FLASHBACK
Wednesday, March 07, 2007 Shittu Was Within an Hour of Signing for WBA Before Watford Move
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Watford Observer - Shittu: I almost signed for BaggiesBy Kevin Affleck
DAN SHITTU has revealed he came within an hour of signing for West Bromwich Albion.
The Nigerian man-mountain, who could be in line for a recall on Saturday, had undergone a medical at the Hawthorns in the summer and was all ready to put pen to paper when Watford came in at the 11th hour.
"I went to West Brom that day to sign the contract and was about an hour away from signing," recalled the defender.
"Watford called my agent and I left West Brom without signing. I think Bryan Robson was really upset that I didn't sign but once I had spoken to Aidy I knew Watford was the place I wanted to go."
For the full interview with Shittu, see this week's edition of the Watford Observer.
Watford Observer
How it was reported at the time:
QPR Official Site - Deal Agreed
QPR have reached agreement with fellow Championship outfit West Bromwich Albion for the £3million transfer of Dan Shittu.The player is due to travel to The Hawthorns on Friday to undergo a medical and discuss personal terms.
The overall deal is worth £3million in total and the R's have negotiated a 10 per-cent sell on clause for any future transfer involving the player. QPR
West Bromwich Albion Official Site - QPR accept £1.5m Shittu bidALBION have had a £1.5million offer accepted by QPR for central defender Dan Shittu.
The fee could rise to £3million if certain criteria are met.
Nigerian international Shittu will travel to the Black Country tomorrow (Friday) to discuss personal terms and undergo a medical.
Stay tuned WBA
BBC - QPR accept Baggies bid for ShittuDanny Shittu
Shittu has made more than 160 league appearances for QPR
QPR have accepted an initial offer of £1.5m from West Bromwich Albion for defender Danny Shittu.
The Baggies have struck a deal which could rise to £3m according to his performance and that of the club.
The 25-year-old is set to travel to the Hawthorns on Friday discuss personal terms and undergo a medical.
WBA boss Bryan Robson wants to bring in defensive cover for Neil Clement and Thomas Gaardsoe who will both miss the start of the season through injury.
QPR chairman Gianni Paladini had previously insisted his club would not accept less than £3m for defender Danny Shittu.
Watford had a bid for the giant centre-back rejected.
Shittu moved to Loftus Road from Charlton in 2002 in a £350,000 deal funded by QPR fans Matthew and Alex Winton.
He has since made 162 league appearances and is a firm favourite among supporters.
BBC
SKY - QPR accept Shittu bidBy Alex Dunn - Created on 3 Aug 2006
West Bromwich Albion have agreed a fee for Queens Park Rangers defender Danny Shittu.
After a period of negotiation between the Championship rivals an accord has been struck whereby West Brom will pay an initial fee of £1.5 million.
The fee could eventually rise to £3 million depending on various criteria that will be appearance and success related.
success related.
Shittu, an imposing central defender, has established himself as one of the more powerful performers outside of the top flight and is seen as an ideal signing by Baggies boss Bryan Robson.
West Brom defensive duo Neil Clement and Thomas Gaardsoe are currently struggling with injury and Robson has previously stated a desire to add more competition to his ranks.
Shittu will travel to the Midlands on Friday for a medical and to discuss personal terms. Skysports
Thursday, March 15, 2007
Another £250,000 to QPR For Shittu
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QPR Official SiteWatford's fairytale run to the FA Cup semi-finals has resulted in Rangers receiving an additional £250,000 for the sale of Danny Shittu.
The Hornets paid an initial £1.6 million for the no-nonsense defender in the summer, but with Shittu making his 25th competitive appearance for Aidy Boothroyd's men in the FA Cup quarter-final against Plymouth Argyle last weekend, the R's have now received their next installment for the 26 year-old.
"We always knew Danny wanted to move to the Premiership,'' Chairman Gianni Paladini told
www.qpr.co.uk.
