Maybe I'm interpreting this phrase too literally: "The club will confirm their departures officially once moves have been finalised." It doesn't say "should they leave the club" but "once moves have been finalised" so I took that to mean that there are moves that are in process that should be confirmed in the next week or so.
With the communication that has come out now. I’m going to guess that there has been a hard conversation between the board and Ivic. Ivic is probably fed up of being asked the same questions over and over again in every press conference, when we already know what’s going on as fans. Hopefully, and it’s a big hopefully, the club are learning that the fans want honest communication not some media spun bs.
And yet they still managed to provide no update on Suarez so he is going to continue to be asked the same questions.
As noted above, shows Leventhal has no grasp of this particular situation after claiming Capoue was comfortable whether he stayed or left. I wonder if moves for them are imminent seeing as the club has now framed them as 2 looking to leave - interesting that Deulofeu and Welbeck aren’t mentioned as transfer listed for example. Whilst I would be expecting those latter two to leave, am I being wildly optimistic that perhaps in selling the two listed players, the club may feel they would be close to plugging the immediate financial issue and will address further financial issues over the course of the season? Also interesting that they have firmly shifted the emphasis on to Ivic now - no Sarr or Deeney, his choice. Either way, I welcome the improved transparency from the club.
I've always felt that Geri would be with us (albeit through circumstance) until the winter window. It would be another major boost if we could count on him during November and December, especially the Christmas period of matches.
Suarez is in a different category though. He's been training with the team but had a break out the side due to having COVID. He has never been training away from the first team (presumably due to transfer interest) as the club has previously stated is what's going on with Pereyra, Capoue, and Welbeck.
Well I clicked on that article and he's not mentioned in that piece either. It's all very cloak and dagger with Suarez, but with Sarr and Deeney coming back, we don't really need him right now.
As I’ve noted on the Pereyra thread, if there are more players who want a move - at least these 2 have done the decent thing by the club financially as neither will be entitled to a loyalty payment from the club now they’ve asked to leave.
If there are no French speakers left there’s no one to understand him when he puts a request in. He’ll just get a smile, a pat on the head (in a Faulty Towers he’s from Barcelona way) and be shoo’d out to the training pitches.
I agree. Although I guess even if he wasn’t leaving, if he’s missed 2 weeks of training (at least) due to Covid, he won’t be near fitness anyway. Certainly seemed to be what Ivic was suggesting. I have no real concerns of Suarez leaving in the immediate future - but obviously still a factor before the window closes. Just glad to finally have a little bit of transparency at last. How true it all is however remains to be seen. If no Sarr on Saturday, then we can scrub all thoughts of it being fitness related. And the article they’ve linked at the bottom says Deulofeu would be back in training with us by now - but those who follow his socials say he’s not....
Suarez is allegedly a finisher. We need one of those. We had some hope that Murray could do that (for 20 minutes at the end of matches anyway) or Perica could do this. But the latter is missing for a while. So IMO, we need him.
He is still part of the crew of players listed as those potentially leaving and him getting Covid doesn't really change that. Just strikes me as slightly odd to detail all the others in the same category and not him.
I think the club's statement's have always referred to a sub-category of players that are unavailable for no publicly stated reason. Welbeck, Capoue and Pereyra were repeatedly in that category. I don't think he was ever included in those statements but I'm happy to be corrected
I think the picture maybe becoming clearer very soon - There's clearly two groups - The ones Ivic works with and the ones he doesn't work with. Suarez, Sarr and Troy seem to be in the group Ivic works with. Sarr and Suarez might be marked "Staying unless big money is offered" and Troy probably has an agreement of "Staying unless Premiership offer". What this means for their playtime is anyone's guess. I would love to say I presume Suarez, Sarr and Deeney are behind the curve on the others due to recoveries/quarantine - But they'd have at least played vs Newport if that were the case.
Don't get me wrong, I'm hoping he stays, but all of a sudden options could be Sarr, Deeney & Murray on Saturday, with the return of Gray, Perica in the next couple of weeks with Deulofeu and Welbeck still possible. Even I would say adding Suarez to the mix will be too much....and I want to keep everyone. Ok, for now it would be too much, but Welbeck and Deulofeu will go at some point in the near future, if not this particular window, and Murray is short term, so we need someone of his quality still around after they all disappear.
https://www.footballinsider247.com/...s-to-sign-etienne-capoue-in-loan-to-buy-deal/ I don't think the club would have gone public with the transfer requests just to be transparent for fans, should doing so undermine their bargaining power. Capoue's deal is clearly somewhat advanced. Don't know about Pereyra, but we have a lot of capacity to send him over to Udinese if nowhere else. Think Udinese are waiting to sell De Paul first though but several other Serie A teams seem interested.
I think you're absolutely right. A good summary. That said, League 2 pitches aren't great places for valuable assets to build up their fitness in a risk-free environment so that could have been a factor. Also, two long drives to/from Wales midweek probably not ideal preparation for a derby. But you could be right. I do wonder though if Perica's absence might force Ivic/club's hand to include Deeney or Suarez or Sarr.
Agree with you up to the Newport part. I think Vlad wanted out of the cup ASAP with no more injuries like the one for Navarro. No Sema, no Pedro in the squad, who changed the game vs Oxford. Unfortunately the only one risked who may have started got himself sent off. I'm glad he didn't risk LS, IS or TD.
True, though if they are really close to being back, I expect at least one to be on the bench on Saturday at the least. They can't get "match fit" without the game time. I can't see it myself.
Loan with option to buy is awful business. If he declines we get left with him at 33 with two years left on his contract and us likely stuck in the championship. If should be we will sell you if a token offer comes in in of £3m-£4m. Otherwise he should play. Another Pozzo long contract masterstroke.
I suspect Capoue's likely destination is the next PL side that gets a significant injury in midfield. He could be an asset to any mid-table side or even several top 6 sides looking for a couple of months of coverage. They just need a reason to spend the money.
Nice to have a couple of additional morsels of information to what we usually get out of the club. What a shame. Great player during his time with us, but it's sad that it came to actively submitting a transfer request with clearly no appetite to fight for the club whilst he was still here and under contract. I don't begrudge him a move, and will remain an admirer of the player who served us so well in the main over the past 5 years, but I still think there are better ways to do things. Thanks for the memories Caps, and all the best.
Etienne even said he doesn't like watching football. Seems a bit odd to us but quite a few sports players apart from playing their respective sport have zero interest in it. Just hope we get a decent fee. He is age wise going in the wrong direction. Need to find someone in due course to replace him. Maybe revive interest in Busquets ?
Sell, don’t do him the benefit of a loan with a contract to fall back on. I don’t blame him but he doesn’t want to be here so he should work harder and find someone that wants him permanently. Thanks for the memories, fantastic footballer when he wanted to be and probably our best PL era signing. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
