Keeper Scott Carson leaves West Bromwich Albion

Saturday 2nd July 2011, 11:00AM BST.

Keeper Scott Carson leaves West Bromwich Albion

Albion cleared the decks for more summer signings last night as Scott Carson and Borja Valero completed permanent transfers out of The Hawthorns.

One-time England keeper Carson ended a three-year stay during which he has struggled to win over the Baggies fans by completing his move to Bursapor and the chance for a fresh start in Turkish football.

Valero has not kicked a ball for Albion since the club’s Premier League relegation but after two seasons playing on loan in La Liga – and winning a place in the Spanish national squad – he has sealed a permanent switch to Villareal.

Both fees are undisclosed but Carson’s is thought to be in the region of £1.5m-£2m with performance related add-ons.

Valero was a record-breaking £4.7m signing from Real Mallorca and Albion can be expected to have at least got their money back through loan fees and now this permanent switch.

Carson’s exit leaves the door wide open for a new No.1 – although understudy Boaz Myhill will have his own thoughts on that prospect – and it is clear head coach Roy Hodgson is confident he can recruit a more commanding figure.

He said: “In the three months I worked with Scott I cannot fault his professionalism and dedication.

“He has been a good servant to the club and I wish him all the best as he looks to broaden his experience by playing in a foreign country.”

Albion are in the process of completing the re-signing of Zoltan Gera on a two-year deal this weekend while they await the decision pending from fellow midfielder David Vaughan of Blackpool.

But the prospect of Gabriel Tamas’ transfer to Lazio is the subject of doubts despite the defender’s enthusiasm for the chance to switch to the Rome club.

Albion insist they still have not heard officially from Lazio while the agent driving the deal, Ivan Reggiani, admits the Seri A club are having second thoughts because of the Romanian’s patchy disciplinary record.

James Hurst has been called up for the England squad in the Under-20s World Cup in Colombia. The defender was on standby but has possibly benefitted from club-mate George Thorne’s withdrawal to go on Albion’s first-team tour of the USA.


  1. 1
    baggie birder

    Clearly not rated by Roy along with other Albion fans including myself.Must take some of the share blame for our poor defensive record over the last few years.We can now look forward to Roy bringing in the quality we need to aid our survival bid and plans to finally establish us at this level.Having said all that i wish Scotty all the best and because he is relatively young still has potential to become a top goal keeper.Exciting times ahead in the transfer market as we clear the decks.

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  2. 2
    red ed

    The fella from man united who we had kuscheck is no better then carson he can’t catch a corner and isn’t much cop so we don’t want him either.

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  3. 3
    JACK thé HAT

    Read the Bookies have wolves and us as relegation fodder, in that case, why are they our chief SPONSORS?.

    Hold on Before you start feeling sorry for yourselves Manchester Utd. The season hasn’t started yet. In answer to their chairman’s ” Everybodies against us moan. Get ready for their manager to have his go. Don’t forget they are league champions!.

    Spurs want public funds to help with their ground extentions!. Bet they’ll be Buying players in, worth millions. Another swindling…..run club, like Portsmouth.

    All on top of swindling F.I.F.A. scandal.

    Anybody else think football has lost the plot?.

    BOING~~~~BOING~~~~JtH.

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  4. 4
    1954 baggie

    like most fans was’nt convinced about him due
    to his inconsistency we need a replacement who
    who commands the area and is vocal don’t think
    Myhill’s had a fare chance, with players being
    resigned (Gera) I would have gone for Kushzchak but he looked nervous in a rare game
    v Blackburn but he was ok previously at the club United obviously thought so to sign him!!
    All keepers mentioned except Given are prone to errors but could we afford him However its
    long been known good keeper ,centre back and
    centre forward is what’s needed we have the two.

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  5. 5
    matt

    Harper he isn’t any better either. Green is decent, given is good but been injured a lot recently. All speculation anyway

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  6. 6
    Romsley Baggie

    Out with the old in with the new. Good luck Scott i think the move suits both parties, we clearly need a more acomplished and experienced keeper and Scott gets the chance to experience a new way of life. Im happy we have decided to go for a new keeper Scott never reached the expected hights i feel but i wish him well in his move.

    Shay Given please Mr Peace push the boat out a little! He’d be worth ever penny.

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  7. 7
    Stuart WbafcWaite

    Gutted scot has gone people didn’t give him enough credit for when he did well always pick up on the mistakes I honestly believe he was getting better and he has time on his side and I think his replacement will be worse so all u you so called fans who boo or jeer him when u think he does something wrong hope u don’t come to regret it boing boing proud to be and always will be a baggie keep the faith

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  8. 8
    Cyril Randle

    I am reminded of that old adage:
    “Be careful what you wish for, you may get it !
    We may have difficulty getting a BETTER goalkeeper than Scott Carson in our price range and any keeper knowing he has faults may not want to risk his reputation with us. It’s common knowledge some supporters drove him out. It will certainly be interesting. I wait with bated breath.

