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Tuesday, February 9, 2010

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Albion reject ‘derisory’ Greening bid

ALBION 13 DH 2Albion chairman Jeremy Peace has come out fighting in the battle for Jonathan Greening after rejecting a ‘derisory’ player-plus-cash offer from Fulham.

The Baggies chairman has told the Cottagers to pay up if they want to land the 30-year-old captain, after they lodged a £2m-plus-player opening offer.

Albion have not revealed the details of the bid, but the Express & Star understands Fulham have offered the choice of three players including former Birmingham loan midfielder Hameur Bouazza.

But they have still been told they must increase their bid.

Peace said: “Contrary to reports, this is the only offer we have had from Fulham.

“Jonathan is our captain and a vital member of the squad. Therefore we didn’t give Fulham’s offer a second thought.

“It’s derisory for a player of Jonathan’s talent and experience.

“We made it abundantly clear at the end of last season that, should any players leave, it would be on our terms.”

Fulham have re-emerged as favourites for the midfielder’s signature with the midfielder apparently favouring the club over Hull, Bolton and Portsmouth, who made enquiries.

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  1. 1
    Ant Lowe

    swap deal for Gera would do me, but that isn’t going to happen, so i say… hands off!

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  2. 2
    Ant Lowe

    swap deal for Gera would do me, but that isn’t going to happen, so i say.. hands off!

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  3. 3
    Martacus Red

    Love him, hate him, but The Baggies will never get short changed while Mr Peace in charge

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  4. 4
    Valencia

    Is there an echo on the site, ha

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  5. 5
    Blake's Heaven

    I just cannot abide the underhand tactics of some clubs when trying to unsettle players, and this appears to be yet another prime example!
    All football clubs should take a massive step back and try and establish a “Code of Conduct”, which they are duty bound to follow otherwise large financial penalties or loss of points will be applied!

    This whole saga stinks and has to be very unsettling when all you should be concentrating on is what needs to be done in order for you to get back into the Premier League

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  6. 6
    Warren (Albion)

    Just after Di Matteo took over, JP stated in an interview that there’s no way we’d consider selling Greening. Now, he will “only leave on our terms”.

    It saddens me but I can’t help think the E&S were right yesterday and that Greening’s expressed a desire to leave and that’s casued the change of stance.

    If he signs a contract and sees out his career with us, he’s close to becoming an Albion legend (you only have to consider his name was put forward for the walk of fame). It would be a shame to see him leave now.

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  7. 7
    BoingBoing666

    For me, Greening is a driving force in our squad, I am lucky enough for my old man to teach me the value of a team and individual players when I was younger so sales haven’t ever really dissapointed me, I look at it like I am a West Brom fan not a XXXX fan. In this case I wouldn’t be able to help a slight drop of the heart should he leave. He is a fantastic player and probably our best captain alongside McInnes since I can remember. Given that JG is a man of experience and professionalism I ‘d like to tink he will stick around for the long haul. Otherwise he might just miss out on the Di Matteo Revolution.

    ;-)

    Stick with us Greening, your a gem mate.

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  8. 8
    mat albion

    Greening will leave this week for £3.5 mil and Bouazza. My sources indicate this.

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  9. 9
    H.wednesburybaggie

    RIGHTlets test fulhams resolve you want jonno lets have say dempsy in return..

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  10. 10
    Georgewba

    8, was it the sources on this page by any chance?

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  11. 11
    Hall Green Baggie

    I reckon it’ll be 3.5 mil + a bunch of add-ons taking it to 4 mil if Fulham stay in the Prem or something equally trivial. And a player. And several of Gary Megson’s fingers, since this is Peace doing the negotiating :)

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  12. 12
    Santa

    I think he will go,especially now he has made it known he wants to.Why keep somebody who doesn’t want to be there. He’s had his head turned by his big mate Robbo leaving.Bolton may well come in for him as well.Gera swap?well he wanted out the last time didn’t he,so why have him back!

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  13. 13
    The Real Bully Hoo.

    Whenever I’ve seen Bouazza in the past, I can’t say he’s impressed me a lot. The problem with taking anyone in part-ex would be the wages Fulham pay. Let’s stick to cash and make them pay it up front, like ManUre did with Ronaldo, then RDM will have some to spend.

    We should have a good team in next years Masters, it’ll be called Fulham.

