I like Clayton, I would have liked him to stay but putting it into perspective did he look good because he shone more than he should have done in a crap team? He wasn't better than Gradel and we only got one fairly good season out of him, he did drift out of games a lot and yes he might develop into something a lot better. If I had my way I would keep him but the decision on his contract does seem to be in Warnocks hands this time so we have to trust his decision.
The thing is, he wants to keep Brown and Pugh and Clayton has to go because he wants too much? If he is asking for £9k I don't think that is too much. I suspect that both Brown and Pugh are on that kind of money. So if Warnock think that Brown and Pugh are better than Clayton, then we are in serious trouble and you can definitely forget about promotion next season. Then it is more likely that we will end up in a relegation battle.
Brown's been offered a new contract on reduced terms, which most likely will be lower than 9k p/w. Pugh sounds like he'll be more of a utility player, I highly doubt Warnock has any serious intention to start him in central midfield.
I think we are stuck with pugh simply for the fact he has only just signed and I agree with kiwi I feel he will be a utility player, I would be amazed and fearful should Warnock see him as a starting 11 player.
Yeah, exactly. Wouldn't particularly want him to start the majority of our games, but as a utility player I have no problems with him. Utility players will prove their worth over the course of a season
Main problem with the current strategy - not enough gems in the rough to make it work, any we do find get sold on asap.
By the looks of it, the current strategy doesn't need gems in the rough, it requires proven players. It's risky, because we've only given Warnock a year long contract, and told him to get us promoted. He's not going to be overly fussed if we lose players with potential like Clayton and White. He wants proven players who can get us promoted. That's the strategy I see anyway...
At QPR Warnock had 1 flair player in Taarabt and he built the team around him. Apart from Taarabt there wasnt much in terms of something different. They was all players that do what it says on the tin like Tommy Smith, Heider Helguson, Clint Hill, Shaun Derry, Jamie Mackie I think Warnock is trying to do the same at Leeds but it building the team around Snodgrass
It's a pity both Clayton and Nunez are on the way out, but I can see why Warnock doesn't want Nunez for the kind of team he's going to build. And that's the key point, he's going to try to build a team. Grayson simply added players that came up, who were injured and forgotten, to his squad. There was no strategy involved. The midfield simply isn't good enough as it is. Don't forget there will be three out of: West Ham, Cardiff, Blackpool, Birmingham still in the league next year, plus the three Prem relegation teams with their massive parachute payments. Not to mention Leicester, Brighton and Hull who will all be competitive. The team needs rebuilding wholesale because it clearly isn't a top 6 outfit.
I think next season will be easier Jugster - Hull have suspended Barmby and are up for sale, cant see them adding too much to what they have and it was only their defence that kept them in it last season, they can't score goals and a 20+ striker doesn't come cheap. I am hoping West Ham and B'Ham stay down, rumours are that if they do it will be massive clear outs for both as they will be in a financial mess if they stay down and Brighton had a bit of a fluke season, they are not going to repeat that. Leicester should get it together but in all I feel next season is anyones, it will be there for the taking.
The key point to this discussion is not Clayton's wages, but how much Warnock can get for Clayton if sold. He wants to keep McCormack and Snods, which makes sense, but in order to fund his new squad someone has to go to raise cash and Clayton clearly is that player. He has had an excellent season, there will be a few teams who will want him so put him up for sale. Why publicly transfer list him so quickly? Surely if Leeds wanted to keep him they would have spoken at length with the lad in the off-season, and come end of May if no genuine agreement can be reached then list him. No, this is clearly a strategy to alert clubs early so that they don't spend their money on other targets first. Knowing Clayton is available means they can consider him before other players become available in June. I am sad that Clayton is being sold, as he genuinely has a bright future, and should be with Leeds for another five seasons and develop into a really good player for the Whites. I agree that it now seems Warnock is taking a short-term gamble with certain players in mind and sacrifices will be made to fund his new team. Oh well, I can only hope that Warnock gets it right and we land the players he wants. Would be bad if we sold Clayton and then half of Warnock's targets do a Grayson and sign for someone else!!
Snodgrass is not in the same bracket as Taarabt, however much I would like him to be. His influence has diminished since being given a free role rather than a winger role, but without alternative attacking threats, he is also doubled up on by the opposition, reducing his threat even further.
Completely agree, which is why, dare I say it, someone like Diouf could do a world of good to our attacking play.
The Pearce signing is a positive start to rebuilding the team. Warnock loves strikers, so expect at least two to join us. Jordan Rhodes if Grayson misses promotion?
I don't think Grayson would dare sell him to us and he would also be smarting about his exit so not a chance on this one.
I guarantee the 3 clubs coming down will still have a lower turnover than us, even with parachute payments.
"doesn't want" or "has been told if he wants to bring in players he has to sell some players" - the latter implying that only the good ones will bring in the sort of money required to get better players. God forbid we get the money from the other £21 million we bring in in turnover, that would be madness!
