Walton

[Pierre's PC]

http://www.yorkshirepost.co.uk/football/Blades-to-honour-injured-Walton39s.6421209.jp

Que Shitstorm!

EDIT: C&Ped for the clickless:

KEVIN BLACKWELL admits finding a replacement for cruciate knee ligament victim Simon Walton will be difficult because the club will continue to pay the loan player's wages.


The 22-year-old former Leeds United prospect was 15 minutes into his Blades debut at Mansfield Town on Saturday when he suffered the injury, ruling him out for a year just weeks after he had signed a 12-month loan deal with the club.

United are still in discussions with Walton's parent club
Plymouth Argyle over how the player's rehabilitation will be managed but the Blades have said they will honour the terms of the deal struck with the League One club and will pay the player's wages for the duration of the loan.

It is understood that Walton did not arrive on a contract that put him anywhere near the club's top-end earners and he also forfeited any appearance or goal bonuses, such was his desperation to make an impression on and off the pitch at Bramall Lane.

However nominal the wage, though, United's decision will hinder manager Blackwell's attempts to bring in reinforcements as he plots a promotion challenge in the forthcoming Championship season.

Walton appealed to Blackwell because of his versatility, with the Leeds-born defender able to fill in anywhere across the back four and also, if needed, in midfield.

United have been linked with Sunderland defender Nyron Nosworthy, but Blackwell last night admitted he was undecided whether any replacement would be a permanent deal or another loan signing.

"It doesn't help us going back into the market and getting someone else in. We're effectively paying money on a player who cannot play for you, cannot help you, so that's a blow," said Blackwell last night from the club's pre-season training camp in Malta.

"I don't know yet whether it will be another loan player or not.

"I didn't want to have too many loans but I was prepared to take one or two, and Simon covered me in more than one position and it meant I didn't have to go looking at specific right-backs.

"I knew that having got the main targets in I'd got cover and back-up, but that back-up's now wiped away so we will have to think again.

"We're talking with Plymouth, we're seeing how they want to deal with it, but he's contracted this coming season to Sheffield United and we will honour the contract.

"At the moment it's down to Plymouth which way they go with the rehabilitation. I would have thought that Plymouth, with it being their player, would want to monitor the situation closer to home.

"We knew this season we wouldn't be massive in numbers and he had the ability to play two or three positions.

"I'm afraid for us it's one step forward, two steps back – that's the way the game's going for us."

Blackwell would not be drawn on possible replacements, but it is thought he will look again at a versatile option to give him competition for his first-choice defenders.

Central defender Nosworthy fits that description in his ability to also play right-back, plus he enjoyed a productive spell on loan at Bramall Lane towards the end of last season, playing 19 games.

Prising him away from Sunderland may prove difficult. Meanwhile, despite Walton's injury and subsequent inactivity this season, Blackwell says the young defender – whose progress has been hampered by injuries – will remain on his radar.

"It's a massive blow for Simon, to lose a whole year of his career through an unfortunate tackle," said Blackwell, who earlier this week re-signed former defender Rob Kozluk.

"It's a savage blow for all involved. There's no consoling him at the moment. He's young enough to come back again and that's the good thing. We'll keep an eye on him.

"He had just 15 minutes (against Mansfield), that's the crying shame, and he actually did well in that 15 minutes so I'm not going to dismiss him."

Blackwell has also been fighting to keep coach Gary Speed at the club in what is proving a busy pre-season trip. While in Malta last year, Speed was subject to interest from Swansea City and the managerless Swans have made enquiries again this summer with the Blades believed to have rejected two approaches for the former Leeds United midfielder and Wales international.

Swansea are now understood to be keen on Nigel Adkins, who kept Scunthorpe in the Championship last season on a shoe-string budget, while Brendan Rogers has also emerged as a candidate.

United are in Malta to celebrate the third year of their partnership with the Malta Tourism Authority and tomorrow night will play a round-robin tournament, consisting of two
45-minute matches, against local sides Vittoriosa Stars FC and hosts Hibernians FC

 

[raul]

Contracted player receives injury whilst carrying out his duties? No shitstorm here.

Mindy was a minger though

 

[Kev Gee]

Its very bad news for the lad & whatever you thought of his abilities you cant but feel its desperate bad luck.

