Often Partisan

Replacing Adeyemi

The Birmingham Mail confirmed last night that Tom Adeyemi will be on his way to Cardiff – possibly today, pending a medical – for a fee in excess of £1million with add-ons and a sell on fee on top of that. It all seems a bit quick after having rejected a transfer request we are selling the 22-year-old vice-captain but the truth appears to be that it was always on the cards as Cardiff have lodged several bids for last season’s young player of the year at the club.

I talked yesterday about how I felt about the impending departure of Adeyemi; nothing has changed my mind in the twenty-four hours since and the fact we will receive a seven figure sum for him despite there only being a year left on his deal and Blues continuing financial situation says to me that the club was in a better position to bargain. It’s also vindication for Clark that he can get transfers right; signed on a Bosman last year all money received for Adeyemi represents a transfer profit and I think it proves that if we can pick up some rough diamonds and polish them up we’re better off bringing in Bosmans than loaning kids from Premier League teams.

The big question I think now is where do we go from here. Clark will want to bring in someone and I think the club will need to make a show that they are prepared to spend at least some of the money received from this deal; with maybe as much as a million more coming from the “heavy sell on fee” that Pannu negotiated when selling Jordon Mutch to Cardiff a couple of seasons back in addition to the money saved from Adeyemi’s wages there has to be room for Blues to pay a fee and wages for someone who could slot into the side the same way as Adeyemi has.

I’ve heard rumours that Clark has got ideas who he would like to bring in; I have no doubt having seen our transfer activity over the first part of the close season he’ll have done his homework on who he likes with different players for different budgets; the question is now can he bring someone in to slot into the side to fill the gap that Adeyemi’s departure leaves. I will be honest and say that as much as paying money for someone is a statement of intent I’m more concerned we bring in the right player rather than paying money just because we can; I’d be more impressed with a free signing of someone with hints of youth, drive and quality than paying for an old lag because they bring “an experienced head” into the mix.

One thing is for sure – I don’t think this sale represents anything that will keep BIH “clinging on”. Blues were absolutely nowhere near admin at any point this summer and I had been assured that the finances looked okay; I know some have expressed dismay that money will “disappear back to HK” or that “it will give Carson a reason to hold on” but I think that it would take much more than the sale of a young midfielder to make the club a cash cow again. Lets hope that this doesn’t disrupt plans for the team for Saturday overly much and Blues can continue their fine pre-season form when the “real ball comes out” ((c) Steve Bruce) at the Riverside.

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243 Responses to “Replacing Adeyemi”

  • Thongs says:

    Still feeling that positivity?

  • Richard Granfield says:

    IMO There should be no rush to sign a replacement for Adeyemi. We have a number of players in the squad who can fit into the holding midfielder role……Reilly, Lee, Edgar, Spector and Gleeson.
    Clark is hamstrung by the fact that the club can only offer a maximum of £5k per week salary. Thereby only being able to target League 1 players.
    Clark has described Adeyemi as a Premier League player, but he was on League 1 wages, no wonder he jumped at the chance to quadruple his wages.

  • Staffs Blue says:

    We have a ready made holding midfielder in Edgar. With either Gleeson or Brown alongside him, and the likes of Reilly and Spector too, we’re not desperate. So Lee Clark can take his time and get the right man. Maybe Clark will go for that left-sided midfielder now.

    • Richard Granfield says:

      Staffs…..I agree with you, but I have doubts about the tackling capability of Brown and his physicality, which is vital for a defensive midfielder.

    • tmsblues says:

      Absolutely right, and don’t wade in and upset the squad till it is clearly lacking such a replacement and don’t over pay unless it is for a clear leader but I doubt one is available at our price.

    • Geoff S says:

      Staffs.

      I am having problems getting comments through (see above) so I have asked Daniel if he knows what is going on.

      • Staffs Blue says:

        I did mention the other day that I wondered if Mr Ivery could have a word to TPTB about it.

        • Geoff S says:

          Mr Ivery has e-mailed to say he is snowed under right now so I don’t want to put unfair pressure on him.

          However, at least four different “posters” have indicated a problem somewhere.

          • Staffs Blue says:

            I suppose it will be resolved eventually. But there seems to be no rhyme nor reason for which posts go through and which are deleted. Poor system tbh.

          • Geoff S says:

            I am very far from being an IT whizz kid but could the problem be related to this Disqus set-up?

          • Staffs Blue says:

            Has to be in my opinion. I sign in using Disqus.

