No, as I haven't given him the slightest disrespect.

You can't expect people to take it for a fact when you won't expand or substantiate it. We can only consider that to be an allegation. I'm not saying it isn't a fact, but surely you understand this?

So why did you post about them on a message board?

https://www.skysports.com/football/news/11676/11722913/brentford-make-enquiry-for-blackburn-goalkeeper-david-raya Link to the sky article as I don't think it has been posted yet.

Got to say, his goal stats don't particularly inspire me. We sorely need more goals from midfield. 3 this season in League One doesn't scream that he's the answer. 6 the season before, granted. Wiki says he is an attacking midfielder and describes himself as box to box. I'd expect more than three in League One from either role. Maybe you can shed more light?

More likely to just be Pants, mon.

Frank Fielding hasn't ever played for the full England team...has he? Wikipedia doesn't think so. A game kept on the bench, you mean?

Because we're a charity now.

OK, so the club does pay for it, not the player. That's what I'd have thought. I don't know tons about how player insurance works...but every type of insurance I've had is yearly. I would assume football is either the same, or over the length of the contract. The contract just ended, so if we sign him on another the premium will need to be worked out again right? I can't imagine the premium is unchanged on a player who has spent the last two years injured. Unless you can tell me how I'm misunderstanding the above, I'm not sure where your claim that this won't cost the club a penny is coming from. I imagine the insurance doesn't cover the period where he isn't technically injured but is on the comeback trail (when we get no benefit from him), and therefore we'll be paying his wages then at the least. Insurance isn't some big free giveaway, it costs. The more likely you are to claim, the more it costs.

He won't even be ready for pre-season apparently. Madness.

I don't see what's ethical about giving a contract to a man who has been paid handsomely to contribute nothing. When we went down, we cut our cloth accordingly, firing lower end staff. I didn't hear about them being re-hired. That would have been more honourable, and could be funded with Gladwin's money. Or the youth lads we just let go could have been. All people who would deserve it more than Ben fucking Gladwin.

Not a meltdown at all, well done sir. Very worrying signs about TM's intent for the window. If you disagree, elucidate in the form of a counter-argument instead of having a pop.

Any potential optimism I had allowed myself to develop towards the summer business has just dissipated like a weak fart. Ruthless Tony my arse. Less than zero reason to be in talks with Gladwin of all people. It better be in some non-football capacity! If we weren't buying or selling anyone this summer, we still wouldn't need him. JL only makes sense if we aren't getting a keeper, or if we want enough depth to allow Fisher on loan. Conway only if we don't plan to strengthen the flanks. Rodwell is maybe the most understandable of the lot, though most of us don't think he showed quite enough to warrant it. But keeping him plus all the deadwood is madness. How are we supposed to make room on the wage bill like he talked about if we won't even start with the out of contract detritus? It's almost enough to make me return to a Mowbray out stance as it doesn't bode well at all for how we will go about the summer.

I don't rate the SPL either, but it's not as bad as you suggest. Celtic are certainly better than you say. Remember when we were a good Prem club and we lost both legs in the UEFA Cup against them? 3-0 aggregate if I recall. I doubt anybody in the SPL would get 'demolished' if they were in League One. My general impression is that the SPL ranges in standard from about lower Prem (just Celtic and sometimes Rangers) to about top half of League One. Pukki struggled there by his own admission, but lit up the Championship.

He's not the new Maddison, as only Sparks Rover seems to be excited about him.

That article... Friedel, the former Liverpool, Tottenham and United States international goalkeeper, took over at New England in 2017. Sure, forget about us, his spell with us was only longer than his Spurs and Liverpool spells combined, with nearly four times the games too. (Yes yes, I know we're relative small fry and those two are contesting the Champions League Final)

Lol

It was a nice touch to not mention us until the end, either. Reduces the suspicion that it's a Dingle wind-up. It was a well-made troll (not that I or most of the people here fell for it). Not so sure he deserves the name 'sympathetic' claret after this one though!

It's a good point in regards to his value. However, given he's our only good defender, I'd be extremely reluctant to let him go. Even using the money to replace him is a risk, as we wouldn't have any good centre halves to start with. We could buy two, but one might flop, leaving us back to square one.

They've not even said that we are in for him, just that we were linked with him last year and now he's free. At least they're not claiming anything untrue.

Barbet made 33 appearances in the league this season (34 last season), plays CB and LB apparently, and is only 25 years old. Any idea why they've released him? Seems odd on paper. Odubajo doesn't seem to have played much football in the last three seasons, but managed 30 for Brentford (including 8 subs). Also 25, they only signed him last summer. Edit - I found an article about why Barbet has left. His decision more than the club's it seems. Claims it's for a new challenge, and made a comment implying it was also because the contract wasn't good enough. Linked with Newcastle, Villa and Norwich...I don't think that's one we could get. On a free too, wages will be too high if those kinds of clubs are sniffing. Odubajo was released by the club though, they had an option for another year on him.

No Nutt, must be injured? Don't see a good reason for Chapman and Davenport to not be on the bench just cos they made sub appearances two days ago. Doesn't look like there's any limit on the subs judging by Burnley's sheet!

This season he has had a hip flexor problem, viral meningitis, and I think it said a fractured hand. Very unlucky year for the lad! Still managed 7 appearances. I wonder whether they're releasing him because of his sudden glut of injury issues or they just don't rate him enough to be their backup? Either one makes me wary, but clubs don't always make the right call on releasing players.

Do you think a scheme like Burnley *spits* had would help? A free season ticket next year if we get promoted this year?

I bet the guy who has been dropped from the squad and the guy who will be benched for him are pissed, having helped them qualify to begin with.