Bolton seem likely to lose Tal Ben Haim for ??3.5m to Spurs, who want to plug the gap in the squad that will be left if Anthony Gardner goes to West Ham.

 

Chelsea are baulking at Bolton's asking price for Ben Haim, but Portsmouth are also interested in the versatile Israel international defender.

So you're saying he is looking for a move to Man U, Chelski, Liverpool or us then

He's apparantly held crisis talks with the Chairman, but also told friends that he can't play for the club again, depending on what rumours you believe.

 

I believe in the old Clough adage - if a player doesn't want to play for a club, then bye bye.

 

Curbishley's been standing up for him, but I can't see how he hasn't burnt his bridges to be honest - Allardyce seems to get the best out of players, but even he'd have a job on his hands with Nigel Mediocre.

Getting back to Tal Ben Money Grabber. Hope he doesnt take the piss on sat by doing his usual run to the North Lower and then Clap us. Coz he will be greeted by my two fingers!!

 

Hopefully he will go on to win the Championship title at West Ham!!!

I have always rated Ben Haim and think he is one of the best around at the moment. However if he won't accept a contract then IMO then if a decent offer comes in (??3/4m) then we should let him go.

 

Also I rate Nigel Reo Coker and think that just because he hasn't played well this season it doesn't mean that he is a bad player, (Kevin Nolan is the same). It could be a dip in form, complacency or just the fact that he is playing in a poor team. Whatever it is a player does not suddenley go from a very good player, to a very bad player in half a season. Also I think he would fit in well with our system and would learn a lot from the likes of Campo, he would also be very good cover for when Speedo decides to finish, which may be the end of the season. If we could do a reasonable deal which saw Ben Haim go to WHU and Reo Coker to come to us then I would be very happy. (As long as we have enough time left in the window to bring in a replacement centre back as it would leave us very short.)

 

A big part of Reo-Coker's problem is that - like most things West Ham - the press went mental over him last year when in fact he simply didn't warrant it.

 

You could say that about Etherington, Harewood, Ferdinand, Konchesky, Gabbidon, Carroll and others too. The table doesn't lie - these are NOT top half players.

 

Bottom line is he really isn't anything special and when you throw in the bad attitude too, he isn't worth a shit.

Bottom line is he really isn't anything special and when you throw in the bad attitude too, he isn't worth a shit.

 

 

 

plus - who would you leave out to accomodate him? Our back up midfield players showed at Doncaster that we have some very capable squad players already - we don't need to pay ??4M for another.

i'd be happy with a straight swap, a player out of contract in exchange for a unwanted player who wants out...

i'd be happy with a straight swap, a player out of contract in exchange for a unwanted player who wants out...

 

Think the crux of it is that both want to play for a top 4 club so can see any move blunted from both ends by the players in question.

Reports over the weekend that are understood to have originated in Israel, claim the player himself has made a "come and get me" plea to Chelsea. He is quoted as saying: "My dream is to play for one of the really big clubs and win trophies and I really believe it will happen.

 

"I could cope with it because I never feel stress.

 

"The thought of playing at the highest level does not faze me and I can't even spell the word fear."

 

Wanderers officials are likely to ask Ben Haim to explain certain comments which appeared to be disparaging towards the club.

 

which bit is disparaging?

 

he should keep shut mind

 

was the same when he signed, we chased him for ages and he stalled because he thought one of the big four would come in for him, till his agent convinced him they wouldn't and that we were his best option

 

this why I very much doubt he will sign for either West Ham or Pompey

which bit is disparaging?

 

Apparently he gave a long interview in the Israeli press about the current situation but it doesn't seem to have surfaced/been translated over here. In some parts of this interview he apparently knocks the club. As you say he needs to keep his mouth shut as he's had no stick off us so far and nothing but first class treatment by the club.

 

If he goes anywhere but Chelsea I'll be very disappointed.

Chelsea are close to signing Bolton defender Tal Ben Haim and are facing a battle with French side Lyon for Aston Villa's Milan Baros. (Daily Mirror)

 

 

 

link: http://www.mirror.co.uk/sport/football/tm_...-name_page.html

 

Only a rumour, but......

Chelsea are close to signing Bolton defender Tal Ben Haim and are facing a battle with French side Lyon for Aston Villa's Milan Baros. (Daily Mirror)

 

 

 

link: http://www.mirror.co.uk/sport/football/tm_...-name_page.html

 

Only a rumour, but......

 

And tucked right at the bottom of that article....

Chelsea are also considering Jermain Defoe, Benni McCarthy, Obafemi Martins and Nicolas Anelka as additions to their strike-force.

