[NOT HAPPENING] Ivan Toney

‘All the signs’? What are they then? We have someone coming out from his club saying we aren’t interested. And a story in a local rag from an anonymous source which could be anyone! Even you!

Surely the bigger sign at this stage (and in terms of this debate) is the person in the official capacity of his club saying we aren’t interested?

 

Not only that, DrewH also pointed out that: "He was a guest of Deeney's for one of our home games when Troy was out injured. Think it was the Arsenal game."

Also, Fry doesn't even say "we aren't interested" - he just said we haven't called to make a formal inquiry or bid. That's not surprising given that because he's mates with Troy we're probably already well aware of his potential availability, and that we'd likely be waiting to see which division we're in next season before firming anything up.

Fry wouldn't have even been asked about our interest specifically were there not already signs that we were in fact interested.

 

I think you're reading far too much into it. To me the quote suggests he was specifically by his local paper asked about Watford's interest and was responding to that. Hence naming Watford in his answer by confirming he's not heard from us. It'd be pretty unusual for him to then name the other clubs who have shown an interest.

What are 'all the signs' you're picking up on?

EDIT: My post crossed with Burnsy's so I can see you've answered that. Can't say I agree with your take on it. Peterborough Telegraph creates story. Peterborough Telegraph then continues story by asking Barry Fry about it. Next week: Peterborough Telegraph can sensationally reveal Watford's deal to sign Ivan Toney has collapsed. And so the circle of local media life is complete.

 

It's the media. To be honest we can't believe half of what's written. Someone mentioned on here that a friend of his had heard things about Toney even before the papers started. So I will go with the ITK poster on this.

 

Not quite sure we got value for our £10 and a scratchcard that we paid for 'Les' Dawson.

 

I'm also agreeing with the ITK poster on this - I'm pointing out that this seems a case of no smoke without fire.

 

Maybe, maybe not. Personally I've never seen anything in Gray whatsoever. Confidence I can go with but sorry through my eyes has no footballing knowledge at all. If anything i believe he hampers the team while on the field.

 

It's the old adage. If we want him we'll get him

 

Conbine the Peterborough Telegraph rumour with the original poster who had heard about the link beforehand, and also the fact that Toney and Deeney are close mates.

One thing's for sure - even if we don't want to sign him, it won't be because we're not fully aware of him. If we don't make a more formal attempt to try and sign him it'll probably be because either we have other priorities, or because we've got relegated and a PL club moves for him.

So I still think your snarky remark was unjustified.

 

On this occasion it does actually seem the case - unless we get relegated and a PL club moves for him.

 

He'll slot in well with Alcacer and those lads from China. Previous 'definitely happening' signings.

 

Absolutely. It's a waiting game for everyone at the moment. Targets are all dependent on which league we reside in. As it is with e very other club in a relegation or promotion race.

 

I'm pretty sure Gray has in general just regressed as a player. I don't think it's only a loss of confidence or there being more pressure in the PL; he'd had a decent first season with Burnley in the PL if I recall, but now he struggles to even control a ball under zero pressure.

 

I'd like him to sign and for us to be in for players like him. Hence the 'snarky remark' that has seemingly and unwittingly provoked you. Too many players of his profile have come and gone to similar sized clubs while we're off shopping at Colombian poundland or Mr Bosman's Wonderful Emporium of Spanish Non-Entities. I think that's a big reason why we find ourselves with the squad profile we do.

The OP simply says Toney wants to sign for us, not that we want him. And someone else said he's mates with Deeney. All positive stuff but I don't think that's going to be enough to get Giraldi's attention based on his work to date. Obviously I get that Barry Fry of all people is possibly playing games and knows full well of Watford's interest and is spinning a yarn to the esteemed local paper. I genuinely hope he is and we're interested.

 

You must be lying here? Or not really thinking.

Deeney's probably been in Giraldi's ear all season about him (especially if Toney seems open to the move, which sounds likely).

Even aside from that, there's not a chance a club of our profile won't be well aware of the player who is top scorer of League One by 9 goals (and while at a club near us).

 

I can see why you omitted the 'based on his work to date' conclusion to the sentence you quoted, or calling me a liar and writing the rest of that would have made even less sense than it does. Think I'll leave it there.

 

If you want to get in to a huff and make a point about the club seemingly not paying attention to a number of potential lower league signings, then as you suggest there could have been plenty of other options for you to do so over. However, doing so over Toney, who seems very likely to be one of the few we actually will be aware of, is just bizarre and illogical thinking.

 

This would be a good signing; from what I've seen, Toney looks a good finisher. Something we sorely lack.

