Albion enter race to sign Carlos Vela
Wednesday 26th January 2011, 11:28AM GMT.
Albion have entered the race to sign Arsenal striker Carlos Vela after Gunners boss Arsene Wenger urged the Mexico international to stay in England.
Wenger wants to loan out the 21-year-old for the rest of the season as he looks to prepare him for a potential future first-team role at the Emirates Stadium.
But the Gunners boss is keen for Vela to stay in England, even though the Mexican favours a temporary move to Spain.
That has alerted a host of Premier League clubs including Albion, who have contacted Arsenal to register their interest.
But they will face fierce competition should Vela agree to join another English club, with Bolton heading a group of clubs keeping tabs on the 5ft 11in front-runner.
Valencia lead a group of Spanish clubs ready to pounce if Vela convinces Wenger to send him for another spell in La Liga, where he has already spent a season on loan with Osasuna.
Albion are now approaching crunch time in their hunt for a striker with just six days remaining in the transfer window, but Wenger is keen to resolve Vela’s future this week.
The Frenchman said: “There’s nothing done at the moment but that could be sorted out today or Thursday.”
Wenger also revealed he would like Vela to stay in England “because he’s a great player and it will be easier for me to follow his progress.”
But the Arsenal boss added: “He is attracted by Spanish football because it’s his home language but, hopefully, we can find a good solution for him in England.”
Should Vela remain in England, Bolton look to be in pole position for his signature after playing a key role in the development of another Gunners youngster, Jack Wilshire, during a loan spell last season.
But Albion could offer an environment with several Spanish speakers.
It is a first language for Gonzalo Jara and Pablo Ibanez, while head coach Roberto Di Matteo and defender Gabriel Tamas also use it.
Vela has only made four substitute appearances in the Premier League this season, but has been a regular fixture in the Arsenal team for cup matches and scored the winner from the penalty spot last night in the Gunners’ 1-0 reserves win over Chelsea.
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never gonna happen! id love it to, but it’ll never happen.
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I can’t say I’m exactly excited by the story.If there ARE several clubs chasing him,I don’t think he’s gonna put us as first choice because we have a couple of players who speak Spanish.Anyway,an Arsenal fan said he can run,but has trouble finding the net,so I checked up and he’s been with Arsenal for over four years and scored three senior goals.I was hoping we could find someone who scores that many in one game………
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Come on Carlos, Black Country lingo is very similar to Spanish, aye it ar kid!!!
Surely he wouldnt get as much game time if he went to Bolton with Elmander and Davies??
I only want this to go through if the lad wants to come and will have a desire to impress (even if its not us).
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I agree, this will never happen! Why do we continue to delay any transfer dealings? Is it to save on new players wages? By signing them at the end of a window means we dont have to fork out a months extra wages like we would if we signed them early january. The next load of games are crucial, it would be best to have had someone in that had been with the club for a few weeks, rather than someone whos only had a few days training. I get that we are careful with our dealings, and to be honest i wouldnt like it any other way. But by waiting until the end of the window and also making our dealings public we are allowing other clubs to pursue their interest in the players and therefore we miss out! Get it done JP!
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it pains me to say this but we re always gonna be in this situation because we are a small fish in the premier league. the manager and players are probably not going to do any better than we re doing at the moment. we avent got a rich chairman or benefactor like most of the other premiership clubs have, and we ll always be serving the kings table rather than eating at it . the club is well run , but with our financial limitations we re good enough to get promotion but avent got the clout to stay there.
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Im not convinced the bagggies will the elusive striker b4 the deadline on monday
which will mean certain relegation
its not being negetive it being honest
JP is not interested in investing in the team
or playing the wages top get the players who can take the club to a new level
we are destined to become a yo yo club until we get a new owner :(
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I agree this wont happen but I have read that Wenger is keen on him to move to West Brom due to the football we try to play,but at the end of the day its upto the player
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@ cantello rocket.
be assured he might not have many forst team goal to his name but the guy is clinical. he is the best finisher at the club. I like WBA’s footbal philosophy and also boltons since coyle ahs been m,ade manager. would be happy for carlos to go to either as long as he gets game time, something he a has been very short of since joining arsenal.
