Liam Walsh - His shelf life came to an end ‘Nigel Pearson’ Saturday, 10th Jul 2021 11:21 by Steph Thomas New Swansea City midfield signing Liam Walsh has had a few harsh words from Nigel Pearson on leaving Bristol City week. Pearson made it clear Walsh wasn’t worth the wages he was on at Ashton Gate and commented that if you can’t offer a player the same or more they become a free transfer. Not sure about that one if a player agrees to a lesser deal, but his comments won’t please robins fans, and will be ringing in Liams ears for some time to come. Walsh was seen as a tremendous asset for the coming season. please log in to view this image Nigel Pearson has stated to Bristol Live - “He’s a player who we decided to allow to go as, as I’ve talked about already, some players we felt for the wages they were earning, we couldn’t offer that," explained Nigel Pearson on why Walsh has departed. "Because of the rules, if you don’t offer at least the same, then you become a free transfer” Pearson believes the players he has com8mg in are far more adaptable to his playing style and will be far more successful than Liam Walsh has been. Walsh played just 120 minutes of football last season. Pearson went on to defend his decision “ But I also felt it was important to strengthen in that area and the players that I brought in, I’m very happy with. "That’s not to say that I wouldn’t have been happy to keep Liam but as I’ve already alluded to, we have to be mindful of the financial implications and my job is to make decisions on players and whether they stay or they go” please log in to view this image “So it’s really my decision because I wanted to strengthen in a way which I had players that play the way I think we need to play, moving forward. It’s never an easy decision. When you let players like Liam go – I suppose Jamie Paterson would be in a similar category being popular... But I think sometimes either player, their shelf life has come to an end but also Liam had had some problems, injury-wise, and I just decided to move in a different direction. Hopefully that clarifies that I’m Public Enemy number one," said Pearson. Some Bristol City fans have asked why Swansea City have not paid any fee for Walsh. Being out of contract obviously is the first answer, and when the club was asked about a fee for the player Bristol City stated he didn’t come through their academy, so was entitled to move on without any financial implications. It’s a massive season now for Walsh, keep those injuries to a bare minimum and maybe he can shove those words backs down Pearson’s throat. https://www.fansnetwork.co.uk/football/swanseacity/news/55264/liam-walsh-his-shelf-life-came-to-an-end-‘nigel-pearson’
Sounds like we were caught between a rock and a hard place, either offer him wages that we considered to high, or lose him. Add to that Nige thought at those wages he didn’t offer enough , and didn’t really fit in with his way of playing we didn’t have much of a choice but to let him go. You can’t really blame Walsh either, obviously if he’s offered higher wages elsewhere he’s gonna take it, especially seeing everything that happened here, not getting game time, being loaned out and the debacle of last seasons injury, probably best for both parties to part company. I personally wish him the best , except against us, obviously.
Ouch ouch, perhaps he did not need to say those words and be a little more tactful. We knew when we signed Nigel up to be our new manager he was a hard nosed character who doesn't beat about the bush and shoots from the hip when necessary. Perhaps if we had some of his straight talk and action in previous years we wouldn't be in this mess but instead we wandered around in a fog accepting poor performances ad nauseum and nobody ever carried the can for our ineptitude. How many of us over the years questioned a lot of the decisions made down at Ashton Gate and wondered if we would ever shake off our undistinguished past and move in to the realm of true commitment to success? The hiring of Nigel Pearson didn't fit everybody's eye but at least we finally had a manager with bite and proven success at Championship level which brought a new belief that Steve Lansdown had finally had enough of yes men, with their heads firmly in a messy place, and changed track to a line that would show the long suffering supporters that the rules of engagement were now much more sensible. I'm sure Nigel will rattle a few heads in this upcoming season and I hope he lays out his plan of attack in such a way that the the players, both old and new, clearly understand the new rules that actually dictate that you have to put in a total effort and those that just show up for the money and their social media rating should get a job elsewhere. No nonsense has to be the order of the day and those who fail to show up for the task can put their earbuds back in and head for the exit.
EP got a wrist slap v Celtic game … he don't stand no messing. Hopefully we will be in the loop more now …………………..
Nige said it as it was guess what Jonny boy did not like the harsh facts and the truth. In Nige I trust
Another player Nige didn’t even attempt to do anything with, and just let him go for free. Then brings in Andy King…. Brilliant
Did he, I must have missed that… Although not hard when your mate brings you in and bimbos others out. Some might call it nepotism and hammer managers for it….
