Gianfranco Zola: 'Pozzo family's decision not to sell Matej Vydra shows Watford's ambition this season'

8:00am Friday 1st February 2013 in Sport Photograph of the Author By Frank Smith, Deputy Group Sports Editor

Pictures: Action Images Pictures: Action Images

A delighted Gianfranco Zola believes the Pozzo family’s decision not to sell Matej Vydra shows Watford have serious ambitions this season.

Vydra’s form since his arrival in the summer has attracted the attention of five Premier League sides and the striker’s parent club Udinese rejected a bid from one of those teams, according to his agent.

The Czech Republic international’s representative Ondrej Chovanec denied rumours Roma had expressed an interest in his client earlier this week but didn’t rule out a switch to the Italian club.

Chovanec had last week said it was "very likely" Vydra would be signing permanently for Watford before the deadline closed and Zola remained confident the move would happen throughout despite the speculation.

Speaking to the Watford Observer yesterday (Thursday) evening, Zola said: "I’m delighted [Vydra is still here]. It proves that the club are serious about the ambitions we have this year. We are underlining what we have promised and that is a very good sign."

At the weekend, Zola joked he had broken his phone in a bid to make sure Vydra remained at Watford.

"I have broken my phone so they can try phoning me but they won’t find me that is for sure," Zola joked.

"I have no doubt in my mind [he will stay]. I have had no indication that he is leaving and I think the club want to keep him and the player I believe wants to stay so we should be alright."

He continued: "As far as I understand it, the player wants to stay here as well because we can help him keep improving.

"I don’t think Matej believes he has already got to the top and he knows there are still margins to improve and that is what we are going to be working with him on.

"I think he can give Watford the edge because there will be many teams looking for him."

"Here he can have the attention he needs and maybe next year he will be playing for us in the Premier League," Zola added.

Vydra, who Zola described as "a good boy who works very hard", has scored ten goals in his last five starts.

The 20-year-old is on a season-long loan from Udinese and Watford are confident of securing his services permanently – although the Championship club were not in a rush to tie him down before the end of January due to the relationship with Udinese.

The striker has scored 18 goals in 25 league appearances this season, nine of which were from the substitutes bench.

On the interest from Roma, Vydra’s agent told Gazzetta Giallorossa: "No, honestly I never talked to any of the leaders at Roma. For the moment there are no offers from the Giallorossi.

"Everything is possible. For the moment there is only one offer from a Premier League club but it was rejected by Udinese.

"The player of course liked the interest of Roma. We like their style of work, their play, we like (Zdenek) Zeman. If the offer is right, never say never."

It was a largely uneventful transfer deadline day for the Hornets yesterday (Thursday). Chris Iwelumo joined Oldham Athletic on loan and Piero Mingoia has linked up with Boreham Wood on a temporary deal, but there had been no arrivals when the Watford Observer went to press at 5.30pm.

There had been claims Watford bid £2m for highly-rated Birmingham City winger Nathan Redmond but we understand that was not the case.

Watford were reportedly interested in young Napoli striker Soma Novothny, according to the player’s father, but Zola denied that was the case.

The 18-year-old has been linked with several clubs in Europe and Otto Novthny claimed he could be tempted to link up with former Napoli coach Dodo Sormani, who now works at the Hornets.

However, Zola said: "No, there is no truth in that. I don’t know anything about that.

"The only thing which may happen tonight (Thursday) is if we can find loan clubs for some of the players who are not playing for us as they need to find a team. So that is the only thing I’m expecting to see."

The Hornets had attempted to sign Manchester City midfielder Jeremy Helan towards the end of last week on a permanent deal but the left-sided Frenchman, who can also play at full back, returned to Sheffield Wednesday on a youth loan until the end of the season.

Wednesday boss Dave Jones told BBC Radio Sheffield "we cannot match what they [Watford] are offering" last Friday but the 22-year-old re-signed for the club until the remainder of the campaign on Tuesday.

Iwelumo and Mingoia have both agreed loan deals until the end of the season.

