RuffRob

it sounds like it just finalising the finer points of the fee with Real - they will obviously want as much up front as possible, and we will want to stretch it out as much as we can as bonus payments etc - I am guessing that the longer it takes the better the deal is for us.
It sounds like Real will have to part with some of the transfer fee and give it to Rodriquez as a severance pay for him leaving and coming here on less wages.  Even of Real give him £5M (or even more) of the £20M transfer fee, they get £15M and say save £10M in wages - So £25M better off than him just waving bye bye next season for nothing and doing not much more than warming the bench for the season.
Seem to all be about fancy accounting these days to cover teams for FFP as much as possible. 
 
 
 
 

it sounds like it just finalising the finer points of the fee with Real - they will obviously want as much up front as possible, and we will want to stretch it out as much as we can as bonus payments etc - I am guessing that the longer it takes the better the deal is for us.
It sounds like Real will have to part with some of the transfer fee and give it to Rodriquez as a severance pay for him leaving and coming here on less wages.  Even of Real give him £5M (or even more) of the £20M transfer fee, they get £15M and say save £10M in wages - So £25M better off than him just waving bye bye next season for nothing and doing not much more than warming the bench for the season.
Seem to all be about fancy accounting these days to cover teams for FFP as much as possible. 
 
 
 
 

I don't mind being 'weird' -  as I have not got a problem with the team revolving around James as the focal/pivot point if Ancelotti can get anywhere near what he as gotten out of him previously - why wouldn't you build around him.
Napoli wanted £60M for Allan last summer,but PSG where only willing to pay £45M, 12 months later I am happy to see him coming at here at 29 years of age for around £20M. you don't deteriorate that much between 28 and 29.
 

I don't mind being 'weird' -  as I have not got a problem with the team revolving around James as the focal/pivot point if Ancelotti can get anywhere near what he as gotten out of him previously - why wouldn't you build around him.
Napoli wanted £60M for Allan last summer,but PSG where only willing to pay £45M, 12 months later I am happy to see him coming at here at 29 years of age for around £20M. you don't deteriorate that much between 28 and 29.
 

I don't mind being 'weird' -  as I have not got a problem with the team revolving around James as the focal/pivot point if Ancelotti can get anywhere near what he as gotten out of him previously - why wouldn't you build around him.
Napoli wanted £60M for Allan last summer,but PSG where only willing to pay £45M, 12 months later I am happy to see him coming at here at 29 years of age for around £20M. you don't deteriorate that much between 28 and 29.
 

My feelings on Gylfi is if we can move him on then do so. I have no malice towards him, he is good at what he does, unfortunately we (and most other clubs now) don't really have the luxury to best accommodate a player like him in the team set up, and the bigger problem is not particularly adaptable to other positions within a team. He is just the wrong age to try and mould in to something he isn't.
I would rather see time and effort in developing Iwobi in this area of the pitch. I know he has come in for some stick, but its not his fault but he has come here with that dreaded 'price tag' hanging over him (bit like Gylfi). There is no doubt we did overpay for him, but he is definitely a work in progress rather than a finished article or indeed a lost cause.  He has had his bedding in season now (in a bloody poor team to be fair!!) so I am hopeful to see him kick on this season, in what is hopefully a better team behind him. I read a good article on him yesterday - a lot his 'numbers' where actually quite good, especially in playing the ball forward department - he has a fair amount of assist assists, which tend to go quietly unnoticed.
I have said it on may occasions I think our forward playing players will all benefit massively this coming season with a stronger and more dynamic midfield at the heart of the team. Fingers crossed
 
 
 

My feelings on Gylfi is if we can move him on then do so. I have no malice towards him, he is good at what he does, unfortunately we (and most other clubs now) don't really have the luxury to best accommodate a player like him in the team set up, and the bigger problem is not particularly adaptable to other positions within a team. He is just the wrong age to try and mould in to something he isn't.
I would rather see time and effort in developing Iwobi in this area of the pitch. I know he has come in for some stick, but its not his fault but he has come here with that dreaded 'price tag' hanging over him (bit like Gylfi). There is no doubt we did overpay for him, but he is definitely a work in progress rather than a finished article or indeed a lost cause.  He has had his bedding in season now (in a bloody poor team to be fair!!) so I am hopeful to see him kick on this season, in what is hopefully a better team behind him. I read a good article on him yesterday - a lot his 'numbers' where actually quite good, especially in playing the ball forward department - he has a fair amount of assist assists, which tend to go quietly unnoticed.
I have said it on may occasions I think our forward playing players will all benefit massively this coming season with a stronger and more dynamic midfield at the heart of the team. Fingers crossed
 
 
 

