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Dorrans has a price admits Di Matteo
Friday 19th March 2010, 11:30AM GMT.
Albion boss Roberto Di Matteo has admitted “everyone has a price” – but is not worried by the growing interest in star midfielder Graham Dorrans.
The Baggies head coach refused to rule out a future sale of rising star Dorrans, who has attracted a hoard of Premier League scouts during his first full Hawthorns season, but Di Matteo remains unconcerned by constant rumours of bids from top-flight sides for his prize asset.
His form has attracted scouts from Arsenal, Everton, Villa and other Premier League sides to Albion matches.
But, behind the scenes, the Baggies boss is adamant the club will not cash in on the Scotland international this summer.
Di Matteo said: “I think it’s a natural evolution in the football industry that bigger clubs look for the best talent in the country and try to sign them.
“One day this club might need to look at that and decide whether it’s worth it to sell one asset to sustain a squad. Everyone has a price.”
But Baggies chairman Jeremy Peace has stressed repeatedly that the club are keen to build a team around the likes of Dorrans and James Morrison, whose form last season in the Premier League attracted a steady flow of scouts.
Despite Dorrans’ stunning form this season, Albion do not expect any of his potential suitors to lodge the kind of huge-money bid this summer that would force the club’s hand.
The Scotland international signed a new three-and-a-half-year contract in January with an extra year’s option in the club’s favour, effectively tying him to the club until 2014.
But Di Matteo believes the player still has significant room for improvement.
He said: “The way we play suits him and I’m glad he’s here. The confidence he’s been given to go and play like he has has helped him. He has performed to a high level this season. It’s credit to our sporting director Dan Ashworth that we signed him. He’s got a good eye.
“But Graham still has margins to improve. For me he’s a player who can play at the highest level and then it’s down to him how good he can become, but he a very balanced lad.”
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Ever so slightly different situation, but it’s like Ronaldo leaving Man United for Real Madrid. As RDM pointed out, that’s the way football is, players move on, when the price is right and they wish to move.
We all know that JP won’t let him go anywhere until it’s on his terms though.
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I think they know how good he is and when we reach the promised land he will be even more of a jewel in our squad. If he goes to a bigger Club fine – please JP DA and RDM make sure it’s not just for a kings’ ransom but also that his replacement is in place. We didn’t do that with KP and it cost us potentially a place in the Premiership.
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I think Graham would be well served to spend another season in the Premier League providing we are promoted. Not only would that benefit the team but would give him a year to establish himself in the top flight. If he continues to improve at his current rate and establishes himself as an international player the transfer fees so far mentioned will be way under his potential value. With the fees Mr Peace negotiated for Greening,Koumas and others I am sure that he will have in mind at least £12m.
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Graham Dorrans will one day ( when the time is right)be sold for mega-bucks.He is already a
Scotland international and a prolific penalty
taker.his obvious talents are there for all to see.At the moment he is ours. Enjoy.
~~~~BOING~~~~BOING~~~~JtH.
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Not many players who left Albion over the past few years have gone on to shine so let’s hope Dorrans stays with us in the Prem next season …. Boing Boing !
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Its obvious that every player has his price – whether its £80 million for Ronaldo or £1 million for someone else….. but its West Brom who decide that price, and if/when the player would be sold.
RDM is only saying what everyone know and NOT suggesting Dorrens will be sold (despite the best efforts of this paper to create something from nothing).
In previous premiership campaigns our midfield has been run by players such as McInnes, Greening and Koumas – I suggest that GD is a league above all of these and will give us something we have never had at the highest level – a player able to compete with the best.
Add to him Morrison and Brunt who both showed enough prem quality last time and real pace in Barnes and Thomas its looks quite interesting.
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Albion will get promoted then Jeremy Peace
wont buy a that top quality striker we need
to stay in the league and we will be relegated
back to the Championship,Graham Dorrans will
have a blinding season and demand a move away
from the Hawthorns.
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good call happy. i said in an earlier thread that i feel if giles barnes and big ish get fully fit and a good summer workout we could have the new smokin joe and black pearl combo. i also think gonzo will be suited even more for the premier. unlike a lot of posters in the last couple of months, i’ve stayed a glass half full man. but now it’s a full pint of bonks’s mild with a beautiful head.
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I think we can get a false picture in the CCC of how good a player is. I have no doubt Graham is an excellent player but playing PL football week in week out can be a different kettle of fish. I’m not saying he won’t live up to his potential but we’ve seen in the past that players adapt at different levels and speed. I agree with Happy that GD is better than those he mentioned and will have the luxury of better players around him. This view is a bit negative for me but I thought Curtis Davis would walk the PL and look what happened. I’m glad to hear that we should hang on to him for at least one more season and that if he goes it will be on our terms. Who knows, if we have a good season he may choose to stay with a club with promise.
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Quality player already, reminds me of Bryan Robson.
Except Dorrans has more pace,fitness and covers much more ground, will some day earn WBA a small fortune.
Don’t be cut short this time,get mega bucks for him when time comes, instead of a pittance like Albion normaly do.
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DLB – Shadrag?
If Dorrans does end up leaving it will be thoroughly deserved but only on our terms, £12m anyone? If he does, we will replace him, like we did with Greening, Koumas et al.
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(post 5)
Hatfield68,
Earnshaw,Hulse,Greening,Gera,Phillips,Chaplow,
Carter,Robinson, just off the top of my head.These
players are all involved in their respective clubs.
~~~~BOING~~~~BOING~~~~JtH.
P.S. Like the name.
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Has Dozza really got enough for the Prem though? Hopefully, we will find out, with him wearing an Albion shirt.
Some of his approach play has been nothing like I have seen from anyone in Albion colours for a very long time. But this is the Championship. How will he deal with the pace and ferocity of the Prem on a weekly basis?
What would hack me off is if we sell him on a delayed basis, i.e. loan him out initially to a competing Prem club (assuming we get up) and see him bear the fruits of his labour for someone else, and the big money follows too late in the day to invest in other players. That would not be good business in my view. We would need the cash straight up front so we can replace him or spend on other positions.
I’m not resigned to losing him, but he does have his price and there is a team out there that will pay it…
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The Real Bully Hoo
You accuse me of been negative towards Albion
players yet here you are spouting off about
Graham Dorrans not been good enough for the
Premiership,didnt you see him in the last
couple of games of last season where he was
exellent.
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dont know about u lot, but i get hacked of with peace at times, we get promoted, then he dont want to splash out on a decent forward, then we get relegated, same old, the feeling of doing well and getting promoted is a brilliant feeling, but every time its a deflating thing to be told the book balancing comes first, sometimes in a buissness u must take risks, im not saying 20 mill on aplayer, but 8, 9, 10 is realistic. we want to stay up next season, and yes there is a fine balance, but it can be done sensibly, so come on u baggiesd
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(post 7)
dlb,
Still here laughing wolf.Don’t stay over here too
long or your mummy will be worried,theres a good lad.Hurry along now.
~~~~BOING~~~~BOING~~~~JtH.
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14 DLB.
I don’t accuse you of being negative, I accuse you of being vindictive and abusive towards players you don’t like and often indulging in adolescent name calling.
If you read the post properly, you will see that I do not say he isn’t good enough but that he may take time to adjust to the PL. I cited Curtis Davies but I remember when we had Frank Sinclair on loan. I was convinced that he was a future England international. He turned out to be a solid PL player but no more.
I think GD is a fantastic young player with the potential to be a great player. I just try not to jump to instant conclusions about players whether they be good ones or bad ones.
PS. Yes I have watched the last couple of games, have you? I go to most games and don’t form my opinions from Radio WM.
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