40k a week for deadweight adds up over the year. That would be another £2m down the drain preventing us signing a player to replace all the ****e that will be leaving in the summer, Zamora, Johnson, SWP (although he will probably get another 4 year deal) etc Ive already said were ****ed anyway, no point digging us further into that hole.
Though your basic point may well be valid, why ruin it with made up crap stated as fact? £40k a week - who says so? As a 33 year old without a club he'll probably be happy with much, much less. 2 years may be what his agent wants, but who says that will be what he gets? This is a squad game, I'm pretty convinced the clear out will continue in January, this bloke fits in with a passing, attack minded team. I'd like someone younger and longer term, and a CB and attacker, but you don't turn down quality if its available on the right terms. Unless its called Boswinga.
One good thing to come out of all this - the constant linking with out of contract players - is that we are having a proper look at them, both their play and their attitude. Better than before when we seemed to take anybody on the strength of what their agent said and a 1m32s video on Youtube. I can see both Jenas and Faulin leaving in January - end of the season at the latest.
Kranjcar played in the 2nd half with a tight hamstring, he'd be a massive miss if injured and Benayoun would be a reasonable replacement, better than anything else we have...
Jenas is on the bench, I see the need. Other needs maybe greater, but I'd be much happier with Benayoun coming on instead.
I know what you mean, but at the moment if Harold wants him,let him have him. I don't want any of the old excuses at the end of the season. When we go up the guts of this team will be ripped out anyway.
This. Its a long season and I doubt he'll be given the type of contract we've offered in the past. Besides, he's top drawer, a top, top player. Dunne anyone? Mmmmm.
So paying 40k a week for a sub in the champ is a good idea then? Hes better than Jenas but not worth the wages compared to the job hed do.
Surely not. Would be absolute madness if he was. Andros Townsend has just signed a new four year deal at Spurs........... £16k a week!!!
Yes it would be madness to pay that much to Benayoun. I also think Townsend was mad to accept such a relatively small contract.
This. It's easy to fool yourself into thinking a player is a good acquisition by asking the question, "would they strengthen us?". Strictly speaking, buying any player would "strengthen" us, because it adds another body/option to the squad. Would David Beckham or Les Ferdinand "Strengthen" us? Yes. Doesn't mean we should buy them though. What kind of bloated over-indulgent club are we, if signing 33yr old Chelsea rejects to replace our embarrassment of midfield riches on the bench is seen as a good idea? We're getting ridiculously greedy and hedonistic. Any other club with an issue with a benched player, would replace them with a youth team prospect. Why wouldn't he be on around 40k? That seems to be the going rate among new additions at the club. He's just been released by Chelsea, he's not going to be cheap.
What worries me is that Benayoun has apparently turned down Getafe, Malaga, Olympiakos, West Brom and Palace ( Understandably. ) Why would he do that in favour of signing for us. Although it's very flattering for him to grace us with his brilliance, I fear that the filthy lucre has yet again raised it's ugly head.
That is a slightly ridiculous comparison but I take your point. However, I have seen a number of reports and comments that have said that Jenas coming on is where we lost 2 points on Saturday, I wasn't there so I can't say that I definitely see that as the case, but if those two points cost us promotion what price would anyone put on them? Currently Benayoun is not earning any money, I wouldn't assume he will get offered what he wants in terms of either salary or contract length; we are in the position of strength here. I'd love to see Sutherland or another youth player on the bench, but I can't see that happening. Since the end of last season Redknapp has done a great job, I think we have to back his judgement (I didn't expect to be writing that 6 months ago).
All joking aside, that might have a lot to do with it. A settled wife and kids living in West London after being at Chelsea.