Iwelumo has scored five goals for the Hornets since joining from Burnley in the summer of 2011 but has not played for the first team since October, spending six weeks on loan at Notts County.

Mingoia made seven appearances for Watford during his debut season as a professional but he has not featured for the first team under Zola or Sean Dyche.

The 21-year-old made eight appearances at Hayes and Yeading last season and nine on loan at Accrington Stanley earlier in the current campaign.

Danny Graham scoring against QPR this season. Picture: Action Images

One of the positives from yesterday’s transfer deadline day from a Watford perspective was Danny Graham’s move from Swansea City to Sunderland.

The Hornets agreed a 15 per cent sell-on clause when Graham left the club to join Swansea in 2011 – with the Golden Boys receiving 15 per cent on any profit above the £3.5m the Swans paid for the striker.

Graham, who scored 41 goals in 98 games for Watford, yesterday joined Sunderland in a £5m move, which will result in the club landing £225,000.

Comments(40)

londomollari says...
8:09am Fri 1 Feb 13

That was disappointing. Dashed home from work at 10 last night to find that, in effect, nothing of note had happened. oh well, no news is good news, I suppose. At least, all the loanees should be here to see out the promotion push.

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endean2 says...
8:13am Fri 1 Feb 13

Fine now pick the right team to play on SATURDAY, no more tinkering, resting
ang lookin after the players "feelings"

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West Country Hornet says...
8:27am Fri 1 Feb 13

endean2 wrote:
Fine now pick the right team to play on SATURDAY, no more tinkering, resting
ang lookin after the players "feelings"
Agree. The 'Ornz' are going up.

Report this post »

BigRussMalta says...
9:01am Fri 1 Feb 13

Honestly though,do we really need to add to an already decent big squad ?the camp at london colney has to be buzzin right now,near enough everyones getting a game ( with the damned rotation system) during what,so far,has been such an exciting season with so much more to come.Zola believes we can go up this season and to be honest,i do think he regrets making the changes he did the other night because with a full strength starting 11 i reckon we'd of been to much for then AND we missed the chance of moving into an automatic promotion spot,them opportunitys have to be taken and he didnt make the best of that chance...anyway myself having a punt at 40/1 ew and a 25/1 ew makes this season even more exciting,i believe we can even win the championship this year,April 6th at home V Cardiff is earmarked as a possible great day in our history,a 6 pointer to overtake topspots on the cards,dont hold your breath but we can dream ;-) COYH!!!

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andyhooked says...
9:03am Fri 1 Feb 13

MAGIC news on Vydra. Put the strongest and the best out for the remainder f the season or until automatic promotion is secured

Report this post »

Mohandas says...
9:04am Fri 1 Feb 13

endean2 wrote:
Fine now pick the right team to play on SATURDAY, no more tinkering, resting
ang lookin after the players "feelings"
Couldn't have put it better. Stabilty builds confidence. Up your work rate if you want first team football. Wat CA kept the old guard and are now in La La Land.

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DuffmanWFC says...
9:30am Fri 1 Feb 13

Well I'd rather we kept Abdi and Vydra and not brought anyone then loosing our two best players and signing unknowns!
For me this signals true intent on the Pozzo's ambitions for our club and it also means that they are true to their word!
I remember when we lost Adam Johnson then Marlon King back in 2007-2008 season and it completely ruined what seemed a certainty of promotion!
Our club has grown so much in stature and in play so much, thank you Mr Pozzo, the board, Nani & Duxbury and Zola and the lads! Keep it up and promotion is a real possibility!

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PhilippineOrn says...
9:34am Fri 1 Feb 13

BigRussMalta wrote:
Honestly though,do we really need to add to an already decent big squad ?the camp at london colney has to be buzzin right now,near enough everyones getting a game ( with the damned rotation system) during what,so far,has been such an exciting season with so much more to come.Zola believes we can go up this season and to be honest,i do think he regrets making the changes he did the other night because with a full strength starting 11 i reckon we'd of been to much for then AND we missed the chance of moving into an automatic promotion spot,them opportunitys have to be taken and he didnt make the best of that chance...anyway myself having a punt at 40/1 ew and a 25/1 ew makes this season even more exciting,i believe we can even win the championship this year,April 6th at home V Cardiff is earmarked as a possible great day in our history,a 6 pointer to overtake topspots on the cards,dont hold your breath but we can dream ;-) COYH!!!
Win or not at City we would still be back to 3rd place today so no big deal really not winning there.

