Watford rebuff Newcastle bid (From Watford Observer)

Good

GOOD!

GOOOD!!

3m is probably a true reflection i think.he will struggle in the prem.maybe we could get james perch or dare i say it mike williamson come the other way.they have'nt really been playing regulary for the magpies.

Will they up the bid? Hope this is Bassini working in the best interests for WFC and if we keep Aidy all the better. Yet, by the summer with a year left to go on his contract better too cash in now? Not intending to be negative but money is money and we need to buy wide players that can take opponets on. Leaking goals but easier if we score goals first.

sounds to me. by the wording of the article,we may have received a second offer!!

The club would be foolish to not hold out for GBP5M. If we lost Adrian Mariappa how much would a suitable replacement cost? I do not think Sean Dyche would look at Adam Thompson or Dale Bennett and are these two ready. Any club Watford approached would see a chance to take this money from us.
One other thing is would AM want to leave? The money would be good but would he not get frustrated as a bench warmer, even though he is better than the current Newcastle United players.

I think mike Williamson has been injured all season but if he is nearing fitness perhaps he could redeem himself by coming to us for the rest of the season.
If Newcastle just want a replacement because Taylor is injured it might be that they won't pay above £2m for what in effect will be a substitute.
In which case we should keep him and renegotiate his contract before the end of the season.

Anyone who thinks that selling Marriappa is going to be a good thing is living in cloud cuckoo land. Start the bidding at £5m and hold on to him if he's happy to stay.

What price for loyalty? Williamson can take a running jump if he's fit enough.

I don't want to see Williamson in a Watford shirt ever again.

And this is why the Premiership is awash with average cheap foreigners plying their trade because out of touch clubs and supporters think an average defender in a struggling team is worth in the region of £5M and can be swapped with an established Premiership defender - a defender who, incidentally, was part of the centre back pairing when Newcastle beat Man Utd 3-0 less than 10 days ago. Let's be realistic, it won't happen!

Good news...keep him till the end of the season.

Be of no benefit to sell now really as I am not sure Dyche would spend any money well to bring in replacements.

Also unlike Sordell I suspect Mariappa would want to stay.

cliff46 wrote:
I think mike Williamson has been injured all season but if he is nearing fitness perhaps he could redeem himself by coming to us for the rest of the season. If Newcastle just want a replacement because Taylor is injured it might be that they won't pay above £2m for what in effect will be a substitute. In which case we should keep him and renegotiate his contract before the end of the season.

He's been playing for weeks in the first team pops! AS for beer bellied ashleys offer of 700k jog on!

thehungmonkey wrote:
And this is why the Premiership is awash with average cheap foreigners plying their trade because out of touch clubs and supporters think an average defender in a struggling team is worth in the region of £5M and can be swapped with an established Premiership defender - a defender who, incidentally, was part of the centre back pairing when Newcastle beat Man Utd 3-0 less than 10 days ago. Let's be realistic, it won't happen!

Average? Think you're a bit out of touch! Have a lie down.

The problem is they have us over a barrel - they know Mariappa's going to want to go whatever they offer (and you can't really blame him). Refuse to sell, and you've got a player who doesn't want to play for you, and a very influential member of the squad at that.

I hope we get good money for him, and hope this all goes through smoothly. I would hate to see a Williamson style scenario sour what has been a great few years for Aidy at Vicarage Road.

llloydwithathirdl wrote:
The problem is they have us over a barrel - they know Mariappa's going to want to go whatever they offer (and you can't really blame him). Refuse to sell, and you've got a player who doesn't want to play for you, and a very influential member of the squad at that. I hope we get good money for him, and hope this all goes through smoothly. I would hate to see a Williamson style scenario sour what has been a great few years for Aidy at Vicarage Road.

Oh you think you know aidy that well you can think for him? He is a proper bloke and loves Watford. He may well leave and you cant blame him but would never pull a stunt like that A.Hole Williamson! So button it!

By the way Hornet23, average does not mean Aguero, Balotelli, Silva, Mata etc, it means Jara, Tamas at West Brom and Berra, Milijas at Wolves, cheap lower quality alternatives to players like Mariappa. In context though, he should be less than 2M in a struggling Championship side.

buckler wrote:

llloydwithathirdl wrote:
The problem is they have us over a barrel - they know Mariappa's going to want to go whatever they offer (and you can't really blame him). Refuse to sell, and you've got a player who doesn't want to play for you, and a very influential member of the squad at that. I hope we get good money for him, and hope this all goes through smoothly. I would hate to see a Williamson style scenario sour what has been a great few years for Aidy at Vicarage Road.

Oh you think you know aidy that well you can think for him? He is a proper bloke and loves Watford. He may well leave and you cant blame him but would never pull a stunt like that A.Hole Williamson! So button it!

What's with all the agression? Calm down.

I don't think I know Aidy at all, never suggested for one second that I did. What I do know however is that he probably will leave, I won't blame him for it, and that you will no doubt reply to this in a slightly ridiculous manner.

Buckler
You are absolutely right about Williamson just confirms you mustn't believe everything you read on the net.

The fact that he is now fit and in the team however reinforces the view that Mariappa would spend most of his time warming their bench.
Best to stay well away from Ashley particularly if he is offering that sort of derisory money.

maybe Bolton might turn up and offer
us some of their Cahill money.

