Sunderland board reckon he will delay signing so he doesn't play Saturday, anticipating a lively reception!
I see Jol is refusing to confirm or deny the story on the BBC website. But he does say he wishes Holloway had kept his mouth shut. Which prompts the question: Who'd win in a fight - Jol or Holloway? Holloway is slight and quick and looks a wiry little fighter, but Jol would probably just sit on him.
I know it's still all conjecture TMHAF but this is the deal the money's on - "Bent's move will be for the season and Fulham are expected to pay a substantial loan fee, and the majority of his £65,000 a week wages." Source: http://www.herald.ie/sport/soccer/fulham-get-bent-on-a-loan-deal-for-season-29502326.html If true, he'd cost say £3-4m for the season and if he stays fit and scores 15 goals worth it. If it doesn't work end of. An outright purchase, would be say £8-9m this year and £4m next. Personally I'm not happy with loans but for ageing players and with a high risk factor, like Bent, seems a canny approach.
Italian paper Corriere dello Sport, saying Southampton have agreed a bumper fee for Pablo Osvaldo please log in to view this image "Transfer Rome, Osvaldo to Southampton for 18 million. The Giallorossi have accepted the offer of the British, now has to decide the player. Under medical examination." Source: http://www.corrieredellosport.it/calcio/serie_a/roma/2013/08/15-331492/Calciomercato+Roma%2C+Osvaldo+al+Southampton+per+18+milioni So, perhaps it was more than an imminent move to Palace that forced our hand in getting Bent to Motspur Park for his medical.
I don't believe the £18m for Osvaldo in the slightest. If it is true, it's suicidal for Southampton to give up that much cash for a temperamental 27 year old.
In case nobody saw, Paul Lambert has confirmed that Bent is coming here on loan. http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/23711266
No he doesn't. What he actually says is that it's now well known that Bent is having a medical with us. I think Jol is possibly upset with Holloway (and now, I presume, with Lambert too) for saying, 'Bent is joining Fulham' when Jol's line - in public at least - is 'We're taking a look at him and haven't made our minds up.' I'm not saying that Bent isn't joining us, but Lambert and Holloway seem to be jumping the gun. Now I've typed that, the news of his signing is bound to break in the next ten minutes, isn't it?
It does seem odd that Jol is the only one refusing to confirm this, I get that he doesn't want to jump the gun ala Redknapp but when other managers not associated with the player are bleating on about it surely it's a done deal. I think Holloway should be fined though for making such a remark, the transfer has absolutely nothing to do with him so why make a statement to the press?
Jol's annoyance may have more to do with a concern that all the publicity might tip Newcastle into renewing their interest. I'm sure if they do, it's not for this reason but we did put their noses out of joint with Ruiz. Yes, I know ........ says he wishfully thinking!
Lest we forget Scotty Parker in all the brouha over Darren Bent, Sarah Brookes (the Club's PR person) said tonight, "We don't confirm interest in players until a deal is done. Only if something is official do we even mention a name." Earlier today on the video interview with Martin Jol she said, "I know you're not going to tell me but in the forefront of everyone's speculation today there's Darren Bent and Scott Parker..."
Ok, confirmed that any deal involving Bent moving to CC is a season-long loan. Generally speaking though, the medical is the last obstacle in any transfer. When Taarabt was having a medical it was taken as read that he was coming here, and he is. I think Jol is just saying "he's not here until he's here".
Holloway hasn’t done anything wrong. Of course the transfer has something to do with him, Bent was scheduled to have a medical at Palace on Thursday which the press knew about. Bent blew Palace out for Fulham at the last minute so what is Holloway going to day to the press… “I don’t know where he is” and look like a cock?. Of course he’s not he’s going to say that he is going to say what happened. It’s good for him and Palace to let their fans know they are trying to get players in but struggling rather than it look like they are not trying to. You can’t blame him for then… We would have done exactly the same.
He could have done but he would still have looked like an idiot who didn’t know what was going OK. Holloway is acting for Palace and looks out for them. If he claimed ignorance then both he and Palace would have looked incompetent. This way they look ambitious as they are going for players but have lost out to another club as they player sees them as a more attractive option. If the roles were reversed we would have expected Jol to do the same
Fair point, TMHAF, but he could have said 'having a medical at another club' rather than naming us. It's certainly true that he needs to think about what's best for Palace.
