Surely we're filling in too many gaps here? Why is it automatically assumed that if we don't get a player it's because we "didn't do enough"? What can we do, what can we offer? If we're up against the glamour and the money chucked around by the likes of Real what have we got that'll win the day? It's only if the player wants the chance of more game time that he's going to turn them down. But he's a kid- how many of his age are that level-headed? He's going to be dazzled by the glitz, and have fantasies about being the next Ronaldo or whatever. Plus, his agent is deafened by the sound of cash registers- it's a deadly combination. Once again I can't see why every failure on our part is put down to ineptitude, or lack of effort. We really have to get out of this idea that we are a big draw to the world's top players (and those who think they are) and that we only have to make the right noises and they'll come running.
Liverpool transfer news and rumours: Reds ready £20m bid for Jay Rodriguez; Lazio eye Mario Balotelli; Glen Johnson set for new deal
Suso in Milan squad for Lazio By Football Italia staff New Milan signing Suso is in the squad which will face Lazio tomorrow, after joining from Liverpool. The Spaniard signed a pre-contract deal with the Rossoneri, before the Italian club paid a nominal fee to bring the player to San Siro early. Suso, who will wear the number 8 shirt is joined in Coach Filippo Inzaghi’s squad by youth team players Ivan De Santis and Davide Calabria. De Santis is a central defender, while Calabria is capable of playing in midfield or on either side as a full-back. Milan squad to play Lazio: Abbiatti, Agazzi, Diego Lopez, Abate, Albertazzi, Alex, Mexes, Armero, Zaccardo, De Santis, Calabria, Essien Montolivo, Muntari, Poli, Suso, Van Ginkel, Cerci, El Shaarawy, Menez, Bonaventura, Pazzini. http://www.football-italia.net/61631/suso-milan-squad-lazio
My point is that we are not a big draw to the worlds best players and I'm not exactly making it up when it comes to missed targets as they are starting to pile up...... Konoplyanka Sanchez Sigurdsson Salah Costa Willian Of the top of my head. I think we need to compete at times on the wages offered by other clubs, more bonuses added clauses, buy out fees, whatever it takes. Anything really that means the player and agent are convinced that this is he right club for them, like you suggest it's all money. Go back to the Costa deal, he didn't want to leave Athletico after breaking into the team I bet the right money would have convinced him otherwise. Then take Sanchez he wanted to go to London, I wonder how much it would have taken to convince him otherwise. I'm sure there's not a fan here who wouldn't want them in the team right now.
Some of those are cases of us spotting a good deal for a player with potential, but seeing a player as worth a punt for a few million doesn't mean you continue to chase once another £10m is piled onto the investment cost when a bidding war breaks out. Personally, I also back the club's attitude on wages. Suarez and others show that if you do it on the field you will get the big wages with repeated contract bumps and bonuses, but don't expect to start on £150kpw before you've even shown you can kick a ball for us.
It's admirable but it's why we get rejected. Suarez is one of the best players in the world and we paid him 150kpw, whereas there are reserve players at City probably on that
I don't disagree and as you point out added bonuses may well be a draw for players. To me though we have to do everything we can when we identify a player and I don't feel that we are, the list I posted is an example of that.
Go to the photo in your gallery there should be a share button.... please log in to view this image It might be a different colour but the white part should be there, it'll then give you options of how you want to share and messaging will be one of them. The other option is to send a normal message and click on the paperclip in the top right, and go to the gallery from there.
It's all very well to say match the offer, but I don't think we can. It's not that long ago we teetered on the brink of oblivion under the wise stewardship of Laurel and Hardy, our new owners took us out of that with the express intention of putting us on a sound financial footing. Surely nobody wants us to take us back to the bad old days of putting the club at risk by throwing about money we don't have? We simply cannot compete with certain other clubs when no matter how much we offer they can trump it. If they really want the player then whatever we offer they'll increase it. How far do we go in a bidding war before we've overstretched? Also, with the players you listed there were a wide variety of reasons between them -you can't jump to the conclusion that we're just rubbish at it. Most young players weren't even born the last time we were really big. We don't have the pull we once had, nor the financial muscle to compensate for that.
