Next Season.

Err....... not like we have a recent history of doing that, is it?

Well-rehearsed debate on here, I fear. Be careful or you'll awaken Mr Red Rain!

 

Defensively, McCarthy and Moon will be like signing two new players. Moon especially deserves a chance at this level, if what Burton fans are saying about him turns out to be true. I'm still not convinced by Cundy, but a run in the side may see him looking a lot steadier.

 

I think the new board have done very well, and is very encouraging for the future. And I also think that we are in a better position now, than we were 12 months ago.

But. They have to do it again. Yes, Mads will be sold, I suspect he'd be sold from any club in this position, even with bigger wage budgets. The two key aspects will be holding out for a fee that represents his value on the pitch, and not just his value on the balance sheet, and replacing him properly. There'll be defenders out there, but we can't expect to replace our captain with someone fresh out of a club's academy.

We have to keep hold of Duff. Offer him a new contract if need be. He's earned a pay rise. Bringing in a new coach will only bring a tweaked style of play and possibly a new formation. The quick turnaround between Stendel, Struber and Ismael led to us constantly having players signed to play under one coach being redundant under another. This growing pile of deadwood probably cost us as much as we brought in from compo fees. Every other club manages to keep a good coach after a good first season, why can't we?

We tried being 'sustainable' under Conway. End result, we lost money every year anyway.

 

I’m not talking about the individual, I’m talking about a midfielder who dictates play and has the ability to create.

 

I think the value has to be enough to bring in a decent replacement, and still have money to spare. Otherwise, may as well keep him. I'd expect somewhere between £1.5-£2m. And you're right, it is undisclosed.

As for Duff, he's shown his value to the club, and will have offers. Some recognition of that might go a long way in getting him to stay.

 

But then everything has to go through that player and it can impact negatively on the rest of the team. I wouldn't want him in the team, but agree having a more creative midfielder wouldn't go amiss!

 

I genuinely think we have struck gold with Duff

not just because of his talent but his values are completely aligned with that of the fan base and history of the club.

if I were in charge I would be pushing budget towards his salary and making it very clearly known what I thought of him.

if we are to progress as a club we must have longevity in a manager - it’s impossible to build anything if the foundations are demolished every 12 months.

If we can persuade Duff to stay over the next 3 to 5 years I think we will be knocking on the door of the premier league.

 

Last season Wycombe lost the League 1 play-off final. I don't like the big/small club tags but by any measurable Wycombe are a smaller club than us and yet they retained their much sought after manager and managed to lose only ONE player really from the eighteen that were named for Wembley. Okay substitute Akinfenwa retired and the geriatric keeper left on a free but they were both planned and known of well in advance.

And yet here we are on the BBS drowning under an avalanche of who's leaving threads and posts!

Most other forums I take a quick shufti at are talking about who they are going to sign - ours seems to be the only one that flips it 180 degrees and for every 'who we might get' post there seems to be 3 million 'X' is going to 'Y' batshit mental destination or 'Z' will be off because of the latest of Nixon's monumentally ill-informed fantasy transfer stories etc.

As things stand on Mr. Duff I make the total so far 'Official Statements that Give Any Substance whatsoever to a Duff Departure' 0 v 'Totally Unfounded and Completely Groundless Speculation' 645,321!

I may be the most deluded man on the planet and will happily accept the tag down-track but I genuinely feel that Duff has his head screwed on, is someone who takes a job because he wants to complete a job and generally will not leave a club until he feels he has taken them as far as he can. That is his track record with Cheltenham; that is what the job he has done this season suggests too.

I can honestly see him taking us up next season, establishing us in the Championship and then, and only then, making a leap to a job like Burnley when Kompany takes over from Pep, or summat. Much better for him that than gambling all now on a mid to low end Championship side, likely in massive debt, and potentially losing some of the huge stock he has built over the last number of years. The only exception to this would be if the BFC Board don't back him.

Player-wise, a first focus has to be, and I am sure is, getting Oulare (done), Iseka and Styles off the books - that's well over a £1m in wages and you'd think a £1-£1.5m-ish fee for the latter. Together with the play-off revenues that makes the finances look a whole lot better.

Then, of the regular players this season, as far as I'm aware and assuming Norwood's option is taken by the club, we're under no pressure to lose anyone. I would hope, for the lad's sake because he has been magnificent, that Mads would attract some attention from clubs further up the food chain and he would go with my, and I'm sure the club's, blessing as he enters his final year anyway but I'd give this version of the Board the benefit of the doubt (in their first real Summer in full control) that they would command a fee that both allowed the purchase of a credible replacement and bolstered the coffers too.

Same with Williams but I do seriously think he needs to think carefully at this stage of his career what he does next. He has time on his side but needs to be playing regularly and this is the first season in his career where he has started over half of the league games.

With regards to Collins, much as I rate him as a 'keeper, if we sign Isted then I honestly wouldn't blink at losing him although I don't think we would get that much for him because decent 'keepers seem to be fairly plentiful these days.

Anybody else of note and value is even more controllable and so should only be considered for departure if any external offer is mind-blowing.

Again I'll accept the tag of delusional in September if I'm wrong but I am prepared to give the Neerav, JAQ, Jean led Board the benefit of the doubt that by dragging us out of the dirt last Summer and spending the year building something that we all feel is pretty decent, on the field at least, they aren't going to stop building now and risk ditching everything they've done over a cliff by letting key players go without a fight, on the cheap and/or without adequate replacement.

 

But there are things we can do, to make it a difficult decision if he gets an offer. Khaled's on holiday now, I imagine Duff is taking a break as well, but the second they are back, they should be discussing his future. What sort of backing he feels he needs to have another go next season. If they prove unfeasible, then so be it.

But I will never understand how we can never hang onto a coach for a second season. Blackpool kept Critchely for 2.5 seasons in his first spell. Luton kept Jones for three years in his first spell, and two years in his second spell. There wouldn't have been anywhere near as much talk of them losing Edwards had they lost the final, nor is there any speculation around Mark Robins' future.

Yet, we're always resigned to losing anyone after one good season, I don't get it.

 

Largely in the boards hands now. My own personal take on it is Duff will stay IF hes given assurances about not selling most of our assets and given a few bob to get a striker at least. Maybe he could persuade Mads to stop, but thats unlikely. If the board doesent back him... why would he stay. Hes the best manager outside of the championship so he will defo have offers when his stock his this high. Be a real shame if we lose this 'momentum' now, and in that I include the fans also.

 

Doing everything to keep him involves paying him more - that is bound to be the most important aspect of any inducement to stay.

That is what being realistic is all about.

Duff is by far our biggest asset and everything should be done to keep him.

 

I agree kitching has just signed a new deal he will be here next season like you say hopefully if mads leaves as captain. We could put one of those 3 in but putting 2 out of moon Mccarthy and cundy would be dangerous. I doubt we will be able to have thomas back although I can't see Burnley needing him.
The board and duff will have already identified targets based on both scenarios of Monday.

 

Duffs already said after his speech about lickibg wounds and going again a few will leave that's the model of the club.

 

I think we have a decent shout of buying Thomas.

he’s good but would not walk into a championship team imho. Regular first team football top end league one will be best for his career. If he’s properly advised he will join us or one of the top end league one clubs.