Albion can't afford to buy British

5:00pm Friday 4th January 2013 in Albion By Andy Naylor

Gus Poyet would love to sign someone like Jason Roberts, pictured playing against Albion last season Gus Poyet would love to sign someone like Jason Roberts, pictured playing against Albion last season

Albion have gone abroad for a striker, because they cannot afford to buy British.

Boss Gus Poyet says he would love to sign somebody like Jason Roberts but the Seagulls’ budget for transfer fees and wages means they are concentrating their search overseas.

Albion remain in the hunt for £1.6 million rated Argentinian striker Leonardo Ulloa from Spanish Second Division club Almeria, although the deal is dependent on him securing an EU passport.

Reading were eighth in the Championship, one place higher than Albion’s current position, when they signed Roberts at the end of the January 2012 transfer window and he spearheaded their charge to the title.

Poyet, preparing his side for tomorrow’s FA Cup showdown against Newcastle at The Amex, said: “In England one of the biggest problems is that when it’s a very good British player it’s so expensive.

“That player will jump in your team and perform the next day because he’s used to the division, the weather, the pitches, the quantity of games.

“Those players we cannot afford. so then you have to find a similar player abroad. They can adapt after one day or month or they can take a year or two.

“The biggest example is Ronaldo. What a player in his second year and his third. I think we have to go that route because of the money.

“Jason Roberts at that time (last year) was one of the best players in the division. He made an impact. If you are able to bring that kind of player in, and pay him, he’ll make an impact and then you’ll have a great chance, especially when you have a striker with his characteristics.

“I would love to (sign Roberts). He (Reading manager Brian McDermott) would probably say no or ‘you’ll have to pay all his wages,’ which we can’t. It’s tough.

“For us at the moment it’s not possible but we’re trying. I’m trying to convince the chairman. We’ll get there. “In the five or six games we didn’t win at the Amex – and I’m not talking about Watford – if one of those players was here, I’m sure we would have got four wins from six, and then we’re probably third or fourth. That’s a big difference, because with another eight or nine points we would be big contenders for the top two.”

Ulloa, part-owned by a third party connected with his former Spanish club Castellon, has a gentleman’s agreement with the club president of Almeria to move in January or the summer.

He has been linked with Espanyol, Real Betis and Celta Vigo but they want a player exchange and he would prefer a move to England rather than Italy.

Ulloa is in the Almeria squad to play Girona on Sunday lunchtime. He is competing for a place with Brazilian rival Charles, who has overtaken him since signing from Cordoba in the summer.

Comments(47)

VegasSeagull says...
5:15pm Fri 4 Jan 13

Money, real money needed to buy british and we don't have it.

I like the honesty and I like the idea that we are keeping a firm hold on our loss and profit account books.

This statement of fact, along with the reference to Bloom, may quieten those that are calling for a big name signing.

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Gee Jay says...
5:23pm Fri 4 Jan 13

Now your talking Gus.......Ronaldo, yes we would like him!
Seriously, the fact that the club is not going to 'break the bank' by paying over the odds in fees and wages can only be good housekeeping for the Albion and the Amex. Too many clubs have gone down that route and suffered the consequences.

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golddene says...
5:26pm Fri 4 Jan 13

Who is the Latvian international that radio sussex are reporting that we have made an approach for,could'nt quite catch his name as i was driving??

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saraman says...
5:27pm Fri 4 Jan 13

We can't afford to buy British, that's why we buy consumer goods from Japan and Korea etc. If Gus can get a bargain from abroad that's OK by me. There must be loads of players of good quality in eastern europe on low wages that would jump at the chance to come to The Albion. The future looks bright, the future is blue and white.

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Freeloaders says...
5:30pm Fri 4 Jan 13

I have to say i also like this very much from Gus.Its the most honest statement from the club for a long time now.The fans now know where we stand in the football world.So its championship football for a good few more years to come.Plus we must all pray Gus does not get a better offer in that time.

