It's important that the matter of renewing contracts is really carefully handled at this stage of the season. Players who are going to be out of contract need to know where they stand with offers made if we are still in League One, or an realistic incentive if we are in the Championship next season. The whole squad needs to know what incentives they have for a) getting into the playoffs and b) getting promoted. I just wonder if this is where the likes of Herbie Kane and Devante Cole's form may have dropped away. They need to know what they will be doing and have a realistic offer in front of them for both League One and Championship. I trust Flaxman to be ace at handling this sort of thing, but wonder if, for example, Herbie and Devante have not accepted contracts and that would explain either why they are not starting, or why their form may have dipped. Psychology is an important part of the game and I hope the club are handling it well, otherwise it could be quite demotivating, or divisive. Knowing the personalities at the club, I would be reasonably confident we are handling it well to keep the whole squad focussed, but we do have 'Conor Chaplin' syndrome by reputation and that needs to be overcome in the players' minds.
That's just it though, Dev might get a Championship move, if he's lucky. But he sure doesn't deserve it on his current performances and attitude, does he!.
I wouldn't disagree, mate. I do think he's a huge confidence player and it's pretty clear he's very low on it. I think he jumped for the ball about 15 times today and every time he jumped a second too early and mistimed it. Personally, I still think he's trying, I don't think he's just sat on the beach mate, I think his style of play doesn't help with his work rate/effort because even when he ran his blood to water he still got dogs abuse by some for being lazy, I just don't think it's true, I just think he's off form/low on confidence, just my opinion. I do also think he & Kane can't wait to leave due to said abuse though, could a double win for them, move for more money and get away from all the stick!
Probably not from a footballing point of view, but he's 29 next and might well be thinking more about the best pay day.
I'm sure Kane, Cole and Williams have all been aware for a while that there's interest from elsewhere that'll be financially more beneficial to them, hence none of them signing new contracts with us already. Nothing to do with not being offered something by the club.
