Even on BBC now: http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/s/stoke_city/9560744.stm I'd like to keep Palacios personally, unless Diarra comes in. Thoughts? (Edit: Meant to add a ? to title but can't figure out how)
This is a tough one. You get the feeling Stoke hasn't bid 21m or very close to it. They're both very useful players, ideally not starters, but two of the first substitutes. Clearly, losing them would hurt. On the other hand, if this is the sale that lets Spurs pick up a first rate striker, it's probably worth it. I just don't know. The more I think about this, the more I think dos Santos should start, and keep the squad the way it is.
There's been no concrete reports of how much Stoke have bid, but the rumours suggest that it's either £18m or that their initial bid was that much. I'd be inclined to accept, if we have Diarra and a striker lined up. You can edit the title of an article by pressing Edit and then Go Advanced, as I just did!
Uh-oh, I don't think Levy will like being told they are making a final bid that they will not negotiate, that's one of his moves, and even less that Coates has made it public. I don't think we'll see both move, maybe one.
Probably Palacios for me currently, as he hasn't been at his best lately and we only really have Pav and Defoe to play in Crouch's position. If we sign "New Striker" that we've been wanting for 2 years, then I'd prefer Crouch to move.
As much as it pains me to admit it, I'd rather see Palacios go. He's always given 100% and I'll keep an eye out for his career if he does go, but he desperately needs a fresh start. Unless we sign a new striker soon, then I'd like to see us start the season with a 4-4-2 and pair Crouch and Defoe up again. We could even give Pavlyuchenko and Keane a try in European games, with Kane as back-up.
I still don't think that Keane is finished, Spurf. He's continued to do well for the Republic and he's still only 31. He excelled when playing alongside a lethargic, yet skilful forward from the former Eastern Bloc, so why not try it again! If we use a back-up side in the cups, then I think that a decent run in that side could be good for players like him, assuming he stays and shows some willing.
That's a tough one. In short, Keane. If it's true that Diarra's lined up, then WP has to go. If it's not then Crouch and just hope we sort out a striker that can play the lone role, sharpish!
I think that the choice that SWS was offering was Crouch or Palacios SF, but I'd still agree with you!
Given the choice between selling Crouch or WP, I'd still chose Keane But I'd also agree with Jenas or Bentley
I'm not too keen on signing a player who once played for Portsmouth. I don't think like Palacios that he will last too long with us. I don't know when he played for Portsmouth but they were relegated so I wouldn't bother with him. Sounds like he's one of Harry's favourites like Crouch who hasn't exactly excelled for us but I would like to see stay in the hope that he will improve.
Diarra was only there for a year and won the FA Cup, leaving soon after a clueless Gooner was appointed. Although he's excellent defensively, he's a well rounded player, he can pass and run with the ball well enough and even has a bit of a shot on him(didn't he score against us?). He's Palacios but good enough to play for a top team.
Rumours about Crouch joining Everton have persisted, so maybe Levy's delaying the sale until after we've played them, using Stoke's bid as an excuse and a bargaining chip?
It appears and not for the first time, I was spouting bollocks I seemed to remember him being one of the random Chelsea players who scored a screamer against us but apparently he didn't score for them It's said that watching Carvalho, Makelele and Shevchenko score screamers against your side can scramble the mind a little