Hungmonkey. Sorry, you're wrong. This boy is 25 and still improving. He's consistent now and way above average for this league. Prices are stupid & people pay through their noses for a level-headed leader whose game is still expanding. I personally don't want to see him leave cos he's a Watford boy. But if he must go then hold out for a big price tag. Glad you're not chairman.

LOL, I think Mapps is more of a "man" than Williamson ever will be and I'd be surprised if he did a Williamson and threw his toys out of his pram.
Of course you can't blame him for wanting to go, he would probably at least quadruple his salary, who wouldn't?
He has been a great servant to this club and it has given him a good living since he was young. I think he will show respect to the club and if it doesn't happen, he'll still give 100% for WFC.
Having said that, once we see these sorts of headlines it generally means it's inevitaable.
As I said I think he deserves a chance, I just hope we get a right and proper fee for him - and good luck Aidy.

It's difficult to keep up with the club's finances but the club has a dilemma here. Do we really need to sell anyone this Jan - except for silly money. Perhaps it would be better to try harder to offload the obvious 3 on loan and use the saved wages for loan winger and striker. I think that we are far from safe this season and gates are sliding due partly to lack of finishing power. No point flogging more of the
players and ending up in League 1 leading to another firesale of our remaining Championship level players.

llloydwithathirdl wrote:

buckler wrote:

llloydwithathirdl wrote: The problem is they have us over a barrel - they know Mariappa's going to want to go whatever they offer (and you can't really blame him). Refuse to sell, and you've got a player who doesn't want to play for you, and a very influential member of the squad at that. I hope we get good money for him, and hope this all goes through smoothly. I would hate to see a Williamson style scenario sour what has been a great few years for Aidy at Vicarage Road.

Oh you think you know aidy that well you can think for him? He is a proper bloke and loves Watford. He may well leave and you cant blame him but would never pull a stunt like that A.Hole Williamson! So button it!

What's with all the agression? Calm down. I don't think I know Aidy at all, never suggested for one second that I did. What I do know however is that he probably will leave, I won't blame him for it, and that you will no doubt reply to this in a slightly ridiculous manner.

No i'm big enough to apologise if i was aggresive to you! Must remember The Jam are from an angry era! Just dont want us to get mugged off for Mapps! Sos!

Agreed Buckler - especially don't want to get mugged off by Mike Ashley!

Hornet23 wrote:

thehungmonkey wrote:
And this is why the Premiership is awash with average cheap foreigners plying their trade because out of touch clubs and supporters think an average defender in a struggling team is worth in the region of £5M and can be swapped with an established Premiership defender - a defender who, incidentally, was part of the centre back pairing when Newcastle beat Man Utd 3-0 less than 10 days ago. Let's be realistic, it won't happen!

Average? Think you're a bit out of touch! Have a lie down.

Mmm and did they really hang a monkey in Hartlepool in case he spoke French?
Yes they did!!
Jog on Ashley, and well done Bas for showing we are not easy pickings any more
3 million is reasonable for a good championship player

buckler wrote:

llloydwithathirdl wrote:

buckler wrote:

llloydwithathirdl wrote: The problem is they have us over a barrel - they know Mariappa's going to want to go whatever they offer (and you can't really blame him). Refuse to sell, and you've got a player who doesn't want to play for you, and a very influential member of the squad at that. I hope we get good money for him, and hope this all goes through smoothly. I would hate to see a Williamson style scenario sour what has been a great few years for Aidy at Vicarage Road.

Oh you think you know aidy that well you can think for him? He is a proper bloke and loves Watford. He may well leave and you cant blame him but would never pull a stunt like that A.Hole Williamson! So button it!

What's with all the agression? Calm down. I don't think I know Aidy at all, never suggested for one second that I did. What I do know however is that he probably will leave, I won't blame him for it, and that you will no doubt reply to this in a slightly ridiculous manner.

No i'm big enough to apologise if i was aggresive to you! Must remember The Jam are from an angry era! Just dont want us to get mugged off for Mapps! Sos!

Big and bald as dear Franny would say!
But agree Mapps is no Williamson and playing badly deliberately would not increase his stock
Sadly I do think a more realistic offer will be made

Sorry gents but I am going to disagree with most of your valuations of Mapps. I think his value is £1M - 1.5 so any final offer in this range should be considered. Mapps has steadily improved but our problem for the last few seasons has been the ridiculous amount of soft goals we concede and usually at really bad times in each game. This fact has been covered up because we have been fortunate to have some good attacking players who pose an attacking threat to the opposition. This current Watford team are probably the most toothless in attack since the Jacket season and our weak defense is being exposed. It may sound harsh but our back 4 and goal keeper need reworking. Although Loachy has dropped some clangers, to be fair to him the back 4 do not really help him. Hopefully we will scrape 55 points and survive this season but we need to be moving on Loach, Mapps & dare I suggest Lloyd Doyley during the summer. All have done ok for us but with a fit Martin Taylor, Rude Boy Nosworthy, Dirty Dickinson and our Northern Ireland youth products, we should be looking to rebuild with some carefully selected additions. If we can get good money for Mapps now and we still have time to add an experienced loan signing in this window, maybe we should cash in? Although I have slated and will continue to slate the Fat Gooner (Loz), I think most Watford fans will appreciate that we will always have to sell one or two players each season. At this stage in the season I would rather keep Marv and let Mapps go as I think with Marv gone, we will not score enough to stay up. Possibly Watford fans are guilty of wanting the club to keep hold of our long serving players who came from the youth development but the knack of running a successful club is knowing when to move them on. Unless we become a more solid oufit we will end up in Div 1 eventually.

