Mariappa on the transfer window (From Watford Observer)
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Newcastle United and Wigan target Mariappa wants Premier League return with Watford
1:00pm Friday 10th February 2012 in Watford FC News
Adrian Mariappa wants a return to the Premier League: Action Images
Adrian Mariappa admits he does want a return to the Premier League but is still holding on to the hope that it will be with Watford.
Mariappa was the subject of several bids during the transfer window but ended up remaining at Vicarage Road.
The centre-back’s friend Mike Williamson, now at Newcastle United, told press in the North East that his former Watford team-mate was disappointed the Hornets rejected the Magpies’ offers as Mariappa “really wanted” to join Alan Pardew’s side.
Mariappa said: “Everyone wants to play in the Premier League and I am no different. It is the best league in the world and it is flattering to be linked with Newcastle.
“But I am very happy here and I am settled here. I have been here 16 years and I will always give my best for the club.
“My ambition is to play in the Premier League, like everybody else. It would be great to get back there with Watford.”
Newcastle had several bids for the defender turned down and when Wigan Athletic’s offer was reported accepted, it was claimed Mariappa would not even discuss terms with the Premier League strugglers.
When asked if he had rejected Wigan, Mariappa replied: “I can’t really go into too much detail about the ins and outs of it but things didn’t happen and I am enjoying my football here.”
It was also reported Mariappa rejected a new contract offer from Watford during the transfer window.
“Like I say, I can’t go into details like that,” the defender replied.
“I still have 18 months left on my contract and a lot can change in a quick time. Who knows what will happen in that time or beyond that time. I will just take each game as it comes and I am just concentrating on the football.”
With Mariappa keen for a return to the Premier League, would he even consider a new offer with Watford or does he want to leave to secure top-flight football?
He replied: “You can’t even write us off getting promoted this season and things can change in a short space of time and you can’t write anything off in football.
“I am just concentrating on the games coming up and pushing up the league.
“You can’t really say what will and won’t happen in football because it is one of those games where things change in a small space of time.”
Mariappa, who joined Watford as a child and has made 247 appearances for the Hornets, said the club have not yet stated whether the defender will be sold in the summer if he does not sign a new contract.
He said: “I haven’t talked to anyone about that. Obviously I didn’t go in the last window and I can’t control any of that stuff. I am just getting on with my football because there are things I can’t control.
“At the end of the day, I am happy here, I am thoroughly enjoying my football, I am probably having the best season of my career so far and I just want to carry that on and help us climb the league. That is all I am focusing on at the moment.
“I am enjoying myself at the moment and that is the main thing for me.
“Every time I pull that shirt on, I don’t want to let the fans down, my team-mates down or myself down.”
He added: “It is a club that I love and is very dear to my heart.
“I’m very much a supporter of the club and I’m very close to a lot of people who work here and a lot of the fans as well. I’m very much a part of this club.”
Comments(14)
Dr,Oftaw
says...
1:52pm Fri 10 Feb 12
stevyweavy
says...
2:02pm Fri 10 Feb 12
Dr,Oftaw wrote:If he continues as he is it will only go up. I would think he will sign a new contract with some kind of get out clause in it soon.
unfortunately for us his value will drop in the summer
KL Massive
says...
2:16pm Fri 10 Feb 12
You Horns!
LE PARK
says...
2:24pm Fri 10 Feb 12
't take much heed of that idiot williamson say's.He's as loyal as a robbie kean or craig bellamy looking for their next big signing on fee
hogweed
says...
2:54pm Fri 10 Feb 12
Hog out
Dr,Oftaw
says...
5:18pm Fri 10 Feb 12
stevyweavy wrote:not knocking his abiility, value will drop with only a year contact left and its not in his interest to sign a new one
Dr,Oftaw wrote: unfortunately for us his value will drop in the summerIf he continues as he is it will only go up. I would think he will sign a new contract with some kind of get out clause in it soon.
goldentrue
says...
