Rui (19) is a good player...but would never get a shot at the first team. As is the case with all these players and many more to come. Dunne (19), Ogogo (19), Rodgers (19), Steer (19), van den Berg (20), and Fonte were all main stays in the reserves at some point or experienced a loan to a lower division. I assume that is where they will all end up with hopes of playing in the Premiership some day. Blackwood is 17 until August, I would've thought he would've got a shot in the reserves this upcoming season.
We had Fonte on a 3-year loan-to-buy deal from Sporting and chose not to buy when the 3 years were up. Blackwood was so poor last year that he was dropped from the u-18 squad entirely. No point in paying someone who can't even make the u-18 squad.
What I think it does is raises the price- with no release clause, Melo's departure could be haggled over, but now it's set in stone. If Melo wanted to leave, he certainly wouldn't want to ensure that the price was higher for him. As stated above, I think the odds of him coming to Arsenal are now practically nil. That said, he seemed a bit reckless to me, anyway. I can't remember him not being on a yellow card the whole tournament. I'm confident Arsene will get a good d-mid. I think he knows he has to.
The price can still be haggled over regardless of the release clause but I do agree that the price has increased with the additional year added to the contract.
While you are probably right it is possible that the club told Melo that if he wants to leave he should reup and they would deal him.
Don't know about anyone else, but I was really unimpressed by Melo's play at the Confederations Cup (thought he was generally Brazil's worst player after Santos). Just found him to be lazy and petulant. Of course, I never saw him play for Fiorentina- so maybe it has been a different story there (although, his awful disciplinary record does not seem to indicate this to be so).
You're probably right about him coming...he played well against Italy, but I was fairly unimpressed in the U.S. game. As for the extension, it likely included a boost in wages or signing bonus to the player...in return, the club is able to set a fixed price for the player. The player also benefits b/c the bidding club will have to match his new wage as well.
I heard that Veloso will 100% be playing in the Prem next season with Bolton, Man City or us the likely destination.
So I guess Milan will be after Ade next. Although they said its either going to be Ade or Fabiano. Fabiano impressed in the Confed Cup but that may mean he will be much more expensive. It will be interesting to see what happens. Edin Dzeko has moved to finally end the speculation over his future by insisting he will give '100 per cent' to Wolfsburg next season. He told the club's official website: "I want to go for it again in the league championship and I'm really looking forward to the Champions League. "I feel very comfortable in Wolfsburg and will be giving 100 per cent for the club next season." http://www.skysports.com/story/0,19528,11670_5408149,00.html
he is being forced to stay... he had quotes on Sunday saying he was upset about staying http://soccernet.espn.go.com/news/story?id=657777&cc=5901 maybe Dzeko has an indifferent season, his transfer fee drops, and he ends up at Arsenal next year like our favorite Russian
He stayed only because Wolfsburg refused to sell - if they accepted a bid he would have been presented at the San Siro a long time ago. As for Ade and Milan - if they had any sense at all they would go for Ade over Fabiano (who is a prick, not very good, and 29 years old). On the other hand they have proven to be completely bat shit mad and will probably pay more for Fabiano (30m euro) than they would for Ade, who would serve them much longer, and much better. I think this is the hold up with our DM purchase - we are waiting to raise the funds by selling before we can go out and buy again.
Well maybe then that would make sense why we would go for Chmakh.... because he would could probably get a dmid and him for the amount we sell Ade for. And in all fairness Ade can go.... Bendtner is steppin up and Eduardo can score every game if fit.... Arshavin can also play there as well so I think we would be good.
Actually I think you were right the first time. He wanted to leave, but Wolfsburg wouldn't sell. So instead of pulling some lame Adebayor / Hleb horses**t, he sucks it up and moves on. It doesn't mean Dzeko will be at Wolfsburg for all eternity, but he is committed to giving his best performance for them while he's there. That's what being a professional is about in the modern game, or at least it ought to be.
Exactly...I don't care if he wants to move to Milan or not. Anyone with half a brain would take Milan over Wolfsburg. The respect part comes in when he is told by Wolfsburg that they don't want to lose him and he obliges.
True, true. I agree with this as well. It's not quite the same as wanting to stay there, but you're both right in that it's what he does that matters most.
it should also be noted that Dzeko has apparently signed a new contract which includes a raise from Wolfsburg... similar to what Adebayor did last season
We may live in an age where grown men throw tantrums when they don't get their way, but I'm old fashioned, and you don't earn respect for doing the things you are expected to do anyway.
yeah, he re-upped with Marseille so that they would get some money for him, since he started his career there.
Well that was more because his contract was down to the final 12 months and he would have left for peanuts (which would have screwed Marseille over). I believe Melo is planning to stay another year before moving. There were a host of clubs interested in him before he signed the extension so its not as if he were going to screw Fiorentina by moving on the cheap.
I agree in principle but this is the realm of professional athletes we're talking about which lowers the bar way, way down.