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Taylor Unaware of Further Palace Interest in Downes
Tuesday, 15th Sep 2020 10:46

Assistant manager Stuart Taylor is unaware of any further interest from Crystal Palace in midfielder Flynn Downes, but says that could just be part of the negotiation process.

Downes was the subject of £1.2 million and £1.6 million rising to £2.5 million offers from the Eagles which the Blues rebuffed as they were well short of their valuation.

The academy product subsequently handed in a transfer request and after a conversation with manager Paul Lambert was given a few days off to clear his head.

Asked whether the 21-year-old, who is yet to appear in a match day 18 this season but has been training and was involved in the warm-down on the pitch after Saturday’s game, was ready to play if selected for Wednesday’s Carabao Cup tie against Fulham, assistant manager Stuart Taylor said: “As I said to you, I said in the press conference after Tuesday night, that's an answer for Flynn to give.

“He'll be back in training with the lads again today, and I'm quite sure there will be a conversation with him to see how he is."

Is Downes likely to be involved before the transfer window shuts on October 16th or will he be kept in the shadows until then? “We won’t keep anybody in the shadows. He’s a professional and I’m sure he’ll deal with it in a professional way.

“I think there was a lot going on his head. I think there might have been pressure from different avenues, not from us, but I’m quite sure Flynn at some point will inform everybody of what’s going on.

“Listen, it was good to see him back in and training again with a lot fresher mindset and that comes off the back having that experience to give him three days off. We’ll just see what today brings when he comes in.”

Ultimately, it's the management’s decision whether a player is involved or otherwise. That being the case, couldn’t boss Paul Lambert just say ‘Suck it up and get on with it’?

“Would you get the best out of someone if you said ’Suck it up and get on with it’?,” Taylor responded.

Does the assistant boss believe a point can be reached where Downes’s head is in the right place and he can be reintegrated? “That’s what we are trying to do. That’s what we’re really trying to do.

“We’ve got the best interest of the football club, which we have to take care of, and we’ve got the best interest of the player, that we have to take care of, and it’s marrying both together.

“It’s something that we’ve always done since we’ve been here, do what’s right for the football club and do what’s right for the players, and this situation with Flynn is no different.”

“I think it’s something we need to be very, very careful with and we have to make sure we’re doing things right on that side. Again, as a management team we need to know where we are with it."

Asked whether Downes has refused to play, Taylor said: “I think there’s a discussion there between the manager and Flynn, which I don’t think I should be saying anything at this moment in time about. I think that’s something for Flynn and the manager and the club to speak about.”

Regarding further interest from Palace since the offers in late August, Taylor says there hasn’t been any that he knows of: “I’m not aware of anything.”

Given the time that’s elapsed since the bids, might that signal that the interest has waned? “That’s a negotiations thing. You know yourself, if you’re buying a car, you don’t act interested in it, you put in a low offer, you kind of kid on, ‘Just keep the car, we’re not interested in it’, then above the water you’re all calm but down below you’re paddling like anything.

“It’s that negotiations thing. They might come back in and triple or quadruple their money, whatever it is, I don’t know, or they might not.

“Nobody knows, that’s football and it’s negotiations and that’s why we can’t get involved in anything because it just becomes talk. And there’s no point in getting involved, you may as well just deal with facts.

“We’re just dealing with facts at this moment in time and trying to deal with this situation as best as possible.”


Photo: Matchday Images



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Len_Brennan added 10:56 - Sep 15
"Asked whether Downes has refused to play, Taylor said: “I think there's a discussion there between the manager and Flynn, which I don't think I should be saying anything at this moment in time about. I think that's something for Flynn and the manager and the club to speak about.”
- That really should have been an easy 'No' from Taylor. Not good.
I don't expect him to be involved tonight, which is fair enough given that he could be cup tied & this competition is where Palace would likely start off playing him, IF they sign him. However, Lambert should pick him for the game on Saturday, on the bench at least, and if he refuses to play we start down the route of 2 week fines, rising to 4 if he continues his sulky protest.
He is under contract & can not be let go without the valuation being met, what signal would letting him go give to the rest of the squad & rival teams.
3

martin587 added 10:58 - Sep 15
Either we sell him or he plays tomorrow it's not rocket science as this fiasco is beginning to bore us all now.
3

