I'd heard rumours of this, but here's at least one confirmation. Thanks to the Soca Warriors at the World Cup and Kenwyne Jones this last season, more people are viewing Trinidad and the Caribbean as a viable market for good (although cheap) players.
Money-conscious Blackwell
Globe-trotter: Manager Kevin Blackwell is clocking up the air miles in pursuit of new talent for United
Date: 31 May 2008
By James Shield
HAVING vowed to treat the club's money with the same care he would his own, Sheffield United manager Kevin Blackwell has left himself precious little room for error in the transfer market.
So rather than place his trust in recommendations from agents and fixers, who possibly enjoy a vested interest in placing players at Bramall Lane, Blackwell is preparing to embark on a punishing round-the-world trip to ensure those being considered for transfers to South Yorkshire possess the required pedigree.
Port of Spain, where Trinidad and Tobago host England in a friendly international fixture tomorrow, is the first destination on Blackwell's cluttered itinerary.
Stopovers in Brazil and Dubai are also planned as part of an exhaustive search for potential signings.
"I'll be putting in the miles this summer," he said.
"I'm a big believer in actually seeing people you might be interested in yourself rather than leaving that to others.
"If you want to make a judgement then you have to have seen the person in action yourself.
"In my opinion, there's no other way.
"You can't get a proper idea about what somebody may or not be capable of by watching them on a video or DVD.
"Nobody is going to out anything bad in there are they?
"And, as manager, ultimately it is your responsibility to try and bring in the right people.
"So although you will have people filtering certain names out of the system, when push comes to shove I think you have to have seen them in action to be able to make a call."
Blackwell's old-fashioned approach is designed to minimise the element of risk inherent in any purchase as United's board of directors look to strike a balance between supporting their coaching staff in the transfer market and protecting their reputation for sensible financial housekeeping in today's increasingly difficult climate.
Blackwell's insistence on visiting Sao Paulo, where United are applying the finishing touches to their development agreement with the former World Club Champions, suggests Shirecliffe is set to receive its first intake of youngsters from the Cícero Pompeu de Toledo Stadium.
And David Carney, the United midfielder who has suffered from a lack of opportunities since Blackwell's February appointment, will be pleased to learn that Australia's World Cup qualifer with Iraq in the UAE is also on his club boss's agenda.
Blackwell's appointment to watch an as yet unidentified player in action against Fabio Capello's side means he will miss the first instalment of the Socceroos' double-header with their Middle East rivals.
But when Pim Verbeek's squad travel to the desert state on June 7 Blackwell will be watching from the stands.
"I'll be watching players on both sides of the Atlantic," Blackwell confirmed.
"It's certainly going to be a very busy time."
