There now seems very little doubt that Upson will leave in January. The injury to Lescott and Toure's African Nations jolly mean that Unreal City are desperate for a centre back whilst Tottenham are also rumoured to be sniffing. Who knows, Ferguson may also feel that he needs to add numbers to his defence given recent events.
But never mind the newspaper rumours, the fact that Upson declined to travel with the team for the game against Bolton says it all. I saw the players entering the stadium and a right dispirited bunch they looked too, dribbling in without any discussion, except for a beaming and chatty Mark Noble. Interesting that. Noble was suspended but still made the trip. Upson, the team captain, chose to stay at home. Or maybe he was off house hunting because Bolton isn't so very far from Manchester is it?
The question is, what happens to the money generated from the sale? If it is used to reduce the debt, we are down. If, as Bernhardt has apparently promised through Duxbury, money generated from sales will be reinvested in the squad, how will it be spent? The problem is, we need three players, not one when Upson goes: a right back, a centre back and a forward. What we certainly do not need are more Nani nearlymen. We desperately need proven pros, the Lucas Neill types, who will roll up their sleeves and do a job for the team. We also don't need a bunch of Quashies, Boa-Mortes and Davenports, players who have seen it, not done it and got the reserve team t-shirt.
The question is, can you buy three players good enough to do a job in the Prem for £12m? Curbishley certainly struggled when he tried to "Buy British" in the sense of players proven in the Prem, and Nani has done just as badly trying to identify unpolished gems from Italy. If Upson, an average centre back, is really worth £12m in the present market, then how can we get three players of his quality for the same sum? Somebody has got to pull some rabbits out of hats haven't they? Maybe we will see players arrive on loan until the end of the season as part of the deal. Who do Unreal City have sitting around doing nothing in their reserves?
Unless, of course, we sell Parker for £6m too and start playing with £18m. That seems like the more probable course of action to me.
I've always thought that plucking some good championship players on the cheap wont be bad. they say the league is tough, they play almost twice a week and more often then not succeed. There is also Rod Fanni who I believe can play at right back or centre back. So IMO we should shop in either France or the championship, not Italy and certainly not serie B. would be very sad to see Parker leave if he does, the passion he has shown has been remarkable.
ReplyDeleteP.S Is an anagram of 'Mark Noble' anywhere near 'remarkable'?
As we all know decent players are hard to come by in the January window.That is why ZOLA'S best option is to hold out for player exchanges,the cash option would be pointless.The top teams have all been circling around our club, like vultures ,waiting for some rich pickings come January,thats why ZOLA should be ready to play hard ball in getting the best deal possible for our club.Teams like MAN CTY will be prepared to give a lot in exchange for the player they want and I say that is the way to go.If we can get a 2 for 1 exchange we will be on to a good thing ,and we know we will be getting tried and tested players.There is the small problem ,of course ,do players want to join our club .
ReplyDeleteHF,
ReplyDeleteDo we still have the Collins £5m? I think we'd do well to get £12m for Upson. Only City would probably pay it.
If Hughes does go for Upson then he's stupid. Bolton's Cahill is a much better defender, scores more and is younger. We will then be left with Upson to Tottenham and Harry will probably not pay more than £9-10m for him. So, we say give us £8m and the right back Hutton. That leaves us with £8m for a striker and Centre back, with the Right back slot filled.
If we do have Collins £5m, that gives us £13m.
We can get Beattie in January as short term or look long term and go for Beckford from Leeds. Beckford may involve some risk but as T.I.S suggested, this is where we have to look. Plus, with Zola's effect on Cole, Beckford will only improve. Beattie £3m, Beckford £5m. That leaves us £8-10m for a centre back, or if we don't have the Collins money, £3-5m for a centre back.
We have, Djourou at Arsenal, Taylor at Newcastle, Wheater at Boro....ahhh bloody hell, I don't know.
Collins money was spent on Diamanti mate.
ReplyDeleteHF, if the Collins money was spent on Diamante, where did that up front cash from the new Sponsors go?
ReplyDeleteI reckon there should be £5M knocking about in the Kitty at the moment.
JC
Hammers Fan, its ok telling us what we already know ... but who is out there and who would you like to see arrive ...
ReplyDeleteI am puzzled also over the Collins money ... I am sure that was part of the funding to secure the boy Chamahk ?
It is the proven pro that we need at the back right now to grip the back four ... I would take Shorey from Villa to give Illunga a kick up the arse, then look at Sol Cambell to replace Upson ....
However heres a thought for you ... whilst I have been away alot of fellow fans seem to think that we would be a better investment to CB Holdings if we were relegated ...
If we were relegated they would instantly re coup £40 - £45 million in player sales, green, Upson, Parker and Cole to name a few ... then pocket the parachute payment of another £20 million and then sell the club for £60 million and hey presto they have there £120 million and walk away scott free ...
It isn't as daft as it seems ... who else is going to clear the debts and give them the money they want ... NO ONE !
Does Mancini rate Upson then, haha I doubt he has much idea who he is
ReplyDeleteUnlucky Upson, now get your head down and start acting as a Captain
Yeah I too thought the sponsors helped pay for Diamanti. Unless it's another of Duxbury's fibs. Although he would have had to have lied to sbobet too because their man was on our site saying how he was happy to help. It will be interesting to see what Zola is given in Jan.
ReplyDeleteAs I understood it, the sponsors provided bridging finance in case the Collins sale didn't go through. Collins mone was used to offset purchase of Diamanti I believe.
ReplyDeleteTom, we don't need to be relegated first. I have been predicting this for some time, although I think they will only net about 80 to 90 million by asset stripping and then selling us as a Fizzy Pop team.
If Upson doesn't go to Unreal City, he will go to Tottenham. Or maybe even Arsenal or Man Utd.
ReplyDeleteHammers Fan, I totally agree they don't, but that would show the Board, and Duxbury in a very bad light ... all the time they manage to stay in the Premier league they will not be able to regain the money they need.
ReplyDeleteThe club is a held asset valued at around £120 million, by asset stripping totally now they will never get any where near what they want because new investors will just walk away ... I believe the extended time given by the Icelandic banks is to give them time to see us into the mire of the fizzy pop league and strip us totally.
a good thumping is on the cards today ... bottom at christmas and all the Chairman can say is sell to finance purchases ? ... have a word ... if you don't put money on the table now we are relegated ... Where is the TV money for starters or have they pocketed that ? ... too many smoke and mirros only last the time it takes for us too refocus on what is really going on ...