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WessexLad says...
9:42am Fri 1 Feb 13

Just as well that there were no developments last night, as this article was written at 5:30 last night, although not posted until 8:00 this morning.

As others have said, we have a strong enough squad to win promotion - but only if we play the best team available for every match!

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WessexLad says...
9:46am Fri 1 Feb 13

PhillippineOrn: "Win or not at City we would still be back to 3rd place today so no big deal really not winning there."

With respect, we won't know whether defeat at Bristol was a big deal or not until the last day of the season.

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BigRussMalta says...
9:55am Fri 1 Feb 13

3 points even 1 point always matters at any time during the season,it would would of kept us 3 points further in the play off places for a start and 1 point from automatic promotion.id prefer gaining maximum points against,with all respect to BCFC ,lesser opposition than rely on having to beat the likes of cardiff and leeds in the last few games,but it does make it **** exciting stuff.!

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GrahamTaylor says...
9:55am Fri 1 Feb 13

So nobody in but more worryingly nobody signed permanently. Zola has already admitted he has no say in player dealings and no word from Nani.

My concern is the likes of Pudil, Abdi and Vydra will be off in the summer. The Pozzo’s have a selling philosophy and if we don’t go up I can see these player attracting good bids.

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Harry's Bar says...
9:56am Fri 1 Feb 13

andyhooked wrote:
MAGIC news on Vydra. Put the strongest and the best out for the remainder f the season or until automatic promotion is secured
Majic news? He didn't sign for us when everyone, including Zola, thought he would.
Looking on the bright side he's here until the end of the season. Will he stay if we don't go up? Doubtful.

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Holly68 says...
9:57am Fri 1 Feb 13

Quote : Chovanec had last week said it was "very likely" Vydra would be signing permanently for Watford before the deadline closed and Zola remained confident the move would happen throughout despite the speculation. Unquote

He didnt sign permanently, Watford offered him a good deal to sign permanently, so if we don't get promoted I guess he will sign for PL team in summer.

No more rotation please, as if we don't go up we will have to replace all these players who move to PL and start all over again.

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Oracledave says...
10:06am Fri 1 Feb 13

londomollari wrote:
That was disappointing. Dashed home from work at 10 last night to find that, in effect, nothing of note had happened. oh well, no news is good news, I suppose. At least, all the loanees should be here to see out the promotion push.
We always have the option of emergency loans - window re-opens next week I think.

I said in December that I think we need a left footed alternative. The club obviously agree. Pudil is a good player but essentially an attacking full back. We need the option of a midfield/wide type to potentially change games from the bench or if justified, a starter. Maybe the Pozzo scouting network can provide someone !? Also haven't checked out Fulham lately. Is Alex K featuring much ?

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Harry's Bar says...
10:12am Fri 1 Feb 13

A week's a long time in football.... how true. We have gone from a club who's ambition this season was to stay up, to worrying about what will happen if we don't go up.... in 4 months!

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mattymashup says...
10:25am Fri 1 Feb 13

Even if the players don't stay at the end of the season I have faith that the next bunch of pozzo players will be decent enough. It's so nice that we didn't lose our best players as has happened in seasons gone by! At least the squad is still together to carry on pushing for the golden land. Maybe we had a transfer embargo?!

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Wimbledonhorn says...
10:34am Fri 1 Feb 13

What I love about this season is that we as fans seem to think without rotation we will win every game we play!

Really hope Zola get ruthless now and sticks with a winning team.