      • Raymondo says:

        I tried repeatedly to get a comment through yesterday but absolutely nothing happened when I pressed the little red google square. Today it is working, as it did before yesterday.. Very stange. Maybe it was Google’s fault. Anyway, I meant to say that I don’t blame TA for leaving. A players career is only short, and it might be shorter than he thinks because of a bad injury. When TF left for Nottingham Forest nobody blamed him, although it did take Forest three years to pay the money. They paid in instalments!

        • Staffs Blue says:

          But TF had given 9 great year’s service to the club, so deserved to better himself.

          • Raymondo says:

            Good point, Staffs Blue but I still feel that every player needs to earn as much as he can whilst his career lasts. They then have the rest of their life to do something else. Clubs will sell a player if and when it suits them so the player has the right to leave when it suits him. It works both ways. Generally spoeaking, it’s only club officials and supporters who stay with the club for life. Like us! KRO

          • Staffs Blue says:

            Even at £5k p/w, a player should be able to not waste it and put enough aside for his retirement and live comfortably. I’m sure most people would be more than happy with £5k p/w, so there’s no way I’ll ever feel sorry for players. In the lower leagues, it’s slightly different, they earn a lot less… but even £1/2k p/w is a decent wage compared to most people.

    • dave mann says:

      no panic here staffs thats for sure. KRO.

  • Agent McLeish says:

    Based on the previous club accounts the £1m for Adeyemi equates to the cost of Pannu’s ‘services’ for a year. Puts it into perspective really.

  • Gary says:

    How is it Cardiff get five million for Mutch who is average at best yet blues are willing to sell adeyemi for a million our club is a complete joke they should be demanding at least 3/4 million they are total idiots that run blues.

    • dave mann says:

      its the situation were in gary. KRO.

      • Gary says:

        I don’t agree Dave if Cardiff want him that bad blues could up the price they use the situation we are in as an excuse to let these players go if these teams want the player they will pay more.

        • Geoff S says:

          Well said, Gary. It looks very much as though somebody at Blues has weakly capitulated over this Adeyemi affair (a refusal of Cardiff’s offer and Adeyemi’s transfer request yesterday morning yet an acceptance within about 12 hours seems to be yet another reflection of what the club’s owners are about).

          Do we know if there were any actual negotiations and do we know if anybody on the Blues side of things actually insisted on at least being tough and sticking out for the best deal that could be had?

          • Staffs Blue says:

            Depending on what the add ons and sell-on fee amount to, the deal would probably be about right. We brought him in on a Bosman… and one season in the Championship hasn’t made him into a £3/4m player. Between £1/2 million would be about the going rate I would think.

          • dave mann says:

            I was a bit out with my valuation yesterday staffs but as you said its all profit and lets just hope he gets a little of it to get that left sided player we need because we certainly don’t need another holding midfielder. KRO.

          • Geoff S says:

            All the details surrounding Tom Adeyemi are not in the public domain but we do know Blues did their “”no – yes” interlude in the space of about 12 hours and that rankles because it suggests Blues rolled over too easily.

          • Staffs Blue says:

            From the moment the first offer came in, everyone knew he was on his way. The rest is stuff and nonsense.

          • dave mann says:

            propably not but its all profit so ime not that bothered to bo honest. KRO.

          • Geoff S says:

            Do you mean you are not bothered about how the club is being run by those at the very top?

          • dave mann says:

            not bothered one bit about the owners who run the club from the very top Geoff correct…..they don’t care about us all I care about is BCFC ..were still be here when there long gone mate so don’t give a damn. KRO.

          • Geoff S says:

            You did say in a previous posting that these owners don’t know anything about the game (and you were right to).

            Surely there should be concern by all Blues fans about owners who neither know nor care about football because this can lead to clubs being run right into the ground and sometimes worse by cynical businessmen whose eyes are bigger than their bank balances…

          • dave mann says:

            very true. KRO.

          • Chris W says:

            Well put Dave, it is the supporters who are BCFC not a group of cronies in Hong Kong.
            Since 1961 I have seen a few new owners come and go but I am still here.
            KRO+DNM

        • dave mann says:

          the thing is Gary there frightened of loosing the deal so to up the anty might frighten Cardiff off, I agree that we should get more but weve got plenty of cover there so they took what they could so not to drag the saga on and get some one else in….propably a left sided midfielder before kick off Saturday if possible….if not then later nextweek. KRO.

          • Gary says:

            I know where you are coming from Dave but you don’t agree to the first offer most of the players we have sold have been for ridiculous prices we should have got double for them our owners are woeful when it’s comes to selling players.

          • Geoff S says:

            That is the point I have been trying to make, Gary, although for “woeful”, I’d put “a disgrace”.

          • Gary says:

            I agree Geoff well said mate.

