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Post by Homzy on Jun 10, 2008 7:26:46 GMT
The ever-reliable Daily Star reckons we're lining up a £4million bid for Muamba so that makes it three decent centre midfielders we've been linked with - looks like we will strengthen there after all.
Muamba would be a great buy if we got him.
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Post by glouscesterstokie on Jun 10, 2008 7:30:15 GMT
yeah that would be a quality signing better than some previous suggestions by the daily star
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Post by Northy on Jun 10, 2008 7:30:30 GMT
From Wiki: -
Muamba was associated with Arsenal's youth system as a schoolboy from 2002, joining their Academy as a first-year scholar in August 2004. He signed his first professional contract in October 2005, shortly before making his first team debut on 25 October 2005 in a Carling Cup tie in front of a 47,000 crowd at the Stadium of Light against Sunderland.[4]
In August 2006, Muamba joined Birmingham City on a season-long loan from Arsenal.[5] After a slow start, his energetic style of play, which has been likened to that of his hero Patrick Vieira,[4] impressed his manager enough to establish him as a regular starter in central midfield. The fans were equally impressed, voting him their Young Player of the Season.[6]
On 11 May 2007, Muamba made his move to Birmingham City permanent,[7] signing a three-year contract for a fee reported by the club of £4 million.[8] He scored his first goal for the club, a close-range volley from a corner, on 12 March 2008; this was Birmingham's first goal in the 4–2 defeat at Portsmouth.[9]
I haven't seen much of him myself, probably a few snippets off MOTD but that young arsenal team were destined for bigger things at the time.
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Post by staffordshireknot on Jun 10, 2008 7:31:04 GMT
The ever-reliable Daily Star reckons we're lining up a £4million bid for Muamba so that makes it three decent centre midfielders we've been linked with - looks like we will strengthen there after all. Muamba would be a great buy if we got him. Wasn't it the star that put Hitler on the moon and also saw a london bus on the moon? Being linked with and signing them are two different things. However I do hope you are right.
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Post by stokey-pokey pudding and pie on Jun 10, 2008 7:33:33 GMT
was talking to a mate (brum fan) who said if he learned to tackle and pass he'd make a decent midfielder. but he's a miserable bastard who i managed to convince that brimingham werent going down
from what ive seen he's a decent prospect but didnt get that many starts last season and is still young, so maybe not the sort of player we can depend on. still, im an self-dictated optimist - so we'll sign him and he'll be quality!
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Post by vientianescfc on Jun 10, 2008 7:34:47 GMT
Wasn't it the star that put Hitler on the moon and also saw a london bus on the moon? Being linked with and signing them are two different things. However I do hope you are right. No I think you'll find that was the Daily Sport . .. . which is a quality tabloid unlike the Star . . I mean any paper that has a nipple count has to be good!
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Post by staffordshireknot on Jun 10, 2008 7:39:02 GMT
Wasn't it the star that put Hitler on the moon and also saw a london bus on the moon? Being linked with and signing them are two different things. However I do hope you are right. No I think you'll find that was the Daily Sport . .. . which is a quality tabloid unlike the Star . . I mean any paper that has a nipple count has to be good! I think i might have to start buying the sport. ;D
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Post by FullerMagic on Jun 10, 2008 7:48:05 GMT
I remember Blues fans initially were raving about him and were amazed when Wenger let them have him full-time.
But a scout about on their board, and there seems to be more mixed views on him now - I don't suppose many come out of a relegation season with their reputation intact.
Still generally rated for his excellent energy and tackling, but seems to be some very common doubts about his ball control, creativity and especially his passing.
I was expecting him to be a bit more rated by the Blues fans, given the reputation I thought he had on loan.
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Post by greystokie on Jun 10, 2008 9:00:03 GMT
today's Daily Telegraph also says the same, as well
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Post by andy9196 on Jun 10, 2008 11:19:39 GMT
Just spoken to work colleague, who is friends with agent, and he says we are very interested in him
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Post by lordb on Jun 10, 2008 12:00:46 GMT
Good player
would prefer Larsson (as well?....)
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Post by gleghornsgoolies on Jun 10, 2008 12:06:05 GMT
Wouldn't he cost more than £4m? If he's got two years left on his contract and has such potential... and it's not as if Birmingham are cash-strapped.
