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Post by Macmoish on Sept 2, 2014 6:58:15 GMT
Toronto Star Jermain Defoe stays, Toronto FC and MLS dodge bullet England transfer still possible in January, but Defoe exit on heels of Ryan Nelsen firing could have destabilized franchise. Richard Lautens / Toronto Star file Toronto FC star Jermain Defoe, shown in March, was the target of offers from English Premier League clubs ahead of Monday's transfer deadline. By: Doug Smith Sports Reporter, Published on Mon Sep 01 2014 Jermain Defoe remains with Toronto FC today, averting an international public relations nightmare and a black mark not only on the franchise but on Major League Soccer as a whole. But it wasn’t for lack of trying. A handful of English Premier League suitors — Queens Park Rangers seemed to be the one constant in every sourced report — tried to pry the injured striker away from Toronto with what general manager Tim Bezbatchenko termed a “record transfer offer,” but no deal could be consummated. It means Defoe, a dominant offensive force when healthy, will remain with TFC at least through the end of this MLS season. “Yes,” Bezbatchenko said when asked whether Defoe wants to be with a team that showered him with unimaginable riches just five months ago. But how much damage has been done just by the idea that Defoe would even consider leaving after such a short period of time? It’s obvious there is some disconnect between Defoe — the centrepiece of TFC’s Bloody Big Deal $100-million remake last winter — and the franchise. That he would even entertain a chance to return to the Premier League after just five months in Toronto speaks volumes about his desire to remain with the Reds for any length of time. While Defoe has yet to speak publicly about his time with TFC and interest in staying, there have been numerous reports on both sides of the Atlantic that paint a picture of a disgruntled star who would welcome a return to a league and a life he knows well. Even as negotiations for a transfer were breaking down before Monday’s 5 p.m. deadline, Queens Park Rangers owner Tony Fernandes was telling Sky Sports in England that “if not now, I’m sure in January something will happen” to repatriate the 31-year-old Defoe. January marks the next time team-to-team or league-to-league “transfers” of players can occur.Even Bezbatchenko couldn’t assure fans of anything past this season. “In the off-season people will make offers; they always do,” he said in a conference call in which he was adamant that Defoe remains “committed” to TFC. “As of now, yes, there is no reason he wouldn’t (be with the team next spring).” A Defoe departure Sunday, however, would have been an apocalyptic failure for both TFC and MLS, which has its hands in every player transaction league-wide. Following on the heels of yet another coach firing — TFC whacked Ryan Nelsen on Sunday, and the franchise is now on its ninth manager in less than eight seasons — having Defoe bolt would have cemented the team’s reputation as a dysfunctional lot that can’t get anything right. Having made such a splash by signing the former England international along with American international Michael Bradley last January, to have Defoe thumb his nose at his team and by extension the league after just five months of action would have been a disaster for the franchise’s already weak reputation. Regardless of whether he’s with the team or n ot, Defoe is not guaranteed to appear in a TFC strip again because of nagging injuries that have plagued him for months. He has missed four of Toronto’s last five MLS games, was subbed off in the one he did play, and is currently in Britain getting treatment for what has been described as a groin injury or perhaps a sports hernia.
Team officials said last week it would likely be the end of September before he could play again, and if the Reds free fall down the stretch who knows if Defoe would risk further aggravating what’s close to a chronic condition if he doesn’t have to. “We’ll decide in the next couple of weeks whether he needs surgery for it,” Bezbatchenko said. There is no doubt that the striker makes TFC far more competitive when he’s on the pitch. He leads the team in scoring with 11 goals in the 16 games he’s played and infuses the squad with the kind of energy Bezbatchenko said was lacking when the general manager decided to sack Nelsen on Sunday. TFC remains in the thick of the playoff chase, trying to secure the first post-season berth in franchise history. They are 9-9-6 with 10 games left and in a three-way tie with New England and Chicago for third in the Eastern Conference. The New York Red Bulls and Philadelphia Union are breathing down their necks. Five Eastern squads will qualify for the playoffs. www.thestar.com/sports/tfc/2014/09/01/jermain_defoe_stays_toronto_fc_and_mls_dodge_bullet.htmlRead more: qprreport.proboards.com/thread/39114/summer-transfer-thread-players-linked?page=86&scrollTo=365081#ixzz3C8gOA3Dq
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Post by Macmoish on Sept 2, 2014 22:22:03 GMT
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Post by sharky on Sept 2, 2014 22:58:16 GMT
From footballfancast www.footballfancast.com/premiership/queens-park-rangers/qpr-to-return-for-target-in-january?He is too good to be in America. QPR could use his experience and ability in the box Date: 2nd September 2014 at 5:30 pm Written by Alex Hams | Comments(0) Harry Redknapp has revealed that he will look to get Jermain Defoe to QPR after Christmas following a failed deadline day swoop. The Super Hoops boss looked to have a deal in place to bring the former England international back to the Premier League yesterday, but Toronto refused to sanction a move until January. Redknapp intensified his striker hunt as the clock ticked towards the deadline following Loic Remy’s move to Chelsea, but raids for the experienced goal-getter and Fabio Borini collapsed. Defoe has played under Redknapp at West Ham, Spurs and Portsmouth, and the QPR boss is ready to add his current side to that list in 2015. “We tried all day with Jermain Defoe. He was keen to come. We agreed a deal with Toronto but they wouldn’t release him now. We could do a deal and then take him in January but we wanted to get someone in.” he told talkSPORT. “There is every chance he will come in January. I’m a big fan of Jermain’s. Almost certainly, I think we will [go back in for him]. I’ve signed him so many times. I’ve taken him everywhere.” Defoe only moved to the MLS earlier this year, yet he is ready to head back to England after missing out on a spot in the World Cup squad over the summer.
