Paddy Davitt’s inside track on the Jamal Lewis affair was fascinating. If you haven’t read it, it’s here.
Paddy told beautifully the story of how the mighty Liverpool thought that ‘desperate-for-cash’ little Norwich City would be ripe for a quick-and-dirty deal for Jamal, given how needy they’d obviously be given their recent relegation.
£8 million was the bid.
The club considered it derisory. They want £20 million. Even Jamal himself thought it derisory.
Stuart Webber, politely and professionally no doubt, replied with a negative.
And then… nothing.
Silence from Merseyside.
Until… around 24 hours later when news broke that they had signed a Greek left-back by the name of Kostas Tsimikas.
And that was it.
A well-known idiot on the MFW team had predicted this one would turn into one of those on-off sagas – hence the term idiot. But no. Over and done with in a flash.
That Liverpool were less than polite about it was unsurprising – the same club that gave us the ‘you do know who you’re dealing with?’ when City informed the Premier League of the tardiness of the ticket release for last season’s opener – but it was the wrath of their fans on social media rather than the actions of the club that boiled the collective urine.
And they’re still going.
That Liverpool, the football club were a bit rude, graceless and arrogant doesn’t matter. Not really. They’re Liverpool Football Club.
They made what they thought was an okay offer for a player they quite liked, but who was only ever going to be a back-up to Andy Robertson, and we rejected it.
The deal for the Greek lad was clearly already well into its latter stages, but no doubt Olympiakos would have been recipients of the silence treatment if Stuart’s email had say yay rather than nay.
With the national and global media fawning over the current World and European champions, they’re well cocooned from anything approaching criticism. They’ll not give two $hits about a few Norwich City officials and fans getting the hump.
The bigger issue here is how they assumed that because we’ve been recently relegated and are well known in football circles to survive on a hand-to-mouth existence, we’ll be bending over for any Premier League who comes calling, wiling to take their pound to keep us afloat.
Liverpool were the first to attempt to pick over the carcass of our season in the sun but there’ll be others. And those others now know there’ll be no bargains to be had.
Equally, those City fans who had forecast a fire sale will now know there’ll be no such thing.
So, while it ended up being a damp squib rather than a ‘saga’ and amounted, in the end, to a to and fro of a couple of emails, it was the message that was important – a timely reminder to the other Premier League vultures who assumed we’re now football’s bargain aisle at Lidls.
Think again lads.
Just before I go, there’s something infinitely more important that needs saying….
VOTE YELLOW!
For those wondering, our friends at Along Come Norwich have been in discussions with the club for some time around adding more colour to Carrow Road in the form of some beautiful yellow nets.
Those of a certain age will know the significance of *plain* yellow nets.
Alas, some interlopers have intervened and have introduced the concept of nets with yellow and green stripes! As if.
Now, I know I can trust most of you to do the right thing, but just in case, for some bizarre reason, you’re a waverer, I give you this from Jon Rogers (once aka BigGrantHolt).
Convinced? Good.
Then vote away here… https://www.alongcomenorwich.com/articles/the-return-of-yellow-nets-you-decide/
You know it makes sense 🙂
Sorry boss but I’ve already voted and I went for yellow and green. They look so cool and like something you’d see on the continent.
Take a look on Gary’s link to ACN and you’ll surely see what I mean.
Vote yellow and green!
Was sooooo tempted to not approve that 😉
You might not like this comment either… but I hope you do!
I LOVE the new home kit. First time for a few seasons that it’s not been leaked and it looks great so as I’m in the City on Monday morning for a little bit of bizzo I’ll simply have to slide into the Fan Hub to get the shirt.
Best I’ve seen in a long, long time 🙂
On that my friend.. we wholeheartedly agree 🙂
Ooooh not so sure on the new kit.
It’s smart – but uncannily similar time the 2011/12 kit (the last Lambert season)….
I was hoping for a left field Port Vale look.
I agree the new shirt looks good. I can see my grandkids getting the kids one for Christmas.
This is exactly WHY you need to restore the ‘thumbs down’ icon for 2020-21, Gaz. 😉
Here goes…..
I also voted yellow and green.
We’ve written our last columns Martin.
Can’t pretend I’m not a little disappointed, Kathy, but I’m prepared to give you one final chance 😉
Massive ha 🙂
Voted yellow but would be happy with yellow and green if that is what the majority want.
