Impossible to deal with

[farawaysaint]

Earlier in the window 4th official tweeted that other clubs were refusing to deal with us because of the way we conducted business. He was shot down in flames and people praised Cortese for not being a pushover something the Oxo transfer allegedly confirmed. However, recently we've had Warnock criticise the way we conducted ourselves over Gorkss, (with rumours of NA being far from happy about this,) Fontaine fall through last minute, (I know some will claim he failed a medical but the player's representative has flat out denied this,) Jemmal left in a huff due to quibbling over terms and several more, (reported,) deals have fallen through for unknown reasons. Are we playing too much hardball or do we still think Cortese is in the right for not being pushed around even if it means missing out on our transfer targets.

[Give it to Ron]

Earlier in the window 4th official tweeted that other clubs were refusing to deal with us because of the way we conducted business. He was shot down in flames and people praised Cortese for not being a pushover something the Oxo transfer allegedly confirmed. However, recently we've had Warnock criticise the way we conducted ourselves over Gorkss, (with rumours of NA being far from happy about this,) Fontaine fall through last minute, (I know some will claim he failed a medical but the player's representative has flat out denied this,) Jemmal left in a huff due to quibbling over terms and several more, (reported,) deals have fallen through for unknown reasons. Are we playing too much hardball or do we still think Cortese is in the right for not being pushed around even if it means missing out on our transfer targets.

 

It wasnt 4th Official it was another agent. He then backtracked when questioned saying it was just "campfire" chat.

 

Fox, De Ridder, Cork, Fontaine and Gorkss agents didnt seem troubled nor any of our players who have had contract extensions

[Avenue Saint]

get over it for God's sake man. Cortese is the next hitler incarnate...

 

Very evil, very bad. He's ruining this football club and is the worst thing to ever happen to it!!

 

let's move on.

[skintsaint]

He is doing things right. Can't have been too impossible or we wouldnt have Cork, De Ridder or Fox.

[Thedelldays]

getting £12m UP FRONT with another £3m with add-ons is quite remarkable IMO

 

I have heard that we are pretty harsh when dealing with agents and negotiating AGENTS FEES...(which are up in the football league....again)

[farawaysaint]

get over it for God's sake man. Cortese is the next hitler incarnate...

 

Very evil, very bad. He's ruining this football club and is the worst thing to ever happen to it!!

 

let's move on.

 

 

I think if you read my post history you'll find I'm far from a Cortese basher in fact the opposite may be true. I am however entitled to voice some concerns over our transfer dealings surely?

[Saint-Reece]

Dear god, just shut up! Why can't our fans be happy with the direction we're going? We have signed some quality players, and look like we will sign at least 1 more by wednesday, as long as the Don is getting what's best for the club then i'm happy, just don't jump on his back everytime we don't sign someone if a deal falls through.. It happens at every club, we move on to other targets, simples.

[dubai_phil]

I think if you read my post history you'll find I'm far from a Cortese basher in fact the opposite may be true. I am however entitled to voice some concerns over our transfer dealings surely?

 

OK, I see what you are saying and actually agree.

 

It occurred to me overnight. Look, we all know we need a CB. We're all happy we have a Chairman who will stand up for the club and not be pushed around.

 

However, there is one critical point now. It is always the Chairman who signs off on or finalises any transfer. We have until 31st to BUY a CB. NC needs to understand that while his process is good for the club there in now a need for a balance and that the good of the club will ALSO be served by actually getting a CB in.

 

So, time to judge is still midnight on 31st August (unless they have a PL player on loan lined up). I think yesterday's first half performance will have shaken any complacency and NC will sort it out.

 

Mind you if he doesn't then like you I will be "annoyed" and asking awkward questions

[Saint Fan CaM]

OK, I see what you are saying and actually agree.

 

It occurred to me overnight. Look, we all know we need a CB. We're all happy we have a Chairman who will stand up for the club and not be pushed around.