overthemooney wrote:
Sorry gents but I am going to disagree with most of your valuations of Mapps. I think his value is £1M - 1.5 so any final offer in this range should be considered. Mapps has steadily improved but our problem for the last few seasons has been the ridiculous amount of soft goals we concede and usually at really bad times in each game. This fact has been covered up because we have been fortunate to have some good attacking players who pose an attacking threat to the opposition. This current Watford team are probably the most toothless in attack since the Jacket season and our weak defense is being exposed. It may sound harsh but our back 4 and goal keeper need reworking. Although Loachy has dropped some clangers, to be fair to him the back 4 do not really help him. Hopefully we will scrape 55 points and survive this season but we need to be moving on Loach, Mapps & dare I suggest Lloyd Doyley during the summer. All have done ok for us but with a fit Martin Taylor, Rude Boy Nosworthy, Dirty Dickinson and our Northern Ireland youth products, we should be looking to rebuild with some carefully selected additions. If we can get good money for Mapps now and we still have time to add an experienced loan signing in this window, maybe we should cash in? Although I have slated and will continue to slate the Fat Gooner (Loz), I think most Watford fans will appreciate that we will always have to sell one or two players each season. At this stage in the season I would rather keep Marv and let Mapps go as I think with Marv gone, we will not score enough to stay up. Possibly Watford fans are guilty of wanting the club to keep hold of our long serving players who came from the youth development but the knack of running a successful club is knowing when to move them on. Unless we become a more solid oufit we will end up in Div 1 eventually.

Thank god you're not manager. 1.5m tops for Mariappa? Madness.

SD are u listening sell marriapa with the money. get people on loan where u will on pay for the players wages surely u can get a few loanee's in thats what i would say.

overthemooney wrote:
Sorry gents but I am going to disagree with most of your valuations of Mapps. I think his value is £1M - 1.5 so any final offer in this range should be considered. Mapps has steadily improved but our problem for the last few seasons has been the ridiculous amount of soft goals we concede and usually at really bad times in each game. This fact has been covered up because we have been fortunate to have some good attacking players who pose an attacking threat to the opposition. This current Watford team are probably the most toothless in attack since the Jacket season and our weak defense is being exposed. It may sound harsh but our back 4 and goal keeper need reworking. Although Loachy has dropped some clangers, to be fair to him the back 4 do not really help him. Hopefully we will scrape 55 points and survive this season but we need to be moving on Loach, Mapps & dare I suggest Lloyd Doyley during the summer. All have done ok for us but with a fit Martin Taylor, Rude Boy Nosworthy, Dirty Dickinson and our Northern Ireland youth products, we should be looking to rebuild with some carefully selected additions. If we can get good money for Mapps now and we still have time to add an experienced loan signing in this window, maybe we should cash in? Although I have slated and will continue to slate the Fat Gooner (Loz), I think most Watford fans will appreciate that we will always have to sell one or two players each season. At this stage in the season I would rather keep Marv and let Mapps go as I think with Marv gone, we will not score enough to stay up. Possibly Watford fans are guilty of wanting the club to keep hold of our long serving players who came from the youth development but the knack of running a successful club is knowing when to move them on. Unless we become a more solid oufit we will end up in Div 1 eventually.

Total and utter drivel! Get a proper Keeper in behind our defense and we would have cracked it ! Loach is the cause of all our problems and dont want to debate it! As for your valuation he's worth double that now and value will rise! Have you forgot what we paid for that clown Sadler!

More than £2.5 million and i would snatch their hands off. Newcastle obviously have forgotten about Jason Drysdale! For every high fee we receive and the player goes on to prove to have been a good buy - (Graham the latest) There have been the Priskin's, Bouazza's etc who were sold at fees fans complained about but turned out to be disastrous signings for the money paid. The fact that in the past we paid over inflated fees does not increase the value of our team. If we were throwing him away like we did with Clarke Carlisle and Matty Spring i could understand some of the posts on here.

