Full Pockets

*formal bid of £29m

They are really taking the p 1. ss here Rob.

I'm certain now this will get ugly. It seems Raph
desperately wants this move to Barca (who can blame
him). And Deco's going to be doing everything he can to
wind Raph up in order to have him try to force the issue.
Typical agent crap.

Barca will big up 29 mill + two or three Firpos to Raph
as an excellent offer that jeopardizes Raph's dream.
I feel bad for Raph. He's been amazing for us and I
wish him the absolute best. He shouldn't have to be
in the middle of this.

Barca/Deco will paint LUFC as the enemy.

As we said before Batty they are cash strapped and trying to get the deal done on their terms living off the back of their status and history and presumably Raph and Deco wanting him to go there. That's all very well but the deal has to work for us and critical that the club handle this situation right out of the summer gates smartly and be absolutely sure any players who could come other way improve us and not see get Victor all misty eyed over his favoured la Liga fixation recruiting ground. It would be good if other clubs came in too to get a bidding war going.

Assuming he goes, Raphinha will be the first player sold under this ownership that the club weren't content to lose.

Roofe, Vieira, Pontus & Clarke were all players that the club felt weren't vital and the money was needed elsewhere. The club felt they needed the sales to happen.

Raphinha is very different, or at least should be. So be interesting to find out how effective they are at negotiation. Levy is the king of this, can we do something similar? I don't think I am alone in thinking we haven't really shown with negotiating prices when purchasing players.

You're spot on with the Levy reference.

We should invite West Ham and anyone else interested
to the bidding party. See if that rattles Barcelona.

Spot on.as I said this situation so very early in the summer will set the tone (and presumably the recruitment budget) so it is vital it is handled well. On the basis that Raph is not going to be here one way or the other we need to hold out here and stand firm regardless of any agreements that have been made with Raph about Barcelona. Leeds first at all times.

bara are still licking their wounds from being taken to the cleaners by liverpool with coutinho.
thats not our problem and we cant let any of our players hold us hostage. raph included.
we have to receive a fair price and thats not 29m plus a couple of losers.

comment by Outwood White (U9610)
posted 12 hours, 55 minutes ago
comment by HaveFaithInLeeds (U8688)
posted 45 minutes ago
I can't believe what I am reading here.

Raphinha is one of the best players ever to play for Leeds. Certainly since the side that last won the league. Strolls into the Champions League side.

He's been our best player this season and by far the biggest reason we have stayed up.

He has never stopped trying like a lot of fans accused him of. He's never had his head turned for one second.

And as for Phillips, it's a no brainer that he's been selected for England. He's a guaranteed starter at the moment. And he plays a different position for England where he was our player of the tournament when we made the final doing it. Writing a player off after a few below par performances in a struggling side, after a pretty serious injury just shows how fickle fans are. And no wonder it's so rare to see loyalty from players. When fans can't even provide it in return when it costs fans nothing.

----------------------------------------------------------------------
Well said.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Agreed, just not seeing Liverpool or City or Real or Bayern coming in for Raph right now. Still time, I suppose. As I said, no disputing his talent, but just because he turned it on for the past two games doesn't hide the fact he sulked and scowled his way through most of the games this year.

comment by My favorite Marschian (U19827)
posted 4 hours, 18 minutes ago
comment by Outwood White (U9610)
posted 12 hours, 55 minutes ago
comment by HaveFaithInLeeds (U8688)
posted 45 minutes ago
I can't believe what I am reading here.

Raphinha is one of the best players ever to play for Leeds. Certainly since the side that last won the league. Strolls into the Champions League side.

He's been our best player this season and by far the biggest reason we have stayed up.

He has never stopped trying like a lot of fans accused him of. He's never had his head turned for one second.

And as for Phillips, it's a no brainer that he's been selected for England. He's a guaranteed starter at the moment. And he plays a different position for England where he was our player of the tournament when we made the final doing it. Writing a player off after a few below par performances in a struggling side, after a pretty serious injury just shows how fickle fans are. And no wonder it's so rare to see loyalty from players. When fans can't even provide it in return when it costs fans nothing.

----------------------------------------------------------------------
Well said.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Agreed, just not seeing Liverpool or City or Real or Bayern coming in for Raph right now. Still time, I suppose. As I said, no disputing his talent, but just because he turned it on for the past two games doesn't hide the fact he sulked and scowled his way through most of the games this year.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
He sulked and scowled through every game last season too. That’s what he’s like on the pitch.