bluebruce

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.

I had no idea George Boateng was ever at the club? What was he doing, coaching?

Wow, really? Which thread? I wouldn't even be having discussions with them until that figure dropped by half (which I also wouldn't pay him, but then we can talk!). I'm amused by the idea his agent thinks we refused to pay 2 million for him just so that we could throw even more money than that at him in extra wages, whilst smashing our wage structure to get a centre half from League One. If he thinks he can get anything like that, good luck to him, but although some clubs will potentially pay more than we will, I don't see anyone paying close to 40k p/w for him.

That's easy to imagine, as it's pretty much always the case. Waggot made similar comments in the consultation, I read. Whatever they're staffing at now, it's insufficient. Or perhaps more accurately, they need better staff - particularly in the concourse. Those guys are painfully crap in the main.

Eh, I kind of agree with them to be honest. Although, traitor is strong...just not wholly committed to the cause perhaps, though it's a long way to travel and risks disrupting him breaking into the first team fully. He wasn't too young...that only applies if he still wasn't good enough, but I'm sure he was good enough two seasons ago. Quite a lot of players have become full, regular internationals for stronger countries at younger ages than 21. I'm sure they'll forgive him quickly enough when they see his value to their team, as long as he doesn't show reluctance in future.

He needs the extra game time after being unfairly benched so many times.

Subjective? On a football messageboard? That's a scandalous accusation!!

Rothwell cost something like 200k. The only reason he hasn't been playing a lot sooner is TM's stubborn approach. He now seems to be seen as a starter. He's been a successful signing. I'd say Nuttall has been successful too, as he was free and has had easily more impact than he was expected to.

I did. And now I've gone clinically insane and been committed to Broadmoor. My life is ruined. Thanks a lot, K-Hod!!

They offered that back in the summer, before he had shown he could notch 14 goals and 7 assists in this league. So yes, I think he could still fetch around that - if the right buyer wanted to fill the right position. I'd thoroughly expect the club to hold out for £20 million though. Not saying we could push it to £20 million anymore, but you don't have to sell lower just because somebody won't meet your price, unless you're desperate. They always say something is worth what someone is willing to pay. I've never agreed - something is worth what someone is willing to pay combined with what someone is willing to sell at. That's a separate discussion though - in short, yes I think we could get about £15 million if the right club needed that role filling. I actually don't think he will be off in the summer, personally. I think his recent form and his past form, plus his age, has created a situation whereby he is probably still worth about £20 million to us but I don't see any clubs going any/much higher than about £15 million. Not many Championship clubs have that type of brass, so we might not even get tested around the £15 million mark. A Premiership club being genuinely interested would change the whole dynamic, but I think the clubs watching him from up there are going to want to watch him for another 6-12 months at a high performance level before taking the gamble. Shame for him as a player, because if he'd played to his potential consistently this year and had drive, we'd definitely be fielding Prem suitors in the summer. Good for the club, as I don't think we need the money as much as we need the player.

Careful saying that, we know where he'd end up... Lad can pass.