 

However, there is one critical point now. It is always the Chairman who signs off on or finalises any transfer. We have until 31st to BUY a CB. NC needs to understand that while his process is good for the club there in now a need for a balance and that the good of the club will ALSO be served by actually getting a CB in.

 

So, time to judge is still midnight on 31st August (unless they have a PL player on loan lined up). I think yesterday's first half performance will have shaken any complacency and NC will sort it out.

 

Mind you if he doesn't then like you I will be "annoyed" and asking awkward questions

 

Good balanced view.

[for_heaven's_Saint]

Thought this was going to be another thread about Lallana.

[Saint Paul C]

Earlier in the window 4th official tweeted that other clubs were refusing to deal with us because of the way we conducted business. He was shot down in flames and people praised Cortese for not being a pushover something the Oxo transfer allegedly confirmed. However, recently we've had Warnock criticise the way we conducted ourselves over Gorkss, (with rumours of NA being far from happy about this,) Fontaine fall through last minute, (I know some will claim he failed a medical but the player's representative has flat out denied this,) Jemmal left in a huff due to quibbling over terms and several more, (reported,) deals have fallen through for unknown reasons. Are we playing too much hardball or do we still think Cortese is in the right for not being pushed around even if it means missing out on our transfer targets.

 

Or maybe, the price of players we're interested in has gone us as a direct result of an additional 12m quid in the bank.

[dronskisaint]

This really is a vacuous thread...not accusing you of any agendas but -

 

1) We don't and will never know the extent or even the reality of our interest in some of the names mentioned

2) We don't know who '4th official' or any of the derivations is, if he has any kind of knowledge or even if he's Al Faraj's brother

3) The transfers that have happened (in & out) have largely been conducted in private and have had a good outcome for Saints...that much IS known

 

My belief is that a lot of the talk is generated by that zit on football which is the agent system. They don't get their way, they don't get their cut...they are the destabilising factor and masses of cr*p talk is hung on to by real fans who are desperate for their club to bring in and sign long term good and exciting players.

 

On this Cortese/Adkins deliver.

 

Shoot the agents, not the owners/directors/managers who are working in the best interests of the club...not their commission cheques!

Edited 28 August, 2011 by dronskisaint
missed words

[Dig Dig]

This is quite an interesting insight into the world of transfers by the secret footballer (Danny Murphy)

 

http://www.guardian.co.uk/football/blog/2011/aug/26/secret-footballer-transfer-deadline-day

 

Whilst it is about transfer deadline day I think it's still a good little look into the world of transfer dealings. Seems to be full of the worst type of traits....ego's, greed, deceit and generally a lot of backhand stuff going on.

 

Clubs, chairmen and managers always clash during the transfer window it's nothing new, just look at Arsenal and Bolton at the moment. I'm sure NC still has some things to learn in the transfer market but let's not pretend that we're incapable of getting players. We've been very active over the last 3 years and built an almost completely new squad.....so can't be that bad.

[Wade Garrett]

Judge the club when the window shuts and our business has concluded. Until then, these theories, based on anonymous internet postings, are a waste of time.

[sotonjoe]

Really disappointed by all the criticism being thrown at the OP here when he raises a very sensible question. It is perfectly possible to criticise Cortese for one aspect of his performance without that meaning we think he has failed in all aspects of the job.

 

We don't know the ins and outs of any negotiations that have gone on between Saints and other clubs regarding other players, so it's difficult to form any precise conclusions.

 

One thing is for certain though. We know we have been in negotiations with players and that several negotiations have failed, and we know there have been rumours that we are now difficult to deal with. It is important that the club find a balance between not being pushovers when it comes to negotiations, but still ensuring we capture our primary targets.

 

We will be able to have a more informed discussion on this when the transfer window closes. If we capture some excellent players, it will be tough to criticise Cortese too heavily. If we end up with players who prove to be worse than those we reportedly missed out on, or, heaven forbid, no more players, then it will be time to criticise.

[Gambol2K9]

Fontaine fall through last minute, (I know some will claim he failed a medical but the player's representative has flat out denied this,)

 

Would you really expect his agent to say otherwise?

