Unbelievable

Not really.. I think he is looking after the interest of l'OM, not NUFC's, in the way you would expect him to tbh... That would be fair comment if we hadn't agreed a deal which he renegade on. The agent himself has said they set conditions which we met, only for them to turn around and change the conditions. Like we did with Milner a couple of seasons ago? What has that got to do with anything?The difference in that deal was that we actually cancelled that deal as we wanted to keep the player, we didn't just up the price. Like we did with Dyer? There we go, at least that example is actually an example. Mind you I don't know where I've said that we are some angelic club that would never do this to anyone. My point is, they are being cocks and have got themselves into this mess, blaming us is stupid. As for 'Unbelievable's point. I'm sure quotes attributed to his agent say that Deschamps told him to find a new club. Boo f***ing boo.. The fact remains, if we want him, we still have to negotiate a deal that is acceptable to them, wouldn't you agree? They're not blaming this on us btw..

Not really.. I think he is looking after the interest of l'OM, not NUFC's, in the way you would expect him to tbh... That would be fair comment if we hadn't agreed a deal which he renegade on. The agent himself has said they set conditions which we met, only for them to turn around and change the conditions. Like we did with Milner a couple of seasons ago? What has that got to do with anything?The difference in that deal was that we actually cancelled that deal as we wanted to keep the player, we didn't just up the price. Like we did with Dyer? Oh, that too.. We can cry wolf about the OM chairman all we want, the fact remains no deal had been agreed up to the point where it is legally binding. We have gone back on deals in the past, and we certainly cannot expect other clubs to just go against their interest to benefit ours. The situation is still very much in our favour IYAM. All we have to do is put in a reasonable offer that is acceptable to the club that holds his registration. Or wait for another club to come in and steal the deal away from under our noses..

Not really.. I think he is looking after the interest of l'OM, not NUFC's, in the way you would expect him to tbh... That would be fair comment if we hadn't agreed a deal which he renegade on. The agent himself has said they set conditions which we met, only for them to turn around and change the conditions. Like we did with Milner a couple of seasons ago? What has that got to do with anything?The difference in that deal was that we actually cancelled that deal as we wanted to keep the player, we didn't just up the price. It's virtually the same man.. They have decided they can't afford to let him go, but if they have to (and it looks that way) they want rid permanently and to bring in a replacement. Wouldn't you?

Not really.. I think he is looking after the interest of l'OM, not NUFC's, in the way you would expect him to tbh... That would be fair comment if we hadn't agreed a deal which he renegade on. The agent himself has said they set conditions which we met, only for them to turn around and change the conditions. Like we did with Milner a couple of seasons ago?

Not really.. I think he is looking after the interest of l'OM, not NUFC's, in the way you would expect him to tbh...

Interesting interview. He finds HBA's attitude in this whole affair unacceptable and unprofessional and he makes a big mistake. He has only spoken to him for 40 seconds last week when they met, and HBA left without even listening to what he had to say. He defends the right of the club and in particular Didier Deschamps, to change its mind, as he admits the club has done, because of developments in other transfers (offer to Niang to good to refuse in last year of contract; if they had opposed the situation would have been worse than HBA's) that couldn't have been foreseen. He basically says they have not spoken to HBA since then and wish to speak to him to work together towards a solution that is satisfactory for both parties. He indicates our offer is nowhere near acceptable for l'OM, and accuses us of trying to take advantage of the situation. He also explains that the relationship between HBA and Deschamps is not good at the moment, but he doesn't feel the problem cannot be resolved if they start communicating. He pleads for a return to reasonable and civilised communication in order to find a solution, whatever it may be. Interestingly, the interview then moves onto the Fabiano transfer, and he complains that everything was sorted between the clubs before, but the goal posts have moved and they are being held to ransom..

Given to Arsenal anyone?

Wow...

Joe Cole sent off..

Seems this youngster likes his zapping..!

The OM players who are washing powders..

Guthrie in the open spot, for me. Where do our captain and vice captain fit in all of that?

