Rumours abound down south that Hibs have signed a young Dutch Central defender called Shelton Martis (23) from Darlington. Judging by the comments from the Darlington fans on their message boards we have landed a first class player and they are not a happy lot for losing him.
Quote from Darlington fan Quakerz who was good enough to pop up and spill the beans for us below....
"Information on Martis....
Came over on trial from FC Eindhoven last pre season and made his bow against Middlesbrough. It was crystal clear after only 10 minutes that this guy was special. He had Hasselbaink and Viduka in his pocket. Everybody was asking who the ringer was and saying "sign him up NOW!!".....on 10 minutes evidence. We signed him after the match.
Played I think 41 matches for us last season, started at right back then moved to his prefered central defensive position. From then on in, he was head and shoulders above any other defender in the League. I know Rob Jones was rated by some as the best, but thats only because he was playing for a team in the top 3 and therefore had more exposure, and also because he is a giant.
Martis has it all. Pace, strength, height, superb positional sense, good tackler, typical European defender very good on the ball and isn't half bad at taking set pieces.
Give him a few games to settle in and find his feet and you have a star on your hands.
Good news (if indeed true)
Brian Hine
GGTTH
***Ammendment ***
11/08/2006 14:50
The transfer has just been confirmed by the Darlington manager David Hodgson
Quote from Darlington fan Quakerz who was good enough to pop up and spill the beans for us below....
"Information on Martis....
Came over on trial from FC Eindhoven last pre season and made his bow against Middlesbrough. It was crystal clear after only 10 minutes that this guy was special. He had Hasselbaink and Viduka in his pocket. Everybody was asking who the ringer was and saying "sign him up NOW!!".....on 10 minutes evidence. We signed him after the match.
Played I think 41 matches for us last season, started at right back then moved to his prefered central defensive position. From then on in, he was head and shoulders above any other defender in the League. I know Rob Jones was rated by some as the best, but thats only because he was playing for a team in the top 3 and therefore had more exposure, and also because he is a giant.
Martis has it all. Pace, strength, height, superb positional sense, good tackler, typical European defender very good on the ball and isn't half bad at taking set pieces.
Give him a few games to settle in and find his feet and you have a star on your hands.
Good news (if indeed true)
Brian Hine
GGTTH
***Ammendment ***
11/08/2006 14:50
The transfer has just been confirmed by the Darlington manager David Hodgson