Barton pfftt, this is more of an issue - QPR close in on Diakite

[Rsonist]

Surely our management would have been able to tell if he was really ill and that the club were being stitched up?

Not that there's much they could really do.

If Diakite has been playing silly bu ggers with us when we needed him most then it is rotten cynical stuff and speaks terribly of him.

[Rieger]

This is barton's fault. As club captain he should have paid the fee himself as he is a trillionaire then headbutted him.

[QPRDave]

This is barton's fault. As club captain he should have paid the fee himself as he is a trillionaire then headbutted him.

Bloke's just so selfish ain't he?!!

[DeepcutHoop]

Surely our management would have been able to tell if he was really ill and that the club were being stitched up?

Not that there's much they could really do.

If Diakite has been playing silly bu ggers with us when we needed him most then it is rotten cynical stuff and speaks terribly of him.

Agree with this.

Would have dearly loved him to sign, but this 'virus' and the resulting free for all on his signature suggests he (or more likely his advisors) think he can get a better deal/higher profile club. They're probably correct.

If they were willing to potentially sacrifice us to the Championship to get a better offer, then frankly we're probably better off without him (and the advisors)

This is a shitty start to a Friday morning.

[The Leveller]

Surely our management would have been able to tell if he was really ill and that the club were being stitched up?

Not that there's much they could really do.

If Diakite has been playing silly bu ggers with us when we needed him most then it is rotten cynical stuff and speaks terribly of him.

How many times have you had tests taken on you by your GP when run down with a virus. Zero I bet, by the time the club thought of taking body fluid tests it would have been too late. It will be interesting to see how this plays out, if the club has cooled on him then we can read between the lines as to what they think of him as a player and person.

[qpr]

I'm clinning onto any hope. PLEASE SIGN!

[QPRDave]

Agree with this.

Would have dearly loved him to sign, but this 'virus' and the resulting free for all on his signature suggests he (or more likely his advisors) think he can get a better deal/higher profile club. They're probably correct.

If they were willing to potentially sacrifice us to the Championship to get a better offer, then frankly we're probably better off without him (and the advisors)

This is a shitty start to a Friday morning.

Can't disagree with a word of that deepcut, if that loophole was there then the end of season does look very suss.

[W12_Ranger]

If he is not interested in signing for a PL capable of a mid table finish then **** him, looking at his career stats he hasn't played that many games and if he goes else where then that may continue.

He needs us more than we need him, his loss not ours if he doesn't sign.

[CroydonCaptainJack]

This is suspicious. Looks to me that his agents have been shopping him around on the QT and told him not to play the deciding 10th game. (And even if he does still intend to come to us he has huge leverage in the contract negotiations now.)

Or, he really did have a mystery virus...

Yes, I did think it was suspicious at the time

[Rsonist]

How many times have you had tests taken on you by your GP when run down with a virus. Zero I bet, by the time the club thought of taking body fluid tests it would have been too late. It will be interesting to see how this plays out, if the club has cooled on him then we can read between the lines as to what they think of him as a player and person.

He's a professional footballer at the business end of the season though, of course the club are going to do tests and not just take his word for it? Besides, he missed three games for us over two full weeks - long time to have a virus.

[Rsonist]

Something we don't know is exactly what the terms of his loan deal were; first it was reported that he signs if we stay up, now it's after 10 games. Is it either, or, or both?

Perhaps he was worried he'd be locked into playing for us in the Championship. Doesn't excuse the behaviour (which to be fair is all conjecture at this point), but still.

[Shania]

This is suspicious. Looks to me that his agents have been shopping him around on the QT and told him not to play the deciding 10th game. (And even if he does still intend to come to us he has huge leverage in the contract negotiations now.)

Or, he really did have a mystery virus...

Your post sums it up for me. But anyhow, welcome to "the game within the game". IOW, nothing is straightforward in modern fotball.

[Rsonist]

I still think he will sign to be honest - can't quite see Arsenal or whoever coming in for him just yet - but he might just be a fair amount pricier now.

[Shania]

A valid point regarding the price,AND Arsenal (hope not- he is their kind of player)
Have to say, I really would like to us getting him in the squad as soon as possible. ..

[Mellowhoop]

Diakite to arsenal