We have turned down an Alex bid

[Guest Sindre]

£18 million was the offer from Real Madrid and we turned it down. The right thing to do?

I think that is a awful lot of money for Alex, but i guess that means that he is going to be our first choice together with Terry this season.

http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/sport/foo...icle6742165.ece

Edited August 6, 2009 by Guest

[Mod]

That's a lot of cash but I think most definitely the right thing to do. He is a fantastic defender, built like a brick sh*t-house and great at freekicks, scoring a few goals along the way too. The right choice to keep him for sure!

[charierre]

I wouldnt be surprised if they came back with an increased offer.

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TIMES CHELSEA ARCHIVE

[Eggy McMuffin]

I'd say if they come back with £25m or thereabouts... possibly a bit less, maybe £22m and above we should take them up on it. It'd be a mighty fine profit. It'd leave us with Terry, Carvalho, Ivanovic and Mancienne as our centre back options, which really isn't bad at all. I could see City jumping in with an offer as well.

[Chippy]

It's a strange world when we as fans slag off players for going to other Clubs "for the Money" unyet when we have players like Alex who has never let us down and on recent form looks the better bet (age taken into account) than Riccy we are talking the difference between selling him and not selling him to be 5 or six million quid?

I say if the manager sees him as an integral part of the team we keep him, we are an ambitious club not a selling club and hardly strapped for cash.

Plus Riccy has looked a bit more likely to pick up injuries of late and Mancienne and Ivan good as they are might not be good enough cover to challenge on all fronts.

[charierre]

Given that Real and City have helped distort the market , if they want one of our players I'd make them pay through the nose, nothing less than 30M. For me though I'd hang onto him , he was an integral part of our team last year , has age on his side and hasnt let the team down when called upon.

[Eggy McMuffin]

It's a strange world when we as fans slag off players for going to other Clubs "for the Money" unyet when we have players like Alex who has never let us down and on recent form looks the better bet (age taken into account) than Riccy we are talking the difference between selling him and not selling him to be 5 or six million quid?

I say if the manager sees him as an integral part of the team we keep him, we are an ambitious club not a selling club and hardly strapped for cash.

Plus Riccy has looked a bit more likely to pick up injuries of late and Mancienne and Ivan good as they are might not be good enough cover to challenge on all fronts.

I personally rate Ivanovic at the same level as Alex, and that's just behind Carvalho.

Surely you can see that £25m is a bit much to turn down for Alex when we have ample cover. Surely a player 'who has never let us down' doesn't mean he's great. He's good, don't get me wrong and I like him, but I think it's a good price. What's wrong with the difference being 5 or 6 million? I don't see your point there. We want £5m for Deco, should we just take nothing and let him go for free because it's only £5m?

I accept what you said about age being taken into account when comparing him to Carvalho, but he's not exactly a youngster, being 27. I just don't think he's worth the money being mentioned and think it'd be a good deal. Not sure if it really would reflect on us being cash strapped or not ambitious enough. Does selling Ibrahimovic for as much money as they got make Inter look less ambitious? A good deal is a good deal.

[Chippy]

I personally rate Ivanovic at the same level as Alex, and that's just behind Carvalho.

Surely you can see that £25m is a bit much to turn down for Alex when we have ample cover. Surely a player 'who has never let us down' doesn't mean he's great. He's good, don't get me wrong and I like him, but I think it's a good price. What's wrong with the difference being 5 or 6 million? I don't see your point there. We want £5m for Deco, should we just take nothing and let him go for free because it's only £5m?

I accept what you said about age being taken into account when comparing him to Carvalho, but he's not exactly a youngster, being 27. I just don't think he's worth the money being mentioned and think it'd be a good deal. Not sure if it really would reflect on us being cash strapped or not ambitious enough. Does selling Ibrahimovic for as much money as they got make Inter look less ambitious? A good deal is a good deal.

My point is exactly what I said in my post, we complain when players leave because they are offered more money elswhere but when a good servant of ours is happy here and another club offers a very tidy sum we are happy to sell him regardless that he is settled and his family likely are enjoying the life they have here.