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  9. 9
    JACK the HAT

    Englands No1 goalkeeper is up for sale I think we ought to go for him! Oh sorry we have just sold him.

    Jack the Hat~~~~ Boing Boing.

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  10. 10
    BoingBoing666

    all the best Carson, Give it 3-4 years I reckon you’ll be England No1, that doesn’t mean to say it isn’t a good move for both parties, look forward to seeing who we get in.

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  11. 11
    Shropshirebaggie

    Its now time to move on, I still think that Carson was unfairly treated by some fans, his confidence was fragile and the boos at times can’t have helped. I just hope that whoever we bring in to replace hime is better.

    With that in mind, I wouldn’t want Kuszack or Green as they are no better. Given would have been a good shout but looks like he is of to the Vile, too expensive anyway.

    Boing Boing!!

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  12. 12
    bilbrookwolves

    Thing is unless he wanted to leave what are you going to get better for the price. Didnt Liverpool pay £10mil for him ??

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  13. 13
    alan hawthorne

    all the best scott,thank you for your commitment regards alan hawthorne

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  14. 14
    The real billy hoo and his holiday adventures ( not really )

    Went to the fairground on the front last night up here in Scunnie. Went past Madam Funnielingo the fortune teller. I thought why not, and i had a tenners worth ;
    She said;
    “Expect to see OLD faces returning from a cottage” ?
    Also, “after a lucky last year, expect only disappointment this forthcomming one.”
    She added, “Jelousy will rear its ugly head when our neighbours build a new house that glitters Gold and casts a large shadow over ours.”
    She finished with ; “You will travel in fast circles and illness will follow.”
    Load of old rubbish if you ask me, so i left and went on the Walzers. I wish i haddnt cus they made me sick all down the front of me new Albion shirt. ( you couldnt tell though )

    Have we signed anyone yet ?

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  15. 15
    Boingboing

    2 Red ed-You a professional goalkeeping coach?No, thought not-leave it to Roy and Dan.They DO know what they’re doing.

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  16. 16
    ams

    If Carson still is young and has potential and the pole in goal is no better, then I would hope Roy and DA have someone else lined up. We still don’t know what he thinks of myhill although he hasn’t played him since the first game. Expect a surprise.

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  17. 17
    Stars In Stripes

    Although I think this will ultimately be to our loss it is probably the right time for Scott to move on as the ever-increasing number of fans turning against him would have seriously knocked his confidence and that’s the last thing any team needs, a keeper who is a complete bag of nerves. I also believe he has made the right choice by moving abroad and taking himself out of the ‘London-biased’ media spotlight who have never really forgiven him for his mistake against Croatia. The man who put him into that, quite frankly shameful position, Steve McClaren also has had to rebuild his reputation abroad before returning to the English game.

    Good luck Scott.

    Report abuse

  18. 18
    Kiwibaggie

    Agree with baggie birder. Scott Carson pulled off some great saves, but I have lost count of the ‘could’ve saved that’ let-ins.

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  19. 19
    SIR TERRY BAGGIE

    watched the midland masters last night,thought jodie kraduck had a good game,aye boing boing

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  20. 20
    TB

    “have never really forgiven him for his mistake against Croatia. The man who put him into that, quite frankly shameful position, Steve McClaren

    What, picked him for an England game? Shame on McClaren.

    Carson has always been average at best since his arrival at Albion. The occasional decent save coupled with lead feet, an inability to control his box, and zero communication with those around him. Unfortunately, and somewhat inexplicably, the fans have turned on him which has made him worse. Both parties needed a change and I’m sure it will work out for the best for both of us.

    Good luck, Scott….

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  21. 21
    Warren

    I think we all agree a change suited both parties, but this is where it becomes tricky. Many fans now have what they want with Carson gone, but Given aside (who realistically will probably choose Villa over us) who is better that’s affordable and realistic? To my mind, neither Green or Harper are.

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  22. 22
    Warren

    P.S.

    Just read that Given’s rejected a move to Albion. Now critics, is the time for you to take your pick from list B and see what we end up with……..

    Report abuse

  23. 23
    JACK thé HAT

    (9)
    Brilliant, Love it. Thanks for trying to use my nom de guerre.

    BOING~~~~BOING~~~~JtH.

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  24. 24
    JACK thé HAT

    (22)
    Warren,
    I wouldn’t class Eiji Kawashima as (B).

    BOING~~~~BOING~~~~JtH.

