I think it's good we're being proactive before the transfer window is opened, but if it's suppose to be a joint decision you think they would wait until they've got a head coach. If we get rid of our best players like Howson it might even put them off.
In his Press Conference, AI said that he and SW had discussed every player but that he wasn't part of the final decision-making.
Does anyone know how much the parachute payments are? I keep hearing "we have one more to come" but that means nothing to me without knowing a rough sum. I ask because i am still worried that we cannot afford the £30m or so it will cost to rebuild our squad. I, like many others, don't want to see the likes of Howson, Prictchard, Murphy or Oliveira sold to make way for lesser players.
Good question. At least it gives us the chance to say goodbye to JR. He has been a great servant to us (even if he has declined in form recently)... something that was denied us when we let Hucks go.
I've seen the figure of £30 mil written a few times. Haven't found a definitive answer, though. The Swiss Ramble says £31.7 mil. http://swissramble.blogspot.com/2016/11/norwich-city-lightning-strikes-not-once.html (halfway down the page)
As it happens, Bedford, the figure I've seen for parachute payments is around £30m! There is also the saving on wages of the 7 players who have left. At the moment we'd need 2 CBs (if Klose stays, 3 if he doesn't), 1 LB (if Dijks stays, 2 if he doesn't), 1 DM and 1 striker. That would be 5-7 players needed, though we'd get something for Klose if he leaves. Some of those could be loans or less costly young, hungry players but it will still be fairly tight. We were said to be very interested in Meredith and he could be a good shout for one CB position. Could just be HITC raking up old stories though.
Listening to AI's press conference for QPR he was asked about Steven Naismith and answered without reservation that he's "a model professional" both in training and on the pitch, giving 100% every day in training and encouraging others to as well. When asked about his wages, AI replied that you have to consider what you get for that, which is 100% and which isn't true of many players. He's a player I would keep and the team would be weaker without him. Russell Martin echoed that in the Pink'un today: “With Naisy you have one of the most honest, hard-working professionals I have come across. He is a real winner and what is he good at is being around the young lads. You need people like that around the place,” said Martin. “He has been at top clubs, played in the Champions League, has a huge amount of international caps so he knows the standard required." These are the considerations that have to be weighed up when considering who stays and who goes. Howson is a similar leader and influence on the development of young players in training as well as on the pitch. I'd like to see him made captain and Martin club captain for his similar qualities.
All things being equal I can see how the head coach would have the final decision. As I understand it the HC would have the final decision in relation to players coming in provided the players fit the clubs financial structure, however it doesn't make sense for the head coach to have the final decision re players leaving. For example the club changes the wage structure then those that don't fit the wage structure would automatically leave at the end of their contract. Equally say we got a bid for a player of 20 million (far fetched I know) then the HC might want to keep the player, but the club could decide to sell. I can't see the problem with announcing this before the end of the season, if the decisions been made, then it's made why not give everyone as much notice as possible, the final game is pretty much irrelevant and would be a good way for fans to say goodbye to the players.
Some good points canario and I can see your reasoning. Of the 7 released, 5 were expected to leave and I doubt any new HC would have wanted to retain them, given their ages and wages. The two I'm not so sure about would be Ruddy and Bennett, though I did have Bennett down as a question mark on my list. At 27, he should be coming into his prime at CB. There may be problems with temperament or other issues that we don't know about. I'm not saying that he shouldn't go, just that the HC should be involved in the decision. With Ruddy I can understand the argument that his wages were high and that he hadn't had the greatest of seasons but IMO, he was the best of our current GK options and we will be weaker in that position next season as a result. McGovern and Rudd are useful keepers, but given a choice, I would play Ruddy ahead of them. We have saved a considerable amount of money though and solved the Rudd problem at the same time, so the logic is sound. If the money saved helps us to strengthen at CB and LB, then the overall effect on our chances could be positive, but therein lies the rub.
If Webber is as good at acquiring decent new players as he is at jettisoning knackered, overpaid old warhorses. we shouldn't have too much to worry about
Howson going would, for me, be a step backwards. He may have some value (£4+m?) but he is a model professional and a constant force on the pitch. Praise for Naismith, from some team members seems to be undeserved. He has driffed around the pitch without any great effort being exerted until recently. With a reported £50k a week wages then he knows he is unlikely to earn that sort of money at say, Rangers so he is pulling his figure out trying to get another two years wages @ £50k a week. Lots of talk of those leaving but very little talk of who's coming even rumour!
One is easier than the other though, Cromer. Any new player is always a gamble, especially when we're looking to get them at the lowest cost possible. I'm certainly not getting my hopes up about next season just yet. I'd definitely lower any expectation about next season to mid-table at best if Howson leaves. I disagree about Naismith though. AI went out of his way to say that he gives 100% in training every day and on the pitch as well. His technique is different from most players and is designed to help create space both for himself and other players, even in packed penalty areas. Without him, our attacking players too often end up losing the ball by being outnumbered. Wes also has the ability to create space in that manner but Pritchard has yet to acquire it with any consistency and thus tends to lose the ball too often. He is improving in that regard, but he's still not there yet. IMO, if we let Wes and/or Naismith go, then we will really struggle to get near the play-off places next season even more than we have this season.
But that £50k a week he earns would cover at least two new defenderss' wages and shipping goals hand over fist is what's cost us this year.
Naismith was a total overpriced flop regardless of what our washed up liability captain Rusty McMartin or our default can carrying interim manager say. So what if Naisy is a great laugh and serves Christmas dinner to homeless Syrian lesbian aids victim refugees. He was not good enough in most of the games he played in to keep us up last season and we failed to win enough games and make the play offs this season. £50k a week is a joke,if he is still getting that for 2nd division football we are total mugs.
We have already released 7 players whose wages would more than cover the 2-3 CBs we need (depending on whether Klose stays) and another 1-2 LBs as well (depending on whether Dijks stays). We can strengthen the defense without weakening the attack. Well, it's an opinion DD, but not much more than that.
You were defending Naisy all last season for not being match fit and you were very confident about him firing us into at least a play off spot. An £8m signing on £50k week should have performed much better than he has. If you are satisfied with the return then you are easily pleased . That's all I'm saying . 5 (five) goals from 32 (thirty two) league games is what I would expect from a centre back.
Well, looking at the facts, Naismith scored 8 goals in 23 starts and 11 sub appearances, second amoungst midfielders only to Jacob's 9 goals in 32 starts and 5 sub appearances. He is also the best of our attacking midfielders defensively when the ball is lost and a good leader on the pitch as well. He wasn't the reason we were not promoted. You're welcome to your opinion DD, but it isn't backed up by the facts.
Wiki doesn't include his latest goal. The other two goals were against Everton and Southampton in cup games, thus the "8 goals in 23 starts and 11 sub appearances". Jacob's cup goal was against Coventry. Soccerway is more reliable than Wiki.
