Ant1979

Even if they put it at 7 they would have doubled their money on a player they don't want (if they want rid like)

True but it's not like he's tried and failed to make it in the PL, so if he has a blinder next season they'll risk losing a player for 6.5m who might be worth double that in todays crazy market. Got to ignore what you paid for someone when considering what they might be worth (Coleman, etc). All that being said, 6 or 7m might be fair enough for him, I've not seen him play enough to judge I was just surprised that a proposed fee would be set before he's even had a kick in this league.

I'd be surprised if they put the option to buy fee so low, pleasantly surprised of course!

Wonder how much of a hit they're prepared to take on him?

Bet they accept just over half what they paid. £14m up to £18m maximum, somewhere in that range. Just a total guess of course, I could be way off

BBC's live sports update bloggy thing reported that Fellaini Instagram account as if it was genuine and he'd broken the story. You'd think they'd fact-check a bit first. Don't Instagram do what Twitter do and 'validate' celebrities pages on there so you know it's genuine?

Get in!! Overjoyed! Don't want to throw cold water over this great news but do you think that's us done now transfer wise? Surely that's our budget gone... Couple more loans maybe? A striker and a winger on loan and I would be happy as then we would have 2 for every position.

I was just thinking the same myself, what money can realistically be left if this signing is true?! A couple of loans, with one of them being an exciting prodigy, and I'd be happy with the business done this Summer

It will be interesting to see how much we actually spend. All the contract extensions will be eating into the money available. If we do sign Rom then I'm sure he'll be at the top end of the wage bracket as well.

Very true. Just think, last year we were only contributing to Rom's and Barry's wages, plus paying Barkley a LOT less, also paying Baines and Coleman less too. This new TV money is spent already really. Need to get into that Champions League, and as Romey says, regularly not occasionally! Loving the ambition

Massive statement of intent if true. Very excited

What kind of a prick would try to wind people up on an alternative forum for the SAME TEAM? Not that I am childish enough to do it myself, but a rival team's forum I could at least 'kind of' understand the mentality a litte bit

 

If true, it effectively means he won't be signing another contract with us because we won't be able to afford to offer him a new one.

 

That is if we don't become regular Champions League qualifiers, of course. The key word being regular, not just the odd qualification.

Agreed. But that scenario has been on the cards ever since he became the media's 'next big England hope'. In an ideal world, this time next year we'll be planning the Champions League campaign and polishing the Europa League and FA Cup

Worst case scenario is the funds aren't there (no CL) when his contract needs to be renewed in 2 years' time. Here's hoping for the first option...

Needs to sack his tattoo artist ...but pretty excited by this signing and the fee is an abolsute steal. Christ imagine if he was English how much he would have cost?!

Great news. Enjoyed the conference too, he was obviously nervous but came accross as a humble lad and very proud to be playing for his club. I've no issue with £65k a week if true, puts him just slightly under the top earners at the club I imagine, which is valid due to his current status and potential.

He's available at £20m by some reports. There's no chance in hell that kind of money is being spent on a CM, one position which is relatively well covered. Good player though

Sorry guys my question about goalkicks etc was incorrect. I was thinking about 3 other things at the same time. It should have read 'a huge headwind' and 'back over the players and into the kicker's own goal'. Just to confuse the whole thing...the ball passed out of the penalty area before being blown back so was definitely in play.Sorry again about the confusion.

In that case yeah fair enough, you can't score an own goal from a goal kick. Not sure how the game would be re-started though!

If it's a goal then it's a kick off as normal surely. If the ball goes out of play but not into the goal then it's a goal kick.

 

I must be misunderstanding the question because I don't see how that's obscure .

I was thinking the same thing. It would just be a goal and kick off as normal

6th for me if it's an underwhelming transfer window, possibly 5th if there are some exciting additions. I think we'll finish above Spurs, but I think LVG will unfortunately sort MU out and we will finish below them, Chelsea, Man City, Arsenal no matter what happens. Hopefully finish about the RS; but it could all come down to forwards - them losing Janet Street-Porter's love child and us signing a good one.

Whatever happens I'm hoping for a great cup run, and also a great run in the Europa.

What a demolition job. Khedira (sp?) was amazing. £40m for Luiz, haha

Apparently he had a good pairing with Van Nistelrooy in the studio, Ruud seemed to learn a lot from Roberto's analysis and tactical knowledge, he was really taking a lot in as he embarks on his own coaching career. I read a Q&A with one of the ESPN producers and she said she'd learned loads from Roberto as well. Top man.

Agree with Cake. There will be other 'serviced apartments' available for short term stays no doubt; but I imagine much less of a headache to go with the university affiliated place and let them sort it all out enjoy your stay!

Been away for a few weeks so I've missed a lot. Nikica was an insightful poster, his input will be missed. He loved a good rant too!! Haha if you do read this thread Nikica, you'll see you were largely well thought of here despite the occasional fall out. Take care

I was at a conference through work the other day and one of the speakers was the club's Facilities Manager, Richard Cairns I think his name was. He said that the club would hope to have an absolute maximum of 10 years left at Goodison.

Not remotely saying this is 'inside information' or anything, I'm sure the club probably said the same thing 10 years ago!

The old man raised teh same issue, but surely they're work it so that the teams would act as normal club sides and have to go through the current, standing loan rules. Say a loan is a minumum of 3 months, so the parent club cant just recall a player when it wants.

 

It works for cups and important matches. Without those rules, who's to say City wouldn't send their first 11 to win and title deciding game?

Got to admit I haven't read up enough about this, it will be interesting to see what comes out. I guess if they are classed as youth teams then any of the players could be called back to the first team at any time? But if they are classed as reserve teams then the players would have to be included in the 25 man PL squad or else they couldn't play anyway? I have just assumed that the first team could call up a B team player at any time, is that how it works in spain? Then again their B teams are reserves and the youth is C teams.. I think!?! So it's a bit different.

Damn I've just blagged my own head there with too many questions :/

Great interivew and some nice little nuggets there, including him saying he would love to have been a player like Ross Barkley but thinks he was more like Gareth Barry Well worth a watch/listen if you haven't already.

 

Yeah he was definitely more like Barry, his mate Isidro Diaz was the Barkley of the team. I do think Martinez could have played at a slightly higher level than he ever managed to get to, he was a tidy player. Not saying PL quality though

One thing I would say on this is that we can't be compared to Spain, etc where they use B teams in lower leagues. Our lower leagues are exceptionally well supported when you think about it, the crowds are much better than lower leagues in other countries. This proposal would benefit premier league clubs only in my opinion, not the game as a whole. And as others have said I don't see how it would measurably improve the progression of our young players either

This was good fun, just to echo other people's comments... Thanks Steve!

I only played about 12 to 15 games so I'm hoping to improve next year! Although I can't bring myself to ever predict anything other than a win haha

He's going to be Gnasher's replacemt at the RS maybe? Sterling, Coutinho and Lallana playing behind Sturrdige. Gnasher off to Spain with his reported 100m Euro release clause... just my personal speculation of course, not backed up by any facts!