete his loan move to Town tomorrow in time to make his debut against his former club Hull City on Saturday. TWTD understands that the 30-year-old Irishman’s recruitment is set to trigger skipper Grant Leadbitter’s departure to Portsmouth.

Andrews trained with the Blues today after Rovers granted permission, with the outstanding paperwork due to be finalised in the morning.

Town have been trying to conclude Andrews’s signing on an initial six-month loan for more than a week with Blackburn having been uncommunicative in the days prior to last week’s opening game of the season at Bristol City.

Rovers manager Steve Kean says Andrews’s move to Portman Road could ultimately become a permanent switch: “Keith will go on a loan basis to Ipswich start to with, it is a loan with a view to purchasing him. I think Keith will do well, they've obviously had a very good start.”

We understand the addition of a further central midfielder will see Grant Leadbitter move on to Portsmouth.

The 25-year-old was linked with Birmingham City earlier in the summer but that deal fell through after the change of manager at St Andrew’s.

The former England U21 international, who was mentioned in connection with a possible £2 million move to Wigan in January when he was also linked with West Ham and Wolves, is now set to be reunited with his former Blues team-mate David Norris at Fratton Park.

Leadbitter joined Town from Sunderland for £2.6 million in September 2009 with his contract up next June.


Photo: Action Images



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oldbarrackdan added 23:06 - Aug 11
In Jewell we trust. Creativity coming from wide, Andrews Holding, Bowyer arriving late in attack, all in all a good midfield, now to sort the defence!!!
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rosseden added 23:07 - Aug 11
that was all laid out nicely on my screen and it dodnt work....... its meant to be this........

__________GK
RB_____ CD___ CD _____LB
_________Holding
RM___________________ LM
_________Creative
_______JET
_____________Chopra
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marcus139 added 23:08 - Aug 11
Is this a joke? I have just had a nap, woken up, and read this. We seem to be cashing in and replacing with free transfers, loans and relatively small fees.
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Frase1987 added 23:10 - Aug 11
errrr, WTF?

We're replacing a 25 year old with a 30 year old loanee.

I think people serious under-rate players at times. Walters for example, by far one of our best players before Keane screwed things up. Leadbitter isn't brilliant but he's certainly a good championship midfielder, I just hope Andrews is better.

He'll be missed, very useful player for me.
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MajorBlue added 23:10 - Aug 11
PJ is getting his own players in and must think Andrews gives us more than Leadbitter so I will trust him on this one.
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alfromcol added 23:12 - Aug 11
Good move for all concerned.

Never lived up to expectations over the last 18 months. For a mid-fielder, taking free kicks etc, how many goals did he score - not many. And even less from open play.

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Kammy added 23:12 - Aug 11
anyone else still thinking Koumas might be a late summer signing, or have I missed a transfer somewhere?
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essexblues added 23:15 - Aug 11
great news I'm glad he's going another poor signing by keane's. I'm glad we are getting rid of keanes crap signings.
welcome aboard Andrews in pj we trust.
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jert16 added 23:15 - Aug 11
:( if this is true, leadbitter must not be willing to sign a new contract.. so therefore makes sense to sell him now rather than losing him on a free. not impressed at all though, i got the impression he was going to have a really good season.. an attack minded centre mid must be in the pipeline, i certainly hope so
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jert16 added 23:16 - Aug 11
:( if this is true, leadbitter must not be willing to sign a new contract.. so therefore makes sense to sell him now rather than losing him on a free. not impressed at all though, i got the impression he was going to have a really good season.. an attack minded centre mid must be in the pipeline, i certainly hope so
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TractorMan added 23:19 - Aug 11
I guess Leadbitter was a Keane type player, so was always on the cards.

Slightly worried about the age of our CM now though? In theory Grant had bbest years ahead of him.
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TractorMan added 23:19 - Aug 11
I guess Leadbitter was a Keane type player, so was always on the cards.

Slightly worried about the age of our CM now though? In theory Grant had bbest years ahead of him.
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marcus139 added 23:21 - Aug 11
My god, please people stop going on about bullard. He is 32, injury prone, and played well in patches only last year, couple of decent goals but other times looked weak, entirely over rated. He has one good year left tops in my opinion, if he was that great premier league clubs would be in there like they are for upson.norris, now leadbitter. To portsmouth.
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im_marcacus added 23:24 - Aug 11
Good luck to Pompey with our sh!t-stick centre park pairing, didn't ever gel at FPR and I see no reason why some salty south coast air would change that. Free + (no doubt) peanuts = it's still a decent deal for them though.
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marcus139 added 23:30 - Aug 11
I now see why our fans do not get behind players, cos half of you lot dont know a good un when you see one. Leadbitter is a good player. Better than andrews who we are signing. End of. Andrews is like an up market colin healy and just as dull.
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ITFCMonk added 23:33 - Aug 11
One in one out.. pleased with this though, would rather have Andrews than Leadbitter any day!
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NottsBlue added 23:33 - Aug 11
Not particularly happy about leadbitter going. Leaves us with a very old central midfield, with a lack of options. Which might not be an issue this season but what about in the future.
But in PJ we trust, I just hope he knows what he's doing!
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Tractamatt added 23:35 - Aug 11
Has anybody heard this one before "Andrews to sign in the morning" actually i hope this is made permanent as from what i've seen and heard a manager like pj could get alot out of him.Where are portsmouth getting their money from because the last i heard they were still skint.Any how gotta wish the guy all the best where ever he goes.
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ITFCMonk added 23:41 - Aug 11
BYE BYE LEADBITTER.. HELLO ANDREWS!!

:D COME ON YOU BLUES!
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Tractamatt added 23:41 - Aug 11
kammy i've been wondering for ages why it's gone quiet about koumas as at one stage he was a nailed on cert and then nothing, also anyone know how drury did on tuesday im sure his name was on the team sheet but i've not heard anything about his performance?
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Upbeat~ added 23:43 - Aug 11
Aaarrggghhh MASSIVE LOSS
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itfcjc added 23:45 - Aug 11
A bit gutted really I think we should keep him as back up we need depth as shown on tuesday bye grant
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Garv added 23:56 - Aug 11
Never been a fan of Leadbitter, off the top of my head I can count 2/3 goals from open play in 2 years? Let him go for £1.5m plus. Would like to think Andrews will be a big improvement though, time will tell.
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marcus139 added 00:02 - Aug 12
Andrews is an average player. No better than leadbitter. But we can get him on same wages, rovers will pay rest, and sell leadbitter and cash in as his contract up next year. We wont get anywhere near what we paid for him. It is another case of rank mis management over last two or so years, and the sale of connor with nothing much back is the price for all of these. Pj however is doing a good job.
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jas1972 added 00:10 - Aug 12
While I have no complaints about the signing of Andrews, I cannot see why we would want to let Leadbitter go - unless there is a good price being paid. And how can Portsmouth do that? I always thought GL played well to start with and then performed adequately despite Keane, not because of him; the difference in class when he came on against Northampton was obvious and I don't see where his talents are going to be replaced (set pieces excepted, of course).
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