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Post by QPR Report on Jan 22, 2009 7:32:29 GMT
It goes around and around. But couple of sites saying Wolves outbidding Middlesbrough (although maybe theyre outdated)
Or from BBC Gossip However, Fulham and West Ham want to hijack the move and have matched Boro's bid for Watson. (Daily Mail)
But sure looks like not QPR
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Post by QPR Report on Jan 22, 2009 9:58:52 GMT
But sure does look like Middlesbrough. (Great dealmaking by Crystal Palace. Should be coming down in price; instead went up...Northern Echo Middlesbrough make their move for Watson Paul Fraser »WITH Middlesbrough’s Premier League future on the line, chairman Steve Gibson has given Gareth Southgate the go-ahead to spend £2m on Crystal Palace midfielder Ben Watson. After weeks of insisting that Boro would have no cash available during the transfer window, Gibson has finally agreed to meet the valuation of the former England Under- 21 international. Middlesbrough refused to confirm the deal last night, but Watson is expected on Teesside to discuss personal terms in the hope that a quick agreement can be reached before the player undergoes a medical. While the fee is hardly record-breaking, it is still a sizeable amount considering Middlesbrough’s message that there was no cash available this month. “The chairman, Simon Jordan, spoke to Steve Gibson and they have agreed a £2m fee,” revealed Palace manager Neil Warnock yesterday. There remains a chance that Gary O’Neil could be sold before the end of the month, but with options so limited at the Riverside, there would seem little sense in replacing one midfielder with another. If Middlesbrough can finalise the deal, Watson would add another option to the middle of midfield, particularly as Didier Digard is to start a three-match ban. The 23-year-old – who would not be cup-tied after missing Palace’s third round tie with Leicester – has attracted attention from various Premier League clubs, but none have been willing to meet the valuation until now. While Watson is out of contract in the summer, Middlesbrough would still have had to pay a fee decided by a tribunal as he is under 24 and a product of the Palace Academy system. It has also been claimed that offers from Nottingham Forest and QPR were rejected after learning of interest in him from Premier League clubs. Fulham, Everton and Portsmouth are among those to have sent scouts to watch him regularly, but Gibson’s willingness to hand Southgate the £2m – with add-ons depending on appearances – has paved the way for a move to Teesside. He is viewed predominantly as a holding midfielder, although the five goals he has scored from that position in the Championship this season highlights he is capable of finding the net. If Watson does agree terms with Middlesbrough, he would have to pass a medical despite struggling with a groin problem since early last month. The twice-capped Under-21 international has not played since December 8 and Warnock had been hoping to use him within the next ten days. Last weekend’s defeat at West Brom illustrated Boro’s need for reinforcements and the likelihood is that Watson would walk straight into the team. www.thenorthernecho.co.uk/sport/football/middlesbrough/4067069.Middlesbrough_make_their_move_for_Watson/
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Post by Zamoraaaah on Jan 22, 2009 10:07:45 GMT
Big balls up by GP. We could have got him in the summer but hold out expecting him to come on the cheap and lose out.
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Post by QPR Report on Jan 22, 2009 12:59:07 GMT
Warnock " “We had such a derogatory offer of £500,000 from QPR and early on in the season it was unsettling for Ben. “£2m is more realistic for someone of Ben’s quality.” Streatham Guardian Palace unlikely to replace Watson Graham Moody » Neil Warnock will not be targeting a replacement for Ben Watson should the midfielder complete a £2m move to the Premier League this month. The 23-year-old is currently discussing personal terms with Middlesbrough after the Teesside club had a bid accepted yesterday, but two more top flight clubs are also understood to have entered the race for this signature. “I don’t think we will be able to get anyone on a free transfer any better than that on our wage structure. For me the only chance we have of bringing a player in on decent money is if we sign a striker.“ Neil Warnock is not planning on replacing Ben WatsonWarnock refused to name the side’s involved but denied reports they were london duo Fulham and West Ham. “There is a couple of clubs that have made enquiries and we’ve agreed fees with,” he said. “I can tell you West Ham and Fulham it is not. “I don’t know whether Ben is going to speak to anyone else but he is up in Middlesbrough discussing terms now. “I will be sad personally, I think all the lads will be, he is part of the furniture here but he is going to be a very exciting player. “I’m pleased for him and the club, especially the chairman. “We had such a derogatory offer of £500,000 from QPR and early on in the season it was unsettling for Ben.