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Eastsussexhornet says...
10:34am Fri 1 Feb 13

endean2 wrote:
Fine now pick the right team to play on SATURDAY, no more tinkering, resting
ang lookin after the players "feelings"
My thoughts entirely. If there is anything good to come out of the match on Tuesday it is Zola learning a lesson. We may even look back on it glad that we DID lose it for that very reason.

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D.unstable says...
10:35am Fri 1 Feb 13

If this was posted yesterday when it was written instead of this morning it would have saved a lot of people keep checking for updates every 30 seconds until 11pm

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Harry's Bar says...
10:35am Fri 1 Feb 13

mattymashup wrote:
Even if the players don't stay at the end of the season I have faith that the next bunch of pozzo players will be decent enough. It's so nice that we didn't lose our best players as has happened in seasons gone by! At least the squad is still together to carry on pushing for the golden land. Maybe we had a transfer embargo?!
Only one problem with that theory.... Forestieri signing.

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Eastsussexhornet says...
10:35am Fri 1 Feb 13

andyhooked wrote:
MAGIC news on Vydra. Put the strongest and the best out for the remainder f the season or until automatic promotion is secured
Well, he could have actually signed permanently...

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Poppet Bear says...
10:37am Fri 1 Feb 13

Onwards and upwards. No more mass rotation, a little tinker here and there is acceptable. Lets go........

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Mad Mo says...
10:39am Fri 1 Feb 13

On the plus side of the Bristol City result is that Zola probably wont get the cursed Manager of the Month award!

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hornetwise says...
10:45am Fri 1 Feb 13

Lets just concentrate on getting promoted this season first.... once this has been achieved a team for the PL will have to be built. We will need some of the existing squad but no matter how good we think they are we will need new blood to survive.Still a long way to go but promotion now is is in our hands....

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SAHornet says...
10:53am Fri 1 Feb 13

PhilippineOrn wrote:
BigRussMalta wrote:
Honestly though,do we really need to add to an already decent big squad ?the camp at london colney has to be buzzin right now,near enough everyones getting a game ( with the damned rotation system) during what,so far,has been such an exciting season with so much more to come.Zola believes we can go up this season and to be honest,i do think he regrets making the changes he did the other night because with a full strength starting 11 i reckon we'd of been to much for then AND we missed the chance of moving into an automatic promotion spot,them opportunitys have to be taken and he didnt make the best of that chance...anyway myself having a punt at 40/1 ew and a 25/1 ew makes this season even more exciting,i believe we can even win the championship this year,April 6th at home V Cardiff is earmarked as a possible great day in our history,a 6 pointer to overtake topspots on the cards,dont hold your breath but we can dream ;-) COYH!!!
Win or not at City we would still be back to 3rd place today so no big deal really not winning there.
Ridiculous! Of course it was a big deal.

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Oracledave says...
11:03am Fri 1 Feb 13

Harry's Bar wrote:
andyhooked wrote:
MAGIC news on Vydra. Put the strongest and the best out for the remainder f the season or until automatic promotion is secured
Majic news? He didn't sign for us when everyone, including Zola, thought he would.
Looking on the bright side he's here until the end of the season. Will he stay if we don't go up? Doubtful.
The signing or not of any loan players is entirely irrelevant. If the Pozzos receive an acceptable offer for a player he will be sold. Matters not one jot whether he is with Udinese, Granada or Watford. Length of current contract in terms of agent/player power is the main issue.

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Harry's Bar says...
11:35am Fri 1 Feb 13

Oracledave wrote:
Harry's Bar wrote:
andyhooked wrote: MAGIC news on Vydra. Put the strongest and the best out for the remainder f the season or until automatic promotion is secured
Majic news? He didn't sign for us when everyone, including Zola, thought he would. Looking on the bright side he's here until the end of the season. Will he stay if we don't go up? Doubtful.
The signing or not of any loan players is entirely irrelevant. If the Pozzos receive an acceptable offer for a player he will be sold. Matters not one jot whether he is with Udinese, Granada or Watford. Length of current contract in terms of agent/player power is the main issue.
Yes, but nomally the length of the current contract is extended when a player signs a new deal.

