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McKenna says Philogene deal not yet complete. I wonder if the agent is causing problems again? Apparently the fee is £22 million plus add-ons which seems to be more than first reported. Seem OTT to me but then it’s not my money.

He we go again, the guys a f**king nightmare

Really not impressed with McKenna’s interview this evening, no intention to send Al-Hamadi out on loan as we need 3 strikers and with Hirst hopefully returning if we have to go with Delap, Hirst and Al-Hamadi for the rest of the season we have good options. Sorry but that's relegation right there.

Bluemike wrote: ↑

Fri Jan 10, 2025 10:40 pm

Really not impressed with McKenna’s interview this evening, no intention to send Al-Hamadi out on loan as we need 3 strikers and with Hirst hopefully returning if we have to go with Delap, Hirst and Al-Hamadi for the rest of the season we have good options. Sorry but that's relegation right there.

Certainly gave the impression that getting another striker in is not a necessity. With Hirst and his injury problems and Al-Hamadi not good enough at this level at this moment in time think it will be a big mistake if we don’t get another striker in.

Nah, think he was just being Kieran McKenna. Tight lipped about this, not entering into any speculation or rumour mongering. Obviously until a new striker is secured Al-Hamadi can't be loaned out, why undermine the player at a routine interview?

Plenty of cards being kept close to chest IMO. Only 11th Jan.

Yep, 100%, Dubai.

Modern world seems to be all about “transparency” etc , but when it comes to an entire month of bargaining, keeping Shtoom on your dealings can only be a good thing.
Explain things in Feb. ….. a Messiah would follow that protocol.

marko69 wrote: ↑

Sat Jan 11, 2025 11:25 am

Yep, 100%, Dubai.

Modern world seems to be all about “transparency” etc , but when it comes to an entire month of bargaining, keeping Shtoom on your dealings can only be a good thing.
Explain things in Feb. ….. a Messiah would follow that protocol.

Exactly! Imagine if he came out and said yeah Ali will go on loan as we will get anther striker. Hirst is likely less motivated then - and if we didn’t end up getting a striker the fans would be disappointed. It’ll be better to say ‘later on yeah a target become available so we went for it and now that means Ali can go get more minutes’

Despite him saying he wants his business done early.

Bluemike wrote: ↑

Sat Jan 11, 2025 12:08 pm

Despite him saying he wants his business done early.

Obviously he wants that, but that’s not always possible…

No i get that but I hope we are looking at strikers, plenty of rumours about. I just hope this bloody philogene nonsense isn't distracting us again.

I just read that we exploring a deal to sign 36-year-old former Serbia midfielder Nemanja Matic from Lyon.

I sincerely hope this is all rumour and bollox - if it's true, and especially if we end up signing him, I will think that MA and KM have seriously lost the plot.

Bluemike wrote: ↑

Sat Jan 11, 2025 12:20 pm

No i get that but I hope we are looking at strikers, plenty of rumours about. I just hope this bloody philogene nonsense isn't distracting us again.

All I can say is if Philogene does sign I hope all this nonsense turns out to be worthwhile. Hopefully it will turn out to be an astute signing like Delap, not another questionable one like Muric and Clarke.

The Odious Mr Rossi wrote: ↑

Sat Jan 11, 2025 12:29 pm

I just read that we exploring a deal to sign 36-year-old former Serbia midfielder Nemanja Matic from Lyon.

I sincerely hope this is all rumour and bollox - if it's true, and especially if we end up signing him, I will think that MA and KM have seriously lost the plot.

With all respect they know 100x more about football that any of us do. I’ll trust their judgement - they have both been exceptional so far, of course they won’t get everything right but they have done an unreal job.

shabba wrote: ↑

Sat Jan 11, 2025 1:51 pm

The Odious Mr Rossi wrote: ↑

Sat Jan 11, 2025 12:29 pm

I just read that we exploring a deal to sign 36-year-old former Serbia midfielder Nemanja Matic from Lyon.

I sincerely hope this is all rumour and bollox - if it's true, and especially if we end up signing him, I will think that MA and KM have seriously lost the plot.

With all respect they know 100x more about football that any of us do. I’ll trust their judgement - they have both been exceptional so far, of course they won’t get everything right but they have done an unreal job.

With the salaries they’re on I would hope they do know 100x more about football than any of us do.

If we do complete the signing of Philogene, I think the main positive is the fact he and Delap played well together at Hull. Philogene hasn't exactly lit up the pitch at Villa; he hasn't shown consistent performances in the Prem because he hasn't been given the opportunities.

