Jean Makoun SIGNED!

[Clark W Griswold]

MM on VT says initialisms are in and that Makoun is close.

Does this Mystery Man have a direct line to Houllier's phone? Does he post on here? Should we take any notice? Just asking like.

To be fair, he has had some accuracy in the past. I think he genuinely gets info from someone who is at the club, but i suspect that it's only someone low key. He does like to give the impression he's 'the man' most of the time, but he's a lot more of a serious source than 95% of the wafflers and bullshit merchants that you get on both sites.

[adam#1]

So lets recap.

We can't sign a 19 year old from Le Havre.

We can't sign a midfielder from Blackpool  (who 5 years ago were in League One).

Wayne Bridge chooses West Ham and Avram Grant over us.

A player who's at a club thats trying to force him out to free up money looks like he doesn't want to join.


Do you think Houllier's in touch with the modern game and in this instance showing good knowledge of how the transfer market works?

Is this another example of his apparent inability to connect with players in the modern game ? (I think so - who's the last one of our squad to come out in praise and support of the manager?).

19 year old failed a medical

Adam from Blackpool has gone nowhere yet

Wayne Bridge moved to be closer to his child

How do you know about the failed medical? quotes were all about failing to agree wages?

No they weren't. The very first place I read it, on the day, was the Evening Mail, and it was all about him failing the medical with a back problem. Money was mentioned in the context of "We'll look at him again in the summer when he's a free agent, but we're not risking nearly a million on a player with a suspect back"

The nationals picked up on the idea that we didn't want to pay that much for him, and conveniently left out the rest because it suited their "crisis club" agenda.

Thanks for clearing that one up for me Amfy. It is amazing how little people seem to believe if it is not their agenda to do so though.

Its amazing how accusatory some people can get when asked for clarification.

"“The Fofana deal is not done and I doubt it will be done,” said Houllier.

“For the moment an agreement has not been reached. He’s got potential, he’s a 19-year-old player, very mature with a strong personality.

“He’s the captain of the under-19s that won the European Championships but I’ve also young players here already and you’ve got to have a balance in terms of wages and abilities.

“It’s more likely not to happen.”


is ozzjim a spoonerism for jism by the way? just asking.

[ozzjim]

Yawn Adam. Any need for it? Just asking...  The comment I made was aimed at the discussion from Amfy about the national press and how they ignore things if it does not suit their agenda, but keep believing your self importance.

This medical thing has been discussed time and again throughout this thread and others. The mail and a couple of other places released the medical info early on. Houllier is not going to come out and tell the world a 19 year old kid he rates and wants is a crock that can't play is he, that would be highly disrespectful to a kid he has seen coming through the French system for a while. 

[Shrek]

To many assumptions there

[eastie]

Anymore news on makoun today?

[pablopicasso_10]

why cant things just be simple this year?!?

[JUAN PABLO]

Anymore news on makoun today?

he definetely wants to join Vila , now hes heard Benzema wants to come  ;-D    * winky smile* 

[DrGonzo]

Although he has said he'd not be interested in playing with Kloseor van Bommel, so it's all up in the air again.

[Billy Walker]

L'Equipe suggesting it's off?

http://www.lequipe.fr/Football/20110114_110914_makoun-loin-d-aston-villa.html

I hope not.

Reading the article again, are they merely haggling over salaries?

[Chris Harte]

That article is suggesting Villa have offered him less than he earns at Lyon.

Article also states that the fee would be 6M euros with add-ons totalling a further 3M euros.

[jembob]

This whole saga illustrates just how damaging MON's actions have been. I'm sure that if Houllier (or another manager) had a full summer and transfer window to sign players, it would have been more of an attractive proposition to join a team pushing for Top 4 rather than fighting against relegation. I'm sure that Makoun would have jumped at the opportunity in the summer before things went pear shaped.

[ozzjim]

True enough Jembob - Houllier with a full summer straight after MON I think would have a completely different outlook to the one we have now. If he manages to get 5 players in one January window, even with loans, then it is brilliant work. I get the feeling if mad martin had gone in May we would have had Hughes as manager though, but still.

[Chris Smith]

All this constant reference back to MON smacks of making excuses. The question is has Houllier done the best job that he possibly could? Even given the circumstances of his appointment and the injuries etc that he's had to deal with even the most optimistic of us would be hard pressed to answer yes.

He might well turn it round, I hope he does, but we should judge him on his own terms.

[Mark H]

IF and i know it is a big IF that report is correct why would we offer less than he is earning at Lyon - maybe I am missing something but that would be just stupid and I hope we are not that stupid to be honest 

[TimTheVillain]

All this constant reference back to MON smacks of making excuses. The question is has Houllier done the best job that he possibly could? Even given the circumstances of his appointment and the injuries etc that he's had to deal with even the most optimistic of us would be hard pressed to answer yes.

He might well turn it round, I hope he does, but we should judge him on his own terms.

Crikey Chris, I agree !