We played well against Leicester. Could have gone either way, that. But we don’t pay anything like the wages they do, so over any significant length of time we’re not going to keep pace with them.
Or pay the fees they do (they have sold some of their star players for big fees too, but replaced them well). Helps they have a billionaire owner who is willing to invest of course.
An owner who inherited the club from their father, but doesn’t treat the club like a tiresome nuisance, unlike another (part) owner I could mention.
OH MY GOD THERE’S NEWS! Athletic claiming that we’re looking to send Long to Bournemouth on loan with an option to buy with Josh King moving to us for a small fee (his deal is up in June) Everton and Fulham are also interested but Long as a makeweight is more appealing to Bournemouth.
I’ve always been befuddled by why Josh King is always linked with moves to much bigger clubs in every window since he’s been there but thinking of him in terms of a more useful option in replacement for the 57-year-old Shane Long it would be a great deal. Also potential that we might snatch a bit of money for Long and offload his wages in the summer. Billy Gilmour is really exciting though. That lad is certainly going places. Very highly thought of at Chelsea.
Ainsley Maitland-miles.. Cover for FB/CM. Joshua King.. Cover for number 10/Striker. Wow... That would be a very good final day if we pull it off. And Long out,.. win win.
I’m not convinced about Gilmour being true, but if it were, surely we would be buying Theo (nominal fee) as we cant have 2 loans - or is 2 the max? Also, I cant see us doing 3 in a day (AMN??)
AMN would be a really good deal for me - especially if it is done with a view to a permanent deal. He is the sort of player we should be looking at - young, clearly talented but with a point to prove after not quite cutting it at an "elite" club (KWP anyone?). His versatility is also a big bonus for us. I am not that fussed about King but I think it would be overall decent business. He is certainly better than Long and whilst at 29 is not part of our usual model, with 6 month left on his deal he would come in for next to nothing. Pretty low risk and can also play at an attacking mid - versatility again a bonus. EDIT - Probably a good job I'm not that fussed going by the above post At least today should be interesting!
Well Adam thinks the King interest is BS, but the athletic don’t normally make up gossip. Hoping Adam is wrong because I think King and Long swap would be good business.
I almost suggested King as an option for us last week, purely because his contract is up and he could be signed for a low fee. I just presumed a West Ham or someone like that who will pay more than us would get him. Now who knows who is right - The Athletic or Adam Blackmore - but we could do worse than replace an ageing Long with King given our financial and injury troubles. Long has a place on the bench but he never actually plays, and when he does he is anonymous. At least King might actually have an impact when he’s on the pitch.
Just looked at the Premier League stats for Josh King and he has scored 48 goals and had 14 assists in 161 games, which works out as a goal or an assist every 2.6 games, according to my calculator. That’s not a bad return, IMO.