Robbie Brady (M Preston b.1992)

[tetsujin1979]

from today's transfer gossip on football365: http://www.football365.com/transfer-gossip/9906476/Lovely-Live-Gossip...

Alex Neil has been told it will cost promoted Norwich £9m to prise Robbie Brady away from relegated Hull.

[tricky_colour]

He will go for £5.5m IMO. :)

[OwlsFan]

The sad thing though is that this it is only a recently promoted club which is bidding for him. Obviously not rated by the established clubs to be worth a bid.

[DeLorean]

Yeah that's true, this time next year it would be no major surprise if Hull and Norwich have swapped places again. It would be a bit more reassuring with regards his long term PL future if the likes of Swansea or Southampton wanted to sign him.

[TheOneWhoKnocks]

Latest quote being figured is a £4.5m asking price for Brady. Sounds fair.

http://www.irishmirror.ie/sport/hull-want-7million-irish-star-6025987

[geysir]

What would Duff's £17m transfer in 2003 be worth these days?

[TheOneWhoKnocks]

Bruce slams Norwich offers (2m, 2.5m, 3m) as derisory.

http://www.hulldailymail.co.uk/EMBARRASSING-Hull-City-s-Steve-Bruce-slates/story-26864184-detail/story.html

The impression I get is that Hull are open to cashing in on him. They are just waiting for an agreeable offer. Bruce mentioned Tom Ince joining Derby for 5m. I think 5m is the figure they are looking for; 4m with add ons could seal the deal.

Norwich would probably be lucky to get him for that much in this inflated transfer market - if you use the likes of Snodgrass as a barometer and all that.

[TheOneWhoKnocks]

Norwich have submitted their fourth bid....

[TheOneWhoKnocks]

Alex Neil confirms interest in Brady; talks ongoing.

http://www.edp24.co.uk/sport/norwich-city/robbie_brady_is_still_in_alex_neil_s_sights_norwic h_city_striker_rvw_back_in_training_after_sporting _deal_stalled_1_4149045

[tetsujin1979]

Reports today that Brady has turned down a new contract from Hull, with Norwich now bidding £7million for him

[seanfhear]

Brady's left foot is definitely too good for the Championship.:bigsmile:

[TheOneWhoKnocks]

Norwich apparently made a bid of £6m before the midway point of July. Brady is out of contract this time next year. He wants to leave. Hull have/had plenty of time to find a replacement. Their stance is very frustrating.

It's like the Wes Hoolahan saga all over again. Just pointless all round.

Oh the joys of being an Irish fan.

[DeLorean]

It's like the Wes Hoolahan saga all over again. Just pointless all round.

History has proven Norwich's stubbornness with Hoolahan to be anything but pointless.

[TheOneWhoKnocks]

History has proven Norwich's stubbornness with Hoolahan to be anything but pointless.

Pointless in the sense that they kept an unhappy player who was approaching the end of his contract, refused to play him anyway and ended up getting relegated for their trouble. Pointless in the sense that a player was a pawn - piggy in the middle - in dissension at board ranks between Villa and Norwich. Pointless in the sense that it deprived him of one and a half seasons at PL level reunited with a manager he had a solid working relationship with, and left him stuck in an unhappy working relationship with a manager who made it clear he had no use for him.

[DeLorean]

Norwich held the cards and it's clear now that they were better off holding on to him, so not pointless at all from their point of view. It's not their concern if Hoolahan missed a season and a half of PL football with somebody else, for once a contract actually meant something and they used it to their advantage. And Hull are right to do the same. A similar outcome would be ideal from their point of view, if not Brady's or ours.

[seanfhear]

Norwich held the cards and it's clear now that they were better off holding on to him, so not pointless at all from their point of view. It's not their concern if Hoolahan missed a season and a half of PL football with somebody else, for once a contract actually meant something and they used it to their advantage. And Hull are right to do the same. A similar outcome would be ideal from their point of view, if not Brady's or ours.Good points there. Not to mention it sends out a clear Message that a club will not put up with being Pushed about by some players/agents.