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  25. 25
    baggieinmanc

    No. 14 Billy who?

    You mean to tell me you paid a fortune teller and she couldn’t even see that you were a dog head? I’d get me money back son.

    Have you signed anyone yet? They all fall through at the last minute because the club won’t break the wage structure. Ah yes, takes me back to when we got relegated. We had the same structure in place, but I suppose you need Premiership experience to avoid the same mistake twice.

    Boing Boing

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  26. 26
    baggieinmanc

    I, like a few of you are sad to see Scott go. I too recon he will be at least England No.2 and a solid keeper in a couple of years.

    Cyril, your bang on about how it’s gonna be hard to find a better keeper IMO. Given looks like he’s gonna sign for Villa and if not he’s already ruled himself out of a move to us (maybe money or maybe he doesn’t fancy getting Carsoned). Foster and Kawashima appear to be our best options Foster being the best we could possibly sign. Green won’t come and will be advised not to by his antaurage. Kuszczak comes with bench blisters and rejection baggage. Harper is 12 steps back from Carson. The only other possibility is to find a jem from abroad or pluck a promising toss of the coin from the Championship. That may not work out so well if we get it wrong.

    Boing Boing

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  27. 27
    Cyril Randle

    26baggieinmanc. Quite so sir! MAS club membership is recommended. Whoever we get is going to have a baptism of fire against the Champions and the Runners-up. I hope he succeeds and then no one need say ‘I told you so’ which is a smug comment.
    I remember a Latin class when I was a kid. We had all the tools for the exam but not always sure what order to use them. Then came an ex-officer from the 14th Army of Burma. In one final year we all blossomed. Why? Encouragement! Plain and simple. The man was a superb teacher. Same team, now unbeatable.

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  28. 28
    TB

    Warren,

    While I agree that there isn’t a plethora of good goalkeeping talent available, I still think we can replace Carson.

    I’m struggling to think of too many games where Carson was outstanding. Some decent saves here and there (Tottenham, Liverpool and Villa at home come to mind) but rarely a faultless performance. Blatant goalkeeping errors and instances of “could have done better” roll off the tongue a little more easily.

    Replacements wise, both Green and Foster would be a dramatic improvement though unlikely to come (yes, they are prone to errors but also match-winning performances). I haven’t seen too much of Kuszak of late, bar a terrible performance against Blackburn, and feel Harper would be adequate if not outstanding.

    Would have loved El Habsi and feel there are some decent keepers in the Championship (Lee Camp?).

    Carson may turn out to be an England regular, but his career at the Hawthorns was only heading in one direction. Shame on those that booed him, but what’s done is done and it’s time to move on.

    Report abuse

  29. 29
    CantelloRocket 78

    So now that Scott’s gone,the guys that wanted him out for so long can step forward and solve the problem-

    you’ve had plenty of time to tell us how you plan to improve things,so

    1)Realistically,who should we sign?

    2)If you have someone in mind,what are the chances of him coming to us?

    and 3)If you have someone in mind,and you’re convinced we will have no problem in getting him,are you CERTAIN he will do a better job than Scott?

    So if you can answer all these questions positively,well done,but if not,and we end up having to sign someone in desperation (because we seem now to have a ‘keeper shortage),or that you don’t rate,then have a think who you will blame if we concede too many goals next season…………

    Report abuse

  30. 30
    Wall Heath Baggie

    CR78

    Camp , Green or Foster , yes we could sign them as we would be offering Premiership football , all three are better than Carson , could they possibly be worse ??? .
    Can we really concede more than last Season ??? one clean sheet all season if my fading memory does not let me down .

    ps my Auntie is well , could not find Farmer Ted !!!! keep smiling me old mate .

    Max.

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  31. 31
    CantelloRocket 78

    30 Max!

    You don’t half cause us some concern when you go missing,Kev’s been worried sick.

    In the end,the only way we could ‘fish you out’ was by putting a challenge on here regarding Scott Carson,if that didn’t work,nothing would.

    I have to say that your mate Bully is an admirer of Camp,and I rate him highly as well,but how easy is it to bring in ANYONE under contract?
    Would the club release a player you want?

    Would that player choose your club as opposed to others that are interested?

    I’ve seen better and worse ‘keepers than Carson over the years,but now he’s gone,can we be sure we’ll get a decent guy in?
    I suppose all we can do is trust the club to have somebody lined up that they’re keeping quiet about.

    Also I think we had two clean sheets last season(Sunderland and Everton?).

    p.s. Say hello to your Auntie.Haven’t seen her around lately,but glad to hear she’s well.

    And Farmer Ted seems to have gone missing since I said you were after him.
    Last seen buying a one-way ticket to South America.

    Report abuse



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