Rich

The offers were accepted. The players turned us down. (Gameiro/Gervinho, at least).

I'd love a bit of Max Gradel, even though I'm not entirely convinced Barton needs "replaced", as such. We're jam-packed with midfielders. I'd rather we spent any further money on improving the defence (on top of the left-back).

Aye, the thread title sort of just takes his word for things. Was quite conscious of that when editing, but at the end of the day it's the most recent development we have to go with.

The thing that gets me is this fucking vacuum that appears to have hoovered up the money that was on the table for Gameiro, Gervinho and Neil Taylor. Even if you take the Gameiro/Gervinho thing as a "one or the other" scenario, that's still something like £11m we had going spare BEFORE the Enrique sale (plus all the wages that those players would have taken up, agents fees, signing on fees, insurances, blah blah blah...) and weren't we keeping a huge chunk of money aside for Jose's new contract anyway? Add that money we had bid for Gameiro/Gervinho and Taylor to the combined Enrique money and we could have had Cissokho and Maiga here over a week ago. We obviously have the money to spend but are desperate to get bargains on every single deal we make. It's excruciating for us lot, but as others have said it's the kind of stuff Ashley and Derek will love.

See i like this post, its all optimistic and jolly.....lalalalalalalalalaalaalalaalalala...................what no signings..................i'm not listening.......................lalalalalalalalalala I can't abide constant negativity, someone has to help Ian out now and again.

They must all be greedy cunts too wanting bigger wages. Scum of the earth tbh. Mercenary bastards man, the lot of them.

Double-edged sword though, as it means we'll risk not signing them just to save a few quid. Yeah, it can definitely still go either way. The strike action/begging to leave shit has got to be good for us though, surely?

It's nice to hear that these three (Cissokho, Maiga and Pieters) are all desperate to come, if nothing else. Gives us a lot of negotiating power. Can see both going right down to the wire and amazingly I do still think we'll end up with a decent left-back and a decent striker by the end of the window. Obviously I'd prefer it if it was done and dusted already, and this has been a tortuous few weeks in terms of deals, but I think I can just about hold out if it eventually gets done.

It was ages ok, along with some algebra about his replacements cost, wages and fizzy pop cafe allowance. Has it actually happened? Oh yeah but i think it was in the Barnetta thread, him bring the replacement of course Magic. Good to see people are on Mike and Derek's wavelength now.

It was ages ok, along with some algebra about his replacements cost, wages and fizzy pop cafe allowance. Has it actually happened?

Anyone worked out how much this will save us in wages between now and June 30th yet?

Get it done then man ffs!!!!

when did they do this interview? after tonight's match? So we've bid about £6.5M, basically? Wonder what they'd actually accept?

Personally I don't think it is. Look at the massive difference it made down our leftside having someone of Enrique's quality. One of the big things we'll miss apart from his outstanding defensive ability, was his drive forward. Broken record as usual but fullbacks are more important than ever these days. Usually the most "involved" players in games, whether they're decent or not, in terms of touches/activity. I'd hope the one we get can play a bit, because Simmo can't and Enrique could.

Next step is a padlock avatar and making him read-only (removing all posting privileges), surely?

I bet it was you who put the admin on my profile! Wrong! Cheers rich I've thought for a while I'm a cut above in this place It should have been Admin Admin really. Kept forgetting to change it.

I bet it was you who put the admin on my profile! Wrong!

iPhoning as well. Fingers like Usain.

You are the devil.

Almost certainly this. And to think I only posted that to copy the two directly before me from Sewelly and someone else. I do think it'll be Pieters but I'm unsure that price is the only reason. Still not that cynical.

Fucking hell rich 25 secs, hardly archaic Someone managed to quote and reply in between. Poor from you.

Wouldn't be that happy, but it would be pretty swish to have a senior LB on the books again.

Pieters. Cheaper.

Two posts above, man.

I'll bum you into next Tuesday an' all.