Summer 2010 Transfer Thread: B*llsh*t, Rumours & Wishes

[PaulWinch again]

I admire your optimism, but the cold reality is that Mr Lerner won't pour cold cash into the club anymore - just read MON's comments in the B'ham Mail. Believe me, Lerner is preparing to exit - may be not immediately, but it's going to happen. He won't back MON as the current transfer policy bears out.

One word: Bollocks.

Yep have to agree, absolute shit. Nothing from Randy Lerner's actions suggested any of this.

[pauliewalnuts]

Guess what - Spurs in for Milner now

http://www.newsoftheworld.co.uk/sport/football/887816/HARRY-TO-HIJACK-JAMES-FROM-CITYS-CLUTCHES.html

There is no way on this earth that Spurs would spend that much on James Milner.

They run a tight ship down there.

[wozwebs]

Also in the NOTW

O'NEILL'S BIG DREAM

By Garry Doyle, 24/07/2010
MARTIN O'NEILL will never give up trying to recreate his improbable dream.

Though it remains as unlikely as Jordan taking a vow of chastity, the Aston Villa boss is still bidding to emulate Kenny Dalglish's achievement of winning the League as both player AND manager.

Yet he is fully aware that if he and Villa managed to do so, then it would be nothing short of a miracle.

Then again, O'Neill has already lived through one, having been part of Brian Clough's Nottingham Forest side which tasted First Division and European Cup glory in the 1970s.

While those triumphs were gloriously unexpected, they were made possible by an egalitarian football economy which allowed geniuses like Clough to turn provincial clubs into world leaders.

Now the landscape has changed, to the point where a peripheral member of football's cast will only get to share centre stage if an oligarch comes along with wads of cash.

Villa don't have that luxury and even though their owner, Randy Lerner, has spent nearly £120million during O'Neill's four-year tenure, those figures are dwarfed by the numbers Manchester City and Chelsea have forked out in the same time-frame.

Yet in spite of the lopsided nature of football's finances, O'Neill is refusing to concede defeat, insisting his goal is to break into the Champions League.

And privately, he also hopes to launch a title bid - even if publicly his policy is to play things down.

He said: "I know it is getting impossible for clubs like ours to compete. It always seems to be getting further away.

"Just when you think you're getting there, a Manchester City appears on the horizon, who are not just a threat to us, Everton, and Tottenham, but a genuine title contender. Losing a player, someone like Milner, hardly makes it easier, either. You have to replace someone with that ability and experience immediately - and do so with a player who will probably be of less value in the transfer market.

"That makes it quite tough. And what adds further to the difficulty is the depth of talent our rivals possess.

"For example, Manchester City will have 28-29 players in their squad this season and while I know a number of those will sit in the stand, the fact is they shouldn't have any major problems with personel.

"And over the course of a season, that's a major difference between them and us. We will get injuries, suspensions and a bit of tiredness every now and again, and the fact is that the top sides can rotate better than the rest of us.

"But once I get a summer break, I always go into a season with a renewed determination that we can compete."

Had he been managing in Clough's era then O'Neill's tactical acumen, coupled with his eye for a bargain, could have resulted in him competing with his mentor for English and European football's major prizes.

Yet as he relaxed this week on the Portmarnock seafront, where his Villa side had come to fine-tune their pre-season training programme, O'Neill recalled how life was different then.

He said: "It was a more level playing field then. Forest were the first team to pay £1m for a player - Trevor Francis - the first to spend £250,000 on a goalkeeper - Peter Shilton. We were able to compete."

Now Villa struggle to do so. Yet at least they have spent wisely whereas other clubs, notably Portsmouth, built their homes on sandy foundations.

O'Neill said: "The financial issues have to be a concern for football people. Three years ago, I wouldn't have said that but Portsmouth are a big example to everybody.

"You see the debts the major sides have and I worry. And you know that Chelsea and Manchester City wouldn't be able to sustain it if they hadn't rich owners.

"But this is the era we are in. And if I was told, 'here's £300m, give it to us when you can' well, I wouldn't turn it down."

Instead, he will be given considerably less to spend, with the majority of his shopping budget coming via sales. That is why he is determined to play hardball with City over Milner, hoping to sneak Stephen Ireland as a makeweight, as well as a £24m fee.

A third of that money will then be spent on Robbie Keane with another third going to O'Neill's old club, Celtic, for Aiden McGeady.

That will strengthen the Irish connection at the club where Richard Dunne has made a huge impression.

Dunne joked: "If I had my way, I'd probably sign the whole Irish squad. I don't know anything about Robbie and Aiden coming here but I rate the pair of them highly."

Similarly, Dunne rates Villa's chance of winning silverware highly saying: "We went close last season in the FA Cup and the Carling Cup.

"We've learned from that experience and would like to go one step further."

With O' Neill to guide them, they could well do so.

So Milner gone, Ireland, Keane and McGeady in. May as well wear green shirts next season

[JUAN PABLO]

Guess what - Spurs in for Milner now

http://www.newsoftheworld.co.uk/sport/football/887816/HARRY-TO-HIJACK-JAMES-FROM-CITYS-CLUTCHES.html

£20 million plus keane and Bentley .. Job Done  ;-D

[JUAN PABLO]

Getting a bit like the old days of Staunton, Mcgrath and Townsend.. I loved those days...