Interesting article about the Lewis transfer short story. Was it a side show to reduce the price for the Greek player. Liverpool made it public for a reason.
I much prefer the Webber silence and then the announcement once the business is done. Also like him getting his business done early. He is a really shrewd operator. He is never going to get transfers in right every time but his track record is pretty good.
OTBC
A month to the start of the season. It will soon be here.
I hope the club pull off their idea of streaming games for season ticket holders and members. It might get them more members.
I can’t remember being this torn on a Norwich issue since trying to decide which of the Murphy twins was better…..
My head says yellow and green
My heart says yellow
Time to vote
No love for the kit it looks awful that collar lol as for norwich city no love there either im afraid til i can see they have learnt something from last season … sick and tired of it im afraid thank god i dont pay to watch it 😂
Shouldn’t you change your name to Jim?
Hi Gary
Well I will ho with Yellow and Green for the nets.
New strip just looks great it never really needed and other splash of colours on it.
Rumours
1 City still in talks with Romanian Club over Man
2 Murphy could return on loan from Newcastle
3 Chilwell to Man U or Chelski Lewis touted for Leicester
4 Spurs willing to offer players to reduce Aaron fee
Onwards and upwards
OTBC
Stay safe and stay healthy
Hi Alex. To respond to your rumours:-
1. Not too bothered whether we get Man or not
2. No thanks. I don’t think he would add anything, his wages even on loan would be too high. We did a really good deal when he left, let’s leave it at that.
3. That one could have legs.
4. Depends on who is on offer, but that might be interesting. We’ve had one or two decent acquisitions from them in the past.
I voted for yellow, but I could live with the stripes. The new kit is ok, quite like the traditional look. Maybe we should go back to black shorts!
Being honest Not fussed what colour used, as long as the ruddy ball goes in. hahaha.
In my view the Liverpool saga was a ploy all along, a case of we want the greek lad, he is stalling, so a bid for someone else may gee him up, if not we might get Lewis on the cheap. Haven’t read the EDP piece, yet.
They short changed Hull for Robinson when they were relegated I have had a few ding dongs with some reds, you cannot reason or really get your point across. So closed thanking them for getting all English clubs banned from Europe. Arrogant, Up their own A***.* . Every cliub except a few are small fry.
To many more important things going on, than Liverpool’s dirty transfer tactics.
As to new kit, a little underwhelmed to be honest, but hose things never bothered me anyways much, as long as a it’s Yellow & Green and doesn’t look like a bird has flew over bombing it.
I wasn’t going to bother with the nets vote, but ACN do brilliant work and should be encouraged as much as possible-yellow, by the way. And I love the new shirt.
Many Liverpool fans have got themselves into a right tizzy about Webber rejecting the Lewis bid out of hand. Without getting into it too much, their reaction has been very funny.
according to them “we have blood on our hands” never laughed so much.
Talk about the pot calling the kettle black! If you ever mention Heysall to them, they just give you a blank look, but that was a real case blood on their hands. Hills borough, of course, was all down to the police.
Much as all clubs need to do all they can to hold on to prize assets, holding out for top money creates issues as well, 1, a disillusioned player wanting to play back at the high level on 2-3 x salary, not giving all as they dont want to get injured and jeopardise a future move.. 2, deadline day sales – hold on for top money and then get an offer you can refuse but no time to replace the player/s sold…Good luck Yellows, keep your top men, they have the talent to get you back up but will they bust a gut for a fraction of the money they could be on…
Be careful what you hope for.
I voted Yellow & Green.
I like the new kit, although I can’t understand what the fuss was all about.
I have no issue with Liverpool with trying it on with a low bid, I’d be surprised if we’ve never done anything like that before!
Fixtures out next Friday. Thankfully, I’m already over last season and looking forward to the next one. Bring it on!
Particularly if we can get 6,000 allowed in!
Lol yes maybe i should harold i’m afraid i still love norwich very much the passion and desire is still there the same as when i went to my 1st match 1980 liverpool at home fashanu scored that legendary goal ….. But i am sick and tired of us going up and not staying up not making the most of our opportunity being underfunded and having one dimensional squads and managers so…
I thought the nets was netting lol like we had in front of the whole barclay end back in the day when football was truly football , i can still remember ken brown walking across the pitch and pleading with the norwich fans to stop throwing objects on the pitch lol hence the net for a whole season .. 🙂
Getting into the spirit of things and not being bitter and twisted i am gonna say yellow 😉