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6. Got a few billion tucked away? Sadly neither has anyone else so we are where we are. We simply don’t have the money, nothing JP can do about that.
Personally I don’t see the point of bringing in players for the sake of it.
By all accounts that guys is set to have a great future but presents a gamble for Albion.
Ideally we could do with two options in forward positions. There just doesn’t seem to be many options.
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Who know’s we might seal a deal for him….Wenger want’s him to get regular 1st team football and we can offer him that..
I’ve said before i’d like to see him down the Albion, he could do a very good job for the Baggies!
Nobody knows for sure ‘That this won’t happen’ We play the kind of football that Wenger likes to see, and we’d offer him a great chance to develop!
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7. The football we play? Have you see the recent statistics we are only behind Blackbur and Stoke for playing the most long-ball in the league and we are bottom of the form league.
Now Bolton play nice football and they remind me of a more aggresive and clinical version of our side under TM in the Prem.
Carlos Vela would be a great signing but as RDM is so one-dimensional in terms of 4-5-1 he would either be played out wide or instead of St.Peter?
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Its probably just me who thinks it, but wouldn’t it be a good idea to get Kevin Philips back for the rest of the season if we can get anyone else? Still don’t think we’d have gone down 2 years ago if he’d have stayed.
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Deano #4 I’m sure ‘we’ do not want to make our signings in public but in the age of instant information; twitter etc and the Agent deliberately wanting to advertise his product in order that Everyone knows his player is available to get the best deal it is inevitable that many deals are rumoured; and some have more truth than others.
I also agree that if he is keen and what RDM thinks we need we have to back his judgement. Whether he gets goals is as much down to the service – as debated on a previous thread – as to how talented the forward may be. I hope that RDM gets his deals done by Saturday so that he can concentrate Sunday and Monday ready for the Wigan game.
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Is he different or better than what we already have? I’m not sure as I’ve not seen that much of him. I don’t imagine he’d have changed the Blackburn game but I don’t suppose a loan harms anyone as it’s relatively risk-free.
This talk about speaking Spanish, hasn’t he been in England for 4 years??? I’d like to think if I emigrated for 4 years I’d make an effort to learn the lingo eh Kev? Adieu.
Steve Briscoe- without wanting to deviate too much from Vela, I accept JP may not want to dig too deep into club reserves, but why would he happily accept a relegation that will probably halve the value of his shares?!
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8 Lewis- if you’re an Arsenal fan,you will know more about him than me,but I’m a bit surprised by your statement.If he’s now 21 years old,and you say he’s the best finisher at the club,why has he only got 3 goals in 29 first team appearances,and why doesn’t he get more first team games? If he is so good,he must surely be getting more opportunities than a couple of sub. appearances this season?
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to be honest with u dow really care about getting vela in with our defence u gota think is he gona score 2-3goals a game with others chipping in much rather go after matt mills try and keep a clean sheet cause we no we can get a goal in most games wot i wouldnt do for a 1-0 win over wigan even if its boring its 3 points
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6 steve briscoe- we’ve seen you on here before,and know you’re a dingle.The only comments you make are attacking the Chairman,saying we should sack our Manager,and talking about certain relegation.It’s exactly the same comments made on the wolves site everyday about them,so the dingles seem to say the same things wherever they are.What a happy bunch.
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Not sure about this. We are in a precarious position at present and kids may not be the answer, don’t all shout Kieran Richardson, what about Jay Simpson. However, don’t panic RDM will sort it, probaby a couple of them by Monday. Oh! Warren, Owen will be one of them.
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Baggiedad
If you’re right and I’m wrong and he comes and keeps us up, I’ll be the first in the queue to buy you a drink!!