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Post by lordb on Jun 10, 2008 12:30:24 GMT
...Blues are in all sorts of mither,who knows what they will accept for their players. Especially if the player/s want to move back to the prem.
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Post by YarnfieldStokie on Jun 10, 2008 12:41:35 GMT
They have just mentioned the report in The Star on Sky Sports
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Post by FullerMagic on Jun 10, 2008 15:23:27 GMT
Fabrice Muamba here for long haul says Alex McLeish
Jun 10 2008 By Colin TattumALEX McLeish today insisted Fabrice Muamba was not about to desert Blues because of relegation, nor a contractual dispute.
The England under-21 international midfielder has caught the eye of Bolton Wanderers and Reading in the past, and although he has been linked with Wigan Athletic, ex-boss Steve Bruce has not registered his interest as of yet.
Muamba would prefer to play Premier League football next season, and there have been rumours of a contract wrangle.
But McLeish is planning for the Championship with Muamba on board.
"His athleticism in the big games, he was absolutely magnificent in breaking things up," said McLeish.
"Against the Man Uniteds, Arsenals he did exceptionally well and that's probably why there has been a little bit of tentative interest in him from other clubs.
"When you play well against the top teams, people notice.
"Fabrice can be justifiably happy with his first season in the Premier League. Obviously, as a team things didn't go according to plan because in the end we lost out by a point and were relegated.
"So now we've got to react and make sure we're a force in the Championship and Fabrice comes into that category, along with the others in that we want him to help us have a crack at it and come back at the first time of asking."
Muamba, who missed just one league game, was due an up-grade in contract after he passed a certain number of outings in the top flight. That was the agreement when he joined permanently from Arsenal last summer for £2million.
Because of the upheaval due to the change in manager from Bruce to McLeish, Blues weren't able to address the issue immediately but it seems things have since been ironed out.
"Fabrice is contracted until 2010 and I think he's very happy with things," said McLeish.
"I'm sure he would have liked negotiations put to bed quickly, but nothing has dimmed his enthusiasm.
"All season long he showed great energy and attitude.
"He played the way he trained, he gave wholehearted commitment, the application was tremendous and it was great to see him get a couple of Premier League goals too."
Both manager and player know there are plenty of rough edges to Muamba's game that have to be smoothed.
And had either Bruce or McLeish landed the top-quality central midfielder they both craved at various times, it might have lifted some of the pressure on the rookie.
Joint first-team coach Andy Watson said: "The manager showed a lot of faith in him. There were maybe times he could have been given a wee rest for his own benefit."
And as for Muamba's future, Watson added: "It's a two-way street isn't it? Alex played him and we've made him feel cared for and very much part of it."
Muamba came into his own for Blues around October 2006, when on loan from the Gunners.
"A few of the lads have had an experience of the Championship," said McLeish. "They know what it's all about.
"They showed their quality there, and in the Premier League to be fair.
"I'd like to think they will show it again next season and be all the better for the last couple of seasons.'' www.birminghammail.net/birmingham-sport/birmingham-city-fc/birmingham-city-fc-news/2008/06/10/fabrice-muamba-here-for-long-haul-says-alex-mcleish-97319-21049755/
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Post by itsmorethanagame on Jun 10, 2008 18:54:29 GMT
From that article, it sounds as though Muamba wants a move back to the prem. McCleish clearly doesn't want to lose him and Birmingham probably aren't desperate to sell though.
4m is a lot for a player who isn't the finished article but he is still very young so I guess you would also be paying for his potential and his value is only likely to keep rising.
If Birmingham clearly don't want to sell which McCleish says they don't, it makes things very difficult. However we all know how hard it is to keep a player when he decides he wants to go. And it is becoming more and more evident that we are in the market for a midfield destroyer. We could do a lot worse than Muamba.
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Post by Juan Kerzhoff on Jun 10, 2008 19:13:22 GMT
I'd be happy with Muamba becoming a Stokie dont doubt that he could do a good job for us
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Post by itsmorethanagame on Jun 11, 2008 7:20:38 GMT
Daily Mail now reporting that Bolton are preparing a bid for him with Wigan watching closely.
