If RK decides to go in the summer, which being realistic is a definite possibility, what would we do? Seriously who would we look at bringing in to replace him and at what cost? The man is our only affective creative influence, I dread to think where we'd be without him this season. I'm also fully aware he's contracted for another season but what does that really mean these days? If money bags Leicester, for example,come knocking with a big fat wage increase and they meet the buy out clause(presuming there is one) we could be shafted. As it stands if RK went to another Championship team it would massively improve that squad whilst, without exaggeration, remove us as a promotion rival. The Allams have coughed up a massive amount of cash so this is no way a dig at them but unless contracts are looked at and improved we could see three or four of our better players going. I'm aware of at least one young player who will be looking to sit down and discuss improved terms. I don't know the exact figure he's currently on but it's way below a lot of the first team and he is always in the starting eleven. From what I know the young lads like it here and don't want to leave but money talks, it really does. With that in mind if we don't see an influx of players come the summer people should be mindful that a fair bit of cash may have been spent improving existing salaries. Walshy brought a lot of players on low wages, way below what you'd expect. Some of those players have gone on to prove themselves and will no doubt want rewarding as such. It could be a very interesting summer. UTT.
If Koren leaves it would be an unmitigated disaster. A player of his calibre in this division would be beyond our reach. I think as long as we can maintain the spine of the team with Koren, McKenna, Hobbs, Mannone, Fryatt then we'll be ok. I have excluded Chester as I have no doubts he'll be playing Premier League football next year. Which if it means a decent fee, sign Gerrard on a free, and use the kitty to sign a centre forward.
wouldnt be the end of the world. you cant build your team around 1 player, especially a player who blows hot & cold as often as koren does and someone who only has a year left on his contract. if he was to leave, we'd get some money for him and we could bring in someone else with a bit more flexibility.
You raise valid points Mr NFUNo1. This is my main worry for summer, and not just Koren, Stewart & Chester too. I know Stewart has disappointed of late, but I hope my club doesn't enter into the practice of selling our best young players. It sends out a dreadful message, to fans and to rivals. I know people want to focus on additions, but this is the first hurdle to negotiate. I think this summer could suck big time. I hope not though.
In a way it could help us keep hold of Stewart if his form keeps flat, might put buyers off and we will have a fresh young player raring to go next season. As for Koren, we won't be able to replace him but then it's up to the management to bring the right players in and change the system around.
And that's what worries me. I don't think we'll have the money to bring anyone near his quality and I'm not convinced Barmby is experienced enough to cope with such a loss. Without RK we'd have scored about a dozen goals this season. When you play two holding midfielders in a five the other three should create and score goals. It's their job. Out of all the permutations we've had this season Koren is the only attacking midfielder who has done this. The lack of perceived ambition from the club may also sway who stays and who goes. When players sit down to negotiate they must ask what the clubs plans are for new players in relation to strengthening the squad. If we fade into mid table mediocrity this season and aren't looking to strengthen in the summer what will the existing players think? Just a thought.
Was just reading the thread about apparent dressing room bust-ups so that has left me a bit worried I must admit, but am not convinced that the owners lack ambition, I guess the proof will be in the pudding when we see who comes in the summer and who leaves, for the now the season isn't over yet, we could still finish with a right rattle and get back in the mix.
I know I'm being pessimistic on all fronts but for me the season will not end in a play off place. I think we'll just miss out by around three points. As for who stays and who goes, again I fear the worst. I'm a misery guts, it's what I do. Now awaits Tickler calling me a plastic for having an opinion other than we'll walk the play offs, everyone will stay and we're good enough already for the PL.
If we get a decent offer for him then he will be gone. We've built a whole team around one player which is tactical stupidity, especially when said player is injured.
You are all plastics, certainly you NFU... 3 points off the playoffs? Are you ****ing insane well be lucky to pick up 3 points before the end of the season on last nights showing.
I'm going to stick my neck out and say we will still make the play-offs despite all available evidence at the moment, don't think our run-in is too bad but the next couple of games are crucial
Think we'll finish around 7th-10th, we're just not good enough for a top 6 place this season barring a last minute goalscoring spree. For all he blows hot and cold Koren is valuable to us, and players like him at championship level are like rocking horse ****, even more so if you're not looking to spend big.
Agree with this, Koren is a class act and every player goes in and out of form. He is our best player by a country mile
I agree with this really. Koren won us a few games earlier in the season but when was the last time he really did anything? This is one of those situations where a player gets injured and suddenly he becomes amazing. Koren is obviously a talent but before he was injured people were questioning his place in the team, he wasn't coming up with the moments of genius like earlier in the season and since he doesn't really contribute to much else very often that leaves you with a very average player. I'm not trying to have a go at him and I certainly don't want to see him go. I just think this has been blown way out of proportion. Assuming we don't make the playoffs it will be because of all the ****e draws at home to Donny, Brighton, Leeds, Ipswich, etc (8 points thrown away) when Koren was in the team. I'm continuing to point the finger of blame at our tactics and style rather than one missing player who had gone off the boil before his injury anyway.
Like I said earlier it's up to each player with attacking responsibilities to chip in with goals and assists. Koren aside non of our midfield do that. If he hit screamers every week he'd be in the PL, he doesn't so he isn't. If and when he has a dip in form it's up to one of the others to step up, which they aren't. The argument that apart from winning quite a number of games and being second top scorer he's average because he's had a number of average games is laughable. If he's average how would you describe Stewart, Cairney or Brady?
He isn't average at all. What I said was that he doesn't contribute much in normal play and if your only contribution is spontaneous goals then when they inevitably dry up you aren't contributing anything at all. Before his injury he wasn't contributing any more than the 3 players you've mentioned. The team has gone way off form, the defence is out sorts, the midfield aren't up to much and the strikers have struggled all season. The link between Koren's injury and this lack of form is non-existant. The whole team are struggling at the moment including Koren before his injury. If he was scoring screamers every week (which is obviously very unlikely) then yes you'd have a point but he hasn't really made any more of a contribution than anyone else for weeks.
