Time to map out a plan for Villa's future
- Says blogger Matthew Turvey
Villarreal in talks to buy Borja Valero
Thursday 8th July 2010, 11:28AM BST.
Albion are locked in talks with Spanish club Villarreal over the possible sale of club-record signing Borja Valero.
But claims of a deal for the midfielder being all-but-agreed are premature.
The future of the 25-year-old one-time Real Madrid player was just one element of the club’s Anglo-Spanish negotiations, with Albion’s hunt for another goalkeeper throwing up the name of Real Mallorca’s Israel international Dudu Awat.
Albion’s contacts with Mallorca, which began with their purchase of Valero two years ago, strengthen that speculation with Awat’s agent is in talks with the Spanish club at the moment to secure his client’s release.
In the meantime, Valero is back pre-season training with the Baggies, having resurrected his career with a highly-acclaimed campaign alongside Awat on loan at Mallorca last season.
That followed his disappointing debut campign in England which saw him struggle to justify the club record transfer outlay of £4.7million, as Albion were relegated from the Premier League under former boss Tony Mowbray.
Valero has a hankering to return to Spain and, although Sevilla failed with a below asking price offer last month, Villarreal are closing in. Spanish media are reporting a deal being discussed in the region of £4.2million.
Back in England, Valero could be among the squad Albion take to Kidderminster Harriers on Saturday for their opening pre-season fixture (12:30pm)
The non-league club have been advised that all of the Baggies’ senior players will be on duty which means supporters will get the chance to get a first look at another Spanish recruit, defender Pablo Ibanez.
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was a good signing………… lol
West Brom seriously need to start buying a bit of quality for next season. Want everyone to in Midlands to stay up but money needs to be spent on the right players.
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It’s a good job the Club know what it takes to negotiate deals, as some of the masters of football on this site, would have already caved in at around £3 million. If he goes, I reckon it will be for near to the £5Mill asking price, or include some other kind of extra deal. keep the faith lads, we might be blue and white, but JP wears Black and white stripes, and caries around a bag called SWAG…..
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I hope it works out for Borja as his heart is set on living and playing in Spain. Also I’m glad Spain got through to the World Cup final with their expansive football. Germany were too defensive in that game and got what they deserved.
Should be a good final with two footballing teams.
~~~~BOING~~~~BOING~~~~JtH.
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never know, if he stays he might do well, spend the dosh on a striker
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It ain’t the outgoings you got to worry about, it’s the incomings !
Why don’t you sign Keogh. True he doesn’t score many, but he’s a master at holding the ball up and I think you’re defence is going to need the ball up the other end as long and as often as possible. Where’s the transfer activity Baggies ? That window is slowly closing
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(1)
Yea, Like Micks young and hungries nobody wants them only on lone as they are not upto Premiership
standard. Which reminds me when are the wooluphs
going to buy the right players at least we have
talented footballers.
(5)
Hello again gerty, So wooluphs are loaded with dead-wood don’t come on here blaming us, as for Kellog we’ve enough ball-boys thankyou. When are
you going to buy some class players otherwise
you’ll be stuck with your bunch of CLOGGERS.
~~~~BOING~~~~BOING~~~~JtH.
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5 bertie is that what happened to wolves score rate last season keogh kept hold of the ball to much
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Berries – it’s only been open 8 days mate….
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7) Yes Joe you’re very perceptive, if he hadn’t been injured for two thirds of the season we might have become a yoyo club.
8)BaggyBoy. Is that Blackberries, Strawberries or Rockin’ Berries ? No it’s probably Raspberries for not knowing the summer transfer window is open from end of season until August 31st.
Didn’t you notice Wolves and Blues signing players ?
Go and chat with your mateJtP he knows his football too !
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According to sky sports news Borja Valermo
is nearing a move to Villarreal.
Bertie Basset-Albions defence is the best its
ever been and with signings like Stephen Reid and Pablo Ibanez then we will be fine,midfeild
is also very strong with decent quality like
James Morrison,Yousouff Mulumbu,
Graham Dorrans,Chris Brunt,Giles Barnes,
and Jerome Thomas.Every Albion fan knows we
need a decent striker or 2 and Iam sure one
will arrive shortly when Valero is sold,
me and other fans just have to stay patient.
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Hopefully we’ll get a good amount of cash for Valero.
