Lee Williamson....

[Deadbat]

....is not signing then according to Wilson. Looks like he and club have officially moved on.

Sad in a way as he had a very good year last year. He scored a lot of goals and made a lot too. His penchant for disappearing in big games never went away (Stevenage home and play off final - he disappeared for a player with a lot of talent).

Overall he flattered to deceive for most of his spell with a couple of injury plagued years mixed with a horrendous disciplinary record. Last year he did well but the abiding memory will be of a shocker of a penalty at Wembley (bobbled off the turf) after a pretty shocking performance.

He still is better than most at this level and in this regard of course I would rather he had stayed but I wont be crying too much over his departure. McDonald was the key one for me. I am more disappointed Lowton has moved on but can understand why he went and the club took the money.

Going back to Willo; will prob end up at a Champ club like Barnsley or Palace or the like but thats about as good as he will get due to above aformentioned weaknesses (disappearing act when it matters/tendencies to get suspended/sent off) and get a bigger contract which is what he clearly set out for (nothing wrong with that - short career and all that).


Great news about McDonald but we have now lost three of our leading goal makers and scorers last year in Ched, Willo and Lowton. If Quinn moves on (which sadly I expect) we have have big holes down both flanks and two of our most creative/skilfull players gone. However, we have a chance to change style slightly as neither were out and out wingers in the traditional sense. Of course players thta come in will prbably be inferior but we can at least address one of biggest weaknesses we had last year; lack of pace.

Flynn is a neat and tidy player but is not going to beat a man, score many goals nor make many so it concerns me. We could do with a couple of out and out wingers with pace who frighten defenders...dare I say it akin to our neighbours did with Johnson and Antonio. Without these two in the run in, they would have not gone up.

We need at least 1, maybe 2 wingers; an out and out goalscorer and probably a centre back. Thats without being convinced about either full back or either goalkeeper. Still a lot of holes but if we keep Maguire, Collins, Doyle, McDonald we still have a core of 'top 6' league one players but if we fail to add to these with some of the weak areas not addressed I fear we will be nearer the middle than the top.

 

[Come from away]

Willo is not likely to be high on any championship team list - he has no pace and his trickery is not likely to challenge most championship defenses; an expensive sub at best.

 

[Blade58]

I know some will have a go for my view on LW, but as far as I'm concerned, good bye, good luck and f'k off

He's been on a very lucrative contract for the past 3 years, for which he spent a fair old percentage of it on the treatment table

He knows our financial situation and has turned down our offer. His perogative of course and many wont blame him, as most would probably do the same in his situation. However, in view of what he's earned from the club and in view of our financial predicament, I would've hoped he would show a little loyalty and help the club in our hour of need

Well, he wont, he hasn't and he's f'ked off, so bollox Lee

 

[axel smeets]

I'll be amazed if he does much better than us. However, let us not forget his goal at Hillsborough which effectivley condemned the fuck faced fuckers to League One and seemed to take us all an eternity to celebrate because no - one realised it had gone in. In fact, I enjoyed it so much I have it as my avatar.

 

[metalblade]

I know some will have a go for my view on LW, but as far as I'm concerned, good bye, good luck and f'k off

He's been on a very lucrative contract for the past 3 years, for which he spent a fair old percentage of it on the treatment table

He knows our financial situation and has turned down our offer. His perogative of course and many wont blame him, as most would probably do the same in his situation. However, in view of what he's earned from the club and in view of our financial predicament, I would've hoped he would show a little loyalty and help the club in our hour of need

Well, he wont, he hasn't and he's f'ked off, so bollox Lee

I'll second that and just add we should have fooked him off six weeks ago.

 

[CopenhagenBlade]

I'll second that and just add we should have fooked him off six weeks ago.

Like we should have done with McD as well, who also declined the first offer of a contract from us?

 

[TarquinDelouche]

I wonder if those calling for loyalty from football players share the same feelings of loyalty towards their employers?

 

[metalblade]

Like we should have done with McD as well, who also declined the first offer of a contract from us?

Ummm I have not seen that McD has signed yet (officially), it has been said we are 5 weeks behind other clubs in our preparation for next season, I wonder how much of that time is due to McD whoring himself round other clubs for a few quid more, maybe the few quid more means we can't afford to sign Williamson as well. Still no doubt at some point he will run to the crowd kissing the badge next season and some dumb fookers will believe he is committed to the club rather than his pay packet, yer gotta laugh.