[dronskisaint]

Really disappointed by all the criticism being thrown at the OP here when he raises a very sensible question. It is perfectly possible to criticise Cortese for one aspect of his performance without that meaning we think he has failed in all aspects of the job.

 

We don't know the ins and outs of any negotiations that have gone on between Saints and other clubs regarding other players, so it's difficult to form any precise conclusions.

 

One thing is for certain though. We know we have been in negotiations with players and that several negotiations have failed, and we know there have been rumours that we are now difficult to deal with. It is important that the club find a balance between not being pushovers when it comes to negotiations, but still ensuring we capture our primary targets.

 

We will be able to have a more informed discussion on this when the transfer window closes. If we capture some excellent players, it will be tough to criticise Cortese too heavily. If we end up with players who prove to be worse than those we reportedly missed out on, or, heaven forbid, no more players, then it will be time to criticise.

 

Most are being no more or no less critical than you - my point is we can only judge on what we know and there's a massive amount of opinion being spouted on what may never have been in the first place other than in an agent's wish list....and that what we do actually know (because it's happened) has been largely good so there isn't really a point in the post particularly as the header is confrontational and inaccurate as we patently ARE possible to deal with.

[Alain Perrin]

On the grounds I hadn't heard of Gorks, Gay-rod or Lanyard before the speculation started, I'm not going to have a hissy fit if we don't sign them because we are 'difficult to deal with'. If it cost us John Terry, I'd be more concerned.

 

Warm**** can complain all he likes about how NC prevaricated over the Gorks transfer. At the end of the day, unless it's someone we really really want (i.e. stated as Cork), then I'm not concerned if we take our time over deciding - regardless of how Warm****, or any agent, feels about it.

 

It has to be the the right player for us. It is pointless fans getting ****ed off because we've considered someone and rejected them (either because they don't fit, are too expensive or not good enough), or because they've rejected us (because we won't pay what they 'think' they're worth, because they think they'll sit on the bench, or they've got a better location).

 

Personally I believe that we're doing what we're doing for good reasons.

[Saint]

Think about it.

 

Of course Fontaine's agent is going to deny it. He's not going to tell people that his player has an injury problem. How will he sell him if people know that? It's obvious it was because of his ankle as neither the agent or the club gave any other explanation for it falling through.

[saint michael]

I am not sure that anybody would refuse to talk to us or deal with us. They may walk away because the deal doesn't suit them.

 

Cortese clearly doesn't get emotionally involved in any deal, so that makes it easier for him to just keep driving it on the "this is the deal we want tack" which will work for some but not others.

 

I think we are making good progress and would much rather go this route than the citee route after all it feels so much better winning after a period of struggling

 

I am sure nigel knows what he is doing and am sure that something will get worked out

[david in sweden]

OK, I see what you are saying and actually agree.

It occurred to me overnight. Look, we all know we need a CB. We're all happy we have a Chairman who will stand up for the club and not be pushed around.

However, there is one critical point now. It is always the Chairman who signs off on or finalises any transfer. We have until 31st to BUY a CB. NC needs to understand that while his process is good for the club there in now a need for a balance and that the good of the club will ALSO be served by actually getting a CB in.

 

So, time to judge is still midnight on 31st August (unless they have a PL player on loan lined up). I think yesterday's first half performance will have shaken any complacency and NC will sort it out.

Mind you if he doesn't then like you I will be "annoyed" and asking awkward questions

 

 

I also think some of this stems from Warnock's uncomplimentary statement about "the Saints chairman on the phone for the last 2-3 weeks and not making a decision to buy (Gorkyss).. whereas he sold the deal to Mc Dermott (Reading) over the phone in 5 minutes ! I think most people know that he (Warnock) wants Puncheon, but he either (1) ..didn't want to pay the £1 million or (2) wanted a deal where he could cut his losses by unloading Gorkyss at the same time..and Cortese would play ball..and he got the hump over it !

 

We need to remember that Cortese's high-level banking background has obviously made him a careful and precise negotiator

who likes to tie up all the loose ends, and not the " 'appy 'arry car dealer type" wants a personal cut on the deal.

