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David BALL | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
A striker who signed a six-month loan deal from Manchester City in July 2010, Ball made his Town debut on the opening day of the season in a 2-1 home defeat to Brighton - manager Danny Wilson choosing to play him as a left-sided attacking midfielder, after stating that he wanted to protect the youngster from the physical nature of League One - perhaps hoping to emulate the success that ex-loanee Danny Ward had from this position the previous season. However, possibly due to the fact that Ball was right-footed and out of position, he looked like a fish out of water during his first appearances for Swindon - and quickly found himself relegated to the substitutes' bench. It wasn't until October that Ball was given a chance in his usual position, and he netted a goal in a Johnstone's Paint Trophy tie against Torquay, and with Charlie Austin injured and others out of form, he retained his place in the side, going on to score a brace of well-taken finishes in a 5-4 defeat at Peterborough. When Austin returned, Ball partnered him for a couple of games - and though the Town scored five in those games, Ball didn't, and they conceded five as well - prompting Wilson to make further changes, preferring Vincent Péricard to Ball. Ball made just seven more substitute appearances, plus one start against Bournemouth on New Years' Day, before his loan deal expired, and with Manchester City not impressed with his lack of game time, he returned to Eastlands. Before the transfer window closed, Ball signed a permanent deal with Peterborough - and he was quick to suggest that Swindon hadn't seen the best of him, due to his being played out of position. PLAYING RECORD:
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date of birth usual positions centre forward youth career senior career |