My feelings on Gylfi is if we can move him on then do so. I have no malice towards him, he is good at what he does, unfortunately we (and most other clubs now) don't really have the luxury to best accommodate a player like him in the team set up, and the bigger problem is not particularly adaptable to other positions within a team. He is just the wrong age to try and mould in to something he isn't.
I would rather see time and effort in developing Iwobi in this area of the pitch. I know he has come in for some stick, but its not his fault but he has come here with that dreaded 'price tag' hanging over him (bit like Gylfi). There is no doubt we did overpay for him, but he is definitely a work in progress rather than a finished article or indeed a lost cause.  He has had his bedding in season now (in a bloody poor team to be fair!!) so I am hopeful to see him kick on this season, in what is hopefully a better team behind him. I read a good article on him yesterday - a lot his 'numbers' where actually quite good, especially in playing the ball forward department - he has a fair amount of assist assists, which tend to go quietly unnoticed.
I have said it on may occasions I think our forward playing players will all benefit massively this coming season with a stronger and more dynamic midfield at the heart of the team. Fingers crossed
 
 
 

is it just me or does today have that 'transfer deadline day' feel to it. 
I have lost count of how many times I have visited 'newsnow' web page today. 
 

reports saying £20M (+£5M bonuses) , £8m upfront and rest as instalments as we have spent the budget on Allan and Rodriguez.
I have to say £20M is a decent price for a well respected Premier proven midfielder - people where going wild for him a couple of seasons ago when he played a more defensive role at Watford. Played slightly further forward the last couple of years. The key is he can play both offensively and defensively, has quality in both departments.  So set up against top teams he can player maybe more defensively, and a bit further forward against teams we should dominate. You can make these adjustments dynamically in a game without making a substitution or changing personnel around. 
Our midfield will instantly become more dynamic with Allan and Doucoure bossing the middle. I am sure the rest of the team will simply just thrive of this - and we will see better performances all round. 
Need to give them all a few month to all bed in, but will be really interesting to see what sort of team we are at the turn of the year.
 

reports saying £20M (+£5M bonuses) , £8m upfront and rest as instalments as we have spent the budget on Allan and Rodriguez.
I have to say £20M is a decent price for a well respected Premier proven midfielder - people where going wild for him a couple of seasons ago when he played a more defensive role at Watford. Played slightly further forward the last couple of years. The key is he can play both offensively and defensively, has quality in both departments.  So set up against top teams he can player maybe more defensively, and a bit further forward against teams we should dominate. You can make these adjustments dynamically in a game without making a substitution or changing personnel around. 
Our midfield will instantly become more dynamic with Allan and Doucoure bossing the middle. I am sure the rest of the team will simply just thrive of this - and we will see better performances all round. 
Need to give them all a few month to all bed in, but will be really interesting to see what sort of team we are at the turn of the year.
 

reports saying £20M (+£5M bonuses) , £8m upfront and rest as instalments as we have spent the budget on Allan and Rodriguez.
I have to say £20M is a decent price for a well respected Premier proven midfielder - people where going wild for him a couple of seasons ago when he played a more defensive role at Watford. Played slightly further forward the last couple of years. The key is he can play both offensively and defensively, has quality in both departments.  So set up against top teams he can player maybe more defensively, and a bit further forward against teams we should dominate. You can make these adjustments dynamically in a game without making a substitution or changing personnel around. 
Our midfield will instantly become more dynamic with Allan and Doucoure bossing the middle. I am sure the rest of the team will simply just thrive of this - and we will see better performances all round. 
Need to give them all a few month to all bed in, but will be really interesting to see what sort of team we are at the turn of the year.
 

reports saying £20M (+£5M bonuses) , £8m upfront and rest as instalments as we have spent the budget on Allan and Rodriguez.
I have to say £20M is a decent price for a well respected Premier proven midfielder - people where going wild for him a couple of seasons ago when he played a more defensive role at Watford. Played slightly further forward the last couple of years. The key is he can play both offensively and defensively, has quality in both departments.  So set up against top teams he can player maybe more defensively, and a bit further forward against teams we should dominate. You can make these adjustments dynamically in a game without making a substitution or changing personnel around. 
Our midfield will instantly become more dynamic with Allan and Doucoure bossing the middle. I am sure the rest of the team will simply just thrive of this - and we will see better performances all round. 
Need to give them all a few month to all bed in, but will be really interesting to see what sort of team we are at the turn of the year.
 

reports saying £20M (+£5M bonuses) , £8m upfront and rest as instalments as we have spent the budget on Allan and Rodriguez.
I have to say £20M is a decent price for a well respected Premier proven midfielder - people where going wild for him a couple of seasons ago when he played a more defensive role at Watford. Played slightly further forward the last couple of years. The key is he can play both offensively and defensively, has quality in both departments.  So set up against top teams he can player maybe more defensively, and a bit further forward against teams we should dominate. You can make these adjustments dynamically in a game without making a substitution or changing personnel around. 
Our midfield will instantly become more dynamic with Allan and Doucoure bossing the middle. I am sure the rest of the team will simply just thrive of this - and we will see better performances all round. 
Need to give them all a few month to all bed in, but will be really interesting to see what sort of team we are at the turn of the year.
 

add £45M Gylfi to that!!
Not overkill at all - I see our starting midfield as Allan, Doucoure, Gomes and Rodriguez  - Gbmin not fit yet but will be on bench to start with, but there will be injuries etc so cover will be needed. If any half decent offer comes in for Davies, Delph  or Gylfi - they get them moved one or two of them on. 

