Re: manager, even though people are mixed on Martin I do think I'm happier with him than I would have been with Maresca. I think going for someone with experience of the league is always preferable, even if you get the odd anomaly who just takes the league by storm (Kompany). I reckon we have got that part kind of right at least. Leicester definitely seem to be ahead in the player market at the moment though, could be because they have already started to lose players.
We've just been relegated but we don't have to sell him and he has plenty of contract left. I also don't think he's had a poor season, certainly not a stand out season but think he was mostly average with some very good and some poor performances, and his role in the team didn't allow him to stand out. Not convinced Maddison is good enough to start for a top team either. Be a squad player that sometimes starts sure, but I can see the same for JWP when he is at his best and has better players around him. They're different players so it's difficult to directly compare them. Maddison will get the spotlight as he is a creative player, but don't think he's necesarilly a better overall player or at least not significantly so. Game of opinions though. I also don't see JWP as a leader on the pitch but he undoubtedly was off the pitch and is a player everyone at the club looked up to. He is our captain regardless of whether you think he is a good captain or not.
Fair enough mate. Agree to disagree I think we might be able to hold out for closed to 40 but it depends who's interested and how desperate they are to land him. I'd also like it to happen fairly quickly as us scrambling around for his replacement in the final 10 days of the window once the season is already underway isn't ideal.
As usual I think you’re being very very harsh on JWP. One of those players that people will realise how good he is once he moves on IMO. I do agree that if he is going to leave, we should ideally hope it happens sooner rather than later. I will be absolutely gutted seeing him in another shirt.
Given how likely this has been since relegation was certain I don’t think they’ll allow it to drag on and not have a replacement in place in good time Who knows, we might get Grimes in before he goes anyway (Yeh, like things are ever that simple for us)
Also, I know that I keep harping on this, but...we absolutely do need to sell players. Doesn't matter how deep our owner's pockets are, the Championship has strict limitations on how much money you are allowed to lose. Paying JWP 60k+ p/w in the Championship and eschewing a 30m+ transfer fee would blow a hole in our budget that is nearly equivalent to our parachute payment for this season (which in turn is something like 60% of our total turnover).
The club had a poor season, but Ward-Prowse still stood out. Even if some of his performances weren't up to the standard that hes set, he still scored 9 goals in the PL. If Maddison goes for £40 million with one year left (who scored one more goal then JWP) I don't think £45 million+ is too much of a stretch.
I think you and Libby ignore his value off the field as a captain On the field I’d rather see someone more pro-active with a bigger personality
Blimey, Kondogbia going to Marseilles for €8m. That seems very cheap. Has he suddenly become rubbish?
