angelman

Might we trying to get in the replacement before finalising his sale? Would love to get this bit of "business" done and dusted so that we can push on with things. Same with Clyne.

He's been quoted saying: “There are three options - stay with Atletico, stay with Southampton or go to another club. So we will see what happens." Now the Euros are coming up, and players want to be playing, so he has to weigh things up. Madrid - Champs League but questionable whether he get regular starts, same as with Chelsea. At least we can offer the chance of European football even if it is at a lower level. Wages might be an issue. Apparently he was on €5m or so at Madrid!! Chelsea could of course easily match that but not sure we would stretch to £65-70k per week.

Was it ever on? Spurs seem to think that it was, but it does take two to tango.

I thought that everyone had been saying for moths that it was a done deal with Arsenal.

Think I probably agree with you.

Hope this means that the fee is higher. If Man U want him, they might just take the view not to quibble too much over the price (as they do have a **** load of money) and just pay up in case Arsenal get him.

That's the big problem in all this. Our HG quota has taken a fair battering. Another good idea that is in fact **** to all but the richest clubs. A bit like FFP.

You are looking at it just from the clubs perspective. It takes two to tango. The club might want to sell if he doesn't want to sign a new contract, which is probably the most likely outcome, but this only will happen if both parties are in agreement. It is a sad indictment that it is now taken that contracts are more than worthless, and that is a surprise when clubs or players actually stick to the agreement that was struck. Bit like Adenayor with Spurs. They may well want to sell him to get him off the wages, but he ain't going any where unless he can get his near £170k a week wages.

And do you think the club would have offered him one if he had not recovered?

Sorry but you are talking complete ******. It is how the club wants it to work. But if we held Morgan to his contract last season, Clyne can hold the club to his contract this season should he wish. He cannot be sold unless by mutual consent. If he wants to stay with us another season and become a free agent, so be it. That is why there are contracts. You can't pick and choose which aspects you want.

He has a contract. Why should he be pressured into extending it, or feel beholden to do so?

I think the saga of JRod's contract, and subsequent statement, should tell people that it's probably best to wait and see what happens. After all, JR was signing for Man City, Liverpool and Spurs.

Lolsvaldo might fit in well with Lollana and Lolvren.

I agree. What is he worth to us? In the same way that Ings hung around (albeit there was compensation due if staying in England) as his value to Burnley was (potentially) more than what they could get if they sold him.

The Italians are still smarting over the 2002 WC. TBH they probably have good reason to, but saying it was fixed - well, unless there is evidence, that is quite brave. Unless they want to be sued so that it can be decided in court. If FIFA take no legal action then it probably isn't libellous. http://www.goal.com/en/news/1884/north-america/2010/09/21/2130136/infamous-south-korea-italy-world-cup-2002-referee-byron

And me.

Seems so. Me, I want him to stay and think he is good. BUT I wonder looking at his performances whether he was more effective last season than this, or whether the performances at the beginning of this season were better than those at the end (after the contract deadline was given and speculation about going to Utd surfaced)? I still recall him being dropped - not for any injury, so wonder whether his head might not be elsewhere. He is of course entitled to do as he likes with regards his contract. If he doesn't want to sign an extension, so be it. If he wants to see his contract out and leave on a free, so be it.

Interesting piece on how Blatter has developed football. http://www.theguardian.com/football/2015/may/28/sepp-blatter-fifa-africa-zambia Particularly like the shot of the $800k building's kitchen, that would be USD I presume!!

I thought that rather amusing. OK, it's true he can't keep an eye on everyone, but we are talking about head of federations and vice presidents here. So if he can't keep an eye on them, then who (apart from himself) does he keep an eye on?

https://secure.avaaz.org/en/clean_up_football_uk/?tmHKQab Not sure it will do any good, but I signed. Moving quickly as well.....

To be honest, UEFA has been pathetic in the way it has kowtowed to FIFA. It needs to grow a pair, withdraw from FIFA (if it refuses to change) and set up by itself. If we missed out on a WC or two. so be it. The Euros are a higher standard (generally) and would be a good enough alternative until things were sorted out.

One of the reasons it hasn't been awarded to England is because the rules of football belong to the FA. And when things happen in this country, FA is more senior than FIFA.

They had some journo bloke on talkSport who had done Panorama programme on this, and his opinion (for what it's worth) was 2018 - either UK or Belgium/Netherlands and 2022 - USA. The problem with all this was the 2022. As we all know it is the most ridiculous decision. Seems some got too greedy and brought a whole whole lot more attention on to them which hopefully will bring the whole of FIFA crashing down.

Reckon this strengthens Blatter's position. Vote him in and no investigation into what else might be rattling around the cupboard, as per usual. Get a new guy in and he might want to do a spring clean. Now IF you had some skeletons that you wanted to be firmly kept locked away, who would you vote for? (I say "IF" because as we all know this is hypothetical etc etc)

We'll see. Maybe he is just moving to a different property. Don't get me wrong, I'd love him to stay, but....