Billy, Bash & Didzy..

[Yewsman]

Bash is still one of the fittest players in the squad. A superb natural athlete as well as great footballer and I am sure an inspiration to the other players and clearly a Blade through and through (see sutv video of players going to fans at end of Fulham game). Certainly worth another year. Didzy is great footballer. Was very injury prone at Ipswich but would love to keep him for another year. Billy is oldest I think and one with greatest workload up front. He is the one I have my doubts about.

 

[Stewy]

your only as good as your last game...and all 3 are still at the top of their game ...
Id keep all 3 and have younger players like Mcburnie , Burke , Mousset out quicker than them .... they should be a inspiration to young lads in the 18s, 23s on how to conduct yourself .. 3 Ledgends

 

[bonobo]

Bash only for me. If McG has a good season and we go up. Otherwise, we need to be getting high earners of the books and however fantastic Billy and McG are, it would be a step backwards to keep giving them contracts in the champ.

 

[Blade.com]

So you haven’t noticed their fitness levels regardless of there age ?

Yes, noticed it, but we need to progress, fitness is a minimum for a football team.
Seen lots of comments since Monday, we can do it. Play offs minimum. If by a miracle it happens, let's not enter the Premier league again with a aging squad.
Sentiment got us relegated last season.( Along with a few bad signings). Got to move on.

 

[AWetFlannel]

Yes, noticed it, but we need to progress, fitness is a minimum for a football team.
Seen lots of comments since Monday, we can do it. Play offs minimum. If by a miracle it happens, let's not enter the Premier league again with a aging squad.
Sentiment got us relegated last season.( Along with a few bad signings). Got to move on.

If "moving on" means getting rid of our best players to replace them with younger, less talented players, that will certainly get us relegated after any promotion.

Being young makes you more valuable; you have a higher resale value and more potential to improve. It doesn't make you a better player and doesn't get better results for the club.

 

[Kop sufferer]

I suppose the unknown to us is how the said players feel, personally I think they are committed, for me, no harm in letting things run there coarse till the summer

 

[Champagneblade]

Give them 1 year with an option of another.

They trigger it after playing so many games or if the club desires it.

I'm sure none would like to stick around if they weren't in the club's plans anyway.

They've been 3 of our better players so keeping them should be a no brainer.

 

[Blade.com]

If "moving on" means getting rid of our best players to replace them with younger, less talented players, that will certainly get us relegated after any promotion.

Being young makes you more valuable; you have a higher resale value and more potential to improve. It doesn't make you a better player and doesn't get better results for the club.

Why on earth would you replace them with " younger less talented players"?.
Surely the name of the games is to move out the old guard and bring in new ; younger better players. Best players or not just because they stand in front of the crowd clapping does not give them a contract surely. Personally if SUFC have Premier league desires these 3 players have run their course. I understand everyone loves them but you have to remove your rose tinted specks, sometime.

 

[Weasel]

Sharp n Didzy - new 1 year deals with option for a 2nd year dependent on appearances trigger.

Basham - 2 years. He's still a relative pup and has more stamina than anyone else in the squad. That lad will still be super fit when he's 36 so a 2 year deal (at least) is a no brainer.

 

[AWetFlannel]

Why on earth would you replace them with " younger less talented players"?.
Surely the name of the games is to move out the old guard and bring in new ; younger better players. Best players or not just because they stand in front of the crowd clapping does not give them a contract surely. Personally if SUFC have Premier league desires these 3 players have run their course. I understand everyone loves them but you have to remove your rose tinted specks, sometime.

Can barely make sense of this, all over the place.

If we have younger players that are also better, then of course they will be moved on. That isn't the case though.

 

[Blade.com]

Can barely make sense of this, all over the place.

If we have younger players that are also better, then of course they will be moved on. That isn't the case though.

You do know you can now recruit players from other teams ( Transfers).
My opinion is ; we move them on, you said:
“ If moving them on means getting rid of our best players to replace them with young LESS talented players we would surely get relegated “.
My reply was :
“ Why on earth would we replace them with young LESS talented players” . My thought would be go out and scout , then replace them with young, TALENTED players, not recruit from within as you seem to be making out. I’m not fussed one way or the other if they stay or leave but if they are coming to the end of their contracts? sorry but I would look to replace rather than keep.
.

 

[AWetFlannel]

You do know you can now recruit players from other teams ( Transfers).
My opinion is ; we move them on, you said:
“ If moving them on means getting rid of our best players to replace them with young LESS talented players we would surely get relegated “.
My reply was :
“ Why on earth would we replace them with young LESS talented players” . My thought would be go out and scout , then replace them with young, TALENTED players, not recruit from within as you seem to be making out. I’m not fussed one way or the other if they stay or leave but if they are coming to the end of their contracts? sorry but I would look to replace rather than keep.
.

Young talented players that can perform at the same level as Sharp, McGoldrick and Basham are worth at least £15mill a pop.

We already have a bloated squad and have attempted to bring these type of players in (Brewster, McBurnie) to no avail. It's always a gamble as to whether they will become the next Sharp, and it costs £20mill a spin. Your solution isn't viable, especially seeing as our owner has made clear we won't be spending large sums in this division.

 

[Blade.com]

Young talented players that can perform at the same level as Sharp, McGoldrick and Basham are worth at least £15mill a pop.

We already have a bloated squad and have attempted to bring these type of players in (Brewster, McBurnie) to no avail. It's always a gamble as to whether they will become the next Sharp, and it costs £20mill a spin. Your solution isn't viable, especially seeing as our owner has made clear we won't be spending large sums in this division.

Getting in a bit deep now. Someone asked should the 3 mentioned get another contract. Me , no.

 

[Charlieblade]

Getting in a bit deep now. Someone asked should the 3 mentioned get another contract. Me , no.

When you consider the cost of retaining their services against the cost of like for like replacements, it makes the decision fairly simple. They might be offered new contracts on lower wages?
The risk of replacement involving youth potential is both risky and costly?
Hecky would like some incomings in January, but I wonder if he has run these ideas by the CEO, Chairman and Owner yet?
TBF he did say it’s possible it might not happen, so he has either spoken to his boss about it already, or assumes that no money will be available?
If new blood is dependent on sales, it could mean he has considered a few free agents?
We don’t have great form on that front from recent experiences. If a player is available on a free, there’s usually a reason for that!

 

[Stu_Blade]

Billy is 35 (36 in Feb)
Bash is 33
Didzy is 34

If fitness is on their side you would like to say a 1 year contract extention with option of 2nd year with Billy and Didzy and 2 with another year option for Bash. When you can find info on wages without bonuses again so many stats so unsure to exact but we aren't breaking the bank with the wage structure with 3 reliable pros who if interested could easily become part of the coaching set-up in the future.

 

[DronnieBlade]

With John Egan, these are the first four names on my team sheet every week.

Absolute no brainer to sort the contracts and it has dragged on waaaaay too long !

UTB