we need to get real here. The teams around us are strengthening (although Swansea have just signed Ngog, which might test anyone's description of strengthening, sorry Swans) and if we are going to stay up we need to do the same. if we don't I can say now we are doomed, if I'm wrong and we survive I will run up the road naked!
It is on Greek websites too...€14m fee and €10m over 4 years his salary which seems to be within our wage structure.
http://www.patrasevents.gr/article/88288-i-foulam-o-epomenos-stathmos-tou-kosta-mitroglou-vids Greek article suggesting its a done deal with Kara a key player in it all. I've never heard of him before but looking at his goals ratio and various articles written about him (along with the customary youtube compilation clip) it looks to be very promising.
got a couple of Greek lads in the office...he's highly rated, scored goals in the CL and at int'l level.
The best Greek forward available. Certain to be at the World Cup. Good technique and speed. Even if we get relegated we will manage to sell him on with no problem. Major signing! And only 25.
Latest from Greece is that Olympiacos will not accept anything less than €15m while the player has reached an agreement with us. Maybe a tactic to calm the supporters as they have no plans to replace him...
Sounds like it's only a matter of time. We can but hope! Guess Shad is willing to put his hand in his pocket after all!
Is it the 1st of April already? ..... @GlennMoore7: The news from Rene Mulensteen that Milan have enquired about Taarabt is the most surreal development of the transfer window, any window
All of what is happening is a direct result of no investment over 2 years. Jol hamstrung by a chairman who was selling up, didn't want to put his money in his pocket and the new owner playing a waiting game to see if the manager can keep us up. Is it too little too late? From where I'm standing I think it is. Even a 25 year old striker won't help us as we also need a midfielder or two who can last 90 mins!
It seems there are things happening, going to be a busy couple of days. For what I can gather the following is gathering pace: Tarrabt looks to be MIlan bound whilst we get Zaccardo on loan, defensive cover. Mitroglou sounds like it is gathering pace. Berbatov goes to Tottenham on the final day Holtby comes on loan if Tarrabt has gone. Personally I would prefer Sigurdsson. Just leaves the left back spot. It may be the logic is Zaccardo comes in and Amorebieta goes to left back. Pace up top and some sort of creativity in the middle will go along way to helping us retain premiership status.
MAF not providing funds is one part of the equation. The second part is Jol's inaction and stupidity not to integrate any of the youngsters towards the end of last season and in pre-season. Actually watching the Sheffield Utd cup game, which are more challenging sometimes than a league game, I think we have some good players who will run, cross, track back and work for the team. Even if we get relegated I am more optimistic that we can bounce back stronger. The youngsters just need some structure and will come good. Next year either way will have two experienced midfielders in Parker and Sidwell, strong defense that we can build upon.
From the Daily Telegraph who did a piece on each team and what their activity is likely to be in the last week of the window. Notice we have a panic rating of 10/10. The only other club to have this is West Ham, who have actually signed some players, unlike ourselves. Much like relegation rivals West Ham, Fulham have hit a number of dead ends in their January search for new players. The Craven Cottage club missed out on Ryan Bertrand to Aston Villa, were reported to the Premier League by West Ham over a bid for Ravel Morrison and Porto are now reluctant to sell Steven Defour. Former Real Madrid midfielder Sergio Canales is another midfield target and that area is Fulham's priority. Head coach Rene Meulensteen would also like at least one new defender. Panic rating: 10/10
I don't want this to happen, but come February 1st, and we haven't signed anyone, I can see the club telling us 'we tried' which is technically true, but with pathetic bids for players from clubs that had no need to sell. Offering £2m for Leicester's star centre back when they're on the verge of promotion, having it rebuffed and going back with a bid 500K higher? Absolute joke. The Lucho deal from Porto had no legs when we began negotiations with Defour, our price haggling allowed Porto to offload him to another club and change their minds regarding the sale of Defour. If we are blaming MAF and Jol then we also have to include Ali Mac, who is a woeful negotiator. I constantly read of other teams doing transfer business and not even hearing about the deal before it's officially announced, if only we were like that instead of making our bids public (Morrison, Moore, Taylor, Defour)
If we could pull off something like that, frogman, I'd be somewhat happier. We'd still need to either bring in a left winger though, or promote Plumain. Holtby could be a great acquisition. Sadly though I can't see anyone taking Taarabt off our hands!
Only place Taarabt would be going if he left Fulham is back to QPR, who own him. You can't swap a loan player for another loan player. And as we don't want him back this season, you need to either buy him (please, then you can do what you like with him) or pay him up till June 30 and then wave bye bye.....
Adel TooFat must be licking his lips in anticipation of a move to Italy - all the spaghetti, parma ham and bruschetta just waiting to be eaten.
