I didn't realise he signed it, he wanted 3 years and we were only offering a 1 year extension. Stand corrected, they gave him a two and half year deal taking him up to 35?
sometimes you dont have a choice if you want to let them go mate. when they submit a transfer request you just have to get as much for them as possible
The trick isn't just buying smart, it's selling smart aswell! I'm a bit old fashioned, if a players wants to leave he's not comitted.
you probably get 1 out of 1000 totally committed players nowadays. Gerrard and Walters being 2 of the very few. If we sold Bojan no matter what we got for him we would never replace him. The chances of getting a player of his standard to come to stoke are very very slim indeed. We need to keep hold of them
The window is almost upon us. Will moves be made to entice our star players to leave? Are we likely to be in the market to strengthen our squad and in what areas? Who, on the fringes, can we offload? Do we have enough in the squad to carry us through to the summer? These questions will be answered over the next 4 weeks or so. Personally I think we are strong enough to be able to wait until the summer to add to the squad. Keeping hold of our stars is essential IMO
I thing the issue now is that when playing with the false No9, you need interchangeable players. This system is working very well, but it can faulter - CP worked us out and others will in the new year. Hughes would likely search for a striker who can play the wing position. Crouch is as much gone, Diouf currently fits the role and Walters is the alternative - a winger who can play a striker role. The issue is when we can't rotate due to injury and suspension, the chances will dry up. It would be prudent to be able to play with an off the shoulder striker, who will also hold the ball and bring others into play. This would also be useful when leading games and wanting to see it out.
Right, transfer window starting to hot up with rumours now, and we have seen some of our weaknesses highlighted, as well as our strengths over the Christmas period. Arnie needs to be tied down to a new contract ASAP. We need a CB cover in case of injury and to pressure Wolly into better performances. I'd like to see us invest in wing cover. Although not needed as such, if Arnie wont re sign or either him or Shaq get injured we will lose a key strength. We either need to play Diouf for a run or invest in a striker - maybe a loan? Looking at what we have achieved this year and the expansive football we try and play, we need to keep the fluidity of the 3 amigos but relieve the pressure they are under with a striker in the formation. I would like to see these three play behind a recognised striker, and believe Bojan would be far more dangerous playing in the hole.
Apparently to sign his new contract, he wants to be the highest paid player at Stoke. Agree or disagree, if not him, then who do you think should be the highest paid? Mr Bojangles for me. PS...who IS our highest paid player?
I think Marko needs to show more consistency to even consider becoming the highest paid player. He's doing well currently but over previous seasons he has only performed late on. I don't want him to hold the club to ransom so if he does then perhaps he should be sold. I have read somewhere today that Shaqiri is our highest paid player on 70K a week.
