This Forum is the main messageboard to discuss all things Claret and Blue and beyond
-
jos
- Posts: 1996
- Joined: Mon Oct 25, 2021 12:02 pm
- Been Liked: 309 times
- Has Liked: 437 times
Post
by jos » Wed Jan 29, 2025 9:30 pm
Slipped, great game to watch
-
ElectroClaret
- Posts: 20415
- Joined: Thu Jan 21, 2016 7:07 pm
- Been Liked: 4516 times
- Has Liked: 2032 times
Post
by ElectroClaret » Wed Jan 29, 2025 9:32 pm
Yeah, brilliant game.
-
Milltown1882
- Posts: 3475
- Joined: Mon Nov 28, 2016 5:47 pm
- Been Liked: 1253 times
- Has Liked: 902 times
Post
by Milltown1882 » Wed Jan 29, 2025 9:34 pm
Duran to Saudi is a done deal for 65million, rejected a 60mil bid for Watkins to Arsenal as well today.
Could be a busy few days for Villa.
-
jos
- Posts: 1996
- Joined: Mon Oct 25, 2021 12:02 pm
- Been Liked: 309 times
- Has Liked: 437 times
Post
by jos » Wed Jan 29, 2025 9:36 pm
I’m surprised how good Celtic are playing, but then again I don’t watch Scottish football.
-
Spijed
- Posts: 17932
- Joined: Mon Jan 18, 2016 12:33 pm
- Been Liked: 3028 times
- Has Liked: 1324 times
Post
by Spijed » Wed Jan 29, 2025 9:37 pm
Milltown1882 wrote: ↑Wed Jan 29, 2025 9:34 pm
Duran to Saudi is a done deal for 65million, rejected a 60mil bid for Watkins to Arsenal as well today.
Could be a busy few days for Villa.
Just shows what you have to pay for players that aren't even close to being world class, or international level.
-
CaptJohn
- Posts: 1851
- Joined: Tue Jan 26, 2016 5:41 pm
- Been Liked: 551 times
- Has Liked: 407 times
- Location: Malabo, EG/Chester
-
Contact:
Post
by CaptJohn » Thu Jan 30, 2025 8:04 am
Can't quite figure this one out. Duran to Saudi for reportedly 65 million. OK they still have Watkins as number one striker but the Gooners are coming back with another bid for him? Are Villa that short of cash they need to sell both their strikers in this window when they have just gone straight through to the KO stages of the Champions league? Something appears strange.
-
burnmark
- Posts: 3269
- Joined: Thu Jan 21, 2016 9:50 am
- Been Liked: 830 times
- Has Liked: 629 times
Post
by burnmark » Thu Jan 30, 2025 8:11 am
CaptJohn wrote: ↑Thu Jan 30, 2025 8:04 am
Can't quite figure this one out. Duran to Saudi for reportedly 65 million. OK they still have Watkins as number one striker but the Gooners are coming back with another bid for him? Are Villa that short of cash they need to sell both their strikers in this window when they have just gone straight through to the KO stages of the Champions league? Something appears strange.
I think it’ll be an unwelcome bid and Villa won’t have any intentions to sell.
-
beddie
- Posts: 6262
- Joined: Thu Jan 21, 2016 12:10 pm
- Been Liked: 1729 times
- Has Liked: 653 times
Post
by beddie » Thu Jan 30, 2025 8:41 am
burnmark wrote: ↑Thu Jan 30, 2025 8:11 am
I think it’ll be an unwelcome bid and Villa won’t have any intentions to sell.
They might though if Arsenal up their bid and as said on tv last night it’s a lot of money for a 29 year old.
-
welsbyswife
- Posts: 1091
- Joined: Fri Feb 26, 2016 7:50 pm
- Been Liked: 542 times
- Has Liked: 285 times
Post
by welsbyswife » Thu Jan 30, 2025 8:49 am
I can't quite see how he would fit in with Arsenal's style of play to be honest. Seems a strange one to me.
-
Bordeauxclaret
- Posts: 11193
- Joined: Mon Jan 25, 2016 10:36 pm
- Been Liked: 3611 times
- Has Liked: 2230 times
Post
by Bordeauxclaret » Thu Jan 30, 2025 8:52 am
I’d say he’s exactly what Arsenal need.
-
Stonehouse
- Posts: 1683
- Joined: Sun Jun 16, 2024 5:56 pm
- Been Liked: 421 times
- Has Liked: 429 times
Post
by Stonehouse » Thu Jan 30, 2025 8:53 am
I think Watkins is one of the better characters in the Prem ,mainly because he looks happy when he scores not like the likes of Rashford and a shed load of the others.
