We've definitely not seen the best of Enzo, he is better in a deeper role or no8 position and when he did play there last season he looked class I honestly think he's the best CM in all the newly promoted sides
One of the most fundamental questions in modern football I think. Football has become biased towards signing players on bigger wages than those who have come through the academy. It is a real flaw in the model of how football is setup, and PSR plays a terrible part in that. Modern football is built on foundations of sand, and at some point it will collapse like a house of cards. It will rebuilt on academy talent, not £20m tfrs in my opinion. Are they worth the same as the new lads? If I were Neil and I was offered less than Talbi I would be offended. Put it that way. It seems to me players get bigger salaries by moving clubs. So take Le Fee, who I dont doubt is a talented footballer. Good start to his career and gets the move and no doubt the salary bump. Move doesnt really work out and he moves on, maybe another salary bump. Again move doest really move work out and moves again. Does any of that add up to a reported £60k a week? Anyone can have an opinion yes or no, but to get him yoi have to at least match what he is on. In Neils case you dont have to do that at all, you can play hard ball much more. Maybe more so with a lad who is desperate to lead and play for his boyhood club. So the processes behind modern football mean Dan may well want £60k a week. I dont know. Maybe he only wants £30k a week, again no idea. My dislike is that he could probably move and get more than he could by staying. West Ham have held an intersest, as have other top 5 league clubs. His agent will know what he can expect elsewhere. But it is in the clubs interest to not pay his going rate in many ways thanks to financial rules. Any homegrown player is a victim if circumstance to an extent. For the record I would pay him more than Talbi and Lauriente, less than Diarra and Lee Fee. That is based on view of their ability and contribution I think they will make to the squad. I doubt it happens because of what I have said earlier, but in football terms that is how I see it.
I would agree on Le Fee. Although we stilp need to actually see him do it. I think he will of course. That said I think Diarra will eclipse him this season. And everyone else to be honest. I believe he is on another level again to Le Fee.
I think if they were as sure about Neil he’d get paid it. I have doubts, I’m sure they do. I hope he stays but the issue with overpaying Neil is if he doesn’t make the step up, which is quite possible as he failed to impress for at least 60% of last season, we then can’t get anyone else to pick up and pay it as we improve. I agree on the state of football by the way. It’s basically the worst of capitalism operating within a beautiful sport.
Lauriente has played at a higher level than Dan Neil has his entire career. Talbi had played a good amount of CL football and is seen as quite a high prospect in Europe. I think maybe talbi he could be close to in wages not Lauriente though
Aye, it’s a tough one.. feels like jumping ship for an increased salary is becoming the new norm even outside of football, you never feel rewarded for “loyalty” anymore. Talbi I’d probably agree with, he can’t have been on loads at Club Brugge surely and I’d be very surprised if we’ve offered him Le Fee kind of wages but without offering Le Fee what he’s already on he likely wouldn’t have came on loan then the permanent. So Neil makes a case for more money, which he’s totally entitled to by the way he’s helped the club to two promotions - but then who else wants more if Neil gets it? Hume could argue he made more of a contribution last season so he wants the same as Neil etc etc. Patto could argue he wants more too. You’d like to think these lads have been rewarded with uplifts on their contract for the promotion anyway but how much is the question. It’s not a situation I’d want to deal with I know that! Certain lads will have a figure of what they feel their value is at and it’s up to the club to try and keep harmony amongst they. Haven’t got much wrong under the current ownership so I’m confident we’ll sort it.
Also with the amount of CMs we’re getting and being linked with, it’s easy to forget about Chris Rigg. Can see him improving even further this season.
Yep Rigg won't play as much this season, not a bad thing but when he does play i think he's going to make a huge impact
I genuinely think we see him explode this season. More than Jobe last season. I am confident he is a regular starter by January if not sooner. Means some big money players on the bench, but I think Regis knows what he has on his hands with Rigg.
agree but it also happens outside of football. Staying at one company doesn’t usually lead to the highest wage. Bouncing between a few competitors and requesting salary raises at each opportunity, is the key to maximising earnings. imo Neil’s error has been not accepting contracts earlier on higher wages and trusting the club would let him go if/when he wanted. He could have been on 15-20k a week the championship for the past year but decided to chance running his contract down. Bellingham by contrast, signed a new deal mid season and then still left.
I agree. There’s been flashes of something special but this season he starts as a bonafide first team player and he will be calm. I expect him to start out of first 11 but be established in it by mid season.