Gaz Baz

[kingfunk]

What's the disguise?

Downing getting injured long term, Should rule out a move to us.

[Kenneth]

Downing getting injured long term, Should rule out a move to us.

Thanks for the explanation.

[-V-]

So Downing deal wont happen because he couldnt possibly pass a medical. We should move for Tuncay. Much cheaper and a quality player

[Nick77]

So Downing deal wont happen because he couldnt possibly pass a medical. We should move for Tuncay. Much cheaper and a quality player

Thank God 4 that, Downing is definitely not worth 12 million.
And yes Tuncay would be a better & cheaper option, even though he's a Turk - but if he performs for us then I could just about forgive him...

[memzey]

Tuncay is class. He sticks out like a sore thumb in that Boro team. And I don't care where our players come from (what's the big deal about him being Turkish?) as long as they are good enough

[dww]

I don't see how Tuncay would improve us to be honest. He offers no more goal threat than Benayoun or Kuyt, no more width and no more pace. He is a good player but he offers none of the things we need.

[Neil Young]

The only good thing is he wouldn't cost a bazillion pounds. Then again neither would I but sadly I don't see anyone here clamouring for me to sign.

[-V-]

Tuncay would improve us because he would improve our squad. He is a very skillful player who gives 100% every game and i think that if you put him into a top quality team he would be very very productive

[red g]

The 24-year-old damaged his right foot against Aston Villa last weekend and a scan has confirmed he will need an operation which is expected to rule him out for around three months.

Boro assistant boss Malcolm Crosby told the club's website: "He is out for two or three months at least."

England play Kazakhstan and Andorra in June as Fabio Capello's side look to secure qualification for the 2010 finals in South Africa.

It is understood Downing will have a pin inserted into his foot on Friday.

"It's not good news for him or the club," confirmed Crosby.

"Stewart is facing an operation and will be very frustrated.

"I've looked at the challenge again by Petrov and, while it was a clumsy challenge, I think it was an accident.

"I don't think that for one minute he meant to do it. Injuries are part of the game and you get used to them happening when you least want them.

"Stewart has played every game for us this season and has made a big contribution.

"He hasn't scored goals but he has worked extremely hard."

The news is a huge blow for Boro and Downing, mainly due to the fact they had already given the green light to the winger to leave the club this summer.

Given their likely relegation, his £10million-plus transfer would have been a boost to the club's finances.

Downing will also be worried about his World Cup chances, as if he is sidelined beyond the summer he will be forced to start in the Championship


Bonus

[Kenneth]

Given their likely relegation, his £10million-plus transfer would have been a boost to the club's finances.

Downing will also be worried about his World Cup chances, as if he is sidelined beyond the summer he will be forced to start in the Championship

So funny all round then.

[Vermilion]

So funny all round then.

And lucky for us too.

[Leyton388]

Ahh such a shame

[Nick77]

Tuncay is class. He sticks out like a sore thumb in that Boro team. And I don't care where our players come from (what's the big deal about him being Turkish?) as long as they are good enough

Yes I agree, but I'm Greek so we don't get on so well with the Turks, but like u say - if he performs then no problem...

[Shaggy]

I don't see how Tuncay would improve us to be honest. He offers no more goal threat than Benayoun or Kuyt, no more width and no more pace. He is a good player but he offers none of the things we need.

[MrsB]

O'Neill will consider Barry sale

BBC Sport, 22 May 2009

Aston Villa manager Martin O'Neill has said he will not stand in the way of Gareth Barry if he wants to leave in search of Champions League football.

The 28-year-old, who has one year left on his contract at Villa, has been linked with a move to a top-four club.

O'Neill told BBC WM: "We would like him to stay but we understand that he's been at the club for 11 years.

"If someone came in with the offer of the Champions League, then that's something that we would look at."

Barry was involved in a tug-of-war between Liverpool and Villa last summer, with the West Midlands club rejecting a number of bids for being below their valuation, which was believed to be around £18m.

O'Neill insisted he would be willing to let the England midfielder see out the remainder of his current contract and leave Villa Park on a free transfer at the end of next season.

"Even if he ran his contract down I don't think that's something that would concern us greatly and that might show that we would like him to stay," said O'Neill.

"It's not a matter of us wanting to cash in because he's in his final year. If he said he was going to run it down and see it through, I would be delighted."

The Villa boss, who was boosted by the news that Stiliyan Petrov had signed a new four-year deal earlier in the week, will allow Barry to take his time in making his decision.

"I've told him that there's no need to rush into anything," he added.

"He's got not only this game [against Newcastle on Sunday], but then two England international matches in June, and I'm sure he won't be able to get his head around anything until they're over with."

Barry, who has won 29 caps for England, joined Villa as a trainee from Brighton and Hove Albion in 1997 and has since scored more than 50 goals in more than 400 appearances for the club.