sparrow1988

I'd take 8 goals a season from a winger all day long to be honest.

In my opinion he's wrecked from shagging his missus and can't move on a Saturday.

42 minutes ago, 1958Villan said:

Hard to make a judgement really.

He did brilliantly in his first season but, how many times do you see a player have a brilliant first season, only to never come near that level of performance again.

Don't know... it's been so long since anybody did well in any season for us!

Feels like it anyway.

According to sky sports transfer centre Gomez is not in Fiorentina's plans. Being made available for €7 million. €7 million? A snip in my opinion. 

Maybe he fancies the challenge of firing us back in to the PL?

8 minutes ago, AntrimBlack said:

Did Westwood take them in the friendlies?

Veretout delivers a much better set piece.

Just something that I read here I think, not sure though.

2 minutes ago, jon_c said:

There was an interview with RDM a couple of weeks ago when he said, that we needed a set piece taker in as our corners etc.. were so poor last season. I haven't subsequently seen many links to this sort of player. Who was taking them in the friendlies?

Westwood 

13 minutes ago, dont_do_it_doug. said:

Dude, I don't know how you're not getting it. 

We either sign Gana with a £7m relegation release clause or we don't sign Gana at all. Because Gana said so. 

There is **** all else to it. 

Thank you.

Just now, Butterfingers said:

It's ironic that you don't know why he signed yet in the same post you think you know a "pretty accurate description" of the negotiations?

"seems" and "probably" are not concrete claims of knowledge are they? I'm not claiming anything. I was replying to the original post when I said  "This seems like a very crude but probably very accurate description of the negotiation process".

I then gave my rough opinion of what I think happens. Again never claimed to know anything. 

Followed by possible reasons why he wanted to come here - in response to your quote.

Maybe I should have split my responses in order to make it a little bit simpler for you to understand what I meant.

13 minutes ago, Kingman said:

Well sports fans, 6 weeks today and the window will be slamming shut on our fingers. 

Better start thinking about pulling them out ehh? 

As things stand, staying in the division should be the priority! 

Seriously?

1 minute ago, bobzy said:

I enjoy an argument!  But if you don't want one, maybe don't resort to calling people 10 year olds?

I can't imagine Gueye's agent said "we want a £7m relegation release clause" and the team tasked with signing players just turned round and said "yeah, sure".  It will have been part of a bigger piece, even something as basic as this as an example:

Villa:  "If we get relegated, your clients' wages will reduce by 50%"

Agent:  "This is acceptable, but only if we have a relegation release clause inserted."

Villa:  "OK, we'll have a release clause the same as the price we paid for the player - £9m"

Agent:  "No - he'll be in a lower league and less desirable; plus his wages will be vastly reduced.  50% of wages, how about 50% of the initial transfer fee as a clause?"

Villa:  "That's too low.  How about £8m?"

Agent:  "£7m".

 

etc. etc.

This seems like a very crude but probably very accurate description of the negotiation process. 

I don't see why any club would a release clause of any description or a player would want a wage drop. I assume that they would want to dictate the fee (as much as possible) that they receive for the player in the even of wanting rid / player wanting out. Release clauses are pushed for by the agent and wage drops by the club what they agree on is entirely up to them. And the above seems reasonable.

2 minutes ago, Butterfingers said:

So why did he sign for the side who survived relegation by the skin of its teeth for the 4th successive season?

Maybe he wanted to get settled in to the club and be in the best position to advance his career further - thus signed early. Maybe he thought that he would get more game time here and that's why he signed. Maybe he fancied the challenge of leading a midfield which has been relatively unsuccessful recently. Maybe the contract was the most lucrative that he was offered. 

Who bloody knows? Nobody can really answer this question except the player.

So if one goes for 7 and cost 9 - Loss of 2mill

The other signed for free and goes for 5 - Profit of 5mill

Overall Profit/Loss - 3mill. Sounds like good business to me.

1 hour ago, Godders said:

So, those of you convinced we wouldn't have been relegated if we moved to get big Sam in, still feel that way in light of these rumours?!

Yes

9 hours ago, S-Platt said:

Yep Victor Valdez multi European Cup winning keeper!

Who hasn't played football in 2 years or so and never had to touch the ball while playing for Barca as they dominated nearly every game. We'll find out how good he is when Middlesborough are constantly under the cosh. Guzan could be number one sooner than we think!

