Exeter reject Brighton bid for playmaker Ryan Harley

[stu0x]

Apologies if already posted/discussed.

 

I think this could be significant for us. Harley is one of the names that has been floated around for some time as a possible target of ours. Exeter have apparently rejected "several" bids from Brighton. Exeter's financial model essentially revolves around selling one of their 'major' players a year to help them break even - last year it was Seabourne, obviously. With Exeter having gone to press about rejecting their offer (which they don't ordinarily do), it suggests that there are other offers on the table which look more attractive, they wouldn't throw out Brighton's approach so publicly without an alternative. With Brighton being top of the league, and a good deal richer than most of the other clubs in the division, I can only really think of one League One club that might have put a more attractive offer (from both financial and promotional perspectives) on the table...

 

I stress I am not 'ITK' but have some (limited) inside knowledge of the club so the above is based on rational reasoning as opposed to wild speculation...

 

It would also fit in neatly with Adkins' comments about strengthening the squad and having already made offers.

[OldNick]

Well it seems Poyet is a good judge. he took Noone from Plymouth and he is rated, and after Harleys performance against us I believe we shoulod go out and get him. he looked real quality to me.I would be delighted if we get him.

[PhilippineSaint]

so pure speculation without a trace of factuality in any of the scenarios that we might possibly be in for a player who could go somewhere else or even stay at Exeter.

 

Why do people who have no idea what is going on on speculate about these things it doesn't make them look big only sad and misguided when it all falls into a pile of pooh pooh.

[Dan Johnson]

Well it seems Poyet is a good judge. he took Noone from Plymouth and he is rated, and after Harleys performance against us I believe we shoulod go out and get him. he looked real quality to me.I would be delighted if we get him.

 

Agreed, he was by far their best player on the day and was the only player that looked likely to make things happen.

[Gambol2K9]

so pure speculation without a trace of factuality in any of the scenarios that we might possibly be in for a player who could go somewhere else or even stay at Exeter.

 

Why do people who have no idea what is going on on speculate about these things it doesn't make them look big only sad and misguided when it all falls into a pile of pooh pooh.

 

I'd rather someone say they're speculating then claim to be ITK.

 

There is some logic to it, gives us something to discuss on an otherwise slow news day

[landford.saint]

so pure speculation without a trace of factuality in any of the scenarios that we might possibly be in for a player who could go somewhere else or even stay at Exeter.

 

Why do people who have no idea what is going on on speculate about these things it doesn't make them look big only sad and misguided when it all falls into a pile of pooh pooh.

 

I'm all for people making speculative speculations (is that English) this forum is based on total fabrication alot of the time, at least this poster has based his speculation on a price of fact (the offer rejection) and has stated he is not ITK or in receipt of any dodgy info. More power to his elbow. Just the sort of speculation all footy supporters make. Let's have many more.

[OldNick]

so pure speculation without a trace of factuality in any of the scenarios that we might possibly be in for a player who could go somewhere else or even stay at Exeter.

 

Why do people who have no idea what is going on on speculate about these things it doesn't make them look big only sad and misguided when it all falls into a pile of pooh pooh.

 

I found it interesting, and as he is a player i rated it was a good thought if we did try and get him.

[saintstr1]

I'm all for people making speculative speculations (is that English) this forum is based on total fabrication alot of the time, at least this poster has based his speculation on a price of fact (the offer rejection) and has stated he is not ITK or in receipt of any dodgy info. More power to his elbow. Just the sort of speculation all footy supporters make. Let's have many more.

 

Agreed, Nothing wrong with a bit of sensible speculation.

[Doctoroncall]

or there could be bids from championship clubs (and not newcastle as he'll be 26 this month)?

[Saint Fan CaM]

Yes - he did look to be their best player, but would he do a better job than anyone we have already? In other words, do we really need more cover at CM?

[thesaint sfc]

It's a given that we're going to sign him then. Might as well make this a sticky mods?

[OldNick]

Yes - he did look to be their best player, but would he do a better job than anyone we have already? In other words, do we really need more cover at CM?

 

IMO he was a playmaker, something that we haven't got at present with MS or DH. A cultured player who had energy and drive.

[Saint Fan CaM]

IMO he was a playmaker, something that we haven't got at present with MS or DH. A cultured player who had energy and drive.

 

Errr, have you been asleep for the last week? What about our latest signing Chaplow???

[Window Cleaner]

I would say that if we're genuinely interested in signing Harley at this moment then it is because Lallana is genuinely interested in leaving;

[Saint_clark]

Have to say I didn't even notice him when we played Exeter.

