Yes, absolutely Robbie. Also, I think that Lambert's ability to lure any of our players, (if he wants to) will be stymied by the very character of the players he has signed for us. They tend to be players who don't get their heads turned by loadsa money, but the chance to make a step up and prove themselves at a higher level, with a good chance of regular first team experience. They seem to be settled mature characters who have their heads screwed on. They also, by the evidence of the lap of appreciation after the Villa game, seem to be producing babies by the dozen. This suggests that they feel settled, on long term contracts and happy where they are. Not saying that none of them will get their heads turned, but I think we shouldn't fall for the arrogance of other clubs (incl Villa) who think that they will just need to click their fingers and our players will run for it.
Terrific post gg I think you are absolutely right and I'm very confident that we won't lose any player unless we want to! IHWT OTBC
@ gorlestongirl On a more general point, it seems to me one of the major downsides of our UK managerial setup that a manager leaving can have a big destabilising effect on a club. Giving the manager control over everything except the finances leads, among other things, to players identifying their interests and success with those of the manager. You hear players say "I owe a lot to the manager, he brought me here/took a chance on me/etc. etc." but it isn't the manager who pays the transfer fee or really takes the chance or whatever, it's the club. I'm all for the continental system myself. UK managers don't like having to work with/under a Director of Football, but too bad, longer term it is better for the club and its supporters.
lambert is quoted as saying villa can't afford kyle naughton. that means they can't afford jonny howson either. i wouldn't accept a bid of £10m! its totally made up - i think its the same source said that russell martin was going to newcastle and this was 100% sure
howson is still very young and has at least 12 years to earn his fortune. by staying at carrow road and improving for two years he will be chased by the seriously big clubs willing to give seriously big money. moving to villa could set his career back at least two years.
BRILLIANT - Also like the fact that they wouldn't be able to afford him!!! IMO - If Holt doesn't stay, he'd be one of the serious contenders to take over the captain's armband. Please don't let it be Hoolahoops who gets it!!!
Think this will be the most important factor by far. There's nothing anywhere near as good as the broads in Birmingham as far as I'm aware!
Brum was also known as "the Venice of the North" - more miles of canals than Venice apparently. Sadly I imagine all hugely polluted and not the best for angling and very little sea-fishing readily available! Seriously if Howson were to leave it would be to a bigger and better club than Villa (although I do remeber saying this about Lambert! Can't see us doing them any favours over the fee and why would we sell one of our best players and arguably our best prospect (although that is a highly contested title) when he is on a long contract?
the fact is, whether villa want him or not, they simply cannot afford him, so we don't need to worry about it
You only need to look at who there linked with, and stating already they cant afford naughton! Just out of interest what length of contract did howson sign with us, i was of the belief of only 2 1/2 yr but I've read else where its 3 1/2?
i believe it was 3 and a half years but i'm purely going from memory villa are batting in the same ballpark as us when it comes to transfer fees. the advantage they have is that they can offer more money on wages than we can, therefore they have the better package in enticing the players which we ourselves may well be looking to bring in.
They may have bigger wage budget but we already have a better squad in place. Still bewilders me why Lambert left.
potential. potential at villa is bigger than ours but more importantly, he'll be noticed far more if he does well there than he does here. sad but true
Agree about him gaining recognition, but I think we have potential as a club too, maybe not as much as Villa but the way the club is being run I think we can go far.
Does anybody know or had an inkling if any of your players have got a clause that they can speak to any clubs if the offer a certain transfer fee has been received? If they have, certainly lambert would be aware of that!
i think we can rise too, but not quickly enough for lambert. lambert won't be at villa long if he has similar success as he had here.
That's a worrying and very good point Guru. McNally's not a mug so I would assume that if such a clause was in place it would hopefully be a big transfer fee. Remember losing Etuhu for £1.5mill?
difficult to say guru. its not unusual. one thing i feel is for sure, howson won't have a £4m clause!