          • Staffs Blue says:

            It wasn’t the first offer. Cardiff kept coming back with increased offers from what I’ve read.

          • Gary says:

            They obviously didn’t offer very much I million is pathetic like I said Mutch went for five million and he’s average at best yet we let one of our so called good young prospects go for 1 million it doesn’t matter what state the club is in if anything if we are in a mess we should be trying to get as much as possible yet we roll over for a measly million it’s crazy.

          • Staffs Blue says:

            Mutch is a better player than Adeyemi. But, as I said earlier, we bought Adeyemi on a Bosman and could receive up to £2m profit for an average player. Not bad imo.

          • Gary says:

            I agree Staffs Mutch is better than Adeyemi but he’s not worth five million in my opinion Adeyemi isn’t that good a player but if Mutch is worth five Adeyemi has got to be worth at least three.

          • Staffs Blue says:

            Mutch isn’t worth much more than £3/4m, but he’s had a season in the Prem now, so that puts £1/1.5m on straight away.

            Adeyemi has potential.. but the trouble is, potential isn’t tangible. Potential is the future and you can’t really put an exact price on the future. That’s why they have add-ons and sell-on fees. For a player brought on a Bosman, with only one season in the Championship behind him… I think we’ll do okay out of the deal in the long run.

          • river says:

            who is staffs mutch?

          • Geoff S says:

            He lives up the road from Gary River.

          • Tony says:

            Gary Mutch is far better than Adeyemi, I saw Mutch a couple of times last season and he looks the real deal.
            Adeyemi has a good engine but not much else.

          • Guest says:

            who is gary mutch?

          • dave mann says:

            I think he meant to say Gary, mutch is far better than adeyemi in response to Garys post…forgot the comer.KRO.

          • Tony says:

            yep forgot the coma

          • The Timms says:

            Who is Gary Mutch?

          • Geoff S says:

            Is he related to Tony Jordan?

          • dave mann says:

            your right Gary but these owners don’t no the value of players because they don’t know anything about the game…we should have doubled what weve sold over the last 2/3 years, you know that and I know that but the sooner these lot of gone the better for all of us. KRO.

          • Gary says:

            Well said Dave

          • Geoff S says:

            I don’t always agree with what you say, Dave, but your point about the current BCFC owners not knowing anything about the game is BANG ON!

          • dave mann says:

            i think weve all got the picture on that front Geoff….theyve got no idea what so ever about the running of a football club and were not always gonna agree on everything are we…..how boring would that be!!!. KRO.

          • Oldbluenose says:

            Which is the reason that we want the club sold, — Please.

          • Chris W says:

            If I am hearing right, Cardiff but in an offer early last week sometime, which was a water tester which was refused. They put in another Monday morning which was again refused, they came back Monday afternoon after TA had but in a transfer request, this was then accepted. So Cardiff have actually put in 4 offers counting the one in May.

            I think he will be regretting his decision as I don’t think Cardiff will be contesting for a play-off place come May, in fact I would probably put money on us being above them, if I was a betting man.
            KRO+DNM

          • Oldbluenose says:

            Chris W;, He is water under the bridge now mate.

          • Chris W says:

            True, I am a little behind today so catching up on the gossip.
            I answer as I read them so sometimes I put something that as already been said, but I try to answer in my own words before I read other comments.
            KRO+DNM

        • Tony says:

          We have to remember he had only a year left on his contract, next summer he could have left for nothing, in fact his value would have diminished from here on in.
          Around a million is decent business lets hope that money goes into team strenghening not Pannus pocket.

        • Steve says:

          difficult when he only has 1 year left.Better a million now than nothing next year.

    • Julian Glass says:

      Mutch is good player. Far far better than Adeyemi.

    • Steve says:

      Tbf,Mutch has improved since going to Cardiff.Going on today’s prices that’s about right.

  • Geoff S says:

    Daniel.

    I know you are very busy but Disqus (or something similar) seems to be “waiting” or blocking comments posted by Staffs Blue, OldBlueNose and myself. I am assured by Staffs and OBN that nothing inappropriate is being submitted by them and there is no reason to doubt that. I too am now having comments put on “waiting” and don’t know why.

    I believe some comments are being deleted altogether. Any ideas?

  • tmsblues says:

    I am pleased it is a done deal and quickly, isn’t it amazing what a few hours can make… Clark rejected offers and a request, told him he should stay and do better for himself and within 24 hours everything is agreed! Now, I think Clark who is impulsive by nature, should take his time. He may have around £1,5m in fees and wages available but everyone at the club more or less except one or two like Spector and Robinson maybe, is capped at around £5k pw (though I think Donaldson got a bit more according to reports). Would it be sensible at this early stage to upset the squad morale by ‘splashing cash ‘ it never offered to them? So unless this signing (if its needed but he should try Edgar first) is not going to be an immediate demander of respect for his proven qualities from the rest of the squad then it should be ‘proceed with caution’ at this stage.

