So Peterborough United got relegated today and Jack Payne is still currently on loan to them with a view to a permanent deal. However, seeming as both clubs will be playing the same league next season will we see Payne choose to stay with us over the Posh? Also I wonder if that permanent deal was subject to boro staying in the Championship or not.
Realistically we're going to need to find a midfielder to 'replace' Robinson, and Jack Payne is every bit as good as we'll likely to find - and he now has a substantial amount of experience at a higher level. Although Peterborough got relegated, Payne couldn't be expected to save them on his own ! As I said in another thread ' It's a team game' - There's no reason why we can't assemble a team that will better complement Payne ( and vice versa ) better than the relegated Peterborough side
Jack apparently wanted to go because he didn't like the rotation policy. I doubt anything was written in about Peterborough being relegated so I expect its as you were. Jack stays there and we get an agreed fee. I think he had got a bit stale with us anyway.
I think the 'rotation policy' of Martin Allen may have been triggered by a number of reasons - not least that he wanted to be seen as being different. ( whilst the old manager was still in the building ) The rotation policy had some success - but not necessarily because of it. At the start of the season we were plagued with red cards that seemed to add to the number of changes that were made. However as the season progressed, Martin Allen's team changes became fewer - and in the main were out of necessity ( mainly injury )The main core of the side became very settled - and the stability greatly helped to make us 'difficult to beat'. I would be surprised if Payne had not featured in that main core of the side, with an extended run in the team - which I felt was nearly always better with him in it. I am sure that Martin Allen will not make the same wholescale changes to the starting 11 as at the start of the season for our League 1 campaign. Jack Payne would be an asset - and would be respected with an appropriate level of inclusion in the side.
I would love to see Jack Payne back at Gills, but without knowing the underlying reasons for or terms of his departure, or indeed his own views, it's difficult to form an opinion as to whether he would return. I don't think that the terms of the loan would have included a definite move without some sort of get-out, but then it's a matter of the wording of the get-out... And there always exists the possibility that he will now have come to attention of more Championship clubs who will have had the opportunity to see him play at that level, so he may yet go to a different Championship club.
Would love to see him back, but I fear the writings on the wall with the one as if Allen wanted him in the squad he never would have been loaned out
I'd say Jack is Championship quality (and believes himself to be so), and as such will probably be sold on to someone like Charlton, Millwall, Ipswich or similar. Can't blame him or the club if that happens. The only reason he might stay here is if all the talk that he fell out with MA is bull-plop, and MA can convince him we will be promo contenders this coming season. Would love that to be the case. I really would not like him to stay with a team that is now a direct rival. That would not be a wise move imho.
http://www.kentonline.co.uk/kentonline/sport/2013/january/26/jack_payne.aspx When the moved happened "The two clubs agreed a financial package for that deal to turn permanent at the end of the loan spell." Even though Posh were relegated, I feel that the deal will still be made permanent and with Allen letting him move after the Vale loss, it would suggest that Payne wouldn't be in Allen's plans next season. I always thought that Payne was too lightweight for his position and we need big players who will get stuck in if we are to survive in League 1; sadly I don't think Payne would be the answer. I actually thought that our midfield was more balanced once Payne had gone and will be an area that is strengthened further in the summer. However that's not to say he has potential to be a good player. A player like Payne will naturally move onto "bigger and better" things and I would rather see him develop his career at at a club like Posh who will be one of the favourites to go up rather than come back to us.
