Donatello

Haha, checkmate!

They paid a shedload, yes, and now West Ham are bidding £4/5m for him. Yes, he scored a few goals, and then people were mentioning him as an outside possibility of making the England squad - people overreact. Left winger? Left winger?! Do you really have that a naive understanding of current formation trends? At any rate, Long is certainly better suited to this 'left wing' role you speak. Edit: Reference 'left wing', I'm not of the opinion that you are naive, I just think you're choosing to be difficult

I must've missed that potential. He may become a PL quality player, but we don't have the time to wait. Nor is he ever going to play on the left-side of an attacking trio. Ultimately (and regardless of my opinion of Wickham), it's an inconsistent comparison for the reasons stated above.

There are a few who would *genuinely* prefer Wickham

BBC picking it up, finally. http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/28770664

Negredo? You are *dreaming*/delirious Furthermore, Hernandez is evidently not keen, and it's reported that Bony has excessive wage demands. Edit: On second reading, perhaps you were joking. Haha, apologies.

The key word being 'touted'. JRod was an out and out striker moulded to fit the demands of the modern game. Long possesses all of the qualities to make such a transition. And he'll be playing with another striker up front.

Read, pal. I said the fee is *nigh on* irrelevant *if* you (anyone) deem him a substandard player because you'd not be satisfied if he signed for half of the reported fee. We're assessing the signing on its individual merit. I'll simplify, what's your main gripe?

Okay, if it's the fee (I agree that it's exorbitant at first glance), fair enough. The next Q is by how much do you feel we've overpaid if the speculated fee is accurate? I would suggest, say, £4m or so(?). If he scores 30 goals over the next three seasons (I think he'll score more, personally) then it's peanuts, really.

So, you've been underwhelmed by one signing out of seven? What's to complain about?

Exactly. What's your grievance, dissenters? The player or the fee? You may say "both", but the fee is nigh on irrelevant if you think he'd be a poor signing irrespective of the fee. Set your stool out. Bad signing or bad fee?

Is it similarly "strange" when JRod plays on the left?

Cheers for info, pal. Equally happy.

No, we really shouldn't have.

I wasn't aware that we could compete with Liverpool in the transfer market.

2013/14 - Hull/West From 2012/3 - West From 2011/2 - West From 2013/4 - Manchester United 2012/3 - Manchester United 2011/2 - Manchester United Edit: Yes, West From (Brom)

He scored 7 goals in 30 appearances last year with Hull and West Brom. That's 10 goals a season form....with West Brom and Hull.

Given that the deal is almost certainly going to be structured, there's a high probability that it'll include performance-related clauses. If he's as sub-standard as many of you are certain that he is, why the concern? He'll never satisfy those (potential) clauses, right?

The fee should be judged in relation to all transfers of similar standing. So, yes, Carroll (to West Ham), McCormack, Osvaldo, Valencia, Jelavic, Bony, etc.

Pedantic, eh? And what do you call misrepresenting his goal scoring record to suit your opinion, might I ask? 'Creative'?

He'll play as an inside forward/a wide forward. Close to Pelle when attacking, close to Bertrand when defending (I suspect).

Nooooooo, he scored 4 league goals since signing for Hull (15 appearances, supposedly). Do a little legwork before spouting fallacies.

Chasing preferred targets, I assume.

Ah, yes, the prolific Fraizer Campbell (whose stock has rocketed on account of the fact that relegation dictated his sale fee).