Tbf when Fonte left he was barely playing, so I didn't really consider him a first team player anymore. My memory might be wrong on that one though and he played more than I thought. Also the main issue wasn't wages but length of contract wasn't it?
God knows what really happened with Jose Fonte. I was talking to a West Ham fan at work today, & he doesn't really know why they bought him. He's playing in a team that can't defend, & he doesn't look like the answer.
From memory he was offered a new deal, with a wage increase but not any added years. He wanted a contract with the wage increase and an extra year which took him to 35. Then the Utd rumours started, he wanted to go, didn't happen, was still pissed off about the contract scenario and thought he had been wronged after the years of service he had done for the club, thought he deserved an extra year. Then went to West Ham as they gave him the extra year on the contract (no idea what wage he is on there, but I assume similar/more than what we were offering). That is all based on what was being reported at the time and what people on here were saying was going on behind the scenes and my not great memory. I'm sure the ego thing with the Euro's etc played a part in him feeling wronged about the contract we were offering as well.
He had been first team CB with VD for the first half of the season. He only didn't play in Europa games.
There are two things in this thread which keep coming up and rarely happen. Available players often linked to old club by journalists and exchange deals. Sadly Theo will get better offers than us and players have to be willing to be exchanged....can't see that with VVD as he will get good offers elsewhere and how does the agent work out his share of an exchange.
can't believe there are any Nos on this one. Like Morgan if he fits in with the wage structure he is in. Nothing else needs saying. We are crying out for someone like Walcott.
Be delighted if it happened, but can't see it. I'm beginning to sound and feel like Marvin the Depressed Robot.
Had Branfoot had his way, we would have done an exchange of Mark Robins for MLT (plus cash). Fortunately that one didn't quite happen.
Sadly for our club and the way we have been doing business over a number of years. We are still likely to be top of many journo’s list for rumours. I much prefer the days when we bought someone in, catching them all by surprise. Kevin Keegan was a prime example. I am of the opinion that that transfer and a few others similar in kind put us more on their radar. As for Walcott I think he would be a great asset it is going to be a very long autumn me thinks.........
Left on Arsenal's bench today. Come on Theo, come home. (And remember, these days you only need to start the odd game and score a couple of goals, and you're in with a shout of going to the World Cup with England)
I'd take Walcott back at a reasonable price, without question. Now, if we're applying the full Premier League multiplier and he'd cost 30m or some such, we're better off buying from the continent, where 30m still gets you far more player.
