Transfer rumours apace - Tardelli/Robinho/Ribery

[john@staustell]

Persistent rumours sometimes tend to have something behind them, and some things are gathering pace ready for January:

Robinho - whatever the debate on his abilities none of us know what the hell goes on behind the scenes - sure I always look happy at work too!! Barca keep fueling these rumours which Robson doesn't really do anything to squash. The Spanish press is constantly full of quotes sayinh how much Barca want him. However if City were to let him go you can bet your boots the Sheik & Les would want a better replacement, hence the ongoing rumours on Ribery:

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/footba ... binho.html

Ribery seems to have fallen out with Van Gaal, and the sort of money he would command is limited to very few clubs. Possibly both Chelsea and Scum are working to cash-strapped budgets, not to mention the odd transfer ban, despite rumours they put out saying they have bid for this and that. Barca will need a special board meeting to sanction the Robinho transfer in mid-season, so I can't see them running up any more cash. Real were rumoured to need to sell to balance books a bit, so will the bank want to lend them yet another £70M? SWP isn't quite setting the world alight so if we want to win the league...............

Yet Martin Samuel has us going for the new Brasilian sensation, Atletico Mineiro's Diego Tardelli as a Robbie replacement.

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/articl ... binho.html

Take your pick, but despite Les' 'no more big spending' statement, the caveat - we will address areas of weakness - promises another nail-biting transfer window for us. And frustration for the so-called big 4!!

[colincollins59]

Also, the Boj apparently wants to stay at Parma:


Bulgarian international Valeri Bojinov has confirmed that he wishes to turn his current loan agreement with Parma into a permanent deal at the end of the current season. The 23-year-old striker, who is owned by Manchester City, suffered a torrid two year spell at Eastlands before returning to Serie A this summer following a return to fitness.

Parma have made an impressive start to the new season, sitting in fifth place after eight games. With Bojinov playing an integral role and notching three strikes so far, including the winner in his side’s last match against Siena, it is thought that the the Parma hierarchy will explore the option of signing the former Fiorentina and Juventus hitman.

“Our team is very strong, as there is a good mix of youth and experience in the team,” Bojinov stressed in an interview with Itasportpress.

“Firstly we need to ensure that we save ourselves from relegation though, then we’ll see from there.

“My future? I want to stay here again next year, and everyone knows that. For now I am owned by Manchester City, but the Parma president [Tommaso Ghirardi] knows what I want to do.”



Misquoted?

[sandman]

Cant blame Boj, good luck to the fella, has always shown the perfect attitude and ability in the brief opportunities he's had here, he knows he has 4 strikers ahead of him in the pecking order and it would be better for both parties to let him go.
(though i'd play him before Santa Cruz if both stayed fit for more than a fortnight?)

[Fidel Castro]

Tardelli was pooh at PSV

[simon12]

Barcelona have not approached City over Robinho transfer


The Spanish press is currently full of stories linking Robinho with a move to Barcelona - and the consensus in Spain is that the Manchester City player will almost definietly be moving to the Camp Nou in January, either on a permanent basis or on loan.

However, contrary to reports, we can reveal that FC Barcelona have made no contact with Manchester City since the summer regarding a move for Robinho.


The Premier league club have no intention of selling their star player and Barcelona do not have sufficient funds to even consider making a large enough bid that might give City reason to reconsider. Furthermore, the Spanish champions are taking the prospect of Mark Hughes` club becoming a major European player seriously - and are eager to treat City with respect - which is why they have not even considered approaching them over a loan move for a player whom they know City have no desire to sell.

Mark Hughes considers Robinho a key player in his plans to progress the club to the next level and City have no intention of letting him go. However, the City boss faces having his man management skills tested to the full as Robinho is excited by the idea of a move to the Camp Nou and has already discussed the prospect with a Barcelona player.

