Spot on. He's English for a start, which instantly seems to double any player's price regardless of who they are. Also, he has, as you said, proven himself to be a great goalscorer in the Championship, and he's not even a striker - strikers in the Championship move to the PL for loadsamoney, so surely a winger who can do the same is worth at least a similar valuation, right? It doesn't matter whether he is ready or not, that's the money you pay now for someone of that quality at this level. I said it on another thread, but money has ****ing ruined this game.
None of us 'know' if he will excel in the Premier League. I'd very much doubt that he can score 20 goals a season at that level. But is he good enough to play at that level regularly? Of course. His first touch, work rate, close control and finishing are all worthy of the top flight. I suppose it depends upon what you mean by 'good enough'. Elmo has been 'good enough' to be a regular squad member at that level who gets a fair amount of pitch time. So has Robbie Brady. I enjoyed watching both play for City, but Bowen is streets ahead of either. I've seen many City players be 'good enough' for the Premier League in the past 10 or so years who don't get close to Bowen in terms of talent. If you've scored 52 league goals across two-and-a-half seasons (with a decent number of assist to boot) at Championship level, you've earned your shot at the Premier League and we're within our rights to demand big money for him. I don't know if the Premier League is 'another level' for the most part (in the way that you mean it), either. Would Bowen really be daunted facing the defences of Norwich, Bournemouth and Burnley? Are they that much of a step up? When we went up in 2008 there were maybe six or seven teams who were so far out of sight of what we could even think we might achieve it was scary. How many are there now? Promoted teams regularly bother the top 10 these days in a way they didn't a decade or so ago. So yes, Bowen is good enough for the Premier League. He almost definitely won't replicate his Championship form at that level, but he'd be an asset to more than half of the teams in that division.
Robert Snodgrass is a Premier League regular and a fine player. And I'd have Bowen in my team ahead of Snodgrass all day long. Bowen is definitely good enough to make the step up.
Let us not forget that at first West Ham thought we had mugged them when Snodgrass first arrived, they even farmed him out on loan to Villa. He's been a regular in the team since returning from his loan spell.
We were the mugs when Snodgrass was sold to WHU. He was our best forward at the time when we were fighting for survival in the PL. WHU bought him then hardly played him but in effect removed him from our forward line and they stayed up and we went down. We were the mugs.
Where did I question the fee? I wouldnt take less than 20mill for him, I merely asked who thought he would make it in the prem
IF Bowen wants away. The Allams (spit ) will decide when he is sold..and for how much. End of chat. Allams OUT.
That attitude from the Allams (spit) has worked magnificently when deciding when they’ll sell the club & for how much. Real end of chat.
The sale of Snodgrass and Livermore also funded all Silva's signings, which almost saw us pull off a miracle.
It's said that Bowen favours a move to Newcastle. Who on here, if in Bowen's position, would not? Alternatively, would it be better for Bowen to let his contract expire at the end of next season - assuming City take up the one year option - and then leave for more wages?
There may well be a transfer deal in process, but my guess is that just like every single transfer window, we will be the last to know. The money for the squad has to come from the football budget and I do not believe that Grant has been given extra, he knows what he has in the pot. The players brought in (I believe) have come out of the Maguire sell on clause, as will any increase in Bowen’s wages. So we are in a healthy position as far as players goes. If Bowen goes, it will I hope be sooner rather than last minute.
Back to stupid money for a 16 year old who’s played 25 games! If this goes through, then expect Bowen’s asking price to go up! https://www.skysports.com/football/...united-offer-30m-for-birmingham-city-teenager
The 'miracle' would have happened too if Silva hadn't ****ed up his team selection at home to already relegated Sunderland. We were three points clear of the bottom three with three games to go before that one. Sunderland at home, Palace away (who would have snapped our hand off for a dull 0-0 draw) and Spurs at home. The miracle was the work of Nigel Pearson at Leicester. Bottom of the PL with ten games to go and he won eight of them. Silva blew it.
I liked Silva when he was here, and his cavalier approach to matches. I agree entirely with you he completely ruined it by snatching relegation from the jaws of safety. He’s been very much found out in the PL now, very doubtful he’ll get another opportunity.
I doubt very much he will ... he had a decent Watfird side and jumped ship to Everton (at the time I thought, can't blame him)... BUT, he spent a lot of money there and whilst ultimately Everton may get some of that back with sales of Richarlison, he seemingly didn't have the players onside as they have definitely improved under Anchelotti and Ferguson for 2/3 games. They did implode last night however..