5:23pm Fri 10 Feb 12
stevyweavy wrote:Unless he does sign a new contract unfortunately his value is likely to drop irrespective of how well he continues playing because he will have less than a year left on his contract at the start of next season
Dr,Oftaw wrote:If he continues as he is it will only go up. I would think he will sign a new contract with some kind of get out clause in it soon.
unfortunately for us his value will drop in the summer
Hornet23
says...
6:22pm Fri 10 Feb 12
Casterbridge
says...
6:36pm Fri 10 Feb 12
hogweed wrote:8 more straight wins just to get in the play-offs: you could be right.
Promoted with Watford. Your aving a laugh!
Hog out
But who said it had to be this season, which the club admits is a transition period? Should we take it that Aidy has ruled out a move in the Summer?
OzHornet
says...
3:56am Sat 11 Feb 12
You guys are having a laugh - Honest, decent, etc.. - -He will obviously not sign a new contract, and will either go in the summer for less of a fee than had been offered, or screw us by running down his 18 months ! This is another "Good time charlie" pulling one over the club that has invested in him for 16 years. Should have sold him to Wigan, forced him to go, collect $4 mil, see him relegated, and be happy with Nosworthy / Taylor !
Stoney77
says...
11:30am Sat 11 Feb 12
GTISGOD
says...
9:29pm Sat 11 Feb 12
OzHornet wrote:Stick to Ozzy rules mate......I could be proved wrong but I believe he will sign a contract but with a clause in it. The guy does have genuine love of the club but should better himself. I actually think he'd have been a decent fit at Arsenal.
34 years WFC fanatic, now out in Oz, flew back for Leeds Playoff final, Was at Wembley in 84 & at The Vic throughout 81 - 95 - FIRST POST:
You guys are having a laugh - Honest, decent, etc.. - -He will obviously not sign a new contract, and will either go in the summer for less of a fee than had been offered, or screw us by running down his 18 months ! This is another "Good time charlie" pulling one over the club that has invested in him for 16 years. Should have sold him to Wigan, forced him to go, collect $4 mil, see him relegated, and be happy with Nosworthy / Taylor !
OzHornet
says...
9:53am Sun 12 Feb 12
GTISGOD wrote:I'd like to do business with you GTISGOD !!! - very naive. Can you loan me some cash via a friend of mine in Nigeria that I will get to Email you ! Don't worry, there will be a "Clause" in it !
OzHornet wrote:Stick to Ozzy rules mate......I could be proved wrong but I believe he will sign a contract but with a clause in it. The guy does have genuine love of the club but should better himself. I actually think he'd have been a decent fit at Arsenal.
34 years WFC fanatic, now out in Oz, flew back for Leeds Playoff final, Was at Wembley in 84 & at The Vic throughout 81 - 95 - FIRST POST:
You guys are having a laugh - Honest, decent, etc.. - -He will obviously not sign a new contract, and will either go in the summer for less of a fee than had been offered, or screw us by running down his 18 months ! This is another "Good time charlie" pulling one over the club that has invested in him for 16 years. Should have sold him to Wigan, forced him to go, collect $4 mil, see him relegated, and be happy with Nosworthy / Taylor !
Rightly or Wrongly - the business of football now is all about "Looking after yourself" Maps decision will be purely motivated by his own needs / greed with not even the slightest consideration for the club when the time comes. As 99.9% of players at all clubs would do. Very rare for a Lloyd to be approaching a testimonial year in today's world demonstrating that loyalty (& Possibly due to the fact that no one else ever wanted to buy him).
I think it would have been good business to have got rid of him recently, with 18 months on his contract, solid replacements in the squad, and a likely depreciation of his worth from here on in.
Could learn a bit from Aussie rules & the salary cap which makes things a lot fairer for clubs like Watford !
click2find
not a regular says...
1:41pm Fri 10 Feb 12
Whenever he does go I can't imagine anyone will begrudge him that move. A lot of players will reel off the "I'm happy here" lines but with Aidy you know it's how he genuinely feels.
Looking forward to a strong second half of the season. Keep it up buddy.