Cheshire I think Johnson did deserve a pay increase he was our most consistent performer his last season n all he wanted was a wage to match a starting 11 wage, he didn't get offered that. He wasn't a good technical player but he broke play up well like Austin but not as good.
Never had injury problems and was never crap. I'm sorry but that's exactly the reaction Bates wants and he's clearly got fans like you wrapped round his finger.
After scoring against carlisle in play off semi he did nothing for 2 years.How many leagues did we win in your dream glory seasons. out of interest,how many league 1 games did you go ?.Didn't watch the same team I did thats for sure.
He was between 19 and 21 during our 3 years when we were in League One so you can hardly fault him for not been the "Andres Iniesta" he is now.... anyway when we sold him he was one of our best players and let's not forget that and for anyone who does heres a video to remember him by. [video=youtube;8SUJRK7-7Pw]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8SUJRK7-7Pw[/video]
My point exactly,we stood by him while he was learning.He showed no loyalty once he started playing well.
I know we haven't seen as much of your ex-players as you have, but I can honestly say, they look like Premier League players. Howson is a classy player that makes you think he's going to create something whenever he's in the opposition's last third and always seems to have a little extra time on the ball that good players get. Snodgrass is exactly the same, and oh my, if he had some extra pace, he would be playing for one of the top 6 clubs. Last season Johnson was disappointing in some games and good in others, but never had an exceptional game. This season, he has been a revelation, and without a doubt has been the best of all three. Personally, I put this down to the fact we have brought in another defensive midfielder in Tettey, and he feels he is fighting for his place.
Sorry mate, but you ain't gonna get no loyalty from anyone these days. Loyalty is a thing of the past in football (and in commerce too, sadly). If you spend your life expecting it of players, you're going to be in for serial disappointments. What you perhaps recognised as loyalty from bygone days was actually a vice-like grip a club had on a player's registration (whether they were on the payroll or not!!). Players didn't have any say in the matter & only moved on if a club had no further need for them, or wanted to cash in. Would players have shown such 'loyalty' in the past if they had the current freedom of movement? I doubt it.
I still can't believe this Johnson was consistent and the best of the three in his last season. Before Christmas, everyone was on his back and saying how he should be dropped because he wasn't good enough. Admittedly he picked it up a lot after christmas but I didn't mind getting rid of him and actually thought it was the right move, the difference is we have only just got a replacement for him in Austin, if we had done that straight away it wouldn't have been a problem but we never did. Howson, I am still very disappointed that he left and think the club shoulda done more to try and make him stay. Snoddy, while I wanted him to stay, I think it was the right time for him to leave and he knew that. What does he get in his career if he doesn't go. But again, I woulda loved him to stay and sign a contract
Of course Howson and Becchio were both actually being offered about in January, but Howson wasn't "loyal" because he went to Norwich. And so Bates gets off scot free..
People complain about lack of loyalty FROM the players but what about our and the clubs loyalty TO the players. For example remember Andy Hughes, gave everything he could to us, loved the club, leeds through and through ect but as soon as we decided he was too **** for the club so we dumped him, got rid of him, so why do we complain when players decide the club is too "****" (for lack of ambition, promotion prospects ect) for them and leave. I'm not saying that we should not release or sell anyone who isn't good enough because that would hault the progress of the club but why should we stand in front of players who want to leave the club as it's haulting the progress of their careers (let's face it Howson and Snoddy were hardly getting any younger and wanted to play at the top level even if it is with Norwich). I remember thinking long before Snoddy was sold that if we don't get promoted in the next few years that Snoddy should leave anyway because he's too good to spend year after year in the second division listening to lies and false promises from Bates. I won't and don't blame Snoddy for leaving? He did what was in the best interests of his career however even though I don't hate him for it, I don't respect him him for it to because ultimately he choose him and his career over the club and the fans and while that is understandable and forgiveable (with Bates in charge) i'm certainly not going to see him as the legend he would of been if he had turned down the Premiership and Norwich. Snodgrass and Howson are just players to me now, no different from any other. In short I understand their decisions but I don't respect them.
Don't blame them for leaving,but now they've gone.fookem they mean nothing to me.certainly not hero's.
Why would we bother. Personally, at the moment, I have the same interest in MOTD as watching the Scottish premier league highlights. MOTD features over paid prima donnas with limited ability in a lot of cases. Spanish league well worth watching
