Benjani

Benny (05/02/2008)

Born Unlucky (05/02/2008)

Benny (05/02/2008)

Labmonkey (05/02/2008)

I understand it too, but only if we had genuinely and deliberately screwed them over, which I don't feel we've done. Had the medical gone ahead earlier, the issue of his knee would have been brought to light in plenty of time and we'd have been well within our rights to renegotiate (analogous to making an offer on a house 'subject to survey'). We may have ultimatelybenefitted from the fact that the deal ran out of time by being in a strong bargaining position, but Portsmouth should have made sure he got to us in plenty of time - unless they deliberately left it late to try and cover up the potential problem to get the full price for him, of course. How many times have we posted that 'I'll drive him there myself' when one of our surplus players is linked with another club? Why would we do that? To facilitate the move and make sure it all goes through as smoothly and as quickly as possible. Portsmouth should have taken equivalent precautions if they wanted to sell him, and they certainly played their part in the botched deal, but the outcome would quite possibly have been the same even if they had.

And that is what I suspect. And as I said, they could always have said no-wasn't 'arry saying he'd be delighted to have him back?

Which brings me back tomy secondpoint. If we haven't screwed them over and, as you and I suspect, 'arry is happy enough with the deal, why are people cooing over some sort of victory over him? Makes us look like fools it does.

We can't have it both ways.

You're right. I just think we got a decent deal, they accepted, so we haven't got a big victory over pompey, but seems like a good deal. I guess there's a fair amount of Anti-Pompeyness.

I want it both ways though.

Don't think we are Cooing over this, but I for one was a bit unhappy with the £9m price tag which came down to £7.6m but in any event this is too much for a player like Benjani IMHO.

I am happy that we have got the player for £3.7m which is more reasonable and lets ace it, I reckon he will never hit 50 games with us let alone 75 unless he is an absolute barnstorming success becuase if he is just OK he will be moved on and sold and replaced by better quality in the summer. I see him as a quick fix for this season until Sven can do a deal for another top quality striker in the close season.

I gave Elano my Porsche and now I want it back!

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