Summer transfer window/Firesale 2018

Terry close to joining Sporting Lisbon according to reports in Portugal.

Some places reporting it is going to be Terry and some it is going to be James Collins? Either way Potato Head has got to persuade the new owners why he needs an over paid over the hill CB when he left Elphick out on loan last week without a replacement in place?

Bloody hell, desperation or what, absolutely no thought or actual plan in any of Bruce's signings!

I'm pretty sure I came up with the James Collins suggestion a few weeks ago so it's nice to know TBAR has a wide reach!

I also hear that Alan Evans and Ken McNaught keep themselves in good shape?

To be honest if Bruce isn't going yet, then I'd rather have Terry than not have him, we'll stand a better chance of getting promoted with him in defence than we would just leaving Jedinak there. I would have preferred us to have signed a younger defender, but that didn't happen for whatever reason, so we are where we are, and need to do something, because if Chester was to get injured we really would be trouble.

I just had an image of Chester injured and the dynamic duo of Whelan and Jedi as CBs.

I also think Terry brings the dressing room together? However Potato Head will need to manage the number of games he can play?

DelboyVilla wrote:I also think Terry brings the dressing room together? However Potato Head will need to manage the number of games he can play?

Well he won't have to worry about the Carabao League Cup for a start.

deadbuzzardalive wrote:To be honest if Bruce isn't going yet, then I'd rather have Terry than not have him, we'll stand a better chance of getting promoted with him in defence than we would just leaving Jedinak there. I would have preferred us to have signed a younger defender, but that didn't happen for whatever reason, so we are where we are, and need to do something, because if Chester was to get injured we really would be trouble.

There again if Terry was to get injured, were back to square one but facing a longer rehab period for Terry's recovery.

Wasn't really sure where to put this but worth noting that Tammy Abraham scored for the England U21s tonight.

Rumors that Ritchie De Laet is off on loan to Melbourne? Brilliant Potato Head logic again?

DelboyVilla wrote:Rumors that Ritchie De Laet is off on loan to Melbourne? Brilliant Potato Head logic again?  

Yeah Bruce is a sugarbag. Can only think its like Edward Norton in fight club where he beats himself up so he can go home from work but still get full pay, except with Bruce its the team he's beating up.

... and there goes our best right back. Bruce out, now!

Green has picked up a knee injury at Portsmouth and is due to go into hospital for an operation!

He's had the operation, a cyst on his leg that's been there a while.

FoxyAV wrote:He's had the operation, a cyst on his leg that's been there a while.

Why didn't he have it done in the summer then if it has been there a while?

achilles wrote:

FoxyAV wrote:He's had the operation, a cyst on his leg that's been there a while.

Why didn't he have it done in the summer then if it has been there a while?

I just saw it on Instagram, you'll have to ask him. Maybe it was manageable before but has just come to a head?

Cyst- come to a head - very good......

Not sure how much truth is in this but some sources saying Villa are possibly signing cb Steven Caulker.

https://amp.hitc.com/en-gb/2018/09/18/report-aston-villa-looking-to-sign-steven-caulker-on-trial/?utm_medium=share%20service&utm_campaign=social%20media&utm_source=twitter&utm_content=HITCastonvilla&__twitter_impression=true

De Kuip wrote:Not sure how much truth is in this but some sources saying Villa are possibly signing cb Steven Caulker.

https://amp.hitc.com/en-gb/2018/09/18/report-aston-villa-looking-to-sign-steven-caulker-on-trial/?utm_medium=share%20service&utm_campaign=social%20media&utm_source=twitter&utm_content=HITCastonvilla&__twitter_impression=true

He would fit in perfectly here if 'his off field problems' are true, he could camp out with McCormack and Richards at the holiday camp!

Yeah he comes with baggage that's for sure but if he is clear of all that he is still a talent.

Problem is that for all his (claimed by the press) man management skills, I think Bruce is a disaster when it comes to players with personal problems.  Look at fatmac - he obviously has issues and they may well be similar to Caulker's, so why would anyone think Bruce would be supportive if and/or when that sort of person fails?

Here's a link to a Guardian article, albeit 15 months old so SC may well be a very different person today, but worth a read:

https://www.theguardian.com/football/2017/jun/29/steven-caulker-mental-illness-addictions-gambling-drinking-qpr

De Kuip wrote:Yeah he comes with baggage that's for sure but if he is clear of all that he is still a talent.

Problem is that for all his (claimed by the press) man management skills, I think Bruce is a disaster when it comes to players with personal problems.  Look at fatmac - he obviously has issues and they may well be similar to Caulker's, so why would anyone think Bruce would be supportive if and/or when that sort of person fails?

Here's a link to a Guardian article, albeit 15 months old so SC may well be a very different person today, but worth a read:

https://www.theguardian.com/football/2017/jun/29/steven-caulker-mental-illness-addictions-gambling-drinking-qpr

Interesting read and who knows what he is like now. Some people never change as it is very, very difficult to get off that self destruction path once on it, especially when someone has so much spare time!

Obviously I wish him all the best in dealing with his demons!

achilles wrote:

De Kuip wrote:Yeah he comes with baggage that's for sure but if he is clear of all that he is still a talent.

Problem is that for all his (claimed by the press) man management skills, I think Bruce is a disaster when it comes to players with personal problems.  Look at fatmac - he obviously has issues and they may well be similar to Caulker's, so why would anyone think Bruce would be supportive if and/or when that sort of person fails?

Here's a link to a Guardian article, albeit 15 months old so SC may well be a very different person today, but worth a read:

https://www.theguardian.com/football/2017/jun/29/steven-caulker-mental-illness-addictions-gambling-drinking-qpr

Interesting read and who knows what he is like now. Some people never change as it is very, very difficult to get off that self destruction path once on it, especially when someone has so much spare time!

Obviously I wish him all the best in dealing with his demons!

Yeah so do I, football is a fucking horrible industry in many ways, sure you get mega money and if you have a long, relatively injury-free career and play regularly it must be a dream come true.
But if you fall on tough personal times it seems to just not give a shit.
That bit in the article where he was sent to Bristol in the midst of his gambling/alcohol addiction and was put in a flat on his own in town, in between several nightclubs and opposite 2 casinos. Jesus, he was only about 23 years old, wtf did they expect!?

His story has some striking similarities to that of someone like Gazza - both tragic - and I think you've hit the nail on the head DK when you say football is a fucking horrible industry in many ways.