As far as KM's comments on a striker, it is a bit concerning that he sounds ambiguous about a signing. If he really thinks we'll be ok with what we have he's not being realistic. Hopefully, MA and company are working diligently to get a striker through the door.

I think the problem is with Villa. They are trying to buy someone from abroad, Dortmuand, i believe, and won't let Philogene go until that's completed 🫣

I'm not overly enthusiastic about Philogene, at £10m absolutely, but north of £20m no thanks, not worth the risk, would rather invest some of that in other areas.

I especially don't want Philogene's signing to signal someone like Broadhead leaving, that would increase the risk further. Broadhead has only had about 2/3 the pitch time of Philogene this season and has contributed far more. Clarke hasn't had that much longer on the turf and at least he's had a couple of assists.

I'll ignore the left side and say that Philogene is being brought in because of the injuries to Ogbene and Hutchinson. That's fine, but hopefully some of the players out will soon be fit again and then you might be presented with a slight mess and be tempted to revert to 4 at the back in order to accommodate the 'talent'.

Anyway, echo the striker situation too, if Delap gets injured, we're up sh*t creek. It might just be one position, but it's a very important one for the way we play.

shabba wrote: ↑

Sat Jan 11, 2025 1:51 pm

The Odious Mr Rossi wrote: ↑

Sat Jan 11, 2025 12:29 pm

I just read that we exploring a deal to sign 36-year-old former Serbia midfielder Nemanja Matic from Lyon.

I sincerely hope this is all rumour and bollox - if it's true, and especially if we end up signing him, I will think that MA and KM have seriously lost the plot.

With all respect they know 100x more about football that any of us do. I’ll trust their judgement - they have both been exceptional so far, of course they won’t get everything right but they have done an unreal job.

It's not about football knowledge though, is it? It's about common sense. Bringing a 36 year old into a relegation threatened team in the PL is not sensible - not in my book anyway.

In your book being the key words

I totally get that viewpoint to be fair, but I guess someone could argue well he is a very experienced player who can help in the dressing room, raise standards, and older figure for younger players to learn from etc. much like we had with Aloko in league one when he wasn’t playing but had a big impact by all accounts.

You’d probably have a case to say he is better than Masimo so might be useful for last ten mins to help see out results in some games etc.

I personally wouldn’t be thrilled but I wouldn’t be disappointed either, as I trust those at the wheel.

Bluemike wrote: ↑

Sat Jan 11, 2025 12:20 pm

No i get that but I hope we are looking at strikers, plenty of rumours about. I just hope this bloody philogene nonsense isn't distracting us again.

Mike, we know the main parts of the contracts, medicals, fees agreed etc Now just put it all away on a shelf and carry on with the other players needing to be signed, This Philogene must not interrupt our progress business matters, do not put all your eggs in one basket, then when the time is right for the papers to be signed and sealed take them down from the top shelf.

The Odious Mr Rossi wrote: ↑

Sat Jan 11, 2025 12:29 pm

I just read that we exploring a deal to sign 36-year-old former Serbia midfielder Nemanja Matic from Lyon.

I sincerely hope this is all rumour and bollox - if it's true, and especially if we end up signing him, I will think that MA and KM have seriously lost the plot.

I really don't want us to be wasting a slot in the squad on this type of player, I can't imagine it's true, bloody hope not anyway. And people moan about Morsy

Ricco wrote: ↑

Sat Jan 11, 2025 2:25 pm

I'm not overly enthusiastic about Philogene, at £10m absolutely, but north of £20m no thanks, not worth the risk, would rather invest some of that in other areas.

I especially don't want Philogene's signing to signal someone like Broadhead leaving, that would increase the risk further. Broadhead has only had about 2/3 the pitch time of Philogene this season and has contributed far more. Clarke hasn't had that much longer on the turf and at least he's had a couple of assists.

I'll ignore the left side and say that Philogene is being brought in because of the injuries to Ogbene and Hutchinson. That's fine, but hopefully some of the players out will soon be fit again and then you might be presented with a slight mess and be tempted to revert to 4 at the back in order to accommodate the 'talent'.

Anyway, echo the striker situation too, if Delap gets injured, we're up sh*t creek. It might just be one position, but it's a very important one for the way we play.

I'm not overly keen either, I'm actually hoping it falls through tbh, too much money on a player who I've been reading can have attitude, of course that may be talk but this dragging on and on and on also does nothing to raise my enthusiasm.

