The contracts of the following expire at the end of the season: Bunn (club option 1 year) Turner Tettey (club option 1 year) Fox (one further year) Pilkington (one further year) [taken from TransferMarkt - not entirely sure what the 'options' in brackets really entail]
Surgeryman: 62 million ish from Prem - do I assume that this income comes from STAYING in Prem or parachute payment? Looks heavy for parachute payment, but what do I know. Pilkington, Garrido & Whitaker to stay as I can't see any other clubs wanting them. If Hooper stays I will be delighted, but he will probably want out.
Out to where though? He hasn't showed enough to be wanted by any teams the premier league I doubt. Also, who the hell would want RvW after the crap season he has had? I think it will be us that will be trying to get a few of the higher earners of the books. We need to do a West Brom, West Ham or Newcastle. Get a decent manager in and straight back up whilst we still have the funds available. I cant really see anyone coming in for Bassong either, he has hardly been great this year. Snodgrass, Howson and Hoolahan would be a big loss though. The only thing is I know Snoddy is well settled here in Norfolk, Daughter has lots of friends and a very young baby as well.
Agreed. RvW is going to find it very tough. I am pretty certain that all players are on contractual reductions for relegation, so we will not actively need to sell anyone for a season or two. The only players I am 80% certain will go are: (1) Snodgrass (2) Fer (3) Bassong Everyone else will be entirely in our hands whether we want to sell or not as they will find it difficult to force a move/find anyone prepared to pay over the odds. I agree - a manager who knows what he's doing would be good. For that, I'm not overly enamoured by him but Mackay really is the best candidate. We are well placed to emulate West Brom. We are not Blackburn or Wolves. Though we do desperately need to hold on to McNally.
Hoolahan you're probably right on. But for some inexplicable reason I think he might stay now that Hughton is gone. I certainly can't see many teams wanting him. Pilks' injury record mean I actually think he is quite a lot less likely to go, because the price he's worth (and we could hold out for) is too big a risk to the types of club wanting him. He's in a sort of limbo. The only decent moves I can see for him are to Newcastle/Everton(non-CL) to be a squad member. Would he want that? I don't know.
A fair point. A draw at Old Trafford and a win at home to Arsenal (or any other combo of four points) will probably see us safe, I think. But let's face facts, that's a long shot. We'd need a bit more fortune than matches against Cardiff, Stoke and Fulham have thrown up. Better play safe than sorry and plan for the worst. The players looked completely helpless at the end.
You haven't overslept but with your eyes wide open that is the looming reality Gandy. I really hope we keep Snoddy and Howson but at the end of the day what will be will be and if needed we will pretty much start again from scratch. No-one is irreplaceable and I doubt there would be a queue for most of our squad.
Admit it's not looking good, but I haven't thrown in the towel just yet. I can only pray the players feel the same.
I'm obviously still optimistic, tickets for the last games bought. I will be there when we pick up points from our last four games and beating Arsenal on the last day of the season will be fecking fantastic. At least this season has had drama!
We only win at home and i`m pretty sure the atmosphere will be absolutely mental against Liverpool & Arsenal ,i predict a draw against Liverpool followed by a win against Arsenal .....<glug glug>
I imagine a lot of this will come down to cash: Some teams have been able to hang on to most of their players when relegated, a one year promotion push and at the end, if we don't make it then we'll facilitate your departure. BUT NORWICH ARE NOT DOWN YET. points are still possible
Whilst it is not over until it is over, can you really see a team like ours who have been overall poor this season really beating or getting anything form those last four games? The more realistic option and that is unlikely, is Fulham losing their games. Championship I'm afraid.
Trying to be optimistic but cannot see us getting out of it. You know his hard it is to get out of that division. The mindset of the players following relegation is key so a bit of rebuilding and we may be OK but would not bet on us coming back up straight away. Will look forward to more games, derby v you lot ( hopefully!), more games for the money, seeing some wins, more evening games and having something to play for instead of just aiming to survive. The Prem for me has been a mixed bag, yes money and seeing on occasion some quality players, but the club has lost all ambition for me and to be honest I am losing my interest a little in the game that I have always loved.
It might not be a bad thing to drop down for a season just to get a bit of momentum back into the club? Like you I've not enjoyed the prem as much as I thought I was going to. It's not much to aim for if survival is the target from day one. I enjoyed the first season under Lambert but CH has deffinately been a factor in making it less pleasurable. But it's had its uses, cleared the debts & set the club up financially, i mean this season we would go down with more money than united got for winning it last season ! If spent properly we should bounce back soon & be more the wise for it? But it's not dead yet ! COYY
