Albion now go for Liam Ridgewell
Thursday 28th July 2011, 11:00AM BST.
Albion are plotting a fresh move for Birmingham defender Liam Ridgewell as Blues prepare to offer more cut-price transfer deals to ease their money worries.
The Baggies are already set to benefit from the financial crisis engulfing St Andrew’s with goalkeeper Ben Foster in the final stages of his move to the Hawthorns.
And Albion are also now set to revive their long-standing interest in versatile defender Ridgewell – with rumours from St Andrew’s claiming the former Villa man could be available for as little as £2million.
Talks between the clubs over the 27-year-old stalled earlier this summer, with their respective valuations of the player some distance apart.
But Birmingham, who were initially seeking as much as £6million for Ridgewell, have been forced to lower their sights because of the need to raise funds and reduce their wage bill.
Ridgewell would primarily provide cover and competition for first-choice left-back Nicky Shorey with Ridgewell having made the transition to that position in recent seasons at St Andrew’s, but would also offer back-up to Jonas Olsson.
Negotiations over Foster’s deal are also in their final stages, with an agreement having been reached in principle over an initial loan deal with an option for a £4million permanent transfer next summer should Blues fail to win promotion.
Birmingham are now keen to take frustrated Baggies goalkeeper Boaz Myhill in the opposite direction.
Myhill said: “It is frustrating to see the club continually linked with moves for a new goalkeeper, but there is nothing I can do about speculation.”
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Forget Ridgewell, average and slow. Sign Dann, we could get him for around £6 million and represents better value for money than the £8 million being quoted for Long!
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I think this will be a great signing.
Lets have Ridgewell and Olsson as our main centre halves that way Foster already has an understandind with part of his back four.
I wouldnt mind seeing Green at the Hawthorns as competition for Foster to keep him on his toes and as for our striker situation I’m quite happy to let JP and DA get on with it and find I’m hoping 2 strikers so we have cover when St.Peter goes off to the African cup of nations in January
Forever Albion
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God I love this – when Yeung took over at Blues and said he was putting 40 million in their war chest my blue nose mate was delighted to tell me how Dorrens was going to St Andrews – funny enough he’s gone a bit quiet of late…..
Ridgewell is a great deal at 2 million – just ask our wolves friends cos they’ve been asking for him all summer…… (bet he is rubbish now (see post 1)).
To all those who have bemoaned the lack of money spent this summer – remember that JP and DA are like a juggernaught – slow to start but unstoppable when they get moving.
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I’m not sure about Ridgewell although i think he is a solid player, a bit slow and agree with Dead baggie post number 1 Scott Dann would represent better value. I do believe Dann will end up at Liverpool or Arsenal though.
Is anyone else sick of reading we are on the verge of signing Foster for the last 3 weeks? Get him signed up!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
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I think Ridgewell would be a good signing for a decent fee – sign him up. That would make 2 signings from a relegated side but defence at Blues was not a massive issue last season, their problem was in attack.
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Worth a punt at 2 mill
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neither of my two Blues mates rate Ridgewell that highly. They have always believed he is too slow and prone to a big mistake. They do however believe he is a better option at left back as less exposed than in the middle. I like the versatility he would bring bring at CB/ LB but not convinced he’d be anymore than a very solid squad member…..then again a £2m price tag probably represents that.
We need a quality central defender and a striker. The amounts of money being asked for regarding Long are frighteningly high. I’d rather go for Bellamy on loan as Man City will most likely pay for most of his £90k a week wages.
Plus the Foster deal is not done yet – lets hope Arsenal or another team don’t come knocking last minute.
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Pleeeeease take Ridgewell off our hands for £2,000,000 ! , it’s not a lot , but it’s all we can aford at the moment ………
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Ridgewell is garbage, take him, i’d rather my nan play there, never known a defender to make so many mistakes and get turned inside out by no marks!
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Happy 3)Egg on your faces,now players from relegated Blues are worth a punt.You lot make me laugh.
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Just heard that you lot are actually in for Dann as well! Apparently that’s why the Foster deal is a loan to start with as you’ll be paying £2m for Ridgewell and £6m for Dann! Any chance we can merge our clubs because ours seems to be going down the pan-nu :(
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Beevoer – you’re a little ray of sunshine aint Ya !!!
RJC – you can’t afford to buy milk at the moment son – we may buy Ridgewll to help you out, but if not have you thought of Ocean Finance ?? They can consolidate all your debts into one big one – but you will have to drop into league 1 !!!!
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I’m usually the one accused of being negative or being slated for questioning Ashworth’s approach, but I think some here want their cake and eat it.
We’ve no “sugar daddy” so people like myself have had to reduce our expectations in terms of the type of player that’s available for the price Albion are willing to pay.
I’ve no problem with signing Ridgewell, agree with no5 on that. Also I’m wondering what’s the issue is with Shane Long? Either Dan and Roy can judge quality players or they can’t – simples. Sure Long isn’t tested at Prem level but are people suggesting he’s not as skilled as DJ Campbell or Doyle? We’re not going to uncover the likes of St Peter each season; buying a proven goal scorer makes perfect sense to me.