    • Staffs Blue says:

      Clark has done pretty well this summer with his acquisitions for nothing. So, if he were to be given (up to) £250,000, he could find a slightly better quality player to fit into the group. I doubt he’d get much more than that, but it’s far more than he’s had previously.

  • chudlt says:

    At least it safeguards pannu’s salary fothe next year.

  • Chris W says:

    It is strange how quick things turned around in less than 12 hours.
    We as the selling club surely held all the aces, Adeyemi was still in contract so we could and should have pushed up the price.
    Not much knowledge on putting a valuation on a player but I would say TA was worth at least £2 mill now with potentially raising to 5 or 6m, even more if Mutch rose to 7m.

    With the summer signing I think we have plenty of options in midfield and I did question whether Adeyemi and Edgars could play together, Edgar can now slot straight into Adeyemi’s role which gives someone the opportunity to step up, the question is who wants to take it?
    Reece Brown, looks promising but I noticed against Nots C, when they got a little physical he was easily pushed off the ball, Callum Reilly, then their is Cotterill, Gleeson or Spector.
    I think LC can be patient and see how things go without rushing in a new player.
    Pity Huws has gone to Wigan as he would have been an ideal replacement.
    KRO+DNM

    • Geoff S says:

      Chris. I strongly concur with you about the 12 hour thing re Adeyemi and how badly Blues handled the whole affair. The buck has to stop at the door of the club’s directors.

      • Art says:

        Problem is you never get any information and in some cases the true from this board -everything they do seems to be underhand and never transparent .

        They are awful people who don’t deserve the support or the good will of the hardworking fans.

        • Staffs Blue says:

          Imo, the way the club has handled this transfer, is par for the course. Name one player they’ve sold, where they’ve been upfront from the start and negotiated the best price possible? No… I can’t either.

      • Julian Glass says:

        It will be undisclosed, but they won’t mind the rumours of £1m if the price is nearer £2m for obvious reasons.

  • Charlie Woodward says:

    A little frustrated to be honest, TA was released by Norwich as was not considered good enough, when signed by LC he said he was grateful for the chance and faith shown in him. A year later after blues have developed him and gave him chance to shine, his head is turned by first sign of interest, complete lack of respect and loyalty. I hope he sits on cardiff’s bench and after a few years is sold to a league 1 side for a nominal fee. I glad he has gone, we have made money on him and if he does well and sold on like mutch then we will get more. I don’t blame him, triple my wages and I will be gone, but what is most annoying is the timing. Cardiff placed first bid end of may? Why wait 4 days before season starts after LC has spent the whole summer training and preparing to have him in the side? If he wanted to go, why not hand a request in in may? By now we would had a replacement and that player would of had time to settle and gel with the team. Just wish his timing was better and I was told TA was clever, well if he that clever, he would of listened to LC and waited another year, played a bigger part this year, improved more and next year secured an even bigger money move to a prem team. Karma goes around, what if we got promoted and Cardiff don’t and TA does not really get a look in their? He would have some regrets then.

    Now replacements, is frimpong still without a club? He is class if time was spent with him. Any got any gossip on any signings??

    • Chris Cullen says:

      Well said can’t believe these so called blue noses saying “I WOULD DO THE SAME” if some one puts faith in you when no one else would and give you a chance have a bit of respect could have been a big name at the blues instead of a fringe player at Cardiff and I know you are not a pro footballer for long that’s why I’d rather play week in week out instead of sitting on a bench KRO

      • Steve says:

        ” So called blue noses” Who are you to question who is and who isn’t a blue nose ? Adeyemi isn’t good enough to be a big name anywhere. He has no affinity to this club. Maybe he sees more chance playing in the prem with them than us. Atm,thats true. As i said before “IT’S A JOB”

        • Shirley Blue says:

          Adeyemi was nothing special especially in front of goal. I think anything in excess of £1m was good business and I would imagine will do wonders for our cash flow . Good luck to him he has probably at least doubled his wages

  • Staffs Blue says:

    Lee Clark needs to hang back for a while before bringing in a replacement. Let the players he already has know that he trusts them to do the job… give them confidence.

    If, by the end of the window, it looks like we need another body in there, so be it. Go out and get one. But I don’t think we’re desperate atm.