I wouldn't be surprised to see him leave Brum. Whether we would be in for him and/or have a chance is another thing.
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Post by Danstoke82 on Jun 11, 2008 7:23:16 GMT
I could see him going to Wigan, simply coz of the Brucey link. If we got him then he would be a welcome addition, he is still learning though, so wouldnt you reckon that a seasoned midfielder may be a little better?
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Post by lordb on Jun 11, 2008 8:06:22 GMT
£4m seems like an insane figure but when you see Wolves spending around that on Lafferty then perhaps we have to accept that its the sort of fee we will have to pay for players
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Post by FullerMagic on Jun 12, 2008 23:01:30 GMT
Bolton manager Megson sets sights on Birmingham midfielder Muamba
Bolton manager Gary Megson is holding talks with Birmingham midfielder Fabrice Muamba after agreeing a £3.5million fee.
Megson is determined to add more drive to his midfield and believes the fromer Arsenal youngster can provide it.
The Bolton boss believes the fee could prove to be a bargain price if Muamba, 20, fulfils his true potential.However, Bolton could face competition with Wigan considering a late bid and Stoke also keen.[/i] www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/article-1026126/Megson-sets-sights-Birminghams-Muamba.html
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Post by glouscesterstokie on Jun 13, 2008 8:52:01 GMT
will megson just fuck off our transfer targets please!
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Post by FullerMagic on Jun 13, 2008 14:34:01 GMT
6 million quid???? Fabrice Muamba set to leave Birmingham City for £6m
Jun 13 2008 By Colin Tattum
FABRICE Muamba is set to leave Blues for Bolton Wanderers in a deal worth almost £ 6million.
Blues have decided to cash-in on the England under-21 international in order that Alex McLeish can rejig the team to his liking, whilst at the same time balance the books as best as possible.
With Blues stressing that they will not sell prized assets Sebastian Larsson and James McFadden, interest surrounding Muamba mushroomed.
Wigan Athletic and Reading amongst others registered their admiration, but only Trotters boss Gary Megson has gone as far as tabling an acceptable offer.
Muamba, who cost Blues an initial £2 million from Arsenal last summer after a season-long loan, is expected to hold talks with Bolton over the weekend.
Blues agreed a £5 million downpayment with a further £750,000 in add-ons for Muamba. Arsenal are due a 30 per cent cut of the fee.
McLeish has admitted that he might have to make a ‘sacrifice’ in order to generate funds following Premier League relegation.
For him and the board Larsson and McFadden are off-limits, so it was perhaps inevitable that clubs would to try prise Muamba from St Andrew’s.
McLeish has brought in Lee Carsley on a Bosman free transfer from Everton to provide quality, leadership and character from the central area in the Championship next season.
But once the Bolton deal has been concluded he will use some of the money to try to sign a replacement for Muamba, probably a different style of player to the Congo-born 20-year-old.
Having taken up the option on Mehdi Nafti’s contract and with Damien Johnson remaining on the books, Blues are well stocked for combative, defensively-minded midfielders, of which Muamba is one.
Muamba’s rumbustious, hard-running performances this season - his first in the top-flight - made him a fierce opponent.
But those attributes were at times offset by a lack of composure and poor distribution, qualities that McLeish wants improved throughout his team.
So he intends to look for a schemer with craft, who is comfortable receiving and passing the ball like Carsley in order to boost Blues attacking potency further.
Muamba won Blues young player-of-the-season award in 2006-07, when he forced his way into the side and became a regular, and helped Blues to promotion as Championship runners-up.
His loan from Arsenal was made permanent and he was called-up for his first England under-21 cap.
This season he missed just one Premier League game and scored twice, his first professional goals.
[/i] www.birminghammail.net/birmingham-sport/birmingham-city-fc/birmingham-city-fc-news/2008/06/13/fabrice-muamba-set-to-leave-birmingham-city-for-6m-97319-21069771/
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Post by stokecity4eva on Jun 13, 2008 14:37:51 GMT
glad we didnt go in for him he aint worth 6 mill
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Post by FullerMagic on Jun 13, 2008 16:02:02 GMT
It does seem a great deal for Birmingham - but Megson must think he's got bags of potential.
Just shows you don't seem to get much for 6m these days.
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