 

I want immunity from this Bextor as the Forum went tits up as i was trying to search it

Edited January 10, 200719 yr by Gonk

Just been in the butty shop and one of the papers, can't remember which, has Mourinho quoted as saying he's buying nobody due to the Chelsea board.

 

Personally I reckon it's part of their ploy to get prices down, but that's what it said.

Yes Mourinho is on his way out of Chelsea at the end of the season. Abramovitch has decided that he is not going to allow Mourinho to spend his money on players that the next manager may not want.

Just been in the butty shop and one of the papers, can't remember which, has Mourinho quoted as saying he's buying nobody due to the Chelsea board.

 

Personally I reckon it's part of their ploy to get prices down, but that's what it said.

 

 

Read Daily Star on't bus this morn it said exactly that

Official news -

 

http://www.bwfc.premiumtv.co.uk/page/News/...~963508,00.html?

Official news -

 

http://www.bwfc.premiumtv.co.uk/page/News/...~963508,00.html?

 

SAM ALLARDYCE has confirmed that Israeli international Tal Ben Haim is almost certain to leave the Wanderers in the summer.

The 24-year-old central defender is out of contract in the summer and is expected to move onto pastures new after a successful three-year period at the Reebok, where many critics have rated him as one of the best young defenders in the Barclays Premiership.

Commenting on the situation, Big Sam confirmed that he is resigned to the fact that Ben Haim will be moving on, he said:

"He won't sign a contract now. It is a great shame that it has gone beyond that now. We'll just have to wait and see what will happen over the coming months."I don't think he'll move this month. He is likely to see out his contract and he'll be off and away in the summer. As a player you can use the rules and regulations and you can't blame him for that.

It is a difficult situation for both parties, but as long as Tal continues playing for us at the level he has set himself I'll be very happy. He is an ambitious lad and even though we have a vibrant ambition ourselves it seems there are clubs' who are bigger than us who are keen on signing him."

"He won't sign a contract now. It is a great shame that it has gone beyond that now. We'll just have to wait and see what will happen over the coming months."I don't think he'll move this month. He is likely to see out his contract and he'll be off and away in the summer. As a player you can use the rules and regulations and you can't blame him for that.

We can, and we likely as not will.

 

This news should have been kept quiet. It might encourage someone to come in with a bid before the transfer window closes, but if it doesn't it can only be counter-productive.

 

Hunty'll be relieved, mind.

This should have been sorted 12 months ago, but again Bolton are on the last minute to try and sort something out

Feck him, let him go in the summer. Once he gets us into Europe I don't care where he goes to. He is another Micket Dicketts waiting to happen. Bigger than the club and all that.......

Official news -

 

http://www.bwfc.premiumtv.co.uk/page/News/...~963508,00.html?

 

I think the FA should introduce a new rule that protects football clubs from this type of situation as clubs are forced to sell their player at a reduced rate or for nothing. New ruling should state, if a player hasn't signed a contract extention entering their final 6 months then players club is entitled to pay only 50% off players wages. Forcing the player to either sign or be out of pocket till he leaves in the summer. Another point why do Bolton always give 2 year contracts to players? Why not have a rolling contact i.e it never actually ends a bit like Fergies?

I think the FA should introduce a new rule that protects football clubs from this type of situation as clubs are forced to sell their player at a reduced rate or for nothing. New ruling should state, if a player hasn't signed a contract extention entering their final 6 months then players club is entitled to pay only 50% off players wages. Forcing the player to either sign or be out of pocket till he leaves in the summer. Another point why do Bolton always give 2 year contracts to players? Why not have a rolling contact i.e it never actually ends a bit like Fergies?

 

Well, that would be illegal, for a start.

 

And we (used to) offer shorter contracts to safeguard against having a huge wage bill for years if we went down.

 

 

End of the day, the system is what it is, Ben Haim has played out his contract as he is entitled to do. Worst of luck to the lad if he leaves.

i hope he never puts on the shirt for the rest of the season. no point playing a lad who has no commitment

Lets hope he doesnt have a career threatening injury on his final game for us.

i hope he never puts on the shirt for the rest of the season. no point playing a lad who has no commitment

 

 

I agree with E if he dosent want to play for us and wants to leave in the summer just let him rot in the reserves. Sam should take a leaf out of chirs Coleman's book and do what he did with Steed Malbranque.

Lets hope he doesnt have a career threatening injury on his final game for us.

 

I dont mind taking one for the team. I'll run on the pitch last game of the season and see to it Horwich.

 

As regards commitment. He'll now be committed to playing as well as possible in order to secure as good a contract as possible elsewhere.

 

How many on here will be booing him on Saturday then?