I agree with the vast majority of what you have said, but I'm pretty sure that GB was not interested in re-joining us.
Have it on good authority that GB was very keen to come back. An old friend of mine, who I caught up with after a few years a while back, has become good friends with a very recent ex-player in the intervening time (they are neighbours and their kids have become best mates. He is minted, hence why we don't mix in the same circles any more...) and, so I'm told, GB contacted said player to see if the deal could be done.
My friend didn't say why it didn't happen - the intimation was it was more Lambert's decision, but then I imagine he knew straight away that he'd be stymied by the potential wages and dismissed it.
Never bothered to post it before because these things always look like BS written down, but no reason whatsoever to doubt what I was told. Also, it doesn't matter now.
It was reported in a number of normally reliable papers that GB had been offered to us because that we were his first choice. So it does seem there was something in it.
All immaterial now, and I'm sure he's glad to be sharing a midfield with players who actually look for the ball and don't hide away.
