Pez1974

Massive footnote to the thread, but I grew 2 1/2 inches between the ages of 22 and 25, and my brother, now 21 has grown an inch in the last year So I'd go back to the biology books skip I was 6'3" when I was 12. Now, pushing 40, I'm 6'3" ~(plus maybe a little bit). People are different. Anyway, signings......

Thanks Gareth, this really cheered me up. When in doubt, act like a 5 year old!

The race is on - who's out first! Agreed that Bent has to go. Earns way too much for the role he has to fill, and with the current financial climate for 99% of clubs meaning that the higher earners mean less transfer fee, £6m will be good business for me. BBC reporting that Pardew has confirmed that Newcastle looking for a couple of forwards, and that Bent and Remy top their list. Shift them both, and reinvest in another 3 starters, and we are away.

I think we are in a really strong position here. He has 3 years on his contract at 20k per week. We paid that to Ireland last year! PL is a tough cookie and I think Lerner and Faulkner will back him to the hilt (as they will be scared of him leaving). £20m sounds very low to me, although I am only guessing. I don't know what players who leave without a transfer request get, maybe 10% or 15%, but that is 2m or 3m on 20m, so quite a chunk. The only downside of playing hardball is not getting the replacement in. Of course, if we get a replacement in early, that might weaken our position, but for £1m a year in wages, **** him!

Because if not for us, he'd still be in Belgium as a nobody. He's showing the fans that loved him that he isn't anything special and is just another mercenary. Never mind the fans though, PL must be sick to the stomach. Really don't want to face him in the PL. I wouldn't want to face him. Perhaps Vlaar, Okore or Baker fancy 90 minutes though!

It doesn't, but players get a slice of the transfer fee if they don't hand in a request.

He is still under contract for 3 years. We can tell em to **** off if e offer isn't high enough. The request might drop the price a bit, but a few clubs will want him, which helps, plus he gets nothing.

So, he's gone. He will forgo a tidy sum by handing in a transfer request, which suggests he is seriously pissed off or has been tapped up and has already agreed a contract elsewhere. We need to state our price and get it sorted quickly. It looks like Bony is done for Swansea, and I expect PL has his alternatives ready, so we must act fast. Onwards and upwards.

For me, we either sell early (at a very high price) so that we can get (for example) Bony or Abeumang in as replacements; or we say tough shit, you're staying. The deadline, which we should never publicise, should be the next week or so. The story in the papers is total bollocks.

My guess is that he can have £60k per week if he signs for another 5 or 6 years. If he only extends by 1, he can have £30-40k. If we give more, he has to offer more.

Great news. This preseason is going great; get some good young players in early to settle everyone down; sign up key players on new contracts (c'mon Tekkers!); now is the time to get another few overpaid ones out and then sign another couple of starters.

Bit concerning he is in the last year of his contract. I know he shouldn't be on the reported Banna/Delfouneso wages, but would think we should have him sorted out by now.

We'll never get him - you can't haggle with Yoda

It wasn't 8.5m for Gayle. Nearer 4.5m I believe. The press make up all sort of figures as we saw with reports of what we paid last year. Still a lot though, and almost treble what we paid for Helenius who is an international!

On closer inspection, as well as Benteke being linked with Spuds, only Bent (linked with Newcastle and Hull) of our rejects gets a mention. Not even Bannan being linked with Man U or Arsenal Good job it's all bollocks

What muppets. Presumably Daniel Levy sponsored this article!

I know exactly where you are coming from, I have just read it a little differently. We seem to be the only club going out and making purchases early, even though many of the required leavers are still about (although we all know that a few have gone already). This must be the owner sanctioning such moves, although the ability Lambert has shown will have heped with that decision. For me Lerner takes a lot of shit, and although he has made mistakes, he deserves credit where it is due.

Really optimistic - I think the challenge over the next few weeks is to shift out the overpaid surplus to requirements, and then hopefully we will pick up another couple of starters. Randy has been mst influential over the past few weeks, as he has allowed a reasonable level of investment despite limited departures thus far.

Try the Bannan thread!

I'm guessing they are old votes.

Wow. I am shit at this!

No-one has actually said that there is a strict sell to buy policy yet and Jed Steer is coming on a free.

Like father.... Sorry, couldn't resist!

I always liked M'bia, and although the QPR stuff is a concern, I think the atmosphere down there became toxic with them signing so many highly paid stars with an existing squad earning far less who had achieved PL status. It is possible that if you take someone like M'bia out of there and into a more favourable environment (like ours), he would shine. In Lambert we trust.

Oh well, if we can't sell the tool, an injury will hopefully mean we can claim of the insurance for a while. If he is on 60k per week and out for 3 months, thats some 750k saved (or half a Luna)! And if he was being a prick when he got injured, we could probably fine him a couple of weeks wages too.