Stefano

I don't think it's spite, no. If anything Rafa is a pragmatist, but I do think there's a certain element of politics involved. Would El Zhar for example be ahead of Hammill is he hadn't cost us anything and came through the academy?

Hughes is obviously out of the loop.

Surely that's showing the right attitude in that he wants to play and not stay here and twiddle his thumbs while he's overlooked for inferior players? Must have been a kick in the teeth to be told he's in our plans and then get left behind for all the pre season games. Good luck to him.

I'm sure you're posting in good faith, I just find it hard to believe that Rafa wants to keep him and does't even use him in pre season and then accepts a ridiculously low fee from a championship club.

He should get one now El Zhar is out but it doesn't seem likely. If he was in Rafa's plans there's no way we'd accept such a crap fee.

Supposed to be signing after a dental operation according to the Barnsley manager. f*** knows what's gone on there.

You seem to be obsessed with 'bi polar' despite not knowing what it means. Is it your new buzz word you've learned browsing the web?

See what coming? Madrid not paying our valuation? If they don't, he stays, if they do we've got a replacement lined up. Don't see a huge problem. The important point is we're no longer a soft touch in the transfer market.

Sport es, which is a Barca rag, saying a deal is done for 35 millio euros, not sure if it's the same article as this morning. Marca is awful but I think they'll get the scoop when or if it happens. There's also a peice on there saying Barca are still in for Masch, and Guardiola called Rafa last week and enquired about his availablility and was given short thrift. They go on to say it's complicated but will still happen.

18 million gets us an inferior replacement for one of our key midfielders, leaving us 10 million-ish for a good attacking player. I'm not sure selling Alonso benefits us at all.

Probably the latter. Sport es reported the same this morning.

Possibly. Bit of a chain going on at the moment between 3 clubs. If Roma want the money to spend they, like us, need Madrid to make a decision one way or the other.

True. Forgot he's on mega wages over there and unlikely to take a huge cut to sit on our bench.

Huntelaar to Milan for 11 million euro according to some link on news now. Scandalous that. He'd be ideal for us at that price.

Have we defo agreed a fee? Can't see a Spanish tabloid having the scoop on our dealings with an Italian club.

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Is Phil Boresma there?

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Snieder to Inter initially on loan according to reports in Italy. Great deal that if true, they've done quite well this summer.

From some Italian kid on RAWK, who seems to know his stuff. Roma fans are furious. Apparently Roma refused a 30million euro offer for Aquilani last year from Inter only to accept an 18million+3million euro offer from us this year.

Defour was ace in the first leg. I remember being shocked at how tough and mobile their midfield were. He's a busy little player, a bit like Flamini.

Their manager was right up for it. He and Rafa had a bit of a barney on the line.

They'd want about 50 million for him. It's a non starter.

That game was excruciating. I can't remember if it was because of Liege playing so well, especially in midfield, or us being utter turd.