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Neville says...
5:34pm Fri 4 Jan 13

I see that Bolton are paying Barnsley 300k for Craig Davies, always felt Davies deserved more of a chance than he got at Brighton and always gave 100%. Think he will do well for Bolton and Freedman is no mug when it comes to buying players.

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saraman says...
5:38pm Fri 4 Jan 13

Freeloaders wrote:
I have to say i also like this very much from Gus.Its the most honest statement from the club for a long time now.The fans now know where we stand in the football world.So its championship football for a good few more years to come.Plus we must all pray Gus does not get a better offer in that time.
From the way things are shaping up it would appear that Gus is building his future around The Albion. I don't think he is moving on any time soon. If he was he would be trying to spend the clubs money as if it was going out of fashion. With Gus and TB we are in safe hands.

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VegasSeagull says...
5:43pm Fri 4 Jan 13

Freeloaders wrote:
I have to say i also like this very much from Gus.Its the most honest statement from the club for a long time now.The fans now know where we stand in the football world.So its championship football for a good few more years to come.Plus we must all pray Gus does not get a better offer in that time.
Freeloader, that's a bit of a leap isn't it. 'Championship football for a good few years to come."

Buying decent players from abroad at a cost lower than we would pay for a english player doesn't mean we can't get promoted.

If your point is, if we get promoted we wouldn't have enough money to buy big names, well that's different.

I, like you, also agree that keeping Gus is vital to our progress. It is a long staircase to the top and Gus and Mr. Bloom are climbing it one step at a time.
It is my hope that the new signings will really stand out and deliver and with luck, all the talk of replaceing Gus will stop.

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Freeloaders says...
5:44pm Fri 4 Jan 13

saraman wrote:
Freeloaders wrote:
I have to say i also like this very much from Gus.Its the most honest statement from the club for a long time now.The fans now know where we stand in the football world.So its championship football for a good few more years to come.Plus we must all pray Gus does not get a better offer in that time.
From the way things are shaping up it would appear that Gus is building his future around The Albion. I don't think he is moving on any time soon. If he was he would be trying to spend the clubs money as if it was going out of fashion. With Gus and TB we are in safe hands.
I don't think TB would let him do that some how my friend.But i get your point.But don't be so sure Poyet will wait for ever also.

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seagullsays says...
5:51pm Fri 4 Jan 13

Agree with the posts above, and would add that once the is up and running, we'll have another source of talent hopefully, which shouldn't break the bank. Whilst foreign players can be great value, I'm sure we all like to see a backbone of english players, even some local ones if possible. If we can find some english talent young enough, that will help us progress on the pitch and financially eventually. Exciting times. UTA

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Carter_Cooldancer says...
5:51pm Fri 4 Jan 13

golddene wrote:
Who is the Latvian international that radio sussex are reporting that we have made an approach for,could'nt quite catch his name as i was driving??
Here we go golden. From Skysports.

"Brighton have agreed a deal for highly-rated Latvia international Vitalijs Maksimenko"

"The 22-year-old can play anywhere down the left and has been tracked by a number of Premier League and Championship clubs in recent months.

Gus Poyet has sealed a deal for the player after he impressed during a training spell with the Seagulls late last year.

Brighton have agreed terms with Skonto Riga and hope to finalise the deal within the next 48 hours.

Maksimenko is believed to have already arrived in England, where he will undergo a medical before completing his move to the Amex Stadium."

Checking him out elsewhere, he is a left back who can play further up the field or even as cover at centre back.

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seagullsays says...
5:52pm Fri 4 Jan 13

seagullsays wrote:
Agree with the posts above, and would add that once the is up and running, we'll have another source of talent hopefully, which shouldn't break the bank. Whilst foreign players can be great value, I'm sure we all like to see a backbone of english players, even some local ones if possible. If we can find some english talent young enough, that will help us progress on the pitch and financially eventually. Exciting times. UTA
Err, that should read 'once the academy is up and running'.

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thetungsten says...
5:54pm Fri 4 Jan 13

Brighton and Hove Albion agree deal for Latvia international Latvia international Vitalijs Maksimenko has agreed to join Brighton and Hove Albion, according to Sky Sports.

