Still a good player, but too old now, we want to build for the future, not carry people that are beyond their best!
Wouldn't want Ashley - massive pr*ck on and off the pitch, old, and expensive. Ricardo Rodriguez or Moreno (Sevilla) would be great shouts.
here's the thing.. buy a 22 year old and he might be ready... sturridge was. buy a 21 year old and it might take 2 years to get a return. you buy a 26 or 27 year old they had for sure better be ready... which is why aspas is a total flop
I'd understand getting A.Cole on a freebie (despite his age) if we didn't have an option at LB already, but I don't agree with getting him in as competition for Enrique, especially when Flanno is doing well there and Johnson can cover too (although I expect Glen to leave sooner rather than later). I don't think his wages would be a problem. We offer what we think is suitable, if he wants more than tough; he either accepts it or doesn't join.
Flannagan is not a serious option for left back. He's not a natural left back and he's been decent and that's being generous. If Enrique (or any top level left back) had put in the same performances as Flanno, we would be criticising. In the context of a young local lad playing in an unfamiliar role, we can commend him. Enrique needs replacing/upgrading.
in fairness while he did well v spurs cardiff owned him and thats why he was taken off... its a neverending drive to perfection that makes us want this. but in reality if we had to carry a position to have 10 brilliant players elsewhere it would be full back that you'd chose to carry a player in. ideal world... get left back in... real world... get midfield in first. Look at chavland... ivanovic is a distinctly average full back he's a cb now they are playing another unpronouncable player way out of position rather than a real LB... at utd they played smalling and jones (donkeys at RB) and then rafael who can't defend... city have gone through how many? We can carry flanno and get a return but we cannot afford to carry a passenger in midfield or upfront and thats why aspas and moses are benched and not even given 20mins on saturday.
