10th July 2003: It might not be
all good news, but at least there's a bit more transfer activity than
there was at this stage last season.
Haas is the only definite signing at the moment and, although Sunderland
fans don't seem to have many nice things to say about him, he did
play Champions League football last season - something Sunderland
won't be doing any time soon. Jury's out, I suppose, until we see
him play but the omens look good.
Hulse is now in talks with Albion after Crewe have apparently accepted
our latest offer. He looks a good striker and, with Millwall and Cardiff
already rejected and Norwich having mysteriously gone quiet, it looks
promising that he'll sign before the squad set out for Denmark.
The rejection of Sakiri's work permit is something of a blow, and
a bemusing one at that. I would think it obvious that Sakiri is capable
of enhancing the game in this country given his recent international
performances, but maybe his age counted against him. It seems scandalous
that Macedonia aren't in the top 70 international sides when sides
like Iraq, Guatemala, Zambia and Zimbabwe are. I would suspect that
FIFA's ranking system fails to take the fact that by playing in Europe,
Macedonia will meet much better opposition on a regular basis than
sides in less well-developed football continents.
I would be very surprised if the Home Office change the decision -
it's a precedent they will not want to set - so maybe Megson has a
re-think about Merson, in the absence of any younger creative midfielders
he may be watching.
James O'Connor is the other name in the frame at the moment, as a
replacement for McInnes I suppose. I know little about him, but given
that he has attracted interest from a number of clubs, he can't be
too bad. His prior relationship with Megson could work for or against
us of course, but I'd like to think it's the former!
Finally, a word about Balis. It is upsetting that he is having to
retire because of ringing in his ears - whether it was caused by being
too close to a bawling Megson on the wing for forty five minutes every
week, we'll never know. I will always remember him fondly as, I suspect,
will all Albion fans after his penalty at Bradford in April 2002.
I was lucky enough to be at Valley Parade that day, and it is a moment
I will never forget. Good luck Igor.
Oh, and JR's still waiting for that rush of offers from other clubs,
I see.
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