Just a thought

But if David Flitcroft honestly believed that Ben Alnwick was a better goalkeeper than Luke Steele then why did he pick the poorer keeper when we were in a relegation battle?

The answer to that is simple. Because David Flitcroft knows that Luke Steele is a better goalkeeper than Ben Alnwick. Ergo David Flitcroft is, even in his own opinion, making the starting 11 poorer than it was last season by replacing a better keeper with his poorer understudy.

It simply cannot be due to financial reasons because we made a significant profit this season and raked in MILLIONS over the projected income. It simply cannot be de due to ability because as I said, he picked him ahead of Ben Alnwick every game last season. It simply cannot be about age because Tom Kennedy has been offered a two year deal.

What is left? Personal reasons?

I wonder if Flitcroft would hound Bruce Dyer out of the club.

 

The said keeper Steele "HAD" the shirt and the team was doing well that's why he stayed in goal. Had Alnwick still been holding the shirt, I think that you would have found that he would have kept it when Flicker took over. With regards to the age issue, this could relate to the age they will be when the contract ends, not the age they are when it starts.

 

Rubbish. Keepers careers are statistically longer and a left back who is the same age got offered a longer deal. Obviously the wool is over your eyes.

 

Am I missing something obvious here? If they both sign 1 year contracts, 2 year contracts or 10 year contracts won't they still have the same age difference as they have right now? ie just a few months.

 

Luke has been made an offer that the club can afford and which enables the team to be strengthened elsewhere by freeing up some funds.

For those struggling to comprehend it, it's a bit like switching to a cheaper gas supplier and using the savings to get yourself a Sky Sports package.

 

For those struggling to comprehend the issues id suggest getting some adult tuition on reading as they would clearly be incapable with their ***** responses.

 

No it isn't because the gas you get from british gas is identical to the gas you get from npower. This is more akin to cancelling your gas supply entirely and instead buying a few second hand bottles of calor gas. It might be a little bit cheaper but it's also a lot shitter having to change the bottle every couple of weeks and never knowing whether you'll have a reliable gas supply.

Of course the savings you've made on your gas supply can then be used elsewhere, such as buying a top of the range gas oven but regardless of how well your new oven performs you'll always be at the mercy of the ***** gas bottles you bought and if they let you down then the fancy oven will mean **** all.

 

Lost me here.

 

Tha creases me at times ST.

Keep it up.

 

Its hound for a pound in aid of charity.

 

He didnt me, I thought it was very astute !

 

I reckon you can rule out personal reasons because Flitcroft made Steele captain and they both spoke highly of each other in interviews etc, but who knows?

Big decisions have to be made when working within a tight wage budget. Just because we received a significant amount of transfer money and increased revenue because of the cup run, doesn't necessarily mean our wage budget will increase. I would imagine it will be the same as last season or be in proportion to attendance revenue. Flicker will be looking at players (Higson, Stead, Upson, Delap etc) who's contracts are about to expire and he will have been working alongside John Forrest with the aim of bringing quality, hungry players from the Championship, league 1/2, Europe. Players like Perkins, Dawson, Cranie, Etuhu, Golbourne.

The wages we save could be used to help Flicker, especially with it being his first pre-season as manager, to bring in a couple of defenders/strikers to build around arguably one of the best midfield's in the division. Ben Ainwick was valued at £1.3million a few years ago and was understudy to Joe Hart in the England under 21 set up. Im sure there is some potential there and maybe Flicker can get the best out of him, like he did with all of the other players when he was in charge.

Out of interest, i can remember Flicker said in an interview after the Huddersfield game, that he had brought in one of the best ex-goalkeepers that England has seen to work alongside Ian Wilcox, forgot who it was, anyone know? Wonder if he will be a permanent addition to the backroom staff next season.

 

If Steele stays he'll be first choice and we have a quality keeper at a price we can afford. If he chooses not to then we will have to sign another keeper we can afford or go with the one we currently have that we can afford. The point is we have a limited budget. We've progressively released the higher earners and offered reduced terms to others over the last couple of years. This has allowed us to build a more balanced squad under a reduced budget.

None of this is new. It's about determining what we are prepared to spend on a keeper and are trying to secure the best one we can at that wage.

Spending this money elsewhere might mean we are a better all round team who doesn't have to rely on a very good keeper. And if no-one else offers Steele a better deal we get the best of both worlds.

The one year deal is nonsense though.

 

So have I got this right

if Luke leaves and Alnwicks not up to it we are going to get the Calor gas man in as a replacement because he's got some bottle?

 

SuperTyke is implying that Flicker is intolerant of religious people.

 

And is he??

 

Enlighten this thicko then.

 

Ark......good summary.

 

If that's the case, I like Flicker even more...