Ghaly "not guilty"

[Geez]

Source: Daily Mirror

Hossam Ghaly insists he did not criticise Birmingham's players in a row which saw his £3million move to the Midlands collapse.

After sending the midfielder back to Tottenham, Blues boss Steve Bruce blasted the Egyptian's 'arrogant and insulting' behaviour.

But Ghaly has told Spurs boss Martin Jol a different story.

Jol revealed: "I had a good word with Ghaly and he told me he never said anything about the players.

"I know him - he's a very good boy, he never says anything, head down, works.

"I had one incident with him - but it was the only time he ever got fined for something."

[Shirtfront]

Well if Bruce really did save the voicemessage, as he claimed, expect the transcript to hit the press shortly...

[JohnnyA]

Please dont make excuses for him Mr Jol, he clearly is a tad arrogant as shown by Bruce, the shirt throwing (which may have been frustration, but still) and from his previous team. Doesnt look like hes leaving then, not a bad squad player, on teamtalk BMJ says his stats last season were one of our best!

[SteffenFreund]

Of course Ghaly said that stuff.

Jol is just defending him so that he doesn't come across as an arrogant troublemaker. Then we can still flog him.

I'm not convinced it'll work though

[thejames]

I heard elsewhere that he got ganged up on by the Tunisian lads there. Egypt and Tunisia done got beef.

I have no reason to believe Bruce. There are two sides to every story. The shirt-throwing incident was unfortunate, but I think has been mis-read. It was frustration. He's clearly passionate about his football, and was p1ssed off at being subbed after 20 mins! I'd personally be more worried if he jogged off with a smile on his face.

[PT]

So we take Steve Bruce's word then do we? Or Jol's? There is a lot more to what went on in training than Bruce is letting on, I 'd imagine. Both corners defending their honour.

[BringBack_leGin]

he's be useful during the tough part of the season in the middle when games are coming thick and fast and injuries are plentyful... oh wait, he won't, he'll be off at the African cup of Nations!

[Rufio]

I'll believe Jol until proven otherwise - that's fair right?

[sebo_sek]

he's be useful during the tough part of the season in the middle when games are coming thick and fast and injuries are plentyful... oh wait, he won't, he'll be off at the African cup of Nations!
Or will he?
Just cos he's Egyptian doesnt mean he gets an automatic starting place. Maybe he won't get picked.
That's a definite if he plays little for us.
I am actually happy that he's staying (for now at least). I think you're spot on BBLG.

[ricardo_archibald]

OK, like many, I thought Ghaly shot himself in the foot when I originally heard this story, but in the interest of fair play I went to my old Egyptian 'Video' friends, Egyptian Players.com who had spoken to his agent:-

Ghaly's deal at Birmingham City was cancelled and manager Steve Bruce dubbed him an "arrogant" player who "criticised his team-mates". Poldner believes this is far from the truth.

"The only thing I can say is to defend Hossam. What they (Birmingham) said is absolutely not true - that he fought with his team-mates and so on," said Poldner exclusively to EgyptianPlayers.com on Thursday evening.

When asked which party - Birmingham City or Ghaly - cancelled the deal, Poldner thought for a few moments before answering: "I think let's say that at the end of the day, both parties were not happy with the deal."

He continued: "It's not a question of what Hossam said. He didn't say I don't want to play. The only thing he said to Steve Bruce is that he was a little bit worried with what he saw in training as to whether the team would stay in the Premier League."

Poldner also feels that Ghaly's comments stemmed out of his love for his then new club. "Of course when you are at Spurs and go to Birmingham it is one step back. He was only concerned about the team.

"Maybe the cancellation was on both sides. Maybe when they heard about what Hossam was thinking they (Birmingham) said they want a player who believes 100%. And maybe at this stage, the belief wasn't 100% from his side."

When asked about the ramifications of Steve Bruce's comments in the press and media, the player's agent said that though they are not true, they may well have a negative effect on his client. Poldner also remembered Ghaly's patient and praiseworthy reaction when he first arrived in Europe and sat on the Feyenoord bench for months.

"Of course it is not pretty when you hear that (Bruce's comments) and other clubs may have also heard it.

"But it is absolutely not true. Hossam is not arrogant. He's an absolutely nice guy and he is not arrogant. He is a quiet boy. Remember when he came to Rotterdam? For the first six months he waited. But to say that he is arrogant, absolutely not. People who know him know he's not arrogant. He's a very good person, a very good team-mate, and tries 100% for the team."

