Summer transfer rumours, speculation and out-and-out b*ll*cks.

[hilts_coolerking]

In fairness Eastie, it's not the club's job to keep the press happy. The club do like to keep things close to their chest. As frustrating as it can be, i prefer it that way, rather than the Redknapp way, who tells the press one thing then does the opposite.

If the club's attitude is "it's not our job to keep the press happy" then they can have no complaint if we get bad press, which we undoubtedly do.  Every club has a PR department, and part of their job is to keep the press onside.

[pauliewalnuts]

I'm not saying anything about it being proof or believable or even that I believe it particularly, but you referred to the way people reacted to stuff in the Mirror specifically.

I'm pointing out that people aren't believing the stuff about selling players based purely on an article on the Mirror. They're basing it on it being reported pretty much constantly for twelve months by a wide range of sources, and also on recent comments from the club itself about sustainability.

Would that be the 12 month period in which we spent circa £30m on Makoun and Bent?

So little comes out of Villa that the papers can either ignore us or make things up.  When one does the others latch onto it and you get a bit of a snowball effect.  So the Sun says we're broke and then the Mirror runs the same story, that is NOT two different stories, but the same one reprinted.

So, you're basically saying that the cacophany of nonsense in the media about being skint over the last twelve months - regardless of whether it is true or not - is effectively down to one story reprinted?

Hmmm

[Concrete John]

I'm not saying anything about it being proof or believable or even that I believe it particularly, but you referred to the way people reacted to stuff in the Mirror specifically.

I'm pointing out that people aren't believing the stuff about selling players based purely on an article on the Mirror. They're basing it on it being reported pretty much constantly for twelve months by a wide range of sources, and also on recent comments from the club itself about sustainability.

Would that be the 12 month period in which we spent circa £30m on Makoun and Bent?

So little comes out of Villa that the papers can either ignore us or make things up.  When one does the others latch onto it and you get a bit of a snowball effect.  So the Sun says we're broke and then the Mirror runs the same story, that is NOT two different stories, but the same one reprinted.

So, you're basically saying that the cacophany of nonsense in the media about being skint over the last twelve months - regardless of whether it is true or not - is effectively down to one story reprinted?

Hmmm

Maybe not one, but it's amazing how rumour can spread and get to be taken as fact without anything to refute it. 

How would you account for all those stories about us being broke before Bent was signed?

[Villanation]

I rate Albrighton far higher than Downing bacuse at least he shows some heart.

It's the rose tinted glasses view of players who came through the ranks, I'm sorry you cannot put 'heart' above talent, effectivness etc Downing was quality last season...oh but he can't tackle. Marc A has potential to be great but at this point in time he's not near Downing.

Perhaps you would like to compare Marc's stats for last season compared to Downings

Downing is an average winger.

Good on some days
Shit on others
So average

Correct me if I'm wrong but that just about describes every player I've ever looked at, including Messi, I mean if you where thinking about buying Darren bent and then watched him in his recent performance for England you wouldn't touch the bloke with a barge pole, you have to judge these players over time and how consistent they are.

[pauliewalnuts]

I'm not saying anything about it being proof or believable or even that I believe it particularly, but you referred to the way people reacted to stuff in the Mirror specifically.

I'm pointing out that people aren't believing the stuff about selling players based purely on an article on the Mirror. They're basing it on it being reported pretty much constantly for twelve months by a wide range of sources, and also on recent comments from the club itself about sustainability.

Would that be the 12 month period in which we spent circa £30m on Makoun and Bent?

So little comes out of Villa that the papers can either ignore us or make things up.  When one does the others latch onto it and you get a bit of a snowball effect.  So the Sun says we're broke and then the Mirror runs the same story, that is NOT two different stories, but the same one reprinted.

So, you're basically saying that the cacophany of nonsense in the media about being skint over the last twelve months - regardless of whether it is true or not - is effectively down to one story reprinted?

Hmmm

Maybe not one, but it's amazing how rumour can spread and get to be taken as fact without anything to refute it. 

How would you account for all those stories about us being broke before Bent was signed?

I'm not disagreeing with you on the Bent signing, John, I'm not making any comment on whether we're broke or not, I am just saying that to suggest people were believing the Mirror story about us being broke on the basis of that story alone is nonsense, it has been all over the press for months and months now. Since MON left, in fact.

[UsualSuspect]

I rate Albrighton far higher than Downing bacuse at least he shows some heart.

It's the rose tinted glasses view of players who came through the ranks, I'm sorry you cannot put 'heart' above talent, effectivness etc Downing was quality last season...oh but he can't tackle. Marc A has potential to be great but at this point in time he's not near Downing.

Perhaps you would like to compare Marc's stats for last season compared to Downings

Downing is an average winger.

