Richie Wellens was superb back then though. He won player of the season here But as soon as he got a new contract he went downhill pretty quickly
Robbie's not beyond a spot of nepotism - I suspect he and Richie might have been buddies during their Man United days...
Alonso, Ollsen, Bridge, Parr, Tierney (signing for Bolton soon). There are better, but I fully agree with you. There are not many left backs that are any good floating about.
Alonso, Ollsen, Bridge, Parr, Tierney (signing for Bolton soon). There are better, but I fully agree with you. There are not many left backs that are any good floating about.
Tom Kennedy has just signed a contract with Barnsley - the lad at Watford was also decent (Pudjil or something) although wasn't perhaps a traditional left-back
Aaron Cresswell is easily up there in terms of left backs in this division In fact I would imagine he will be leaving us before the end of the summer for bigger and better things.. Been as good a left back in this league for two years on the trot and unfortunately that hasn't gone unnoticed Notched a couple of great goals by the way as well https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3U21CIrHp4E
I probably would too, but I wouldn't want him to immediately play for us, he's still too young. Konchesky might not be a very exciting left back, but I doubt there are many players in any position in this league who have as many Premier League appearances for him. We've caught him at the end of his career but I still think he's one of the best in our team, hasn't fallen out with the boss, and plays consistently. I'm sounding like mitch but as a Konch fanboy here. Although, incidentally, LB is my position and I'm throwing my name into the fold, I'm marvellous.
You can also add Yuki Abe, Delfounso, Michael Ball, Geslon Fernandes, Darius Vassell, Franck Moussa and Alek Tunchev. Not all permanent but most would have been well paid. We also sent Wellens, Schlupp, Futacs, Gallagher, Moore and St Ledger out on loan at various points this season so other clubs would have paid at least part of these wages. This is a tactic I'm sure Pearson will continue. New signings aren't playing for free, but we do have a much smaller squad than in 2011-12. In 2010, we operated within a £8m loss (£7.5m, which also included transfer fees) and made the play-offs. Our wage bill then was just under £15m. We need to get wages down by £10m over two years (large steps were already taken towards last season) to match that. Basically, wages have never been as high as they were when Sven came in. Assuming Pearson has been sensible with his signings - which is in his nature and I'm sure is also the directive from above - then we pretty much just need to clear out Sven's people. Which is why we need to get rid of the likes of Danns, St Ledger, Beckford and likely Konchesky - pretty much the last of the Sven signings that aren't worth their wages (Nugent and Kasper are the only other two) and the rest of the deadwood (Gallagher, Wellens, Waggy and possibly Vardy, Futacs and Whitbread, although I'm not sure these will be paid a great deal). There's little room in the squad for those than aren't good enough. This will go for most clubs. FFP will mean fewer opportunities for players in this country now. Either that, or players are going to have to except Millwall standard wages even at big Championship clubs. But bigger clubs will still have the draw, because we will have the finances to survive in the Prem, smaller clubs won't.
Not sure if any Championship clubs will pay the wages you are (because of the FFP) so realistically only Prem clubs will buy the following unless they take a reduction in wages : Under contract until 2014; Neil Danns, Lloyd Dyer, Paul Konchesky, Wes Morgan, David Nugent, Kasper Schemeichel, Sean St Ledger, Richie Wellens, Zac Whitbread. Under contract until 2015; Jermaine Beckford, Ritchie De Laet, Danny Drinkwater, Marco Futacs, Paul Gallagher, Matty James, Andy King, Anthony Knockaert, Ben Marshall, Liam Moore, Jeffery Schlupp, Jamie Vardy. Under contract until 2016; Chris Wood. This outlines some of the problems you're facing http://foxblogger.wordpress.com/201...itys-finances-mean-for-nigel-pearsons-future/
Already read that, you'll find all my figures tally. All players looking for a move this summer will have to accept that the money isn't going to be there anymore. But they will have to think about their longer term careers. Will Beckford get as good a deal with another club in 2015, when he's two years older, than he will now? Will he even get another club if he just decides to leech off us for another two years? I'd like to think players have more ambition than that. Personally, I think Beckford has to prove himself again and should take lower wages at a smaller club until he does. Somehow, I doubt he will though. There's also the possibility that we may partially pay off some of these players and release them. Pearson clearly has his work cut out. The Sven legacy will be hanging over us for up to 2 1/2 after his departure.