I have always rated Carvalho and on form would still start him ahead of Alex, that said I fully expect Alex to be the more likely to stay fit and gradually become the nailed on starter (my hunch only) I dont rate Ivan as good as either although he likely will be and is very good cover.

You say a good deal is a good deal and you are right but if it was JT going to Man City for that extra few quid, would it work both ways?

Edit: I ignored the comparison with Deco as it was a bit to patronising for me to bother with.

Edited August 6, 2009 by Chippy

[blizeH]

If Lescott is worth £22m then Alex must be worth around that too, surely?

I agree that we have some great options for that position by the way, but Alex was very solid for us last season so I'm happy we're trying to hold onto him.

[Eggy McMuffin]

My point is exactly what I said in my post, we complain when players leave because they are offered more money elswhere but when a good servant of ours is happy here and another club offers a very tidy sum we are happy to sell him regardless that he is settled and his family likely are enjoying the life they have here.

I have always rated Carvalho and on form would still start him ahead of Alex, that said I fully expect Alex to be the more likely to stay fit and gradually become the nailed on starter (my hunch only) I dont rate Ivan as good as either although he likely will be and is very good cover.

You say a good deal is a good deal and you are right but if it was JT going to Man City for that extra few quid, would it work both ways?

Edit: I ignored the comparison with Deco as it was a bit to patronising for me to bother with.

I really don't get your point of view on this though... you seem to be of the opinion that we should never make money from players even if it's a player we can comfortably afford to lose because they might be happy where they are. So Sheva is happy right now, should we keep him? Pizarro too, how about we keep him? Teams have to look out for themselves and it's the same for players. That's the way the football world works.

Sorry about being so patronising, but your point just doesn't really make much sense to me. I just would really like to see us make a profit on a player rather than losing more than the GDP of most small countries on players like Shevchenko.

[Butch]

Why do we need to sell. Alex is great as is and will remain so for a fair few years. I rate Riccy very highly but how long can we expect him to operate at a very high level and remain available? I vote "no" to selling him. It makes no sense.

Cheers,

Butch

[Gem]

If Lescott is worth £22m then Alex must be worth around that too, surely?

Exactly what I was coming in to say, although if the going rate is £22m for Lescott then actually Alex is worth £35m-£40, but we'd never get that. I wouldn't want to sell him anyway.

It's just nice our top players aren't being linked with £6m moves.

[ethicalstrategy]

Chippy is spot on. We have no need for the money so why sell one of our best players? The only possible reason would be if he wanted to move. Just because someone makes a good offer doesn't mean we should accept it.

[dkw]

I really don't get your point of view on this though... you seem to be of the opinion that we should never make money from players even if it's a player we can comfortably afford to lose because they might be happy where they are. So Sheva is happy right now, should we keep him? Pizarro too, how about we keep him? Teams have to look out for themselves and it's the same for players. That's the way the football world works.

Sorry about being so patronising, but your point just doesn't really make much sense to me. I just would really like to see us make a profit on a player rather than losing more than the GDP of most small countries on players like Shevchenko.

what hes saying is alex wants to stay, the club wants him to stay, hes a bloody good player (our best defender last season in my opinion, and i was very unsure about him) yet smoe people are happy for us to sell him. that just doesnt make any sense.

[Chippy]

I really don't get your point of view on this though... you seem to be of the opinion that we should never make money from players even if it's a player we can comfortably afford to lose because they might be happy where they are. So Sheva is happy right now, should we keep him? Pizarro too, how about we keep him? Teams have to look out for themselves and it's the same for players. That's the way the football world works.

Sorry about being so patronising, but your point just doesn't really make much sense to me. I just would really like to see us make a profit on a player rather than losing more than the GDP of most small countries on players like Shevchenko.

Mate again I stress the point I was trying to make was loosely that we all pour scorn on players when they are offered more money and leave a club purely because of it, but we are often ok with the club selling a player who is happy, settled and a very big part of the team..regardless of what back up we have, Alex last season was one of our best performers and should be safe in the knowledge he has earned the right to be in Ancelotti's plans,

I can't undertand selling a player who has the ability and now the premeirship experience Alex has got unless you are in dire need of funds and have no chance of picking up a few bob for players far less likely to feature.