  • Chris Cullen says:

    I think what you said about tom and that you don’t blame him moving on for better wages
    and the chance to be playing at the right end of the table is wrong tell that to all the kids
    who had his name on the back of there shirts like my son who don’t want to wear the shirt now
    with his name on it all the people at bcfc that put faith in him when know one else would picked him of the scrap heap and and give him a chance all the people who have brought season tickets thinking Clark was building a good team to compete where is the loyalty in this once great game !!!!!!!

    • Staffs Blue says:

      Is the shirt new? I wonder if you could claim a refund.

      • dave mann says:

        the blues shop give refunds…..never in a million years!!! KRO.

        • Staffs Blue says:

          Dunno. I haven’t been in the Blues Shop since it was a pokey little shed on Cattell Road… around nineteen hundred and frozen to death. Anything I want my son gets on his account. :-)

      • Peter Dedicoat says:

        Wouldn’t it be nice if, as a goodwill gesture, the club offered to replace free of charge shirts with Adeyemi’s name on them. That would have to be just 2014/15 shirts and I’m sure it wouldn’t cost very much in the context of transfer money currently flowing in.

    • Steve says:

      I don’t blame him going for more money.It’s his job,it’s a short career and he has to make as much money as he can.I thought fans would have realised now that players are not fans of the club,they’re employees. Most people would change jobs for more money.

      • dave mann says:

        ofcourse they would steve its just that some fans think that because he was given the vice- captaincy that hes obliged to stay…utter nonsence most of us would do exactly the same if we did not have an allegiance to Birmingham…he hasent so its his decision and good luck to him….though to be fair I don’t think were miss him to much. KRO.

        • Steve says:

          I don’t think we’ll miss him either Dave. I just don’t understand people’s shock and disgust when a player dares to leave.

          • Geoff S says:

            Players will always come and go but what struck me was how Blues were very firm in saying “No” yesterday morning but within 12 hours had done a complete about-face.

          • Oldbluenose says:

            2nd, thoughts, perhaps,?.

          • Geoff S says:

            Hmm…Such a public about-face in such a short space of time doesn’t look good, though. Perhaps we may never know the full story.

          • Steve says:

            They obviously realised after talks that they were wasting their time.

          • Geoff S says:

            But didn’t think of that before? Professionalism it ain’t…

          • Chris W says:

            We should have learnt by now one thing the Blues board isn’t is Professional, not even a close Amateurish, more incompetent and shambolic.
            KRO+DNM

          • Geoff S says:

            Agreed, but without professionalism at every level BCFC is at best doomed to drift aimlessly and that is criminal in my eyes.

          • Chris W says:

            Thankfully those who are working hard behind the scenes to keep us afloat are professional in everything they do, the board would do well to watch and learn.
            KRO+DNM

          • dave mann says:

            especially the way things are at the moment with wages and stability…fans should just brush it off and support those that stay, play and want to come to us, the past is the past. KRO.

          • Chris W says:

            I don’t think we will miss him either, we have plenty of players that can fill midfield and Edgar is a holding midfielder anyway.
            I don’t think it is disgust because he is leaving, I think it is more the manner he went about it and the fact the club did a U-turn inside 12 hours.
            KRO+DNM

          • Geoff S says:

            Chris. With you all the way with the 12 hour u-turn/about-face. Something not right.

      • Chris Cullen says:

        Steve I’m not shocked and I do understand why he has left and no he hasn’t any ties with
        Birmingham but I’m still disappointed that when no one else wanted him Clark gave him a chance and made him better of course I would move jobs for move money but I’m not on 4k a week hope Cardiff do a wolves and go down again and then see where he end up
        And Steve like I said all them kids I seen saturday wearing his name on there shirts I know it’s not fair on him but he is a rollmodel for our kids and he should of given blues another year at least I don’t think we will miss him he can’t pass a ball but that’s not the point

        • Staffs Blue says:

          The last club that “stole” one of our players is now back in the champs… and the manager who took him is no longer in work. I know I shouldn’t feel smug, but… :-)

        • Steve says:

          Why would you allow your kids to use a footballer as a role model ? There are a lot better role models out there. Should be parents they look up to.

          • Chris Cullen says:

            Who are you to tell kids who should and who shouldn’t be roll models lol if i did or if I did’t want my kids to use footballs as roll models I couldn’t stop them plus 1 plays for the academy u14s and they all looks up to the first team KRO

          • Steve says:

            Stop em before it’s too late:). Ok Chris,so your boy breaks into the first team and he earns £10 k a week. He comes home one night and says Cardiff want to sign him and pay him £20 k a week. What would you do ? Also,if they thought he wasn’t good enough they wouldn’t think twice about getting rid of him. Where’s the loyalty there?

