Rob - seriously cannot see QPR wanting to do any business with us until Harry stops sobbing about what nasty bullies we are. I think Granero's wages may be a stumbling block as QPR are not exactly known for being careful with the purse strings.
I saw an interview with Granero a while ago (may have been on BBC Football Focus). He loves London, and lives in an area with a high proportion of Spanish residents.
Tony Fernandes has tweeted that he doesn't want players who don't want to be there. Given that Granero's agent was tapping up the Swans, maybe his client is one who doesn't. Agreed wages might be a stumbling block, but as Hooper has shown, they aren't always the only consideration. But I'm really more interested in whether people agree with my suggestion about how we might further strength the midfield and improve the supply line to our forward players. I know Bradley rightly has a lot of backing, but IMO we need more of what he doesn't at the moment provide.
yes, he's still a bit of a mystery to me! i knew next to nothing about him when he first arrived but he really impressed at first before a little knock stalled his progress and he looked pretty poor when he returned. maybe he was rushed back? he's definitely got a good engine but his passing is arguably worse than johnson's. i think he'll be the player most likely to lose his place to leroy fer as the season begins
Against earthquakes Tetty and Fer played together in the middle and I thought they looked too similar to play together, Fer was also noticeably better that Tetty, granted he came on after 45 and Tetty started. I'd like to see Fer paired with Howson at home and Johnson away. I'm pretty certain that we'll start with RVW playing off Hooper neither will have come here to sit on the bench and we don't pay £5m for back up.
Granero cost QPR £9m, and his wages must be high as well. I think Fer is sufficient improvement for CM, but another Toivonen type player who can play as a SS or AM would be useful.
Transfermkt value him at £5.3M! If he's on high wages, QPR could largely recoup the "loss" on the transfer fee within 18 months. Still, I agree it's not likely we could get him, but he is the type of player I think we should be looking for. As superman points out, it would likely be at the expense of Tettey, unless someone comes in with a big offer for Bradley. It would also enable Howson to be played in his best position, i.e. further forward. A class player of the type you advocate would push Wes and Howson down the order. We seem to agree that we need a player who can put his foot on the ball and pass, so the question is really whether the best solution would be a classy replacement for Fox/Tettey, or a classy replacement for Wes/Howson.
Id say a replacement for Fox/Tettey. Howson is too good for us to upgrade without shelling out a lot and Hoolahan still has it
Keep the faith with Tettey - he was one of our best and most positive players last season, prior to his injury. Hopefully, he'll regain his form.
I don't generally like African players. All a bit headless and full of running which Tettey certainly is, but he was different to what we had, that was until Fer arrived. I have a horrible feeling Fer will be alongside Johnson in the middle with both playing as defensive players but Fer allowed to start attacks. I really don't want that ball going wide so early this season and staying wide, its a flawed tactic, too much pressure on individuals to perform rather than a team contribution/responsibility to scoring goals.
So what players like tarrabt, Drogba, Toure, Etoo, Ekotto, Muntari............ And I am sure I could come up with loads more given time to think. Jeez Carra, thats a terrible sweeping statement to make.
You've dug your own grave there Carrabuh! You can't just sum up every African player as "headless and full of running". A ridiculous thing to say. He was born and lived in Ghana for the first 13 years of his life, before moving to Norway.
Poor Yaya Touré is hopeless on two counts then, he's African and he's 6'3" tall. Total fail on the Carrabuh index of worth!
Thats why I said generally, generally I don't like African players, not all, much as I don't like Scottish players