The 22-year-old plays for hometown club Skonto Riga anywhere on the left, although primarily in defence.

Vitalijs Maksimenko spent a training spell with the Seagulls late last year and impressed the Albion boss Gus Poyet, according to Sky.

He previously spent a spell on loan with CSKA Moscow.

He is said to have been tracked by a number of Premiership and Championship clubs but is expected to sign formally for the Seagulls in the next 48 hours.

The deal is subject to a medical before the move can be confirmed.

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namgo49 says...
6:01pm Fri 4 Jan 13

Why hasn't the Spanish guy played hardly at all this season? Come on Argus about time for a bit of investigative journalism!!

We don't want another Vicente!!

On a quasi related issue (injured players) I see Tony Mowbray is bemoaning the number of players out with hamstring injuries. They must come down to the Uni of Sussex to train alongside Brighton!!

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VegasSeagull says...
6:07pm Fri 4 Jan 13

namgo49 wrote:
Why hasn't the Spanish guy played hardly at all this season? Come on Argus about time for a bit of investigative journalism!! We don't want another Vicente!! On a quasi related issue (injured players) I see Tony Mowbray is bemoaning the number of players out with hamstring injuries. They must come down to the Uni of Sussex to train alongside Brighton!!
I read an article this morning that tells of the fact that a new Brazilian signing his club made has kept him on the bench.

Please don't ask why we didn't go for the brazilian instead.

I think the guy is in the position of so many players around the world, they are good, but a team mate is better. Are we getting a second choice player, second choice as far as his club is concerned, yeah, but that is why transfers get done.



.

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saraman says...
6:12pm Fri 4 Jan 13

Isn't it nice to have a thread with no backbiting or bitchiness. We have happiness and long may it reign.

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Jonathan Mouette says...
6:27pm Fri 4 Jan 13

Andy Naylor posted an article on Vitalijs Maksimenko at 3:47 this afternoon. It attracted very little response - it appears the guy is destined for the development squad... Hopefully he will do better than some others who appear to have developed little in that squad.

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bruce beckett says...
6:33pm Fri 4 Jan 13

I see that Bolton are paying Barnsley 300k for Craig Davies, always felt Davies deserved more of a chance than he got at Brighton and always gave 100%. Think he will do well for Bolton and Freedman is no mug when it comes
to buying players.

I agree, Neville. Freedman had no doubts that a certain Glenn Murray would be a star player at Championship level and I think 300k for Davies, given his goalscoring record for Barnsley, is an absolute steal.

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Bucket feet Duffy says...
6:35pm Fri 4 Jan 13

This statement as others have already posted, has blown away any clouds of confusion where the clubs position is concerned, this is all, we the supporters wanted an honest and frank statement as to the clubs (under TB and GP) position and future aspirations and intentions.

Recieved and understood thanks Gus carry on !!! It's just we all love the Albion.

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lowerbeedingseagull says...
6:35pm Fri 4 Jan 13

saraman wrote:
Isn't it nice to have a thread with no backbiting or bitchiness. We have happiness and long may it reign.
Agreed!!!!!!!!!!! I get so tired of it all especially as we all have one common goal. Don't we??

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Jonathan Mouette says...
6:38pm Fri 4 Jan 13

Changing the subject has anyone seen the latest posting on the NUFC site... I don't know how big their squad is but they are looking at fielding a reserve team (through no fault of their own it must be said)... I hope it comes back to bite them on the proverbial... Fingers crossed ha! ha!

Check out
http://www.nufcblog.
co.uk/2013/01/04/bri
ghton-v-newcastle-fa
-cup-3rd-round-previ
ew/

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fairweathersupporter says...
6:38pm Fri 4 Jan 13

Freeloaders wrote:
I have to say i also like this very much from Gus.Its the most honest statement from the club for a long time now.The fans now know where we stand in the football world.So its championship football for a good few more years to come.Plus we must all pray Gus does not get a better offer in that time.
Amusing but somewhat tiresome...

