You know what impressed me about him last night? His left footed passing, it was spot on and went wherever he wanted every single time. It's a hard skill to do especially under pressure.
Let's just hope he doesn't have one of those daft minimum amount release clauses that we have got bitten by in the past.
Oh why oh why Patrick did you have to announce this on Facebook? You should have kept this to yourself. Really hope we stand firm. Sent from my iPhone
Hearing Sunderland are one of the prem clubs after him. Makes sense as Kaboul is off to Watford and Kone believed to be off to Everton.
I hope we've got a replacement lined up, because we're looking very light at the back at present. Sent from my SM-G900F using Tapatalk
We get £6 mill for being in Championship so if with him we stay in the league thats another £6 mill. Take into consideration his contract thats two years so £12 mill. This should be the minimum starting point with a sell on and performance bonuses.
I've posted a couple more comments since then. Like saying I'd rather not sell at all. 2 or 3m like I noted was based on what a lot on this very board seemed to be happy with only a few weeks ago and that we don't ever seen to get good fees. Let's show our metal for once. But if we are going to follow history and have our pants down again we may as well get a player who also a lot are suggesting.
Keeping him in our defence could be the difference between relegation and the good TV cash you get for this league. He's a ball playing centre half like Stones but more experienced, achieved more with us and has more goals in his game. Therefore you would hope up front fee alone would be five million plus add ons and sell on.
That's basically my feeling. If we're knocking on the door of the Top 6 in January, he may be willing to see out the season. Or we sell him for a good wedge, replace him for much less, and still have money left to strengthen other areas immediately or in the summer.
I'd imagine there's a figure which we'll accept. Remember the policy is to develop and sell where possible but it would have to be a bloody good offer with 2 years left on his contract.
I know football careers follow a different path to the norm but...... ...AM is currently 22. He is in an environment with a well liked and respected coach and a setup which helps develop young talent. Championship level showcases up and coming talent enabling reputations to be made. He is assured, barring injury, regular first team football to further develop skills and reputation (and value). If he does that then these offers do not represent a 'once in a lifetime opportunity'. I know agents have self-interest at heart in their business dealings due to the commission they make and, therefore, are not the best source of career advice for their charges. So, on balance, there are more positives than negatives for I strongly believe it would be in everyone's interest if Alfie stayed at least until the end of the season and see where we end up. Otherwise I could see him, in spite of his obvious talent becoming just another Premiership squad player warming the bench for half the season, or worse, thrown into the team lacking the levels of support and guidance he gets now. After all if they pay dear they expect the finished article which he isn't quite yet. Then again like I said - this is football and money seems to overrule good sense and logic.
If we do sell, please, please, please let the clubs divulge the fee. If it's "undisclosed" the usual suspects will have a field day bringing down the club and all the optimism of the last few months will be destroyed.