Please log in or register. Registered visitors get fewer ads.
Former Pompey Striker Hawkins in Talks With Town
Thursday, 13th Aug 2020 19:06

TWTD understands the Blues are in talks with former Portsmouth striker Oli Hawkins.

A big frontman has been among manager Paul Lambert’s main targets this summer and at 6ft 5in tall Hawkins certainly fits that bill.

The 28-year-old started his career in non-league with North Greenford, Hillingdon Borough, Northwood, Hemel Hempstead Town and Harrow Borough.

The Ealing-born striker got his break in league football when Dagenham and Redbridge signed him in January 2016.

In August 2017, the Daggers by now in the National League, Hawkins moved on to Portsmouth.

The centre forward, who has also operated at centre-half on occasion, scored 18 goals in 71 starts and 25 sub appearances before being released by Pompey, with whom he won the EFL Trophy in 2018/19, when his contract was up this summer.

Last season he was rarely involved, and when he was often in central defence, failing to find the net in nine starts and four sub appearances.

Hawkins was previously linked with the Blues in January 2017 when he was with the Daggers with Town subsequently signing another towering striker, Kieffer Moore, from Forest Green Rovers.

On the day Moore joined the Blues, ex-Town winger Darren Currie, then the Daggers' assistant manager, gave BBC Radio Suffolk's Life's a Pitch his thoughts on the pair.

“Oliver’s very similar to Kieffer Moore, obviously I’m going to be biased and say Oliver’s better!” Currie said.

“He’s another one that for a big man is good on the floor, very mobile for a big man, he’s got goals. He’s filled in at centre-half for us once or twice and he’s looked very comfortable there as well.

“He’s a great kid to work with, very humble boy, came from Hemel Hempstead, so his roots are very good and he’s gathering interest as well because he’s been playing very well.”

Hawkins could be one of three new additions with the Blues also holding contract talks with left-back Stephen Ward and goalkeeper David Cornell, as TWTD revealed earlier today.

Meanwhile, Town have organised an in-house game for Saturday, their previously scheduled game having fallen through.

Peterborough similarly saw a proposed match fall by the wayside and, after it was suggested the two took on one another, owner Darragh MacAnthony tweeted that he had contacted Blues manager Paul Lambert only to be told Town already have plans.


Photo: Action Images



Please report offensive, libellous or inappropriate posts by using the links provided.



midastouch added 19:14 - Aug 13
Bend it like Beckham.
Hoof it like Hawkins.
5

Suffolkboy added 19:17 - Aug 13
Right age , good experience to date ,might be useful but no doubt some character assessment ought to occur ,and general medical/ fitness exam .
COYB
0

midastouch added 19:19 - Aug 13
Just for comparison...
Brett Pitman managed 37 goals in 81 games for Pompey.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brett_Pitman
Meanwhile Hawkins only managed 14 in 77.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Oliver_Hawkins
2

NormanBlue added 19:22 - Aug 13
I watch Portsmouth live quite a lot. He's a trier, but nothing better than what we (currently) have. Tons worse than Harrison. If we sign this calibre of player it sums up the limit of our ambition.
2

Reuserscurtains added 19:26 - Aug 13
Remember watching him for Portsmouth against Sunderland in the Chekatrade final. Rated him that day, a man who can hold the ball up reasonably well and has a presence. For me, last season we didn't have a plan B. Very easy to play against and couldn't open up the opposition. A target bigger forward is a textbook but affective league 1 option. Look at Wycombe
5

runningout added 19:29 - Aug 13
Hawkins is due a brill season. Maybe just maybe. I'm more than okay with anyone half decent. We still have too many lightweights around, that we're responsible for our limp exit from the Championship and shoddy season just gone. We and squad are in for a big reality check if attitudes don't change
4

runningout added 19:30 - Aug 13
Were
1

cat added 19:32 - Aug 13
Might be useful as a plan B if Lambo decides to adopt one!
7

SaigonTractor added 19:51 - Aug 13
Can't imagine he'd be starting week in week out, but could be useful off the bench.
0

midastouch added 19:54 - Aug 13
Just watched a couple of his goals for Pompey online. He can certainly header the ball but then he is 6ft 5" tall after all!
0

muhrensleftfoot added 19:56 - Aug 13
Dear oh dear. My only hope is that Lambert gets lucky like he did when he signed a big useless ox like Grant Holt and he ended up being a talisman for the scum
3

Bluearmy_81 added 20:01 - Aug 13
Always free, always cast offs of similarly positioned clubs. Should work really well, can't wait for the start of the season...
1

CokeIsKey added 20:04 - Aug 13
He can play striker and cb... Definately a shortcut that Evans is taking to save money and tik both positions off.
0

planetblue_2011 added 20:08 - Aug 13
We need a target man could be useful coming on from the bench being 6ft 5 tall should cause problems.
Never heard of him but worth a punt!
3

66notout added 20:40 - Aug 13
muhrensleftfoot - don't give Lambert credit for signing Holt because it was Bryan Gunn who bought him.
3

Bergholt_Blue added 21:01 - Aug 13
Well that's jackson's replacement then
0

smithy0981 added 21:03 - Aug 13
Never heard of him
0

Westy added 21:14 - Aug 13
Is it me, or does he look like Alan Lee.
0

Pencilpete added 21:21 - Aug 13
To everyone moaning 2 words ........ Kieffer Moore

Wasnt he a free transfer from Forest Green and couldn't even get in their team ? now he goes for a few million quid a time.

Just cos he hasnt played for Liverpool and costing millions doesn't make him a bad player it just means he hasn't found a home yet

2

rfretwell added 21:23 - Aug 13
I suppose Paul Mariners equivalent c/f today in div 1 would be Poshs Ivan Toney. No way we can afford him so cant expect that quality on the ball. But we need a good header up front so Hawkins could be worth a try.
4

jonnysuave added 21:48 - Aug 13
Hawkins, Cornell, 34 year old chap... Hang on to your hats. Maybe get Megson as assistant manager for the last piece of the puzzle...

Like a jigsaw but a really boring one, lots of pieces, none of them fit and made of thin card.
0

Cloddyseedbed added 21:55 - Aug 13
Just watched Hawkins on youtube as I'd never heard of him. At least he goes for headers and wins them and can score from headers too. None of our forwards can win anything in the air so that should add to our game. He also looks to win headers to set others up so assists would come in handy too. Fejiri Okenbirhie who played along side him looks better than a lot of our strikers on last seasons performances as well. If we've got someone who can win headers I just hope delivery into the box from wide area's is being addressed as it's been absolutely woeful for seasons now as have our corners.
5

BeattiesBackPocket added 21:55 - Aug 13
Pencilpete when we bought in kiefer he was a lot younger than this 28 year old journeyman! Nuff said! It's ok the Evans lovers clearly enjoy how far we are falling and further still under his ownership
3

JDAndCoke added 22:00 - Aug 13
The constant negativity on here baffles me.

Being a striker is NOT all about goals. They help but don't judge a player purely based on goals. Especially a big man like this... it's about winning flick ons, bringing others into play and using your extra strength. If he's good at those things, Norwood/Jackson are the goalscorers
7

raycrawfordswig added 22:08 - Aug 13
The great Sir Alf Ramsey signed players nobody wanted and the rest is History .
7


You need to login in order to post your comments

Blogs 295 bloggers

Ipswich Town Polls

About Us Contact Us Terms & Conditions Privacy Cookies Advertising
© TWTD 1995-2024