I was thinking rouhgly 40k ish at a push (it's probably less). It also says a lot about him that he agreed to a 50% wage cut (if true) just to sign a new contract here. He surely knew that relegation was a possibility. He always gave 100% and if other members of the squad cared half as much as him then there's every posssibility that we would have stayed up or at least gone down with some dignity intact.

If Di Matteo is apparently a fan then maybe he'll get a new contract - he would probably sign it if it was a reasonable offer. Maybe the WBA bid is just a rumour. Who knows?

Definitely not the first one that I would want to get rid of.

Just now, Richard said:

Here's a tip for you then Roberto,  if you want to trim the squad and get offers for our shitter players (Sinclair, Clark, Sanchez) start accepting them

Has Roberto possibly assessed the squad and thought that these are players he could utilise maybe? Therefore, doesn't want to accept the bids. 

Is there a source for this? I've had a quick look. Can't find anything......

1 hour ago, limpid said:

That's a one line article. Very revealing.

I'm not sure what makes you think that any part of that shows Samuelson in a negative light. Unless you think he made Zingarevich disappear.

I don't know where you "checked", but defamation is an offence. If he can show that he's been defamed he can sue you for the damage his reputation has received. You've been talking like these are facts when it appears you are repeating other people's opinion (which wouldn't be a defence).

Maybe he could also make Lescott, Richards et al disappear????

5 minutes ago, brommy said:

Unfortunately for us and Rudy there will be a few semi-decent defenders in the Championship and they'll most likely be playing for the clubs we need to compete with for promotion. It is still difficult to ignore Rudy's recent successful record in the Championship but I hope RDM will know when to use him and the occasions when a change in attack is needed.

I would hope that the change in attack invloves Rudy and that he is not our primary attacking option.

Professional footballer in two footed competence shocker.

1 minute ago, Demitri_C said:

The way I look at this, (provided that idiot fox didnt put a minimum release fee) if a club wants him they have to pay top dollar to take him. I would no way sell him for 10m. He will be a full squad French International one day I am sure of that. 

I fully agree with this. I wouldn't want to let him go and I think the fact that there has been no leak of a release clause from a loose lipped agent (I know you wouldn't believe it but there are some out there) would suggest that there isn't a release clause.

Amavi could have close to 10 games under his belt by the time the window closes incl. friendlies. If anyone is watching him closely or was watching him before his injury or before he joined us they could be tempted.....

7 minutes ago, StefanAVFC said:

Right then. And your solution for this is to:

Play a midfield two of a guy who hasn't scored (or even assisted for us yet IIRC) and a guy who has had one decent game in a midfield two, of which we lost anyway.

Michael118 for manager.

Gueye scored against Wycombe didn't he?

Having said that I completely and whole heartedly disagree with Bacuna and Gueye being our midfield partnership. Bacuna should be a last resort for CM when we are short becuase of suspensions and serious injuries.

(Note the use of the word serious because niggles do not count, our current selection of CMs at 70% fitness are better than Bacuna in CM)

He's a bit of a donkey alright but IMO we looked a better side last season when he was in the team. He's a real workhorse and would probably grab a few goals with decent service as he gets in to good positions. 

8 hours ago, useless said:

Or we could just read it again.

'The Whispers has said that we've enquired about Hoolahan.

About 3 years too late

1 hour ago, Supervillan78 said:

Can't wait to get shot, nice guy but such a poor footballer.

Sanchez is not as bad as he looks here. It's happened to many a player here over the last few years. Decent reputation or potentially decent signing and then they go and commit the ultimate sin as a football player - sign a contract with Aston Villa. 

Sanchez with Colombia looks good because he wins the ball and gives to the closest and most likely skillful team mate. Here he wins a ball and looks up to see statues and no movement in front of him so it's like he decides that he has to try to take on a man or try an audacious pass. That's not what he is made for. He's a ball winning midfielder and no more in my opinion. I'm not claiming that he is Claude Makalele or anything but he has strengths but as has been the case here over the last few years, we've put square pegs in round holes or round ones (Gabby - couldn't resist despite him looking trim recently) in square holes.

Having said all that I wouldn't be fussed if he left but just think that we utilised him incorrectly.