 

[CopenhagenBlade]

Ummm I have not seen that McD has signed yet (officially), it has been said we are 5 weeks behind other clubs in our preparation for next season, I wonder how much of that time is due to McD whoring himself round other clubs for a few quid more, maybe the few quid more means we can't afford to sign Williamson as well. Still no doubt at some point he will run to the crowd kissing the badge next season and some dumb fookers will believe he is committed to the club rather than his pay packet, yer gotta laugh.

With the complete lack of any activity in the transfer market this year I am sure that we are not 5 weeks behind other clubs. We have our new striker and right back in place so I would say that DW knows what his first 16 players are, Howard, Williams, Westlake, Collins McGuire, Quinn, McD, Doyle, Flynn, Cofie Cressie...subs Monty, Tonne, Long, Porter a couple of the youngsters.
I don't think many sensible fans fall for the badge kissing antics of players from this club or any other.
UTB

 

[ZoneManWilf]

Age probably counted against him in terms of what we were prepared to offer compared to KMac.

I think I recall a thread where people were asked if they'd prefer KMac or Willo and it was overwhelmingly in favour of KMac.

KMac has a big influence on the overall shape of the team, Willo played well last year but doesn't dictate as much of the play. We also have Flynn as an option on the wing, whereas with KMac there was simply no-one else who we could have relied on to fill the same role.

Midfield looks like:

Flynn KMac Doyle Quinn

I can live with that given where I feared what we might have ended up with. We can retain the same shape and passing style which we used so well last year, the main question now is goals.

 

[Kev Gee]

Not sorry to see him go.
Yes we will loose his goals but im sure we can get an adequate replacement from somewere.
The important thing is to get Kmac signed within the next week.

 

[Bladesman]

KMac was the one out of the two to keep.

Would of been good to keep Willo but not a must especially like people have said his injury and discipline record into account. He could negate the goals he scored by following it up with a sending off putting the team under pressure.

 

[HeCanDoMagic]

Personally I think people are underestimating the loss of Williamson.

He scored and created a hell of a lot of goals last season, his partnership with Lowton was one of the highlights and main creative spark of the season.

I think he would have been perfect for the right wing given that we have just signed a new relatively inexperienced right back.

 

[Patrick Suffaux]

At the end of the day we've probably offered Willo the terms we can afford and if he has offers from the Championship then good luck to him. Good player and on his day could be a match winner but he's not irreplaceable.

This perhaps gives one of the youngsters a chance.....Chappell maybe? We also have Flynn who doesn't mind tracking back and may be the ideal person to link up with Westlake as he likes to get forward.

I expect they may try and bring someone in for that position but at least we have options.

 

[HoodedClaw]

He showed last season, the better the opposition the more anonymous he became.

Iif he does happen to end up in the championship, he'll do nothing and probably won't even make it on the bench come christmas. L1 is his level now.

Cant blame him wanting one last decent contract though, personally Im glad its not with us as I feel we can spend the wages etc better elsewhere.

 

[DazBlade88]

Personally I think people are underestimating the loss of Williamson.

He scored and created a hell of a lot of goals last season, his partnership with Lowton was one of the highlights and main creative spark of the season.

I think he would have been perfect for the right wing given that we have just signed a new relatively inexperienced right back.

I agree. Williamson did an excellent job with Lowton last year, and his presence of mind allowed Lowton to push forward as much as he did. Williamson always covered when he had to, doing alot of dirty work to help the team whilst scoring plenty of goals and grabbing a fair few assists in the process too.

Having said that, out of McDonald and Williamson I'd have preferred McDonald due to their respective ages. We have Flynn and now Chappel for the right wing so hopefully they can work well with Westlake this year. It does look considerably weaker than 3 months ago though, as you would expect after missing out on promotion.

I was told on Sunday night that he's joined another League One club who offered him more than we did, and that McDonald would sign a contract in Malta which has all happened so far. I don't know which club he's meant to have joined though.

 

[TarquinDelouche]

Offer the same deal to Greg Halford.

 

[TheSwollengland]

Just another player who thinks hes too big to play for the best club in the world and wear the shirt I`d give my left bollock to have a chance to wear.
My nearly 50 years of Blade watching is littered with them.
Move on ,forget him ,at best pity him and get behind what weve got now.