 

The days of a nod and a wink deals and whispered agreements over the phone may not be over in the footabll world, but we are hardly likely to see them again at SFC whilst Nicola Cortese is Boss. I'll go with that..and the hope that we do get a good result at the end of the day. Spending millions may look impressive and ambitious, but history shows that the majority of our " big money deals " have been a fiasco fron day 1.

[Prince Jazzbo]

Any more chat like this and I can see people being called into NC's office and being told to stand over the trap door leading to the pirahna tank.

[Chin Strain]

I also think some of this stems from Warnock's uncomplimentary statement about "the Saints chairman on the phone for the last 2-3 weeks and not making a decision to buy (Gorkyss).. whereas he sold the deal to Mc Dermott (Reading) over the phone in 5 minutes ! I think most people know that he (Warnock) wants Puncheon, but he either (1) ..didn't want to pay the £1 million or (2) wanted a deal where he could cut his losses by unloading Gorkyss at the same time..and Cortese would play ball..and he got the hump over it !

 

We need to remember that Cortese's high-level banking background has obviously made him a careful and precise negotiator

who likes to tie up all the loose ends, and not the " 'appy 'arry car dealer type" wants a personal cut on the deal.

 

The days of a nod and a wink deals and whispered agreements over the phone may not be over in the footabll world, but we are hardly likely to see them again at SFC whilst Nicola Cortese is Boss. I'll go with that..and the hope that we do get a good result at the end of the day. Spending millions may look impressive and ambitious, but history shows that the majority of our " big money deals " have been a fiasco fron day 1.

 

I'll go along with this.

[Legod Third Coming]

I don't think there is any doubt Fontaine failed a medial becuase of his ankle is there??

Even the BBC practically said as much 'the deal is off. Fontaine has had two previous operations on an ankle...'

[VectisSaint]

Earlier in the window 4th official tweeted that other clubs were refusing to deal with us because of the way we conducted business. He was shot down in flames and people praised Cortese for not being a pushover something the Oxo transfer allegedly confirmed. However, recently we've had Warnock criticise the way we conducted ourselves over Gorkss, (with rumours of NA being far from happy about this,) Fontaine fall through last minute, (I know some will claim he failed a medical but the player's representative has flat out denied this,) Jemmal left in a huff due to quibbling over terms and several more, (reported,) deals have fallen through for unknown reasons. Are we playing too much hardball or do we still think Cortese is in the right for not being pushed around even if it means missing out on our transfer targets.

Your comments are not unreasonable, but to my mind I think that the number of clubs that are having trouble dealing with us can be counted on the fingers of one hand or less. I really am not going to get excited because the arse Warnock has a problem. His comments didn't really make any sense anyway, I doubt very much that Warnock and McDermott sorted out Gorkss. Madjeski would have been calling the shots, and can be just as tough to deal with as NC. Warnock has his nose out of joint because he thinks we should have been a pushover because his lot are now in the PL, whether they will still be when we are next season remains to be seen. Fontaine was clearly a risk, and no-one with any sense (so that excludes Lowe) would have just signed the fella without a medical when it is well known he has ankle problems. The last person to listen to in such a situation is the agent of the player who has just seen his meal ticket thrown in the dustbin.

Clearly we need another CB and a striker, but I'm pleased that we aren't caving in and paying the silly money for unknowns like Rodrigues, if any other club was contemplating paying 5m for a Division 2 striker with one good season we would be lasuging our socks off. I think where things have gone a little wrong maybe is that we ended up having to do the Oxo deal too early. Now every tinpot club, agent and player in the land know we have a decent amount of money in the bank and are trying to do deals with us that otherwise would be laughed at. If we had sold Oxo this coming week and signed our targets earlier all would have been a little easier. Clearly though the situation with Oxo became untenable and we had to finalise the deal earlier than was ideal, but thats what happens when you have to deal with a **** like Chamberlain senior. hopefully we never get in the position again of finding a talented kid whose old man played for the Skates.

