http://www.calciomercato.com/en/new...milan-exit-there-is-just-one-obstacle-b-64765 Looks like the only obstacle to signing Niang is Iggy - he needs to leave according to this.
Hopefully we don't need to sell to WBA for a cut price fee. Somebody needs to hide the smog in China for a few days so he goes there for big money.!!
Another striker coming in? http://www.footballinsider247.com/r...le-7m-bid-for-ligue-1-ace-admired-by-everton/
http://www.italianfootballdaily.com/birmingham-city-watford-juventus-chase-quaison/ Swedish International midfielder from Palermo - I think Juventus may be in the box seat though.
This might come over as churlish, and from the camp of over expectation, but it isn't. My desire is to see the club establishing itself in the premiership as a mid table team. I would like to see us take the scalps of the big boys every so often, but I don't want to see us bullied into defeat by teams who's form isn't too good. All in all Watford's recent spending is eye watering for those who can remember back far enough to Steve Sims arriving for £175,000 and thinking that was a huge amount of money. Two things that I find even more dumbfounding is that for all the millions spent we don't even get to see some of the players, at all or in the team for any length of time, and none are British, because of the overpricing of local players. The overpricing is a great concern of mine, clubs, looking for instant success, will not take the time to invest in local youth causing a reduction in the pool available. They then have to buy abroad because the skills are unavailable here because of this short sighted view. And so much for the Pozzo's much vaunted scouting network. All we are seeing are older euro-journeymen at the moment, and some of them don't appear up to the rigours of Premiership football. The wholesale import of players certainly got us to our current position and the players who came were certainly of a far higher standard than we were used to, but that standard doesn't appear to have risen at the same rate as our climb up the league. OK Watford will never have the drawing power of some clubs but surely one or two good new players is better than half a dozen mediocre ones. We have some good young lads in the academy and Walter is starting to blood a few, so the flow from there may open up again, With that resource coming back on stream why do we need to bother with a player like Adalberto Peñaranda, with all his visa into the UK problems, who I am certain we will never see in a Watford shirt?
Some fair points Brag. I must admit, since the Pozzos arrived, this season is the least I have felt connected to the players. You do get the feeling that many are here simply because we are a PL club, whereas previously many looked like they had something to prove. I can understand why the Pozzos went with older players though. I think short term they just wanted us to stay up because the longer we are in the Prem, the better player we can attract - and that is when we will be able to see the scouting network coming into play. Niang is only 22 and one with potential, as is Peneranda, who the Pozzos believe is their jewel. Also hoping Sinclair and Cleverley shows an intent of buying home-grown when possible.
Same here and that I think is a real concern. That is not something I have noticed in the past. It also makes it easier for younger potential supporters to look at other options. OK Gomez and Deano are characters but we need more than that. I remember Lloyd Doyley and celebrating his goal, Stewart Scullion often taking on one too many but always entertaining, the one and only GT of course, Luther,.......... many others. I think a club needs heroes and characters. But of late we churn managers and players so quick they get little chance to establish themselves with the fans. If honest was I happier in the second tier with Dyche? Yes. As GT said upon Sean's appointment "'Continuity is imperative. In Sean, we have a very decent man who understands what it means to work for Watford. Not sure that could be said any more. Yes the Pozzos know how to run a football business but .................... Sorry a bit off topic. Rant over.
AC Milan CEO Adriano Galliani has confirmed M'Baye Niang has reached an agreement with Watford to join them on loan. The Hornets will make the talented forward their third signing of the January window with Niang due to arrive at the club later today. Milan have decided to move Niang on after he fell out with coach Vincenzo Montella and the Hornets have the option of making the deal permanent this summer. “We have signed with Watford, so it’s all very close to completion,” Galliani told Rai Sport last night.
Deal looks a little rocky this afternoon. Other clubs getting interested once the news broke plus agents getting involved about money.
At the club now for medical it seems - lets hope the deal is done quickly and he does want to be here.
Today the club tweeted a video of Ashley Young's debut goal for us and at the same time speculation around him increased generally as he was left out of the United squad for Hull. Unfortunately this has to be caveated by the fact that said goal was against Millwall which you could possibly argue gives them another reason to tweet it.
From The Stands @FromTStands Walter Mazzarri - "We've just received a very important offer for Ighalo which we're evaluating." From China or another Prem team? Would much rather he go abroad, as if he finds his form for a rival, would hate to see him score against us - plus we'd get a lot more from a Chinese team....
SSN had a bit more of the quote: MAZZARRI ON IGHALO FUTURE "I have just heard now that there is a very important offer which we are evaluating." Asked if it was from China he said: "I don't like to say all the details, but there is more than one offer, this one might also be from China."
Ighalo is surplus to requirements now. That is the brutality of the game now, you lose form and you can be getting splinters or time to move on. Glad he hit his purple patch with us!
http://allnigeriasoccer.com/read_news.php?nid=21868 Iggy's departure edging ever closer apparently. £27 million seems like an overly generous wedge to me, but if the Chinese are willing to stump up that much...
