Once again, I’ve never denied there was a link to grant.
I said there is nothing to suggest we actually acted, whereas you said he chose Huddersfield over us.
Why is there nothing to suggest we acted...
1) the absence of any reported bids or further stories beyond a couple of tenuous links
2) none of the stories of him signing for Huddersfield suggested he rejected an offer from us.
3) none of the stories this time around have suggested we bid 18 months ago
4) Dowling has been quoted has saying we had followed his progress for a long time. He may have said we had tried to sign him previously but he chose the premier league if that had been the case
So there is nothing to suggest he choose them over us. You are the one believing what you choose to believe in the absence of any evidence. Do you not understand the difference between a tenuous link and action. I can’t keep going in circles and reaso man you out of a view you’ve clearly not reasoned Yourself in to.
In terms of the contract, once again there is nothing to suggest paying fees over a length of a players contract is normal. Technically a bid, which you’d assume would explain how money would be paid would need to be accepted before you’d even discuss a players contact (although in reality all technicalities may not be ironed out until later). What you said was not demonstrably true there either, regardless of whether you are now trying to change what you ‘meant’.
Initially I I disagreed with two points you made, because neither appear to be true. Both cases were you taking 2+2 and making 37.
What gets me is who made you the arbiter of what link I should believe?
It appears that you consider yourself some kind font of all Albion knowledge because you have time to post more often than me and you still keep on digging, as if you haven't any recollection of something it must not have happened.
Truth is neither of know what really happened in January 2019, even though it was widely reported then and as the article shows sky sports reported it. We also reported to be after Joe aribo from Charlton, but I suppose because you cannot remember that either, it didn't happen.
But, we do know is you came for me and basically said I made it up even though I didn't respond to any post you put up on this thread, including the one where you clearly said you wish we went after him in Jan 2019 essentially.
Instead you accused me of embellishing what you said, which I did not as you cleary said : "no evidence" then went onto "tenuous links" to now trying to dissect what has been said by dowling, which supports my argument not yours BTW.
I wrote:
"I hope some add ons are involved to take it to £15m, as still gutted we missed out on him when he went for £2m, but the prem swayed him then too."
So did I say he chose Huddersfield over US? No
Or id I say I am gutted we missed out on him which is reasonable given the links you didn't know about claiming them to be non existent (yes that is what no evidence means) and then hedging your bets to tenuous links.
It was YOU who said if he had the choice he would have chosen us as we looked like we'd get promotion and huddersfield were doomed.
And now you have been shown a credible link that we may have tried you cannot accept something happened at the Albion you knew nothing about then and now, and still continue to deny it.
You clearly went from no evidence (your words which you keep trying to forget) to tenuous evidence to now saying essentially because Dowling didn't ring and tell of our interest at the time, the long term interest he has now admitted, which you accept, must have begun the day after we missed out on him.
Regarding the fee, how do you know it is not normal practice now, are you party to every contract we agree?
As given our very limited resources it is an excellent way to get players now without the massive outlay upfront.
So to sum up your honour, please, please believe me and the link evidence and YOU stop making up stuff like I said he rejected us.