[TheOneWhoKnocks]

Norwich held the cards and it's clear now that they were better off holding on to him, so not pointless at all from their point of view. It's not their concern if Hoolahan missed a season and a half of PL football with somebody else, for once a contract actually meant something and they used it to their advantage. And Hull are right to do the same. A similar outcome would be ideal from their point of view, if not Brady's or ours.

They blocked an unhappy and aging player, with International aspirations, from leaving the club - even after handing in a transfer request. They didn't do this because he was a valued squad member - he was struggling to even make the bench at the time - but because they, ostensibly, didn't want to strengthen a relegation rival. That's fair enough, but they also didn't want to sell because of lingering unhappiness at boardroom level over the way Paul Lambert left the club; which is just pathetic, and it's unfair to punish a player over something like this. They would have caved in and sold the player to any other team.

It's worked out now yes, and great, but Norwich ended up going down, Villa ended up consolidating their position in the PL and it took Hoolahan another year to win the trust of a manager (Alex Neil) and begin to play in his natural position.

So yeah it was pretty pointless at the time, to the point that a normally docile Hoolahan couldn't contain his outburst on the final day of the transfer window.

http://www.yorkshirepost.co.uk/sport/football/huddersfield/bruce-relying-on-high-earners-exit-to-implement-tigers-plans-1-7375300


Interest in the club’s existing players – Watford have joined Norwich City in wanting Robbie Brady but with a preference to include some form of swap deal..

[DeLorean]

I don't think you understand the meaning of the word 'pointless'. Maybe Norwich had the foresight to realise that relegation was a real possibility and that, although out of favour at that point in time, Hoolahan might once more become a valuable, experienced member of their squad, in a division where he had excelled in the past. They had practically nothing to gain by selling him to Aston Villa, other than showing goodwill to one of their longest serving players (with the obvious drawback of strengthening a direct rival). In hindisght it could have cost them close to €100m or whatever they value promotion to the PL at these times. They chose to put the club ahead of the player and have reaped the rewards since. Yes, they were still relegated that season, but they may not have come straight back up if they had lost Hoolahan, given the contribution he made once he came back into favour. Selling him to Aston Villa would have been 'pointless' from their point of view, not selling him has proved to be a masterstroke.

Not to mention the fact that Paul Lambert didn't last very long at Villa after that anyway, and there's no guarantees at all that Sherwood would have the same appreciation for Hoolahan as he had. It might have been a blessing in disguise for Wessi despite being, admittedly, a bit soul destroying at the time. He has never played more international football than he has in this period you're talking about either, which may not have been the case if he was stuck on the Villa bench.

[BonnieShels]

I don't think you understand the meaning of the word 'pointless'. Maybe Norwich had the foresight to realise that relegation was a real possibility and that, although out of favour at that point in time, Hoolahan might once more become a valuable, experienced member of their squad, in a division where he had excelled in the past. They had practically nothing to gain by selling him to Aston Villa, other than showing goodwill to one of their longest serving players (with the obvious drawback of strengthening a direct rival). In hindisght it could have cost them close to €100m or whatever they value promotion to the PL at these times. They chose to put the club ahead of the player and have reaped the rewards since. Yes, they were still relegated that season, but they may have not come straight back up if they had lost Hoolahan, given the contribution he made once he came back into favour. Selling him to Aston Villa would have been 'pointless' from their point of view, not selling him has proved to be a masterstroke.

Not to mention the fact that Paul Lambert didn't last very long at Villa after that anyway, and there's no guarantees at all that Sherwood would have the same appreciation for Hoolahan as he had. It might have been a blessing in disguise for Wessi despite being, admittedly, a bit soul destroying at the time. He has never played more international football than he has in this period you're talking about either, which may not have been the case if he was stuck on the Villa bench.

Facts can be used to prove anything.

[TheOneWhoKnocks]

I think you're reading too much into things. I don't think Norwich had the foresight to keep an unhappy, sulking player at the club back in January 2014 and keep him firmly in reserve with the view to helping them win promotion back to the Premier League in the event of relegation.

Villa made a good offer at the start of the window for an aging, unhappy player who was not being utilized by Chris Hughton and who - more pertinently - was out of contract in 6 months.