Despite the attention the midfielder has received, a move away from Tottenham Hotspur may still be on the cards. "The latest news for Hossam Ghaly is that we are obviously talking with a few clubs, but I can't say the names of the clubs at this moment. We are speaking with several clubs, but for the moment it is better not to mention the names of the those interested," revealed Poldner to EP.

OK...so it's a bit long this and doesn't say too much more than we already know but it does give a slightly different edge to it, which is my point....always try and get both sides to the arguement before you decide to condemn someone....that's exactly what Jol has done!

[davidmatzdorf]

I've never had any doubt that both sides of this argument have been spinning it like crazy. So it shouldn't really be a case of "do we believe Bruce or do we believe Ghaly, his agent and Jol?".

Somewhere in between is what really happened. They just rubbed each other up the wrong way, right from the start. It's plain that Ghaly immediately thought "oh dear" when he saw his new club and teammates and it's plain that Bruce thought "this one's trouble" as soon as Ghaly opened his mouth.

Of course Bruce has been embroidering whatever it is that Ghaly said and of course he's been minimising whatever friction there may have been with the Tunisian players. He would, wouldn't he?

And of course Ghaly's going to tell Jol and his agent "I didn't say anything, really, just took issue with a couple of rough tackles and worried about Birmingham staying up".

Surprisingly, I find the agent's version quite plausible. It doesn't make Ghaly sound like a man with especially good judgment. You don't walk into your first day's training at a new club and immediately question the ability of the team to avoid relegation.

But Bruce's response has seemed like a gross over-reaction from day one. And it seems even more so with some hindsight.

[mawspurs]

[I]He continued: "It's not a question of what Hossam said. He didn't say I don't want to play. The only thing he said to Steve Bruce is that he was a little bit worried with what he saw in training as to whether the team would stay in the Premier League."


Sounds like Hossam found out the grass isn't always greener, and Bruce didn't like being told his team are crap. Possibly something got lost in the translation between Ghaly and Bruce.

[tingy98]

So we take Steve Bruce's word then do we? Or Jol's? There is a lot more to what went on in training than Bruce is letting on, I 'd imagine. Both corners defending their honour.

A bout in a ring would be quality to settle it..... celebrity premierleague manager's death match!!

[kingpindave]

dont like bruce one bit anyway and when kenny cunningham said the same sort of thing, brucey threw his toys out his pram...

think ghalys shirt throwing was a one off.. ok he had a bad game and yes he had only been on 40mins max...

the kid hasnt really got much of a future at spurs now prince has signed so he is limbo really.. unless he fancies dedicating his training to his left foot... then he can stay!

[kicked]

Lets get one thing straight on the Ghaly front....he only one bad incident with us and other than that he's been ok and the main reason for this post......give him some credit...he's got a point about Birmingham..they are a bit shit aren't they! If you'd been staying at the Ritz for the last year you'd be a bit pissed with a run down Travel Lodge!! :wink:

[jackhealy]

The saying goes " never call a fat lady fat". If Ghaly was concerned about Birmingham's prospect of staying up, he shopuldn't have mentioned it.It's probably a concern felt even more by Bruce. He can probably see his side propping up the premiership by Christmas and him getting canned about February.

[striebs]

dont like bruce one bit anyway and when kenny cunningham said the same sort of thing, brucey threw his toys out his pram...

think ghalys shirt throwing was a one off.. ok he had a bad game and yes he had only been on 40mins max...

the kid hasnt really got much of a future at spurs now prince has signed so he is limbo really.. unless he fancies dedicating his training to his left foot... then he can stay!

Bruce didn't jump ship when Birmingham got relegated , surely that is one little bit of him you can like .

Ghaly is technically good , direct and offers a physical presence . Kevin Prince Boateng is not a step up from Ghaly if his youtube clips are anything to go by .

Should never have brought him in the first place if not going to give him a proper chance .

[camaj]

Can't blame Ghaly for calling a spade a spade. I wouldn't have been so diplomatic about it!

[Real_madyidd]

As the saying goes, you can't polish a turd.

[SouthLondonSpur]

Ghaly no doubt has some voice on him when provoked, Birmingham no doubt have some issues. Bruce shouldnt have been quite so emphatic about it, and Hossam should have been more diplomatic.

Blown over, forgotten about, we have another midfielder for when the going gets tough. Just hope he can step up to the mark.