  • Oldbluenose says:

    The first thing I have to say about T,A. is that we do not know yet what has taken place behind the scenes, !!. — BUT, if the guy wanted to go, then let him, as keeping him in the reserves for spite means we have a rotten apple in the barrel which we do not want, ?.
    Second is, — That whatever fee we receive is pure profit so let us accept that, !!.
    Thirdly, — We have enough alternatives at present not to panic, so let us see how it pans out, Eh,!!.
    Lastly, — we also made an extra £800, grand off Mutch, [ not enough ] but better than nowt,

  • Oldburyblue says:

    I think LC has played a blinder in bulling Adeyemi up for the last 12 months. I realise that it can be hard for us fans to appreciate the work done by players like Adeyemi, but I honestly don’t think he will be missed.

  • Richard Granfield says:

    A lesson to learn in the Adeyemi saga is for the club to protect its interests regarding key players. There is no need for the whole squad to be on the same money. If a player proves his worth then it should be recognised with an improved contract.
    My current concerns are how vulnerable players such as Gray and Brown are to predatory offers.

    • Oldbluenose says:

      Richard G;, I understand where you are coming from mate, but the big problem for us is, — H,K, still own us, — Wages were a necessary control needed until ownership is changed, Until that happens, we have to live with it, like it or not, [ I do not like it myself ].

    • Cleggy says:

      There’s no lesson to learn, everybody at the club would have liked to compete with what Cardiff offered Tom but we can’t afford to offer improved contracts can we? Even with his sale and Mutch’s sell on fee we’re not in a position to offer contractual enhancements. Until significant investment takes place we will continue to lose players to clubs like Cardiff. It’s tough but there it is.

  • Jazzzy786 says:

    As a club with little money we need to be prudent with it. We have lots of midfielders who can take the mantle. I think Lee Clark will play Caddis in the DM role. That could work nicely as Caddis is seen as a ‘legend’ after last season and he does like to run forward.

  • Oldbluenose says:

    Has the world come to an end, !!!!.
    We have bought or sold anyone in this last few hours, — Chuckle.

  • Paul Burke says:

    When things are all said and done then yes it is all profit made. But for me this does not sweeten the sour taste left behind by losing Tom to a club like Cardiff and on an incentive that what basically looks like just more money for the boy… That said, the more I think about it the happier I am that he has gone, if money really is that big a deal to him, more than it was to wear our shirt and play for our club then good riddance to him.

    • Staffs Blue says:

      Imo, if Adeyemi thinks Cardiff are a bigger club, then he doesn’t have much ambition. So it must be the money.

      • Paul Burke says:

        I agree Staffs Blue. I know we are not exactly one of the big boys but he hasn’t exactly taken a leap forward with this in terms of his career.

      • Geoff S says:

        Just a few years ago players such as Chris Burke and Roger Johnson were happy to come TO Blues FROM Cardiff. Much of the depressing reversal in comparative fortunes needs to be laid at the door of those who currently occupy the directors’ positions at St Andrew’s….

      • Chris W says:

        Must admit it is not a city I would choose and I have been a round quite a few including Cardiff.
        KRO+DNM

        • Staffs Blue says:

          I think the best thing about Cardiff… is the Doctor Who Experience. My daughter and Granddaughter loved it last week.

          • Geoff S says:

            Can you still get a drop of Brains (beer) there?

          • Chris W says:

            Brains in Cardiff is akin to Guinness in Dublin, though a Guinness man myself I don’t mind the odd pint of Brains, they do a mean stout.
            KRO+DNM

          • Geoff S says:

            Good man, Chris.

          • Chris W says:

            Heard its pretty good my grandson went the other week or it might have been last week.
            I’m down that way Friday in Swansea, but I get to Cardiff quite often too.
            KRO+DNM

          • Staffs Blue says:

            You can give Adeyemi a lift then. Wonder if you’d get a tip? Probably “Never buy a shirt with your favourite’s name on…. he could be off tomorrow.” :-D

          • Chris W says:

            I’ll charge him double now he can afford it,
            Never been one to have a players name on a shirt, they rarely stay long enough, especially at Blues.
            I think this is the first season we have actually had eleven players to choose from, oops, sorry 10 :-)
            KRO+DNM

  • Geoff S says:

    I have just looked the articles in this morning’s “Mail” concerning how Lee Clark and the board have said they did all they could to persuade Tom Adeyemi’s agents that the player should stay at the club.

    It was insisted that Adeyemi and his family wanted to move on (which maybe true). However, if this is the case, why did he accept the vice-captaincy of Blues only a few days earlier?

    • Staffs Blue says:

      Exactly what I said yesterday. No matter, we’re well rid of players like that. Let’s hope Lee Clark manages to bring in at least one more decent player.