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  14. 14
    yorkbaggie

    personally i am not too dissapointed by the thought of jonno leaving. He HAS been a good player for us, most notably in the ToMo era.This is the start of the RDM era and with koren,Dorrans,Mulumbu,Tex, Brunt AND any new people RDM brings in i think we will be ok.
    If he goes a big thanks for the lasr 5 years

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  15. 15
    The Real Bully Hoo.

    Just seen on the Wulfie’s site. Kitely has come back from injury but won’t be playing in the next game. The news has just reached Australia that Robbo’s back in the Prem.

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  16. 16
    Roscoe

    A good, solid player but also an ageing player. £3.5m would be a good price for a player of 30? – hes going down the other side of the hill now and he’ll never be worth this much again so lets cash in, we’ll get promoted with o without him. Hameur Bouazza is only 24 and worth atleast £2m himself. £5.5m????

    Another thought – If he stays and we go up, do we really want a slow 31/32 year old pulling the strings in the Prem? He’s a commodity, he can be replaced, let Mulumbu take the reins in midfield and gain the experience he needs for 2010/11.

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  17. 17
    Baggie Boy

    Bouazza and any amount of money would be a bad deal Bouazza is useless he has a bad attitude

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  18. 18
    kevinS

    My sauces won’t tell me anything, neither the tomato or the brown one.

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  19. 19
    Brierley Hill Baggie

    …Sad. Greening has played well for us and it really showed when he was injured last season. There’s about 3 weeks to go until the start of the new season and yet here we are considering selling our key player with no indication of the team shape to come. Very, very worrying.

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  20. 20
    Fulhamsfeederclub

    Says it all, if Fulham want him thats it!!!

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  21. 21
    jodiebaggie

    12 santa i agree hearts got to be in it to win it.

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  22. 22
    madgarry

    various media outlets have stated,Fulham gave us the choice of 3 players and 2.5 million,who are the other 2 players then,not that I want to see JG leave,but he has been a good servant to us and is prob past his best now,cashing in could work to our benifit,like we have for Robinson apparently.

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  23. 23
    boing_boing#1

    If Greening does go I can safely say I would consider him very 2 faced as only 2 weeks ago he told me at a football prensentation that he was staying and signing a 12 month contract extension……. Just heard we already have a replacement lined up in Hercules ex Spain international Francisco Farinos for £2 million.

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  24. 24
    jodiebaggie

    We need a good clearout, get rid of all the dead wood and start again. The cream will always rise to the top.

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  25. 25
    stevo

    wake up all you mowbray ask wearers,everybody has their price if he wants to leave get a good price and move on.we need a change anyway,worst defensive outfit for years!

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  26. 26
    Santa

    Yes,boing boing i’v heard that link to Farinos aswell.Is he any good,in all honesty,i’v never heard of him much,Can anyone tell us anything about him?.

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  27. 27
    Santa

    Its ok lads and lassies,i’v just gooled him and it appears he’s played in Serie “A” and for a few top Spanish sides.His presesent club Hercules don’t want him to go but he has a 2ml euro let out clause in his contract.He also looks a hard bu66er.

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  28. 28
    Warren (Albion)

    To all the ‘we need wholesale changes’ brigade.

    We currently have probably the best squad in the division, arguably better than the squad that won this division 2 years ago. Yes, it needs tweeking defensively, but I’d say at least 20 of the clubs we’ll be competing against would swap the quality of their players with ours.

    If we sell everybody or get rid of the dead wood as you propose, Who are we going to replace them with?

    We’re a Championship club, any good up-and-coming young players are more likely to be sneered by the money and the kudos of playing in the Premiership for Wolves, Blues or Burnley, which means we’d inevitably be replacing them with players of less quality. The very fact Premiership teams are chasing our players should tell you that.

    Making wholesale changes would be suicide, it took Wolves 5 years to rebuild when they tried it. We all saw how close we were to being a mid-table side last year, things really aren’t that bad, why the need for change?!!

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  29. 29
    baggieboing!!!!!!!!!

    2.5 mill ,get rid he’s over the hill and was a liability last season,.We need a top central defender…how about Collins from wolves he’s better than what we have and at 3 million would be a snip!