-
beddie
- Posts: 6262
- Joined: Thu Jan 21, 2016 12:10 pm
- Been Liked: 1729 times
- Has Liked: 653 times
Post
by beddie » Thu Jan 30, 2025 8:57 am
Bordeauxclaret wrote: ↑Thu Jan 30, 2025 8:52 am
I’d say he’s exactly what Arsenal need.
I also thought this, he’d score a lot of goals with their current squad and system, that’s why I think Arsenal will not give up just yet.
-
mkmel
- Posts: 6164
- Joined: Thu Jan 14, 2016 11:37 pm
- Been Liked: 1367 times
- Has Liked: 2615 times
Post
by mkmel » Thu Jan 30, 2025 11:03 am
Milltown1882 wrote: ↑Wed Jan 29, 2025 9:34 pm
Duran to Saudi is a done deal for 65million, rejected a 60mil bid for Watkins to Arsenal as well today.
Could be a busy few days for Villa.
Why is Jhon Duran going to Saudi at his age and at this stage of his career?
Yes he's going to get shedloads of money. But why play football in front of a handful of followers when he could go to one or two of the top ten European clubs.
-
beddie
- Posts: 6262
- Joined: Thu Jan 21, 2016 12:10 pm
- Been Liked: 1729 times
- Has Liked: 653 times
Post
by beddie » Thu Jan 30, 2025 11:26 am
mkmel wrote: ↑Thu Jan 30, 2025 11:03 am
Why is Jhon Duran going to Saudi at his age and at this stage of his career?
Yes he's going to get shedloads of money. But why play football in front of a handful of followers when he could go to one or two of the top ten European clubs.
I wondered that as well, surely it can only be for money.
Don’t want to hijack the topic but was thinking the other day about Danny Ings, only gets a few sub appearances these days, you’d think at 32 years old he would be looking to move on for regular football whilst he can, I would have thought he will have made enough money and could still command a decent wage so presumably it’s his current high salary that’s dictating.
-
GodIsADeeJay81
- Posts: 14889
- Joined: Thu Feb 01, 2018 9:55 am
- Been Liked: 3519 times
- Has Liked: 6411 times
Post
by GodIsADeeJay81 » Thu Jan 30, 2025 11:58 am
beddie wrote: ↑Thu Jan 30, 2025 11:26 am
I wondered that as well, surely it can only be for money.
Don’t want to hijack the topic but was thinking the other day about Danny Ings, only gets a few sub appearances these days, you’d think at 32 years old he would be looking to move on for regular football whilst he can, I would have thought he will have made enough money and could still command a decent wage so presumably it’s his current high salary that’s dictating.
Ings is known for being injured more than fit
Why move on?
Which club will risk signing a 32yr old injury prone striker?
-
GodIsADeeJay81
- Posts: 14889
- Joined: Thu Feb 01, 2018 9:55 am
- Been Liked: 3519 times
- Has Liked: 6411 times
Post
by GodIsADeeJay81 » Thu Jan 30, 2025 11:59 am
mkmel wrote: ↑Thu Jan 30, 2025 11:03 am
Why is Jhon Duran going to Saudi at his age and at this stage of his career?
Yes he's going to get shedloads of money. But why play football in front of a handful of followers when he could go to one or two of the top ten European clubs.
Money will be obscene and set up his whole family for life
Good weather
-
claretonthecoast1882
- Posts: 11591
- Joined: Mon Apr 09, 2018 1:59 pm
- Been Liked: 4726 times
- Has Liked: 57 times
Post
by claretonthecoast1882 » Thu Jan 30, 2025 12:06 pm
There is a scenario where selling Watkins and keeping Duran makes more sense.
Watkins 29 year old and this season 11 goals in 32 games v Duran 21 year old 12 goals in 29 games this season
-
Bordeauxclaret
- Posts: 11193
- Joined: Mon Jan 25, 2016 10:36 pm
- Been Liked: 3611 times
- Has Liked: 2230 times
Post
by Bordeauxclaret » Thu Jan 30, 2025 12:18 pm
GodIsADeeJay81 wrote: ↑Thu Jan 30, 2025 11:58 am
Ings is known for being injured more than fit
Why move on?
Which club will risk signing a 32yr old injury prone striker?
Hasn’t Ings missed about 2 games in the last few years?