"He's shown what he's about for Watford, performing to an incredibly high standard and we're reaping the benefits.'' QPR
Thursday, February 22, 2007
Danny Shittu Q & A - Including several re QPR
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Several Part Q&A with Danny Shittu on Watford's Official Site. Obviously much of the material and questions are focused on Watford.Excerpt: "Q - How did you get spotted for QPR?"
A - I was at Charlton when I was 18 and I went to Blackpool on loan - they tried to buy me but I didn't want to go there.
So I went back to Charlton and I was playing in the reserves.
I was a bit unhappy about that so I asked if I could go out on loan again and I think Ian Holloway came and saw me at a reserve game and he gave me a chance and took me on.
I went on loan for a couple of months and QPR wanted me there permanently.
I said to Charlton that I would rather go there than play in the reserves. I really liked it down at QPR - it proved to be a move that I definitely don't regret. QPR played a really good part in my life and I really enjoyed being there.
Q - What was your most memorable moment in your career to date?
A - I think it was playing in the play off semi-final second leg against Oldham at Loftus Road for QPR.
It was such an amazing night and then going to Cardiff to play in the final - that was amazing as well but we were devastated about the result.
But getting promoted the following season was big for me as well - although I didn't play for the final few games because I injured so I was disappointed about that.
Q - How was it working with Steve Palmer? And what was training like under Ian Holloway?
A - When I was at QPR he was the first defender that I played with. I learnt so much playing with him.
I used to do a lot covering for him! But he taught me about being in the right position and doing the correct things.
It was something that certainly accelerated my career because I was such a late developer.
Ollie is a character. He'd come into training everyday laughing, making you laugh and doing mad things on the training ground so it was definitely enjoyable going to training.
You never knew what he was going to do, he was different I can definitely say that!
Q - Who would be your ideal central defensive partner, both past and present?
A - That's a tough question! I enjoy playing with Jay DeMerit and also Malky Mackay because of his knowledge.
But I enjoyed playing with Clarke Carlisle at QPR it's just so nice when you understand someone and you know what they're going to do.
You need to form that partnership, when me and Clarke played at QRR we played together such a lot and we just knew what each other was doing.
Also Terrell Forbes at QPR, I used to win the headers and he was quick so he'd do all the sweeping up. I've learnt so much playing with these players.
Watford Official Site - SHITTU TAKES THE HOT SEAT
DAN Shittu sat down and went through the questions that have come in from the readers of
www.watfordfc.com this week.
The big centre half was bowled over by the response and would like to send his thanks to everyone who sent questions in.
We tried to ask as many as possible - if your question wasn't answered we'll be bringing your more opportunities over the rest of the season so keep logging in.
PART I
Q - What's it like playing top fight football?
Matthew Ashby
A -It's certainly been worth working hard for. I've been working hard for the last eight years for this - just to prove that I'm good enough to play at this level.
I'm just glad that I've been given the opportunity to play against top-flight teams week-in week-out playing against some great players.
Q - What are the main differences between the Championship and the Premiership?
James Harding
A - The atmosphere is different, look at Man United the other night they were playing in front of 76,000 people - you don't really get that in a Championship match.
It's also obviously the players you are playing against - they are so much sharper, you have to be on your toes more.
Q - It's the 90th minute and we're 1-0 up. The opposing forward runs through and is preparing to score, do you foul him and give away a penalty and get sent off, or let him go and take a chance he might miss?
Simon Conway
A - I think if I was the last man and I feel he's getting away from me and could go and score then you've definitely got to take a red card for it.
This kind of scenario happened to me once at Cardiff in the play-off final (when playing for QPR) - I never thought he was going to score from that sort of range.
But back to the scenario - yes if there wasn't much of the game left and it could be a win for the club it's definitely worth it.
Q - What striker would you most like to play against in the world?
John Hester, Northwood
A - I haven't played against Rooney. He's the man at the moment and I like to test myself against people like that.
He didn't play down here and I was injured when we played up there so I was a little upset that I didn't get a chance to prove myself against him.
Q - Who has been the toughest opponent you've played against this season?
Ollie Trenchard
A - For me it's always been more about the small quick players - you've got to be much more alert and they normally prove a little bit harder for me.
