Thanks Clyney for a great 3 years with us. Shame it is Liverpool, as it always seems to be these days. Was such an obvious signing for United to make really.
I just think it's a little embarrassing for Brenda to keep signing our boys; I suppose eventually one will work out good for him. Shame Clyne made the comment about Champions League football when he did, however he seems to have behaved fairly dignified, so fair enough. If you can't see the good when it's right under your nose, you'll never see it. He's done really well for us and another excellent player who had been dazzled by the lights. Oh well, we march on. Door. Hit. Arse. Etc * I wonder if young Chambers is kicking himself right now?
I'm not too bothered about him. He strung the club along for a long time and I don't think he's anywhere near as difficult to replace as Morgan. Equally, I don't really have any bad blood with Clyne.
Disappointing but the writings been on the wall for awhile now. I find it hard to really care about how/why players leave so he will be treated the same as all the others, a general "meh" feeling.
I feel a little sorry for him really. He seems fairly level headed, but not bright enough to see what is right for him and has followed the buck. He could easily be playing Champions League football, but sadly for him I don't think he'll see that for a while.
Yeah it came down to either staying here for a year and hoping that one of the actual CL teams wanted him next year, but Saints wouldn't let him just run down his contract so he had to sign some form of extension. With this there is always the risk of injury/loss of form/teams signing alternatives who work out and then he isn't wanted any more and he is stuck with us. Or take the money and the move to the bigger club now and hope they get back into the CL sooner than later. I don't think Liverpool would'v been his first choice when he was thinking of leaving, especially as moving from Liverpool to one of the other top teams is virtually impossible, where as moving from Saints to one is much easier. He just has to hope that they can get back to the CL in the near future if playing in that is actually his dream.
I've just and a really nice thought: Ryan Bertrand skipping down the wing at Anfield and putting Clyne on his arse, as he plays a 1-2 with Tadic before larruping one in the top corner
I agree with FLT. I don't quite feel sorry for Clyne but of the three parties involved in this deal I think he's the one who does worst.
I notice nobody disagreed when I suggested he was the better FB. I think Bertrand was a steal. Hopefully, he has the good sense to stick around for the successful years to come.
Bertrand had a better season than Clyne, but I don't think he's a better player. They're on a similar level, Clyne is a better defender, while Bertrand is better going forward.
For me, if Nat can keep up his best form he is as good as Bertrand. Came as a surprise to me to think that, but I've watched the games over and again. Ryan's positioning is great. Nat's is not as good.
It's just business. I agree that Clyne would not have minded seeing his contract out. Thing is.. If he had signed and been great and then next year asked for a pay increase or transfer, we all would have been annoyed because he had just signed a new contract. So he kind of can't win. Doubt Liverpool is the train wreck people hope. They finished above us last year and have added some new signings, mostly pretty decent ones including Clyne. So I doubt he is too upset by any of this. And we get 10-15m minus sell on instead of nothing, plus we have already signed a replacement in Soares. I still don't see this situation as much different than Cork. No one is the bad guy here, not even Liverpool.
I wish Clyne well. While I'd have preferred to see him sign a new contract (or sign somewhere that wasn't Liverpool), I can't really quibble with the timeline that has unfolded. Get the sense that he was truly on the fence about his direction when the top four didn't come in, but rated Liverpool as a more likely pathway to CL than ourselves, and as they're just one year removed from qualifying, fair enough. He didn't force his way out late in the window, he has largely kept his head down in the media, and hopefully we'll get a sell-on so that we can reap a few million more when he moves up the Man U or Chelsea in a couple years time.
Nat served us well...we were lucky he saw us as a good prospect for his development and came here. Can have no complaints if players keep their heads down and negotiate properly. If we hate everyone who leaves, we'll end up with a lot of enemies....most fans seem laid back about it (at least on here). Would hate for us to suddenly become vindictive to all ex-players....it would make Lallana feel less special
I agree with this Schad, apart from the Champions League part. Do you really think he's gone there because he thinks that's the pathway choice? I don't. He wanted the CL route, United didn't come in with the offer and Liverpool offered a big pay rise. No problem with Clyne. Shame it's Liverpool.