Norwich had plenty of time to reinvest that money in someone who the manager actually wanted.

As it was, Norwich just didn't want to sell him to that club because of residual ill-feeling from the Lambert move.

Hughton was gone in April and Neil Adams didn't last much longer. During that time period Adams made comments RE: Hoolahan that failed to inspire much confidence in how they viewed his ability particularly at Premier League level.

Hoolahan failing to make it at Villa is highly assumptive, just like making the jump that Norwich viewed a 32 year old as central to their future plans in a division they weren't in when their own manager was gone in April.

Anyone could see Villa were crying out for a player like Hoolahan; the move could have come up trumps for Hoolahan & Lambert.

And I do understand the meaning of the word pointless. As I said, if you look at it from the timeframe that Alex Neil became manager it wasn't pointless. If you look at it during the previous 12 months when they went out of the PL while leaving Hoolahan on the bench or out of the squad, sacked Hughton, received Adams resignation, languished in the mid-table in the Championship and played Hoolahan out of position along the way - then yes it was rather pointless!

[DeLorean]

A good offer? I can't remember exactly but were we talking in the region of £1m? I remember thinking it was peanuts anyway in terms of reinvestment, even if the offer was reasonable enough taking into account his bench status, age and contract situation. What could Norwich really have done with £1m in all fairness?

Even if it was nothing other than a petty way of not indulging Lambert it still wasn't pointless (from their point of view), but you're only assuming that's the case anyway, while passing it off as fact like you do with almost everything. I think, at the very minimum, they didn't want to run the risk of strengthening a direct relegation rival at a critical stage in the season which is, again, not pointless.

They obviously felt they had more to lose than gain by selling him to Aston Villa and they were emphatically proved right, even if vindication came via the scenic route.

[tetsujin1979]

I think you're reading too much into things. I don't think Norwich had the foresight to keep an unhappy, sulking player at the club back in January 2014 and keep him firmly in reserve with the view to helping them win promotion back to the Premier League in the event of relegation.

Villa made a good offer at the start of the window for an aging, unhappy player who was not being utilized by Chris Hughton and who - more pertinently - was out of contract in 6 months.

Norwich had plenty of time to reinvest that money in someone who the manager actually wanted.

As it was, Norwich just didn't want to sell him to that club because of residual ill-feeling from the Lambert move.

Hughton was gone in April and Neil Adams didn't last much longer. During that time period Adams made comments RE: Hoolahan that failed to inspire much confidence in how they viewed his ability particularly at Premier League level.

Hoolahan failing to make it at Villa is highly assumptive, just like making the jump that Norwich viewed a 32 year old as central to their future plans in a division they weren't in when their own manager was gone in April.

Anyone could see Villa were crying out for a player like Hoolahan; the move could have come up trumps for Hoolahan & Lambert.

And I do understand the meaning of the word pointless. As I said, if you look at it from the timeframe that Alex Neil became manager it wasn't pointless. If you look at it during the previous 12 months when they went out of the PL while leaving Hoolahan on the bench or out of the squad, sacked Hughton, received Adams resignation, languished in the mid-table in the Championship and played Hoolahan out of position along the way - then yes it was rather pointless!
Said the pot to the kettle

[DeLorean]

You calling me a kettle? :p

[TheOneWhoKnocks]

A good offer? I can't remember exactly but were we talking in the region of £1m? I remember thinking it was peanuts anyway in terms of reinvestment, even if the offer was reasonable enough taking into account his bench status, age and contract situation. What could Norwich really have done with £1m in all fairness?

Even if it was nothing other than a petty way of not indulging Lambert it still wasn't pointless (from their point of view), but you're only assuming that's the case anyway, while passing it off as fact like you do with almost everything. I think, at the very minimum, they didn't want to run the risk of strengthening a direct relegation rival at a critical stage in the season which is, again, not pointless.

They obviously felt they had more to lose than gain by selling him to Aston Villa and they were emphatically proved right, even if vindication came via the scenic route.

£1m was a good offer for a 32 year old approaching the end of his contract in 6 months (something you seemed unaware of in your original comment), who was one of the club's highest earners and whom they didn't appear to have much use for.

