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GlosBlue
Player Valuation: £25m
Cue Kroldrup comparison...
don't think anybody is Zat.
But he's exactly the type of defender we need right now, either if Stones stays or leaves and we got somebody like Koulibaly in, having Williams in either scenario will be a real bonus.
Jags hasn't had a pre-season and was out for large spells in the last two seasons through injury. He turns 34 in a few days as well.
Also different types of players. I love Jags and he's still the best 'last-ditch' defender we have at the club, but he's never really been a 'commanding' centre half. Williams is, and offers a balance.
mkrudden
Player Valuation: £40m
All fair points those mate.
I just think some are quick to write off Jags despite every year being a consistent and reliable defender.
How he didnt go to the Euros is beyond me.
agree mate. he's still class but it does appear injuries are starting to stack up. Happy for him to be here and see out the rest of his career with us and be a starter when fully fit, but that's no longer a guarantee so Williams strikes the perfect chord in a lot of ways.
Agree on the Euros, but I'm glad he didn't! Just a shame he hasn't been fit to get minutes under his belt this summer...
milks
I hate football
To be competitive and to improve you need two quality players in each position. In the US their sports teams need to be "two deep".
We're currently operating with a great XI and then a combination of either meh, promise or 'oh sh*t' below that.
As @BlueToff said Jagielka isn't fit presently and besides, Williams is a very different type of player to the skipper.
I'm very pleased we're adding to the squad. Expensive foreign imports are wonderful, but I'm equally happy with experience in the Premier League and someone to bawl out our defence and midfield in a manner we've not seen for many a year.
John Osters Love Child
Player Valuation: £6m
Jags was at his best with a big no nonsense CB along side him like Distin and Lescott. Obviously Williams is in no way a replacement for Stones (who I would love to see stay but...) but maybe this is a move designed to bring out the best in the CB's who actually want to be here.
The deal with Stones is simple IMO mate.
He has asked to leave but will stay unless a team meet our valuation. He won't force through a move like he attempted last year and if nobody comes for him he's our player, end of.
Williams I see as the missing piece in our defence. We need an organiser and Jags has never been that, as good as he is as a defender. Put Williams next to any of our current three senior defenders (or whoever the replacement for Stones happens to be should City get their way) and it'll be a good fit.
Foot Long Hot Dog
Player Valuation: A packet of pork scratchings
Stones is gone mate.
The current 'impasse' is just the final hand of poker being played out over the terms of the deal and the initial payment.
It's in everyone's interests to see it conclude as soon as now, so I expect both sides will 'blink' shortly and a deal concluded.
catcherintherye
Player Valuation: £80m
This is a very good post. He is quite Jagielka-like as well albeit a couple of years younger. Not prime Jagielka but Jagielka before he has recently got the spate of injuries. I don't think we can discard that when we consider Williams and/or Fonte. I think there ought to be some concern as to how many games Jagielka can play and when he will be back fit. His workload will need to be managed.
The squad lacks leadership. Buying leadership in is the easiest way to address this. Williams is very similar to Jags, he's not the biggest but reads the game well, quite quick and puts his body on the line. The key bit for me is that experience normally costs an absolute fortune to get such experience in and you have to pay over the odds. In a market where Tomkins has gone for 15 million and Brad Smith between 3-6 I don't think you can say we are being ripped off.
ianefc
Player Valuation: £70m
There's more acting like he's 'big John' brought in from the Dog n Duck.
Utter mardy arses. For £10m this is fantastic business.
Duncan Disorderley
Player Valuation: £750k
So you know that for a fact? Has he handed in a request then?
TrixyStevens
Player Valuation: £35m
Williams always has a game against us. In fact he has a game against most teams. Really solid player, very good in the air, commanding presence at the back and strong as an ox. Hope we can get him in.
yeh I agree. But I don't blame or begrudge anyone in this deal.
Stones is class. Will very likely become world class. But in the short-term his sale will help us to grow and I'm confident we'll get a quality replacement in.
Factor Williams in as well and we're set to improve overall.
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