[REPORTED] George Friend

This deal better value than Gibbs for 15m imo.

 

Think he did well compared to the others but a 4 out of 10 rather than the 2 or 3s the other deadbeats were posting.

 

Mate of mine supports 'Boro. Said Friend struggled last season and wasn't good defending against attackers with good movement off the ball.

 

A lot of Arsenal fans are ticked that they are asking for so much for him. Going on their different fan forums they would all sell him for £7mil-£10mil and want him out of their club.

I wonder if us announcing we are no longer interested and moving on to Friend is a ploy to get Arsenal to lower their price. No team in their right mind will pay the £15mil asking price.

 

You did dream it. He was more enthusiastic than most of his colleagues but positionally all over the shop. I attach no blame to him for that given his inexperience and the opposition but let's not get carried away in the other direction.

 

I would rather we stuck it out in negotiating for Gibbs, I think arsenal are going to realise at some point that they've got their head in the clouds asking for 15mill and he's younger and arguably much better than friend.

 

£8m for an ageing dubious referee - no thanks

 

I agree, if we were able to get Friend for half what's being reported, then I think it's worth a punt. I'd concentrate on Gibbs but he's worth no more than £10m.

 

I don't see Friend as a prem quality FB and it doesn't sound like Boro fans did. Not good enough for first choice, too old and expensive for back up. Good player at champ level.

 

He was also positionally all over the shop against Burton, Spurs and millwall. Nowhere near ready for Prem yet

 

The more I think about it the more terrible I think this signing would be, even if he were cheaper.

 

George is an excellent player who gives his all every match and is an outstanding club ambassador. Yes all day for me.

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Are you his agent ?If not you should be .

 

For 8m you would expect to pick up a class Lb from Europe.
Friend is a steady full back but I believe we will be looking elsewhere.

 

Nope, but I am his mate

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I do wonder how many of those who are slagging him off with such conviction on here have actually seen him play other than in Boro's games against us? In fact, I imagine quite a few haven't even see that.

 

Given the amount of injuries and the stretched squad we had last season (meaning the likes of Mason were playing at the top level way too early) a home grown signing like Friend would be a sensible acquisition at the right price IMO. Holebas is first choice - but Friend would be great back up.

 

Despite a few others suggesting otherwise I don't think you were dreaming. For a young lad backed up by Behrami and Smiler as CB's I thought he played a blinder. Up against Jesus for most of the game and had him pretty close to his pocket (could say nailed, barely got a cross in), showed good pace too. Jesus went central later and scored but can't pin that on Mason not his man by then.

Might be going soft but would like to see this lad keep getting chances and progressing.

 

That you wonder how many games they have seen him play in? Well, yeah, of course you could...

 

Reading through the thread his age and the fee seem to be the 2 main negatives. He's only turning 30, that's easily 3-4 good years left. We don't actually know the fee, but if it's £8M that's really not that much, plus the club will have budgeted certain amounts of money for the players we need, so assuming this doesn't affect that what's the issue? The only question should be is, is he good enough. From the limited amounts I've seen him I'd say yes.

 

Yeah, I know the prices of players has inflated massively over the years but I have to disagree with £8,000,000 not being much. Granted, it's not much compared to the £20,000,000 we are supposedly prepared to pay for Lemina but it's still a lot of money.

Take a look at Will Hughes for example... He's only 22, he has great potential and only cost us an upfront fee of around £4,500,000... Now that is a great deal. We then compare that deal to Friend.... A soon to be 30 year old who was part of a side that was relegated last season and is heading towards the end of the peak of his individual career. Not only is it his age, but the fact that 'Borough fans are willing to snatch that sum away from us is concerning considering he is one of their fan favorites. As well as that, his value will depreciate massively after one season where he'll turn 31 which means that this player will not have much sell-on value. So if we are to buy him, we'd have to make use of him otherwise it will essentially be £8,000,000 wasted.
Therefore, are you seriously saying that he's worth almost double that of Hughes's upfront fee???

In my opinion, if we purchase this player for the said amount, I think it would be ironically thee worst signing we've made in a while... In the same very transfer window where we've also made some of our (possibly) best signing(s) in a while (Hughes).

 

My sister and brother in law are season ticket holders at Boro - said he peaked a couple of years ago and has lost a yard of pace. Tries hard every game but not Prem quality now, if he ever was

 

Didn't think I had been dreaming, glad you agree with me.

 

I think when you consider the potential choice we have his value looks even worse.

With a choice of George Friend, a HG 30 year old who according to boro fans has lost a yard of pace so they will snatch our hands off. Alternatively Robertson for the same price who's 23 and showing huge potential, despite not being HG.

Id be happy with Friend if the Pozzo's have already worked out our preliminary squad with all the planned incomings and outgoings and we have no non-HG places left (id want him for less than 8m, but at the end of the day it's not my money, so unless it blocks up funds for other players it has nothing to do with me). However unless this is definitely the case Robertson seems like the obvious choice in my eyes and is much better value for money

 

yeah but how many games have they watched?

 

Regarding the fee, IF he was good enough for the starting 11 and played most games for say 2-3 years then £8M isn't that big a deal. I do understand the lack of resale money, but then an improved team equals better league finish which also equals more money. Over 3 years £8M isn't that big a deal.

Having said that, if he isn't as good as I hope he is then yes it would be a bad buy, but also £8M is just the amount being mentioned, might not be that at all.

 

What is it like, mating with a footballer?

 

Ask Clive Tyldesley, he's always talking about players coming inside the full-back

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What's wrong with Holebas as first choice!?

His attitude and behavioural record improved as the season went on.

 

And he's one of the best players we have.

 

I will email him immediately.

 

There's nothing wrong with him being first choice, but there's nothing wrong with competition either. He'll be 33 by the start of the season, is our only senior left back and is a suspension waiting to happen. We're 1 injury away from either playing a defender out of position or starting a 19 year old with less than 300 career minutes.

I like Holebas, but think if we're signing another LB it needs to be a player competing to start. We've had more than our fair share of average journeymen type players in the Pozzo era already.

 

Well yes but his ability to get tight to his man and prevent crosses coming in didn't. There's got to be better out there.