[Window Cleaner]

Have to say I didn't even notice him when we played Exeter.

 

It would be interesting to know how exactly those that seem to be desperately keen to sign him would envisage to fit him into our side.

[Saint_clark]

It would be interesting to know how exactly those that seem to be desperately keen to sign him would envisage to fit him into our side.

 

He'd be a bench warmer, nothing more.

[trousers]

The article in question on Exeter's OS does seem to be a thinly veiled attempt to inflate his price...but the way I read it is that they are more likely saying to Brighton: "Up your offer and he's yours" rather than "Saints - beat Brighton's offer and he's yours". Who knows...

 

http://www.exetercityfc.co.uk/page/NewsDetail/0,,10436~2257955,00.html

[OldNick]

It would be interesting to know how exactly those that seem to be desperately keen to sign him would envisage to fit him into our side.

 

easy MS or DH would make way

[Window Cleaner]

easy MS or DH would make way

 

Really, so our bog standard CM pairing would be Chaplow and Harley, in that case we'd best be getting our bids in for Dzeko and

Carroll cos we're gonna need some firepower to counter all the goals we'll concede. Neither of them is good enough defensively to replace either MS or DH. If we sign Harley it's because Lallana is on his way out.

[OldNick]

Really, so our bog standard CM pairing would be Chaplow and Harley, in that case we'd best be getting our bids in for Dzeko and

Carroll cos we're gonna need some firepower to counter all the goals we'll concede. Neither of them is good enough defensively to replace either MS or DH. If we sign Harley it's because Lallana is on his way out.

I don't see Chaplow as an attacking midfielder, he is a gritty ball winner who does get into the box. To strengthen the midfield with a player like Harley would be good IMO, Harley stood out in the game I saw him play and I wonder if we may be missing a decent player if he goes to Brighton.

[trousers]

Really, so our bog standard CM pairing would be Chaplow and Harley, in that case we'd best be getting our bids in for Dzeko and

Carroll cos we're gonna need some firepower to counter all the goals we'll concede. Neither of them is good enough defensively to replace either MS or DH. If we sign Harley it's because Lallana is on his way out.

 

Or....Cortese/Adkins want to buy him to spoil Brighton's attempts to secure promotion ahead of us? As far fetched as that may sound, in a metaphorical game of chess the best strategy is just as important to weaken your opponent(s) as it is to strengthen your own position.

 

Preventing our promotion rivals snapping up the top players in this league would be a shrewd move IMHO.

[Window Cleaner]

Or....Cortese/Adkins want to buy him to spoil Brighton's attempts to secure promotion ahead of us? As far fetched as that may sound, in a metaphorical game of chess the best strategy is to weaken your opponent(s) and not just strengthen your own side.

 

Preventing our promotion rivals snapping up the top players in this league would be a shrewd move IMHO.

 

Like Everton in the 70's or Man U and Chelsea nowadays you mean.Whatever, we have no visible use for him at present and I don't see NC and NA going down that road.

[Whitey Grandad]

Look at it this way.... If we buy him then it stops Brighton from strengthening their squad.

[The9]

Really, so our bog standard CM pairing would be Chaplow and Harley, in that case we'd best be getting our bids in for Dzeko and

Carroll cos we're gonna need some firepower to counter all the goals we'll concede. Neither of them is good enough defensively to replace either MS or DH. If we sign Harley it's because Lallana is on his way out.

 

To be fair, with Oxlade-Chamberlain playing as well as he is, and at the age he is, and with Puncheon already seemingly on the way out, that's quite an assumption to make. We're already short of wide midfielders due to Holmes' season-long injury and Puncheon's loan.

 

I happened to catch a bit of conversation with an Exeter fan on the way back from the match the other day and he was blaming their use of Harley on the same side as some other bloke (yeah, vague, I know) for their failings - though of course that could be for any number of reasons.

 

Can't say I'd be too worried by Brighton signing him.

[qwertySFC]

I'm sure our aim is a bit higher - good player but as said by the club - we want quality . I honestly can't see us making a bid for him because he does not solve any current concerns or add value to a Championship side.

[The9]

Look at it this way.... If we buy him then it stops Brighton from strengthening their squad.

 

And if we don't it's because we've got better players already.

