egg

My view on the player will be the same whoever I reply to! I've said that I don't think anyone can give an opinion without seeing someone play, or having info from someone who has. I stand by that and that applies to any player. If you've seen him play then fine, have an opinion. We disagree so lets leave it there.

Davey, you're right to an extent. What is dominating this thread is opinions about a player from people who have never seen the player or heard first hand reports. Ridiculous. If someone has no knowledge they can't express an opinion about the players ability, and shouldn't criticise the opinion of people who have.

Diggy, if you bother to read what I've actually written I say I've seen him play a few times. Based on what I've seen he ain't a £12m player and not an upgrade on what we have. Is your opinion on him based on just what you've read on the Internet?

Is 12 yellows in a season a sign of a disciplined and accurate tackler. Yes or no?

I never thought I'd call you the voice of reason Del but on this occasion you are. Completely over rated.

You're an idiot mate. I haven't said that my opinion is that the transfer committee have messed up. I just don't rate this player as highly as some. That seemingly includes you, despite you never having seen him play.

Didn't know that was my opinion, but thanks for your opinion of my opinion. My opinion is that he's a more athletic player than we have but a lesser footballer. You've never seen him play so its probably best not to express an opinion, or speculate about the opinions of others. Any, footy is about opinions so allow people to express theirs.

Whoa wild man. I thought this was a forum where opinions are expressed. IMO (having seen him play several times) he's athletic but erratic in the tackle and not a good passer. If you can't win a clean tackle against Scotland prem midfielders you're gonna struggle against the prem finest. When he's not suspended he'll help our pressing game but from what I've seen he won't help us keep the ball or hit accurate passes like MS or even cork.

It should buy better than that. 12 yellows a season playing against average players and a terrible range of passing doesn't excite me, especially at £12m

Because its not a giveaway price. I can't believe we're prepared to spend £12m on him. He's big and athletic, but not a great footballer.

I think inexperience is the wrong word though. We seem to be naive of how the transfer game works. Not being held to ransom but at the top level you have to compete with other clubs in the transfer market, and to steal a march on them you've got to at least match what they're prepared to pay everyone involved in the deal. If you don't you can't compete at that level.

I think that's the point. Experienced buyers of top players will know that agents payments are a part of the business at the top end and need to be paid. Unwillingness to do that suggests a naivety in understanding what needs to be done if you want to play with the big boys. I posted last year that agents don't want to deal with us. The indications are that may still be the case and that morals/penny pinching are holding back team strengthening.

Good minds and all that.

I don't think we'll see too much of Ricky in the 9 position next season. He just hasn't got the pace. I think that part of the reason that GR looked average for large chunks of last season was RL's inability to play off the shoulder of the last man. JR, Mayuka or AN Other will play up top imo. I think that RL does still have a role though and I think he'll feature in the hole - kind of a Sheringham type role where I'll think he'll do well.

But Darren don't you see, it's the tip of the iceberg. Nasty nick could instruct the groundsman to cut different stripes into grass, or change the brand of the ketchup next. I honestly don't know where these massive changes will end.

This. We've got another kit without stripes down the front but so what (it does in fact have stripes which are the corporate brand of it's supplier. The deal may involve their stripes taking priority over ours - i haven't got a problem with that and a striped shirt with more stripes on would probably look sh1t anyway). Our badge has gone gold, maybe for a season or longer but again so what. So far as I can tell that's all that the horrible Mr Cortese has done. Hardly worthy of moaning from anyone imo, and certainly not worthy of yet another thread seeking to discuss nothing much at all.

Is there a tougher question? So many possible answers but Case for me. Williams was great but didn't impose himself as often, and run games as often, as our jimmy.

Who told you that? From what I hear he's in the market. Whilst we don't want it to be true there's legs in this sadly.

I could say in one sentence that our value will be more than potential buyers would offer.

Our under 20's haven't won a game at the World Cup since 1997. Christ, we're more **** than I thought.

Amen.

You misunderstand me. I'm saying ms ain't worth 20-30 million.

He sold for £15m and had full caps. We're looking at uncapped for £20-30 million.

Any selling club would value any player of theirs higher than their market value. He ain't worth 20-30million. Forget your stupid Henderson and Aoc comparable and name one uncapped defensive midfielder, with no CL experience, that's been sold for that sort of fee.

I may be, who knows. What I do know is that MS, as good as he is, ain't a 21-30m player based on what he's done so far. As to AOC you cannot compare a defensive midfielder to an attacking player for valuation purposes. The best flair players will always command much higher fees than others.