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salts
Ian Holloway
Posts: 386
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Post by salts on Sept 2, 2014 23:03:00 GMT
Assuming we have no long term injuries then all we need to do in January is... ...replace SWP with Defoe, and replace Henry with Diarra...although another right back would better balance the squad, but who comes in and who goes? I can't see Jenas being offered a contract in January. Unlikely to be any last day drama for us for once!
Then in the summer we either offer Murphy, Ferdinand, Dunne, Hill, Barton and Zamora new contracts...or replace them with new signings or EDS players no longer U21. Same goes for Harriman and Faurlin. Everyone else is under contract, including Diakite!
Stability at last?
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Deleted
Deleted Member
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Post by Deleted on Sept 3, 2014 0:44:53 GMT
Assuming we have no long term injuries then all we need to do in January is... ...replace SWP with Defoe, and replace Henry with Diarra...although another right back would better balance the squad, but who comes in and who goes? I can't see Jenas being offered a contract in January. Unlikely to be any last day drama for us for once! Then in the summer we either offer Murphy, Ferdinand, Dunne, Hill, Barton and Zamora new contracts...or replace them with new signings or EDS players no longer U21. Same goes for Harriman and Faurlin. Everyone else is under contract, including Diakite! Stability at last? This
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Post by Lonegunmen on Sept 3, 2014 7:45:00 GMT
Give SWP to Chelscum and completely screw them up.
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Post by harr on Sept 3, 2014 8:33:34 GMT
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Post by harr on Sept 3, 2014 8:51:15 GMT
Assuming we have no long term injuries then all we need to do in January is... ...replace SWP with Defoe, and replace Henry with Diarra...although another right back would better balance the squad, but who comes in and who goes? I can't see Jenas being offered a contract in January. Unlikely to be any last day drama for us for once! Then in the summer we either offer Murphy, Ferdinand, Dunne, Hill, Barton and Zamora new contracts...or replace them with new signings or EDS players no longer U21. Same goes for Harriman and Faurlin. Everyone else is under contract, including Diakite! Stability at last? Yes this sounds pretty good . Providing Diarra hasnt been snapped up in the meantime. Agree about Jenas cant see a deal there . If Ferdie has a good season would love for him to sign another 1 yr deal. Barton Deal yes. Bobby depending how may appearances he makes this year I guess. Wouldnt offer Dunne a new deal . Faurlin , well as much as I love Ali fully understand if the Club refused a new deal, they may think high risk . Would be a tough call as everyone around the Club admires the guy , lets wish him another crack and hope he can recover. Yes Diakite after the year of loan he has , he still has one more year left at the club grrrrrrrrrrrr
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Post by Macmoish on Sept 4, 2014 0:02:18 GMT
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Post by Marc on Sept 5, 2014 19:20:27 GMT
If we want him so badly in January and Toronto had agreed a deal to release after their season why not sign up a pre-contract agreement that he will sign a full contract with us after the MLS subject to a medical. Baffles me to leave it so open and letting someone else get him first unless it is case of "lets wait and see where we are in the league..." Pre contract agreements, or leaving an empty squad space to be able to sign a free agent, are common practices but we seem to be ignoring the possibilities. I thought we'd cleared that one up. You can't leave empty squad places if you have contracted players eligible to fill those places.
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Post by Marc on Sept 5, 2014 21:22:07 GMT
No that's incorrect - take a look ate the thread "BAE's future" where it explains a bit more. It doesn't explain anything, there's just a lot of conjecture. Can you name the eligible players who have been left out of Liverpool's squad? I can't remember where it is but I posted a link in another thread which explained that contracted players must be named in the 25 man squad if there are available spaces
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Post by Marc on Sept 6, 2014 9:58:25 GMT
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Post by Marc on Sept 6, 2014 10:50:12 GMT
Confusing indeed. I must admit, I was rather shocked to see Liverpool had only named 19 but then I looked at their list of under 21s. 59 of them (including Sterling of course)! So I can't help but wonder if they really do only have 19 players over 21. Why wouldn't they name more in their squad if they had them? They surely wouldn't be expecting to sign 6 free agents between now and January so what other advantage would there be..
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Post by Ashdown_Ranger on Sept 17, 2014 16:36:00 GMT
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Post by gramps on Sept 27, 2014 7:48:30 GMT
I am not sure that there will be many wanting to come to us in the January window if the present squad doesn't get their act together. If we are languishing in the bottom three with little prospect of staying up, who could blame potential targets for saying "thanks, but no thanks". Of course, on the other hand there is always the lure of massive, unreasonably high salaries which could eventually bankrupt the club.
