Justice
Dangerous Idiot
I was listening to Poyet this morning clearly said we couldn’t afford the £3m they wanted end of 
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[Albion] Virgil van Dijk for £3 Million! (and why we didn't sign him)
- Thread starter stewart_weir
- Start date
Bit more to it than that, from what I’m led to believe.
We were in for him in January. He wanted t come, and agreed terms. Groningen accepted our bid - verbally agreed the deal, but then because they were in trouble, said the deal would be concluded in the summer.
Then in the summer, presumably as they knew of other interest, Groningen told us that they’d honour the sale to Brighton, but the price had now gone up (to €3m). Bloom felt he was being seen off - a deal is a deal, so told them to stick it.
So Hus is wrong that we couldn’t pay it - we just wouldn’t.
Thimble Keegan
Remy LeBeau
That does all pretty much stack-up and certainly puts more meat on the bones of how I thought it played out.
I am guessing that Poyet leaving the club in the summer and the fall-out that ensued also played a part seeing as how much Gus wanted to sign Virgil.
Albion & England forever.
Thimble Keegan
Rustington BHA
Javeaseagull
Well-known member
- Feb 22, 2014
- 2,503
Bit of context really. VVD was being touted round by his agent but Ajax had turned him down. He was, what, 18 at the time? It was a lot of money at the time for us. We can all be wise in hindsight but I don't think blame should be apportioned to anyone. That won't stop finger pointing obviously.
GT49er
Well-known member
Oh well, we missed out on VVD. Shit happens. File under 'Just like Denis Law'.
Hampster Gull
New member
- Dec 22, 2010
- 13,462
Sirnormangall
Well-known member
- Sep 21, 2017
- 2,969
In fairness, we’ve done well with our other signings from the Dutch league since then: Kemy, Elvis...........
Megazone
On his last warning
The amex ceiling was far too low for Virgil van Dijk.
On £30k a week at Celtic
BadFish
Huge Member
- Oct 19, 2003
- 17,114
Greg Bobkin
Silver Seagull
- May 22, 2012
- 14,849
We were, we had significant issues with annual losses and FFP, plus the need to bolster other areas of the squad. My point is it's very easy to say we should've signed X, Y or Z after the event but at the time you're trying to balance the books, build a squad and pay for ongoing stadia costs, it wasn't easy. Add to this the fact that I think Poyet is a self obsessed CJTC and you may see my point?
Betfair Bozo
Well-known member
- Jul 24, 2007
- 2,096
My recollection of how this was reported at the time (and apologies if I am repeating what someone else has said) is that we matched their valuation but it then went up? It's not like it was us v Celtic, Groningen didn't want to sell in January so he went in the summer. Interesting that Poyet actually says there that he was told to go and watch Van Dijk rather than claiming to have been the architect of the interest. Obviously in reality it is rarely going to be a club's manager rather than the recruitment team that does the spadework but I am a little surprised to hear him actually say it!
Also, given what the player has become it is perplexing that in that transfer window we were the only club with a reported firm interest.
Also, given what the player has become it is perplexing that in that transfer window we were the only club with a reported firm interest.
Thunder Bolt
Silly old bat
We kept within FFP and paid every bill related to the stadium. Tony Bloom spent what he had to, to keep us going on an upward trend, but still had enough to pay everything in full, and converting his contribution into shares.
Fighting for our financial lives was what we did from 97-08, with the Forty note fund, and charging FBS a million pound donation for a parking spot at Withdean. There is a difference.
Thunder Bolt
Silly old bat
I doubt our 'recruitment team' found Calde, Casper Angregen, Bruno or others that Poyet brought in. We didn't have a recruitment team at that point.
John Stephenson came from Watford (2011) and introduced such delights as Bergkamp, which infuriated Poyet. He soon left, muttering he couldn't settle on the south coast (it's a long way from Hertfordshire) and then came Burke.
Betfair Bozo
Well-known member
- Jul 24, 2007
- 2,096
I meant it loosely, basically anyone involved in the recruitment process. Could have been a scout for example. Just (pleasantly) surprised that Poyet didn't claim credit.
Correct and at the time when I suggested Poyet hadnt signed Bergkamp and was unhappy about him not being in total control I was completely torn to peices by people on this board.