buckler wrote:

overthemooney wrote:
Sorry gents but I am going to disagree with most of your valuations of Mapps. I think his value is £1M - 1.5 so any final offer in this range should be considered. Mapps has steadily improved but our problem for the last few seasons has been the ridiculous amount of soft goals we concede and usually at really bad times in each game. This fact has been covered up because we have been fortunate to have some good attacking players who pose an attacking threat to the opposition. This current Watford team are probably the most toothless in attack since the Jacket season and our weak defense is being exposed. It may sound harsh but our back 4 and goal keeper need reworking. Although Loachy has dropped some clangers, to be fair to him the back 4 do not really help him. Hopefully we will scrape 55 points and survive this season but we need to be moving on Loach, Mapps & dare I suggest Lloyd Doyley during the summer. All have done ok for us but with a fit Martin Taylor, Rude Boy Nosworthy, Dirty Dickinson and our Northern Ireland youth products, we should be looking to rebuild with some carefully selected additions. If we can get good money for Mapps now and we still have time to add an experienced loan signing in this window, maybe we should cash in? Although I have slated and will continue to slate the Fat Gooner (Loz), I think most Watford fans will appreciate that we will always have to sell one or two players each season. At this stage in the season I would rather keep Marv and let Mapps go as I think with Marv gone, we will not score enough to stay up. Possibly Watford fans are guilty of wanting the club to keep hold of our long serving players who came from the youth development but the knack of running a successful club is knowing when to move them on. Unless we become a more solid oufit we will end up in Div 1 eventually.

Total and utter drivel! Get a proper Keeper in behind our defense and we would have cracked it ! Loach is the cause of all our problems and dont want to debate it! As for your valuation he's worth double that now and value will rise! Have you forgot what we paid for that clown Sadler!

Something weird has happened but I'm in bed with Buckles. Am I gonna wake up and hate myself? The Jam fan is right. Overthemooney get back down to earth. What planet are you on? Marriappa would be a disastrous loss. I started at £5m but I'm upping it every time someone like you spouts tosh. If Ashley comes in with £6m then we may begin to talk. Some of you lot probably thought it was fine to let Kevin Phillips leave for nothing much all those years ago. And you were probably shrugging your shoulders and saying "oh well, he probably won't even make the bench" when John Barnes went for a pittance to Liverpool.

The squad is so poor that an above average player like Mariappa is perhaps being made to look better than he really is. £3.5 mill is probably there or thereabouts.
£50mill for Torres was wrong, £35mill for Carroll was wrong, £3.5mill for DG was, by comparison, stupidity and £1mill for Buckley was madness. In any event, there's a long hard relegation struggle ahead and we should be looking to bring in, not offload! Mariappa will still be worth good dough at the end of the season.

The most annoying thing for me is how late Newcastle have left it to make a move for him.
So if they come back in with an improved offer that gets accepted in the next for days, that will only leave Dyche a few days to use the money to strenghten the squad.
Resulting in panic buys and more dross signed like Mirfin, Yeates and big Chris.

According to the newcastle local site we turned down 2 million from them.

come on guys,dont be blinkered,you should take a million(if offered),will never get a better offer,and he's not all that now is he,eh?

I'll upset a few by this but I think the arrival of Nosworthy should signal a complete clear out of the defence who have collectively at some point over the last few years been proven inadequate either singularly or together, the time is up for the likes of Mapps, Loach, Doyley, if we can get something for any of them we should take it, look at loach 2 years ago was touted as £2M approx, you couldn't pay anyone to take him now as his form is abysmal, strike while the iron is hot.

well said JohnnyHornet!!

Actually the bid was nearer £3m Watford is holding out for over £3m, SD has already highlighted potential loan signings, the club do not want to use this transfer money if it goes through for any more permenant signings at present due to needing to confirm the clubs future status and useing the capital to pay off exsisting share debts. Another Prem club have also made enquiries again being Swansea but the club reckon they will not go to £3.5m, Watford have stated they want this sorted by Thursday latest either way, as they will not negotiate after this day due to loan targets negotiations already progressing. It is also being said that the club will not let both MD and AM go only one if the right bid comes in or if stupid money was offered for both, it is thought that there will be late bids on both being made trying to force the club to agree deals, due to the window left, however LB has said he is not bothered if neither happen. Don't ask stupid questions on source just watch!

JohnnyHornet wrote:
I'll upset a few by this but I think the arrival of Nosworthy should signal a complete clear out of the defence who have collectively at some point over the last few years been proven inadequate either singularly or together, the time is up for the likes of Mapps, Loach, Doyley, if we can get something for any of them we should take it, look at loach 2 years ago was touted as £2M approx, you couldn't pay anyone to take him now as his form is abysmal, strike while the iron is hot.

There is no way you can compare a quality player like mapps to that incompetent keeper Loach! Luckiest player alive that boy!

WFC4ever wrote:
Good news...keep him till the end of the season.

Be of no benefit to sell now really as I am not sure Dyche would spend any money well to bring in replacements.

Also unlike Sordell I suspect Mariappa would want to stay.

I would like to keep Mapps to the end of the season, but i think he would jump at the chance to go to a big premiership club and who can blame him, apart from a wage rise of £30,0000 a week every player wants to play the highest standard they can and these chances dont come every week, but dont sell for any less than £4 Mill, if Connor Wickman is worth £8 Mill Mapps has got to go for no less.

I'd sell IF some or the money is used to bolster our toothless attack! Centre half is not a problem position however good maps has been this year, Taylor (when it) mirfin, Bennett, doyley and Thompson all can do a job alongside the impressive nosworthy!

Keeper, left winger and striker needed to keep us up. I know keeper won't happen unless someone is stupid enough to bid for him but other 2 are a must and if selling mapps means we get some quality in at the top end so be it!

Mapps effort and likeability is way above sordell! But we are a selling club ...

If we had to sell one now it has to be mapps as sordell is our only goal threat.