Good on some days
Shit on others
So average

Correct me if I'm wrong but that just about describes every player I've ever looked at, including Messi, I mean if you where thinking about buying Darren bent and then watched him in his recent performance for England you wouldn't touch the bloke with a barge pole, you have to judge these players over time and how consistent they are.

Okay then how consistent was Downing in his first season

Have you forgotten the post incident againt Arsenal?

Downing goes missing far too often

My point is that real top quality have bad games but not many.

Fpor every good game downing has he has at least one shit one

[Archbishop Herbert Cockthrottle]

Blimey, old Marlon has come down a bit

Ex-Blackpool striker Marlon Harewood looks set to reject interest from Millwall and Reading - to sign for Chinese second division club Ping Pong Ping Pong Cashiernumber4 please.
Full story: Daily Mirror

With this in mind the Chinese football club have purchased a cow's arse and a banjo to assist with Marlon's training regime.

[Concrete John]

I am just saying that to suggest people were believing the Mirror story about us being broke on the basis of that story alone is nonsense, it has been all over the press for months and months now. Since MON left, in fact.

Fair enough.  But if they are believeing it based on ANY press reports, no matter how far back or in how many rags, then that is wrong, IMO.

We've spent since MON left and I fully believe we'll spend again this summer.  And on that note reagrding Downing and a sell to buy policy:-

"His performances last season were top drawer. That's why he's not for sale. The club don't want to sell him."

http://www.skysports.com/story/0,19528,11677_7024478,00.html

Ultimately he may still go, but it'll take £20m+ as we don't NEED to sell him.

[PaulTheVillan]

McLeish is forcing Downing to hand in a trasnfer request, which I think is the right way to do it.

[eastie]

I'd say he will go for £18m if he makes it clear he wants to leave- we will not get £20m.

[Villanation]

I rate Albrighton far higher than Downing bacuse at least he shows some heart.

It's the rose tinted glasses view of players who came through the ranks, I'm sorry you cannot put 'heart' above talent, effectivness etc Downing was quality last season...oh but he can't tackle. Marc A has potential to be great but at this point in time he's not near Downing.

Perhaps you would like to compare Marc's stats for last season compared to Downings

Downing is an average winger.

Good on some days
Shit on others
So average

Correct me if I'm wrong but that just about describes every player I've ever looked at, including Messi, I mean if you where thinking about buying Darren bent and then watched him in his recent performance for England you wouldn't touch the bloke with a barge pole, you have to judge these players over time and how consistent they are.

Okay then how consistent was Downing in his first season

Have you forgotten the post incident againt Arsenal?

Downing goes missing far too often

My point is that real top quality have bad games but not many.

Fpor every good game downing has he has at least one shit one

Downing in his first season was basically injured, and coming back form a long lay of due to that injury.

I except he's not everybody's cup of tea, but i don't know a player out there that can't look brilliant one second and crap the next, dunno about game to game, I've seen it half to half.

Downing for me was one of Villa's best players last season and that is why Liverpool are interested, he's obviously a player that requires time to settle at club, I'm fairly confident he was one of Boro's most consistent players over the whole time he was there, and for a long period was selected for England consistently time and again.

Unfortunately what i don't hold with where Downing is concerned is the fact that for me he is not that sh1t hot, and is replaceable, if we get the right offer for him and we are going to actually try and replace him with a decent player.....why not.

I don't think Liverpool will break there balls to get this player.

[Rob Gee]

McLeish is forcing Downing to hand in a trasnfer request, which I think is the right way to do it.

Agreed

[Concrete John]

I'd say he will go for £18m if he makes it clear he wants to leave- we will not get £20m.

People thought the same about Barry, but as they couldn't stump up the £18m asking price he stayed.

[dotcomsimon]

McLeish is forcing Downing to hand in a trasnfer request, which I think is the right way to do it.

Agreed

Exactly - Why should we pay this guy a loyalty fee for leaving? He needs to hand in a transfer request first

[Toronto Villa]

There's no correct way of handling the Downing issue in the media. You can do what we've done and not really address it, because our position it seems there's not much to address as he's under contract. Almost all of the suggestion and rumour has come from the Downing/Liverpool side.

Or you can do what Levy did yesterday, make a big bold statement, and then have the Sun the following day run a "Modric in Meltdown" story. Levy might stick to his guns because Modric is on a long deal that he just signed but it won't stop the press stirring it up into a much more saucy story than it might be. If Spurs do accept an offer they'll look even more foolish because they were adamant they wouldn't. And if they don't accept an offer the player/agent starts pissing off the club, and if the player's form or the club's form suffers the press will link it back to Levy's comments and not selling the player.

No matter how it is handled when a player states that he wants to leave, the press has free reign to spin the story however they want to get as many readers as possible.