City have ambitions of challenging for major honours, and know that selling a world class talent like Robinho will send out the wrong signals - which is why they will not allow themselves to be seen as bowing to pressure from Barcelona or the player. In the past this might have created a problem situation with a personality like Robinho, however the Brazilian - who has previous after publicly demanding a move from Real Madrid - insists that he is a reformed, more mature character. Only time will tell if that is the case...


This is from Balagues website. However we all know the spanish clubs THEY dont approach any club THEIR press do which is what has been happening.


However....
In todays article in The Daily Mirror - in association with Icons - I have suggested that the Barcelona press began by reporting that club President Joan Laporta had agreed a deal with Cesc Fabregas for next summer – which isn’t true - but is a signal from an outgoing president that he would love to take the credit for tying up the deal to bring back a player who Xavi describes as “having Barcelona in his DNA,” rather than enduring the sight of his successor taking all the glory.

Barcelona`s director of football then stated that Cesc “would one day belong to Barcelona.” It is impossible to envisage anyone at Arsenal making such a claim about a player at another club, but easy to imagine how those words will have gone down at the Emirates.

Nevertheless, Barcelona`s timing is a calculated signal to their fans that they do not intend to let Fabregas slip through their grasp a second time, while also suggesting that the love between club and player is mutual.

It is no longer a secret that the player`s relatives `bumped` into representatives of Barcelona at a couple of events – and the club are leaking that those innocuous meetings have convinced them the player wishes to return.

The Fabregas rumours also never go away...so who`s on the bench?

[colincollins59]

Cant blame Boj, good luck to the fella, has always shown the perfect attitude and ability in the brief opportunities he's had here, he knows he has 4 strikers ahead of him in the pecking order and it would be better for both parties to let him go.
(though i'd play him before Santa Cruz if both stayed fit for more than a fortnight?)

Yeah it's a difficult scenario though. He probably wants to prove his worth here, having not had the opportunity due to his injuries. But, as you say, there's now potentially 4 strikers ahead of him in the pecking order. Though, I wonder if he did come back fit and firing and in the form of his life, would Les play him instead of any of "his" signings?

Toughie.

[Ted Hughes]

Cant blame Boj, good luck to the fella, has always shown the perfect attitude and ability in the brief opportunities he's had here, he knows he has 4 strikers ahead of him in the pecking order and it would be better for both parties to let him go.
(though i'd play him before Santa Cruz if both stayed fit for more than a fortnight?)

Yeah it's a difficult scenario though. He probably wants to prove his worth here, having not had the opportunity due to his injuries. But, as you say, there's now potentially 4 strikers ahead of him in the pecking order. Though, I wonder if he did come back fit and firing and in the form of his life, would Les play him instead of any of "his" signings?

Toughie.

I think it's pretty shameful myself IF he did say it. We paid his fucking wages for two years, cheered the cunt from the rafters every time he got off the bench & he doesn't even have the slightest interest in even TRYING to get in our team & play for us even though he's only plyed a few games for them? Would he want to stay in Italy if the rags came in for him? Exactly.


If this is true he's a wanker.

[sandman]

Cant blame Boj, good luck to the fella, has always shown the perfect attitude and ability in the brief opportunities he's had here, he knows he has 4 strikers ahead of him in the pecking order and it would be better for both parties to let him go.
(though i'd play him before Santa Cruz if both stayed fit for more than a fortnight?)

Yeah it's a difficult scenario though. He probably wants to prove his worth here, having not had the opportunity due to his injuries. But, as you say, there's now potentially 4 strikers ahead of him in the pecking order. Though, I wonder if he did come back fit and firing and in the form of his life, would Les play him instead of any of "his" signings?

Toughie.

Even when Elano and Petrov have shown great form Leslie has benched them for "his" signings, I believe that his decisions do not always reflect the best interests of the club and we have lost several points during his reign by playing unsuitable subs / replacements.