[yanno]

As I said on the earlier thread, once Bruce behaved in true weasal fashion by using the work permit window to send back a player who'd been training with Brum for 3 days, he really should have kept his mouth shut. When Carlton Cole allegedly turned up on the sauce for his Spurs medical, Jol and Levy didn't bang on about it in the press. They kept quiet to protect Cole's transfer value
Bruce should have been ecstatic at having found a way of getting out of the deal that all parties were clearly having second thoughts about, and left it at that.
And I really cannot understand how Bruce thinks he has a hope in hell of getting Mido to sign for him after the way he slagged off his mate - plus the kicking Brum's Tunisians are alleged to have given Ghaly in training.
Sure Jol is trying to protect Ghaly's transfer value, but he should never have been put into this position in the first place. Steve Bruce has acted throughout like a manager with much to hide, and I sincerely hope he and the "Asian Babes"-funded Brummies are back where they belong next year - in the Championship.

[brasil_spur]

Bruce didn't jump ship when Birmingham got relegated , surely that is one little bit of him you can like .

Ghaly is technically good , direct and offers a physical presence . Kevin Prince Boateng is not a step up from Ghaly if his youtube clips are anything to go by .

Should never have brought him in the first place if not going to give him a proper chance .

I quite liked Ghaly last season, but it is clear that he is a fringe squad player at best.

KPB is definitley a step up, he was Bundesliga young player of the season 2006 ffs. Rating someone by their youtube clips is kinda ridiculous, instead lets rate them by something fairer - perhaps by their history before joining Spurs, given that Bundesliga and Eredivisie are similar leagues.

Hossam Ghaly: 49 appearances and 3 goals in two and a half seasons. 24 yrs old when he joined Spurs

KPB: 43 appearances and 4 goals in two seasons. 20 yrs old when joined spurs.

So for me KPB looks likely to be the better player of the two, especially given that Ghaly hasn't really stood out in the last 12months.

[Paxtonite]

I quite liked Ghaly last season, but it is clear that he is a fringe squad player at best.

KPB is definitley a step up, he was Bundesliga young player of the season 2006 ffs. Rating someone by their youtube clips is kinda ridiculous, instead lets rate them by something fairer - perhaps by their history before joining Spurs, given that Bundesliga and Eredivisie are similar leagues.

Hossam Ghaly: 49 appearances and 3 goals in two and a half seasons. 24 yrs old when he joined Spurs

KPB: 43 appearances and 4 goals in two seasons. 20 yrs old when joined spurs.

So for me KPB looks likely to be the better player of the two, especially given that Ghaly hasn't really stood out in the last 12months.

You started this post quite rationally and then went and blew it by comparing how many goals they scored given the games they played and how old they are.

I think you will find that comparison usually works well with strikers. A midfielder's role is a bit more complicated than that!!

[StokeSpur]

Kevin Prince Boateng is not a step up from Ghaly if his youtube clips are anything to go by.

:rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl:

1, Ghaly is shit, he cant pass at all and he cant even control the ball. KPB is a huge improvement on Ghaly! and is the type of player we need to keep going forward.
2, He's deffo said something and as he's already shown his petulance, i believe Bruce.
3, Jol is not going to say anything bad about Ghaly is he? why knock sumat yr trying to sell, cmon guys work it out.

[madaboutspurs]

I've never had any doubt that both sides of this argument have been spinning it like crazy. So it shouldn't really be a case of "do we believe Bruce or do we believe Ghaly, his agent and Jol?".

Somewhere in between is what really happened. They just rubbed each other up the wrong way, right from the start. It's plain that Ghaly immediately thought "oh dear" when he saw his new club and teammates and it's plain that Bruce thought "this one's trouble" as soon as Ghaly opened his mouth.

Of course Bruce has been embroidering whatever it is that Ghaly said and of course he's been minimising whatever friction there may have been with the Tunisian players. He would, wouldn't he?

And of course Ghaly's going to tell Jol and his agent "I didn't say anything, really, just took issue with a couple of rough tackles and worried about Birmingham staying up".

Surprisingly, I find the agent's version quite plausible. It doesn't make Ghaly sound like a man with especially good judgment. You don't walk into your first day's training at a new club and immediately question the ability of the team to avoid relegation.

But Bruce's response has seemed like a gross over-reaction from day one. And it seems even more so with some hindsight.
Well said again Dave, still waitin on you to give me the job of beeing your P R:hump:

[rsam8]

Hang on, I am not a paid employee for the Ghaly foundation but to write him off like some ppl have is really a bit OTT. This lad can obviously play, as we have seen already this season. Remember he is continually played out of position and done a job for us. Admittedly he does require to gain more consistency, but if he stays I will not be as unhappy as if say Murphy is still on the books in Sept.

[maradona]

but can KPB launch himself through the air like ghaly can? i don't think so. could have done with ghalys attacking intentions against sunderland to be honest.. and so could sunderland..

wish jim'll fix it was still around....