Bluemike wrote: ↑

Sat Jan 11, 2025 7:42 pm

The Odious Mr Rossi wrote: ↑

Sat Jan 11, 2025 12:29 pm

I just read that we exploring a deal to sign 36-year-old former Serbia midfielder Nemanja Matic from Lyon.

I sincerely hope this is all rumour and bollox - if it's true, and especially if we end up signing him, I will think that MA and KM have seriously lost the plot.

I really don't want us to be wasting a slot in the squad on this type of player, I can't imagine it's true, bloody hope not anyway. And people moan about Morsy

Well Mike here we go again with a differing opinion on a player as I think Nermanja Matic is the sort of intelligent experienced football player we desperately need to see us through the final few months of this season. By choice I’d would have preferred a younger version like Jordon Henderson but you have to look at who’s available. I suspect McKenna wants him on his coaching staff and sees the benefits he could bring to the squad for the rest of this season with so many young players in the squad and our lack of Premiership experience within the squad. Matic is still playing at the highest level in France, his club are sitting in 5th place and he’s started 71% of their games. He’s a hard tackler but with zero yellow cards and distributes the ball well. He’s a cool head and a great leader on the pitch and I can’t imagine him being an expensive addition. We have so little Premier League experienced Pro’s in our squad I think he’d be a brilliant short term addition and well worth a slot in the squad, and I don’t for one second see how taking him on would affect our acquisition of signing a striker. It could be if he comes we send Phillips back to Man City and for me that would make perfect sense as I’ve been sadly disappointed with what we get out of him. Ajax signing 34yr old Henderson to help their young inexperienced squad has been a massive success and I think Matic coming to Ipswich could also have massive benefits.

One thing for sure he won’t be making the same mistakes Morsy makes and he won’t be getting suspended for picking up unnecessary yellow cards, he’s way too experienced for that. For me for a four month short term contract he’s definitely worth the risk.

All this said, this could well be a completely unfounded rumour and complete bull sh*t.

Charnwood wrote: ↑

Sat Jan 11, 2025 11:36 pm

For me for a four month short term contract he’s definitely worth the risk.

He's still got a year and a half left on his contract with Lyon - are you really suggesting he would give that up for a 4 month contract with us?

That's the beauty of it, we all see things completely different and that's perfectly fine. You could well be right but I won't be jumping up and down should it be true, although he'll clearly be backed and supported should he arrive.

Reading rival fans views on him they say he was a great player for them but his legs went years ago which was my link to our skipper, I have no idea as to what standard he is performing now but he certainly doesn't fit the criteria of what KM normally looks to work with which is why I suspect the story has no foundation to it. We will see.

The Odious Mr Rossi wrote: ↑

Sun Jan 12, 2025 9:00 am

Charnwood wrote: ↑

Sat Jan 11, 2025 11:36 pm

For me for a four month short term contract he’s definitely worth the risk.

He's still got a year and a half left on his contract with Lyon - are you really suggesting he would give that up for a 4 month contract with us?

Might be able to do a loan where we pay his wages for rest of this season and a small fee etc - as they have major financial problems there

The Odious Mr Rossi wrote: ↑

Sun Jan 12, 2025 9:00 am

Charnwood wrote: ↑

Sat Jan 11, 2025 11:36 pm

For me for a four month short term contract he’s definitely worth the risk.

He's still got a year and a half left on his contract with Lyon - are you really suggesting he would give that up for a 4 month contract with us?

I’m thinking there’s more to it than this Rossi. I’m thinking there will be longer term options involved leading to him linking up with McKenna in a coaching or even Assistant Management role. After all he has far more Premier League experience than McKenna and his experience could well be the missing link in our current set up. I certainly wouldn’t write this off as a possibility.

The Odious Mr Rossi wrote: ↑

Sat Jan 11, 2025 12:29 pm

I just read that we exploring a deal to sign 36-year-old former Serbia midfielder Nemanja Matic from Lyon.

I sincerely hope this is all rumour and bollox - if it's true, and especially if we end up signing him, I will think that MA and KM have seriously lost the plot.

Source EADT

Finally, Foot Mercato have claimed that Ipswich are 'considering a move' for veteran midfielder Nemanja Matic.

The 36-year-old joined Manchester United from Chelsea in 2017, working under Kieran McKenna at Old Trafford.

With financial issues at his current club, Lyon, there's every reason to believe that the former Serbian international will be available. However, we understand that Ipswich are not interested in signing him at this stage, with the focus currently on signing attackers instead of a defensive midfielder.

Town should be looking at the young lad who plays no.22 for Tamworth, Enoru. He destroying Spurs down the left hand side.