 

I think all will be well, I still epxect to sign 2 players before the xfer window and I hope we don't pay silly money. Would be quite happy to take 2 PL young players on loans if necessary.

[RedWillie]

football agents = Car clampers. End of

[miserableoldgit]

I think that what has happened over the years is that transfers and agents have been dealt with in certain ways and they have got away with murder. IMHO NC deals in a far more professional way and they don`t like it. I am pleased that he is not falling in to the trap. Perhaps we might find out that his way is the right way.

[mikee]

I am sure from what Nigel has said many times that we only want players who really want to play for Saints and buy into the "PLAN". I am also sure that if NC or NA get the feeling this is not the case, they will move on to other targets and I for one totally agree with that strategy. There are too many mercenaries in football, both players and agents and I would rather these players signed for another club.

 

I will only worry when a player that we want, and who wants to come here, subsequently signs for someone else - but I don't think that this is the case so far. The team spirit we have at present is critical to our success and we cannot afford to jeopardise that with a player that doesn't really want to be here.

 

I appreciate that as fans we feel the need to speculate and worry but on this occasion I really do feel that it is unfounded. I also still think we will sign a CB and striker by Thursday.

[david in sweden]

Any more chat like this and I can see people being called into NC's office and being told to stand over the trap door leading to the pirahna tank.

 

 

that's if they make it past the sharks and the fat guy with the steel-rimmed bowler hat !

[The Cat]

The more Cortese aoys agents the more I like him. They are leeches on the game of football who have driven wages and signing on fees through the roof.

 

Probably a bit rose-tinted, but I want players to sign for Saints because they want to play for us - not because we're offering them £2k more a week than another team.

[david in sweden]

Your comments are not unreasonable, but to my mind I think that the number of clubs that are having trouble dealing with us can be counted on the fingers of one hand or less.

 

I think all will be well, I still epxect to sign 2 players before the xfer window and I hope we don't pay silly money. Would be quite happy to take 2 PL young players on loans if necessary.

 

 

I think Cortese is a bit more careful with money than to do that ..but in a seller's market you tend to get some unreasonable fees.

 

......getting a couple of loan players may be the difference...especially if " quality " additions keep the team " fresh " by using good substitutions and and not exhaust the same players by having to play them 100 minutes a game week-in and week-out.

[up and away]

Really disappointed by all the criticism being thrown at the OP here when he raises a very sensible question. It is perfectly possible to criticise Cortese for one aspect of his performance without that meaning we think he has failed in all aspects of the job.

 

We don't know the ins and outs of any negotiations that have gone on between Saints and other clubs regarding other players, so it's difficult to form any precise conclusions.

 

One thing is for certain though. We know we have been in negotiations with players and that several negotiations have failed, and we know there have been rumours that we are now difficult to deal with. It is important that the club find a balance between not being pushovers when it comes to negotiations, but still ensuring we capture our primary targets.

 

We will be able to have a more informed discussion on this when the transfer window closes. If we capture some excellent players, it will be tough to criticise Cortese too heavily. If we end up with players who prove to be worse than those we reportedly missed out on, or, heaven forbid, no more players, then it will be time to criticise.

 

I am really disappointed that the thwat wants to keep bringing this up after the numerous posts on the same subject. That sensible question disappears into the ether when you apply just the smallest amount of information available.

 

We know that Cortese is not impossible to deal with because of the many transfers already conducted, or did Adkins handle all of these directly? We also know that we ask for top dollar for players we don’t want to sell and in the case of Puncheon are equally prepared to let him rot in the reserves. But as seen with many of our buys, we are prepared to pay over the odds for players we want and clubs don’t want to let go.

 

Where things have not worked out as smoothly is in the search for a centre back.

Starting with Jemal, I am not sure exactly what happened there, but Jemal states the issue was to do with his original club not getting the sell on fee in his contract. Saints have absolutely no power to stop any sell on fee under contract and neither does the club selling him to Saints. That will be handled by UEFA or FIFA and is unstoppable.