I seem to do alright when I'm playing against big physical players like Martins and Camara.
Then obviously you've got players like Henry who do things differently and you pick up so much playing against them.
Q - I think you are a great player and a nice person. My question is what made you come to Watford?
James Keefe (Aged 8)
A - I'd heard a lot about Aidy Boothroyd and I knew some of the players like Chris Powell. I used to see Marlon King and he'd tell me about the club.
It's good when you go to a club and you work under someone who drives you and pushes you and I knew the gaffer was like that.
People know that I was meant to sign for West Brom but once I spoke to the gaffer I knew he was someone I wanted to work under.
So far I've learnt so much, he's a good role model and I believe in good role models.
If I can learn from people like that then the kids that I teach can learn from me as well.
I want people to see me as a good role model - someone they can aspire to be - I'm just going to keep working hard until I get there.
Part I
PART II:
HITTU PART TWO
WELCOME to part two of the Q and A with central defender Dan Shittu - we hope you like his answers.
Click here for part one
Q - You're my hero! I play in defence and during a game I always remember the way you play and it inspires me. Do you prefer playing for Watford or QPR?
William Cottle
A - Hi William, thanks for the question. I love playing for Watford - although I had a great time at QPR as well.
Thanks for saying you look up to me - before I got into football I used to look at people like Sol Campbell and he inspired me.
SPORTING LIFE
Watford defender Dan Shittu admits he owes Plymouth manager Ian Holloway a debt of gratitude but still hopes to dump his former boss out of the FA Cup when the sides meet in the quarter-finals on Sunday.It was Holloway who gave Shittu his break in professional football by signing the 26-year-old for QPR on an initial loan deal in October 2001.
Holloway was a big influence on Shittu's career, which reached its pinnacle when the defender signed for the Barclays Premiership outfit in a £1.5million deal last summer.
And although Shittu will be determined to knock out Holloway's Coca-Cola Championship side at Home Park, he will never forget the 43-year-old's faith in him.
Shittu said: "If it had not been for Ian Holloway, I might not be in the Premiership now.
"Ollie took a gamble on me, which is something I really appreciate, because it is nice when someone gives you a chance.
"He gave me a platform to play, so I have a lot of respect for him, and I look forward to seeing him on Sunday.
"But the gratitude can go only so far. I would still love to beat his team on Sunday."
Holloway and Hornets chief Adrian Boothroyd are known for their unorthodox approaches to the game, with Holloway as well known for his idiosyncratic post-match reflections as Boothroyd is for his unusual motivational methods.
Shittu has experienced both men's ideas at first hand, and admits there are comparisons between the two.
On his time at QPR, he said: "We turned up to training, and Ollie told us all to get into a van.
"He took us to a ballet school, and we were all wondering what was going on.
"We found ourselves carrying ballerinas, and having our photos taken; it was all very comical. I don't remember being very good at it.
"I had to carry one ballerina on my shoulder, which was really embarrassing, especially when I saw the pictures - but at least I didn't drop her.
"We have done similar things at Watford. Once, instead of training, the manager decided to take us to the cinema, although I can't remember which film we saw.
"On another occasion, the whole squad, the manager, his staff and some of the directors were made to walk over hot coals.
"Aidy is very big on making people believe they can do anything, and we felt very confident and good about ourselves after walking over the coals.
"It was a good thing to do, and it didn't really hurt."
One of the key battles at Home Park is likely to be contested between Shittu and Argyle forward Kevin Gallen, who were team-mates at QPR from November 2001 until last August.
The pair have never played against each other and Shittu is keen to make his physical presence tell early in the game.
He said: "I haven't really spoken to Kevin since I left QPR, but I am definitely looking forward to kicking him.
"The only times we played against one another in the past were during training sessions, and I believe I used to get the better of him.
"I don't know what he would have to say about that, but I don't remember him getting past me too many times."
The Hornets welcome back on-loan Manchester United goalkeeper Ben Foster from injury, but will be without defender Jordan Stewart, who faces a month on the sidelines with a damaged calf. Sporting Life