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Getting a bit fed up of reading about possible signings if im honest. I have been led to believe that the hold up with the Foster deal is due to the sheer complexity of the deal, and Albion have been trying to negotiate the “option” part of the deal to be more heavily waited in our favour.
Lets hope we can get these deals sorted before someone else nips in!
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pip – no egg here son – I have no problem with players from Blues, Blackpool or West Ham – it they are the right ones….. as you well know, it’s so easy to get it wrong – for example you can buy the wrong half a defensive partnership, or buy a winger with a terrible injury record…. or you can get a real quality baragin like foster.
I understand the Ridgewell link upsets you cos wolves have been posting about getting him all summer – but can’t you just be happy for us ??????
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Hope that Wolves get him as a back-up centre half but way too slow to play left back at St Andrews Hammill left him on the spot everytime he got it.
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3 – Like the reference
JP and DA are like a juggernaught, fierce and taught !! and with Roy completing the set up, we will be watched and envied by many other clubs who would like to see theirs run as well. Its not all about money, its about wisdom. No dig intended to the Blue’s but they should have avoided the boom or bust situation that has seen many clubs before them face the same dilemma. Peter O and Mulumbu both came at a good price, and have proved themselves before being offered lucrative deals. JP wont fall for any (Luke Moore’s – Anymore’s !!!), and thats the way football should and likely is going to become, for the majority of sensible clubs, whether the dreamers out there like it or not.
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I’m with you Bomber, the longer this drags on,
the more nervous I get!
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I like the guy and he’s always looked a solid player. Not too much money either so worth it IMO.
Things are looking up.
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No.14 bomber
I agree. If there was a question of him signing for another club I would hope JP would go for a standard buy him now deal and chuck in a house for his Nan.
I fully respect JP’s dealings in the football world and I know if he didn’t do business the way he does we could be in Blues position right now, but on this occasion I do recon Foster is the future.
P.S. Ridgwell is a quality Prem standard player. We would do very well to get him for £2m, if you don’t think so then you need looking at.
P.P.S Long is massivly overpriced and I don’t think we should smash our transfer record for a decent but not incredible player, there would be too much presure on the lad.
Boing Boing
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if we buy or loan all the players we have been linked with from birmingham city,WBA will stand for west birmingham albion lol,
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Hold up in foster deal is whether the loan fee is in addition to us paying his wages or instead of us paying his wages
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I mentioned this on the other thread, but pace is only an issue defensively if you’re playing in an expansive side and you get left one-on-one a lot.
It struck me that Roy likes his midfielders and defenders to be a lot closer together than RDM or TM, particularly when we were away.
In teams that play like that, even the likes of Craddock don’t become exposed for their lack of pace because there are always players around and near them.
For me he’d be a decent signing at £2m. Not sure he’d start but he’d certainly be on the edge of the first team.
Perhaps significantly, if he’s viewed as a back-up at centre-back and left-back, Roy could theoretically rid of Cech and Tamas, which would free up plenty of room on the wage bill (Hargreaves?). All speculative of course…..
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Ridgewell would be a good solid signing imo,Dann would be fantastic!
Be nice to get one over them lot from the dark side..
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Getting very nervous now about the Foster deal, just got a nasty feeling someone else gonna pinch him from under our noses. If we are really serious about it then just SIGN HIM NOW.
As for Ridgewell he would be a good back up for Shorey nothing else.
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Doom and gloom over on the Darkside-they’ve spent all their money and Mick can’t buy anymore players.
If Johnson had any sense he would have come with his mates to the Baggies.Now all he has to look forward to is another relegation battle.
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22
Really? And here I was thinking it was a loan because Blues needed to get him off the wage bill. Why on earth would they loan him to us and still pay his wages when they’ve got no money?
Honestly, some poeple must have nowt to do all day but post drivel on here!
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Can’t see us paying huge money for Long although I think he is a decent player – carlton Cole may be a better option for a big man/little man partnership with St Peter…. but I still think with Cox & Tchoi we have two players capable of scoring 10 + goals in the prem.
Gera signing has gone quiet – any news on his injury ??
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Warren, Ridgewell as a fringe player for you lot, dont know about him starting !!! you talk like you are a good team or something !!
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Kenny!!
I was of the opinion Ridgewell was a left-sided defender?? If so, he won’t be displacing Olsson or Shorey and would have to wait for his chance….
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Happy)The right ones being the players Albion are interested in.Im Still laughing.
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Warren
so you dont really need him then ! erm ok we’ll have him !!!!!!!
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Priority is to secure Foster. Goalkeeper is a key position and will help to build a settled defence. If there is any chance of buying Dann, I would rate him well above Ridgewell. Foster, Johnson and Dann were the main reasons Blues had such a solid defence. Dann’s injury tells you alot why the results then fell away.
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Kenny
Taking our cast-offs, that’s the way it should be!!
