[Confirmed] Tonge to Stoke

[ThatJa]

According to SSN, Pulis wont rule out a transfer of Tonge.

 

[Bladesman]

Tonge To Stoke?

SSN just saying they may try and sign Tonge now. lol

 

[Come from away]

Can't imagine we would let him go without a quality replacement and as the point has been made elsewhere good midfield players are not abundantly for sale.

 

[MAQ]

Double POST!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[butchaboy]

do it Pulis, do it for the both of us

 

[MAQ]

what double post?

 

[ThatJa]

Different posters, not a double post.

 

[Greasy Chip Butty]

Breaking news: Cardiff City have refused Joe Ledley permission to speak to Stoke City after the Premier League new boys bid £6m for the Welsh international midfielder. "We have informed Joe that he has no authority to speak to anybody," chairman Peter Ridsdale told BBC Sport.

Surely this would increase the liklihood of them going for Tonge, tho rejecting £6m is a bit of a suprise!

 

[ThatJa]

Just been told Tonge's gone!! Well thank fcuk for that. Let him banana foot there shots behind the goal.

Confirmed, may aswell move this to the general blades chat now its official

 

[Kev Gee]

Any idea on the fee?

 

[Foxy]

Confirmed... Undisclosed but thought to be in the region of £1.5mil

 

[ThatJa]

1.5million is being reported.

 

[MAQ]

not enough for me

 

[stinkyblade]

not enough for me

Recently I think people were willing to pay for his taxi so It's not a bad deal

 

[Sharpy]

Ok.....so we have weakened the squad, have signed nobody, and still have a crap midfield.

Yeah, we are not getting promoted this season.

 

[Kev Gee]

Not a bad price to be fair!!

I REALLY hope this new scouting network brings home the goods soon!

 

[ThatJa]

I reckon we will get a couple of loans in in the next few days. Another Cotterill will do ta.

 

[metalblade]

The one creative midfielder we have now gone to Stoke, no replacement DOES THAT MEAN WE ARE A SELLING CLUB AGAIN ?????? FFS

 

[Foxy]

no replacement

And how do you know this yet?

 

[Username]

Not a bad price to be fair!!

I REALLY hope this new scouting network brings home the goods soon!

1.5 mill, yeah all good but the window is shut so its too late to spend it!

 

[rachyblade]

Confirmed... Undisclosed but thought to be in the region of £1.5mil

Just said an initial 2 Million on the sky sports news ticker.

 

[Foxy]

Just said an initial 2 Million on the sky sports news ticker.

Yup... people are changing their minds as the night goes on!

 

[Mousey]

Just said an initial 2 Million on the sky sports news ticker.

Yeah, £2m initially and a 4 year deal for him.

 

[TonyAgana]

We will regret this.

 

[beightonblade]

Can't imagine we would let him go without a quality replacement and as the point has been made elsewhere good midfield players are not abundantly for sale.

:cry2: has the penny dropped yet ?

 

[Robbie]

NA NA NA NA NA NA NA NA NA NA NA NA WE SOLD MICHAEL TONGE, MICHAEL TONGE, WE SOLD MICHAEL TONGE

Fantastic piece of business. Stoke must be mad paying such a price.

Good luck to Tonge, I believe he just needed a fresh start. But it's good to see one of the higher earners off the wage bill and also not see him in the squad no more.

I take back whatever I have ever said about Blackie, he's a genius.

 

[silverfox]

I think Tonge needed a new start and I wish him well.

I hope he's got a good loan deal lined up to excite us.

If not all we can do is get behind the ones that play!

 

[Samantha]

Wish I'd not turned SSN off now!! Only did it because those annoying Mancs singing down the microphone everytime they went across

 

[Foxy]

Well Blackie has released his press version:

Kevin Blackwell says he was 'disappointed' to see Michael Tonge leave Bramall Lane late on transfer deadline day, but insisted the deal was a good one for the Blades - and for the playe.

Tonge has signed a four-year deal at the Britannia Stadium after the clubs agreed an undisclosed fee, and Blackwell admits that although he would have preferred not to sell, he couldn't stand in the way of a player wanting to return to the top tier of English football:

"I was hoping the phone call wouldn't come, because I wanted to the squad together.

"It all happened so quickly from about eleven o'clock and it was a situation where Tongey wanted the opportunity to play in the Premiership again, and the club had received an excellent financial offer.

"We knew something could happen, but hoped it wouldn't. Some of the the staff had to be at Bramall Lane until gone midnight because of that. Stoke put a bid in late in the day and that was that."

The Gaffer's disappointment at losing a player that he has seen develop into a first-team regular over the years was evident, but he is happy that the deal suits everyone concerned:

"We grew up together in a way and I have seen him progress rapidly over my two spells with the Blades. When I cam back he proved to the supporters that he is a good player and he is a great lad.

"Tongey will have a hint of sadness about him, because this has been his footballing home for so long and he has known nothing different.

"Life is full of challenges, though, and it is a great chance for him and, more importantly, we have made sure it is a good move for this football club."

 

[jodman]

I have to say that the statement pretty much confirms what i suspected; Toney wanted his chance to play at the top flight and Blackie isn't the kind of guy to stand in his way IF the deal is right.

Fair play all round in my opinion.

However, the late nature of the deal and the general "surprise" element that is confirmed by Blackie in the above article would suggest that a replacement is not in place and that we may be involved in a scramble to bring someone in on loan.

Time for Hendrie to stand up and be counted!