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

[PaulWinch again]

However much of a cnut Dave Whelan or N'zogbia are, imo it still remains that we couldn't get a player anywhere near his ability for £10m if we're looking at the PL market.  If we got someone in abroad with ability then there's a real chance they might not cut it in this league, whereas we know Charles has that experience already.  I also think he's twice the player Jarvis is.

I ask you if he is as good as you think he is why has he not moved onto a bigger club either in England or Europe, rather than spend the last 3/4 years @ Wigan ......

Not that old chestnut.

This is the point at which he does move to a bigger club in England.

Precisely and £10 million is a very good price in this market for a player of his talent. We should pay it, if we don't and we don't get him we will regret it I almost guarantee.

[TimTheVillain]

Are we purely masochistic or does the board truly believe that we're the only game in town and Whelan will relent ?

We are our own worst enemies at times, as about as dynamic in the transfer market as a slug on valium.

[eamonn]

However much of a cnut Dave Whelan or N'zogbia are, imo it still remains that we couldn't get a player anywhere near his ability for £10m if we're looking at the PL market.  If we got someone in abroad with ability then there's a real chance they might not cut it in this league, whereas we know Charles has that experience already.  I also think he's twice the player Jarvis is.

I ask you if he is as good as you think he is why has he not moved onto a bigger club either in England or Europe, rather than spend the last 3/4 years @ Wigan ......

Two and a half years and it's only really during this time that he's flourished.

[Dante Lavelli]

Plus I think he played his formative years playing as a left back.

[WALTERS WARRIORS]

This could be a Robbie Keane re- take. When Doug would not pay the extra 500,000 and we end up chasing him for double the money for years and years ........

[PaulTheVillan]

I've been told it wasn't Doug, it was JG.

[Greg N'Ash]

Shows how we've lowered our sights when people are getting desperate that we haven't signed N'Zogbia. A year ago it wouldn't have warrented much more than a meh missing out on him.. He's probably a good two or three notches down on Young and Downing ability wise and surely if he isn't then he would have been a better value to the likes of Liverpool and gone there instead. Or do they like spending 7m more than they have to?

[spangley1812]

Shows how we've lowered our sights when people are getting desperate that we haven't signed N'Zogbia. A year ago it wouldn't have warrented much more than a meh missing out on him.. He's probably a good two or three notches down on Young and Downing ability wise and surely if he isn't then he would have been a better value to the likes of Liverpool and gone there instead. Or do they like spending 7m more than they have to?

Well said Gregnash

[eamonn]

This could be a Robbie Keane re- take. When Doug would not pay the extra 500,000 and we end up chasing him for double the money for years and years ........

Christ, this is getting to become the new ''Why didn't fat-arse take the penalty?''

[eastie]

This could be a Robbie Keane re- take. When Doug would not pay the extra 500,000 and we end up chasing him for double the money for years and years ........

rubbish- it was gregory who pulled out of the deal not doug!

[Tokyo Sexwhale]

Shows how we've lowered our sights when people are getting desperate that we haven't signed N'Zogbia. A year ago it wouldn't have warrented much more than a meh missing out on him.. He's probably a good two or three notches down on Young and Downing ability wise and surely if he isn't then he would have been a better value to the likes of Liverpool and gone there instead. Or do they like spending 7m more than they have to?

I'd disagree with that.  I'd say N'Zogbia is about as good as Young, if not potentially better; and is definitely a scarier proposition for opposition defenders than Downing.  Downing is probably a better crosser, but N'Zogbia is better in almost every other respect.

But don't take my word for it - have a look for that Chelsea scouting report on Newcastle, which states that "N'Zogbia dominates all kind of typical winger behaviour".

Who wrote it - Andres Villas Boas.

And here it is:

http://www.bragafut.com/artigos/art18.pdf

[spangley1812]

Shows how we've lowered our sights when people are getting desperate that we haven't signed N'Zogbia. A year ago it wouldn't have warrented much more than a meh missing out on him.. He's probably a good two or three notches down on Young and Downing ability wise and surely if he isn't then he would have been a better value to the likes of Liverpool and gone there instead. Or do they like spending 7m more than they have to?

I'd disagree with that.  I'd say N'Zogbia is about as good as Young, if not potentially better; and is definitely a scarier proposition for opposition defenders than Downing.  Downing is probably a better crosser, but N'Zogbia is better in almost every other respect.

But don't take my word for it - have a look for that Chelsea scouting report on Newcastle, which states that "N'Zogbia dominates all kind of typical winger behaviour".

Who wrote it - Andres Villas Boas.

And here it is:

http://www.bragafut.com/artigos/art18.pdf

So if he is as good as Young/Downing why have Man Utd/Liverpool not signed him.............And why is he worth only half of what Young/Downing have been sold for

[Tokyo Sexwhale]

That report also mentions Given's inconsistency at corners.  Worrying.

Why haven't Man U/Liverpool signed him?  Don't know - maybe it's because Young and Downing are English and they need to get their number of homegrown players up.  Maybe it's because Young and Downing more closely fit in with they style they want to play?  Maybe they don't like the stories about his attitude?

Whatever it is, it's not ability.

[Toronto Villa]

Shows how we've lowered our sights when people are getting desperate that we haven't signed N'Zogbia. A year ago it wouldn't have warrented much more than a meh missing out on him.. He's probably a good two or three notches down on Young and Downing ability wise and surely if he isn't then he would have been a better value to the likes of Liverpool and gone there instead. Or do they like spending 7m more than they have to?

I'd disagree with that.  I'd say N'Zogbia is about as good as Young, if not potentially better; and is definitely a scarier proposition for opposition defenders than Downing.  Downing is probably a better crosser, but N'Zogbia is better in almost every other respect.

But don't take my word for it - have a look for that Chelsea scouting report on Newcastle, which states that "N'Zogbia dominates all kind of typical winger behaviour".

Who wrote it - Andres Villas Boas.

And here it is:

http://www.bragafut.com/artigos/art18.pdf

So if he is as good as Young/Downing why have Man Utd/Liverpool not signed him.............And why is he worth only half of what Young/Downing have been sold for

He's not English for starters. English players are way overvalued. I think he's better than Downing as an all round threat. I don't put him higher than Ash who can be outstanding at times coupled with a very impressive work ethic. Something that very often gets overlooked, and something that we will miss greatly.

[Dante Lavelli]

Well that Sanchez fella joined Barca for £23m so if we got £20m or slightly below then we definitely got a good deal.

Based on recent sales I'd suggest the Downing fee is the abdominally and the other fees represent the player's actual talent:

Sanchez £23m
Young £16-18m (last year of contract LYOC)
Nzogbia £10m (LYOC)

Downing £20!!!! Yeah right. I'd say, based on the above he'd be worth about £8m, which is probably what we'd get if his contract had one year left.