Coutts,freeman

[chesblade]

I know these 2 plus others triggered an extension to there contracts, but how long for. Hope we are having conversations to extend longer than 12 month's

 

[Harry's Game]

Coutts yes,

Freeman, I would like to see what he does at the higher level first.

 

[Bruce Wayne]

I wouldn't go mad, this is a big step up.

 

[Woodwardfan]

I honestly think we are leaving them behind with the quality of players we are now in the market for. By all means squad players and maybe Freeman can continue his upward momentum, but he will need to do so. If Coutts can actually raise himself to our new levels, and I think he possibly could given an injury free run, we are rolling in clover and able to start building for the Prem

As Wilder said yesterday " The Power has swung back to us" and I reckon we have the opportunity to play a team which can be beyond our wildest dreams of even weeks ago. Carruthers, Thomas, Stevens, Baldock and maybe even Evans in due course - all players beyond our scope and imagination only months ago Add one or two more and roll on September 23rd.

 

[DronnieBlade]

I have a funny feeling Freeman, being in the last year of his contract, may be allowed to leave for a reasonable fee.

Big Mick at Ipswich is a known admirer. There will be others.

Coutts is going nowhere (I hope).

UTB

 

[seanbeenstattoo]

I honestly think we are leaving them behind with the quality of players we are now in the market for. By all means squad players and maybe Freeman can continue his upward momentum, but he will need to do so. If Coutts can actually raise himself to our new levels, and I think he possibly could given an injury free run, we are rolling in clover and able to start building for the Prem

As Wilder said yesterday " The Power has swung back to us" and I reckon we have the opportunity to play a team which can be beyond our wildest dreams of even weeks ago. Carruthers, Thomas, Stevens, Baldock and maybe even Evans in due course - all players beyond our scope and imagination only months ago Add one or two more and roll on September 23rd.

Bang on there. We are both swimming and fishing in a much deeper,colder and more unforgiving pond. One of our major downfalls in recent years has been giving long contracts to players not fit for purpose.
There will not be a queue of Championship or higher clubs chasing Coutts,Lafferty,Duffy or the like. There is no rhyme nor reason to offer them more for the forseeable future.

 

[FriethBlade]

I honestly think we are leaving them behind with the quality of players we are now in the market for. By all means squad players and maybe Freeman can continue his upward momentum, but he will need to do so. If Coutts can actually raise himself to our new levels, and I think he possibly could given an injury free run, we are rolling in clover and able to start building for the Prem

As Wilder said yesterday " The Power has swung back to us" and I reckon we have the opportunity to play a team which can be beyond our wildest dreams of even weeks ago. Carruthers, Thomas, Stevens, Baldock and maybe even Evans in due course - all players beyond our scope and imagination only months ago Add one or two more and roll on September 23rd.

Woodward with all due respect Thomas and Stevens have been playing fourth tier football and the other 2 were at that footballing powerhouse MK Dons so were nothing like 'beyond our wildest dreams.

I would reserve that kind of comment for what will hopefully be the marquee signings we might expect from the Prince's statement that said something along the lines of making a proper investment when we reach the championship.

 

[Woodwardfan]

Woodward with all due respect Thomas and Stevens have been playing fourth tier football and the other 2 were at that footballing powerhouse MK Dons so were nothing like 'beyond our wildest dreams.

I would reserve that kind of comment for what will hopefully be the marquee signings we might expect from the Prince's statement that said something along the lines of making a proper investment when we reach the championship.

Don't hold your breath!

Give me the 'Players of the Season' from 3/4 different clubs in L1 and L2 evefy time in front of seasoned, tired, cynical older pros who have been higher and are stepping down a level to earn their last few shillings before retiring comfortably - every time and more thanks - unless it's Paul McGrath or Stuart McCall!! - keep the rest thanks!!

 

[Smirth]

Yep need to give them both new contracts now. Don't understand the logic behind waiting to see how they do.

If they do really well then there is a very good chance they will go in January.

Both deserve new 3 year deals IMO.

 

[JohnDenver]

I've always liked and defended Freeman even when most would have binned him off. But I've got serious doubts if he can operate at Championship level. I'm tempted to give him a run at this level before deciding, as much as I like the player.

 

[seanbeenstattoo]

Yep need to give them both new contracts now. Don't understand the logic behind waiting to see how they do.

If they do really well then there is a very good chance they will go in January.

Both deserve new 3 year deals IMO.

That kind of knee jerk action is exactly what has kept us in the shit for six seasons.

 

[Blade82]

That kind of knee jerk action is exactly what has kept us in the shit for six seasons.

Would you say the same about fleck?

Coutts and freeman both played equally important roles he did.

They will easily step up to championship level.

 

[1889]

I fail to see how any of our team that won league one by a country mile and were head and shoulders above every other side, can be adjudged not good enough to hold there own in the league above? The mighty Championship?

Every one of them has earned the chance to fight for a shirt and on last years showing, I expect not one of them will give it up easily.