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11. TELFORD BAGGIE..I said TRY to play football
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I agree with the other lad, Kevin Phillips would be great to bring on for the last half hour of a game, if he gets a chance (which we create plenty of) he’ll put it away.another centre half an right back would sort us out.
COME ON JP – WE NEED NEW BlOOD !!!!!!
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I agree with Warren that this is a relatively “risk-free” enquiry and possible loan, I for one would have him in the squad cause if he’s been on Arsenal’s books for 4 years and Arsene Wenger still wants him then he must have something about him and thats good enough for me.
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Because of the progress that Jack Wilshire made at Bolton I suppose they are favorites for his signature and we can only hope Wenger influences him to join the Albion. If he wants Arsenal to keep an eye on him it’s easier to travel to us than Bolton.
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Baggiedad & Warren-
Which Owen is more likely to come to the Baggies this week,Michael,Clive or Bill? The bookies are giving the same odds on all of ‘em……
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We wont get him, some other club will snatch him up in the last min as always.
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Warren/Baggiedad
If we get Owen and we stay up ill take the pair of you out on the lash.
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A moment of calm to reflect……. If we don’t sign a striker, injuries permitting we should have enough to stay up, this is the same group of players which took us to fourth in the league on 23rd October 2011 after a 2-1 home win against Fulham now is not the time to panic. We were going to sign John Carew and a deal was sanctioned by JP at 50K a week only for the player to reject us, JP can’t really be blamed for this. I think it is really hard to find real value or real quailty at the moment. I would love nothing more than to see us sign Robbie Keane or Roque Santa Cruz but the facts are we can’t compete at this level. Carlos Vela would represent real value for money should we land him, i do believe Bolton will be his destination but i’ll keep everything crossed a deal can be done. Has anyone else heard the rumours about Micheal Owen coming on loan? I think if he could stay fit that would be amazing!
Anyway don’t panic just yet people we have 6 or 7 winable home games left to come Wigan, West Ham, Wolves, Villa, Everton, Liverpool?
We’ll be ok keep the faith!
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Bomber
2 hours ago I’d have hoped we wouldn’t touch Owen with a barge pole, now I’m quite warming to the idea!!
CR78
As long as it’s not Gary Owen- I think he was the last Owen to play for us, in 1986????….and we all know what happened that year!!
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I hope hes better than the last loanee we had from arsenal,aye boing boing
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28 Warren-
I don’t think ANYONE actually ‘played’ for us in 1986.They all stood on the pitch,and that was about it.
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Yes we need new blood. Two ‘proven’ strikers and at least one defender with premier league experience would help. It may be a long shot but what about Lee Hughes on loan till the end of the season? He is still banging the goals in! I would also agree that if we could get Kevin Phillips on loan and bring him on for half an hour in EVERY game he would definately make a difference.
It is vital that we beat all the teams below us in February as we have to play some of the top sides towards the end of the season. Come on JP I’m not asking you to break the bank just give it a go for us TRUE ALBION FANS! You will want us all to buy our season tickets next year won’t you? Come on you BAGGIES!!!
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Maffias Jordan- an attacking midfielder/second striker has be branded around a few sites/rumour mills. Looks good on video footage.
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I’m sure he is a decent enough player who will probably turn out to be a big player for Arsenal in the future, but he isn’t what we need right now.
We need someone who doesn’t play in the Albion/Arsenal style i.e. either a big lump of a centre forward who can get on the end of the many balls into the box that we deliver every game, or a six yard box poacher who doesn’t do much but knows where the back of the net is.
BTW the chances of Blues letting KP come to us when they are battling to stay in the division themselves, are nil.
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Warren
Can I come if you’re buying?
wbabomber
Can I come if you’er buying?
Anybody else who’s buying.
Can I come?
I’ll get the last round!
Adeu
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Spain or Sadwell…….
Hmmmmmm…. wait and see….
What would you prefer ?
