Afternoon all, haven't posted much on here recently but I have to say that I never thought I would see the day when we would contemplate spending such a vast amount of money on 30 year old ! After what we've been through in the not too distant past I'm more than a little concerned about everything going pear-shaped and us ending up back in the do-do. Prudence with ambition please log in to view this image
Too early to say there is a pattern developing here, but for what it's worth I am not surprised that Toivonen and Alderweireld should hesitate about signing for us. Those two are at an age when their next move has to be thought about very carefully -- more or less in their prime and at or slightly past the half-way point of their respective careers. I contrast them (a) with younger players who see unlimited opportunity ahead, for whom the next step is just that, a step in an upward trajectory which will almost certainly not finish with NCFC, and (b) with older players who are feeling that time is running out on them and whose ambitions and options are more limited with every year. You could argue that Olssen doesn't fit this analysis, which is why I hesitated to say there is a definite pattern, but in his case you might argue that signing for us is his opportunity to get his career back on track after devoting his early years to Blackburn.
"I am still at Ajax and I am happy here, maybe I will stay for a year," he told Dutch television station AT5. "With every bid that comes, I see if it is good for me. Whether I will stay or not is something we'll have to see about." Hard to know how to interpret that. Maybe he is pressing for Ajax to contribute to his wages or face losing him for nothing in 12 mths? Something might need to give considering his likely wage demands and our salary structure.
I really don't understand this concern KIO. Have McNally and the rest of the board resigned or something? I thought we trusted them! [Edit] Apologies if you were joking, but we've already had SuffolkCanary getting all anxious that we are going to be spending more than we can afford.
That didn't take long, sorry robbie but I just wanted a bite please log in to view this image My ghast is just so flabbered that we have sooooooo much money to spend. Wonder if those binners still have their wads that they were waving at us a few years back ?
In the premier league you need to spend that kind of money to stay up, we can't keep buying players from the lower leagues, if we keep doing that we will be relegated next season for sure.
This is fantastic, I am having to pinch myself that this is all really happening. Just enjoy it guys, League 1 seems a long while ago now.
Contrary to all the big names being bandied around, Ashley Barnes! http://www1.skysports.com/football/news/11741/8820740?
Bit late: De Telegraaf reports this morning that Norwich and Ajax have brokered a deal worth 8 million euro's for Alderweireld. The 24 year old Belgian defender is now in negotiations with the club. http://www.telegraaf.nl/telesport/voetbal/ajax/21725914/__Acht_miljoen_voor_Alderweireld__.html
Mcnally is mentally tweeting at the mo and has said there maybe a point to watch the ncfc twitter account tonight.
Someone asks him a question about if the transfers and pressure at this time of year make him go into a bad mood. He replies, I am always in a bad mood.