 

[mancunianblade]

They only played well in the last year of their contracts and in theory they are once again in the last year of their contracts so let's see if they perform this time around or step off it.

 

[seanbeenstattoo]

Would you say the same about fleck?

Coutts and freeman both played equally important roles he did.

They will easily step up to championship level.

I very much hope that they do,but what would you say of a manager who gave them all 3 year exrensions on much higher wages without seeing what they could do. Again,we are where we are due to that kind of stupid irresponsible management.
The time to offer existing players extended contracts is in January,if they have shown they merit them.

 

[Cerberus Blade]

I think this "big step up" is grossly exaggerated tbh. I think there are maybe half a dozen teams in the Championship who are in a stronger position to challenge at the top than we are - a lot of that down to money. But I don't think there are any that have a better set up than we have in terms of the work ethic and togetherness of the club and the manager. And - I think we have some very good footballers at the club too - at least as good as most teams in the Championship. The quality of the football we turned out last season would have graced the Premier League at times, never mind the Championship. That's why we ran away with it. We were playing Championship level football in League 1.

I take a lot of optimism from that. I don't see us as being relegation strugglers at all and some of the players mentioned here, Coutts, Fleck, for example, will be Prem players sooner rather than later, with us or someone else.

I'm more concerned about the strikers tbh. We have a bit of a mixed bag there of ageing, injury prone, unproven and unknown if they can make it at this level players. If we are going to do better than just compete in the top half we will need to find the new Deane and Agana type front two that spearheads the team. And we can't agree amongst ourselves who that is at the moment, which tells me that's a doubt at this point in time.

 

[GrayBlade]

I really hope that Freeman can make the step up, but I personally think that his eye for a goal has somewhat enhanced fan's views of him in his primary role as a defender/ wingback.

 

[Blade82]

I very much hope that they do,but what would you say of a manager who gave them all 3 year exrensions on much higher wages without seeing what they could do. Again,we are where we are due to that kind of stupid irresponsible management.
The time to offer existing players extended contracts is in January,if they have shown they merit them.

So you wouldn't extend flecks contract right now?

Freeman and coutts are no worser players than Simon Francis or Marc Pugh for Bournemouth. We will hopefully 'do' a Bournemouth and build a team around our most influential players and give them the confidence by rewarding our most important/influential players with improved deals.

No reason at all why some of these lot can't make the step up, and a contact extention would be a perfect way of giving them the additional belief that they're good enough

 

[Blade82]

I really hope that Freeman can make the step up, but I personally think that his eye for a goal has somewhat enhanced fan's views of him in his primary role as a defender/ wingback.

Some players are fullbacks, some are wingers. Freeman is a wingback. Clubs at championship level will be queuing up to take him after what he did for us last season.

 

[FriethBlade]

Don't hold your breath!

Give me the 'Players of the Season' from 3/4 different clubs in L1 and L2 evefy time in front of seasoned, tired, cynical older pros who have been higher and are stepping down a level to earn their last few shillings before retiring comfortably - every time and more thanks - unless it's Paul McGrath or Stuart McCall!! - keep the rest thanks!!

I just don't get this attitude that every championship proven player is a cynical, old pro looking for a last pay day ? With this reasoning we'd never have signed Sharp would we...or don't Blades fans count under that logic ?

I just feel were being complacent thinking that the type of player we've signed so far will prove to be enough to challenge for the top 10, which should be our aim.

 

[Barney]

Yep need to give them both new contracts now. Don't understand the logic behind waiting to see how they do.

If they do really well then there is a very good chance they will go in January.

Both deserve new 3 year deals IMO.

That would be very reactionary and not very sensible IMO.

 

[Woodwardfan]

I just don't get this attitude that every championship proven player is a cynical, old pro looking for a last pay day ? With this reasoning we'd never have signed Sharp would we...or don't Blades fans count under that logic ?

I just feel were being complacent thinking that the type of player we've signed so far will prove to be enough to challenge for the top 10, which should be our aim.

Agree it's about a balanced approach and a mix of experience and ability.

It's also about budget and these new players Wilder has been signing are not that young or inexperienced and the wages for three might equal the wages for one good Championship player. We have not got a young squad by any means.

Special ingredients are needed in the squad and we've plenty already. If we get Holmes and Leonard we have an amazing midfield and striker force. Defence needs two maybe three and maybe that's where the older head will be needed. Basham, Wright and O'Connell is a good start but we need cover; Lafferty for one and then maybe two more who I think will be loanees probably.

As for Sharp, he took a pay cut to join his club. So too did Brayford actually but he was a special case at the time and by then was an adopted Blade who loved his 'cult' status here.

Jags is on £50k p.w. apparently so it can't happen. He wouldn't be a cynical old pro seeing his time out though, I agree. Any willing to settle for say £10k a week might be a different propositions though.

 

[Bladey McBladeface]

Where does this myth that Freeman won't cut it come from? The lad scored 10 times last season. Any outside observer would rightly say he will make the step up.

