Not surprised at most of that link...many were scarcely involved in the Championship. Our rapid rise is part of the 'problem'. However, I also suspect that clubs like City and Chelsea also have a lot of fringe players on much larger salaries than ours.
With financial fair play coming in we will not want to use up wages on players that will never get into the first team so if we move on fifteen players and replace with five or six top players on top wages then there is a little bit of balancing up of expenditure as strengthening our push up the table
We may have to take a financial hit on this...we need to help some players move on, especially those involved in some part of our promotions. There is no point in keeping players who will never play for us again, better to subsidise their move. Some may be approaching the end of their contracts of course.
It is a shame that some of the guys that got us where we are will have to be released but there is no option, we have to keep big enough squads to service the Under 21s and Under 18s, plus the new Academy input, and we will need some decent signings if we are to progress next Season. I am glad I am not the one to have to make the decisions.
I would be staggered to find out this was true. Almost since the day he was signed, I've said that he's too slow for the Premiership. I know people say the same about Lambert but he has many other skills that Sharp (great though he may be at the right level) simply doesn't have. Vin
I don't think we will actively force these players out, however if many of them want to leave and a suitable offer comes in I am sure we would let most of them go. If a few of the fringe players are content to stay for another season then it is always useful to have extra squad players.
I agree. Guly, Richardson, Butterfield, Seaborne, Dickson, Forecast and Reeves are all out of contract and I'd expect them to be released, the likes of Sharp, Hammond, De Ridder, Lee and Barnard will probably be made available and I'm sure there will be interest in them. That only leaves three others to make it up to fifteen and I'd expect at least that many youth players to be released. The only player who I think we'd like shot of but who might not get a move is Forte. Edit: Oh, and Chaplow.
I tend to think if they get into their 20s and are still a way off the first team then they're probably going to be let go. Reeves, Hoskins, Isgrove and Robinson all have the opportunity to start making a proper career for themselves in the Football League, and I can't see them getting games for Saints any time soon.
But that is only the British philosophy. You look at a lot of European sides where players develop at 22/23 whereas they would have long since been jettisoned by British clubs. Look at Cork as a good example of what can happen; Schneiderlin is 23 too and has been arguably at his best at 23, although I accept he was established in the first team. Our new manager may also be of the philosophy of giving late developers a chance, we shall see.
I don't think it's unheard of for players to break into the first team in their 20s and go on to have successful careers. Now there's an under 21 league it almost moves the cut-off point up as well. Before they had to start playing in the any-age reserves at 20, now they can stay in the age group teams until 22. I wouldn't be surprised if more players 'blossomed' later under this system, rather than being let go and then working their way back up later in their careers.
There's one such player starting today: Matt Lowton. Wasn't until he was 21 that he got a chance with Sheffield United's first team, couple years later he's something of a fixture for Villa.
I don't know if you remember but it's not all that long ago that the international side used to be U23 and not U21. Players have long developed after they were given the door key [remember that tradition..?]. It could be said that Leighton Baines is in that category. Very good player earlier, now great player..?
Chaplow De Ridder Lee Seaborne Butterfield Dickson Martin Forte Hammond Sharp Fox Richardson Forecast Barnard Guly Theres 15 first team age players who I wouldn't be at all surprised to see leave
Poche is a coach (Euro style) he does not decide who comes or goes, he just trains and picks the team from the squad he has. Same as Guardiola and Mourhinho.
This is true, however I would be very surprised if he was not consulted about fringe players and whether he envisaged them having a future role in his side.