[TheSandman]

Spurs ready to swoop in for £24million Mancini target Milner

By Aidan Magee, 24/07/2010
TOTTENHAM are ready to hijack Manchester City's £24million move for James Milner.

The midfielder is one of three players boss Harry Redknapp has targeted to drive his Champions League campaign.

He has already made a £20million bid for Aston Villa's Ashley Young and remains hopeful of bringing in Craig Bellamy from Manchester City.

Now Redknapp plans to step in if City's latest bid for Milner is turned down as City are adamant they will not make an increased third offer.

Redknapp is confident the lure of playing in Europe's elite competition could persuade Milner, 24, to come to London.

Spurs first offered £18m for Milner's Villa pal Young, 25, last summer but Villa valued him at £30m. But the winger is now keen on a move and chairman Randy Lerner has told manager Martin O'Neill he must sell before he can buy.

Redknapp, who has yet to make a signing this summer, could pick up Bellamy, 31, for £4m in the City firesale.

And he has also confirmed his interest in Brazilian striker Luis Fabiano, 29, as Sport of the World reported last month.

He said: "I like Fabiano, he is a top player. If he is available at the right price I would be interested."

Fuck! That article in particular the bit I've emboldened has blown my bullshitometre! Don't the folks at the Mirror know how much these things cost me!

If Spurs made an offer for Milner though I might be inclined to accept it. In particular if it's in the £24million bracket. I would accept a few million less from Spurzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz than I would Money City!

[Irreverent ad]

Spurs ready to swoop in for £24million Mancini target Milner

By Aidan Magee, 24/07/2010
TOTTENHAM are ready to hijack Manchester City's £24million move for James Milner.

The midfielder is one of three players boss Harry Redknapp has targeted to drive his Champions League campaign.

He has already made a £20million bid for Aston Villa's Ashley Young and remains hopeful of bringing in Craig Bellamy from Manchester City.

Now Redknapp plans to step in if City's latest bid for Milner is turned down as City are adamant they will not make an increased third offer.

Redknapp is confident the lure of playing in Europe's elite competition could persuade Milner, 24, to come to London.

Spurs first offered £18m for Milner's Villa pal Young, 25, last summer but Villa valued him at £30m. But the winger is now keen on a move and chairman Randy Lerner has told manager Martin O'Neill he must sell before he can buy.

Redknapp, who has yet to make a signing this summer, could pick up Bellamy, 31, for £4m in the City firesale.

And he has also confirmed his interest in Brazilian striker Luis Fabiano, 29, as Sport of the World reported last month.

He said: "I like Fabiano, he is a top player. If he is available at the right price I would be interested."

Fuck! That article in particular the bit I've emboldened has blown my bullshitometre! Don't the folks at the Mirror know how much these things cost me!
If Spurs made an offer for Milner though I might be inclined to accept it. In particular if it's in the £24million bracket. I would accept a few million less from Spurzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz than I would Money City!

I think that article is from the NOTW

[TheSandman]

Oops. You're right. My mistake.

[Karl Bridges]

http://www.mirrorfootball.co.uk/news/Transfer-news-Martin-O-Neill-threat-to-quit-Aston-Villa-if-Ashley-Young-is-sold-to-Liverpool-or-Tottenham-article536725.html

[PaulWinch again]

http://www.mirrorfootball.co.uk/news/Transfer-news-Martin-O-Neill-threat-to-quit-Aston-Villa-if-Ashley-Young-is-sold-to-Liverpool-or-Tottenham-article536725.html

Well that's obviously bollocks, especially given Ashley's comments this week. But if he was sold behind M'ON's back, I could completely understand resigning. It won't happen, but it would be outrageous.

[Karl Bridges]

[TheSandman]

http://www.mirrorfootball.co.uk/news/Transfer-news-Martin-O-Neill-threat-to-quit-Aston-Villa-if-Ashley-Young-is-sold-to-Liverpool-or-Tottenham-article536725.html

Now you see after reading that utter load of bollocks from the News of the Screws why I thought it was the Mirror.

They really are the kings of bullshit and the article linked above proves it.

[eamonn]

Getting a bit like the old days of Staunton, Mcgrath and Townsend.. I loved those days...

Not forgetting Ray Houghton and er Gareth Farrelly.

[hackneyvillain]

Edit: don't think we need it playing twice.

How funny.
I work for the record label who initially signed that record before licensing it out.
Never thought I would see it used in that way.

[Greg N'Ash]

http://www.mirrorfootball.co.uk/news/Transfer-news-Martin-O-Neill-threat-to-quit-Aston-Villa-if-Ashley-Young-is-sold-to-Liverpool-or-Tottenham-article536725.html

i think we can all guess who's the mysterious 'friend ' these quotes  are from.. When has the club ever mentioned selling Young? The MON PR machine grinds into gear again. when your in a hole probably best to stop digging martin or you could be the first managerial casualty of Randy's era