If we sell both I shows our owners priorities and we are doomed!

JohnnyHornet wrote:
I'll upset a few by this but I think the arrival of Nosworthy should signal a complete clear out of the defence who have collectively at some point over the last few years been proven inadequate either singularly or together, the time is up for the likes of Mapps, Loach, Doyley, if we can get something for any of them we should take it, look at loach 2 years ago was touted as £2M approx, you couldn't pay anyone to take him now as his form is abysmal, strike while the iron is hot.

I agree with that except the inference that Mapps is somehow the same standard as the other poor performers. In fact I'd say build a defence around Mapps and Nosey and replace the rest. I think a mix of our youth and loans/ new signings would do it. But we do need width and we need someone who could score goals or be a foil for Sordell should he stay.
Having said all that we need to clear out some of the dross and that includes Ilewumo and Jenkins, Yeates and Loach
And we possibly lose Mapps or/ and Sordell.
I would have someone over see Dyches transfer dealings as we cannot waste anymore money

lutondown wrote:

JohnnyHornet wrote:
I'll upset a few by this but I think the arrival of Nosworthy should signal a complete clear out of the defence who have collectively at some point over the last few years been proven inadequate either singularly or together, the time is up for the likes of Mapps, Loach, Doyley, if we can get something for any of them we should take it, look at loach 2 years ago was touted as £2M approx, you couldn't pay anyone to take him now as his form is abysmal, strike while the iron is hot.

I agree with that except the inference that Mapps is somehow the same standard as the other poor performers. In fact I'd say build a defence around Mapps and Nosey and replace the rest. I think a mix of our youth and loans/ new signings would do it. But we do need width and we need someone who could score goals or be a foil for Sordell should he stay.
Having said all that we need to clear out some of the dross and that includes Ilewumo and Jenkins, Yeates and Loach
And we possibly lose Mapps or/ and Sordell.
I would have someone over see Dyches transfer dealings as we cannot waste anymore money

Heard a rumour that after reading our quality comments on here, Bassini wants to invite us 2 in to oversee the transfer window! Fancy it fella? Gonna be a lot of sad goodbyes !

lutondown wrote:

JohnnyHornet wrote: I'll upset a few by this but I think the arrival of Nosworthy should signal a complete clear out of the defence who have collectively at some point over the last few years been proven inadequate either singularly or together, the time is up for the likes of Mapps, Loach, Doyley, if we can get something for any of them we should take it, look at loach 2 years ago was touted as £2M approx, you couldn't pay anyone to take him now as his form is abysmal, strike while the iron is hot.

I agree with that except the inference that Mapps is somehow the same standard as the other poor performers. In fact I'd say build a defence around Mapps and Nosey and replace the rest. I think a mix of our youth and loans/ new signings would do it. But we do need width and we need someone who could score goals or be a foil for Sordell should he stay. Having said all that we need to clear out some of the dross and that includes Ilewumo and Jenkins, Yeates and Loach And we possibly lose Mapps or/ and Sordell. I would have someone over see Dyches transfer dealings as we cannot waste anymore money

The question I would like to ask is where does everybody get their information from? No matter who we are selling or buying somebody knows the price or utters the old classic "I've heard that we're after so and so". One thing I'm sure of is that neither Newcastle or Watford will have divulged any information about how much has been offered so no matter where you read these stories don't trust them. I have a close friend who is a well known journalist for a national newspaper and I can assure you he is full of the brown stuff. Reliable source=once knew the girlfriend of a mate who's brother once sold the cleaner of the Watford offices a hoover while working at Currys!
I've just spoken to my journalist friend and he said Messi and Xavi will be signing this afternoon in a swap deal for Doyley and Jenkins.

tonupchris wrote:

lutondown wrote:

JohnnyHornet wrote: I'll upset a few by this but I think the arrival of Nosworthy should signal a complete clear out of the defence who have collectively at some point over the last few years been proven inadequate either singularly or together, the time is up for the likes of Mapps, Loach, Doyley, if we can get something for any of them we should take it, look at loach 2 years ago was touted as £2M approx, you couldn't pay anyone to take him now as his form is abysmal, strike while the iron is hot.

I agree with that except the inference that Mapps is somehow the same standard as the other poor performers. In fact I'd say build a defence around Mapps and Nosey and replace the rest. I think a mix of our youth and loans/ new signings would do it. But we do need width and we need someone who could score goals or be a foil for Sordell should he stay. Having said all that we need to clear out some of the dross and that includes Ilewumo and Jenkins, Yeates and Loach And we possibly lose Mapps or/ and Sordell. I would have someone over see Dyches transfer dealings as we cannot waste anymore money

The question I would like to ask is where does everybody get their information from? No matter who we are selling or buying somebody knows the price or utters the old classic "I've heard that we're after so and so". One thing I'm sure of is that neither Newcastle or Watford will have divulged any information about how much has been offered so no matter where you read these stories don't trust them. I have a close friend who is a well known journalist for a national newspaper and I can assure you he is full of the brown stuff. Reliable source=once knew the girlfriend of a mate who's brother once sold the cleaner of the Watford offices a hoover while working at Currys! I've just spoken to my journalist friend and he said Messi and Xavi will be signing this afternoon in a swap deal for Doyley and Jenkins.

