[Albion] Napoli interested in Billy Gilmour **Sold 30/08/24**

[Freddo]

He could have become disaffected had he stayed, not that he was disaffected. I honestly don’t know how anyone on here thinks they know more about how to negotiate player purchases and sales better than Bloom, Barber and Weir

They’re excellent at what they do, but that doesn’t mean they don’t get one wrong every once in a while…

Think it’s pretty patronising for you to imply we shouldn’t be debating this stuff.

 

[dazzer6666]

They’re excellent at what they do, but that doesn’t mean they don’t get one wrong every once in a while…

Think it’s pretty patronising for you to imply we shouldn’t be debating this stuff.

I’m not

 

[Flounce]

Its a mistake regardless of how much he wanted to leave.

Made 10 "progressive passes" against United. Our midfield against Arsenal playing with 10 men for 45 minute? Four from Baleba, one from Milner, one from Ayari. Against the utterly shite Everton? Four from Milner, three from Wieffer. Despite only 98 minutes on the pitch, he's still got the 2nd (behind Dunk) most passes into the final 3rd. Topped that chart per 90 for us last season. Only player in the squad, along with Pascal, to find 8+ progressive passes per game last season.

People think you don't need this. You only need big boys who stop the ball from going in and boys who put the ball in the net. Simplez.

Doesn't work like that though. Build up and attack yesterday was atrocious for 49 minutes - only three attempts during those. We had a weird spell in the first half where for 10 minutes we had 82% possession (according to TV) and all we got out of it was a blocked shot from Jack from 30 meters. No engine in midfield, no playmaker around to get the ball to our attacking players.

Way too similar as this spring when Billy was out for seven games and the team only scored one goal. I liked what I saw from Wieffer... but if the guy is going to be injured all pre season, playing a game and then injured for weeks again, well then it really doesn't matter how good he is. Baleba is going to be a top class player, but he's no playmaker.

Better pray for Wieffer to get/stay fit, Hinsh to be put in midfield or O'Riley to get back quickly, because Baleba/Milner/Ayari as a trio is relegation stuff. Don't let one point against a 10-men-team trick you into thinking otherwise.

We'd be in a MUCH better position with Billy still around. From my view the most disappointing transfer decision in the five years I've followed team, because its just so unnecessary. Spend £100m on fancy new attackers and then play James Milner every week. What a waste.

You are ignoring that he probably asked to leave because he was told, that as long as other midfielders were fit, he wouldn’t play much. You must know by now we don’t keep unhappy fringe players, surely?

I am not happy about it either but I get it and “hang around in case we get injuries” was never going to cut it for a player who left Chelsea for similar reasons.

I like that TB and FH were probably very honest with him, No Parishs here!

 

[Silverhatch]

Player wanted to go. Sad but understandable (Napoli/Conte/historically huge club/BHAFC competition)

Fee. Appears comparatively cheap

Add ons. Reported (Naylor/Athletic) +£4m

Sell on. Not reported. Probably huge because of fee, add ons… maybe

 

[The Oldman]

Billy was subject to a stalker in 2023 and it was high profile in the gutter media. Wonder if that is one reason he wanted out of the UK and why the club were sympathetic to him going?

 

[Guinness Boy]

Ok mate.

Nah. ADL is too cheap/sensible to pay Tony what we'd want.

Looking forward to see him signing a new contract before the summer is over.

Thank you, that list is showing exactly how unlikely it is they would pay the £50-60m it would take to buy a young key midfielder from a mid-table PL club.

Blimey indeed. We just bought a somewhat highly rated Eredivisie midfielder for £30m and a young winger with barely any experience for £35m.

Billy Gilmour is a 23-year-old central midfielder who started some 40 games for his mid-table Premier League (the best league in the world) club last season. Why on earth would we let him go for "far below £40m"?

I don't think our high demands are preventing Dahoud from leaving...

Imho the only way we could have gotten a fee for Dahoud this summer is if we'd hired Potter. Harry, that is.

Indeed. I'm sticking to the £50m, or at least £40m with a bag of clauses. He's one of the youngest established central midfielders in the league (yes, he is established as he has been starting a lot of seasons both the last season and in the final months of the season before that). And the league isn't Eredivisie or MLS, but Premier League.






The idea that he would cost £12m comes from a mix of media talk and peoples desire to sell Billy. There's little indicating it has a basis in reality.
Which is btw also the case with your last sentence. We're always going to get as much as we can. Be it fighting for another million or two from Borussia Dortmund or keeping Locadia at the club in his final year rather than terminating the contract, because there's a MINIMAL chance someone will pay the last 6 months of his wages... thats how this club works, and needs to work. The idea that Tony Bloom and Paul Barber is going to sell players for lower than market value is a fantasy based on your desire to sell Billy - there's nothing backing up the idea that the club will turn into some low price market just to get rid of players because some fans think they're "too småål" or "cant shoot!!!".