“£2m is more realistic for someone of Ben’s quality.” Watson’s departure would leave Palace with Shaun Derry, Neil Danns, John Oster, Nick Carle and Carl Fletcher as experienced midfielders and Warnock does not see himself adding to that number. He said: “It’s what you get for no money, do you get any better than what we have? “For me we’ve got Neil Danns who is like a new player, you’ve got Fletcher if he doesn’t go and young James Comley. “I don’t think we will be able to get anyone on a free transfer any better than that on our wage structure. For me the only chance we have of bringing a player in on decent money is if we sign a striker.“ www.streathamguardian.co.uk/sport/4068221.Palace_unlikely_to_replace_Watson/
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Post by Markqpr on Jan 22, 2009 15:18:19 GMT
Big balls up by GP. We could have got him in the summer but hold out expecting him to come on the cheap and lose out. Z - how certain are you that this is GP's balls up? I'm interested to know how the transfer dealings work at the club in so much as GP could have insisted on buying him in the summer and our new chairman held out, as it is his money GPs' spending and is now learning how the transfer market works. Do we know for certain that GP is solely to blame. Not being funny but after the previous 5 years of transfers I wouldn't let Gianni look after the stationery cupboard petty cash! I am fascinated to know what exactly are Gianni's duties now, I suspect nothing more than introducing Flav to player's agents and recommending players. I think it's more likely that Flavio ballsed this one up, but he's new and hopefully he will learn.
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Post by sandyhoops on Jan 22, 2009 16:41:27 GMT
Looks like Boro are hoping to have the deal for Watson tied up later today - Watson is up in Boro having talks - I've just watched a Sky Sports News interview with Gareth Southgate and he was very forthcoming about Watson!
Whoever got it wrong in the summer at the Rs - someone did & we've lost a possibly great opportunity.
But there are others out there and I think that, the more experience Sousa gets of our league & British football in general, and then we will see different players being touted - not the same old/same old names being linked with us!
But we need to get our scouting system up & running properly &, from wot I understand, Sousa is intending (if he hasn't already) to get a proper scouting system running again for us.
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Post by QPR Report on Jan 22, 2009 16:47:59 GMT
Thanks
And if someone could explain the need for a "Sporting Director" - our current one (and were he to leave, why bother to replace him) (And yes I know some will say "slap at Paladini" - But it's not what he did as Chairman that any longer interests me; it's what he does as Sporting director)
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Post by sandyhoops on Jan 22, 2009 22:05:50 GMT
Thanks And if someone could explain the need for a "Sporting Director" - our current one (and were he to leave, why bother to replace him) (And yes I know some will say "slap at Paladini" - But it's not what he did as Chairman that any longer interests me; it's what he does as Sporting director) We seem to have created a position to keep Paladini on board. I dont think ANYONE knows wot it is he does exactly - or even inexactly (if there is such a word :-)
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Post by eusebio13 on Jan 22, 2009 22:30:37 GMT
Surely Warnock means derisory
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Post by QPR Report on Jan 23, 2009 7:53:03 GMT
You are right!
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Post by Zamoraaaah on Jan 23, 2009 9:47:18 GMT
Mark, GP is in charge of transfer dealings and although he obviously has budgets set by the board, at the time he openly (within the club) bragged how he would "wait until the next window and get Watson for peanuts as he did with Ramage". This was repeated and backed up by more than one person I know at the club whilst the player and Palace were expecting him to be in hoops at the start of the season. For the record, I am neither pro or anti GP and I'm generally pleased with the signings since the takeover. Credit where it's due because IMO this transfer window has been the best I can remember but I think we are still short of at least 3 quality players and Watson should have been one of them.
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Post by Markqpr on Jan 23, 2009 10:45:39 GMT
Z - thanks for the reply. Based on what you said GP definately ballsed this one up! I'm surprised Flavio lets him handle the transfer dealings and would be even more surprised if he continues to do so after the Watson debacle. Hasn't he heard that if you pay peanuts you get donkeys! The transfer window this January has not been too bad. Certainly better than previously, though the Borrowdale deal is quite strange! I'm unhappy with the lack of young players being bought to the club as there is no quick fix in football and the length of contracts being handed out makes no sense. I think overall the squad is reasonable for the Championship but if we were to go up this season or the next then we are well short of the quality we need to survive in the Premiership. I'm happy with what we've got though, a massive improvement on what we had recently and hope we do build slowly as we need proper foundations on which to build a team capable of competing in the Premier League. More important to me is the development of our youth players. Do you know of any news there as I do not know anyone at the club and have not seen any news of it anywhere. Sandy, you mentioned that Sousa is sorting out the scouts, do you have any more information on that? I imagine he has great contacts across Europe, though I suspect they stop at the Channel. Is he organising a network of scouts in this country as we seem to be lacking in this department. Does anyone know if that Italian chap who was our scout when Briatore first took over but had to leave to go back to Italy due to his involvement in the Moggi scandal (sorry can't remember his name) is going to be replaced? Once again thanks for getting back to me Z.
Gianni - if you do read this, please, SORT IT OUT!
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Post by QPR Report on Jan 23, 2009 11:30:54 GMT
WE had a scout who was axed a couple of months ago
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Post by londonranger on Jan 23, 2009 15:46:32 GMT
We didnt want him enough. Also with world banks collapsing even multis and billionaires are losing money and are cash poor. Then add that banks are holding on to money. We did the sensible thing I think in view of depression economics.
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