What a load of nonsense.... we all know that Cristiano Ronaldo is coming to the Vic instead :-)

buckler wrote:

lutondown wrote:

JohnnyHornet wrote:
I'll upset a few by this but I think the arrival of Nosworthy should signal a complete clear out of the defence who have collectively at some point over the last few years been proven inadequate either singularly or together, the time is up for the likes of Mapps, Loach, Doyley, if we can get something for any of them we should take it, look at loach 2 years ago was touted as £2M approx, you couldn't pay anyone to take him now as his form is abysmal, strike while the iron is hot.

I agree with that except the inference that Mapps is somehow the same standard as the other poor performers. In fact I'd say build a defence around Mapps and Nosey and replace the rest. I think a mix of our youth and loans/ new signings would do it. But we do need width and we need someone who could score goals or be a foil for Sordell should he stay.
Having said all that we need to clear out some of the dross and that includes Ilewumo and Jenkins, Yeates and Loach
And we possibly lose Mapps or/ and Sordell.
I would have someone over see Dyches transfer dealings as we cannot waste anymore money

Heard a rumour that after reading our quality comments on here, Bassini wants to invite us 2 in to oversee the transfer window! Fancy it fella? Gonna be a lot of sad goodbyes !

Well buddy we know who would be exiting immediately!

Ronaldo turned us down due to the lack of hair gel in the local Tesco's!

I don’t have a problem with us selling AM…or for that matter anyone else we’ve sold in the last few years. In-fact, I think we’ve done fantastically well. I run a business myself and some of the margins we’ve achieved are simply incredible.

Graham – Paid £350k in the end. We received 38 goals and £3.5 million in return.
Williamson – (the best of the lot) bought for 50K. a super half season then sold for £3 million 8 months later.
Buckley – 70K plus sell on? We got one good season and £1million for him.
Ashley young – got us promoted then got 10 million for the academy
King – 500k. got 2 good seasons and a promotion then made £4.5 million profit

….the list could go on. The only genuine flop the other way was the Duke and we all applauded that signing when it was made.

Granted, 100k for Iwelumo looks terrible but that’s the risk you take for 100k. I’m super impressed with the business we’ve done and continue to do. I’m delighted we’ve refused the offer for Mapps first up, but will also be delighted that when he’s sold that money will pay for the academy for another year. I agree with some posts on here that we should be giving the likes of Massey and Wichelow more game time. I also believe that is the effect of this utterly STUPID 5 subs rule they’ve introduced though. That rule is another in a long line of complete c0ck ups by the FA.

So, in my opinion, sell Mapps for anything £1.5m +. Buy another younger CB from the lower leagues for £250k and ease him in with other youngsters. All fine by me. £5m is daft. Defenders from the championship just don’t fetch that amount. Williamson is a better player and fetched less with a longer contract and he was younger.

jimbuctu wrote:
I don’t have a problem with us selling AM…or for that matter anyone else we’ve sold in the last few years. In-fact, I think we’ve done fantastically well. I run a business myself and some of the margins we’ve achieved are simply incredible.

Graham – Paid £350k in the end. We received 38 goals and £3.5 million in return.
Williamson – (the best of the lot) bought for 50K. a super half season then sold for £3 million 8 months later.
Buckley – 70K plus sell on? We got one good season and £1million for him.
Ashley young – got us promoted then got 10 million for the academy
King – 500k. got 2 good seasons and a promotion then made £4.5 million profit

….the list could go on. The only genuine flop the other way was the Duke and we all applauded that signing when it was made.

Granted, 100k for Iwelumo looks terrible but that’s the risk you take for 100k. I’m super impressed with the business we’ve done and continue to do. I’m delighted we’ve refused the offer for Mapps first up, but will also be delighted that when he’s sold that money will pay for the academy for another year. I agree with some posts on here that we should be giving the likes of Massey and Wichelow more game time. I also believe that is the effect of this utterly STUPID 5 subs rule they’ve introduced though. That rule is another in a long line of complete c0ck ups by the FA.

So, in my opinion, sell Mapps for anything £1.5m +. Buy another younger CB from the lower leagues for £250k and ease him in with other youngsters. All fine by me. £5m is daft. Defenders from the championship just don’t fetch that amount. Williamson is a better player and fetched less with a longer contract and he was younger.

Just to prove this point, Liam Ridgewell of Birmingham has just been the subject of a £1.2million offer from West Brom - a player with Prem experience and a far, far safer bet than Marriappa.

jimbuctu wrote:
I don’t have a problem with us selling AM…or for that matter anyone else we’ve sold in the last few years. In-fact, I think we’ve done fantastically well. I run a business myself and some of the margins we’ve achieved are simply incredible.

Graham – Paid £350k in the end. We received 38 goals and £3.5 million in return.
Williamson – (the best of the lot) bought for 50K. a super half season then sold for £3 million 8 months later.
Buckley – 70K plus sell on? We got one good season and £1million for him.
Ashley young – got us promoted then got 10 million for the academy
King – 500k. got 2 good seasons and a promotion then made £4.5 million profit

….the list could go on. The only genuine flop the other way was the Duke and we all applauded that signing when it was made.

