Come off it - there was absolutely nothing new in the Indy piece. gus has been sounding off about budget restraints in every press conference since we were promoted. Remember him saying that if he had Cardiff or Blackburn's budgets he would guarantee promotion and pay back his salary if he didn't deliver it?
Anyone who knows newspapers will have a fair idea of what happened yesterday. The Independent sports editor - an Arsenal fan, as it happens - asked Sam Wallace to do something on the Poyet to Reading story, gave him a word count, and SW had to knock it out while simultaneously working on two England stories. He probably had a word with a few of the other hacks at the England press conference and then expanded the few facts he had with some hearsay and vague memories (for example Albion's "failure" to sign a new striker in January - really?).
99 percent of the time, no-one knows anything. Remember when Mourinho left Chelsea? Big story, right? And how many papers saw it coming. Not a single one.
FYI, the Independent's head of sport called someone with a closer knowledge of the BHA situation this morning to get some more accurate background.
Sky bet has just gone from 1/2 to 1/5 :-(
I've just had an exchange with Sam Wallace on Twitter. He resents an inference that he made anything up. I also got out of him that Reading haven't spoken to anyone else - which is more than the Argus have told us - and that the deal is not done until it's done which doesn't tell us anything new but, taking all that at face value then:
1) There is a willingness on both sides to make the deal happen.
2) Only the contract details need finalising.
3) Zingarevich & Poyet have met and the former has approved the move.
4) We'll get nearly £2 in compensation.
If none of those four pointers are facts then I'll expect a Times-esque apology from The Independent. (Also, he does mention that we signed Ulloa in January if you read the whole article.)
Looks like he's on his bike , just as he's grasped this rivalry malarkey as well . We just need olly to grasp it now
I've just had an exchange with Sam Wallace on Twitter. (Also, he does mention that we signed Ulloa in January if you read the whole article.)
Blimey, the relationship between TB and GP must have really disintergrated if we are settling for £2 compensation. TB can't get rid of him quick enough!!
I've just had an exchange with Sam Wallace on Twitter. He resents an inference that he made anything up. I also got out of him that Reading haven't spoken to anyone else - which is more than the Argus have told us - and that the deal is not done until it's done which doesn't tell us anything new but, taking all that at face value then:
1) There is a willingness on both sides to make the deal happen.
2) Only the contract details need finalising.
3) Zingarevich & Poyet have met and the former has approved the move.
4) We'll get nearly £2 in compensation.
If none of those four pointers are facts then I'll expect a Times-esque apology from The Independent. (Also, he does mention that we signed Ulloa in January if you read the whole article.)
Afternoon all.
It still won't happen.
As you were.