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fratsomrover says...
6:44pm Fri 4 Jan 13

With Ba gone, Cisse and Collochini injured, Cabaye doubtful and Shola Ameobi likely to be rested, surely we have a great opportunity of a cup upset tomorrow. Their morale has to be rock bottom so lets get at them from the start. A good attacking line-up required Gus. I hope we aren't too conservative and let them settle. How I'd love to see us score a goal in the first 10 minutes.
UTA boys and lets have a bumper crowd singing all the way to Round 4

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mpcrisp says...
7:10pm Fri 4 Jan 13

Makes sense,if we can get someone as good or better for less money.Many English players are going for a lot more than they are worth.

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namgo49 says...
7:17pm Fri 4 Jan 13

VegasSeagull wrote:
namgo49 wrote:
Why hasn't the Spanish guy played hardly at all this season? Come on Argus about time for a bit of investigative journalism!! We don't want another Vicente!! On a quasi related issue (injured players) I see Tony Mowbray is bemoaning the number of players out with hamstring injuries. They must come down to the Uni of Sussex to train alongside Brighton!!
I read an article this morning that tells of the fact that a new Brazilian signing his club made has kept him on the bench.

Please don't ask why we didn't go for the brazilian instead.

I think the guy is in the position of so many players around the world, they are good, but a team mate is better. Are we getting a second choice player, second choice as far as his club is concerned, yeah, but that is why transfers get done.



.
Unless you are the likes of RVP

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alanbarnett says...
7:22pm Fri 4 Jan 13

After the Watford debacle I posted that I thought an unknown foreign player was our most likely forward signing, also I told the Albion about a young central defender in America, who until a few years ago lived in Worthing, and whom Man. city and West Ham were watching, Seagulls showed no interest, West Ham are bringing back to England with his mentor. This kid is good, and it is moves like this that can save a fortune on transfer fees.

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gusset snatcher says...
7:34pm Fri 4 Jan 13

Yes, we can't afford to buy the second most prolific striker in the championship for £300k and sell them to Palace for £0k......... it's truly sickening...... and the mugs on here try to carry on spoon feeding the propaganda to themselves..........
.... you need your heads banging together......... if your heads weren't so far stuck up each other you can't see the wood from the trees..... like Gusset you wouldn't know a good striker from bad........ IGWAM

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Tony the tiger eastbourne says...
7:40pm Fri 4 Jan 13

I think we must all say well done to Gus and Tony Bloom for being Sensible over this transfer period. Too many players at this stage are over valued in price hoping that someone will pay over the odds for a player's services. This Argentine striker may not be an instant success, but could be a gem, only time will tell on that. Also well done to Buckley for staying until 2017, shows what he thinks of this club and the right direction its going in. Take note CMS and Bridcutt we need you to do the same. This will go down well with everyone associated with the club, and also send out the right message that we mean business and are not a selling club for others to benefit from.

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Tony the tiger eastbourne says...
7:44pm Fri 4 Jan 13

gusset snatcher wrote:
Yes, we can't afford to buy the second most prolific striker in the championship for £300k and sell them to Palace for £0k......... it's truly sickening...... and the mugs on here try to carry on spoon feeding the propaganda to themselves..........

.... you need your heads banging together......... if your heads weren't so far stuck up each other you can't see the wood from the trees..... like Gusset you wouldn't know a good striker from bad........ IGWAM
Oh and hello gusset snatcher, lovely to have you on this website with your usual crap that you come out with!!

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gusset snatcher says...
7:45pm Fri 4 Jan 13

Tony the tiger eastbourne wrote:
I think we must all say well done to Gus and Tony Bloom for being Sensible over this transfer period. Too many players at this stage are over valued in price hoping that someone will pay over the odds for a player's services. This Argentine striker may not be an instant success, but could be a gem, only time will tell on that. Also well done to Buckley for staying until 2017, shows what he thinks of this club and the right direction its going in. Take note CMS and Bridcutt we need you to do the same. This will go down well with everyone associated with the club, and also send out the right message that we mean business and are not a selling club for others to benefit from.
lol.... we don't sell... we give away to our arch rivals for nothing... are you a member of the intelligentsia?