Pip
Are you interested in our transfer targets as you haven’t got any anymore? #budgetblown
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Seem to remember Liam Ridgewell along with a few other Blues players picked up some bad injuries around the time we beat them at St Andrews . I have never noticed Ridgewell lacking pace and he also has the knack of scoring at set pieces. Would be a useful addition to the squad. Scott Dann would be very nice but I don’t think they can get him fit or Arsenal would have gone for him by now.
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am i too soft here on blues?i feel really(genuinly)sorry for their loyal fans.not nice seeing close neighbours suffer.but,i still hope we sign foster and dann while we can though at massivley reduced prices!
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WBAlex , you’re spot on ! Ridgewell is an absolute liability ! trust me , in fact he’s the ONE player I do not want to see trudge out at St Andrews in a couple of weeks as we start our long exile.
Dann and Johnson ran themselves to a standstill covering for him last season , Johnson in particular as he had to put up with his ineptness ALL season !
Foster however , well he’s a different story , THE best keeper in the country.
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Does the Ridgewell rumour mean the Jara rumour is true?
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Come on Albion, I’ve gone through 4 shirts and two pairs of Y-fronts here. Get his name down so we can all get some sleep. Foster that is, although I do think a few of you are being a little hard on Ridgewell here.
Where has this Dann rumour come from? I don’t even think the papers are speculating with that one.
Boing Boing
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Foster a must!!!! Need to get rid of Miller not good enough.
What about R.Santa Cruz from M.City, good player to bring play together with st pete.Might get a good deal for him ??
Plus one more good defender Dann would be GREAT.
THE ONLY WAY IS UP …….
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I know it’s getting near the new season,and people are desperate for positive news,but how much attention are you supposed to pay to these stories?
I’ve just looked at the official site,and none of the last 15 news items mention transfer targets.
So do the Baggies say to the media ‘don’t tell anyone,but we’re secretly plotting to bring so and so to the Hawthorns’?
It just makes me laugh that we have the usual invasion of wolves fans,plus Blues fans,both unsurprisingly having a go at Ridgewell,and the guys that matter at Albion may not actually WANT to sign him at present.
Like I said the other week,I’ll take a serious interest in a player WHEN he actually signs a contract for us,and the club make an official announcement.
And not before.
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We need to nail Foster in the next 24 hrs – I’m getting nervous but still very excited about this signing. I get the impression from the Club that we will only spend good money on one player. So, do we shell out the 6 million on Dann or Long? Who do we need more? The Ridgewell deal would see Roy happy with our defence and have the money for another forward. I think if we sign Dann, that would be the lot money-wise, with no other signings further up the field. Although Dann is quality, I think our priority at the moment is a back-up/partner for St. Peter.
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12 Happy.
Ocean Finance. Brilliant.
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Listen guys, this isn’t the view of a bluenose with sour grapes. I’m on here telling you that, of a season tickets holder for many years, so of course throughout the time Ridgewell has been at Blues i’ve been watching him play.
Ridgewell was signed as a CB and in his first game against his old club (the vile) he scored an own goal. This happens and we gave him the benefit of the doubt. Own Goals and giving away penalties and short back passes became the signature of his game and (as vilers will tell you) the reason he didnt make it there.
What he lacked in natural talent he made up for in effort, knowing he had a lot to prove to us fans after crossing the divide and the own goal in his vile return.
We then moved him to left back, and with Scott Dann and Roger Johnson making a fine partnership, Ridgwell was under much less pressure than when he was CB. However, at left back he repeatedly got outpaced, players run at him and he’s unsure what to do and still prone to the odd mistake (played Blackburn striker through on goal, which cost us 2 points (and we all know what things would be like now with those 2 points added to the tally – bye bye dingles).
It is harsh to put relegation down onto one man, and i’m not, we just werent good enough.
Ridgewell will always give 110%, he will always pop up with a goal or two and he will have an exellent game, now and then. He’s a loveable guy and has passion in abundance, but take this for what it is. Ridgwell, if Albion want to move up the leagues, is not the kind of player you should be looking for. I dont mind losing him, we have another poor left back but slightly better than Ridge to be far. Ridgwell would leave with my blessing, and he’ll always get my applause whenever he returns to St. Andrews (in the cup competitions of course :-) )
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I wonder if the delay in completing the transfer of Ben Foster has anything to to do with the situation where Blues may still owe money to Man U for the transfer fee when he joined them. The Blues MD is in Hong Kong which may also delay matters. No transfer seems straight forward nowadays.
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I dont believe that Albion are interested in Ridgwell at all and is just paper or agent talk
trying to drum up interest in him.
We dont require a £2m to £3m squad player thats not how Albion work now is it,Dann would be good team not squad player but may be to expensive for us,also many other clubs are inerested in Dann.
Foster is the only player i think we are actually interested in at Blues,unless we can swap players and cash deals can be made other than that then i cant see anything to happening.
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Everything comes to he who waits, What’s the word? Tranquiloooooooooooooooooooooo’s the word.
Adéu
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he has finaly arived all hale ben foster the best keeper to come to the albion since dk i have agood feeling about this season
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