Crouch has probably got another season or two in him, especially from the bench and Defoe should be ok for about two or three. The problem is that they both really flourish in a partnership and most teams generally only play one up front at the moment or have one dropping deep.
Any team that is fortunate to have the chance to sign Defoe and Crouch, shouldn't hesitate as it can lead to finishing in a position that can't be topped, even by throwing millions at trying to.
He got sacked for speaking out of turn. Had a poor run of results and criticised the club's general manager, who'd publicly demanded better performances from the players.
There's speculation in the Portuguese press linking us with Jonas, a Brazilian striker who paired up well with Soldado at Valencia. He's out of contract, having been released by the Spanish club and is also being pursued by Benfica and a Qatari club that they don't name. [video=youtube;loudtV0K8CM]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=loudtV0K8CM[/video] Other options in that position, which we're rumoured to be looking to strengthen, though I wouldn't be surprised if that was crap, include Hugo Almeida and Nilmar. The former's been linked with Leicester, West Ham and QPR, whilst the latter has been offered a contract by Roma and Internacional. My bet is that we'll sign nobody and I'm not sure that we need to right now.
I'm not sure I'd want to sign any player linked with those three clubs. Now I know I sound like a smug git or a condescending twat but I'd prefer to be linked with players who are linked with clubs with a better pedigree therefore higher standards. NO disrespect to the other three.
The type of players you want us to sign aren't interested. The type of players with pedigree and proven ability like VDV and Adebayor find their way to us after not being wanted elsewhere. That's just how it is and the other signings are either unknown players that bigger clubs don't want to take a chance on. Once we try and bid for players that attract the attention of the big boys, they just walk in and flex their muscles.
Sad, but true. The only possible chance we may have with a player of that sort of quality is one who is looking for an almost guaranteed start every week. In other words, one who is more interested in actually playing than a few extra grand a week. Good luck!....but there may be the odd one around!...
Boss, Spain, maybe if we start winning trophies and be seen more in the CL then that may change. With the right coach we can do it.
I don't even think that winning trophies or qualifying for the Champions League really matter. It's about money. Man Utd aren't even in the Europa League, but they splashed the cash and signed a bunch of high-profile players. Granted, they're a very big club with a big name manager, but teams like City and PSG have shown that the best way to get the top players is to pay the highest wages. Do players want glory, silverware and respect? Sure. Does any of that come ahead of cash? Not as far as I can see. There are exceptions to every rule, of course, but right now we need to keep doing what we've been successful with and pick up good prospects and top players who haven't worked out at richer teams. We can't sign the Di Maria, Falcao or Costas of this world, so we have to bring in the Bale, Modric, Berbatov and van der Vaarts.
SC won't agree but I think he's shown himself to be a Dof that makes poorly thought out decisions when it comes to signing players.
It looked like signing a new striker was dependent on selling one of those in place, which can't be blamed on Baldini.