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SecondReserve says...
7:51pm Fri 4 Jan 13

I can speculate like everybody else but I have no idea of the true financial situation at the Albion. However we have needed a quality taregt man for well over a year now and if we genuinely can't afford one I don't see as it would make sense for us to get promoted in the next couple of years.

If we were promoted it is obvious that we would have to buy several top quality players (and pay the sort of wages teams like, say, Norwich, Southampton and Reading pay) if we were to have any chance of staying in the Premiership.

Southampton have spent a lot of money since last season and they are still finding the Premiership tough going. These quotes from Gus seem to imply we don't have the sort of money we would need so are we seriously aiming for the Premiership or not? Are we genuinely ambitious or is the club actually happy to stay as a decent Championship team with big crowds?

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VegasSeagull says...
8:09pm Fri 4 Jan 13

I wonder what this article emans with regards to Wayne Bridge.

We would obviously like to keep him for next year, and next year he becomes a free agent. Will we have the money to make the kind of offer to him that would persuade him to stay?

Hoskins has his new contract and you can bet a decent ay rise went along with it.
We would like to see some other gems accept new deals, they will, I assume, all get more money.

Is there enough money left in the coffers to keep Bridge. I am guessing here but I would have thought we would have to pay him a up front fee and a respectable weekly wage. There will be others wanting him, many over here would of that I am sure.

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klemaniac says...
8:30pm Fri 4 Jan 13

I see the Gussetosaurus has reared it's ugly head again

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tug509 says...
8:39pm Fri 4 Jan 13

SecondReserve wrote:
I can speculate like everybody else but I have no idea of the true financial situation at the Albion. However we have needed a quality taregt man for well over a year now and if we genuinely can't afford one I don't see as it would make sense for us to get promoted in the next couple of years.

If we were promoted it is obvious that we would have to buy several top quality players (and pay the sort of wages teams like, say, Norwich, Southampton and Reading pay) if we were to have any chance of staying in the Premiership.

Southampton have spent a lot of money since last season and they are still finding the Premiership tough going. These quotes from Gus seem to imply we don't have the sort of money we would need so are we seriously aiming for the Premiership or not? Are we genuinely ambitious or is the club actually happy to stay as a decent Championship team with big crowds?
Gus has called it a project,a long term commitment to bring the right combination of players together,over a period of time,until we finally go up. With players like Will Buckley committing his future to us,and hopefully Liam and Craig,we will attract enough quality to make that step in due course.

The two lads Ulloa and Maksimenko if all goes well are another two lads that are part of that project,if we can get our good players to commit for the long term and add one or two more,then imho we will be ready to go up,and not need wholesale changes overnight,just two or three special additions.

Great chance for a win tomorrow. UTA

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mark by the sea says...
8:49pm Fri 4 Jan 13

Point is Gus is hardly going to say we have tens of millions to spend, and up the price for anyone we want .

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golddene says...
8:50pm Fri 4 Jan 13

Carter_Cooldancer wrote:
golddene wrote:
Who is the Latvian international that radio sussex are reporting that we have made an approach for,could'nt quite catch his name as i was driving??
Here we go golden. From Skysports.

"Brighton have agreed a deal for highly-rated Latvia international Vitalijs Maksimenko"

"The 22-year-old can play anywhere down the left and has been tracked by a number of Premier League and Championship clubs in recent months.

Gus Poyet has sealed a deal for the player after he impressed during a training spell with the Seagulls late last year.

Brighton have agreed terms with Skonto Riga and hope to finalise the deal within the next 48 hours.

Maksimenko is believed to have already arrived in England, where he will undergo a medical before completing his move to the Amex Stadium."

Checking him out elsewhere, he is a left back who can play further up the field or even as cover at centre back.
Thanks for that bit of information cd sounds good to me,hope they can pull this off SEAGULLS.

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sussexram40 says...
9:14pm Fri 4 Jan 13

mark by the sea wrote:
Point is Gus is hardly going to say we have tens of millions to spend, and up the price for anyone we want .
Spot on.
He's being cunning.
Let on that you have a shedfull of cash and any clubs he wants to buy from will be holding him to ransom.
My guess is that this is a bluff. And we may well expect a big name signing coming in for a very competitive fee as a result.
I think GP is learning.