Warnock wanted to buy Puncheon but could not / did not want to pay the amount Saints were asking. It was QPR that put Gorkss into the mix, not a target we had gone after independently. So we messed Warnock about because he wanted to horse trade, rather that a straight forward purchase. Gorkss never appeared as a Saints choice but it would not surprise me if he were then considered. But I doubt strongly as a first choice because we were still looking elsewhere. Pity Reading did not start winning because the OP could load up with the difference Gorkss was making.

The Fontaine issue contains some conflicting points, Saints saying they were not happy with the medical and his agent saying there is nothing wrong with him. If he is ok to play, why have Bristol City decided not to use him yet? To me Fontaine is not our first choice of CB, but a stopgap that would be acceptable. If we found that although his injury is not serious but would keep him out of the first team for a short while, the perspective may well change. Why then not wait until the loans become available and go down that route?

 

Throughout all of this Cortese has shown he is prepared to pay good fees for both a CB and a striker, less for second choices and far more particular. The one thing Cortese is not prepared to do is pay agents fees when he buys players from another club and this is where all this sheite emanates from. As a businessman I expect he has major issues with delving into this enterprise zone for the satchel faces of the footballing world, but for that I would praise him rather than denigrate him.

[hamster]

The side that wins the war writes the history book. Register, if we get promoted then the what any other manager, agent, player or agent.says happened along the way matters not.

 

Sitting in our current seat is a very comfortable place to be sat. Let em talk all they want imo.

[alpine_saint]

OK, I see what you are saying and actually agree.

 

It occurred to me overnight. Look, we all know we need a CB. We're all happy we have a Chairman who will stand up for the club and not be pushed around.

 

However, there is one critical point now. It is always the Chairman who signs off on or finalises any transfer. We have until 31st to BUY a CB. NC needs to understand that while his process is good for the club there in now a need for a balance and that the good of the club will ALSO be served by actually getting a CB in.

 

So, time to judge is still midnight on 31st August (unless they have a PL player on loan lined up). I think yesterday's first half performance will have shaken any complacency and NC will sort it out.

 

Mind you if he doesn't then like you I will be "annoyed" and asking awkward questions

 

This.

[VectisSaint]

[/b]

 

 

I think Cortese is a bit more careful with money than to do that ..but in a seller's market you tend to get some unreasonable fees.

 

.

Agreed, that why I don't think we will be seeing players like Jay Rodrigues or Maynard, the prices being bandied around for these journeymen are quite ridiculous.

 

By the way, hope Oxo is enjoying playing for the Arse, on the end of a total drubbing. Should have gone to Manure really, still at least Chamberlain senior has some dosh now to spend doing up his pikey caravan

[patred44]

OK, I see what you are saying and actually agree.

 

It occurred to me overnight. Look, we all know we need a CB. We're all happy we have a Chairman who will stand up for the club and not be pushed around.

 

However, there is one critical point now. It is always the Chairman who signs off on or finalises any transfer. We have until 31st to BUY a CB. NC needs to understand that while his process is good for the club there in now a need for a balance and that the good of the club will ALSO be served by actually getting a CB in.

 

So, time to judge is still midnight on 31st August (unless they have a PL player on loan lined up). I think yesterday's first half performance will have shaken any complacency and NC will sort it out.

 

Mind you if he doesn't then like you I will be "annoyed" and asking awkward questions

 

 

I am glad to see the penny has dropped...

I agree with everything you say about our negotiating team.

But 'time up' is not at the end of the window..it was in time for the season to start.

Our winning start has papered over the fact that we have dithered over several potential targets, and eventually lost out.

We nearly lost Cork at one stage.

This is not new to this window, it's been happening since Cortese and Reed took over the responsibility from Pardew.

As you said Nigel Adkins must be pulling his hair out.

[Thedelldays]

pat, when is martin signing...is he coming with o'neil..?

 

why is all this down to NC...wenger just made a point that gets lost on everyone....he is getting the stick for not signing players yet (at arsenal) there are over 20 people involved with bringing players in.....

