Love the comment at the bottom, very well worded... "Good writeup, but I’ll push back on one point. You say “The reality for a lot of domestiques is that they can’t afford to be picky.” They can afford to be picky, if they accept the possibility that they might have to prioritize their ethics over their desired career. In other words, they could go get different jobs, if they think the only team offering a contract is bad enough. This should not be looked at as some sort of absolutely unacceptable sacrifice, when put up against possibly serving as a marketing tool for a dictator. Should we give someone who wants to be a sailor a pass because the only job they can find is on a whaling ship? Many people can’t do the job they dream of, for many reasons. It’s not the end of the world. These riders only have ‘no other option’ if they don’t accept that a different is a live option for them. If they don’t accept that, then they are simply prioritizing career over the ethical issue at hand. And it’s not about simply ‘putting food on the table’–there are plenty of other jobs that will pay the bills."
I agree with this,even though it's risky. Even if money is no object, signing very costly players at the back end of their career on long term contracts with the objective of achieving a very short term goal,can lead to all sorts of trouble in the camp.If they fill the squad with this type of player,who will arrive with their own egos and sub-plots,imo they may then have difficulty in recruiting the right kind of player to build for the future. From a longer term perspective,they may almost be better to risk going down,then bin the current dross in the summer,and,given they will be able to outbid anyone else, recruit young,hungry and talented to progress,regardless of the division they find themselves in.
Having been turned down by so many managers and DOFs, possibly players, I think they're just desperate to get a 'name' over the line. They'll believe it will make it easier for other players to come in as the attention will be on Trippier. I'm not sure it'll be a successful ploy tbh, Newcastle isn't a big pull and players who go there will be replaced before they even show signs of winning anything. The likes of Dummett know their only chance of staying at Newcastle is via relegation.
I think money will talk more than we maybe believe. Trippier is 32 by the start of next season. This will be his last big contract (and probably the biggest contract of his life) and there will be a few others ready to do the same (with the requisite release clauses should they go down). How that translates into team unity and ability to a) avoid relegation and b) build something successful remains to be seen. I can't imagine many of these mercenaries throwing themselves into last ditch tackles when they know they will be away at the end of the season come what may....
I'm sure Ashley dished out some very long contracts for a number of players hoping to cash in on them in due course. Now he's gone but these contracts are still there, so even if they do stay up and sign new players, it'll be a bit crowded with players they can't move on costing huge wages. Then the orcs will go into overdrive next summer with the shopping list and the ever expanding squad. It'll be like monopoly at the mosque on the hill.
That's Trippier set for life then. Biggest contract of his life as he eases into retirement I love how the mugs are ****ing themselves dry about how many assists he has. He averages 3 a season....... I think they need A LOT more than that to stay up
The Mags keep claiming they have their club back which couldn't be further from the truth, they've totally lost it. But we've lost them, and the derby matches, as well ... ... they won't be the same now and neither set of fans will benefit. They'll sing about money, not football, and we'll sing about murderers. If we beat them they'll wonder why they sold their soul and what it was all for.
Spot on mate. This is the very song I've been singing to people since that club was kidnapped. We could possibly play them twice next season, which would normally have everyone seething with anticipation. But now it won't. If they are relegated, and there is a genuine chance of that, then any game they don't win comfortably will be seen as rank failure, considering that they will be awash with blood money signings. But to me now, they are only a source of mirth. No rivalry, ( they don't have one at all now, maybe PSG, maybe the slightly less odious Man City) no interest at all apart from watching the tragic slow death of a club that once represented working people, now playing for the honour of a reviled psychopath.
Why is he pointing to his armpit? Didn't see the post just up the page with this stupid photo. Apologies
By tradition, the Saudis always start a dismemberment with the left arm ... .... you can't knock the lad for accepting the culture of the owners.
Whilst I agree it’s a good signing, why would you leave a title winning side to scrap against relegation from the premier league? I get that it’s a big league, possibly and probably the biggest in the world, but to make that move can only be for one reason, and it isn’t football
And instead of looking on the camera before moving on they have let him **** off, then had to is it anyway. Not like we have to wait until printed these days.