From all I have read, I genuinely believe this transfer is more about Rodriguez wanting to leave Real, coming to playing under Ancelotti and getting on the pitch to play football, rather than him wanting to earn as much as he can out of the game on his last contract. In this day and age it feels like breath of fresh air a player coming here on a reduced rather than an inflated salary!!!  I am going to enjoy the moment.
I think he would be a fair amount wealthier just running is £11m a year Real contact down and being a free agent next summer. 
Maybe I am being naive, and we are being rinsed some other way, but ignorance is bliss as they say

is it just me or does today have that 'transfer deadline day' feel to it. 
I have lost count of how many times I have visited 'newsnow' web page today. 
 

if he manages that again for us, he would be one of our top scorers 😂!! 
I don't think Doucoure had a particularly good season last year by all accounts - I don't think his heart was really in being there and maybe Watford should have actually cashed in on the offers they received last summer. This happens to players - head not in the right place
I think he started out as a more defensive midfielder, and player a more forward role over the past couple of seasons. The good thing about him is that he can player both and attaching role and a defensive role pretty well, so a very versatile player who can adapt to game in which he is playing in. Like people have already commented, he is better than what we already have in a key area of the pitch.
 

From all I have read, I genuinely believe this transfer is more about Rodriguez wanting to leave Real, coming to playing under Ancelotti and getting on the pitch to play football, rather than him wanting to earn as much as he can out of the game on his last contract. In this day and age it feels like breath of fresh air a player coming here on a reduced rather than an inflated salary!!!  I am going to enjoy the moment.
I think he would be a fair amount wealthier just running is £11m a year Real contact down and being a free agent next summer. 
Maybe I am being naive, and we are being rinsed some other way, but ignorance is bliss as they say

From all I have read, I genuinely believe this transfer is more about Rodriguez wanting to leave Real, coming to playing under Ancelotti and getting on the pitch to play football, rather than him wanting to earn as much as he can out of the game on his last contract. In this day and age it feels like breath of fresh air a player coming here on a reduced rather than an inflated salary!!!  I am going to enjoy the moment.
I think he would be a fair amount wealthier just running is £11m a year Real contact down and being a free agent next summer. 
Maybe I am being naive, and we are being rinsed some other way, but ignorance is bliss as they say

As a left footer, I am pretty sure Rodriguez will be used mainly on the right wing, as will be much more dangerous when cutting infield. As I mentioned we do need an upgrade on Coleman in an attacking sense  - he is 32 in a few weeks time, so he is bound to be slowing down a little now. Coleman is still an important player, but we do need another option at right back 
Whichever position he plays, hopefully with Rodriguez in the starting line up the quality of the football in the final third will be better. 
 

I agtee, and i have said before big part of the shambolic transfers over the past 4years has in the main been down to Moshiri and almost over egerness to build a better team. He has spent with the right intentions, lesson being you can't just throw big wages at players!! 
But it sounds luke we are a little more sencible. Rodrigeuz is reportedly taking about a 50% pay cut in order to come here. Straight away Rodriguez has my respect. Given he would have been available as a free transfer in 12 months time, i am sure he would have been able to get a sign on fee and better wage deal. I would guess by signing for us, Rodriquz is giving up around £4m to £5m a year for the next 3years!!! So maybe a sacrifice of at least £15m!! So he will have a vastly different attitude to a lot of big money signings made in the past. He is not going to be lacking passion and enthusiasum, he is definately come here with hunger and a point to prove. 
Just for taking a significant paycut Rodriques gets my respect however this transfer turns out. His agent must be puling his hair out!! 😂
 

I agtee, and i have said before big part of the shambolic transfers over the past 4years has in the main been down to Moshiri and almost over egerness to build a better team. He has spent with the right intentions, lesson being you can't just throw big wages at players!! 
But it sounds luke we are a little more sencible. Rodrigeuz is reportedly taking about a 50% pay cut in order to come here. Straight away Rodriguez has my respect. Given he would have been available as a free transfer in 12 months time, i am sure he would have been able to get a sign on fee and better wage deal. I would guess by signing for us, Rodriquz is giving up around £4m to £5m a year for the next 3years!!! So maybe a sacrifice of at least £15m!! So he will have a vastly different attitude to a lot of big money signings made in the past. He is not going to be lacking passion and enthusiasum, he is definately come here with hunger and a point to prove. 
Just for taking a significant paycut Rodriques gets my respect however this transfer turns out. His agent must be puling his hair out!! 😂
 

Moving Gylfi on would be a massive bonus - i dont even care if we get a fee for him or not now, just get him off the wage bill and make room in the squad for other players. He just somehow symbolises the shambolic period of spending we went through. The sooner the better that mis-spending becomes a distant memory. 

Moving Gylfi on would be a massive bonus - i dont even care if we get a fee for him or not now, just get him off the wage bill and make room in the squad for other players. He just somehow symbolises the shambolic period of spending we went through. The sooner the better that mis-spending becomes a distant memory.