I would have liked to see him stay but my feeling was that he’ll eventually go so probably best so early into pre-season (if it all goes through)
When are the clowns at West Ham going to get real about Dorrans???
On another point completely, has anybody noticed that of late our stories are the most commented on?
Our friends might be aiming a bit of banter our way regarding our apparent lack of signings but at least we’ve got something to talk about.
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5 bertybasset, we aint worried old chap, but the amount of time you and your small band of followers spend on this site makes me think you are,aye boing boing
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does any one know why our home kit had grey in it last year, why cant we have retro kit from 78/79/, who picks it, hope it aint minging
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Not very often im wrong but im right agen, away kit, black aye boing boing
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I now fully expect Borja’s impending exit from the Hawthorns to be the first of many……
…No way would any self respecting professional run out onto the pitch in front of tens of thousands of people sporting an ridiculous bright red house on his otherwise immaculate shirt!!
The shame! The shame!
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14 Sir Terry
Well done on being right.
It’s not often I’m negative but that’s about the end of the good news.
1) Logo. Swamps the shirt and looks awful.
2) Home shirt. Neither here nor there really. We’ve gone for a stripe halfway between the sixties narrow and the later broad stripe. Very unimaginative and uninspired design.
3) Away. Black???????? I can only imagine that this is to appeal to the fans as a leisure shirt and not to help the players.
While it will stand out okay on a bright August afternoon when the background fans are wearing light coloured summer clothes, what about a dull mid January afternnon against a background of dark coloured coats and waterproofs?
About the only plus point is that at least it’s made by a recognised manufacturer and not someone with a stall on Walsall Market.
Anyone agree or am I being too critical?
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Jarrod sack the kit man,aye boing boing
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9 Bertram.
I think some of our fans have been a bit unfair having a go at you as you’re right on one point and wrong on the other.
You’re spot on in that you haven’t acheived being recognised as a yoyo club. You’ve stayed up one season. We did that a while ago. Let’s wait and see how you do this year and well done on not wanting to make extravagant claims for your club.
Unfortunately you’ve let yourself down being so condescending to Baggyboy. The transfer window officially opens on July 1st. That is the earliest you can register a transfer. Players joining clubs before sign a pre-contract but the transfer is not official until it has been cleared.
Now suck in really hard and you might just retrieve that raspberry.
Just reminded me. I love raspberries but I love strawberries as well. Anybody else have a preference?
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Typical of my club to have to go through this yet again. Most importantly the Dorrans issue, WestHam have made another offer which worries me that they are being encouraged to do so by Dorrans agents. Big Cyril was spouting off about him moving on Monday and works for his Management company. A little concerned to say the least.
The new shirts are awful with the worlds biggest red logo on it. We couldnt find a sponsor last season and now JP seems to want to show the world we have one! It is ugly!
Finally, a lack of players. We have been able to buy players since the end of last season like Blues, Wolves, Man City, Liverpool, Arsenal, Bolton etc. JP will try to do things on the cheap again and this will simply not work.
How are you all going to feel about JP if he goes for the free transfers etc and we get relegated? Personally, I feel he would of taken the club as far as he can and it will be time for him to sell up.
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Just listening to Harry Redknapp on Talkspot.
He was saying Spurs are about to leave for a tour of the States. He said a tour of Scotland would be better preparation for the season and Alan Brazil chipped in ‘or Holland.’
So at least we’ve got something right.
Then again, having seen our new shirts and as the reason for going to USA or the Far East is shirt sales, I can see why we didn’t bother going.
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19,Tanya i love you xxx aye boing boing
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19 Tanya.
I was going to try to have a well earned mid-summer break from being JP’s minder but here goes.
JP is an accountant not a graphic designer, so please cut him a bit of slack as this is his first attempt.
Seriously though. He’s been castigated for not getting a sponsor in. As he pointed out at the time, £750K sounds a lot but not in modern football. Take out of that sponsors box/seats which could be sold elsewhere. The advertising space around the ground taken up with the sponsor’s logo that would also bring in extra revenue and it’s not such a princely sum, it just gives our sales dept an easier time.
The alternative to ‘doing things on the cheap’ is to spend a lot of money you haven’t got. Ask Portsmouth. Do you see Albion as a lifelong project for yourself or do you want a couple of glory seasons in the sun?