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Oracledave says...
11:43am Fri 1 Feb 13

Harry's Bar wrote:
Oracledave wrote:
Harry's Bar wrote:
andyhooked wrote: MAGIC news on Vydra. Put the strongest and the best out for the remainder f the season or until automatic promotion is secured
Majic news? He didn't sign for us when everyone, including Zola, thought he would. Looking on the bright side he's here until the end of the season. Will he stay if we don't go up? Doubtful.
The signing or not of any loan players is entirely irrelevant. If the Pozzos receive an acceptable offer for a player he will be sold. Matters not one jot whether he is with Udinese, Granada or Watford. Length of current contract in terms of agent/player power is the main issue.
Yes, but nomally the length of the current contract is extended when a player signs a new deal.
Correct HB and you have probably hit the reason why he did not sign !!!

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Harry's Bar says...
11:56am Fri 1 Feb 13

Oracledave wrote:
Harry's Bar wrote:
Oracledave wrote:
Harry's Bar wrote:
andyhooked wrote: MAGIC news on Vydra. Put the strongest and the best out for the remainder f the season or until automatic promotion is secured
Majic news? He didn't sign for us when everyone, including Zola, thought he would. Looking on the bright side he's here until the end of the season. Will he stay if we don't go up? Doubtful.
The signing or not of any loan players is entirely irrelevant. If the Pozzos receive an acceptable offer for a player he will be sold. Matters not one jot whether he is with Udinese, Granada or Watford. Length of current contract in terms of agent/player power is the main issue.
Yes, but nomally the length of the current contract is extended when a player signs a new deal.
Correct HB and you have probably hit the reason why he did not sign !!!
Probably. The less time left on the contract the more bargaining power the player's agent has. June '14 someone said..... the clock's ticking.

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jasonwatford says...
12:54pm Fri 1 Feb 13

Yer agree with all you numptys on here...if we go up or stay down all the players will go away...and we will try to sign big chris and joe garner...will beg ross jenkins to come back and run our midfield....make dale bennett and offer he cant refuse......call scott loach and say cmon scott we liked you really !!
As said before when players left udinese to Granada they stayed when they went up..some are still on loan after 2-3 years , Any decent player will attract bids thats true but for all of them going ??? Plus we will be getting the cream of the crop coming to us for the pozzo to showcase in the prem or championship as thats where the money is.

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Oracledave says...
12:59pm Fri 1 Feb 13

jasonwatford wrote:
Yer agree with all you numptys on here...if we go up or stay down all the players will go away...and we will try to sign big chris and joe garner...will beg ross jenkins to come back and run our midfield....make dale bennett and offer he cant refuse......call scott loach and say cmon scott we liked you really !!
As said before when players left udinese to Granada they stayed when they went up..some are still on loan after 2-3 years , Any decent player will attract bids thats true but for all of them going ??? Plus we will be getting the cream of the crop coming to us for the pozzo to showcase in the prem or championship as thats where the money is.
You forgot 'Duke' Ellington just released by Ipswich. Snap him up on four year deal GZ !

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Oracledave says...
1:01pm Fri 1 Feb 13

jasonwatford wrote:
Yer agree with all you numptys on here...if we go up or stay down all the players will go away...and we will try to sign big chris and joe garner...will beg ross jenkins to come back and run our midfield....make dale bennett and offer he cant refuse......call scott loach and say cmon scott we liked you really !!
As said before when players left udinese to Granada they stayed when they went up..some are still on loan after 2-3 years , Any decent player will attract bids thats true but for all of them going ??? Plus we will be getting the cream of the crop coming to us for the pozzo to showcase in the prem or championship as thats where the money is.
You forgot 'Duke' Ellington just released by Ipswich. Snap him up on four year deal GZ !

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ChunkeyMonkey says...
1:06pm Fri 1 Feb 13

Why transfer the players if you don't have to? I'm no expert but a loan might not trigger an agent payment whereas a transfer possibly would, and if you own two or three clubs then a transfer requires you to pay yourself which is fairly pointmess. Question also whether transfer add on's such as VAT and any cross border financial requirementsis (exchange rate) may apply and also have to be dealt with, which provides even more compelling reasons not to transfer players between related clubs. On the other hand it does make the FF transfer rather curious unless he was coming to the end of his contract. Who knows - we are where we are, which is a much better place than where we have been for a long, long time. COYH!

