After a few days reflection it's time to get on with things and learn from mistakes

This mistakes haven't necessarily been made in the last few days or weeks, and won't necessarily be made in the coming weeks, they were made in 2015 and early 2016.

Taking Winnall as an example we knew he was a goal scorer and a commodity, and we should have extended his contract by a year to take him to 2018. The same goes for Conor.

If we are to continue with this system (which we must because it is effective) then it is an essential part of the system to extend contracts or even better having a mechanism in the contracts to allow us to do this after year one, because otherwise the assets are worthless, or at least hugely reduced.

It seems to me that the club has failed to do this and we are where we are.

I do still struggle to see how, even in a weakened bargaining position, we are accepting sims like 500k for a proven championship goal scorer, but that is only half the problem - we must learn from these mistakes sharpish if we are to make progress over the next few years, otherwise we will be in this position again.

Starting with Yiadom who looks every bit the championship right back and a valuable asset. And others, Roberts, MacDonald etc. Perhaps even Bradshaw who looks at home at this level. The strategy must be to have at least 2 years left on contracts at all times unless we really don't rate them - we can always loan players out if they're not up to it.

 

Re: After a few days reflection it's time to get on with things and learn from mistak

Folk seem to be forgetting that 13 months ago, we were heading for League Two.

 

Re: After a few days reflection it's time to get on with things and learn from mistak

Peterborough have a policy whereby they never let anybody they rate get into the final year of their contract. If they won't sign an extension, they're sold. I'm assuming they're pretty solvent, yet on the pitch they're struggling. It's a fine line.

 

Re: After a few days reflection it's time to get on with things and learn from mistak

That's not really relevant though is it? It was clear that both Conor and Winnall were good players we could get money for we were just blighted by a ***** manager. Mid term contract negotiations have been a spectacular failure. If we are to proceed with our current model it can't be allowed to happen again.

 

Re: After a few days reflection it's time to get on with things and learn from mistak

I think that's the model we need to follow though. Make decisions about the long term value of players no later than half way through their contracts. Marley for example deserved a new 3 year contract in the summer as did Scowen and Davies. It's about late to the party now.

 

Re: After a few days reflection it's time to get on with things and learn from mistak

Definitely. Even if Conor and Sam weren't going to sign in the summer, there's no excuse for not having tied those three down for longer. I'm assuming the thinking was that if they didn't perform and we got relegated, we'd be lumbered with them on a bigger contract in League 1.

 

Re: After a few days reflection it's time to get on with things and learn from mistak

This needs to be by mutual consent which apparently was not forthcoming.

 

Re: After a few days reflection it's time to get on with things and learn from mistak

I get that but if we did go down they were already 'proven' league 1 players so the risk was minimal. I'm seeing Mr C tomorrow for those prints d you still want me to get yours?

 

Re: After a few days reflection it's time to get on with things and learn from mistak

Yes. I'll drop you a line. Cheers.

 

Re: After a few days reflection it's time to get on with things and learn from mistak

Automatic extension can be written into the contract mate

 

Re: After a few days reflection it's time to get on with things and learn from mistak

In an ideal world that would be the thing to do but Tosh is right there is more than one party involved in negotiating a new contract.

 

Re: After a few days reflection it's time to get on with things and learn from mistak

But they may not sign that in the first place.

 

Re: After a few days reflection it's time to get on with things and learn from mistak

True but it depends on the competition for their signature

If we continue to sign from the lower leagues we should be in pole position to sign these lads anyway given we are now in the championship

 

Re: After a few days reflection it's time to get on with things and learn from mistak

It works both ways sadly... if we went down, you are stuck with players on a least a 2 year deal, with our revenue being vastly reduced, due very little tv money and smaller gates. Again we would need to be banked rolled by PC And that is why under PC, we do not give extended contracts... Or the contract would have to say that if we went down so would their wages... don't think you'd many agents advising their players to sign for us.
We live in a time where players if their any good have the upper hand... People should get used to that and stop being too attached to players... If they are good, they will leave, if they are not so good they will also leave.. be moved on.

Transient.. is a word that football people don't like to use, they want you too believe, buy shirts and tickets..


He's one of our own... now get yer money out

 

Re: After a few days reflection it's time to get on with things and learn from mistak

It depends how much confidence you have in your own abilities as a football club doesn't it. You can ask the player to sign a long contract with a clause that if we get relegated they can leave, either for a set figure which you believe clubs would be willing to pay or even if needed free of charge. That way players are more likely to sign longer term deals because you can afford bigger wages without a risk of taking them to league 1 with you and because they know that they aren't risking being a league 1 player in a year or two.
It's exactly what like Steele did and as I understand it the only reason he agreed to signature a new contract with us.