With less than four days to go before the transfer window closes does anyone think we may see revived interest in key City players. I still wouldn't be surprised to see a late bid for Whitts on Friday as transfers usually reach fever pitch in the final hours. With a plethora of midfield players to choose from we wouldn't be left wanting in that position but a player of his quality on his day is hard to replace. Would you sell if a big offer came in and at what price?
Rhondda! I would be shocked if we had a £4m offer m8. If he is snapped up it would be good to see us bring in some steel at the back in the loan window.
tricky....whitts is an important player for us, its not as simple as saying £5m you've got to snap their hands off....because you are then in the territory of having money in the bank but not an adequate replacement. put simply if we sold him we wouldnt be able to bring in a replacement at the same level of ability. therefore i'd only sell for a ridiculous fee. possibly a full back would be needed but i think the squad looks good at the mo.
Could be a late bid for Whitts - he must be fed up of playing in defence and would be grateful to get away. Also Conway? - probably would like regular first team football, which is looking less and less likely with Kim and Bellamy here.
Can someone put me straight on this. If we received an inflated price for a player does the player mortgage situation kick in and we don't get that money? Bit confused by the whole Ranson thing to be honest.
Bobby - as far as I know, the club still carries the debt to the PFF. I think that the trigger to release transfer funds directly to Ranson's outfit remains discretionary, and is subject to negotiation. On the Whitts front - Whitts has his weaknesses, particularly defensively, but he is pure class IF PLAYED IN THE RIGHT POSITION! Playing him just in front of the back four, either at the top of a diamond set up or as a holding midfielder in front of a Gunnar/Mutch type combo is a sheer waste of his talent. In his goal-scoring glory season a couple of years back, he was rarely picked up by defences as he drifted into the box from inside the final third, or was there to pick up on poor opposition clearances. He has fantastic ability to pick a pass or deliver a devastating keeper-beating shot that is the envy of every Championship manager and probably quite a few in the Premier. He needs to be played to his strengths not his weaknesses. It's about time Malky took a long hard look at his squad and it's deployment. I haven't said that much about it these first three games prefering to give him the benefit of the doubt, but after the Bristol game he must change tack - it just isn't working.
Cheers Spark. Agreed the shape of the team needs to change. Players playing in the wrong position, no width, few solid defensive options and no real threat up front.
Not really concerned about any offers - but would be sorry to see Whittingham leave. More concerned about our inability to bring in any TALL strikers on loan. I know the wages may be high for some of these players - but Malky supposedly had a 10 million budget - is it inconceivable that CCFC could lure, on loan someone like Roque Santa Cruz or Jo from Man City - these guys dont even get to sit on the bench - they must be itching to play somewhere ?? Just picked those two as examples - there must be many others at the Big Six Premier clubs that would welcome a regular game ?? Comment please ?
wagwag, those players would not drop down to the championship in a million years, nor could we get anywhere near their wages. apart from youth, most players would refuse flat down to a) take a pay cut and b) drop down a league. we're lucky that bellamy isnt like most players and did both, but no other player would....
I'd be really surprised if Whitts left now. He's just signed a new 3 year contract. He does seem to sign lots of contracts though. http://www.walesonline.co.uk/footba...year-contract-at-cardiff-city-91466-31712611/
Could be he is just looking after us to ensure that any bids received reflect his value to us over the term of the new contract. Not quite in the image of footballers in terms of loyalty and I guess his wages will have been enhanced to enable him to sign (and stay loyal ) however looks like it is all done and dusted with minimum of fuss. Just got to perform on the pitch now.
Following on from yesterday it looks like Fulham are about to sell Dembele to Spurs for about £15m. I think he is a different type of midfield player to Whitts but if Fulham really want him then they will shortly have the cash to splash. I don't want Whitts to go but everyone has a price - just ask Arsenal - and if Fulham put in a bid of, for argument's sake, over £5m (reflecting the longer contract just signed), would we be in a position to turn it down? And just as important has Malky got a replacment lined up?
BFB, i wouldnt spend millions on a player on the last day of the window, premiership clubs can afford to as they can afford to gamble on signings that will keep them in the division. £5m is not to be sniffed at at any means, but you've got to factor in the fact that a replacement panic signing on 31st aug may be an expensive mistake even if he's been scouted. fulham lost murphy to blackburn, whitts could replace him but for fulham but they dont seem serious buyers to me... i think they may find better value abroad for a like for like replacement for dembele edit: seems like noble of west ham could be the replacement they want http://www1.skysports.com/football/news/11681/8029983/Cottagers-keen-on-Noble
Good spot on Noble but again he is not a player in Dembele's style - just media talk maybe? Fulham seem to have some good contacts on the continent so perhaps that is where they will look - or already have someone lined up. Don't get me wrong, I certainly don't want Whitts to go as his performance will be key to our success, but if he was to leave we have no obvious replacement in house (the lad O'Sullivan looks good for the future but not yet). I think Malky would have to do some business to retain our creativity (not seen as yet this season ).