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Warren – Are you thinking of gary robson ?? Gary Owen joined in 79 and was signed with peter barnes from Man City. He was a great player – very squeaky voice though !!!
We also signed Steve Mckenzie from them a few years later – pity we can’t re-open the pipeline now…..
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27,RomsleyBaggie
I totally agree with what you say regarding the same group of players as earlier in the season and Jeremy cannot be blamed(and you all know I have criticised him big time for his part in past seasons relegations)
This is all down to Roberto and his staff to sort out the problems,this is one massive test for him and I pray that he comes through with flying colours.
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(21)
MATT THE HATT,
This town aint big enough for both of us. Go for your colt, hombre, and for a few $$$$ more, I’ll carry you up Boot hill. JACK the HAT.
Hope you’ve got a good sense of humour.
Super Kev’s time has gone for us. Wish we could unearth another one. All the best Newby.
BOING~~~~BOING~~~~JtH.
P.S.
Or should that be BANG****BANG.
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(27)
Romsley,
I also think it would be amazing, if Owen stayed fit.
BOING~~~~BOING~~~~JtH.
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35 knobby head-
Carlos Vela from Arsenal or Leigh Griffiths (who?) from Dundee-
Hmmmmmm……
Which would you prefer?
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34 Kev-
I see some things don’t change.You forgot to say the last round might be delayed for some time……..
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Come on Carlos.
What i don’t get is why we never tried for Yakubu from Everton when he went to Leic on a free. Another good signing would be Taarat from QPR, why do we take so long to get signings in.
They get broken in the papers then it never comes off. COME ON ALBION
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Daily Mail are reporting we are interested in El-Hadji Diouf….I would rather we were relegated! And before you all start i wont be the only one who feels like this. Sorry but as much as i love the baggies i could not accept him as one of our own……Vile Individual who should have been kicked out of English football years ago
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Cantello
I would be grateful if you kept any financial transactions between the two of us out of the public eye as my travelling expenses to the Hawthorns are far greater than the average fan and with me approaching pensionable age faster with every blink of the eye,I have to try for every freebie available.
Adeu
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Warren,Cantello,TRBH,Cyril and all other members of the Half Full Club.
As you know I’m a fully paid up member of your club but ooooh sorry got to go,just had a phone called my donkeys have broken through the fence must go,finish this later.
Adeu
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43 bigclub- I have to say I completely agree.He’s got a massive ego and a very nasty side to him.I think I dislike him more than Lee Hendrie and Michael Chopra,that’s how bad it is!
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44 Kev-
I completely understand your situation,and in future will be discreet,but it could help cut costs if you cancelled the stretch limo. that picks you up from the plane,and drops you off at the Hawthorns.I realise you like to arrive from the Spanish Islands in style,but the fans think it’s some big name new signing from La Liga that’s arrived.With all due respect,they do get a bit disappointed when out steps Kev,and not Lionel Messi.
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45 Kev-
You shouldn’t be chasing donkeys at your age,although I didn’t realise the wolves squad were having a break and training over there.
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Right where was I.
All back safe and sound,Much to the relief of the donkeys more than mine as I found them in a taxi and the driver had a letter on Wolverhampton Wanderers FC headed paper telling the driver to get them back to Wolverhampton,by hook or by crook, before the end of January.
When I explained this to them,I have learned donkey speak Warren,they jumped out of the taxi and back into the little oasis of Baggie land I’ve created for them.The driver had been paid so he was going back anyway so the 3 of them left a little deposit on the seats that will come in very handy for Mick’s pitch.
Can’t carry on with my original post on this one as the moderators may not have their sense of humour head on today and this will never see the light of day!
Adeu
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Half Full Club
As I said you know my outlook on the Baggies and life in general but I’m beginning to have a few questions ie tactic’s,formation,line up.
I’m not calling for RDM’s head or anything as drastic as that but he does seam to be a little stubborn in some of his decisions.
I know we’ve had great success with one up front but we could try to start with something else during this bad spell.