[Beeks]

I think it's pretty shameful myself IF he did say it. We paid his fucking wages for two years, cheered the cunt from the rafters every time he got off the bench & he doesn't even have the slightest interest in even TRYING to get in our team & play for us even though he's only plyed a few games for them? Would he want to stay in Italy if the rags came in for him? Exactly.


If this is true he's a wanker.

Completely agree Ted...I think some City fans see Boj through bizarre rose tinted glasses

The guy has done fuck all for us...was more crocky than RSC and Bellers combined...yet people STILL seem to think he's the messiah?!

He's not the messiah he's just a very naughty boy...

[sandman]

Cant blame Boj, good luck to the fella, has always shown the perfect attitude and ability in the brief opportunities he's had here, he knows he has 4 strikers ahead of him in the pecking order and it would be better for both parties to let him go.
(though i'd play him before Santa Cruz if both stayed fit for more than a fortnight?)

Yeah it's a difficult scenario though. He probably wants to prove his worth here, having not had the opportunity due to his injuries. But, as you say, there's now potentially 4 strikers ahead of him in the pecking order. Though, I wonder if he did come back fit and firing and in the form of his life, would Les play him instead of any of "his" signings?

Toughie.

I think it's pretty shameful myself IF he did say it. We paid his fucking wages for two years, cheered the cunt from the rafters every time he got off the bench & he doesn't even have the slightest interest in even TRYING to get in our team & play for us even though he's only plyed a few games for them? Would he want to stay in Italy if the rags came in for him? Exactly.


If this is true he's a wanker.

We have Bellamy and Santa Cruz already fighting for a place, agreed we have treated him well, but would you hang around just to sit on a bench bleeding a club dry?

Granted we have the money to do it now, but he now has the chance to play football, we may aswell cut our losses and allow him to have a career?

[colincollins59]

Cant blame Boj, good luck to the fella, has always shown the perfect attitude and ability in the brief opportunities he's had here, he knows he has 4 strikers ahead of him in the pecking order and it would be better for both parties to let him go.
(though i'd play him before Santa Cruz if both stayed fit for more than a fortnight?)

Yeah it's a difficult scenario though. He probably wants to prove his worth here, having not had the opportunity due to his injuries. But, as you say, there's now potentially 4 strikers ahead of him in the pecking order. Though, I wonder if he did come back fit and firing and in the form of his life, would Les play him instead of any of "his" signings?

Toughie.

Even when Elano and Petrov have shown great form Leslie has benched them for "his" signings, I believe that his decisions do not always reflect the best interests of the club and we have lost several points during his reign by playing unsuitable subs / replacements.

It's a pretty difficult situation for Les though too I'd guess. Imagine if you'd just spent millions and millions on players and you ended up benching them for one of the players who was bought, before your reign, for just a hint of the fee?

He could either be slaughtered for wasting money on players he's not using or, on the slip side, not using any of the squad he inherited.

To be fair though, think of Ireland and Richards; Academy players who have been (at some stage) getting to the front of the queue, ahead of some of Hughes' buys (though not recently).

[Slim]

Tardelli was pooh at PSV

Yeah, but he has an awesome name, Fucktardelli is just epic.

[sandman]

Cant blame Boj, good luck to the fella, has always shown the perfect attitude and ability in the brief opportunities he's had here, he knows he has 4 strikers ahead of him in the pecking order and it would be better for both parties to let him go.
(though i'd play him before Santa Cruz if both stayed fit for more than a fortnight?)

Yeah it's a difficult scenario though. He probably wants to prove his worth here, having not had the opportunity due to his injuries. But, as you say, there's now potentially 4 strikers ahead of him in the pecking order. Though, I wonder if he did come back fit and firing and in the form of his life, would Les play him instead of any of "his" signings?

Toughie.

Even when Elano and Petrov have shown great form Leslie has benched them for "his" signings, I believe that his decisions do not always reflect the best interests of the club and we have lost several points during his reign by playing unsuitable subs / replacements.

