AyeDubbleYoo

Too right, don't sell yourself short, hold out for 60.

Edwards too, wouldn't surprise me since all agents are attention seeking pricks I could be way off here but from the information we have it sounds like Leverkusen gave us permission to speak to him, we've held positive talks with him and one of his agents and this bloke unhappy with being cut out the loop has stuck his orr in the water. I'm remaining optimistic this will still go through. Me too. Same really, certainly wouldn't rule it out just yet.

Hope you're right, I can't decide whether this reasonable opinion is correct or whether Ashley will just spit the dummy out and give up on Barnetta straight away.

Always thought Obertan was decent when he first appeared for Man Utd, but haven't seen him for ages.

I think the picture of who this guy actually is and to what extent he represents Barnetta's actual view is pretty unclear at the moment.

It's not as black and white as that though is it? We've already proved we can find some decent players that we are prepared to pay what it took to get. It just makes it harder than if you pay more.

Cheers, interesting that about his agent. I've gone from being fairly frustrated that you don't see things as i do to actually thinking you're a wonderful person! The sun never sets on Ian it seems I'm positive about our new signings, I'm worried that we still need some more. I'd say my outlook is mixed but optimistic-ish. Very prepared to become depressed if everyone's worst predictions about next season happen mind.

and he doesn't look like being a first choice selection. and he's playing in a lesser league. and his contract is up in a year. and they'll be knocked out in the group stages anyway. As fantastic as these points are, they still wouldn't tempt any player to cut his wages by a third. Precisely. Pure fantasy to pretend to believe otherwise. Whey it's all rumour and speculation anyway. If he decides he wants to sit on their bench for a season and leave on a free then fair enough.

You actually made a fair point there but ruined it with such extreme examples.

and he doesn't look like being a first choice selection. and he's playing in a lesser league. and his contract is up in a year. and they'll be knocked out in the group stages anyway.

Course not, but agents can be prone to exaggerating in the media to achieve what they want. No idea whether £40k a week is what he's worth, what he should be paid, too much or too little. All football wages are mental. But I wouldn't go as far as to say that means we should pay every player whatever it takes to get them. Do you? Would we be having this debate if we'd offered him 50k, or 60k? Just seems like a discussion that's purely subjective. Say we've offered him the same as Cabaye is on, that seems fair to me. If we genuinely want a player then we have to pay what is necessary, both to satisfy his club and the player (plus his agent I guess). What that figure actually is, and what other players like Cabaye are on is totally irrelevant; each is its own case. If we want him, we'll have to pay what it takes. If it's too much for us, the transfer simply isn't happening. This is apparently the player's agent, how often do you hear agents come out with reactions like this? It's not common to deride an offer like this. He claims we've known what he's on for some time. Perhaps foolishly I assume Llambias can operate Google and knows his current club is in the Champions League and has far better prospects than us. To therefore not offer somewhere near what it takes to get him is just stupid. Like we did for Owen, Duff, Geremi etc etc. Don't get me wrong - offering less than someone is on is stupid. But we shouldn't pay whatever a player asks for and should be within our wage structure. Ignoring the debate over whether a wage cap is a good thing or not, if our structure is that rigid then we should know within one or two phonecalls whether players are going to be attainable or not. We shouldn't even be wasting time and resources scouting them. Again, there's simply no excuse after all this time. Oh, and that's an interesting set of names you mention considering one was signed by Ashley and one was supposedly offered the biggest contract in NUFC history... by Ashley. Once again, if we have so much trust in our scouting team to deliver value for money, we should be willing to back his judgement. Yeah, that's a fair point. If we know our wage structure it's stupid to pursue players who are well outside it. That said though, it could be that Barnetta is only on £25k now and we're actually offering a decent deal. It could just be that he (or this pseudo-agent bloke) think he should be getting more. That sort of thing is difficult to know until you're actually in contact I reckon. He's on 60 grand a week according to Graeme Bailey. Ah reet, well fair enough then.