Tamas should have been replaced at half time with Ibanez, his head had gone,Brunt’s ability to captain is questionable as for the coaching and choice of options at free kicks in good positions in front of goal the penalty incident free kick was diabolical.If you have access to Albion player just freeze it before Brunt is about to take the free kick,question how many players were lining up to take it,they had all the space to stand in better positions as Blackburn had 8 in the wall,we all ready had 2 players completely unmarked to receive the ball instead of blasting it straight at the wall,as he does all too often.
As I’ve said it doesn’t need wholesale changes just more thought.
Big Club.
I had the same feeling about Graham Roberts in my opinion a thug and I haven’t read it but he supposedly says as much in his book, I actually went to the training ground and gave him my season ticket, told him so and didn’t go again while he was at the club.
Must go time for my lesson.
Adeu
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50 Kev-
I think we can see that some things need to change or be switched around,but you hope that the players can get back into the same kind of ‘mind set’ they had earlier in the season,and I’m sure that’s what RDM is hoping for.It’s the first time he’s really been tested as a Manager,and you feel that he’s thinking ‘if the system worked before,it can work again’.I still believe he will do well in the future,but the crucial time for a Manager is when you bring in your own choice of players,and they lose both form and confidence.If he can turn things back around,it will show that he’s got what it takes,but if he doesn’t,he could find pressure building up on him,but he knows that,he’s said as much in his interviews.He’s an intelligent guy and knows what’s involved in the job,having seen what happened with his best mate,Gianfranco Zola.
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Kev
You took Wall Heath in 2 weeks ago and this happens……!! (Only joking Max!)
In all seriousness, I don’t disagree with you. We were up in the Gods but even from there could see Brunt was never going to get that free-kick up and over or through the wall. You despair at the lack of thought sometimes. There are a hundred incidents a game that leave me clawing my eyes out in despair: brainless tackles on players going nowhere; corners hitting the first man; wingers trying to beat a full-back to put a cross in they could cross straight away before the cavalry get back to defend; defenders allowing a bouncing ball etc etc.
Contrary to popular belief (judging by some posts recently), just because we’re part of this half-full mafia it doesn’t mean we don’t have a negative thought, it’s just how you respond to it really.
However in RDM’s defence, there have probably been less things wrong tactically over the course of his reign than there have been under numerous pervious managers. You just hope he comes through this test.
The only thing that worries me about playing 4-4-2 would be that most sides in the division play 4-5-1 and crowd the midfield. Do you remember what Forest did to us last year when we played 4-4-2 against them? We barely had a sniff.
It strikes me as being a bit like the 3-5-2 epidemic a few years ago. Everybody ends up playing it to match everybody else through fear of being over-ran.
Assuming we did play 4-4-2, the 2 in the centre of midfield would have to have a presence and lots of energy, if you assume Mulumbu and Scharner, does that not detract from our creativity? Could Dorrans be box-to-box or is he better served having a licence to get forward?
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Kev
P.S. If you missed the Graham Roberts years then you certainly didn’t miss much!!
Happy
I did mean Gary Owen, just perhaps got the years wrong as I was quite young so am going on things I’ve read.
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P.P.S. (Apologies)
Despite generally being defensive in the case of all Albion players, I don’t think I could watch El-Hadji Diouf in an Albion shirt either.
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50 Kev.
I fear for all the good work you have carried out in removing Max’s demons, it may have come at a cost. Has some of his negativity rubbed off on you?
I think everyone is running around in circles to find why we have hit an iceberg. The problem with this is that sometimes it is tempting to change things just for the sake of change. I’m not saying that there’s nothing wrong. What I am saying is, how much of it is down to circumstances?
1. Diabolical refereeing decisions. I know everyone gets them but can you imagine what colour Fergie’s face would be if Man Ure had suffered a quarter of the rubbish decisions we’ve had since Blackpool?