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  30. 30
    baggiebill

    Greening has got faces than the town hall clock. I want to spend the rest of my career at westbrom, show some loyalty etc. What is going on behind the scenes to make everyone want to leave? Scott Carson has said he wants to stay but who in all honesty would want him? He is only 23 and could already have an hour long dvd of his mistakes. This season is not going to be easy and if we dont go up within 2 years we will have to make MASSIVE cut backs.

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  31. 31
    baggiebill

    28. Warren how were we close to being a mid-table side? Wake up and smell the coffee my friend we were bottom all season. If we got bullied last season you wait till this season.

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  32. 32
    Santa

    Gooled him,LOL he should be so lucky.It was googled of course.

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  33. 33
    Robin Brittain

    Jonathan Greening has been a very good servant to the Albion but perhaps RDM wants to change things in midfield and quicken up the service to the front players. I have read Paul Robinson’s comments today in which he states that he feels Bolton are more likely to dig in and retain their premier league status than the yo-yo existence at the Albion. What he does not say is that many of the defensive problems at the Albion last season were down to him with his continual mistakes. At least when GM puts even more fire in his belly he is likely to spend most of the season suspended.Our yo yo existence can be attributed in a major way to him and I am suprised that Megson wants him at Bolton where he is likely to be a similar liability.

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  34. 34
    Andy

    28 – close to being a mid-table side last year? Apart from an overnight stay in 19th in mid January, we were bottom since 9th November

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  35. 35
    Baggiedad

    28 Warren (Albion)
    If only life was that simple!
    Change….. my friend, is inevitable!
    Regardless of what YOU want, players will leave.
    There are many who are slagging off Robinson and I’m not his biggest fan, however,we have known for some time that him leaving was going to happen! Why? because he told us! You have to admire him for that!
    It’s starting to emerge that Greening wants to go…….. He’ll be off soon probably this week (my guess it’ll be……….. Bolton)
    What worries me is the likes of Morrison, Brunt, Koren and Olsson all have been linked with other clubs….. but they’re not saying anything are they?
    No! sorry Warren, there will be changes! Massive Changes, you wait and see!
    But you should be encouraged by Carson expressing his loyalty to the cause by commiting himself to staying.
    I wonder if that’s because no one in the Premier League wants him?
    Or is that just the old cynic in me!

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  36. 36
    Warren (Albion)

    31, 34

    I agree, we were the worst side last year according to the table, but I don’t think that necessarily means we need to rip apart the playing staff. There were parts of our game that made the likes of Everton, Wigan, Tottenham and Man City look ordinary at times. There were mistakes, but we weren’t that far away, which is why the majority of people didn’t want TM to leave.

    I notice neither of you have answered the question as to who is going to replace all these players we supposedly sell.

    Bill, I agree we need to be stronger, but this side’s no less physical than the one that won the division 2 years ago.

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  37. 37
    Nottm Baggie

    28. I see where you’re coming from, another 3 wins would of given us 44 points & not far off mid table. 3 wins was, as we all know not beyond the team last year. Players come & players go, I remember when Big Ron took Robbo & Remi Moses away to Man Utd I thought we’d never win again but we survived…..just!! Can I just say the news of John Hartson puts all of this into perspective & I would like to pass onto to him & his family my very best wishes, never an Albion legend but by all accounts a gentleman.

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  38. 38
    danobaggs

    I do know what 28 is sayin about not bein far from a mid table side. There is a fine line, we had flashes of brilliance and only our really bad defence let us down. Which was a shame. That coupled with some real bad luck.
    The likes of Stoke, Hull and maybe 1 or 2 others over achieved & had no aspect of their game 2 suggest they could ever do any more than be well organized, do their job well & survive. When did they ever dominate a top team in midfield & play em off the park??

    I also agree with him on (6) my comments exactly. We should keep him, could be a legend.

    However, when did anyone actually mention wholesales change?? Same goes for “Peace out brigade” there is also a “Perfect Peace” brigade that see no wrong him whatsoever, they need 2 have a think, cuz I dont think we do have the squad 2 years ago or the squad when Mowbray took over. I am worried Peace takes gettin out of the championship for granted. But please dont dismiss me as the so called fickle “sack the board/Peace out” brigade

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  39. 39
    Cyril Randle

    Jodie 28. Yes, cream rises to the top, but so does scum and dead, dry wood! We have a good footballing squad, all reasonably comfortable on the ball. Stiffening at the back is the first priority because we already have good goal scorers for the Championship. If Jonno goes, it will be for the extra money as per Gera. I don’t begrudge him that. If you are being head-hunted, you’re doing something right. As long as JP screws ‘em for all he can get, (and he will), we’ll be OK.

