was it really millions? he got another year out of him, team finished fourth which they arguably would not have done if chelsea had got him, remember where they finished last year,equating to more prize money (i dont know how much), and would have been playing cl football but for the unbelievable event of chelsea winning the cl, which by the way would arguably would have had more chance of happening if they had modric playing for them, so all in all I dont think they lost too many millions in the end
Playing the best football of his career in an attacking free role though. I'd agree he's probably the best winger in Europe by the way. I'd throw Barcelona into that list, a team that would offer him the attacking free role he plays so well in. Direct replacement for David Villa. He'd be stepping on Ronaldo's toes at Madrid if they were both playing, assuming Ronaldo stays at Madrid. Don't exclude Bayern either, they have Pep on his way in the summer and already have an awesome squad.
Spurs were offered £30m and Alex by chelsea - we ended up getting £33m from real madrid so we actually made £3m more and didn't get Alex dumped on us...and chelsea lost out on a player they wanted...can't really see how we lost out
it's Peskie just being a twat as usual,he alway's comes out of the woodwork when his team win,otherwise you don't hear a word from him
Why do you keep making the same misinformed comments about Modric's price, Piskie? Are you that dishonest or do you just have an appalling memory? Would you not have preferred to make an extra £9m on van Persie and not see him playing for Man Utd, anyway? Whoever negotiates your sales is rubbish at it.
First thing I'd do if I was Pep is get rid of Franck Ribery and replace him with somebody who wasn't the most over rated player on the planet. I'm sure Bayern have money for Pep.
I never know with Barca, one minute I read they have an abundance to spend, the next they don't. Though I don't see him as a "direct" replacement for Villa, Villa is an out an out CF, he won't run up and down the wings like Bale and whip in crosses/ draw players out wide etc. Where as at Madrid, Bale would probably play on the right or centre should he join them with (in my opinion) Di Maria losing his place. Lets not forget, Real have been able to put the likes of Zidane, Figo, Beckham, Raul, Ronaldo etc all into one team, I'm sure they'd find space for Bale without him getting in the way of Ronaldo. Bayern I doubt will have £50m+ to spend and they already have Ribery and Robben, I'd be surprised if they came in for Bale too. Besides, I think the Bundesliga wouldn't be a massive challenge for Bale, I find the Bundesliga the closest in style to the Prem but not as strong, La Liga is where I think Bale will end up if he leaves.
The rumours about Bayern suggest that they will have money to spend this summer, but that it's going on Suarez and Lewandowski. Time will tell whether there's any truth in it.
I tink if he want's a C/L winners medal he will have to join Bayern or Dortmund,i think one of those will win it next season,But hopefully Gareth will still be at WHL
Sorry I mean Villa would leave and Bale would come in as his replacement, hypothetically. Barca don't need an out and out striker like Villa, I don't think funds would be a problem, they could probably release a few players such as Alexis Sanchez and Ibrahim Affelay to generate funds. If I was Barca manager, I'd probably want Silva and not Bale but I wouldn't discount Barca. I agree he'll more than likely end up at Madrid but I don't think it's as straight cut as integrating him into their current side in place of Di Maria. ADM is an integral part of that Real side, his place in the team is as secure as anybodies, he's probably played about as many games as Ronaldo there and Bale does not necessarily represent a better option as a right winger. For me, Real Madrid's priorities are central midfield, especially if Alonso doesn't extend his stay. Who did he support as a kid? I was sure I've hear him say he's a United fan...
He wasn't right as winning the league won't be easier and it isn't an isolation as man city won the title with 89 points (3rd were 19 points behind), man utd will win with around 85 points or more and 3rd place will finish around 17-19 points behind so to win the title we have to achieve an extra 17-20 points next season, which won't happen with the way this club is run.
also city will respond to utd upping their game and chelsea will spend big, its a sad fact money talks when it comes to winning the title and we simply operate differently.
I'm not so sure that City and Chelsea will spend big. It all depends on whether they take FFP even remotely seriously and given Chelsea's attempts to get themselves within the rules and City's sudden drop in spending I think it is possible they won't come out and blow everyone away by spending stupid money. Don't get me wrong I still expect they will throw £30/40mill at somepoint in the window but I can't see a return to the kind of spending that has seen them both tip £100mill in a single window in the past. If we get into the CL I can see us being able to keep pace with them if we spend wisely and don't lose any key players over the summer. It's all ifs and buts though so we'll have to wait and see but if things go well for us I don't see it as impossible for us to compete for the league in a year or two.
Fair points about FFP, yet FFP still allows clubs to make a loss, as does the new rules, so effectively CIty can sell certain players, spend big and still operate within the rules. We have a real top quality squad (as we all know) and looking at our current squad, if we could sign RVP and had a real leader in the team, then if all went to plan, players on form then its quite possible we could have a fantastic season and keep pace with the leaders. However for us to compete for the league in a year or two, we have to keep the current squad and sign players like RVP, or Tevez, can you see that happening? I can't and its frustrating and one of the reasons I'm highly negative on our chances.
Don't get me wrong, i don't want to sell Bale but if these FFP rules have some sort of effect then selling him could be the right thing to do. He could be one of the last MASSIVE transfers before the clubs have to reign in. If (yes, big if) that money is invested back into the team we could be one of the big spenders as or just after FFP kicks in for real. How many players better than Bale are there out there? Let alone ones that other clubs will see as available.
Back to the girlfriend thing makes me think of American basketball players.It seems that lot have girlfriends and babies/children all over the place. What with John Terry getting up to mischief,makes me wonder if that is happening in the jolly old G.B. to our footballers.Lots of money about and that draws girls out of the woodwork..... I've often wondered about Beckham.I'm sure he's got something on the side......'cos his old lady must be oneof the ugliest women I've seen!......apart from Suarez,of course!
If Barca came in for Bale, I'd like to think Levy would try and get Sanchez as part of the deal, think he's a great player and would ease the pain (slightly!) of losing a player I genuinely consider world class. Totally see where you're coming from RE Di Maria's place currently being cemented but then I'd fail to see just where Bale would fit in if not there. Ronaldo occupies the left, Ozil the centre and Di Maria the right, I just think of those three, Di Maria is the "weakest". Don't get me wrong a fantastic player but he's the only one I think likely to lose his place should Bale join them. Yeah Real will need a CM when Alonso leaves, but then perhaps that's why they got Modric from us this season? The man to eventually replace him? Hopefully not though and they keep Luka on the bench - yes as you can tell I'm still bitter towards the man, I can understand leaving us for a club like Madrid but the way he acted was disgusting in both the past two summers. Ha he probably does support Utd seeing as Giggs was his idol. Plus, Utd's fanbase is made up of pretty much everyone that lives outside of Manchester isn't it? Though jokes aside do Utd have the money for Bale? I doubt the Glazers would sanction a (probable) £50m+ unless they were to generate a good percentage of that through player sales.