2. Unfortunate defensive injuries and suspensions (some coming from ‘poor’ refereeing.) As someone already pointed out, Blues have been solid defensively because until last week they had fielded the same back four for almost 18 months. We’ve barely managed it two games running.
I thought there was a brilliant post yesterday that said ‘the two signings we need most in the window are luck and confidence.’
Keep the faith Kev. We’ll stay up. But if we don’t, some of us will still be here next season.
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43 BCetcetc.
100% with you on this one. I commented the other day about Keven Muscat and this bloke is out of the same gutter.
It’s a big step to take and most will know I always try to back the club but I’d seriously consider not going with this person in the team. Perhaps we should organise a petition to make our views known although time would be a factor in this.
I hope we see the usual disclaimer from the club saying we have no interest in this player. I really can’t see our management seeing him as suitable.
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29 Sir Terry.
Good to see you back. The site’s too serious without you.
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48 CR78.
I love it.
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42 Baggie Boy.
Yakubu.
Has a reputation for being lazy. Would have been okay on loan but I think he wanted a contract and would you really want us tied to a player on big wages and a poor attitude?
Taraabt.
As far as I know he isn’t available and if he became available I’m sure there would be a queue of PL clubs with more money than us.
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Two really positive bits of news.
Stephen Reid not far away. He offers so many options to the manager and we’ve missed not only his versatility but his experience that helps steady things on the pitch.
Roman Bednar. Seems to have got his head right and is raring to go. I think that he could still play a massive part for us.
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Kev.
Over on the dark side. On the Leigh Griffiths thread. 6 Truewolves. ‘before the half glass empty brigade get their etc.’ Nice to know they have their version of our gang.
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(43)
Big Club,
My sentiments exactly. But beware of paper talk and agents drumming up interest to move a player on. They need a bit of commission for their impending holidays. But good shout.
BOING~~~~BOING~~~~JtH.
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61 TRBH-
A couple of weeks back,I told ‘farmer ted’ that wolves and their fans have been copying us in various ways for years.The latest example IS Leigh Griffith,a young player at a smaller Scottish club,that not many people knew about,but was available at £100,000+,and is seen as a prospect for the future.You don’t think the rise of GD had anything to do with it,do you?
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55 TRBH-
Talking about Refs. and Man U,how about the Blackpool penalty ‘shout’ the other night? Varney was flying towards goal inside the penalty area,Rafael came across and just took him out,he never even got near the ball.The cameras showed that the only person near the incident was the Ref.,who was less than 10 yards away with a perfect view,but he just waved it away.Ollie went ballistic.
I’m thinking Gary Neville on Dorrans for one.But how about Pablo at Blackpool,and Cox against Stoke,both being penalised for a lot less?
Don’t you just love the fairness and consistency of Referees in the Premiership?
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CR78
I just don’t think there are any players left in the Irish lower leagues as Mick’s already signed them all so he had to try somewhere else.
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64 CR78.
Yeah, the thing is that Man Ure have the best players and will beat us 90% of the time anyway. And then our wonderful officials take away 9% of what’s left.
I’ve heard all of the excuses IE they have more play so they’re bound to get more decisions etc but we all know that these are generally eyewash.
It boils down to one of two things.
A. Refs are scared of Fergie.
B. Refs are scared of Fergie.
In the current furore about female officials, I say let’s get some in. Who knows they may have some b***s as none of our current male referees have.
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Warren,TRBH
I can think of worse things than turning into Aled [Max] Jones,at least I would be able to cook a good fish +chip or make a Dona with plenty chilli on the meat only.
TRBH.
I’ll always keep the faith! I’ll be here next year,the next,the next,the next,the next ,the next ,the next,the next,the next,the next,the ,the next that’ll be 70 when I,ll have to re-asses if it’s time for a trip to Switzerland or not.
Adeu
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Kev.
I’ve just read the last bit of my post again and I wasn’t trying to suggest that you wouldn’t. I know from the passion in your posts that you’re in it for the long haul.
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