[Gingeletiss]

Really disappointed by all the criticism being thrown at the OP here when he raises a very sensible question. It is perfectly possible to criticise Cortese for one aspect of his performance without that meaning we think he has failed in all aspects of the job.

 

We don't know the ins and outs of any negotiations that have gone on between Saints and other clubs regarding other players, so it's difficult to form any precise conclusions.

 

One thing is for certain though. We know we have been in negotiations with players and that several negotiations have failed, and we know there have been rumours that we are now difficult to deal with. It is important that the club find a balance between not being pushovers when it comes to negotiations, but still ensuring we capture our primary targets.

 

We will be able to have a more informed discussion on this when the transfer window closes. If we capture some excellent players, it will be tough to criticise Cortese too heavily. If we end up with players who prove to be worse than those we reportedly missed out on, or, heaven forbid, no more players, then it will be time to criticise.

 

Like the OP, you are slating the Chairman of our club, based entirely on rumours!

[derry]

I see that we paid agents £359k last season. At least we didn't do a Blackburn and buy a player for £450k and have to pay the agent advising them £1.65m. After an independent audit by the new owners this came to light and they are no longer using him.

[georgeweahscousin]

Agents have has an easy ride in football for far too long. I kind of like the idea that they don't enjoy dealing with us...

[Saint Without a Halo]

If Warnock is criticising Saints for not meeting their offer on Gorkss what about him not meeting ours on Puncheon! Pots and Kettles come to mind!

I think Cortese is doing a great job and looking for value in all we do! I for one cant fault him so far!

[corsacar saint]

Agents are parasites,it is about time that they were put in their place,hopefully NC is doing that,if so he is doing a service to football.

[CB Fry]

Like the OP, you are slating the Chairman of our club, based entirely on rumours!

 

 

To be fair, there are plenty of people on this forum peddling out stuff like "we're standing up to agents" and making out Cortese is a revolutionary single handedly taking on the "old ways" of the old guard of football. All of that stuff is equally based entirely on rumours as no one has a freaking clue what is going on.

 

Do be sure to pick up on those people too, won't you?

[Fitzhugh Fella]

I think there is good and not so good in NC's approach.

Good that he is not the sort to get held to ransom and deal in brown envelopes but not so good that due to his inexperience with the way football works when compared say to Swiss banking procedures, he is inexperienced in the rough and tumble of the transfer market.

Gorkss's comments alarmed me a little as it did sound if we couldn't make up our mind and I think that boat may have sailed and we should have been on it.

[Dalek2003]

I am glad to see the penny has dropped...

I agree with everything you say about our negotiating team.

But 'time up' is not at the end of the window..it was in time for the season to start.

Our winning start has papered over the fact that we have dithered over several potential targets, and eventually lost out.

We nearly lost Cork at one stage.

This is not new to this window, it's been happening since Cortese and Reed took over the responsibility from Pardew.

As you said Nigel Adkins must be pulling his hair out.

 

Exactly what I have been saying for much of the summer.

Perhaps our need for a CB is not as urgent as some people would like to think because our ambition is not as great as some would have assumed.

[up and away]

I think there is good and not so good in NC's approach.

Good that he is not the sort to get held to ransom and deal in brown envelopes but not so good that due to his inexperience with the way football works when compared say to Swiss banking procedures, he is inexperienced in the rough and tumble of the transfer market.

Gorkss's comments alarmed me a little as it did sound if we couldn't make up our mind and I think that boat may have sailed and we should have been on it.

 

I did not find Gorkss's comments alarming, but they definitely seemed to ring true. But throughout all of that process, I never felt it was us in for Gorkss, rather something that would allow the Puncheon deal to go through. The first I heard of Gorkss was when it was mentioned from QPR's end that the Puncheon deal could still be done by bringing Gorkss into the equation, so I really doubt we had been in for Gorks prior to them discussing Puncheon. Warnock explained to Gorkss that he was not in his plans for the Premier, thanked him for what he had done and would be looking to release him to another club. Reading came in and then bought his after we had talked to the player.

