Summer Transfer Thread: Speculation, Lies, Absolute Cr*p and Bosman Rumours

[spaf]

I like unexpected transfers.

Agreed. I only wish this was the beginning of our brand new rapid & stealth transfer policy. Few more of these out of the blue types and I wouldn't care about the 100% gospel quasi news during the summer. I could trust the club to get some useful bodies in.

I would gallop and frolic freely, minding my own business on the green, flower-filled willows until some rag links us with an AGAP (as good as plausible) player I really rated.

[Rip Van We Go Again]

Pinch of salt?

Daily Mirror

Aston Villa are ready to battle Fulham for the signature of Pavel Pogrebnyak, 28, who has scored five goals in four games on loan at Fulham from Stuttgart.

[Mazrim]

It's been reported McLeish has definitely been after him for a while. I'm fine with that.
As an alternative to Heskey (a big powerful striker) it would be fine.
I know he didn't do much against us but that could be because he knows he's coming here

Bent, Gabby, Pogrebnyak and Weimann. Yeah, go on then.

[cheltenhamlion]

I don't mind the option of a big bastard up front as long as they score goals. Thumbs up from me.

[Dave]

It's been reported McLeish has definitely been after him for a while.

He's on record as saying he's a player he tried to sign in the past and that if he were available in the summer we'd definitely be interested.

[Mazrim]

I think we can outmuscle Fulham for his signature. I suppose it depends how he does from here on to the end of the season with regards to who else is interested.

I would have thought we'd already be in negotiations with his agent though if we were after him and it's possible we may already have an agreement but wont announce it whilst he's still at Fulham out of respect.

[DrGonzo]

I know he had a dream start at Fulham, but he has hardly set the world on fire at Stuttgart averaging 1 in every 4 or 5 games, and only 1 in 14 this season. His hatrick came with only 3 efforts on target, and he was annonymous against us last weekend. Better than Emule, I know, but is that reason to spunk the little cash we might have this summer?

[KevinGage]

Not sure Maz.

Most neutrals or foreigners would see Villa and Fulham as roughly on a par at present. Neither club will be expected to be fighting it out towards the top of the table, but both might be in the shake up for Europa league qualification.   The London factor would probably swing it in Fulham's favour.

[PaulWinch again]

I think he has all the attributes to be good in England, and he'd be an upgrade on Emile. Also hopefully wouldn't cost too much.

[Mazrim]

I know he had a dream start at Fulham, but he has hardly set the world on fire at Stuttgart averaging 1 in every 4 or 5 games, and only 1 in 14 this season. His hatrick came with only 3 efforts on target, and he was annonymous against us last weekend. Better than Emule, I know, but is that reason to spunk the little cash we might have this summer?

Well, he wouldn't cost anything, would be on a lot less than Heskey and apart from Stuttgart his goal scoring record is good. I'm not saying we should get him at all costs but he'd be a good signing that wont come in expecting to start every game.
I dont see how scoring a hattrick with 3 chances is anything other than a plus point to be honest.

And Kevin, I just cant agree with your statement. We may have been in the doldrums recently but our name carries more weight than Fulham's, home and abroad. We'll see what happens anyway.

[KevinGage]

We think we're a big deal Maz.  And in England we're still well regarded, if a bit unfashionable. 

But beyond these shores, I'm not sure how much weight our Victorian era dominance and European Cup win 30 years ago still carries.  Students of the game might be aware of our history. But the average footballer isn't a student of the game, he only sees the here and now. 

Fulham have reached the final of a major European competition far more recently, have a manager who is well known on the continent and have all the kudos associated with a wanky SW London address.  For foreigners, that would genuinely be a big deal.  On a practical level, the cosmopolitan nature of the place means there's far more likelyhood of ex pats from his homeland being close by. Those kind of things do matter, unless we gazump Fulham with a mental wages offer.  And I'm not sure I'd want us to do that.

[Mazrim]

I seem to be having these debates every month now.
I'm sorry but there's no way I'm going to agree Fulham are anything like equal to us based on a postcode and a cup final in a devalued competition.

If a player especially wants to live in London then there's not much we can do about it but I think that it's a rarity indeed when a player will choose where he lives over professional matters. In every way Villa trumps Fulham in professional matters. Facilities, club size, fan base, prestige, exposure, resources (typical)...etc etc...
Besides which, Pogrebnyak is a family man and I'm not sure he'd give a toss wether he lived in Knightsbridge or Stourbridge.
I can't think of any precedent where a player has chose Fulham over Villa and I cant imagine there will ever be one.

This isn't a dig at you Kevin but I'd rather not have this debate again in a thread that doesn't warrant it.

[bertlambshank]

Bring on HS2.

[damon loves JT]

I thought the Bosman ruling would have had a quicker impact on the way the transfer market would operate. But we seem to be heading to a situation where the very best players are tied up by the biggest clubs on huge contracts, and everyone else is available every other summer. in an ideal world it would encourage good coaches and man managers to flourish.

[Rip Van We Go Again]

Worth remembering that Bosman transfers are not free transfers, you still have to pay a wedge up front which goes directly to the player.