As is customary, the final Thursday in March constitutes transfer deadline day, and today is no exception. Last season Blues lost out on Tottenham Hotspur defender Stephen Kelly, who has gone on to represent the Spurs first team, but was replaced at Roots Hall by team-mate Ronnie Henry. Gavin Strachan also linked up with the Shrimpers, but was released in May 2003, going on to play for Second Division Hartlepool United.
This year, management duo Steve Tilson and Paul Brush have moved even earlier to sign Arsenal youngster Nicky Nicolau, a left-sided performer who can fill the void at either left-back or on the left-hand side of midfield. The move will come as a slight shock to Bristol Rovers, who had been interested in the youngster after a trial at the Memorial Stadium at the start of the month.
In fact, assistant caretaker manager at the time, Tony Ricketts, gave a glowing report to ‘The Pirate’, the award-winning official matchday programme of Rovers. He said, “Nicky did very well and demonstrated tenacity, good technical ability and a sound knowledge of the game”. The coach continued to explain, “We moved him around a bit and played him on the left side of midfield in the first half and after the break played him at left-back and left wing-back. He impressed in all three positions and is a player we’ll be looking at again, hopefully next week.”
However, the 20-year-old did not return for the following weeks’ 3-0 Pontin’s Holidays Combination thrashing at the hands of local rivals Bristol City, amid rumours that Phil Bater was on his way out of the west country. Indeed, he has now left the club, and Russell Osman and Kevan Broadhurst have taken over until the summer, which left Nicolau’s chances uncertain in Bristol.
Shrimpers gaffer Tilson is rumoured to have been following the young gunner in reserve games in recent weeks, and last night the former youth team scholar performed well in a 4-0 defeat of Derby County at Barnet’s Underhill Stadium. The move to Roots Hall, albeit temporary, has more chance of a future than to the Gasheads, and with more stability in the short-term.
The Camden-born talent made the highest number of Under-19 appearances last season, and has been a regular in the Arsenal reserve side this time around, making sixteen starts and three substitute appearances without finding the back of the net. Having joined the Gunners in the summer of 2000, he has yet to break into the Premiership side’s highly-successful first-team, with the likes of Ashley Cole and Gael Clichy in his path.
For United’s part, left-back has been a problem this season, with Jamie Stuart, a former England Under-21 international, and Che Wilson both failing to impress; Martin Bullock giving the latter a torrid time at the Millennium Stadium last Sunday afternoon in the LDV Vans Trophy final. Neil Jenkins seems to have been modelled as a midfielder, so the likelihood is that Nicolau will go straight into the starting line-up to face Carlisle United at Brunton Park on Saturday.
Player Profile
At-A-Glance Statistics
Squad Number: ??
Preferred Position: Left-back
Other Positions: Left-midfield, Left wing-back
Age: 20
Previous Clubs: Arsenal
In-Depth Statistics
Factfile
Full Name: Nicholas Nicolau
Born: Camden, North London
Date of Birth: 13th October 1983
Height: unknown
Weight: unknown
Signed: 25th March 2004
Footballing Career
Total Matches: 0
(Of Which As Substitute): 0
Total Goals: 0
League Matches: 0
League Goals: 0
F.A. Cup Matches: 0
F.A. Cup Goals: 0
League Cup Matches: 0
League Cup Goals: 0
Other Matches: 0
Other Goals: 0
Club-by-Club
Arsenal (August 2000-) – 0 games, 0 goals
Robert Craven
www.thelittlegazette.com