Baldrick'sTrousers

I don't think people are bitter, more like incredulous. He wants out, you want him out, the generally accepted valuation is around £6-8m, and the club are asking what most people see as a ridiculous figure. It's not how you do business.

Is there any meaningful 'generally accepted valuation' when it comes to player value - I think 12m would be top of the market (but easily conceivable if one of the top four were interested), but in my opinion 7m is a couple under par. Frankly with all the new money swirling round the Premiership there is no clear value for a young English player with Reo-Coker's credentials. Now more than ever players are worth what the market will stand.

Surely accepting a bid for a player (even an unsettled one) which a club considers below his potential market value, when there is no immediate pressure to do so, is a much worse way to do business?

But if Wham won't shift from that valuation, that's their right. I think that most Villa fans regard it as a joke, though. Especially if you're left with an unsold player hanging around, making waves, getting wages, and preventing a transfer fee coming in which could be used elsewhere. It seems both daft, and self-defeating.

I'd be dissapointed if Reo-Coker was still at the Boleyn come August because I think it will be best for both parties for him to move - I have little doubt he will be at a new club before the new season. Having said that I see nothing wrong in the way the club is doing business.

As a West Ham fan I don't understand why Villa fans seem to be so bitter about the Reo-Coker situation. It's mid-June, we have a player who wants to leave but have only recieved one offer which does not met our valuation.

Whether or not you agree with the valuation, the transfer window doesn't close for two months. I'm sure if O'Neil rates Reo-Coker he will either increase your offer or wait it out and hope that nobody else does.