-
Colburn_Claret
- Posts: 9064
- Joined: Thu Jan 21, 2016 4:30 pm
- Been Liked: 3429 times
- Has Liked: 5646 times
- Location: Catterick N.Yorks
Post
by Colburn_Claret » Thu Jan 30, 2025 1:47 pm
CaptJohn wrote: ↑Thu Jan 30, 2025 8:04 am
Can't quite figure this one out. Duran to Saudi for reportedly 65 million. OK they still have Watkins as number one striker but the Gooners are coming back with another bid for him? Are Villa that short of cash they need to sell both their strikers in this window when they have just gone straight through to the KO stages of the Champions league? Something appears strange.
Watkins is happy to stay, Duran more than happy to go.
I doubt they wanted to sell but what is the point of having an unhappy player on your books.
A real prospect Duran, but his head has always been away with the fairies.
-
Row x
- Posts: 2031
- Joined: Mon Jul 15, 2024 8:51 am
- Been Liked: 571 times
- Has Liked: 111 times
Post
by Row x » Thu Jan 30, 2025 1:59 pm
Bordeauxclaret wrote: ↑Thu Jan 30, 2025 12:18 pm
Hasn’t Ings missed about 2 games in the last few years?
I think he's only played 2 games

These 2 users liked this post: Bordeauxclaret GodIsADeeJay81
-
GodIsADeeJay81
- Posts: 14889
- Joined: Thu Feb 01, 2018 9:55 am
- Been Liked: 3519 times
- Has Liked: 6411 times
Post
by GodIsADeeJay81 » Thu Jan 30, 2025 11:48 pm
Bordeauxclaret wrote: ↑Thu Jan 30, 2025 12:18 pm
Hasn’t Ings missed about 2 games in the last few years?
He rarely does 90 mins and in fact he only did 390 mins of league football last season and is nearly at 300 mins this season
No ones gonna offer him a big contract again
West Ham were his last one with his injury record and age
-
Bordeauxclaret
- Posts: 11193
- Joined: Mon Jan 25, 2016 10:36 pm
- Been Liked: 3611 times
- Has Liked: 2230 times
Post
by Bordeauxclaret » Fri Jan 31, 2025 7:38 am
That’s because he’s not first choice at a mid table Premier League side.
The fact that he’s barely had an injury in the last 3/4 years doesn’t scream injury prone to me anymore.
I bet a lot of clubs would love to be able to sign him.
-
GodIsADeeJay81
- Posts: 14889
- Joined: Thu Feb 01, 2018 9:55 am
- Been Liked: 3519 times
- Has Liked: 6411 times
Post
by GodIsADeeJay81 » Fri Jan 31, 2025 4:27 pm
Yeah you're on a wind up there with that guff

-
helmclaret
- Posts: 1746
- Joined: Sat Jan 23, 2016 7:37 am
- Been Liked: 610 times
- Has Liked: 438 times
Post
by helmclaret » Fri Jan 31, 2025 6:25 pm
Colburn_Claret wrote: ↑Thu Jan 30, 2025 1:47 pm
Watkins is happy to stay, Duran more than happy to go.
I doubt they wanted to sell but what is the point of having an unhappy player on your books.
A real prospect Duran, but his head has always been away with the fairies.
Re Duran - would you turn down £500k a week? I wouldn’t.
-
Bordeauxclaret
- Posts: 11193
- Joined: Mon Jan 25, 2016 10:36 pm
- Been Liked: 3611 times
- Has Liked: 2230 times
Post
by Bordeauxclaret » Fri Jan 31, 2025 6:35 pm
GodIsADeeJay81 wrote: ↑Fri Jan 31, 2025 4:27 pm
Yeah you're on a wind up there with that guff
Not really, he’s consistently been involved in the match day squads for the last good few years with very few injuries.
It’s not like he’s been sat at home talking to himself on Twitter…
-
GodIsADeeJay81
- Posts: 14889
- Joined: Thu Feb 01, 2018 9:55 am
- Been Liked: 3519 times
- Has Liked: 6411 times
Post
by GodIsADeeJay81 » Fri Jan 31, 2025 6:47 pm
Bordeauxclaret wrote: ↑Fri Jan 31, 2025 6:35 pm
Not really, he’s consistently been involved in the match day squads for the last good few years with very few injuries.
It’s not like he’s been sat at home talking to himself on Twitter…
OK troll
He's played naff all so take your daft comment away and sit this out
-
Bordeauxclaret
- Posts: 11193
- Joined: Mon Jan 25, 2016 10:36 pm
- Been Liked: 3611 times
- Has Liked: 2230 times
Post
by Bordeauxclaret » Fri Jan 31, 2025 6:49 pm
GodIsADeeJay81 wrote: ↑Fri Jan 31, 2025 6:47 pm
OK troll
He's played naff all so take your daft comment away and sit this out
Not been injured though has he Sidders. Swing on that