 

Assuming all the rhetoric about having money to spend is true I'd expect us to be mostly adding players from the CCC, as we did last season at this point. Though it should also be noted that last season our December form was good and by the time we'd integrated the new players (and played a bunch of Cup matches) and got to March we'd slipped away from the playoffs. I'd hope this time the changes would be tweaks rather than chucking in 3/4 of a new back line in one go, and we've already added Chaplow and potentially Guly without affecting the balance because they're already here.

 

FWIW if Puncheon's problem is surmountable I don't have a problem with getting him back either.

Edited 5 January, 2011 by The9

[Sour Mash]

Really, so our bog standard CM pairing would be Chaplow and Harley, in that case we'd best be getting our bids in for Dzeko and

Carroll cos we're gonna need some firepower to counter all the goals we'll concede. Neither of them is good enough defensively to replace either MS or DH. If we sign Harley it's because Lallana is on his way out.

 

What the f**k, you think MS is better defensively than Chaplow?

[Window Cleaner]

What the f**k, you think MS is better defensively than Chaplow?

 

yes I do.

[Gambol2K9]

I'm perfectly happy with a RC and DH/MS pairing. I dont see how he would fit into the squad unless he would be prepared to spend a lot of time on the bench, rotating with RC.

[labibs]

Can he play wide? If so, then this to me would indicate that Puncheon is indeed staying at Millwall and he is his replacement, particularly as Adkins has repeatedly said that he would have to rest AOC at some point. All speculation based on Brighton's bid being turned down of course!

[SO16_Saint]

so pure speculation without a trace of factuality in any of the scenarios that we might possibly be in for a player who could go somewhere else or even stay at Exeter.

 

Why do people who have no idea what is going on on speculate about these things it doesn't make them look big only sad and misguided when it all falls into a pile of pooh pooh.

 

get out of bed the wrong side today and hit your head?

[Chez]

Not sure why people are looking at Harley to replace a central midfielder. He will replace Puncheon should we even be interested. As for it being a sign that Lallana is off I don't agree with that as we have one right midfielder in the squad so it is essential to recruit someone to back Alex up.

[doddisalegend]

I watched him with interest at the Exeter match becuase people on here kept putting his name forward. To be honest I wasn't overly impressed, couple of nice touches but nothing to suggest he was better than players we already have. I think we may need another CM though becuase I get the feeling Morgan doesn't want to be here any more.

[St_Tel49]

so pure speculation without a trace of factuality in any of the scenarios that we might possibly be in for a player who could go somewhere else or even stay at Exeter.

 

Why do people who have no idea what is going on on speculate about these things it doesn't make them look big only sad and misguided when it all falls into a pile of pooh pooh.

 

There's nothing wrong with reasoned speculation if the poster makes that clear as he does in this case. Its much better than wild speculation or claims to be ITK and gives us something to debate.

[CWD]

I watched him with interest at the Exeter match becuase people on here kept putting his name forward. To be honest I wasn't overly impressed, couple of nice touches but nothing to suggest he was better than players we already have.

 

This. However it would give us depth in midfield that we haven't had for as long as I have been supporting saints.

[sperm_john]

so pure speculation without a trace of factuality in any of the scenarios that we might possibly be in for a player who could go somewhere else or even stay at Exeter.

 

Why do people who have no idea what is going on on speculate about these things it doesn't make them look big only sad and misguided when it all falls into a pile of pooh pooh.

 

yes lets just sit in silence and not discuss anything on this forum ...that will be fun ....

[Secret Site Agent]

so pure speculation without a trace of factuality in any of the scenarios that we might possibly be in for a player who could go somewhere else or even stay at Exeter.

 

Why do people who have no idea what is going on on speculate about these things it doesn't make them look big only sad and misguided when it all falls into a pile of pooh pooh.

 

Wow. He said it was speculation and not itk. He's just doing an expanded hcdajfu. Following your logic, we should not even speculate just inform, thereby negating the need for the forum, and just replace it with a link to the official site.

[Saint Charlie]

He is neither a winger nor a central midfielder, don't seem him fitting in for us although he is decent.

[SFC Forever]

Harley may be a good player but not IMO good enough for the top. Therefore we need some players coming through the ranks from higher clubs league wise that are unable to get a game maybe.

[The9]

Harley may be a good player but not IMO good enough for the top. Therefore we need some players coming through the ranks from higher clubs league wise that are unable to get a game maybe.

 

Or, as last season, we can hoover up a couple of decent players from Championship sides or League One rivals who are desperate for cash, this time with the added bonus of being able to offer them a decent chance of Championship football next season rather than the mere possibility it was last season, with that being partially dependent on them signing.