Even when Adkins binned him off he had been our best player in that season until that point.

 

[Cerberus Blade]

I really hope that Freeman can make the step up, but I personally think that his eye for a goal has somewhat enhanced fan's views of him in his primary role as a defender/ wingback.

I think that's right Gray. Freeman had a very good season, going forward. He's not the best at defending. And dare I say it, O' Connell isn't the best at defending either when he's playing at left back and up against a speedy winger. That's why we've gone out and got Stevens and Baldock. O' Connell, I think, is excellent at centre half - and that's hopefully where we will use him. Freeman, I suspect, will find himself on the fringes of the first team.

 

[Cerberus Blade]

I just don't get this attitude that every championship proven player is a cynical, old pro looking for a last pay day ? With this reasoning we'd never have signed Sharp would we...or don't Blades fans count under that logic ?

I just feel were being complacent thinking that the type of player we've signed so far will prove to be enough to challenge for the top 10, which should be our aim.

I think you can turn your own argument on its head Frieth. Of course not all proven Championship players are cynical old pro's looking for a last pay day. But why have you got such a poor view on the "type of players" we've signed? Is it because you'd never heard of them? Is is because we've got them from lower league teams? Does this mean that all lower league players are not good enough to compete at a higher level?

Frieth...I've been watching a long time...back in the late mid 1970's we'd built a new stand. It cost us £2M. Following this, the board had more or less run out of money. They cut right back on signings and we were a First Division club back then, bringing players in from 3rd division clubs like Watford for example. The likes of Terry Garbett and Colin Franks spring to mind. Players who were nowhere near good enough to compete in the old First Division. Consequently, we shopped in the 3rd division and ended up playing there a few years later! So, I am very, very wary about us signing players that just aren't good enough to compete at the level we want to compete at.

So, in that seem era I refer to, we signed some other lower league players. Anthony Currie (an 18 year old unknown prospect - also from 3rd division Watford - for peanuts -£28k - Jesus! never heard of him - what good could a young kid like that, who had hardly made their first team, be to us?), Bill Dearden (a right winger, playing for 4th division Chester City - signed for £10k - why on earth did we need a right winger when we'd got Woodward eh? stupid decision that wasn't it?), Stewart Scullion (another 3rd division player, also from Watford again, bought for £25k, how on earth was he going to cut it in the First division?).

The point I'm making is a simple one: It's nothing to do with the level of football that they are currently playing at - that's a total irrelevance. It's everything to do with their potential to play at a higher level.

You've already told yourself that the signings we've got aren't good enough. Neither you, nor me, nor anyone else on here knows whether the likes of Thomas, Stevens, Baldock, are going to be able to step up and make the grade. Maybe all will, maybe some will, maybe none will? But what we do know is that the manager has a pretty good record of picking the right players for the right situation so far doesn't he? He's not got much wrong. So rather than say "we're being complacent" why not just hold your breath a bit and see what kind of quality these players really are?

 

[FriethBlade]

Cerberus I don't disagree with what you are saying but I do think we are lacking a couple of quality, experienced older heads at the back. Despite our great season last year I think we got taken apart a bit too easily nearer the end of the season and I'm not sure our 'we'll score more goals than you' approach will be as successful in the championship.

Now I could easily be wrong and Wright could be the man but according to todays Star we are back in for EEL. If he comes it's likely we'll have JOC and EEL, Wright and Basham as our centre backs and I feel that's not enough. JOC and Wright have never played at that level and a mid ranking championship team don't think EEL is good enough to do so and it's not Bashams natural position.

Much as I dislike Bolton I think their horrible centre halves will do ok in the Championship and Id like to see a better version of Wheater signed to play alongside JOC with Wright, Basham and maybe EEL as back up.Problem is that kind of player is going to cost good money and I feel that's where we really need to spend it.

 

[B14Nco]

Let's give two of our best performers last season a chance eh?

 

[Benny and the Blades]

To me all we have signed so far is cover, I would not be at all surprised if Mr Wilder like last seasons makes his most team defining signings between mid July and January.....

 

[wizadry]

That kind of knee jerk action is exactly what has kept us in the shit for six seasons.

That would be very reactionary and not very sensible IMO.

You both say this but what if they both perform very well then end up going in January for next to nothing, a lot of people will end up saying why didn't our board give these two players longer contracts to get a proper fee for them?

Giving Coutts and Freeman a new two year deal will not do us any harm, it will mean we hold the bargaining chips and would mean our board are being proactive instead of reactive, forward planning is a must for a club like ours on the up.

 

[Barney]

You both say this but what if they both perform very well then end up going in January for next to nothing, a lot of people will end up saying why didn't our board give these two players longer contracts to get a proper fee for them?

Giving Coutts and Freeman a new two year deal will not do us any harm, it will mean we hold the bargaining chips and would mean our board are being proactive instead of reactive, forward planning is a must for a club like ours on the up.

I would give them both another year, no more.