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VegasSeagull says...
9:16pm Fri 4 Jan 13

Well it's about 9-15pm UK time as I write, another day passed without losing any of our gems, and one gem making it clear that he is in for the long haul.

I wonder what tomorrow may bring.

I am still expecting, at some point, the announcement of a striker coming in on loan, maybe tomorrow?

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BobGear says...
10:17pm Fri 4 Jan 13

VegasSeagull wrote:
I wonder what this article emans with regards to Wayne Bridge.

We would obviously like to keep him for next year, and next year he becomes a free agent. Will we have the money to make the kind of offer to him that would persuade him to stay?

Hoskins has his new contract and you can bet a decent ay rise went along with it.
We would like to see some other gems accept new deals, they will, I assume, all get more money.

Is there enough money left in the coffers to keep Bridge. I am guessing here but I would have thought we would have to pay him a up front fee and a respectable weekly wage. There will be others wanting him, many over here would of that I am sure.
You mean Buckley, not Hoskins, Yes?
Or did I miss something.

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VegasSeagull says...
10:24pm Fri 4 Jan 13

yes

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Albion fan in London says...
10:40pm Fri 4 Jan 13

This is Gus Poyet at his best. As if he is going to come out and say we have cash to burn all you agents and chairman out there..give me your highest price and i'll pay double. Massively playing the game hear. I hope some of you greedy ba#tard agents are reading this. Do a fair deal at a good price instead of ripping our game off over and over again.

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dave from bexill says...
12:17am Sat 5 Jan 13

sussexram40 wrote:
mark by the sea wrote:
Point is Gus is hardly going to say we have tens of millions to spend, and up the price for anyone we want .
Spot on.
He's being cunning.
Let on that you have a shedfull of cash and any clubs he wants to buy from will be holding him to ransom.
My guess is that this is a bluff. And we may well expect a big name signing coming in for a very competitive fee as a result.
I think GP is learning.
Or maybe Gus is just telling us how it actually is.

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saraman says...
5:56am Sat 5 Jan 13

mark by the sea wrote:
Point is Gus is hardly going to say we have tens of millions to spend, and up the price for anyone we want .
Agree Mark. You don't go to an auction saying you have loads of money for a bid or sit at a poker table like TB and show your hand. Considering the gates at The Albion and revenue from add ons I am sure there is enough money in the pot for sensible spending.

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klemaniac says...
9:25am Sat 5 Jan 13

Albion have signed Latvian defender Vitalijs Maksimenko on a two-and-a-half year contract, which will run until the summer of 2015...

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daveyboy35 says...
9:57am Sat 5 Jan 13

Another one to go in the Bermuda Triangle that is the development squad!!!!!! Any danger of actually seeing any of these players near the first team!!!! This Latvian is wanted by loads of clubs and we've put him in the development squad???? He's 22 not 16, if he isn't good enough to go in the first team then why the hell are we buying him??!!

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the taffster says...
10:52am Sat 5 Jan 13

daveyboy35 wrote:
Another one to go in the Bermuda Triangle that is the development squad!!!!!! Any danger of actually seeing any of these players near the first team!!!! This Latvian is wanted by loads of clubs and we've put him in the development squad???? He's 22 not 16, if he isn't good enough to go in the first team then why the hell are we buying him??!!
agreed.why are we buying players for the development squad?.he should be at his peak now.need players to compete in the first team.poyet says we cant afford to spend big money on a striker.why give away murray to cp then?

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saraman says...
10:57am Sat 5 Jan 13

daveyboy35 wrote:
Another one to go in the Bermuda Triangle that is the development squad!!!!!! Any danger of actually seeing any of these players near the first team!!!! This Latvian is wanted by loads of clubs and we've put him in the development squad???? He's 22 not 16, if he isn't good enough to go in the first team then why the hell are we buying him??!!
Interesting question. A couple of months, then I reckon he will explode onto the scene with the first team.

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