      • Oldbluenose says:

        Staffs/ Geoff S;, He obviously has ” eyes-only ” for his own future, and the vice-captain position meant nothing to him, !!.
        Better he has gone now, He obviously had no heart for us, ?.

        • Staffs Blue says:

          First and foremost, Lee Clark has to insert either Gleeson, Brown, Shinnie or Reilly into the vacant spot, then maybe promote another promising player from the DvS. Meanwhile, he can be looking around for a decent quality player to bring in. If one can’t be found, the prem sides have loads of spare players… and a season long loan would do.

        • dave mann says:

          you look after no 1 oldbluenose, his futures more important to him than sticking around with us…hes not a brummie so is heart obviously wasent with us….hes not obliged to stay, end off. KRO.

      • Geoff S says:

        Ultimately, if a player really does want away, the only thing the parent club can do is dig in hard for the best deal with hard negotiating and that’s where I agree with Chris W inasmuch as it looks like the board rolled over too easily with Adeyemi (where the same could surely also be said about other players who have left Blues in the recent past).

  • Staffs Blue says:

    Adeyemi deal now completed. 3 year ‘contract.’

    • Staffs Blue says:

      Adeyemi “informed manager Lee Clark of his strong desire to further his career elsewhere.” Nothing to do with money of course.

    • Chris W says:

      Just heard it on the radio on my drive home. they also said that the club and LC had done everything in their powers to keep him. The club could have easily said no to a measly offer of £1 million, makes you wonder what the first 3 offers were worth.
      If Cardiff were that keen on him they would have upped the price to at least £1.5m and then add-ons should push the total up to at least £3 m.

      • Oldbluenose says:

        Chris mate, No point in trying to keep a bloke who does not want to be here any longer, He would turn into a bad-apple, and spoil the atmosphere,
        A million quid and add-ons, and he was a freebie to us, ?.

        • Chris W says:

          I agree with what you are saying, it just annoys me that players or clubs do not honour their contracts. I just don’t go for the lame excuses either, Savage was proved wrong when the maths of his mileage excuse came out.
          If it had been a Premier club I could understand it, but Cardiff were a poor Premier side and I doubt they will be anymore than average in the Championship.
          KRO+DNM

      • Julian Glass says:

        Look at Panos’ CV. He is one smart cookie. We got a good deal from this I’m sure. It does us good to keep the public valuation believably low

      • Geoff S says:

        Chris.

        I think you are right re the board rolling over too easily here (see reply comment just below which I sent to Staffs).

  • Staffs Blue says:

    When the likes of Redmond and Butland went, everyone was rightly peed off, because (apparently) neither wanted to leave. For a player like Adeyemi, who WANTED to leave, after all we’ve done for him, he can leave for nowt as far as I’m concerned.

  • Staffs Blue says:

    Talking of Redmond, with clubs like Everton making wide men a priority, I’m surprised no one has taken a punt on Redders.

    • Geoff S says:

      Nathan Redmond could have still been a Blues players if the club was owned by people who knew what football was all about in this city.

      • Staffs Blue says:

        I don’t think anyone would disagree with that.

      • dave mann says:

        they took the money because we were desperate and he was wanted,
        nathan would have stayed but was told he had to go….unfortunate but its nice to see him back in the championship again. KRO.

        • Geoff S says:

          And how did the club become so financially desperate?

          • dave mann says:

            because of the owners incompetence and the fact as dan as said many times on here that we needed cash flow to pay wages…redmonds fee helped that so he had to go weather or not hes a brummie and what we think in this city to him leaving…..and with carsons assetts being frozen and BIHL having none themselves propably did not help either……to be honest i prefer damari gray anyway so ime not loosing any sleep over it and neither should you. KRO. LOL.

      • mark says:

        and maybe the bright lights of the premiership didn’t entice him….

    • mark says:

      he been a naughty boy??

  • mark says:

    i believe Clark will find equally or better than Tom, kro

  • mark says:

    Well – done Clark keep finding those diamonds…….

    • Geoff S says:

      What about when this board then sells these ‘diamonds’ on the cheap?

      • mark says:

        geoff the player himself want to go nothing to do with the board, no point keeping unhappy player once he handed in his transfer.
        Morally you maybe right regarding the price…..be he need to be moved on quickly for the greater team spirit…..

        • Geoff S says:

          I agree that a player who wants away badly enough will go and I also think your point about not letting unsettled and unhappy players hang around for too long because that can upset wider team spirit is fair enough.

          However, I do not agree that this had nothing to do with the board and somebody at Blues has rolled over too readily here and that is a sign of weakness.