Granted, 100k for Iwelumo looks terrible but that’s the risk you take for 100k. I’m super impressed with the business we’ve done and continue to do. I’m delighted we’ve refused the offer for Mapps first up, but will also be delighted that when he’s sold that money will pay for the academy for another year. I agree with some posts on here that we should be giving the likes of Massey and Wichelow more game time. I also believe that is the effect of this utterly STUPID 5 subs rule they’ve introduced though. That rule is another in a long line of complete c0ck ups by the FA.

So, in my opinion, sell Mapps for anything £1.5m +. Buy another younger CB from the lower leagues for £250k and ease him in with other youngsters. All fine by me. £5m is daft. Defenders from the championship just don’t fetch that amount. Williamson is a better player and fetched less with a longer contract and he was younger.

It was a case of good sales and poor execution of profits
I never applauded Ellingtons signing as I saw what WBA fans had to say about him, and what about that guy we loaned from Fulham for 10k a week? Junior something or other? And what about the current crop of signings? Only Nosey can be considered good business.
But now is now and it seems your not up to date with Mapps offer, which is reportedly Three million if you can believe the daily mail which is double your giveaway fee of 1.5M
And as much as three million would be decent business for a good championship player it would cost us far more if we go down. Gates down to 7k, loss of championship revenue plus lower percent from All round lower away gates.
Can't see us getting any replacement with the given time frame

ticket office is a joke !!! Just tried to get an extra spurs ticket for my grandad,life long watford fan but doesnt have a booking history because i buy his tickets for him. I was told NO even though My dad, uncle ,cousins, friends and myself all season ticket holders... Still No! 1 per person. fair enough i thought. Then my scouse Liverpool supporting mate phoned up and got one straight away as he went to a game in 2008 ha ha ha ha

Does anyone actually know how much the offer was?

I would be amazed if a bid of £2-3m is so far below our valuation that Baz "would not even consider it".

For my part, I suspect that £3m is about right for AM. I would have thought that Baz will take £1.5, if offered.

lutondown wrote:

jimbuctu wrote:
I don’t have a problem with us selling AM…or for that matter anyone else we’ve sold in the last few years. In-fact, I think we’ve done fantastically well. I run a business myself and some of the margins we’ve achieved are simply incredible.

Graham – Paid £350k in the end. We received 38 goals and £3.5 million in return.
Williamson – (the best of the lot) bought for 50K. a super half season then sold for £3 million 8 months later.
Buckley – 70K plus sell on? We got one good season and £1million for him.
Ashley young – got us promoted then got 10 million for the academy
King – 500k. got 2 good seasons and a promotion then made £4.5 million profit

….the list could go on. The only genuine flop the other way was the Duke and we all applauded that signing when it was made.

Granted, 100k for Iwelumo looks terrible but that’s the risk you take for 100k. I’m super impressed with the business we’ve done and continue to do. I’m delighted we’ve refused the offer for Mapps first up, but will also be delighted that when he’s sold that money will pay for the academy for another year. I agree with some posts on here that we should be giving the likes of Massey and Wichelow more game time. I also believe that is the effect of this utterly STUPID 5 subs rule they’ve introduced though. That rule is another in a long line of complete c0ck ups by the FA.

So, in my opinion, sell Mapps for anything £1.5m +. Buy another younger CB from the lower leagues for £250k and ease him in with other youngsters. All fine by me. £5m is daft. Defenders from the championship just don’t fetch that amount. Williamson is a better player and fetched less with a longer contract and he was younger.

It was a case of good sales and poor execution of profits
I never applauded Ellingtons signing as I saw what WBA fans had to say about him, and what about that guy we loaned from Fulham for 10k a week? Junior something or other? And what about the current crop of signings? Only Nosey can be considered good business.
But now is now and it seems your not up to date with Mapps offer, which is reportedly Three million if you can believe the daily mail which is double your giveaway fee of 1.5M
And as much as three million would be decent business for a good championship player it would cost us far more if we go down. Gates down to 7k, loss of championship revenue plus lower percent from All round lower away gates.
Can't see us getting any replacement with the given time frame

Firstly, I would never believe the Daily Mail on anything, at all, ever. It's disgraceful in every way.

If the fee is 3 million then absolutely brilliant and, as with all business deals, haggle a bit but then bite their hands off and peg it to the nearest Barclays. Obviously I agree relegation is a disaster but I don’t believe Mapps on his own is worth more than two wingers, a good striker and another young CB – all of which would be easily achievable with loans and purchases using the money raised by his sale. It may also mean we get more for Marvin as we wouldn't be seen to be as in need of the cash as we currently are. It could be quite exciting if you think about it. If we were to get 6million between the two of them and invest 2 million back into the squad then we would be that much closer to clearing the debt and being able to move forward with stadium plans, and with some clever loans and a new striker we’d be more than capable of avoiding the drop. Bring it on I’d say. I’m bored of us being skint and looking at the embarrassment that is the gaping hole where the east stand used to be.