I'd be a bit put off by the price though. £10M (rumoured, I know) for a League One player is steep.

We'll probably end up signing some clogger on loan from Udinese anyway so this thread is pretty much moot tbh.

 

Never seen him or heard of him but he has to be better than Gray

 

He's hardly a benchmark.

 

He had some good games for us when he was getting some game time under Gracia including the winning goals against Leicester and Everton. Saying you not seen anything whatsoever you must've either not been watching or you just ignored it.

 

He was a record 18m signing remember. What I expect, no demand is some footballing ability. Touch, movement, positioning and composure. He is a striker supposedly Sorry but if you think a few winners justifies me looking at him as anything more than a total failure you have another thing coming. He's a liability, two faced and a waste of a shirt.
No it has nothing to do with him playing for the Scum because I've warmed to plenty of those.

 

Only this forum could have a row about a player an article specifically says we have not made contact about

That's what I love about this mad house

 

I'm only going on about the poster who leaked the interest before the media. Lucky guess? Football clubs, agents, players even use the media to their advantage. Fry is a master of doing this and its worked extremely well for him on occasions.

 

What's funnier to me is, guy scoring goals in a **** side in La Liga - 'looks no better than what we have'. Guy scoring goals in a Mickey Mouse League in England - 'GET HIM IN THE TEAM!!!'

 

Who are you talking about in La Liga?

 

You ‘demand’ it because of a fee he had no control over?

This hatred of Gray is just bizarre. As I’ve said on another thread, last seasons Cup games will live long in memory - it really puzzles me that some people wilfully ignore the parts he played in the QF and SF to give them memories of joy that will live long after he’s retired.

Some people on here act as it is was their own money that was spent on him. Its almost embarrassing.

 

You can honestly tell me that he has been a good buy? My demand for anyone bought into first team, is an improvement on what we have. If you believe he is even worthy of cleaning Vydras boots you're deluded. Inferior on every single level. The odd performance here or there and the very few occasions he has scored do not add up to me. Opinions differ but imo he has been a total waste of time and money. There is not one thing I like about the fella from his attitude to his limited ability.

 

Where have I said he was a good buy? Why are you comparing him to a striker that hasn’t played for years and why are you suggesting that I did?! Bizarre. You’re talking like he has done absolutely nothing for the club which is just incorrect.

What is it about his attitude you don’t like outside of the recent party? Because as far as I can see, it’s no worse than a lot of players we have. Yet he gets singled out - why? If you read about him beyond the headlines, he actually comes across as a decent bloke who has turned his life around a fair bit and does a lot of good things. But they don’t make headlines I guess...

 

I was correcting your comment, I have no problem if he gets moved on once a ready made replacement has been found. To say 'not seen anything whatsoever' is factually incorrect if you have been paying attention to our games since he moved here.

 

You can honestly tell me that he has been a good buy? It's a question to you. I never stated you said anything of the sort.

Why are you comparing him to a striker that hasn’t played for years and why are you suggesting that I did? Again a question to you. I'm comparing him to Matty because he's a former player with supposedly simular playing style to Gray. Again didn't suggest that you did. So all in all I'm making the comparison not you.

14 goals in 80 something appearances is hardly prolific. People say about goals per minute average I don't. If he was any good he would have more minutes. But sadly he isn't.

He's proved before that he's two faced by tweeting homophobic and racist tweets. But I guess that's all forgotten. Along with the attitude he gave the supporters at Newcastle.

Your opinions differ from mine. Who cares.

 

I stand corrected. Factually I have witnessed everything I don't want as a striker.

 

The second one wasn’t a question - at least it was terribly worded if it was. I don’t think Gray and Vydra have similar styles so it’s largely irrelevant.

Ahhh so it’s the tweets that he made a number of years ago that he’s apologised and been punished for (when he wasn't associated with us) that mean he has a bad attitude now? Are we not allowing people to make amends in life for mistakes now? Someone should tell our captain. And he cupped his ear to the fans against Newcastle. Watch Sarr’s goal against Liverpool - he does exactly the same and not one person mentioned it.

As you say, everyone is entitled to their opinion. But I think as a fan base we are better than holding vendetta’s against players that have no real basis and can be shown to be paper thin.

 

I don't think we should rule out the ex-scum thing personally.

I too too have warmed to others, Chamberlain, Spring, but that's because their performances largely made me forget their past. Grays performances make me want to hang to his!

A couple of previous winners to defend an £18m striker is not a great argument in my book, for that money the minimum I would expect is winning goals, and quite a few of them.