If it was 'only a year', then I'm a little disappointed we didn't try to find a compromise. He's still got 2 years on this contract, so why not write into the contract some sort of clause saying that if he makes for example 60 appearances in those 2 seasons, he automatically gets another year. That way he's only going to be kept on if he's still in or around the first team in 2 years time, and it gives him an incentive to keep himself in that position. Then if he fails to make the 60 appearances, we can either cut him free or negotiate something new.
I think we should give him an extra 5k per week and a goal scoring bonus. I still want Holt at Norwich, he's a legend, I still F****** love Grant Holt. We don't know all the facts. He's been a hero for us.
I think at 31 with 2 years (if this is the case)left McNally is well within his rights not to extend just yet. We might be in the Championship near the bottom with Holt out of form etc by then. There can be a big downfall in performance in those 2 years (3 with an extension). I'd say Holt is being a bit presumptuous that he'll still be a top striker then.
Our problem is we can't replace Holt. If anything we need Holt and another new striker. Losing Holt is a massive blow, our strike force would be so horribly weak, especially with injury prone Vaughan. You can spend 50 million on a striker that scores less goals than Holty. It's not just his goals either, he offers so much more. He's a constant nuisance to even the best defenders. 400k in my opinion makes him irreplaceable. We could spend 3-5 million on Rhodes, unproven in the prem or just give Holt a pay rise. People seem to think it would open the door to all players demanding pay rises, but I disagree. Holt is our best player over the last three years, he has decent argument. He's been the biggest on the pitch influence on our recent successes. Player of the season 3 times running, top goal scorer 3 times running. We must keep him. I think he is happy living here (opinion yes) but he wants to ensure he has a comfortable retirement, let's just give him that!
Did the club say that they deal with the out of contract players first, then sort out contracted players next? This 'negotiating through the media' is definately not professional at all and imho is less likely to get what you actually want. I really don't know why professional footballers need an agent. Most of them are intelligent men and surely know what they themselves are worth. If they are not clever enough to negotiate their own contracts, then they should pay the agent themselves not the club. How much has NCFC wasted over the years on agents fees? I dread to think!
I would say it is very questionable that most players are intelligent. Certainly don't act like it most of the time. But I echo your sentiments with regard to agents. Please get them out of the game, I hate them and everything they represent.
Disagree, I think that McNally would jump at chance to offer him an extra year. IF he wanted a significant pay rise, which I think was something the agent missed out, than McNally wouldn't jump at it. I also think McNally would want Holt to retire here, whether he loses value or not he will probably have goals in him for rest of his career because he doesn't depend on pace, so his value to the club will be huge. The fact the agent mentioned it's to do with money, albeit in a subtle way, as well as so called "disagreements" than it's probably mainly to do with money unless he is a honest agent. I think it was all to do with money. At first and even today I thought to myself if he wants a pay rise, give it him but at the end of the day whats more vital the club to reach the target of being externally debt free? or to get a few more years out of Grant Holt at an extra price?
Agents are parasites. In all walks of life, not just football. They are people without talent who suck the blood of people with talent. Don't believe a word this guy says.
I may have a suspicious mind but it seems to me very strange that Holt wanting to leave predates (just) Lambert's opening of negotiations with Villa.I think that this whole affair was orchestrated from beginning to end.We should take a Jeremy Hunt approach to Sunnderland wanting him,completely neutral nod,nudge,wink.
