TRon

If his contract runs out I think he will retire tbh. Then get a job as a ball boy at St James after turning down a 40k a week contract at Wolves.

Which says more about the standard of right backs we've had rather than how good Beye was. True, but Beye was fucking mint. He was a decent defender that lost all sense of composure when he got over the half way line, I'd hardly say he was mint. He was fantastic defensively though and he played with 100% commitment while he was here. He wasn't a fans favourite for nothing. The fact he still has a house up here says everything about the man.

Exactly. What difference does it make what he's achieved in the Championship when he's flopped every time he's given a shot at the top level? Even with Carroll to aim for we still didn't get decent service in to him until Barton took over.

The problem for me is if we don't get shot of him Ashley might use that as an excuse not to sign Zog as he plays in that position and we'll be paying an extra salary.

Hope so, he's garbage.

it's a good thing that Colo's on 80k a week because it means other clubs sniffing around won't be able to afford him. Pards will be chuffed about that and hopefully he'll get the armband this season.

What difference does it make, he won't leave until his contract runs out.

This. All these people getting on their high horses over his wages really need to have a word with themselves. I don't blame Smith for one moment, every single one of us (apart from the liars) would admit to doing the same thing. It's the board to blame. Or more specifically the person who suggested we sign him. Smith's doing nothing wrong here. I'd applaud him if he left for less money, but to suggest it's something he should do is ridiculous when not one single person on here (Apart from the liars) would do that themselves. If you endorse Smith's financial stand I hope you also endorse Ashley's regime as well to look after every penny and every pound. There's no difference and if you're not a liar you'll admit it.

I'm not blaming anyone here for being a mercenary cunt. It's completely understandable in an Ashley sort of way.

Why should he drop his wages? Who would drop their wage? The Club offered him / agreed to pay him whatever so they are liable. Thankfully Ashley has now addressd the situation so its unlikely to happen again. Why should he drop his wage? So he can play football if he considers himself a footballer. If he considers himself a cunt he is quite entitled to keep picking up wages while rotting in the reserves, I agree.

I get that feeling as well tbh.

He'd rather spend another season playing reserve team football than drop his wages and get a move? Seems quite cuntish to me.

Glad they've agreed to it because it went through this morning. Well at least they've come to terms with this substantial body blow.

Villa have agreed to sell Ashley Young to Man U for £16million. Wonder if they'll enter the race for Zog with serious intent now?

We'll just have to be patient. If we know he wants to be here Whelan's in no position to fleece us and a compromise price will be agreed the closer it gets to the season. The only thing worse for Whelan than selling him to us is watching him join for free in 12 months time.

Smith was named as on of the top lads by Barton when discussing who was important in the dressing room. He might well be good mates with Joey but what's clear is a lot of these good lads put their wages first and the club second. He's entitled to it, don't get me wrong, just as I'm entitled to call him a greedy waste of space. See out your final year then fuck off you cunt.

Try the opening day of the season against Bolton when Fat Sam arrived. He scored an absolute screamer. That was a cross but the one a few weeks late at Boro was a screamer. Whatever. The point is he could hit a belting shot when he was here, he didn't magically develop all these attributes by moving to Wigan.

Too right. Jog on Celtic you can't afford him.

Try the opening day of the season against Bolton when Fat Sam arrived. He scored an absolute screamer.

I don't think there's any panic over this one, it's just a case of do we want him that much? We hold all the cards with Zog putting the word out that he wants to be here, which I believe 100%, sources or no sources. If we want him he's ours.

Are they? He's been really happy up here, by all accounts though. I'm sure he'd resent coming back just to be shipped out on loan again or sitting on the bench. Don't Celtic get to enter the qualifiers for the CL every season? I wish we had that option.

You mean a paddy with a Liverpool shirt, a blog and a Twitter account? It's all speculation as to why he chose us over them lot, although I wouldn't be surprised if the length of the contract came into it. We all know our constraints when it comes to finances and they haven't blinked when offering Carroll and Henderson stupid cash. I struggle to believe that they suddenly went all age of austerity on us and refused to match our offer. It might be because they committed daft amounts on Carroll and Henderson they had less to play with re Marveaux. Plenty on here were suggesting we commit our major funds on tying up current players on long contracts for example.

Quote them £6miillion. They are a CL club so no doubt they can afford it.

Both of those players are highly mobile and playing for the two top teams in the English league. Nolan has had to drop out of the premier league to get a final pay day. Poor comparison.

I would imagine having two defensive midfielders who are good in possession, unlike most of the defensive midfielders we've previously employed, would give us insurance to play a very attacking front 3. front 4 surely ? I was thinking 4-3-3