I agree, but it may be that a relegation release clause exists in Kostas's contract, if this should be the case we couldn't reject the offers. It would seem to make sense for both sides protection. As a championship club we probably could afford to pay his wages. Whether we would want to or not is another matter. Also it may be that Kostas's won't want to stay if he is not in the shop window that is the Premiership. I would like to see our youngsters step up and take the bull by the horns next season whatever division we are in.
Fulhaman; I was hoping not but you could well be right. It would seem strange to bring a player into a relegation battle with a get out clause if all doesn't turn out rosy, a certain lack of commitment wouldn't you say. I agree and have high hopes for our youngster and very pleased some are coming to the fore and already and making their mark. The future is bright, the future is Fulhamish!
True, I think Pat Roberts on Saturday made it 10 academy players to make the step up to the first team this season. Add that to the likes of Kaca, Kasami, Cole, Tunnicliffe and the lads who have spent the season out on loan and we have a great future. The tricky part will be hanging on to them.
Surely we can if the club wants to keep them. Money comes with success not asset stripping, lets live in hope
I make it 9 - Passley, Burn, Tankovic, Woodrow, Dembele, Christensen, David, Plumain & Roberts. Who have I missed? Anyways, that's many more Academy players than ever played under Jol!
Could be taken out of the Club's hands if this goes through - The Premier League is in talks with the Professional Footballers Association to introduce a system of mandatory pay cuts for players of relegated teams. The system would see relegation wage cuts inserted into every top flight player’s contract, meaning that relegation to the Championship would trigger a lower wage level. The thinking behind such a move would be to relieve the financial burden placed upon relegated clubs, who frequently have to cover Premier League level wage bills on a more modest income. Queens Park Rangers provide a prime example of such a phenomenon this season, with high earners such as Julio Cesar and Joey Barton still on the wage bill for most of the Championship season. Working in tandem with the existing parachute payments system, mandatory relegation wage cuts have reportedly been considered for a number of years, but failed to get off the ground due to opposition from the division’s top clubs. Of the 20 Premier League clubs, the move would need the support of 14 to get off the ground. However the league’s smaller clubs are said to be receptive to the agreement, with many already operating a similar system anyway. One meeting has already reportedly taken place between the Premier League and PFA, while another is believed to be pencilled in for later in the year. http://www.squawka.com/news/2014/03/22/relegation-wage-cuts/2014032286217
Mesca came on against Chelsea earlier on in the season for his debut. 2whitestripes, as for being able to hold on to them I wouldn't be so sure. Tankovic is out of contract in the summer and the club is showing no signs of offering a new deal. If bigger clubs come calling we may need to sell. Hopefully not though.
Was on loan at Crewe earlier on in the year but haven't heard much since. Jol seemed to rate him a bit, Rene and Felix seemed not to.
This list underlines some of the mess the Club has been in this season. We've fielded a total of 39 players. More importantly, how many of those younsters were anything other than '15 minute bit part players'? Two - Dan Burn and Cauley Woodrow. Such a haphazard approach is not the way to constructively bring on their development. Any youngster brought in needs to be a permanent squad member and given regular games. Felix at least seems to be moving in that direction.
If you count cup games, others - Passley, Tankovic, David, Christianson (I think) - have played full games, but I take your point about young players benefitting from a run of games rather than an occasional one-off.
