There’s 2 reasons only you sell someone like Slater for me. One is if he wants to leave and the second is because he’s got a year left and getting a fee for him is better than not. He regressed this year but there’s still a player. Especially one that’s willing and capable of playing multiple positions. When you’ve only got a squad of 25 players (3 of which are keepers) and you’re in the depths of December with injuries piling up. Someone like Slater to play a couple games at right back is worth having him around for. As I say, depends if he wants to stick around and be that squad member or if someone like Stoke is going to give him starts
I’d happily keep him and Coyle. Jones less so as we have better and Ajayi coming in would be an adequate if not better replacement to be used as cover.
Not sure about Jakirovic's thoughts about squad size, but as Selles had expressed a desire to trim the squad down, then a player like Slater who can cover multiple positions is the sort of player you keep around. Maybe Jak will have different ideas. It is strange that considering we had plenty of CMs and issues at FB, that Slater wasn't considered as a FB option considering he did ok there in a play-off chasing team the previous year
Slater should not be a starter but is exactly the type of player you want in the squad. Versatile, always gives his all, doesn't appear to sulk when on the bench, I know some will argue but I think hes dependable- he's not going be outstanding but us reliable to come on and do a job and even once or twice a season have a blinder and get man of the match.
Much depends on whether or not he considers himself a sub-standard bench warmer? What would you do if you were in his position? Be happy enough to sit on the bench and get the odd 10 minutes here or there, or aspire to be a bit better than that and actually play the game you're paid to?
Depends what's on offer to go or stay not just money but I wouldn't go to sit on the bench somewhere else. Also consider family and what they wanted. Some players are valuable players coming off the bench. Solskjaer made a career of it
He's too young, 25, to be a benchwarmer, I think he'll want regular starts. Will Jakirovic have ideas of a squad rotation system? he might stick around for that.
It’s the ideal age to move Three year deal and cut of the transfer fee Then can still get another move at 28
I think a lot should depend on the new coaches views and vision,or are players already being touted before he even arrives? Let's be honest,there is some dead wood at the Club.There are also players who want out and players that the owner wants out due to wages(we've also got players who the owner can make a 'profit' on)? This could end up a pretty big turnover and lead to even more unsettlement going into a New Season when we've just narrowly avoided the drop...It's time the Club settled down from the top,started to establish a long term squad/vision and finally gave the supporters a bit of decent football to watch and perhaps give them a glimmer of hope. We've had 3 years of this nonsense and got absolutely nowhere. Surely the Owner isn't so blinkered that he can't see this constant upheaval is detrimental to this whole set up...
We do, and he probably does see it. I'd imagine he thought that's what would happen when he appointed Selles. I remember talk of us needing to add / bring in different types of players to what we'd previously had, meaning real pace, power, height, nous, leaders. I remain hopeful he's learnt hard lessons, and signs like adding Hodges alongside Dublin, allowing Jak MK2 to bring 3 assistants plus another coach with deep experience of domestic football support that hope. Yep, it's the hope that kills you, but without hope then there's no point. I want to now see us bringing in those attributes we've been so badly missing (and goals of course). I know they are only rumours but rumours like the link to the WBA centre back support my view and hope. And, back to point, that will almost certainly mean needing to let players like Slater go (even though I agree with the view that he is a reasonable, versatile squad player but no more than that if we are to progress).
Talk of whether Slater would be happy with a bench role is missing the point. We have this every year that we're gonna sign loads of new players and the old heads won't play any more, and time and time again it doesn't happen, because the new players turn out to be not as good. We signed loads of midfielders last summer and Slater was supposedly going to be way down the pecking order yet he ended up being a regular starter, just as he always has been since signing for us permanently. In this fanbase we consistently underrate our established players and also overestimate the club's ability to recruit better players.
He’s also a player who played 41 times in many different positions in a team that finished 7th. If we were linked with a player who did that we’d all be fairly happy about signing him. His ability as a player clearly wasn’t the problem last season and could definitely do a job in a mid table side at least.
It's just a shame he can't score the chances he gets. That's his biggest let down. I suppose its down to whether the club sees him in a different role to what he thinks he should have
I find it laughable that the experts on here continually undermine our players. If it’s Slater this year it will be someone else next year. Better the devil you know.
I agree about the number of goals he scores. I see him as box to box player but he needs to put away more chances. He missed some shockers this season and I wonder if it affected his confidence. Still a good squad player imo, let's not forget he was player of the season a couple of years ago.