Come on, Flicker. raise everyone's spirits

After all the positivity through January thanks to our performances and results, practically everyone is feeling down to varying degrees after the sale of John Stones (all the best for the future lad, we're proud of you). Yet another fighting display at Blackpool tomorrow (especially if we pick up three points) will go a long way to ridding us of the depression that's set in. We've still got enough time and games left to extract ourselves out of the mire.
It's a big ask I know, but the alternative is simply to wave the white flag and say **** it.

 

well said

 

I am not down-hearted one little bit.

OK, John Stones is a great young player, but he is not single-handedly going to dictate whetehr BFC stay up or go down.

We've got good money for him, brought in Rory Delap (experience) along with Chris O'Grady and more importantly, Flicker/Mellon have got REDS playing positive attacking football with a fighting spirit I have not seen in a long long time.

We have a great chance of staying up and I ma enjoying being a REDS fan at this moment in time.........thanks to Flicker.

If we do get relegated, then one man and one man only takes the blame.......Keith Hill.

 

We are not all down though JLW. Methinks there's a lot more folk that have not said anything about the Stones sale than as. Some of us are are a wee more pragmatic, see it as a fact of life and just get on with it. I think that we will find that Flicker falls into this category, so there is nowt to worry about. Sempur sersum.

 

Fair enough

.

 

I'm sad that the boy's left

But I've seen it all before. I just think a continuation of our current form will help lift the gloom on here.

 

Well done to John Stones and all that, but I'm finding it very difficult to feel proud about a kid who has had ten+ years of dedicated development from the club he claims to love, only to sell us out first chance he gets when the club desperately needs him for the next few months at least. You can say that is football, the way of the world etc, but it's still desertion.

I'm proud he's playing for the England 19s, but for signing for Everton? No.

 

Re: I'm sad that the boy's left

I do agree with that bit!

 

Re: I'm sad that the boy's left

Spot-on mate...nowt happened yesterday that hasn't happened before....and will definitely happen again, all part n parcel..

 

The thing is

I'm not down because Stones has gone per se.

I'm down because of the way it's been conducted and what it says to me about BFC and the future.

I posted a few weeks ago that I have no interest in football any more other than my inherent love for BFC. I despise what the Premier league has become and no longer watch it, whilst I feel totally alienated from the England team and players who make it up.

The problem is that after more than 22 years of watching BFC I'm feeling more and more disenfranchised by the month with the way the club conducts its business. I'm losing interest, and if I don't have an entitlement to know how the club conducts transfers then the club has no right to my money either.

Maybe I'm a lovely person for feeling that way, but that's how it is for me these days.

 

If the club's desperation to keep him

Was that great, then they'd have said he wasn't for sale. They wanted the money more than they wanted him. It's leaving a nasty feeling in the mouth that the young boy is being blamed by some as a scapegoat for the scenario.

 

I believe the club was wrong

To sell Stones at this moment and we're definitely a weaker team without him than with him. However, I'm hoping Flitcroft can rally the troops and carry on the good work he's done so far.

 

Re: If the club's desperation to keep him

Don said he asked to leave. Should the club have stood in his way? Would it be beneficial to have an unmotivated player on the books?

You can only form your opinion on the information available. Unless you're suggesting Don was lying?

 

Re: If the club's desperation to keep him

Are there any release clauses in any contracts ?

 

Re: If the club's desperation to keep him

There is that, but like I've said in numerous threads, he could have forgotten. I'm not happy about that possibility either, but I have no proof he intentionally lied.

I don't think it's fair to hear a interview with our General Manager who says that a young player asked to leave and then come to the conclusion he's a liar.

I don't know if Don is good at his job or not. I genuinely don't. But I don't want to call him a liar.

 

Re: If the club's desperation to keep him

He's been 'mistaken' before apparently.

 

Which came first?

The acceptance of a transfer offer, or the demand of a transfer by Stones. His fee will more than pay back the time and cost the club has invested in him.
Also, why the antagonistic approach? "Unless you're suggesting Don was lying?" I'm somewhat surprised and disappointed you feel that is warranted and necessary.

 

Re: If the club's desperation to keep him

I'm not saying he's a liar, or that he intentionally misleads people.

I just view things like saying Stones 'asked' to leave with a great deal of suspicion.

 

Re: Which came first?

It wasn't meant as antagonistic in the slightest. Apologies if it came across that way.

But I can only see it two ways. Stones did ask to leave and therefore questioning his loyalty is valid. Or he didn't ask to leave and Don wasn't telling the truth. I see no middle ground.

 

Good post Kev, nothing will change my mind about the Stones deal but its done now so its time to move on and focus on the bigger picture. Three points tomorrow will be massive and go a long way to helping us get out of this mess. I just wish Ince had gone in the tansfer window.