          • Staffs Blue says:

            This is where I disagree with some people. I think we got a good deal for Adeyemi. He was an average player who cost us nowt and we’ve sold him on for a million plus add-ons and a sell-on fee. We were never going to get the £3/4m that some people think we should have got.

            Also, what if we’d have tried to bump up the fee, Cardiff refused to budge, then went looking elsewhere? We’re then left with an unsettled player, who could possibly have been booed every game he played. Nah, I think we’ve got the best end of the deal.

          • Geoff S says:

            I can see some of your points but, when it is becoming more and more commonplace to see fairly ordinary players being transferred for fees several times what Blues let Adeyemi go for, why didn’t those responsible at the club stick out for double what they accepted?

            Cardiff may have initially refused to budge, but that club has financial clout and they WANTED Adeyemi.

          • dave mann says:

            weve been through this before Geoff, there week, skint, and will take any offer given thats got seven figures, its not what we wanted but lets forget it and move on to saturdays game at middlesbro…cant wait!!! KRO.

          • Staffs Blue says:

            We got a million plus for an average player who cost us nowt a year ago. We’ve also got a settled squad with no bad apples. It’s win-win for us. We move on.

          • Chas says:

            Geof, sorry to labour a point , but you dont know what Blues got. You don’t know the deal, so how can you make comments like yours ?

          • mark says:

            agreed staffs:) it was also reported that both Clark and the board were in agreement regarding the player staying…..once that transfer is handed in for whatever reason it down to the best deal for the club……

          • mark says:

            equally it will be interesting to know the the sell- on clause put in…….probably the same as mutch??

          • Geoff S says:

            How can you say Blues have got the best deal re Tom Adeyemi when you don’t even know the details of the sell-on clause? I don’t think your argument makes sense.

            That said, I feel you and I will not agree.

          • mark says:

            my points were my own opinion geoff, i am no more wiser than you regarding contracts…. how do know equally its not the best deal for bcfc….just because cardiff got 24mil in the kitty..
            means absolutely nothing… again most fans thought tom was an average player but Clark felt if he stayed worked hard with us the potential to go on to the premiership later on in his career. one season wonder with us…. so yes imo best deal for bcfc…..regarding whether you agree with me that’s entirely up to you mate….kro

          • Geoff S says:

            I think that is an example of what John Cleese’s legendary Basil Fawlty character once called “the b****ing obvious”.

          • Steve says:

            The only person that ever agrees with Mark is Mark

          • dave mann says:

            i was one of them staffs but its a good deal for everyone so lets move on and look forward…hes gone, end off. KRO.

          • Chas says:

            Agree with that ,Staffs.

          • Chris W says:

            In principal I agree with you.
            Where I think we differ: If Blues had held out for more cash and Cardiff had gone elsewhere I believe TA would have looked silly and forced to eat humble pie. Going on our poor performance at home last season, the fans never turned on the players, even the really bad ones, so I don’t think they would have boo’d TA.
            I genuinely hope with all the add ons and sell on fee we get at least another Million, if not more.
            Just got home 03.00 and have to be back on the road at 09.00 tomorrow before returning home to a surprise Birthday bash I am not suppose to know about, hence being banned from going to the Borough match, and I might be a tad inebriated come Sunday to read or answer comments,I hope anyway.
            To those going enjoy and give a cheer from me, to the lads, give us a birthday present of three points, to everyone else enjoy your day.
            KRO+DNM

          • Staffs Blue says:

            I would differ on two of your points Chris. 1) When was the last time you saw a player feel silly and eat humble pie? 2) Yes, the fans didn’t turn on the players for losing games….. but asking to leave and forcing the issue is a totally different matter.

            3) Happy birthday mate. :-)

          • Chris W says:

            Point Taken Staffs. It was 3 am and after a near 400 mile drive, I was trying to unwind and think rationally, not the ideal I know.
            Thanks for the Birthday thoughts, I am off to a meeting now and doubt if I shall see a pc till sometime tomorrow so have a good day :-)
            KRO+DNM

      • Chas says:

        How do you know it was ‘On the Cheap’. ? No-one knows the price , and it wasn’t that long ago since Fans were moaning about us signing him. .

    • Steve says:

      Have i missed something ?

  • Staffs Blue says:

    Going for experience, my team for tomorrow would be: (4-2-3-1)

    Randolph;
    Eardley Hall Gunning Grounds
    Edgar Caddis
    Duffy Gleeson Novak
    Donaldson

  • mark says:

    what fantastic news……head of the middles..game our manager said he would never have quit blues how i in enjoy listening to Clark more and more…..come on you blue boys……………kro

  • mark says:

    maybe caddis for vice -captain??


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