Still think this move is a lot closer in peoples heads than in reality. I don't think £17m is anywhere near what we want.

I've considered the deal unlikely from day one and put it in the "absolutely not happening" category once Billy started against United.

The deal is as dead as the idea that Hurzeler doesn't think Billy is good enough.

 

[Baldseagull]

The reported fee seems low, but we don't know if it is accurate, or if there is a buy back option, or any other lever that we might apply in future, that allows a bigger upside in future.
I hope Conte hasn't over promised Billy, and we have lost him because our coach was honest and Napolis was bullshitting.

 

[sussex_guy2k2]

32 PL appearances for Manure last season, 7 PL goals. Scorers will usually carry a premium. Age 27 is peak.

This thread will run for many years to come, it'll have a life on its own. In a not dissimilar way to people initially making up stuff against Muzza in 2011 or portraying the club as baddies against Poyet in 2013.

The stages of grief.

Only the club's inner circle can tell us why the £12m fee .... a question for the next Forum?

Totally true. Maybe it’s my time to back out. As I’ve said, they’re already get Naylor to do the PR for it. I’m too old to care about players that leave

 

[sussex_guy2k2]

He could have become disaffected had he stayed, not that he was disaffected. I honestly don’t know how anyone on here thinks they know more about how to negotiate player purchases and sales better than Bloom, Barber and Weir

You do talk some utter guff. So he wanted to leave or he didn’t? Make your mind up.

And I never said I know more about how to negotiate player deals than them. Of course I don’t as I don’t have experience of negotiating football deals. And it’s a sign of how poor your argument is that you think this is some winning argument, rather than being able to capably argue the points I’ve made. From the outside looking in, this is a poor deal for the club, and I’m yet to see anything that disproves this point. The fact that the club are already getting Naylor on the PR trail about the deal further backs up my point, rather than yours.

Anyway, this’ll be my final message on this topic. I wish Gilmour the best - there’s an excellent player in there, even if he’s not always been appreciated by some of our fans.

 

[dazzer6666]

You do talk some utter guff. So he wanted to leave or he didn’t? Make your mind up.

And I never said I know more about how to negotiate player deals than them. Of course I don’t as I don’t have experience of negotiating football deals. And it’s a sign of how poor your argument is that you think this is some winning argument, rather than being able to capably argue the points I’ve made. From the outside looking in, this is a poor deal for the club, and I’m yet to see anything that disproves this point. The fact that the club are already getting Naylor on the PR trail about the deal further backs up my point, rather than yours.

Anyway, this’ll be my final message on this topic. I wish Gilmour the best - there’s an excellent player in there, even if he’s not always been appreciated by some of our fans.

No point replying if you’re out. Thank goodness, as you appear to be struggling.

 

[PortuGull]

 

[jackanada]

Sakes Billy, you could have pulled a tall bird and given your offspring a better chance of hitting the top.

 

[thedonkeycentrehalf]

Sakes Billy, you could have pulled a tall bird and given your offspring a better chance of hitting the top.

I think that might be his mum!

 

[Hiheidi]

Quite funny reading through the comments where many are calling Napoli a Catholic club and the Celtic of Italy Obviously pissed off a few sensitive Rangers fans.

 

[Tom Hark Preston Park]

See WBG in action on ITVX/ITV4 v Poland on Thursday and v Portugal on Sunday. Both 7:45pm kick offs

 

[Stato]

Sakes Billy, you could have pulled a tall bird and given your offspring a better chance of hitting the top.

You'll be grateful when they all go and drop that ring in the volcano.

 

[Pavilionaire]

It will be interesting to see how Billy's career pans out from here. I think the Albion was a great move for him in terms of progressing his all-round game, but he should fare better in Italian football, which is not so physical.

Similarly, having McTominay at Napoli should help Billy settle and help his international career too.

I wish the lad well. Turning in a MOTM performance in your last match at home to Man Utd shows he is a class act.

 

[London Irish]

Napoli international goal scorer Billy Gilmour

 

[Hugo Rune]

Napoli international goal scorer Billy Gilmour

Let’s hope a Brighton player now comes on (Jakub Moder) and gets a goal too!

 

[Joey Jo Jo Jr. Shabadoo]

I think that might be his mum!

To be fair that message could have been meant for Billy Gilmour senior.