 

[Blade58]

I agree. Williamson did an excellent job with Lowton last year, and his presence of mind allowed Lowton to push forward as much as he did. Williamson always covered when he had to, doing alot of dirty work to help the team whilst scoring plenty of goals and grabbing a fair few assists in the process too.

Having said that, out of McDonald and Williamson I'd have preferred McDonald due to their respective ages. We have Flynn and now Chappel for the right wing so hopefully they can work well with Westlake this year. It does look considerably weaker than 3 months ago though, as you would expect after missing out on promotion.

I was told on Sunday night that he's joined another League One club who offered him more than we did, and that McDonald would sign a contract in Malta which has all happened so far. I don't know which club he's meant to have joined though.

Wonder if it's Bournemouth? They have a few bob and apparantly are interested in him

 

[axel smeets]

Offer the same deal to Greg Halford.

No chance of that happening, but Halford would be an excellent replacement for Williamson, possibly even better. But for everyone saying good riddance, don't forget that we have lost what at this level was one of the top 5 players in the division last season, and if rumours of him going to another Div Three team are true then they could well reap the rewards.

 

[yorkshirecoast]

Disappointed in Willo if he is going to anoth League 1 side. And disappointed with the club if we can't match what another League 1 side offers. He's been inconsistent - & disappeared in some games - but excellent at times & will be missed.

 

[Balham]

If he's gone to Bournemouth (I'd read that on Twitter too) then it's purely for the benefit of his bank balance. Good luck to him but I won't be mourning his loss.

The triallists we've been linked to are all younger than Willo and you'd have to assume cheaper. Let's get someone in with a point to prove or with the desire to be a real success in an SUFC shirt.

 

[ShropshireBlade]

http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/17869705

Seems a far cry from when he said this.....

 

[LoughboroBlade]

If no clubs have picked him up come the week before the season starts I wouldn't rule out Willo getting back in touch with the club to see if the offer is still available. He'd certainly be a good squad player to have in the Championship - though what a Championship club might be prepared to pay for a squad player rapidly approaching 30 could be on a par to what we would pay him for regular football.

If he goes, and K-Mac stays, I'd say we're still in a good position. I was really disappointed with Willo's performances in the playoffs - I was amazed he stayed on the pitch at Wembley, particularly given how poor his eventual penalty was in the shootout.

 

[IOM Blade]

Also, don't forget he's often started CM is his preferred position. Maybe said league 1 club has offered him a guaranteed CM slot, something we can't do, especially with KM signing.

 

[super_pig]

if williamson had come up to the mark in CM, we wouldn't have needed KMac in the first place.. KMac was the important one and everyone knows it. .give him the 10 shirt

 

[Bergen Blade]

I don't like it when a player's departure affects fans' opinions on the player's ability. A fit and motivated Lee Williamson is a good Championship player and he was great for us last season, a vital part of a team that looked excellent before it ran out of options up front.

When you give a player a three year contract, you should expect three years of him doing his best for the club. Not more. If you expect him to give his best for four years, you should give him a four year contract.

Injuries during a contracted period is bad luck, for all parties.

 

[Grecian2000]

If we could have got rid of Monty and spread his vast wages amongst those who actually deserve it he would possibly have still been here.
I can't believe anyone is thinking that Flynn is a replacement for him on what we saw last season.

 

[Bladesman]

I don't like it when a player's departure affects fans' opinions on the player's ability. A fit and motivated Lee Williamson is a good Championship player and he was great for us last season, a vital part of a team that looked excellent before it ran out of options up front.

When you give a player a three year contract, you should expect three years of him doing his best for the club. Not more. If you expect him to give his best for four years, you should give him a four year contract.

Injuries during a contracted period is bad luck, for all parties.

You could argue prior to last season he didn't do his best hence the reason we got relegated in first place. Despite how well people performed last season I can't ignore the shocking performances some players put in during our demise in the championship. Like people said Willo not turning up for crucial matches which Quinn is also guilty of.

 

[Bergen Blade]

You could argue prior to last season he didn't do his best hence the reason we got relegated in first place. Despite how well people performed last season I can't ignore the shocking performances some players put in during our demise in the championship. Like people said Willo not turning up for crucial matches which Quinn is also guilty of.

Always rated him, but I often found it frustrating that a man of his technical ability wasn't doing even better. His first two seasons were halted by injury though. I don't agree that he lacked effort. He's not a world beater, but a player that will do well alongside good players in a well balanced team.