Now I wouldn't normally start a thread about an ex player of ours but this interested me slightly http://www.not606.com/showthread.php/153960-Howson-bid Lambert put in a 4m bid (apparantly) for Howson to take him to Villa and the Norwich folk are saying that is a ridiculously stupid bid. The OP actually says if he wanted him it should be closer to 20m Does this prove we got ripped off
It was possibly the worst player we have sold since the Bates era mainly because the transfer fee was so low and the potential he had to improve and clear prem quality. Still annoys me
Just shows what happens if you have a player of clear PL potential who doesn't believe you're doing enough to get into the PL. Had Papa Smurf splashed a bit more cash for Grayson to get any other player he may have wanted, Howson might well have stayed. Doubt he's really worth anything like £20m at the moment though. But I still think of what our & England's midfield could have looked like - Milner, Delph, Howson, Lennon. Scarey side!!
That was what really did it with Bates for me. I could understand Gradel leaving, Beckford wanted PL football and no-one was too upset about Killa and Johnson leaving, but I'd been unhappy about the lack of spending and relationship with the fans for a while and waking up to see that Jonny was being sold was the (pretty large) straw that broke the camel's back.
Might have a sell on clause that we will get something from, either way let's hope the new owners have mega millions and it will no longer matter, we can all draw a line under the Bates era and move forward together
As much as i wanted him to stay. he only had 6 months left on his contract so 500k up front rising to 1.5mil-ish wasnt that bad.
Would'nt want him back Eireleeds1, he went missing in games at this level, and the grass is always greener dont forget
We were not ripped off. It's just shows that the English players are ridiculously prices & after the Euro2012 just finished.
Honestly?! He went missing occasionally but he was still easily one of our best players, clearly with loads of room to improve. Frankly, at this rate I'll be surprised if he's not in England's next WC squad.
He was playing the championship & was injured at the time. Move on, we sold much better players for less in relative terms.
I really don't think we have. Him being injured at the time has nothing to do with it, we got about £3m less than we should have done, in fact, we shouldn't have sold him in the first place.
He only went missing when he was played in centre midfield rather than his natural position behind the striker, and actually he was a lot more assertive in the deeper role last season. A disgrace that we sold him, and everyone knows it wasn't for footballing reasons.
Jerel, I think you'll find it was for footballing reasons. He wanted PL footy now & didn't think we'd get this this past season. He was coming to the end of his contract. So better that we sold him, rather than have him leave for free on a Bosman.
I wonder how Howson is feeling now or in a years time maybe. With Norwich at present who are going to go only in one direction without Lambert, and wanted by Villa who never seem to achieve anything. His old club about to hit the big time hopefully. His move mightn't seem so clever in twelve months
Not what Ben Parker said, and either way it's a disgrace that our home-grown captain should feel he has to leave to advance his career.
Most footballers don't seem to look too far ahead. Money grabbing mercenaries mostly.Why should Howson be any different
