The Sun are also reporting that Yannick Sagbo would choose West Ham over us. I know The Sun isn't the most reputable paper, but I genuinely would not be remotely upset about that if it was true.
Don't know about that Surly. He's young, strong and good right foot - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C6BGhx_m94o At £1.8m ish and reasonable wages I think he's worth a flyer, albeit not as our first choice of a new striker signing. That said, I sense he's my next 'banana skin' after Anthony Stokes (can I switch to Hooper, Bandit?)
Blackburn have confirmed an offer for Rhodes whch on the face of it is pretty much identical to ours. A significant difference, if this article is correct, is primarily wages - I doubt very much whether we would offer an untested young player £35k pw - http://soccernet.espn.go.com/news/story/_/id/1129938?cc=5739
James McFadden He's experienced, he's on a free and plays in a position where we probably need squad (in depth) strengthening. However, Jol could surely do better. http://www1.skysports.com/football/news/11671/7969209 For completeness: He signed for Fenerbache today for £4.5m.
Five years ago, I would have have been delighted at the prospect of signing McFadden. Since then he's failed to set the world alight anywhere he's been, so I'd have reservations about us taking him on. Shortly after Moyes sold him to Birmingham, he (Moyes) admitted that he'd made a mistake and wished he'd kept him. The fact that he didn't make much impression on the Everton first team in his spell there last season suggests that he hasn't progressed as a player the way he should have done - a manager who rated him and regretted selling him obviously didn't see what he hoped to in the player second time around. As you say, Cottager, we can do better.
Dempsey has been ordered to train alone, according to Goals.com. Apparently Dempsey told Jol 11 days ago that he didn't want to make the trip to Switzerland with the rest of the first team, causing a "heated exchange" between the player and manager. Dempsey was left to train with the kids, but was then told train on his own by the manager. In other developments, the Liverpool deal for Dempsey that looked so likely two weeks ago now appears unlikely, according to sources. Liverpool has doubts Dempsey can deliver consistantly for the next few years. Last I read, Roma were next in line. Reading between the lines: I figure one of two things are happening - A) Jol is punishing Dempsey for wanting to leave and for his reluctance to train and travel with the main team. B) Jol has resigned himself to the fact that Dempsey is gone and wants to get his team ready, fit and running smoothly without relying on Dempsey. I think this is the more likely situation. If I were Jol, I'd do the same thing. Get on with life assuming Dempsey won't be there; if he's still around when the windows closes, no harm done.
I agree with the analysis, but not the conclusions, DR. I think B is more likely, but if Dempsey is still here when the window closes that leaves Jol with a huge man-management problem. He either leaves Dempsey out in the cold altogether - causing his value to plummet for the inevitable January transfer - or he has to re-integrate a player with whom he now has a whole lot of baggage and who may well represent a very visible source of dissent with the management. Either way, it only safeguards the team spirit and group dynamic if Dempsey goes. I'm beginning to hope that a transfer happens, which I never thought I'd be saying back in May.
If it is option A, I hope Jol isn't now alienated from Dempsey's allies- I'd guess that he is a well respected member of team based on commitment and last years exploits.
My thoughts as well Captain. Although I'm very wary about the goal.com article - their previous one about Jol and Dempsey having a "bust up at the training ground" before the squad went off to Sitzerland was strongly refuted by the Club - it's clear that all is not well. Dempsey was at both the U21 games (Farnborough and Staines) while the rest were away and he certainly was training at Motspur Park yesterday. However, Jol (and by definition the Club) are upset that Dempsey has declined to sign "the best contract offer the Club has ever made" (reputed to be 3 years with a further 1 year option and wages up to equivalent of £65k pw) but not put in a transfer request. So it may well be the case that he didn't train with the main squad. Understand what you're saying silkship and in a radio interview today, Mark Schwarzer said “We hope as players that [Dempsey] stays because he’s a top quality player, he’s a great guy and he brings so much to us". However, no player is bigger than the Club and as we know, Jol has history of not being too bothered about what players think. On DR's reading of the situation, if Dempsey did train alone, then I'd say it's A) and B). While the priority must be to get the matter resolved sooner rather than later, if there are no suitable offers we may just have to live with things for a while - certainly if he doesn't get game time soon (and it's unlikely he will play tonight at MK Dons) he won't be in the line up against Norwich.
I guess my worry stems from AVB doing something similar to Anelka, although Lamps and others were already working against him (or passively resisting) I think that was one of his worst decisions (on a side note - can anyone see it going well for him at Spurs?). Thankfully this is an entirely different context.
I was going to say the same thing. Like I've said before, if Clint told Jol he didn't want to go away with his team-mates, then Jol is well within his rights to do what he has done. Dempsey will have already alienated himself by saying he didn't want to go to Switzerland with his team-mates and that he doesn't want to play for the club any more. Like the Captain says, I hope this is all sorted out quickly.
After the MK Don's game Jol has repeated his desire to keep the two Ds. And confirmed that he's in the market for 1 midfielder and 2 strikers http://www1.skysports.com/football/news/11681/7971777/
All PL Club Transfers - In and Out Here is a link listing where each Premier League club is currently at in the transfer market - http://www.tribalfootball.com/articles/premier-league-transfers-all-latest-notable-transfers-3435611?utm_source=taxonomy_landing_page
Jol has ruled out any move for McFadden as "nonsense" and jingoistic jounalism - http://www.fulhamchronicle.co.uk/fulham-fc/2012/08/08/82029-31573706/
Not sure you can really say it's jingoistic when McFadden is Scottish. We may all be British for the Olympics, but Fulham remain an English club!
'James Mcfadden Gay' seems to be one of the top searches on google, comes up as you enter his name. Wiki doesn't have anything on personal life. Not that it matters, perhaps he is one of the few?
Ipswich fan in peace. I heard a rumour today that Jay Emmanuel Thomas missed training with our guys yesterday to be in talks with you, the price being talked about is around the 3.5 million mark. I'm undecided on what to think about it because on his day he can be a game changer and definately prem class, yet when he is not at the races he is a liability. What do you guys think, have you heard anything? Good luck for your season and most definately for your season opener, please knock those budgies down a peg or two!