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  40. 40
    EddieWBA

    28. Spot on Warren, we are very close to getting it right. If we manage to keep the squad we have at the moment then we are strong contenders for the title. As long as RDM can work on the defence, get them back to basics, maybe bringing in someone to partner Jonas. I would like to see Greening stay but if he wants to leave then at I am sure JP will get the best deal possible.

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  41. 41
    SIR TERRY BAGGIE

    18, i do the jokes,aye boing boing loves you jodie xxxx

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  42. 42
    SIR TERRY BAGGIE

    39,cyril not sure if i agree with you bout good enuff goal scorers for the championship,im not sure we have,bednar dont know wots happening with him yet,moore,waste of space,beattie lots of effort but not good enuff,miller out for dont know how long,cox got to wait n see,aye boing boing morning jodie xxx

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  43. 43
    WORCESTERBAGGIE

    42, well said tez mate,,weem going to need abit more up front with big ish being out for so long…a good prem loan signing might help us or another quality signing..come on j.p get the old cheque book out again…we need fox for left back,barry ferguson midfield ,another striker.asap….come on peace make it happen…GOING UP THE DI MATTEO WAY,,IN STYLE OF COURSE,,OOOOOOOOOOOOOH YES..

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  44. 44
    The Real Bully Hoo.

    Good interview from Scott Carson and I hope all of the Robbo critics give Carson credit for showing loyalty, although I notice one of the snipers has already suggested it’s because no one else wants him, with friends like these who needs enemies.
    It sounds as if RDM has made a good impression with the players and hopefully this will settle things down a bit.

    38 Dano.
    I guess along with Warren and a few others, I am one of your perfect Peace brigade. I don’t see JP as beyond criticism. When he got rid of GM I was highly critical and when he appointed Robson I was speechless but since then I can see little that he’s got wrong. Perhaps he could have risked the club’s future by gambling with money we don’t have. If that’s a fault then I’ll stand up as founder member of the Peter Ridsdale fan club. Don’t think I’ll be overwhelmed with membership applications from the Leeds area.
    Once again we have the woolly minded Peace Out Brigade, who when asked ‘what should he have done,’ come out with ’spend more money or sell the club or make us a Premier League club.’ When the critics back up their ideas with a few facts then myself, Warren, Cyril, Forever, Ned and the other members of the Give Peace a chance choir will take you more seriously.

    PS On Jonno. I can’t knock him. He’s given us excellent service and loyalty. Like Robbo he’s at an age when he wants a last go at the Prem. It would have been better though if he hadn’t pledged his future to us so recently

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  45. 45
    SIR TERRY BAGGIE

    maybe if jonno had been as quick as getting into a few tackles as he did putting is transfer request in weed still be in the prem,aye boing boing just get rid of him he wont be no great loss

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  46. 46
    SIR TERRY BAGGIE

    i wonder whos goping to be next to want out,brunt,morrison,olson,somehow i dont feel so optimistic about next season as i did a few weeks ago,you,l telling me next supporters club wont be open and jodies run off with cyril,aye boing boing please dont jodie xx

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  47. 47
    jodiebaggie

    46 i like Cyril he’s intellectual and he make me laugh. nothing much goin on yet so why not av a laugh hey terry!!!!!

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  48. 48
    danobaggs

    44 – I do know what ur sayin about a lot of the peace out brigade, they have little solutions & not much 2 say. But Im not one of them, I have come up with quite a few reasons. We dont want him 2 gamble everythin & end up like Leeds etc. but he doesn’t gamble enough. Last year we signed Mulumbu & Simpson etc on loan. Not enough! He needs 2 gamble a bit more and find somewhere in between the 2. He is too tight & the reason a lot of the pro “Peace out” brigade have not much 2 say & little substance is because they are probably just used 2 it all by now & sick of arguing & lookin for answers. After all he has had a fair few years & cracks at premiership now & the bottom line is… is his plan is not working.

    I dont want 2 argue about the chairman anyway, it gets u down cuz we all know he aint gonna change.

    Heard Jonno handed in transfer request. Looks likes he wont become a legend. Think Robbo has probably pursuaded him 2 go & play boarin football!

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