I am using Alex as the point and truely think he should be an untouchable but again the comparison was on the way we feal about players who go for the money compared to when the club lets players go for the money.

again I find it a bit lame to need to answer as to the difference in keeping Alex (if hes happy) and keeping the other players you mentioned (if they are happy) but would add the business of a football club is to win trophies and in our case to challenge the best teams out there..we are not in it to sell players at a profit just as they have proved they are good enough to help us do that because for a change we can actually earn out of them.

I think if I were to use your method of putting a point accrosss I could say imagine this scenario..we have just bought Zhirkov for 18m..we win the title in 2010 and Zhirkov has a blinding season scoring 18 goals and having many assists, loves it here and wants to pledge his future to us ..real come in with a 25m bid in the summer and we cash in..are we happy about that

Edited August 7, 2009 by Chippy

[BLUENUT]

Mate again I stress the point I was trying to make was loosely that we all pour scorn on players when they are offered more money and leave a club purely because of it, but we are often ok with the club selling a player who is happy, settled and a very big part of the team..regardless of what back up we have, Alex last season was one of our best performers and should be safe in the knowledge he has earned the right to be in Ancelotti's plans,

I can't undertand selling a player who has the ability and now the premeirship experience Alex has got unless you are in dire need of funds and have no chance of picking up a few bob for players far less likely to feature.

I am using Alex as the point and truely think he should be an untouchable but again the comparison was on the way we feal about players who go for the money compared to when the club lets players go for the money.

again I find it a bit lame to need to answer as to the difference in keeping Alex (if hes happy) and keeping the other players you mentioned (if they are happy) but would add the business of a football club is to win trophies and in our case to challenge the best teams out there..we are not in it to sell players at a profit just as they have proved they are good enough to help us do that because for a change we can actually earn out of them.

I think if I were to use your method of putting a point accrosss I could say imagine this scenario..we have just bought Zhirkov for 18m..we win the title in 2010 and Zhirkov has a blinding season scoring 18 goals and having many assists, loves it here and wants to pledge his future to us ..real come in with a 25m bid in the summer and we cash in..are we happy about that

Shocker.......BLUENUT in 100% agreement with Chippy

[Chippy]

Shocker.......BLUENUT in 100% agreement with Chippy

I'm sure that's been the case before mate..Managers aside

[BLUENUT]

I'm sure that's been the case before mate..Managers aside :P

:D

[TheWestwayWonder]

I think back to that game at Anfield last year. The whole team played with tons of heart, but if the game had ended in the 85th minute, Alex wouldve singlehandedly stolen us a point on a day when nothing was going right.

I am all for making a profit on players, but when its a defender who has improved so much, and Riccy and JT are both 1. piling up injuries recently and 2. at or near 30, I dont think Alex is who we should be selling.

And by the by, f**k Real Madrid. Tell them they can have him for 40m quid and nothing less. This is the same team that screwed us over Robinho and I wish nothing but the worst for them. Good luck with Pepe and Sergio Ramos, clowns.

[bonetti]

If we sell Alex, would we snatch Hangeland from under l'arse's nose?

[yorkleyblue]

Is that "Never looked much cop at Fulham" Hangeland?

I would hope not

[Eggy McMuffin]

Mate again I stress the point I was trying to make was loosely that we all pour scorn on players when they are offered more money and leave a club purely because of it, but we are often ok with the club selling a player who is happy, settled and a very big part of the team..regardless of what back up we have, Alex last season was one of our best performers and should be safe in the knowledge he has earned the right to be in Ancelotti's plans,

I can't undertand selling a player who has the ability and now the premeirship experience Alex has got unless you are in dire need of funds and have no chance of picking up a few bob for players far less likely to feature.

I am using Alex as the point and truely think he should be an untouchable but again the comparison was on the way we feal about players who go for the money compared to when the club lets players go for the money.

again I find it a bit lame to need to answer as to the difference in keeping Alex (if hes happy) and keeping the other players you mentioned (if they are happy) but would add the business of a football club is to win trophies and in our case to challenge the best teams out there..we are not in it to sell players at a profit just as they have proved they are good enough to help us do that because for a change we can actually earn out of them.