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Post by Macmoish on Sept 27, 2014 8:28:51 GMT
That's my thinking too, Gramps...
The Crouch/Defoe options - only suitable in very limited circumstances...When we have a reasonable chance to stay up etc...And neither comes cheap in wages...
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Post by sharky on Sept 27, 2014 10:11:20 GMT
Players come to clubs for various reasons, not all of them mercenary. For instance, as another thread said, the EPL has the most worldwide audience so coming to show your skills on the best TV stage can be good for you.
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Post by gramps on Sept 27, 2014 11:12:32 GMT
Players come to clubs for various reasons, not all of them mercenary. For instance, as another thread said, the EPL has the most worldwide audience so coming to show your skills on the best TV stage can be good for you. Good point, Sharky.
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Post by RoryTheRanger on Sept 28, 2014 18:09:45 GMT
We signed Remy while in the bottom 3.
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Post by nomar on Sept 29, 2014 11:45:47 GMT
Well, I'm so glad TF blew off Lescott and let Harry get Rio in the last window instead.
Yup, we sure got the better player there, then.
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Post by Macmoish on Sept 29, 2014 16:22:53 GMT
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Post by alfaranger on Sept 29, 2014 16:51:46 GMT
Joorabchian, that f*ck*n' parasite. A shopwindow for all that's wrong in football.
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Post by Lonegunmen on Sept 30, 2014 7:58:23 GMT
Manchester United are ready to sell flop Ashley Young with Aston Villa, Southampton and Sunderland potential destinations
Well, Young specialises in "flops". usually trying to win free kicks, penalties and getting players sent off. I am glad his United career has failed. Diving W*nker.
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Post by alfaranger on Sept 30, 2014 8:25:12 GMT
Manchester United are ready to sell flop Ashley Young with Aston Villa, Southampton and Sunderland potential destinations Well, Young specialises in "flops". usually trying to win free kicks, penalties and getting players sent off. I am glad his United career has failed. Diving W*nker. Noticed something strange? QPR aren't mentioned.
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Post by Lonegunmen on Sept 30, 2014 8:28:01 GMT
Yet....
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Post by harr on Oct 26, 2014 23:08:30 GMT
QPR, Aston Villa and Stoke on transfer alert to agree Clint Dempsey loan in January Oct 26, 2014 22:30 By Darren Witcoop The USA captain is expected to seek a move back to the Premier League, where he starred for Fulham and Spurs, during the MLS close-season
Make our day: World Cup star Dempsey could be back in the Premier League within weeks Clint Dempsey is ready to make a Premier League loan return in January.
USA skipper Dempsey rejoined old club Fulham for a two-month stint last term.
And the Seattle Sounders striker, 31, is set to head back to England during the MLS close-season. QPR, Aston Villa and Stoke will all be keen having declared their interest last year.
USA coach Jurgen Klinsmann has given his backing for the short-term move as he wants Dempsey to stay fit during the break in America.
Klinsmann said: “We want Clint to remain sharp and play in a competitive environment.”
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Post by Macmoish on Oct 27, 2014 8:59:36 GMT
There's who Redknapp might want (if Tony just allowed him "Just One more player") And then if it's not Redknapp, perhaps different players - although we've been linked with Crouch under a slew of managers)
If we're struggling, going to be harder to attract players we might ideally want
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Post by nomar on Oct 31, 2014 13:08:52 GMT
Dempsey is done at Premier league level, he was done when he went back to Fulham last season and did nothing to help keep them up.
This is the kind of player that we should be leaving well alone from now on. Learn the lesson from Rio and move on.
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Post by eusebio13 on Oct 31, 2014 14:19:36 GMT
There's who Redknapp might want (if Tony just allowed him "Just One more player") And then if it's not Redknapp, perhaps different players - although we've been linked with Crouch under a slew of managers) If we're struggling, going to be harder to attract players we might ideally want Worst case scenerio we get Defoe on a loan for the gap in the MLS season. I suspect we might look for another CB as Ferdinand has announced retirement & Dunne/Hill cant be far behind.
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Post by eusebio13 on Nov 2, 2014 12:22:58 GMT
There's who Redknapp might want (if Tony just allowed him "Just One more player") And then if it's not Redknapp, perhaps different players - although we've been linked with Crouch under a slew of managers) If we're struggling, going to be harder to attract players we might ideally want Worst case scenerio we get Defoe on a loan for the gap in the MLS season. I suspect we might look for another CB as Ferdinand has announced retirement & Dunne/Hill cant be far behind. If Harry Redknapp is still in charge of QPR come January then he is likely to offer Jermain Defoe, playing in Toronto, a loan deal during the MLS off-season. Read more: www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/article-2817090/Steven-Gerrard-follow-Raul-New-York-Liverpool-captain-leaves-Anfield.html#ixzz3HugDYw9s Follow us: @mailonline on Twitter | DailyMail on Facebook
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