jimbuctu wrote:

lutondown wrote:

jimbuctu wrote: I don’t have a problem with us selling AM…or for that matter anyone else we’ve sold in the last few years. In-fact, I think we’ve done fantastically well. I run a business myself and some of the margins we’ve achieved are simply incredible. Graham – Paid £350k in the end. We received 38 goals and £3.5 million in return. Williamson – (the best of the lot) bought for 50K. a super half season then sold for £3 million 8 months later. Buckley – 70K plus sell on? We got one good season and £1million for him. Ashley young – got us promoted then got 10 million for the academy King – 500k. got 2 good seasons and a promotion then made £4.5 million profit ….the list could go on. The only genuine flop the other way was the Duke and we all applauded that signing when it was made. Granted, 100k for Iwelumo looks terrible but that’s the risk you take for 100k. I’m super impressed with the business we’ve done and continue to do. I’m delighted we’ve refused the offer for Mapps first up, but will also be delighted that when he’s sold that money will pay for the academy for another year. I agree with some posts on here that we should be giving the likes of Massey and Wichelow more game time. I also believe that is the effect of this utterly STUPID 5 subs rule they’ve introduced though. That rule is another in a long line of complete c0ck ups by the FA. So, in my opinion, sell Mapps for anything £1.5m +. Buy another younger CB from the lower leagues for £250k and ease him in with other youngsters. All fine by me. £5m is daft. Defenders from the championship just don’t fetch that amount. Williamson is a better player and fetched less with a longer contract and he was younger.

It was a case of good sales and poor execution of profits I never applauded Ellingtons signing as I saw what WBA fans had to say about him, and what about that guy we loaned from Fulham for 10k a week? Junior something or other? And what about the current crop of signings? Only Nosey can be considered good business. But now is now and it seems your not up to date with Mapps offer, which is reportedly Three million if you can believe the daily mail which is double your giveaway fee of 1.5M And as much as three million would be decent business for a good championship player it would cost us far more if we go down. Gates down to 7k, loss of championship revenue plus lower percent from All round lower away gates. Can't see us getting any replacement with the given time frame

Firstly, I would never believe the Daily Mail on anything, at all, ever. It's disgraceful in every way. If the fee is 3 million then absolutely brilliant and, as with all business deals, haggle a bit but then bite their hands off and peg it to the nearest Barclays. Obviously I agree relegation is a disaster but I don’t believe Mapps on his own is worth more than two wingers, a good striker and another young CB – all of which would be easily achievable with loans and purchases using the money raised by his sale. It may also mean we get more for Marvin as we wouldn't be seen to be as in need of the cash as we currently are. It could be quite exciting if you think about it. If we were to get 6million between the two of them and invest 2 million back into the squad then we would be that much closer to clearing the debt and being able to move forward with stadium plans, and with some clever loans and a new striker we’d be more than capable of avoiding the drop. Bring it on I’d say. I’m bored of us being skint and looking at the embarrassment that is the gaping hole where the east stand used to be.

Never believe anything any paper says. It's hype from agents and no paper is better or worse than the other.

I say try and keep AM. Everyone has their price agreed, but lets face it, do we want any more inept Dyche signings?

Agree with timbuktu about spending money On improving stadium wingers forward etc, not on 1.5 million
One thing for certain all but a few want Dyche entrusted with the proceeds of any sale.
This is not a Dyche bash, but one for where the record speaks for it self.
It's all about timing here for if we could get in the region of 6-7 million for Sordell and Mapps, off loading Illewumo and Yeates it could really help the rebuild of our club. But I do not agree that going to division one would help us in anyway

Martin Taylor won't be staying past the summer it seems so we'll need a centre half anyway...

Bas has said we will want sell on the cheap but then what would be the fee we ought to consider for Mariappa/Sordell?

Afterall had we sold Loach when Spurs made their 2 million offer a year or so back fans might have been cross but we'd all take half of that for him now!

Martin Taylor won't be staying past the summer it seems so we'll need a centre half anyway...

Bas has said we will want sell on the cheap but then what would be the fee we ought to consider for Mariappa/Sordell?

Afterall had we sold Loach when Spurs made their 2 million offer a year or so back fans might have been cross but we'd all take half of that for him now!

You seem to be very certain Martin Taylor won't be staying?..

cliff46 wrote:
You seem to be very certain Martin Taylor won't be staying?..

Hope not the case
As Taylor and Nosey are the two ' real' men I do like! Get a good crosser and we could terrorise at set pieces!

Mr Tumble has spoken some wise words, pay up or do one. Now make sure we stick to it. 4M plus add-ons for Mapps and 5M plus add-ons for Marv. They are 2 of our most influential players which do not come along too often.

cliff46 wrote:
You seem to be very certain Martin Taylor won't be staying?..

Sorry about that.

Something Dyche said the other week about an issue with Taylor's contract which runs out this summer makes me think so..

cliff46 wrote:
You seem to be very certain Martin Taylor won't be staying?..

Sorry about that.

Something Dyche said the other week about an issue with Taylor's contract which runs out this summer makes me think so..

D.unstable wrote:
Mr Tumble has spoken some wise words, pay up or do one. Now make sure we stick to it. 4M plus add-ons for Mapps and 5M plus add-ons for Marv. They are 2 of our most influential players which do not come along too often.

Mr Tumble? Lol
My grand daughter loves him, must start taking her to the Vic!
Yes I see it but Bas is peoving to be no clown in negotiating at the very least!