Suffolkboy added 11:10 - Sep 15
Show some believable sign of being man managers. ; he is our player and if fit should undoubtedly be on the field of play. IF he refuses then suspend him, fine him ,tell him he's not going anywhere ,tell him to get his head and body right : there's a joint contract which he cannot walk away from whatever his NEW agent tries , or however he wants to play his hand ,
Plainly we've resolved to sell,it's all about playing temporary hard ball ,BUT this nonsense about ‘looking after this and that ‘ is about as transparent as it's clearly just muddying the waters !
Shame on all concerned : change the music and ALL get on the dance floor !
COYB
5

unknown100 added 11:42 - Sep 15
At first when I read about the transfer request I was worried, now he's acting like something serious has happened...
“Do I play centre mid for Ipswich or go to premiere league Crystal Palace?” 😭😭😭😭
Hard life! Clearly being pressured from a new agent though which isn't nice to hear
0

BeattiesBackPocket added 11:50 - Sep 15
Totally agree with suffolkboy on this. The club has invested in him and as such shouldn't be held to ransom by him. For once as a club we are supposedly holding out for market value so good on them about time. The lad is sulking I would say and to a point I don't blame him as it's a premier league club but just get on with it fight and play well and a club will pay what's expected. I don't know many other jobs where you get time off because someone else wants you!
1

BlueArrow added 11:53 - Sep 15
I think he will go eventually but Crystal Palace........
4

IPSWICHMOUSE added 12:02 - Sep 15
BlueArrow......Why not CRYSTAL PALACE?? Prem club , he will be up against some class players , so he will see just how good or average he really is......Personally think it is a step too far at this time..Wish him all the best whatever he decides...COYB..ITID..
1

Counagoal added 12:16 - Sep 15
If Palace don't make a decent enough bid (£4 mil+) and Downes continues to sulk, fine him and let him rot in the reserves until his contract runs out. Looking at our midfield sunday I'm more willing to see him leave if we can get a decent figure.
1

WeWereZombies added 12:31 - Sep 15
No Les Brennan, I don't expect Downes to be involved in a game tonight either. But I do hope that he takes the field as one of the starting eleven against Fulham tomorrow night...
1

Len_Brennan added 12:41 - Sep 15
@WeWereZombies:
Fair enough, it was a bad typo to get the match day wrong above, but these things happen, we are only human & we are all prone to making mistakes from time to time.
LEN Brennan.
4

Bert added 12:56 - Sep 15
Some things are best left unsaid and this affair is one of them.
0

Saxonblue74 added 13:38 - Sep 15
Same Taylor that just a few days ago was "unaware" of any Palace interest in Downes.
0

Saxonblue74 added 13:39 - Sep 15
........sorry, got distracted! Meant Birmingham interest in Jackson!!!😂
0

TractorRoyNo1 added 14:01 - Sep 15
Do I play at Ipswich or sign for premier league club and wages then be a squad player on loan at Wycombe /Rotherham/QPR/Watford
1

Blocker123 added 14:14 - Sep 15
BlueArrow.... I like it!!!😂🤣😂🤣😂🤣
Ipswich Mouse... it's a joke, from when Bart went to Millwall.
0

Carberry added 15:58 - Sep 15
What's the point of asking him, only BS, lies or ignorance.
0

stiffy501 added 18:51 - Sep 15
Well think its time to stop players and agents sodding people about, if the player does not want to play, breach of contract so no pay. No pay for the player then agents get no pay either !! Perhaps agents will stop advising players not to play if it hits their pockets too !!
1

Bluewelshman added 21:06 - Sep 15
His new agent appears to be the same type of agent as Barnett, Richard Wright's career killer.
1

NITFC added 23:38 - Sep 15
Absolutely Blue Welshman. Richard Wright clearly became a rich man whilst warming benches at various Premier League grounds. But I wonder if he looks back now and wonders what his career as a goalkeeper might have been?

Flynn's decent and really valuable to us but I doubt he will step into the Palace first team.
0


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