I think if I were to use your method of putting a point accrosss I could say imagine this scenario..we have just bought Zhirkov for 18m..we win the title in 2010 and Zhirkov has a blinding season scoring 18 goals and having many assists, loves it here and wants to pledge his future to us ..real come in with a 25m bid in the summer and we cash in..are we happy about that

So you don't get what I'm saying. It's a position in which we have ample and capable players. Zhirkov is on the left wing, where we have Malouda as the only capable player... I wouldn't class him as ample, would you? In my view 4 centre backs is enough for any top team and we have 5. If we're getting a great offer for a player who is 27, which I would point out is only one year younger than Terry for those talking about age.

I really don't see why none of you can get my point f view, but oh well... Just so you know though I've never complained about players leaving for money.

I do think your point is a little specious though, I'm not saying we should just sell anyone because we can make a profit. I'm saying if we have players who are equally good and better in the same position and it's a ridiculous offer, which £25m would be we should go for it. We may not be desperate for money as you say, but a little bit extra in the transfer kitty could be just what we need to get in a player like Aguero. We're apparently short in our offer for him, so having a bit more to bid wouldn't exactly go amiss, would it? I do find it strange that I'm the only person to think this is a good idea, but oh well.

[WoodmanBlue]

No need to sell, great defender, IN FACT with our defensive injuries in the last couple of seasons we would be stupid to get rid of our 3rd best defender.......maybe 2nd, we need to wait and see what Riccy does this season!

[youlots]

Also have to agree with Chippy on this - and don't want to lose Alex simply because Ricky might be a bit of a lottery this year with further injuries. And I don't think that Ivanovic is nearly as solid yet as Alex.

[Chippy]

So you don't get what I'm saying. It's a position in which we have ample and capable players. Zhirkov is on the left wing, where we have Malouda as the only capable player... I wouldn't class him as ample, would you? In my view 4 centre backs is enough for any top team and we have 5. If we're getting a great offer for a player who is 27, which I would point out is only one year younger than Terry for those talking about age.

I really don't see why none of you can get my point f view, but oh well... Just so you know though I've never complained about players leaving for money.

I do think your point is a little specious though, I'm not saying we should just sell anyone because we can make a profit. I'm saying if we have players who are equally good and better in the same position and it's a ridiculous offer, which £25m would be we should go for it. We may not be desperate for money as you say, but a little bit extra in the transfer kitty could be just what we need to get in a player like Aguero. We're apparently short in our offer for him, so having a bit more to bid wouldn't exactly go amiss, would it? I do find it strange that I'm the only person to think this is a good idea, but oh well.

I do get what youre saying I just don't agree with it,

I would keep Alex because I think he is a very good player and as Youlots says JT and Riccy have looked more injury prone of late and whichever one Alex comes in for he is good enough to do it without any detriment to the team..in fact I think it will be hard for Riccy to get the place next to JT, whichever they are both very good players,

I don't think Ivanovic or Mancienne are as solid but that is again a matter of opinion.

I wouldn't think the little bit extra if the bid went up to 25 mill would be a turning point in the Aguero saga as Roman seems to have enough ambition to know we need to base (like most great teams) a winning team on a great defense andwould Iikely stump up the extra if it was that sort of money, think it's more likely wage demands than Transfer fee being a stumbling block with the Argentinian.

my point again was on a wider scale than the Alex debate and just an observation that although we cuss players off for moving clubs "just for the money" some seem quite happy for clubs to move valued players on "just for the money".

I would sooner keep a proven premiership player at the top of his game even if the offer was 4 or 5 mill higher than I would value him at than let him go and spend the money on untested players who for all we know could struggle in this league (again not a direct Alex and Aguero comparison).

I really like Riccy and love his forays into midfield when he picks the ball up and turns defense into attack but I have a feeling over the next couple of years Alex could be the more important player for us due as much to fitness levels as to form.

Edited August 7, 2009 by Chippy