Summer Transfer Thread and Gustavo Cisneros Type Rumours.

[VILLA MOLE]

I always like to look at other fans points of view

Norwich can extend Todd Cantwell contract by a year......so he would have 2 years left

he came across quite well , you have to feel for them if we take 2 of their best players,,   man city’s fault

[eamonn]

Yeah, likeable chap. Surprised he dismisses the value of Grealish out of hand. He's done far more than Cantwell in both top divisions in England and is proving himself at international level. Cantwell also only has a year left on his deal compared to four for Jack. If Grealish does leave and we went for Toddy, I'd baulk at £40m for Cantwell.

I agree with him when he says Buendia being cheaper doesn't make sense. British player-premium, I guess. If it does happen, it will mean Brentford and Norwich fans will either have us as their second team, having secured the financial futures of their clubs, or - realistically, hate us for taking their best players of recent times (plus Scott Hogan).

[richtheholtender]

Yeah, likeable chap. Surprised he dismisses the value of Grealish out of hand. He's done far more than Cantwell in both top divisions in England and is proving himself at international level. Cantwell also only has a year left on his deal compared to four for Jack. If Grealish does leave and we went for Toddy, I'd baulk at £40m for Cantwell.

I agree with him when he says Buendia being cheaper doesn't make sense. British player-premium, I guess. If it does happen, it will mean Brentford and Norwich fans will either have us as their second team, having secured the financial futures of their clubs, or - realistically, hate us for taking their best players of recent times (plus Scott Hogan).

The Cantwell price will be that now due to the Grealish links. Clubs selling to us will now be increasing the prices due to us either receiving or set to receive £100 million

[FatSam]

It's obviously complex (and only peripherally relevant to the discussion), but as well as population size and prosperity, I think significant factors that have negatively affected Eastern European football have been fewer restrictions on numbers of foreign players per team, the rise of satellite TV, as well as loss of social infrastructure, and of traditional funding mechanisms for clubs.

I'm aware of the CSKA Sofia that beat Bayern 4-3 in Sofia in the first leg of the 81/82 European Cup semi final (having already knocked Liverpool out) before capitulating 4-0 in Munich. All of their players were Bulgarian, with only a handful of Bulgarians played abroad during this period. There was a system of specialised sports schools in the country that collapsed after the changes. At the time, CSKA were affiliated with the MOD, but were subsequently owned by a series of increasingly dodgy businessmen before going bust in 2015, and effectively reformed and readmitted to the league using Litex Lovech's licence. Few people in Sofia would now watch CSKA over a foreign match on satellite TV, and their current (mostly journeyman) squad of 11 different nationalities won't be qualifying for, let alone making the semi-final of the CL any time soon.

Croatia had market-based socialism as part of Yugoslavia, and more of it's social infrastructure remains in place, which perhaps means that the systems of player development have remained intact.

[Brazilian Villain]

Interesting post FS. I've nothing to add except to say that whenever I see Litex Lovech mentioned I'm reminded of Lene Lovich's Lucky Number.

[FatSam]

Interesting post FS. I've nothing to add except to say that whenever I see Litex Lovech mentioned I'm reminded of Lene Lovich's Lucky Number.

I can see how that might happen!

[sid1964]

Litex Lovech sounds like an Eastern European Durex brand.

[N'ZMAV]

Litex Lovech sounds like an Eastern European Durex brand.

or a bottle of Eastern European lager

[sickbeggar]

Jesus, 40m for Cantwell? He's not worth that with 5 years left on his contract. Use the money to get someone better and cheaper from abroad. We've already managed it with Bailey after all.

[frank black]

Cantwell is inconsistent, if he were consistent then he’d be up there with Jack. Personally I really like him as a player, but then again I also rated Iwobi so what do I know?! 😂

[Drummond]

Perhaps Cantwell will add more consistency. Its a big maybe though. On his day he's brilliant. I'd have him as cover for Grealish injuries and suspensions but £40m (I see it being nearer £30m plus add-ons in reality) is probably a bit high for that.

[Steve67]

Maddison for 50? Much better bet than Cantwell?

[dubaivillain]

Interesting post FS. I've nothing to add except to say that whenever I see Litex Lovech mentioned I'm reminded of Lene Lovich's Lucky Number.

I can see how that might happen!

I saw her singing at a festival in Spain a few years ago, she didn’t seemed to have changed at all since 1979!.  Other acts on the bill were Doctor Robert (formerly of the Blow Monkeys) who seemed to have morphed into cracker-era Robbie Coltrane.   And headlining was the Crazy World of Arthur Brown, complete with a flaming colander perched on top his head, you’ll be relieved to know.
There was somebody else on the bill who I struggle to remember, it’ll come to me later

[Duncan Shaw]

Maddison for 50? Much better bet than Cantwell?

That would be the way I'd be spending Wes and Nas's dosh!

[Clampy]

Interesting post FS. I've nothing to add except to say that whenever I see Litex Lovech mentioned I'm reminded of Lene Lovich's Lucky Number.

I can see how that might happen!

I saw her singing at a festival in Spain a few years ago, she didn’t seemed to have changed at all since 1979!.  Other acts on the bill were Doctor Robert (formerly of the Blow Monkeys) who seemed to have morphed into cracker-era Robbie Coltrane.   And headlining was the Crazy World of Arthur Brown, complete with a flaming colander perched on top his head, you’ll be relieved to know.
There was somebody else on the bill who I struggle to remember, it’ll come to me later

Dr Robert is still with The Blow Monkeys.