I have a personal insight into this. I started going up in 1961. We were a solid top division club with some decent players. Late sixties we had a golden era where we reached cup finals regularly and won cups. This was great, as was our spell in the early 80′s (until BFR cocked it up, you would have loved him as he wasted money as if it was water) but after each of those periods came year after year of excruciatingly bad seasons that tested the loyalty of all but the most dedicated supporters (I well remember a night game in about 1973, 11,000 of us deluded souls in sub-zero temperatures, snow falling, watching our beloved stripes being given a football lesson by Notts County.)
I’ve loved the last ten years and really don’t want the bad times to return.
I’ll cite Cyril again here as I often do. I’m sure Cyril will understand the comparison with Faust. Faust sold his soul to the Devil for riches in this life. Yes we all want the good times but at what price? Are we happy to pay for it with an eternity in purgatory?
And so back to the eternal statement ‘it’s time for him to sell up.’ One question albeit a very important question.
Who to?
Agree with you about Reggie and Ronnie Piranha down at West Ham. I’m guessing if we refuse this offer they will send the boys round to sort JP out.
One supplementary question for you on that. When was the last time we had a Chairman in a position to turn down big money offers for our players and play hardball with other clubs, agents and the players themselves? And why is he in a position to do that?
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22. you didn’t answer the question? At the moment with the squad we have it is very likely that we will be relegated. Who is to say you cannot show ambition but keep the books in order. I hate to say it but look at Wolves, showing ambition and are very much in the black and if they stay up for the next 2-3 years will be a very wealthy club, this is what we should be aiming for but JP is content with our current up and down tag.
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The transfer window is only a week old but its been good work by Wolves to strike early on pre agreements. The closer we get to the season starting the more panic buys we will see. I think Albion need to spend big on at least a couple of strikers. They wont be easy to find. Also the benefit of early signings is the full pre season programme to get to know one another on and off the field.
Credit where its due to JP, he is standing firm on Dorrans. I dont see how a club £100 million in debt can be splashing the cash like they are. You best hope Dorrans head doesnt get too big and slap in transer request. Thats happened a lot to you.
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24, id sooner wait than spend 14 million on two strikers who in the prem couldent manage double figures between them,aye boing boing
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when you look at the likes of, wolfs, wigan,west ham,bolton,fulham,sunderland,blues with there 2nd season syndrome,newcastle,we have got more than enuff in our tank to keep us up,so stop worrying dings we will be ok,aye boing boing top four finish the RDM WAY IN STYLE OHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH YESSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSS
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26. You have only got a better squad than Blackpool at the moment. You are quite a few players short of Newcastle (as the league suggested), Wigan, Westham and even more short than Wolves, Blues, Blackburn, Bolton etc. Bednar and Cox upfront I expect Chelsea will be in hiding now!
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18) Real Bully Hoo
The transfer window in England opened on Saturday 15th May 2010 and will close on August 31st. Your pre contract agreement point is irrelevant to this discussion (though vital when dealing with eg German, Spanish, Dutch FAs who’s transfer windows open on…yes… July 1st 2010 !…..and don’t get other country’s FAs involved ‘cos it gets even more complicated ).
Bottom line here is that some Premiership teams have been signing players for next season since the close of last season,whilst others will be left on deadline day with their noses pressed up against the glass.
No suckin in raspberries here, pal
Like the Rockin’ Berries (almost)sang “We’re in Town” your the “Poor Man’s Son”
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28 Bertram.
You’ve got one over on me there, I was wrong, an honest mistake but it backs up your original point that the window is slowly closing. Very slowly as it has almost 2 months to run. There is also an old saying ‘sin in haste and repent at leisure.’
As for when you get best value, we’ll have to wait and see.
Yes we have little choice as we are ‘a poor man’s son.’ We haven’t had two rich sugar daddies like yourselves but I think most Baggies fans wear that as a badge of pride. Poor but unbowed. Never been in administration, never been a rich man’s plaything.
PS You never mentioned your preference, raspberries or strawberries?
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23 Tanya.
That’s an impossible question to answer at the moment. Who could have guessed Wolves would stay up with the squad they had last season? Who could have guessed that Portsmouth would have to sell half their team?
We have 2 months to add to our squad. I’m not Mystic Meg, so how can I say whether we are likely to be relegated.
You cite Wolves as a role model. Fair enough except that they spent £17 mill last season while we spent £23 mill the year before. Where was JP’s lack of ambition there? What he did was trust the manager on how it was spent. With hindsight TM was wrong in deciding on a rigid pay structure, he admitted as much himself. You cannot blame the Chairman for this. By all means blame him for who he appoints but don’t blame him for allowing the manager to manage.
