I could see that when we went down. But after barely using him in the Championship, it doesn't really ring true for me. He should have shipped him in the summer and used the money. For a bloke who whines on about money, he isn't half ****e at using it. I can't really understand the instruction thing either - bar not getting sent off. Mbemba followed his instructions alright when he turned our form around in Rafa's first 10 games. I don't really have a problem with him not fancying them as players. I think he's wrong and cutting his nose off to spite his face, but at the end of the day he has to make the decisions and stand behind them as his job depends on it. So I will always say a manager should do what he thinks is right, that way there are no excuses or regrets. However retaining them to watch when they have value in the market is bizarre. I'm sure plenty would take Mbemba and Mitrovic. We might not command any great fees but there would certainly be takers. Them sitting around hasn't added to their value. Colback fair enough but those two have quality that could be put to good use. Its sad really because we've wasted two years of two young lads careers, and shot ourselves in the foot in the process. I suppose it is symptomatic of how stupidly we've operated at times over the last 10-15 years.
As ever wages will be a big problem in shifting them. Mike will be telling Penfold not to sell below a certain price which will almost certainly be unrealistic. I don't think it's fair to assume that because they are still here it's because of Rafa. It might be, but he has to work with shackles on remember.