It's a pretty difficult situation for Les though too I'd guess. Imagine if you'd just spent millions and millions on players and you ended up benching them for one of the players who was bought, before your reign, for just a hint of the fee?

He could either be slaughtered for wasting money on players he's not using or, on the slip side, not using any of the squad he inherited.

To be fair though, think of Ireland and Richards; Academy players who have been (at some stage) getting to the front of the queue, ahead of some of Hughes' buys (though not recently).

And Richards has now fallen out of favour...

If I havent missed anyone then there are only SWP and Ireland left from Sven... So what would be the point in Bojinov fighting for a place that just wont come??

[sandman]

Cant blame Boj, good luck to the fella, has always shown the perfect attitude and ability in the brief opportunities he's had here, he knows he has 4 strikers ahead of him in the pecking order and it would be better for both parties to let him go.
(though i'd play him before Santa Cruz if both stayed fit for more than a fortnight?)

Yeah it's a difficult scenario though. He probably wants to prove his worth here, having not had the opportunity due to his injuries. But, as you say, there's now potentially 4 strikers ahead of him in the pecking order. Though, I wonder if he did come back fit and firing and in the form of his life, would Les play him instead of any of "his" signings?

Toughie.

Even when Elano and Petrov have shown great form Leslie has benched them for "his" signings, I believe that his decisions do not always reflect the best interests of the club and we have lost several points during his reign by playing unsuitable subs / replacements.

It's a pretty difficult situation for Les though too I'd guess. Imagine if you'd just spent millions and millions on players and you ended up benching them for one of the players who was bought, before your reign, for just a hint of the fee?

He could either be slaughtered for wasting money on players he's not using or, on the slip side, not using any of the squad he inherited.

To be fair though, think of Ireland and Richards; Academy players who have been (at some stage) getting to the front of the queue, ahead of some of Hughes' buys (though not recently).

And Richards has now fallen out of favour...

If I havent missed anyone then there are only SWP and Ireland left from Sven... So what would be the point in Bojinov fighting for a place that just wont come??

Silly me Lesie signed SWP!!

[Ted Hughes]

Cant blame Boj, good luck to the fella, has always shown the perfect attitude and ability in the brief opportunities he's had here, he knows he has 4 strikers ahead of him in the pecking order and it would be better for both parties to let him go.
(though i'd play him before Santa Cruz if both stayed fit for more than a fortnight?)

Yeah it's a difficult scenario though. He probably wants to prove his worth here, having not had the opportunity due to his injuries. But, as you say, there's now potentially 4 strikers ahead of him in the pecking order. Though, I wonder if he did come back fit and firing and in the form of his life, would Les play him instead of any of "his" signings?

Toughie.

Even when Elano and Petrov have shown great form Leslie has benched them for "his" signings, I believe that his decisions do not always reflect the best interests of the club and we have lost several points during his reign by playing unsuitable subs / replacements.

It's a pretty difficult situation for Les though too I'd guess. Imagine if you'd just spent millions and millions on players and you ended up benching them for one of the players who was bought, before your reign, for just a hint of the fee?

He could either be slaughtered for wasting money on players he's not using or, on the slip side, not using any of the squad he inherited.

To be fair though, think of Ireland and Richards; Academy players who have been (at some stage) getting to the front of the queue, ahead of some of Hughes' buys (though not recently).

If Bojinov came back here & played like Francis Lee he'd be in the team, if he wasn't good enough he wouldn't unless we had injuries. The idea Hughes wouldn't play him because he didn't sign him is complete horse shit. Where's Tal Ben Haim? Still in the team? His signings get games because they're mostly fucking better than the previous signings. No other reason.

[colincollins59]

Cant blame Boj, good luck to the fella, has always shown the perfect attitude and ability in the brief opportunities he's had here, he knows he has 4 strikers ahead of him in the pecking order and it would be better for both parties to let him go.
(though i'd play him before Santa Cruz if both stayed fit for more than a fortnight?)

