Time to map out a plan for Villa's future
- Says blogger Matthew Turvey
Albion still in hunt for Gera
Saturday 24th May 2008, 11:29AM BST.
The race to sign Zoltan Gera for next season remains ‘wide open’ with Albion still in the frame, his agent said today.
Sam Stapleton said more than half a dozen clubs still have a chance of signing the Hungarian winger with the Baggies among them.
And the 29-year-old has delayed a decision on his future until at least next week after initially saying he wanted to end speculation by today.
“I think by early next week we should know something,” said Stapleton.
“It’s still wide open at the moment, but we’re hoping to narrow it down in the next couple of days with a view to making a decision early next week.”
Stapleton revealed that five British clubs – including Albion – are still in the running to sign Gera, who is a free agent after four years at The Hawthorns.
And he said several other clubs in Europe are alsoin the frame with Portuguese giants Benfica believed to be still among them.
The Baggies have made Gera what has been described as an ‘excellent offer’ to extend his stay at the club and help their bid to remain in the Premier League.
But Stapleton has said previously that his client wants assurances about Albion’s ambition to avoid becoming a ‘yo-yo club’.
And they face strong competition financially with Premier League Wigan and Bolton among the rival clubs chasing his signature.
Gera was due to captain Hungary against European champions Greece in Budapest this afternoon and will turn out for his country again against Croatia at home next Saturday.
And Stapleton is hoping his future can be resolved before the second friendly.
He said: “We had hoped it would be sorted out before the first game, but that obviously won’t happen. However, we are still hoping it we can have a decision before the second game.”
Stapleton said negotiations would continue with clubs until the final moment. And he pledged Albion chairman Jeremy Peace will be the first to know Gera’s decision.
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Come on Gera do the right thing and sign for the Baggies!
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we cant depend on a player not 100% committed to the club.. best of look to zoltan its time to look elsewhere … TM will bring in the right quality players we will need to succeed… goodbye zoltan and thanks for your services to our club.
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Ime hoping he stays,but with our wage structure I reckon he will be off….
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GERA GERA GERA GERA GERA GERA GERA GERA GERA GERA
BOING BOING
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yes..he will stay if the money is right.
Let the Greedy player go as he’s making us a laughing stock again..
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Last half of the season Gera was great. First half he couldn’t get into our team on a regular basis. Our ‘BIG FOUR’ haven’t come knocking, only average teams have. Benfica? Hmm! The agent is touting a very good player but NOT a Ronaldo, so if he plays poker with Jeremy, he’ll lose. If I guess right, ToMo already has replacements in mind. Just in case.
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Just get rid, this guy is a Joker and we hold all the cards!!!
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joker not but brunty will start to flower this season.. zoltan is either brilliant or non effective.. greedy no. also super kev with a 2 year contract is proberbly not great buisness sence but is worth the risk…
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Sounds like you would be better off without him, no player is bigger than any club.
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get rid-lacks quality and pace.we need at least 8 quality players in to avoid the drop.
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“yo-yo club” lol, too true. stay at the baggies Gera cos you aint good enough for the mighty villa!
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Leave it to the management to do the right thing. Gera never gives less than %100 effort but if he wants to go he will. Either way good luck to him.
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Great player (certainly in the Championship)but I dont want this shambles of him and his agent tarting about like cheap whores.
Sign or clear of Gera – the Albion come first. Not you.
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any player who as to think this long about signing for a club who he as been with for the last 4 years can not be fully committed to the cause of keeping us up. let him go and TM will find a much better replacement, just like he did when he got rid of the dead wood last pre season.In TM and Peace we trust.
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Great player, but let him go if he and his agent want so much.
Can’t have players taking the McCarthy now can we ?
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This is beginning to get tiresome now, either he wants to stay or not. I rate Gera highly but he needs to make up his mind quickly now or clear off!!
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who put the ball in the dingle net boing boing
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If a player cant commit himself to the club straight away then hes not worth keeping,dont get me wrong his a decent player and somebody you need in the Prem if you wanna avoid the drop but you need everyone pulling in the right direction and IMO Gera’s just dragging it out to see who gives him the best offer.
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Typical bitter football fans sharpening their knives. Let him think about it. If he stays then I’ll be happy, if not then good look to him. We’ll know soon enough.
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rumour as it paul jewell is trying to sign jason roberts n ellington again if he gets um they will walk the championship boing boing in MOWBURY WE TRUST
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