 

I believe we have the money available for a quality CB above the likes of Gorkss or Fontaine, but can't find the right player. It also looks certain we are prepared to accept less to address the immediate problem of the Championship. So I can see the point about dithering, but the dithering only exists because of the uncertainty that the player will be a marked improvement.

[um pahars]

When Cortese attempted to take on the media with his ban on photographers I could totally see the logic. He wanted to control distribution and generate revenue from them. Coming at it from that angle it made total sense to open up a new revenue stream.

 

However, what Cortese didn't bank [sic] on was the media standing firm together and closing ranks on us. They "hardballed" us back, refused to buy the pictures and went on the offensive in their papers, and quite rightly highlighted that club sponsors and advertisers were being denied much needed publicity.

 

So what started out as a well intentioned business idea turned in to a bit of a football faux pas.

 

The reason I highlight this is that maybe the situation with agents is similar, in as much as I have no problem with Cortese alledgedly trying to shake up the system and playing hardball with agents fees, I just hope we're not prejudiced as a result of taking on such vested interests.

 

The football transfer market is a nightmare, certainly full of sharks, and with £££££'s (hopefully) burning a hole in our pockets we probably seem a good target for those who want to make a fast buck, so I'm not knocking those who are working hard in the best interests of the club. Ultimately he'll be judged on results, and to date he is doing very well indeed (but don't see anything wrong with speculating or offering up opinions on an internet message board).

[St_Tel49]

I think if you read my post history you'll find I'm far from a Cortese basher in fact the opposite may be true. I am however entitled to voice some concerns over our transfer dealings surely?

 

Yes, of course you are, but much of what you are highlighting is of the form "rumoured as" and as such may be giving rise to unwarranted concerns. Yes, Warnock moaned but the man is a grade 1 whiner at the best of times (he has even got the whiney voice to go with it) and it seems that he has done his own share of fannying around re Puncheon.

[Brussels Saint]

I think we tend to over analyse most of this because lets face it we don't really have that much info other than snippets, heresay and rumour. My guess:

 

Fontaine = failed medical (of course his agent would deny it)

Gorks = we never really wanted him, but kept as an option (especially if you listen to adkins post match interview where he states we want CB's who are comfortable passing the ball out from the back, hardly Gorks strength)

Jemal = this is the interesting one, as it seems we really wanted him, but its not clear why it did not happen. (personal terms/player attitude maybe)

 

None of which strikes me as a major issue. However I do agree with Phil, if we don't get a CB in who is better than what we currently have, we will have not achieved what we needed to in this window. I say this despite being delighted with Cork, Fox and De Ridder. Cork was the most important signing, but a new CB is second only to that.

[Chin Strain]

I did not find Gorkss's comments alarming, but they definitely seemed to ring true. But throughout all of that process, I never felt it was us in for Gorkss, rather something that would allow the Puncheon deal to go through. The first I heard of Gorkss was when it was mentioned from QPR's end that the Puncheon deal could still be done by bringing Gorkss into the equation, so I really doubt we had been in for Gorks prior to them discussing Puncheon. Warnock explained to Gorkss that he was not in his plans for the Premier, thanked him for what he had done and would be looking to release him to another club. Reading came in and then bought his after we had talked to the player.

 

I believe we have the money available for a quality CB above the likes of Gorkss or Fontaine, but can't find the right player. It also looks certain we are prepared to accept less to address the immediate problem of the Championship. So I can see the point about dithering, but the dithering only exists because of the uncertainty that the player will be a marked improvement.

 

My view was also that QPR wanted to chuck in Gorkks as part of the Puncheon deal. Judging by other players that we have bought, Gorkks doesn't fit the mould. He's 29 and, whilst not old, typically we've only spent money on players that are less than 25 and have a resale value. Couple this up with the fact that the previous QPR board seemed allergic to spending money and you have Warnock tryiong to do his wheeler dealer bit to get a player in that he really wanted. Now that they have money to spend, my bet is that he's not interested in JP any more (SWP seems to be the main target).