Now that's pretty unnecessary, DeLorean. You're casting aspersions on me as a poster there. There's no need to do that. It was common knowledge at the time what the stumbling blocks were around this move. Fair enough you don't think any of it was pointless, but I just listed why I think it was. We'll just have to beg to differ on that.

Yes, they were proven right. They kept an unhappy senior player at the club - no doubt having a negative impact on team morale, Hughton got sacked 2 months later & they got relegated. Fast forward several months later, Norwich are languishing in mid-table, Adams has no idea how to utilize Hoolahan - played out of position more often than not - and soon gets sacked. Then Alex Neil comes in and the rest is history. All part of the master plan I am sure.

Vindication in relegation.

[TheOneWhoKnocks]

Norwich have had a bid of £7m accepted according to HITC, which is admittedly not the most reliable source.

Edit: Talks ongoing but no bid accepted.

https://twitter.com/HumbersideSport/status/624663594924404736

[seanfhear]

Good left foots are worth good money. Especially with good delivery !

[geysir]

Norwich held the cards and it's clear now that they were better off holding on to him, so not pointless at all from their point of view. It's not their concern if Hoolahan missed a season and a half of PL football with somebody else, for once a contract actually meant something and they used it to their advantage. And Hull are right to do the same. A similar outcome would be ideal from their point of view, if not Brady's or ours.
Brady is obliged by the terms of his contract to take a 50% cut in pay after relegation, just from an economic perspective it's in Brady's imperative interest to get out of Hull. And with that contracted pay cut, imo, holding onto Brady = Hull having their cake and eating it. IMO, Hull should be obliged to accept a fair offer for the player.

[DeLorean]

£1m was a good offer for a 32 year old approaching the end of his contract in 6 months (something you seemed unaware of in your original comment)
Unaware of what? I didn't see it as good value from a Norwich point of view, but accept it was a fair offer. I don't think, everything considered, it would have been a good deal for them, but then I'm a Hoolahan fan and always had the hope he'd work his way back in if he wasn't sold, even if it looked unlikely and ultimately required relegation and two changes of management. At the time I'd have been happy to see him sign for Villa, but would have struggled to see any significant benefit for Norwich.


Now that's pretty unnecessary, DeLorean. You're casting aspersions on me as a poster there. There's no need to do that. It was common knowledge at the time what the stumbling blocks were around this move. Fair enough you don't think any of it was pointless, but I just listed why I think it was. We'll just have to beg to differ on that.


Don't be so sensitive. Even in this paragraph you're doing exactly what I accused you of. What you refer to as common knowledge is anything but. Yes, there was no love lost between Norwich and Lambert, but you can't categorically say that's the only reason they didn't sell, yet you are saying that. I've already suggested other factors that may or may not have been in their thinking, but they would have certainly been in mine if I was weighing it up.


Yes, they were proven right. They kept an unhappy senior player at the club - no doubt having a negative impact on team morale, Hughton got sacked 2 months later & they got relegated. Fast forward several months later, Norwich are languishing in mid-table, Adams has no idea how to utilize Hoolahan - played out of position more often than not - and soon gets sacked. Then Alex Neil comes in and the rest is history. All part of the master plan I am sure.

I never suggested it was a deliberate master plan, but I do think they weighed up the pros and cons of losing him and history has proved they made the right call.


Vindication in relegation.

You're hardly implying that they'd have avoided relegation had they sold Hoolahan to Villa? They were right to hold on to him, whether you like it or not, or whether their intentions were honourable or not, it has worked out for them... That's the vindication.

By the way, didn't you make some comment relating to Derby and what Norwich could have done with the £1m... Pretty sure I saw something along those lines yesterday but hadn't the time to reply.

I think you need to relax old chap. Maybe try separating your personal preferences from the reality. United signing Darmian over Coleman doesn't mean they're anti-Irish. Norwich not selling Hoolahan wasn't pointless. Hull holding out for the best deal they can get for a player they don't even want to sell certainly isn't pointless either and GSTQ definitely wasn't played with the specific intention of riling up James McClean. Although maybe I'm over thinking things.