Yeah it's a difficult scenario though. He probably wants to prove his worth here, having not had the opportunity due to his injuries. But, as you say, there's now potentially 4 strikers ahead of him in the pecking order. Though, I wonder if he did come back fit and firing and in the form of his life, would Les play him instead of any of "his" signings?

Toughie.

Even when Elano and Petrov have shown great form Leslie has benched them for "his" signings, I believe that his decisions do not always reflect the best interests of the club and we have lost several points during his reign by playing unsuitable subs / replacements.

It's a pretty difficult situation for Les though too I'd guess. Imagine if you'd just spent millions and millions on players and you ended up benching them for one of the players who was bought, before your reign, for just a hint of the fee?

He could either be slaughtered for wasting money on players he's not using or, on the slip side, not using any of the squad he inherited.

To be fair though, think of Ireland and Richards; Academy players who have been (at some stage) getting to the front of the queue, ahead of some of Hughes' buys (though not recently).

And Richards has now fallen out of favour...

If I havent missed anyone then there are only SWP and Ireland left from Sven... So what would be the point in Bojinov fighting for a place that just wont come??

SWP was a Hughes signing. :)

My thoughts are, Hughes says he plays (or will play once everyone is fit) players according to the opposition, as most good managers will too. The trouble with Boj is, what does he have to offer that is different to, say, Tevez or Bellamy? He's a very good finisher, but so are they. He seems a worker, but so are they. And he's certainly not as quick as Bellamy. And obviously, he's not a "targetman" like Ade or RSC. So where would he fit in? Would he just be a like-for-like substitution for Tevez or Bellamy?

[Douglas Higginbottom]

Cant blame Boj, good luck to the fella, has always shown the perfect attitude and ability in the brief opportunities he's had here, he knows he has 4 strikers ahead of him in the pecking order and it would be better for both parties to let him go.
(though i'd play him before Santa Cruz if both stayed fit for more than a fortnight?)

Yeah it's a difficult scenario though. He probably wants to prove his worth here, having not had the opportunity due to his injuries. But, as you say, there's now potentially 4 strikers ahead of him in the pecking order. Though, I wonder if he did come back fit and firing and in the form of his life, would Les play him instead of any of "his" signings?

Toughie.

Even when Elano and Petrov have shown great form Leslie has benched them for "his" signings, I believe that his decisions do not always reflect the best interests of the club and we have lost several points during his reign by playing unsuitable subs / replacements.

It's a pretty difficult situation for Les though too I'd guess. Imagine if you'd just spent millions and millions on players and you ended up benching them for one of the players who was bought, before your reign, for just a hint of the fee?

He could either be slaughtered for wasting money on players he's not using or, on the slip side, not using any of the squad he inherited.

To be fair though, think of Ireland and Richards; Academy players who have been (at some stage) getting to the front of the queue, ahead of some of Hughes' buys (though not recently).

If Bojinov came back here & played like Francis Lee he'd be in the team, if he wasn't good enough he wouldn't unless we had injuries. The idea Hughes wouldn't play him because he didn't sign him is complete horse shit. Where's Tal Ben Haim? Still in the team? His signings get games because they're mostly fucking better than the previous signings. No other reason.

Spot on Ted

[sandman]

But Boj is no Fanny Lee is he, so why should he feel the need to stay to sit on the bench, fair do'd the club have treated him well, but what advantage would it be to City to keep him?

[Guy Debord]

Bojinov wouldn't get near the team on merit. We've now got better. We know it and he knows it.

[Ted Hughes]

A fully fit Boj is a talent, we don't have many players who can shoot from distance with both feet like he can for a start. That would require getting back some reasonable pace though & I'm doubtful he will but If he was to genuinely get back to the level that he used to be at then he would be a serious option for us. I don't like the idea that he's not trying to achieve that.