As the two "holding" midfielders on a 4-2-3-1? We'd get slaughtered as there is a distinct lack of physical strength there IYAM.

I think you've just lost your forum legend status Lucas..

Zapped man, not ignored..

Aye, we can take some heart from that first day of Premier League football. Some teams look like they could be in a lot of trouble. On the other hand, Blackpool may not be the certainty to go down we thought it would be; they played a very bad Wigan side, but they still stuffed them comfortably and I'm not sure we would have done the same.

(official) link please? No official link, but why would every news source in England and France say we had a deal agreed on Monday? What are they gaining from saying that? Smoke without fire? Not to mention the OM president himself. Aye, because we know from past experience that everything club officials come out with is to be trusted.. Why would hesay that a deal had been agreed with us and was expected to sign earlier this week? Link to an article on the official OM site where he has said a deal was agreed..? AFAIK all he has supposedly said was he expected a deal to be completed this Tuesday or Wednesday..?

(official) link please? No official link, but why would every news source in England and France say we had a deal agreed on Monday? What are they gaining from saying that? Smoke without fire? Not to mention the OM president himself. Aye, because we know from past experience that everything club officials come out with is to be trusted..

(official) link please?

Thats what I asked if it could be a possibility. This seems to be the way we conduct our transfer business nowadays. First Jonas, then Gosling in similar conditions, now HBA. We're being creative, but it will not endear us to many other clubs..

That doesn't necessarily make the reverse statement through for last season though, does it. I'd agree with Shearergoal that the MAIN reason we did well last season was because of the poor opposition, unless you wish to believe we would have comfortably reached European qualification last season despite what happened the season before had we managed to take a point from AV..? I still think what he's trying to say is correct though. If we had the same team from last season, with the same spirit and harmony, playing in 08-09, we would not have went down. It was a combination of piss-poor management, bad timing and overpaid underperforming pre-madonas as to why we went down. Very debatable, but we may find out soon enough I'm afraid.. Also, the good spirit and harmony are in large parts attributable to winning most of our matches. Let's see how we fare when we lose more than we win..

That doesn't necessarily make the reverse statement through for last season though, does it. I'd agree with Shearergoal that the MAIN reason we did well last season was because of the poor opposition, unless you wish to believe we would have comfortably reached European qualification last season despite what happened the season before had we managed to take a point from AV..?

We haven't done anything wrong other than not be flush with cash, there's just a bit of an all or nothing attitude on here. We're either fantastic or s***. "At least we tried" cuts it nowadays, does it..? How the mighty have fallen.. Well yeh! If it's a genuine attempt. What else can you do other than try? You think we will move onto another target now? Or just not bother which is the general theme regarding our transfer policy since Ashley took over. I for one would never defend our pathetic transfer success over the past seasons and it's one of the many reasons I hate the current board. But a genuine attempt at buying someone can't be bettered. It's just not possible. This tbh. I've spent the vast majority of my time on this board slagging off Ashley something rotten and getting stick for unknowingly holding up banners calling him a rapist but this deal is towards the back of The Big Book of Mike Ashley f*** Ups. We negotiated a (very, very good) deal which was satisfactory to all parties until Dassier changed his mind and went mental. I'd love us to swoop in with a bid and rescue the situation but if the money isn't there then it isn't there. We don’t know a deal was agreed. All we have to go on are some vague comments from the OM president and a denial that anything is happening at all from Hughton. What can’t be denied though is that the club have been shopping in the bargain basement for some time now and players like Arfa generally can’t be picked up on the cheap. The odds have always been against us securing Arfa’s services. We might yet get lucky or we might end up getting Marlon King instead. He more or less said a deal was agreed, the press said a deal was agreed. Vague comments or not it's the firmest indication we have of what was going on and considering the sheer amount of guesswork in this thread I think it's the safest avenue to go down. You think the safest avenue to go down is to presume a deal was agreed, when it's become evident since then that no such thing was the case? Aye, makes sense..

Lol, there's another slight flaw in your argument...