Currently training at Carrington for the Blackpool game aren't we? Maybe we will sneak Joe Hugill on the team bus
I wonder if we need to find some sort of agreement with him at this point. He isn't staying here long term, it's just not happening (maybe if we got promoted). Make him the highest paid player at the club (without destroying the structure), give him a clause in his contract that we'll let him go in the summer for £10m (to a pl club) if we don't get promoted and get a 2.5 year deal signed. It gives us security now, so we could hold out for a higher fee in Jan. It also lets him know that we value him but won't hold back his progression or deny him a big opportunity. Replacing him is inevitable but it's easier to execute a plan in the summer.
The best possible deal we could offer Rossco with all the relevant clauses in within the current structure will already have been offered imo. He either signs it or he ****s off and everyone gets on with their lives.
I’d want more than £10m for him personally. Think he’s better than most in this division. I can comfortably say I’ve not seen another better against us this season.
The Stewart thing is kind of a non discussion now. I believe we have the option to extend his contract, which I believe we will have done. So even if he doesn't sign a new contract, he is here for another 18 months unless someone agrees a fee with us. I don't believe for a minute he would down tools as he doesn't seem that type of player and also the better he does the more he can earn in the summer when he gets a move. If we agree a fee in January, I believe it will be when we feel ready to, not as soon as someone throws an offer at us. The ball isn't as far in Stewart's court as some make out
It's a negotiation though. He's worth more than £10m, I agree. But he's not signing a contract and playing hardball in January, my cause disharmony in the squad.
His agent will be smiling into his nescafe this morning. He will know we need to keep Stewart even more. Personally I wouldnt answer the phone to him this week. Tie up a couple of new strikers first. He still has 18 months here and in my opinion we will get as much in the summer as we will now.
I think it's a bit unfair on the recruitment team to expect them to have a replacement already lined up. I really doubt anyone expected this recall, a bit harsh to insist they should have had a plan in place for something so unlikely. I wouldn't slag them off if they spend the window identifying the right target/s, as long as we have a decent replacement (ideally two) in the door by 31 Jan it's a job well done imo.
I don't disagree with that. My worry is that we reject big offers that leads to unsettling of the player or others in the squad. He's not the type of person to down tools, but us turning down 8 figure bids but still having him on a League One contract will cause some disruption. If we were up front and make it clear that we won't sell until the summer but give him a pay rise anyway, then it might just keep things running smoothly.
We'll have a whole list of potential targets, that's exactly what the recruitment set up is designed for. It might take the full month to negotiate deals or wait for the top targets to be available etc. but the identifying phase should be done already.
Agreed. I read the original post along the lines of "we should have a replacement lined up and ready to walk in the door", but perhaps I misinterpreted
Will look with interest at the Everton line up at City today, and if he's in the squad/ on the bench, does he get any game time.
Stewart's probably thinking to himself, I'm better than him and he gets to spend the second half of the season in the Premier league. I really hope something can be sorted with Stewart asap, losing them both doesnt even bare thinking of. Even with Simms, we were still a striker short, so we really need to dig deep now, spend some cash and continue being one of the best attacking teams in the league. It's down to the board now which direction the second half of the season goes. We either keep going with an outside chance of promotion by putting the necessary funds in place, or finish the season a mediocre team. A team of our stature should never settle for the latter, so itll be interesting to see these next 5 weeks if our owners share our ambitions.
It should be and has been up to know with this set up. But its the hardest position to fill by miles.
I wonder if Everton/Lampard are thinking Simms is better than he really is. With the likes of Pritchard, Clarke, Amad, Roberts supplying plenty of opportunities for him and when he plays with Stewart who will draw defenders away from Simms he is getting goal chances that he probably wouldn’t in many other teams. He fits in here, as did Broadhead, but if Everton think they are getting a ‘proven’ goal scorer in I think they are in for a big disappointment. I reckon it’s a desperation move from Lampard and nothing sinister (to do with Stewart) Simms is ok but there’s plenty more out there both known (Will Keane for example) and unknown.
Wonder if we'll go for Broadhead on a permanent deal now? He can't get a game for Wigan, and I know he pissed everyone off in the summer, but may be a case of needs must.
That would be fair enough if it was for a £40m-£50m player but we’re talking about £10m now and there is no evidence of any disharmony. If that’s the ridiculous transfer value we are looking at getting I’d certainly be keeping him until the end of this season at least. £10m is nowt in todays market.
I think we could see Diamond return now until an attacking replacement is made for Simms. Hes been playing in a front 3 for Lincoln this season.
Would have him back here like a shot. My memory is hopeless but didnt he only piss everyone off because of what Alex Neil said about him not being up for the fight? I thought at the time Neil would have been talking rubbish, and after the fact he has zero credibility in anything he said at the time.
