So we're playing well, scoring goals, conceding very few and sitting top of the pile. We've an excellent squad that seems to be bound together with a fine team spirit (always made easier when a team is winning games admittedly). But the following key players all have one thing in common. Davies, Elmohamady, Huddlestone, McGregor, Meyler All out of contract in the summer 2016. How does Bruce motivate them for the last few months when they know they won't be here next season ?
I thought Meyler had signed a new deal earlier this season. Also all the others in the final year of their current deals appear to have regained their form this season as they are playing for new contracts. It is often the case when a player signs a new 3 or 4 year deal he becomes comfortable takes his foot off the gas and his forms dips.
Think there will be offers to all those lads by Jan, whether they'll all sign is another matter, but if we're sat pretty and their contracts have a nice prem league wage boost could certainly see 4 of them signing, not sure if Hudd will be content staying if he's behind Jake and Meyler still come Jan
The elephant in the room is not " How does Bruce motivate them for the last few months when they know they won't be here next season ?" Its: "Will Steve Bruce still be here to motivate them for the last few months when they know they won't be here next season ?"
I thought an interview Davies gave recently intimated that he'd be going at the end of the season. I'm not sure he'd sign one if offered, think he's still pissed at not playing last year and losing the captaincy.
By his own admission he was "bang average" last season. Would like to keep the squad together for continuity but we all know it's a conveyor belt. Never been one to worry about millionaire footballers being happy or not. If any go, as long as we get a fair price and adequate replacements, then I'm ok with that.
If we can retain our squad - I don't think we need to spend a load of money on new players. So we can afford to do a hefty bonus for promotion; the team could even say they also only get the bonus if they agree to a contract in principal based on promotion.
That said, I do think that letting players go on a free when a large fee brought them here is criminal. Any intimation from a player that they want a move or won't commit to a deal should be addressed immediately.
But why would they all go? None of them are good enough for the top end of the prem and if we're there the only clubs coming in for them would be others like us.
We have seen a bit of ineptness in transfer handling, I don't know if we are any closer to a new MD in place of Ehab, but SB won't let **** happen again if he intends to see us through to the PL - and I think he does. Let the Allams worry about the money, we want players who want to be here and I bet Ince has regrets by May!
The simple fact is that managers are more prone to leave clubs than players. A manager who is successful is more attractive to other clubs, than a manager who has failed to deliver. I think that we could just as easily lose Steve Bruce as any player. He did after all take a pay cut on relegation. If he applies for a position of any club with money to spend, he will be in the running. I would add that he also has a great deal of loyalty to the current owners. New owners may not value him as much as the current ones and if the club is sold, I think we should all be worried that he will go.
Signing on fee increase in wages as the club has benefitted from not paying a transfer fee. Move to a more desirable area (the players aren't Hull born or bred) therefore they possibly don't share our fondness for the area. Just a few reasons.
I think it was always almost a cert and now - if true - he's wearing a club tie it all but confirms it.
