Here we go again: "selling club", "soft touch" etc. It would be obvious to a blind man on a horse galloping down Grove Street that football clubs at our level have very little influence in keeping their better players. If his agent finds him a better berth, with first team football all but guaranteed, then there is nothing that BFC can do to prevent him leaving. Well, they could try, but what's the point? If someone declares themselves on the way out then that's that. All we can hope for is a decent fee for their past service. It hurts sometimes but there is nothing we can do about it. There's no point in berating the club about it. Every single member of the playing side of a football club is up for grabs (unless you're at the top end of the Premier League), and that includes the coaching staff, and even the Chief Executive.
Can you divulge any info on this replacement ? Is the player based in England or abroad ? A well known name ?
I think that, for once, we should hold on to him until his contract expires in the summer. Any transfer fee is not going to be Potts-like, is it? Ok, we are short of, say, £250k in a transfer fee plus any sell-on, but he is proven, fits in at a moment's notice and might get a good number of games if injury rules out Lindsay, or Pinnock. I would hold him to his contract and not cash in, even if that means his going for nothing in the summer. It's got to be worth at least £200k to keep Adam.
Echo most of the posts. I can see why he doesn't want to sign a new contract, he wants to start and play games and he's having to rely on an injury or suspension. I can see why the club want to get something for a player that could go on and develop and get a higher move as he approaches his prime. And I can see why, if we haven't a replacement brought in, that we hold on and let him go in the summer on a free. We absolutely must have a back up though and I wouldn't let him move til we do have a back up ready to go.
In cricket they the say you can only judge what a good is when both sides have batted. Similar applies in this case. If he leaves it will mean we’re short on cover at centre half but until we see what the replacement is we shouldn’t be too quick to judge. People did the same thing when we sold Bradshaw but his replacement Woodrow has turned out to be pretty decent!
He wants out to play football regular. Based on what I read yesterday if isgrove had the same ambition he would be gone too.
What I was getting at was that Roberts had stellar seasons in League One and the Championship and we made a good profit on him. Pinnock and Lindsay both got compliments last season and are lauded this year with most quoting Pinnock as being top drawer. That's pretty good going for players plucked from leagues some write off as unfit for consideration when recruiting.
We might play Fryers at CB. If he also can stay fit he may provide cover, but I agree not ideal & your plan is definitely right.
Can't blame Jackson for wanting out. No matter how well he's played he's constantly been dropped and basically ignored. It's stendels right to do so but it's my belief that it's a huge mistake that has not only led to us playing with a weaker back four but also has caused us to lose one of the few players in our squad who didn't look out of place in the championship last season
Was just thinking same as I read the above posts John. If he is fit, then he can slot in. Agree, not a long term solution, but can fill until the real replacement comes in, which it seems we do have lined up.
He’s a player I like but our regular center backs have seen us being the meanest defence in the division
Marley Watkins was told he had to stay while the end of the season. He accepted it, buckled down and did his best.
I've said it many times but I honestly think that is largely because our defence as rarely been tested because our attacking game is so strong. The best line of defence is attack and all that. Whenever the opposition has really attacked us our defence has looked weak. Only my opinion of course but I think the statistics are blinding us to the reality of what's actually happening on the pitch. That said if the attack continues to do it's job meaning or defence isn't pressurised I'll be more than happy for this season