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lutondown says...
1:31pm Fri 1 Feb 13

ChunkeyMonkey wrote:
Why transfer the players if you don't have to? I'm no expert but a loan might not trigger an agent payment whereas a transfer possibly would, and if you own two or three clubs then a transfer requires you to pay yourself which is fairly pointmess. Question also whether transfer add on's such as VAT and any cross border financial requirementsis (exchange rate) may apply and also have to be dealt with, which provides even more compelling reasons not to transfer players between related clubs. On the other hand it does make the FF transfer rather curious unless he was coming to the end of his contract. Who knows - we are where we are, which is a much better place than where we have been for a long, long time. COYH!
As I've said before Forrests deal is no stranger than Murrays. Same length, only difference is one player looks interested the other looks like he can do as he pleases for five years.

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Guy Bov says...
1:43pm Fri 1 Feb 13

A little surprised only Fessi signed permanantly in the transfer window but what does permanantly in football mean these days anyway?. Money talks, everybody has their price and all of us just need to appreciate the talent on the Pozzo conveyor belt as it comes through the vic.
Exciting times.

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WessexLad says...
2:56pm Fri 1 Feb 13

Guy Bov wrote:
A little surprised only Fessi signed permanantly in the transfer window but what does permanantly in football mean these days anyway?. Money talks, everybody has their price and all of us just need to appreciate the talent on the Pozzo conveyor belt as it comes through the vic.
Exciting times.
I agree that permanently doesn't mean permanently, but it does mean that we get the money and not Udinese, ie Pozzo's left pocket rather than his right.

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lutondown says...
3:01pm Fri 1 Feb 13

WessexLad wrote:
Guy Bov wrote:
A little surprised only Fessi signed permanantly in the transfer window but what does permanantly in football mean these days anyway?. Money talks, everybody has their price and all of us just need to appreciate the talent on the Pozzo conveyor belt as it comes through the vic.
Exciting times.
I agree that permanently doesn't mean permanently, but it does mean that we get the money and not Udinese, ie Pozzo's left pocket rather than his right.
So it doesn't really matter then? Exactly

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Harrydownunder says...
3:06pm Fri 1 Feb 13

Oracledave wrote:
jasonwatford wrote:
Yer agree with all you numptys on here...if we go up or stay down all the players will go away...and we will try to sign big chris and joe garner...will beg ross jenkins to come back and run our midfield....make dale bennett and offer he cant refuse......call scott loach and say cmon scott we liked you really !!
As said before when players left udinese to Granada they stayed when they went up..some are still on loan after 2-3 years , Any decent player will attract bids thats true but for all of them going ??? Plus we will be getting the cream of the crop coming to us for the pozzo to showcase in the prem or championship as thats where the money is.
You forgot 'Duke' Ellington just released by Ipswich. Snap him up on four year deal GZ !
Is he still playing?

Report this post »

Harry's Bar says...
3:25pm Fri 1 Feb 13

Harrydownunder wrote:
Oracledave wrote:
jasonwatford wrote: Yer agree with all you numptys on here...if we go up or stay down all the players will go away...and we will try to sign big chris and joe garner...will beg ross jenkins to come back and run our midfield....make dale bennett and offer he cant refuse......call scott loach and say cmon scott we liked you really !! As said before when players left udinese to Granada they stayed when they went up..some are still on loan after 2-3 years , Any decent player will attract bids thats true but for all of them going ??? Plus we will be getting the cream of the crop coming to us for the pozzo to showcase in the prem or championship as thats where the money is.
You forgot 'Duke' Ellington just released by Ipswich. Snap him up on four year deal GZ !
Is he still playing?
In the very loosest sense. He is looking for another club. The Dog & Duck in Felixstowe are looking for a striker I hear.

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