Punk77

Fuck me. Some of you whine by default. Is it in your genes? We have already signed BA, Mav and Cabaye. Three great players. So I'm very satisfied. And we're still in the hunt for more. There's still plenty of time left before the window closes. A lot can happen before then. Until then, I'll wait with my judgment. All I'm saying is that it's not necessarily the clubs fault that Zog doesn't sign for us. For example. Villa has a very generous salary policy, too generous imo. If a player paid stupid money, it's likely that he'll sign for that club, regardless of the quality of the club/squad.

Don't think it will come to that. I think it will be competition for his signature. So we'll get some money for him. And we'll use that money to sign Mbenge, who we presumably already have established a connection with.

Do you honestly think he hasn't told the club this, and is just trying for some reason (I'm not sure why) to string them along by saying well I might sign one, talk to me later? It's blatantly obvious that he wont sign a new contract and has been for a while. I personally expect that he has explicitly told the club this, but even if he hasn't it's quite implicit from his refusal to even negotiate about it. As Tron says, what possible advantage would it be to the club or the player to come out in the press and say so explicitly though. Everything points to him wanting to move for his career, not for money, and if so it would be in his interest to move this season rather than next, however he is quite honourably if you ask me allowing the club to decide whether to let him play out his contract or sell him to a club with bigger aspirations where he has more chance of being picked for his country. He's not agitating for a move, he's not got his agent making trouble in the press to lower his price and attract interest, he's just quietly letting things play out. It's about Enrique explicitly telling the club what he wants, as you mentioned. I have on the other hand have doubts that he's done so. Sadly there's an increasing trend among players (well guided by agents) to see their contract out in order to cash in on signing fees.. That's a big predicament because the clubs have put time and money in developing them. But when players leave for free clubs is left with no money to reinvest in facilities, new players etc. Hopefully we'll see a development soon. If not I'm afraid Enrique tries too see his contract out. The only thing that is worse than him leaving, is him leaving for free. I want a solid replacement, which will be difficult if we don't get any cash for him.

You American like? Nope

If he doesn't sign, he must be sold this window, period.

Don't think so. Squad no will be announced, but not sure when.

THAT WAS TO ENSURE A BIG A FEE AS POSSIBLE DAM NOW LOOK WHAT YOU MADE ME DO Every player has his price. If we're offered silly money, we'll probably sell. But that goes for every club and club owner. So that got less to do with MA, than the general direction football has taken. If you made an investment and later on received an offer which meant a tenfold profit, would you have said no? Most wouldn't.

Personally I don't think MA is that crazy. It's a reason why he was given a 6 year contract.

I'll be furious if we sell for around £15 mill, he's much more important than what Carroll was

Agree! Together with HBA and Colo he's our most important player. A DM with so good technique and passing skills doesn't come around often. And if one is found, he's normally way out of our budget range.

Seriously, if we sign Bendter you're allowed to ban me for a month! I'll be so p*ssed that I should not be allowed to post on this forum

:smitten: and a quick

http://www.worldsoccer.com/columnists/english-clubs-pay-a-premium-for-unproven-players

Seriously why? I think he'd blossom when given a lot of 1st team football. Could suit our play quite well imo. And tbf he's been played wide left or right a hell of lot, played regularly through the middle he could be great, its his work rate that gives me doubts though. So not the fact that he misses from 3 yards out that gives you doubts? He's a white Shola ffs man But with a suspect attitude.

He's had weak games as CM, especially against WBA. But it's a bit unfair to blame it all on Barton. He didn't play with the best of players. It's much easier to be a CM when you have constant movement around you (=easy to find alternatives) which he didn't have previous season. Both him and Tiote did have some outburst on the pitch because nobody wanted the ball. This year, we'll hopefully have a better RB, a better RM, a moveable striker and BA. If you put him as CM in that setup, together with Tiote, I think he'll do great.

Barton is a lot better than Barnetta for me.. Barton lost some of his mojo after Carroll left. He's better as a CM. But in that particular area, we're solid. I got no problems with sacrificing Barton in order to buy Zog. The latter will give us much more pace and punch on the right side. On the other hand we lose Barton's abilities to distribute the ball. But again, we have Cabaye to distribute balls now.. Agree with all that. Barton's end product since Carroll left is a concern. There are very few fullbacks that he could be beat for pace and his early crosses were largely ineffective in the second part of the season. But still, I think we'll miss the determination, work rate, creativity and general influence he brings to the midfield. Regardless if he plays on the wing or in the center.. That is true.

Sewelly: Because it's a fact Seriously though, imo he got two important abilities that are important for a CM: tenacity and passing skills. On the other hand he's not a very good dribbler, and he got no pace. Both are necessary for a wide man. That's also the reason why Barton drifts so much inside, and why most of our chances have been created on the left. If Barton was such a terrific wide man, logically we should have created much more chances on his side. But we didn't. That leads me to believe that he's best as a CM. Hans: The few games Barton has played CM this year, we've lacked key players , like Tiote.

Barton is a lot better than Barnetta for me.. Barton lost some of his mojo after Carroll left. He's better as a CM. But in that particular area, we're solid. I got no problems with sacrificing Barton in order to buy Zog. The latter will give us much more pace and punch on the right side. On the other hand we lose Barton's abilities to distribute the ball. But again, we have Cabaye to distribute balls now..

4-5m? Why on earth would he go for 4-5m? Because he's free to negotiate with foreign clubs in only five months.

I think we'll sign him if a reasonable price can be agreed. But MA has shown before that he's not the kind of person that surrenders to blackmail. But he went to Villa for £4-5 mill and I afterwards found out that we didn't even lodge a similar bid, I'll be pissed. He's deffo worth that. But £9-10 mill is too much. because we need strengthening in other areas too..

No surprise. Marveaux is an identical player and 10mil is too much for somebody who was on our books a couple of years ago. Jonas, Marveaux, Ben Arfa, Barton, Ferguson is a decent enough pool to choose from This. True..I would love a return of the Zog. But on the other hand, there are other departments that needs to be strengthened first. We need one or two strikers, and a better RB. Imo, Simpson is not good enough. He's had some good games, eg against Arsenal, but he doesn't have the offensive skills needed in todays football. He's not able to dribble at all. And his defending has been suspect too. In all honesty, he should install a reverse lamp on the back of his jersey. He's an ideal squad player though.

Never going to happen..

Good point. But still...£9 mill is a steep sum (if it's correct) 1/4 of the money from Carroll..

Bendter problem is that he's a s*** finisher. He has missed some incredible chances. Besides we got a similar striker in Ba. We can't afford that luxury. What we need is a fast, moveable striker that either is a poacher or a good finisher, preferable both..eg Gameiro

Tend to agree, although I think the Marveaux signing has totally cooled our interest in him unless the deal is right for us. That's my sentiments exactly. Zog is a good player. But on the other hand it's not wise to use £9 mill on a player that we can get for free next year.