[DeLorean]

Brady is obliged by the terms of his contract to take a 50% cut in pay after relegation, just from an economic perspective it's in Brady's imperative interest to get out of Hull. And with that contracted pay cut, imo, holding onto Brady = Hull having their cake and eating it. IMO, Hull should be obliged to accept a fair offer for the player.

I didn't know that but why should they be obliged to accept a fair offer? And who decides what a fair offer is?

[tricky_colour]

Same rumour I expect.


Robbie Brady's proposed switch from Hull City (http://www.hulldailymail.co.uk/hullcity) to Norwich City is on the verge of being completed with the Tigers in negotiations with the Canaries to finalise a £7m exit from the KC Stadium.
Brady's future has looked certain to be away from the Tigers for the past week now and he was not expected to travel with the squad to Austria on Saturday morning, staying behind to complete a move which will take the Irish international back to the Premier League.
While Brady's exit is waiting to be confirmed, a first signing of the summer for City is understood to be close to being completing.
The Tigers have made a move for Chesterfield attacking midfielder Sam Clucas, who played against Steve Bruce's side in the friendly match between the teams on Tuesday evening (http://www.hulldailymail.co.uk/Chesterfield-1-Hull-City-3-Tigers-offer-timely/story-27458483-detail/story.html).

http://www.hulldailymail.co.uk/Hull-City-Robbie-Brady-set-depart-7m-Sam-Clucas/story-27481236-detail/story.html

(http://www.hulldailymail.co.uk/Hull-City-Robbie-Brady-set-depart-7m-Sam-Clucas/story-27481236-detail/story.html)

[Olé Olé]

Delighted for Brady. Neil is definitely a quality manager and obviously has faith in Brady to shell out £7m. I think it's value for money. I don't think Brady has had undisputed faith from Bruce since the first half of 2013/2014 and that was demonstrated, secondarily, by the outlay on Andrew Robertson at left-back (not his best position, I know) and, primarily, by the signings of Gaston Ramirez and Hatem Ben Arfa in the more advanced spots.

I don't like saying this and I hope I'm proved wrong by one of them, but when it comes to our two brightest players from January 1992 I think Brady has the potential and is closing to realising the potential at PL level. I'm afraid Hendrick has a lot more work to do in terms comfort in possession. Brady has that in truckloads.

I mean, I don't know what Brady lacks to not be a high enough level PL performer. Cracking delivery, decent dribbling, relatively quick, comfort in possession, good strike. He won't be Damien Duff as he hasn't got the ingenious close control that set Duffer aside but there's no shame in that.

[DeLorean]

The class of January 1992!

[TheOneWhoKnocks]

DeLorean

So it was an equitable offer. Ah we are in agreement so. Letting any player go in January when you are in the cusp of a relegation battle doesn't have benefits, unless you desperately need to open up squad places. It was a bit strange at the time how they were keeping a 32 year old running down his contract, after handing in a transfer request though - when he could barely get on their bench at the time.

I am not being sensitive. There is no justifiable reason to allude to previous posts of mine. They have nothing to do with this. It is common knowledge that residual ill-feeling between the boards of those clubs prevented them from doing business from each other; it was a mitigating circumstance.

And I was saying that it is/was incorrect to infer Norwich had the foresight to prepare for relegation and Hoolahan being a pivotal part of their return to the Premier League when he was out of contract in the summer, deeply unhappy at the club and their manager was on the outs. It's obvious he wasn't seen as a Premier League player and would have been let go if they retained their status.

No. I am saying that they got relegated and Villa stayed up. It was vindicated to an extent after he signed a new contract, and a bit more when Alex Neil arrived at the club and they knew how to utilize him; if you look at it in that context then it was vindicated - and even then he has to retain his status as a starting player playing in his preferred position - which he didn't do for significant parts of last season. He would have had a great chance of starting at Villa. We don't even know if he will start when August rolls around. Jump the gun by all means.

No idea what you're on about.