Lastly. Why do you think JP would be happy to see us go down again? I don’t see that at all. With his investment in the club he needs it to be doing well. What he doesn’t have is a personal fortune anywhere approaching Steve Morgans and Morgan is one of the poorer Chairmen in the PL. It may not be palatable but it’s true. We are paupers trying to punch above our weight in the big man’s league.
PS I missed your answer to the question, ‘who should JP sell the club to?’ Perhaps you forgot.
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Anyone know why the design of the home and away shirts are a different design? The home shirt has a collar and the away a round neck.
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27 bottumfinishwolf, chelsea proberly wont be in hiding, but youw lot will,yowv already asked for noon k/o see if you can catch us half asleep, aye boing boing
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PS Bertram.
Don’t know if you’re a fan but The Rockin Berries are on at the Robin in Bilston, Aug 22nd.
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28 bertiebasset, rockin berries also had a hit titled FLASHBACK and you will be having a few of those when we run out on the pitch,after the tankings weev gid ya,they also had a hit titled WHEN I REACH THE TOP,and bertie my ole pal, we will aye boing boing
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Real Bully Hoo
The truth is we learned from last close season when we dallied and ended up with players like Halford and Hoff. Clearly, Mick McCarthy left Jez Moxy a shopping list before he left for ITV duties in SA. It appears to have worked apart from Dindane. There are no superstars with wages we can’t afford, just the right mix to lift us to the next level. Well that’s the plan any way.
I really hope Albion do what we and the Bluenoses did and survive and build, it’s what the West Midlands needs.
I hope your chairman doesnt sell Dorrans to Sullivan, my thoughts on him won’t get past the moderator….. and long may Sir terry write garbage, it makes us all smile.
Yes I’ll be at the Robin to see the Rockin’ Berries and (Sir Terry) they never had a hit ‘Flashback’ that was Iwan Roberts !
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We get 28 million for going up,we have recieved 5 million for Greening.We have also been in the premiership numerous times before and been recieving parachute payments for years.I would like Jeremy Peace to tell me where all the money has gone and how the dingles,who have not had the money coming in that we have can,can spend,spend,spend.I love the baggies with all my heart and i am starting to get really p—ed off.If we don’t back our manager this time,Peace must go.Has for the logo on the shirt,they are having a laugh.I have always bought the home and away shirts,but not this time.I know i’m whinging,but we are starting to become a joke and i hate it.Igot my season ticket the day it came out and i will back the team to the hilt never the less.BOING BOING BAGGIES!
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36.
I’m too tired to explain it all again and I’m sure Mr Peace is probably too busy.
Your accounting system is commendably simple, in the real world it’s not quite so black and white.
I’m sure if you know of any financial anomilies the authorities would love to hear from you.
How much do think it cost us to sign Ibanez? I know he was a free transfer but that doesn’t mean he cost nothing, it just means the money goes to a different place.
You take no account of running costs or where the money for the training ground and academy comes from.
If you are a real Baggie (I doubt it but you never know) you can’t just go on throwing mud based on half truths and facts gleaned from tabloid rumour pages.
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Black is cack, without a doubt. I firmly believe in a bright shiny shirt like the blue/yellow away one, simply because when a player is in a tight corner, he can glimpse a bright sock, shorts, sleeve and hope to hit it. I remember an old time player once said to me, ‘Sometimes you have 1/100 second to play a ball. You look for the socks. Then the shirt if you have time’. Brightness, or luminosity, has white as 100% and black as 0%. Theory, OK, But reality is close too.
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Both WWFC and Albion have a good chance of staying up.Blackpool wont have a strong enough squad,Newcastle wont strengthen in debt,Westham and Wigan were poor last season,Westham in a load of debt.Its all about the team spirit.
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What’s the matter with our new sponsor logo?.
The brick house gives something for the big bad wolf to try and blow down. Also there’s an OMEN
in the phone number. It could be known as the house that Jack the Hat built. Now add to that and stop being miseries* (I think I’ve invented a new word*, over to you Cyril). Bet the dingles could add a few.
Wham are this seasons Pompey.
By the sound of the dingles on here as Sir Terry
would put it, ” thairm fritton t jeth,bay thay.
~~~~BOING~~~~BOING~~~~JtH.
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