Post by QPR Report on Sept 4, 2009 7:12:17 GMT
I still have this vague recollection that last year, QPR fans were repeatedly assured by certain "In the Know" messagboard posters that Ben Watson was a "done deal" and had even signed for QPR. I also seem to recall that when it ended up not happening, some of these same posters were suggesting that Watson was actually not that good; or not worth the money, etc.
But hey, maybe that's just my aging memory!
September 4, 2008
London Informer/Paul Warburton - It's going to hap-Ben
QPR will play the waiting game over Ben Watson - and eventually laugh all the way to the bank.
Renewed speculation over the weekend predicted Rangers would splash out £2m for the Crystal Palace midfielder, who turned down a late bid from Nottingham Forest, having set his heart on a move across London to Loftus Road.
But Rangers were never going to pay over the odds for a player they hope to get in January for a knockdown fee or next summer for nothing - providing they wait until July 9.
On that day, the former England U21 player turns 24, and Palace will lose the right to ask a Football League tribunal to decide any kind of payment.
Eagles' chairman Simon Jordan was unwilling to do business with Rangers before the transfer window closed on Monday night because of Rs boss Iain Dowie.
The discontent between the two runs deep after Jordan took his former Palace manager to the High Court last year over Dowie's defection to fierce rivals Charlton in 2006.
But current Palace manager Neil Warnock has already resigned himself to losing Watson, especially as he now has a disgruntled player on his hands.
He said: "Ben and his agent have made it clear he wants to go to QPR so I don't know where that leaves us."
Rangers may need to go back in January, depending on injuries and suspensions for Watson - but even then they have no intention of offering more than £500,000 to reunite him with his former manager at Selhurst Park. London Informer
South London Press/John Stanton - 'Watson to QPR? They never called'
Ben Watson's move to QPR never materialised
BEN Watson’s hopes of a move to QPR fell through this week - but Eagles chief Neil Warnock says the Loftus Road outfit never made a bid for the wantaway midfielder.
Watson turned down the chance to join Nottingham Forest on deadline day after City Ground boss Colin Calderwood had an offer accepted by Palace.
Watson rejected the move, apparently telling Calderwood he had been promised a better deal by Hoops manager Iain Dowie.
“Ben’s agent turned down Forest, saying he wanted the type of package that he had been offered by QPR,” Warnock told the South London Press.
“But we never had any contact from them, so I don’t know what’s gone on there.”
For the full story and all the latest Eagles news, see Friday's South London Press South London Press
But hey, maybe that's just my aging memory!
September 4, 2008
London Informer/Paul Warburton - It's going to hap-Ben
QPR will play the waiting game over Ben Watson - and eventually laugh all the way to the bank.
Renewed speculation over the weekend predicted Rangers would splash out £2m for the Crystal Palace midfielder, who turned down a late bid from Nottingham Forest, having set his heart on a move across London to Loftus Road.
But Rangers were never going to pay over the odds for a player they hope to get in January for a knockdown fee or next summer for nothing - providing they wait until July 9.
On that day, the former England U21 player turns 24, and Palace will lose the right to ask a Football League tribunal to decide any kind of payment.
Eagles' chairman Simon Jordan was unwilling to do business with Rangers before the transfer window closed on Monday night because of Rs boss Iain Dowie.
The discontent between the two runs deep after Jordan took his former Palace manager to the High Court last year over Dowie's defection to fierce rivals Charlton in 2006.
But current Palace manager Neil Warnock has already resigned himself to losing Watson, especially as he now has a disgruntled player on his hands.
He said: "Ben and his agent have made it clear he wants to go to QPR so I don't know where that leaves us."
Rangers may need to go back in January, depending on injuries and suspensions for Watson - but even then they have no intention of offering more than £500,000 to reunite him with his former manager at Selhurst Park. London Informer
South London Press/John Stanton - 'Watson to QPR? They never called'
Ben Watson's move to QPR never materialised
BEN Watson’s hopes of a move to QPR fell through this week - but Eagles chief Neil Warnock says the Loftus Road outfit never made a bid for the wantaway midfielder.
Watson turned down the chance to join Nottingham Forest on deadline day after City Ground boss Colin Calderwood had an offer accepted by Palace.
Watson rejected the move, apparently telling Calderwood he had been promised a better deal by Hoops manager Iain Dowie.
“Ben’s agent turned down Forest, saying he wanted the type of package that he had been offered by QPR,” Warnock told the South London Press.
“But we never had any contact from them, so I don’t know what’s gone on there.”
For the full story and all the latest Eagles news, see Friday's South London Press South London Press