I'd put a new deal for Bennett as being about as sensible as the one for Mulgrew!

Indeed. In summary we gave a load of unnecessary long term contracts to average ageing players who were never going to take us forward and we've stagnated for two seasons as a result. Compare that with King Kenny. Speedie did far more for the Club than the players that have been mentioned have ever done and no doubt deserved a crack in the Premiership with us on the back of his efforts in the promotion season but was dispassionately sacrificed to bring an even better player in.

I think you've nailed it there with the key word being "wrongly"!

I think strikers are a special case as ones that can find the back of the net regularly always command a hefty premium but if their contractual situations were all identical I wouldn't say Nyambe was any more or less valuable than either Lenihan or Travis.

That might be your (and the manager's) assessment of Nyambe. I'd say (as with Raya) you're both flat out wrong but football is a game of opinions I guess.

Don't disagree with the 4 above, but silly to claim Nyambe isn't a key player imo. Dack hasn't got "at least" 2 years left either even if he signs an extension, it's a year and a part of a season at best.

Fair point on JRC but we shouldn't be in this position with Dack and Nyambe.

Couldn't disagree more. We have Nyambe, Dack and JRC in the last year of their contracts and really no key player should be allowed to get within less than 2 years of the end of their deal.

I was complaining about all of those at the time. Also Graham.

At the time yes, but If things subsequently changed and the player wanted to leave all he would have to do is allege that the original deal was made on the basis of certain assurances which haven't been met and that we haven't kept to our side of the bargain etc etc. You'd have to be quite hard nosed to take that stance but like Lucash certain players might feel their loyalties lay more towards their next Club than their current one.

I'm not convinced as a matter of law you can compel someone to sign an extension against their will. It's tantamount to slavery. However if it's used as a tool in football to ensure the parent Club gets a decent fee in the event of a sale then fair enough. Doesn't change much IF he wants to go and there's interest though. He'll be offend we just get a better fee.

If Dack wants to move this summer even, and there is interest he probably will do. I'm not convinced he can be compelled to sign a 12 month contract extension against his will but even if he can the only benefit from our point of view would be we'd get a better fee for him if he was set on leaving.

Let's see if he signs a new deal then eh?

Damn.

Quality. This line of discussion is approaching Ray Wilkins spotted at the Wilpshire Hotel cult status now. We only need to reignite the speculation as to whether a bid for Marcus Maddison by an unnamed Club might be us now!

But sadly not with us. Not even a hint of a play off push. And he's been here seven (?) years.

That's my impression as well, that he's not ruthless enough where they're concerned. I was merely responding to the suggestion that Whiteman and the manager didn't hit it off at interview. Maybe he got the "you'll only be coming in as a squad member" spiel. Mulgrew HAS been rotting since August 2019 hasn't he?

Not sure about the Norwegian LB but Whiteman and any good LB would be a very good window indeed. If that was followed up by the news that Stoke had come back in and were waving cash at us for Evans then it would almost be a case of "If Carlsberg did transfer windows......." Bit to go before we get to that point though.

Pound notes maybe? Liable to end in tears though if he's merely coming for money and there is no chemistry between him and the manager.

Yes. Just not as well as Mowbray. Apparently.

Possibly, but the buck or credit stops with him either way!

Interesting, wouldn't his potential fee be in the millions? Maybe the owners are playing a blinder after all.

I can't help feeling there's a subtle dig in there but fair enough.

I have never heard anyone spout such rubbish on this forum as you. So basically, if they are rich and successful outside of football like you (well done to you on that btw) then they are entitled to pass an opinion on their favourite football team, but if they are less so then they can't or their view carries less weight. Top stuff.

Welcome. I wouldn't say it's that tetchy on here, despite differences of opinion, levels of civility are generally good I think. You're right, things COULD go from strength to strength, on the other hand they may not and for anyone failing to accept things are improving we've frequently heard in the past the argument "if we win five out of the next six we'll be in the mix" etc. I'd actually argue things have to go from strength to strength anyway, given the number of key players out of contract in the summer, the fact our CEO has managed to somehow reduce our fanbase to sub 2.5k, and the long standing elephant in the room, our overall level of debt. Good opening contribution from you though, enjoyed that.