For new signings, ask the man from the Pru

[BWFC_Insane]

Citing a "well-placed Arsenal source", this website says Arsenal are "hopeful" BWFC will to accept Arsenal's second bid of "up to £1.5m including add-ons" for Rob Holding. Or, as the story calls him on one occasion, Harding.
(The writer Wayne Veysey is an old hand, a Nixon type, rather than a wet-eared greenhorn. But there's nothing to say Nixon types don't file copy to fill pages.)

"Up to"1.5 mil "including" ad-ons. In this day and age for a man a money club like Arsenal want it's a bit of a joke. If we were still in the Chapionship even they'd have to part with far more. Just taking advantage of our misfortunes I reckon. If they want Holding, make em pay his worth. What can we replace for 1.5m?

The flip side is if we were in the premiership paying more than £1M for a player who's played what, 20 odd matches in his life for a team that finished bottom of the championship, and miserably so, people would be questioning why we're doing it, that we lack ambition and are spending far too much for an unproven player....

To flip it back again, didn't we pay close to, or over a million for a few kids we stole from other clubs? Odelusi or Obadeyi was it from Coventry? Mavies from Wolves? I'm sure there were others we splashed big cash on during our premiership days who were described as potential but then never made it. TV money has gone stratospheric since so we should be able to hold out for much more (didn't Everton pay around£3m for Stones?). Whether our desperation means we'll snatch at the first offer though....

But the value isn't dictated by the money around, it is dictated by how much someone wants to pay. And indirectly by how desperate the selling club are to sell....

[Abdoulaye's Twin]

Didn't we pay 1m for Conolley (or whatever he was called) who didn't get a look in? Anyway, Wenger should be charged a premium on top of whatever we can get elsewhere.

[Harry Genshaw]

^ ^you reckon? Its always seemed to me at any rate, that any increase in tv revenue sees transfer fees quickly increase too. It's a difficult balancing act for the club that's for sure. They try and hold out for big money, nobody else shows an interest and then he fails to develop in the way we hope. His wages must be amongst the lowest in the first team so I don't see it as such a problem if it plays out like that. Lets say a minimum of£3M or Arsenal and anyone else can do one.

[BWFC_Insane]

^ ^you reckon? Its always seemed to me at any rate, that any increase in tv revenue sees transfer fees quickly increase too. It's a difficult balancing act for the club that's for sure. They try and hold out for big money, nobody else shows an interest and then he fails to develop in the way we hope. His wages must be amongst the lowest in the first team so I don't see it as such a problem if it plays out like that. Lets say a minimum of£3M or Arsenal and anyone else can do one.

What if, there is a significant hole in the budget that needs filling? I suspect we will sell off Holding because we need the money to pay the wages of the likes of Pratley et al who we can't shift....

[General Mannerheim]

Lennon got the Hibs job... the least he can do is come and buy Pratley for £10 mil!!

[Abdoulaye's Twin]

Lennon got the Hibs job... the least he can do is come and buy Pratley for £10 mil!!

Good. He can take Twatdick or whatever he's called with him.

[Prufrock]

^ ^you reckon? Its always seemed to me at any rate, that any increase in tv revenue sees transfer fees quickly increase too. It's a difficult balancing act for the club that's for sure. They try and hold out for big money, nobody else shows an interest and then he fails to develop in the way we hope. His wages must be amongst the lowest in the first team so I don't see it as such a problem if it plays out like that. Lets say a minimum of£3M or Arsenal and anyone else can do one.

What if, there is a significant hole in the budget that needs filling? I suspect we will sell off Holding because we need the money to pay the wages of the likes of Pratley et al who we can't shift....

Darren is going, don't worry. I've got my best people working on it.

[TonyDomingos]

^ ^you reckon? Its always seemed to me at any rate, that any increase in tv revenue sees transfer fees quickly increase too. It's a difficult balancing act for the club that's for sure. They try and hold out for big money, nobody else shows an interest and then he fails to develop in the way we hope. His wages must be amongst the lowest in the first team so I don't see it as such a problem if it plays out like that. Lets say a minimum of£3M or Arsenal and anyone else can do one.

What if, there is a significant hole in the budget that needs filling? I suspect we will sell off Holding because we need the money to pay the wages of the likes of Pratley et al who we can't shift....

Darren is going, don't worry. I've got my best people working on it.

I'll buy you an Internet pint if he's gone by page 30.

[LeverEnd]

When did we last sign a player? I honestly can't remember.

[TANGODANCER]

When did we last sign a player? I honestly can't remember.

Momentous Madine?

[Worthy4England]

Shola Ameobi, methinks...

[BWFC_Insane]

Heard a rumour from someone I know with decent links to some staff at the club, Steve Cotterill announced tomorrow, press conference Monday/Tuesday.

Same person was bang on about Freedman but also told me we were getting Chris Coleman when it turned out to be Megson....We shall see...think I'd prefer Adkins personally....

[Gary the Enfield]

Heard a rumour from someone I know with decent links to some staff at the club, Steve Cotterill announced tomorrow, press conference Monday/Tuesday.

Same person was bang on about Freedman but also told me we were getting Chris Coleman when it turned out to be Megson....We shall see...think I'd prefer Adkins personally....

Is it Marc Iles?

[TANGODANCER]

Heard a rumour from someone I know with decent links to some staff at the club, Steve Cotterill announced tomorrow, press conference Monday/Tuesday.

Same person was bang on about Freedman but also told me we were getting Chris Coleman when it turned out to be Megson....We shall see...think I'd prefer Adkins personally....

If the club predicted I had 48 hours left to live I'd probably book a fortnight's holiday.

[BWFC_Insane]

Heard a rumour from someone I know with decent links to some staff at the club, Steve Cotterill announced tomorrow, press conference Monday/Tuesday.

Same person was bang on about Freedman but also told me we were getting Chris Coleman when it turned out to be Megson....We shall see...think I'd prefer Adkins personally....

If the club predicted I had 48 hours left to live I'd probably book a fortnight's holiday.

Even TD is cynical now....

[Rjs37]

Heard a rumour from someone I know with decent links to some staff at the club, Steve Cotterill announced tomorrow, press conference Monday/Tuesday.

Same person was bang on about Freedman but also told me we were getting Chris Coleman when it turned out to be Megson....We shall see...think I'd prefer Adkins personally....

If the club predicted I had 48 hours left to live I'd probably book a fortnight's holiday.

And what would you do for the other 2 years?

[Bruce Rioja]

Heard a rumour from someone I know with decent links to some staff at the club, Steve Cotterill announced tomorrow, press conference Monday/Tuesday.

Same person was bang on about Freedman but also told me we were getting Chris Coleman when it turned out to be Megson....We shall see...think I'd prefer Adkins personally....

Decent links indeed.

[Bruce Rioja]

I see that this Robson-Kanu boy that's just scored for Wales has no club. Isn't he about as good as we can hope for?

[Prufrock]

I'd take him. Bit of a joke him playing international football but he's quick, decent in the air, works hard. Doesn't score enough but could be a decent foil if we can get goals from midfield.

[LeverEnd]

I'd be surprised if he doesn't get a championship club. Played a lot of games at that level, still quite young and playing internationally. Would be nice though.