I never said Man Utd were anti-Irish; I said continental players are more in vogue than Irish players. Clubs like Man Utd and managers like Louis Van Gaal would be more prepared to splash out money on a Spanish or Italian player than an Irish player of the same quality. You said I don't understand the meaning of the word "pointless". Futile is a synonym for pointless. Norwich not selling Hoolahan was pointless at the time, in that context; it would have remained that way if Alex Neil never came along 13 months later. I thought it was highly coincidental that GSTQ was played before McClean's first match for West Brom in light of all the controversy that preceded his signing. I couldn't understand why a national anthem was being played before a club match.

Personal preferences? Like the personal preferences that lead you to lash out verbally if you so much as criticize a certain player?

[DeLorean]

Couldn't be arsed going over the Hoolahan stuff again... we understand each other and disagree.

I don't get why you think LVG would prefer continentals of equal ability to Irish players, that would be anti-Irish, no other way of wording it really. And there's nothing to back it up, even if Darmian and Coleman are of similar ability, it only emphasises the point of Darmian being better value at half the price.

Your last paragraph is disturbing. Indeed I did have a go at you and apologised immediately because I shouldn't have got personal. That's well over a year ago though and was a complete once off, I think you need to move on.

As for the personal preference stuff, I do have a soft spot for Derby but not to the point where I'd lose objectivity, and I have no great love for Keogh at all. The thought of him being selected for us in a crucial game scares the bejaysus out of me to be honest. You know all this anyway as I dealt with it in length here (http://foot.ie/threads/187991-Irish-Rams-and-Opposition-Irish/page9?p=1816258#post1816258), which you hadn't even the manners to acknowledge at the time, but still proceed to spout similar nonsense some months later as if it was never discussed.

Anyway, this is going nowhere so send me one of your lovely private mails if you want to continue, said I'd get there before Tets does!

Oh... and you do know what I'm on about, unless I dreamt it, which would be kind of sad.

[geysir]

I didn't know that but why should they be obliged to accept a fair offer?
Now that you know his wages would be reduced by 50% and he's an epl capable player, you can figure that question out by yourself :)

And who decides what a fair offer is?
Someone, I suppose.

[DeLorean]

Obviously I can't. That's why I asked you. :)

[geysir]

Obviously I can't. That's why I asked you. :)
How about the concept of mutual respect between an employer and employee? have you never encountered it?
Considering his wages would be reduced by 50% and he's an epl capable player, then
once the criteria of a fair transfer offer has been met, the best possible offer, then Hull are obliged to accept it, it's a mutual respect thing.

[DeLorean]

Enforced mutual respect! Brady was obviously happy enough with the terms of the contract in the first place to say he signed it. A fair fee is incredibly subjective, Norwich seemed to think £4m was reasonable initially and now it seems to be around £7m. Even £7m might not seem reasonable from a Hull perspective if they think it will seriously dent their promotion chances. What if they had six or seven players on these types of contracts? Theoretically they could lose half their team if offers deemed to be reasonable (by someone!) came in.

The clubs have little enough power as it is, I don't think there's any need to tie their hands even tighter.

Anyway, luckily for Brady there does seem to be some mutual respect at play as Bruce has been resigned to losing him for a while now.

[geysir]

Norwich have some form in prolonged transfer negotiations, prolonged by their low opening bid and subsequent painfully slow ascent up the scale to meet the 'fair price' evaluation.

[TheOneWhoKnocks]

"The two clubs have agreed a fee for Robbie," added Bruce.

"We have given Robbie permission to go and speak to Norwich. I envisage that deal to go through.

"I want to thank Robbie for his efforts as he has been a terrific player for us.

"It's sad to see him go but most people will understand that when you get relegated these things happen.

"When Norwich were relegated last season, we got Robert Snodgrass. They are doing the reverse this year and they have taken one of our good players.

"And he is a good player, and we wish him the best of luck."
http://www.hulldailymail.co.uk/Hull-City-Steve-Bruce-expects-Ryan-Taylor-Sam/story-27488305-detail/story.html

[Olé Olé]

"When Norwich were relegated last season, we got Robert Snodgrass. They are doing the reverse this year and they have taken one of our good players."

