A few months ago, if someone had said the words "Ashbee leaving" I would have thought it was the end of civilisation as we know it. Ash was the rock at the centre of things, the inspirational captain around whom the team gelled and whose influence was the core of our success. And that simply was the way it was. To remove Ash would be to tear the heart out from the team and leave it floundering. But more recently, our starting eleven has borne no relationship to the 'old' City that got promoted to the PL. Only one player (Dawson) survives from that era. Everyone else was brought in by Pearson in the last few months. So, to them, Ash is probably just 'another player', not the legend that we all think of him as. So, if he does go to Preston, will it really have the disastrous effect on morale and cohesion that some (including myself) have feared? Or will it be like removing the stopper in a bottle and bring fresh new life to our team, perhaps freeing up other players to come into their best role more? Could it actually be for the best???
I really hope he doesn't go, we will miss him. We might get by a few games without him but over the course of half a dozen games, we will start to feel his absence. Ashbee tends to be one of those players you notice more when he isnt playing, when he plays you might think what does he do but when he isnt playing you realise what he does and how much the team missses him.
In the long term, I don't think it matters too much. In the short term however I think it's a big blow to lose him, he's playing very well at the moment. I'd like him to stay.
agree, obviously in the long term his days were numbered but he is one of the best players at this moment in time he has been solid, defensively he has been very strong and has broken up play well and always gets involved in the game, will anyone else be that involved or just shy away from a tackle... we will find out. no coincidence we have lost one game since he has been back in the squad
I think it's probably better to get rid of him half way through a season (from the point of building for the future). I don't see promotion this season and it gives half a season of "sink or swim" for the rest of the squad (ie. you can see if there is an able replacement). If they are floundering then you make it your number one priority in the summer to bring in a replacement, preferably early enough to give them a full pre-season to stamp their authority.
One of the obvious big questions is "Who will captain the side now?" It could be Harper, given the way NP rates him and uses him to get messages out onto the pitch. I personally would not be too unhappy with this - but time will tell if he can deliver the kind of leadership that Ash has done over the years.
Unfortunately Electronics the word captain usually refers to the man with armband, but not many these days who wear it are actually "captains". Even without the armband Ash is a captain. That is the reason most of us would miss him if he went. I personally have not admired him for his football prowess because I think even he would admit he has not been the most talented player to pull on the black and amber, but I probably can't name more then two or three players in the last 25 years who have played for City that were actually worthy of the title. Justin Whittle, is the only one who comes close in that time.
Totally agree, TNT67. Ash will take some replacing, and that kind of leader may not emerge overnight. That's my main concern with his (possible) move. But he can't last forever. Let's hope someone can step up... I hope it's not another 25 years.
real captain, doesn't need an armband to command respect..he oozes leadership, hardman on the field gent off it.. we'll see today how much he'll be missed..
NP just saying on RH that Ash submitted a transfer request having been offered a contract with "another club". So it's all down to Ash. Disappointing, but at least that means Adam Pearson wasn't being two-faced when he said Ash was staying the other day.
I know he's out of contract in the summer, but English clubs can't offer contracts to English based players until 3 months before it ends so how's he been offered one before asking for a transfer?
Yeah - strange that. I wonder if something a bit irregular has gone on. Brownie saying too much? (Surely not ) Nige said that he would do what was best for the club. Whether that means letting Ash go or not I'm not sure.
I suppose he could have a clause saying he can speak to any clubs that make an offer. I just think the timing is disgusting. I was slagging Torres off to some Liverpool fans last night for doing it so close to the end of the window when it's hard to find a replacement for an unexpected exit, and doing it while they're still trying to persuade Suarez to sign as well. Ashbee's timing is worse because not only is it just before the end of the window it's also come the day before a game. I assume he was involved in the planning for today's game so all that was unsettled the day before the game.
I like Ash, quite rightly a club legend, however think is nose got put out of joint when he was dropped by NP. Ultimately no player is bigger then the club. In Evans and Harper we have cover and apparently we have already had a bid for another player rejected.
