Well if he's still here but not in the squad for Burnley, then they could come out with some BS about a tight calf or something, but I think we'd all know the real reason.
The fact that Keith has done a bit of punditry on Sky would suggest to me he's quite media-savvy and not one to get overly tongue-tied in front of reporters, or start saying the wrong words. He has those dreamy eyes as well, which could also be a factor in his Sky work. But I honestly don't...
Or if not UNFORTUNATE, then "disappointed", which seems to be the default word in football-speak.
"He's gone in for the ball there, the players foot was high and as they've come together its torn out part of his lower intestine, so of course the lad is disappointed with that".
I don't doubt that tapping up goes on, and that players are encouraged by their agent to hand in a transfer request (probably on the understanding that a juicy signing on fee will comfortably offset whatever loyalty bonus they are sacrificing by handing one in). But plenty of transfers have...
Well, not in itself. But we don't know whats been happening behind the scenes do we. Maybe Liam has had a hissy fit over it at some point. Maybe Liam "not being focussed" has caused a bit of unrest and disharmony with some of the other players. We have no way of knowing, and you wouldn't expect...
Thats not my understanding.
As soon as the two clubs agree a fee, the player can speak to the other club, but not until. A transfer request is neither here nor there.
I can only speculate that perhaps Bridcutt feels that the club have put too high a valuation on him, and are therefore currently pricing him out of his dream move.
Oscar revealed: “He (Bridcutt) was available for selection but he spoke with Nathan and he said that maybe he would not be focused on the game 100%. A lot of things are happening around him and he was honest and for this he didn't play".
So not refusing to play. But following that...
But its Bridcutt who has put his manager in that position by telling him he's no longer focussed.
As a result its a judgement call that Oscar has been forced to make, and he's decided not to play him. That doesn't obsolve Bridcutt of his responsibility - he's a professional footballer who is...
Err...hang on. Did we INVITE this interest from Sunderland, or anyone else ? How are we "publically negotiating with a competitor" to sell his services ? Sunderland have made a few bids, all of which have been rejected, and (for what its worth) we have also rejected Bridcutts transfer request...