Course not, but agents can be prone to exaggerating in the media to achieve what they want. No idea whether £40k a week is what he's worth, what he should be paid, too much or too little. All football wages are mental. But I wouldn't go as far as to say that means we should pay every player whatever it takes to get them. Do you? Would we be having this debate if we'd offered him 50k, or 60k? Just seems like a discussion that's purely subjective. Say we've offered him the same as Cabaye is on, that seems fair to me. If we genuinely want a player then we have to pay what is necessary, both to satisfy his club and the player (plus his agent I guess). What that figure actually is, and what other players like Cabaye are on is totally irrelevant; each is its own case. If we want him, we'll have to pay what it takes. If it's too much for us, the transfer simply isn't happening. This is apparently the player's agent, how often do you hear agents come out with reactions like this? It's not common to deride an offer like this. He claims we've known what he's on for some time. Perhaps foolishly I assume Llambias can operate Google and knows his current club is in the Champions League and has far better prospects than us. To therefore not offer somewhere near what it takes to get him is just stupid. Like we did for Owen, Duff, Geremi etc etc. Don't get me wrong - offering less than someone is on is stupid. But we shouldn't pay whatever a player asks for and should be within our wage structure. Ignoring the debate over whether a wage cap is a good thing or not, if our structure is that rigid then we should know within one or two phonecalls whether players are going to be attainable or not. We shouldn't even be wasting time and resources scouting them. Again, there's simply no excuse after all this time. Oh, and that's an interesting set of names you mention considering one was signed by Ashley and one was supposedly offered the biggest contract in NUFC history... by Ashley. Once again, if we have so much trust in our scouting team to deliver value for money, we should be willing to back his judgement. Yeah, that's a fair point. If we know our wage structure it's stupid to pursue players who are well outside it. That said though, it could be that Barnetta is only on £25k now and we're actually offering a decent deal. It could just be that he (or this pseudo-agent bloke) think he should be getting more. That sort of thing is difficult to know until you're actually in contact I reckon.

We knew he was on more, why would he take less to come here? So is playing hardball just offering someone what you've decided you can afford to pay him?

Barton might have to, if he wants to play next season. Most people aren't paid enough in a week to support themselves for a year either. A footballer taking a 10% pay cut is hardly the same as a teacher doing it. what's the difference? they've earn more money than normal people doesn't mean they should take a pay cut unless they are not wanted by club anymore The difference (IMO) is that their pay is already insane and provides them with more money than they could possibly need. All I think is that for a good opportunity it would be silly for a player to reject it over a small percentage pay cut. I know what you mean, everyone has a market value, the problem is that in football it's virtually impossible to define what that is. All clubs can do is decide what they're willing to pay and hope they can reach a deal.

Cheers, interesting that about his agent.

Course not, but agents can be prone to exaggerating in the media to achieve what they want. No idea whether £40k a week is what he's worth, what he should be paid, too much or too little. All football wages are mental. But I wouldn't go as far as to say that means we should pay every player whatever it takes to get them. Do you? Would we be having this debate if we'd offered him 50k, or 60k? Just seems like a discussion that's purely subjective. Say we've offered him the same as Cabaye is on, that seems fair to me.

Now, that is a question I would like an answer to as well, my bet is on the "we tried to sign him but he wouldn't come, but hey we tried!" excuse that gets thrown around by the assholes. Think it's more likely that every player has a different idea of what he needs to be paid. I don't buy this idea that we're making approaches that we know won't come off. It's hardly making the fans feel better, if that's what the point is supposed to be.

Hopefully it's just a negotiating thing from his agent and we might be able to reach a deal anyway. Doesn't sound good mind.

Yes, let us just buy wankership players, that will probably win us the league! Get real man, Cabaye and Marveaux would not fucking be here if we didnt give them a shitload of cash. Why would we offer a shitload of cash to them and a ridiculously low amount to Barnetta though?

Barton might have to, if he wants to play next season. Most people aren't paid enough in a week to support themselves for a year either. A footballer taking a 10% pay cut is hardly the same as a teacher doing it.

I just assumed he wasn't a nice guy because he was called Diouf TBH. Any worries about his goalscoring? Didn't get many for Blackburn.

I don't think they're bluffing, they just can't force him to leave because he's under contract. Surprised Derek hasn't pulled his "force" player to sign a transfer request Jedi mind trick TBF.

Have to admit I have no idea if a striker might be coming and who the hell it might be. Long seemed a decent option but the Journal seem to think we aren't interested.

Aye, he was an excellent signing at the time, just what we needed.