Fairly clear that Bruce was adamant on playing hardball with Norwich, even though they did open the bidding unnecessarily low. Hull paid close to £7m for Snodgrass so, clearly, Bruce wanted to recoup something along those lines for Brady. Just so happens that, I think anyway, £7m is pretty fair value.

I hope Brady is on the wing for Norwich, as opposed to full back. Wingers there are:
Lewis Grabban (striker also though)
Nathan Redmond
Bradley Johnson (also left back and central midfield)
Elliott Bennett

Don't think I'm missing anyone there. Bennett can be discounted as he was loaned out last year and isn't near Brady. Redmond will be on the right. Grabban is likely to play up top, if at all and only played on the left twice last season. Johnson played 33 of his 43 starts last season in the middle.

Norwich aren't that free-spending historically, so if a player is signed for £7m he's signed to start. However, I'd hope that it'll be in a more advanced position than left back and the above infers that it may be.

[jbyrne]

I hope Brady is on the wing for Norwich, as opposed to full back.

if he is to play for us at left back, as seems the case, then I would rather he played there for Norwich also. we have a couple of options for left mid but very few for left back

[Kingdom]

"When Norwich were relegated last season, we got Robert Snodgrass. They are doing the reverse this year and they have taken one of our good players."

Fairly clear that Bruce was adamant on playing hardball with Norwich, even though they did open the bidding unnecessarily low. Hull paid close to £7m for Snodgrass so, clearly, Bruce wanted to recoup something along those lines for Brady. Just so happens that, I think anyway, £7m is pretty fair value.

I hope Brady is on the wing for Norwich, as opposed to full back. Wingers there are:
Lewis Grabban (striker also though)
Nathan Redmond
Bradley Johnson (also left back and central midfield)
Elliott Bennett

Don't think I'm missing anyone there. Bennett can be discounted as he was loaned out last year and isn't near Brady. Redmond will be on the right. Grabban is likely to play up top, if at all and only played on the left twice last season. Johnson played 33 of his 43 starts last season in the middle.

Norwich aren't that free-spending historically, so if a player is signed for £7m he's signed to start. However, I'd hope that it'll be in a more advanced position than left back and the above infers that it may be.

I'd agree with all that, but


if he is to play for us at left back, as seems the case, then I would rather he played there for Norwich also. we have a couple of options for left mid but very few for left back

I'd agree with that too.

However, I don't think he's really been tested, and luckily we got away with murder against Scotland. I don't think he's ever going to be sound enough at left full, and would hope that we investigate other options to their limit before we settle on Robbie.

[Olé Olé]

I thought he did well against Scotland but I thought he looked shackled. He's one of the best technical players we've produced in a while (Jack Byrne looks likely to be the next and he's 5 years young and that's speculative). I reckon he needs to move to left midfield as it's his best position. Of course it'd be better for Ireland if he was playing left back for his club and playing left back for his country because that's where MON wanted to select him. If Norwich pick him left midfield then it's probably better for them and better for Brady, as that is his preferred and natural position. Tough luck for Ireland. Make your choice then, MON.

[Kingdom]

I thought he did well against Scotland but I thought he looked shackled.
I meant that in the sense that he didn't get tested despite having no cover in front of him. That Scotland didn't cramp his was bizarre.

[SkStu]

7 million for Brady. Worth the same as Bebe... ;)

Is there a list of biggest fee single transfer irish players? I presume McCarthy or Robbie are at the top?

[dr_peepee]

I'd say Keane, duff, McCarthy, McGeady and long..

[geysir]

I'd say Roy Keane's transfer record in 1993, if properly adjusted would be worth more than Robbie or Duff, but the transfer fees pre-sky implosion don't get adjusted properly to reflect post-sky implosion value.

Duff's £17m in 2003 just about edges out Robbie's £13m in 2000, after transfer inflation adjustment.
I think the only other notable was Frank Stapleton's to Man U in early 1980's for about £1m.

[DeLorean]

Yeah hard to believe Roy Keane's £3.75m fee was a British transfer record at the time!

[nigel-harps1954]

Yeah hard to believe Roy Keane's £3.75m fee was a British transfer record at the time!

Mad how money has taken over. Even given inflation rates that's only just around £6.2 million today.