 

[Fiery Blade]

TOO RIGHT SH!TSTORM !
For a club supposedly too skint to have a proper sized squad we now agree to pay Waltons wages for the rest of the season!
I find it incredible!
Can't blame Turry this time - perhaps tricky Trev is not so tricky
But Honestly - Walton was a poor signing but to pay him all season for doing nothing !! Send him back to Plymouth - he's still in contract there - let them claim on insurance

 

[Chapel Allerton]

Contracted player receives injury whilst carrying out his duties? No shitstorm here.

My thoughts exactly. Disappointing but not particularly contentious.

 

[Oreyt]

I'd be suprised if you could get anyone on long-term loan if you wanted ''If he gets injured we'll be sending him back'' written into the contract.

Any legal eagles know better?

 

[Northyorksblade]

Come on Len, I feel cheated that you haven't responded yet.

 

[Grecian2000]

Unlucky. We signed him and he got injured. Don't think we'd have a leg to stand on trying not to pay him. Just goes to show you can lose in win/win situations though!

The following quote is of more interest:

"I didn't want to have too many loans but I was prepared to take one or two, and Simon covered me in more than one position and it meant I didn't have to go looking at specific right-backs.

"I knew that having got the main targets in I'd got cover and back-up, but that back-up's now wiped away so we will have to think again."

That suggests that the first choice right back is already at the club and Walton was a back-up to him.
So is it Ertl with Kozzy and Walton as back-up, Lowton with Kozzy and Walton as back-up or Kozzy with Walton as back-up?

One other thing. If you're allowed x number of loans, does Walton count toward that figure even though he won't kick a ball? That would be unfair.

 

[Robbie]

Send him back to Plymouth - he's still in contract there - let them claim on insurance

Because the insurance is going to pay out on a player who was contracted to another team who are paying his wages.

the best we could hope for is if he comes under the insurance for our players to be paid out for the season.

 

[Robbie]

If you're allowed x number of loans, does Walton count toward that figure even though he won't kick a ball? That would be unfair.

It should go towards the number of loans required, and I do see it as fair.

But with the amount you're able to loan, nobody should reach the maximum anyways, unless of course you're Sheff United

 

[lenners]

Blackwell and United have got exactly what they deserved.
Stupid signing, ridiculous outcome.
Just par for the course with the way the club is being run at the moment.

 

[Revolution]

That suggests that the first choice right back is already at the club and Walton was a back-up to him.
So is it Ertl with Kozzy and Walton as back-up, Lowton with Kozzy and Walton as back-up or Kozzy with Walton as back-up?

None of them. Ryan France will be first choice!

 

[mattbianco1]

Well, we'll never know if he is/was good enough for us.

If we agreed to take him for 12 months we're in a binding contract and therefore have to pay him his wages.

When Greg Halford was injured the other season (yes, i realise it wasn't for the season) did we tell Sunderland "He's out for two weeks, you pay his wages then when he's fit we'll carry on!"

None of them. Ryan France will be first choice!

I don't agree at all. I think it will be Lowton or Ertl with Kozluk & France backup. (Nosworthy too, if we get him.)

One other thing. If you're allowed x number of loans, does Walton count toward that figure even though he won't kick a ball? That would be unfair.

It's number of loan players in the match day squad of 18 players, so no, he wont be included as he wont be in the squad.

 

[Revolution]

I don't agree at all. I think it will be Lowton or Ertl with Kozluk & France backup. (Nosworthy too, if we get him.)

When I suggest Ryan France should be in our starting XI, feel free to assume I am joking...

 

[Robbie]

It's number of loan players in the match day squad of 18 players, so no, he wont be included as he wont be in the squad.

There are also limitations on numbers of loans per season too.

 

[Jim Chimmerney]

Blackwell and United have got exactly what they deserved.
Stupid signing, ridiculous outcome.
Just par for the course with the way the club is being run at the moment.

Why have they got what they deserved ?
We can debate all day about whether he was a good siyning or not but as no-one could have foreseen what has happened it hardly has any bearing on how the club is being run. What if the same had happened to Britton, would that have also been Blackwell/the club's fault ?

 

[davidpinder]

These are things that should be put into a contract, i thought plymouth could sell him in January if they got an offer? So surely we should be putting an injury clause in? Typical united we always slip up when it comes to the nitty gritty, like Tottenham having a call back clause for walker. Don't know who is to blame but i would just pay the contract up and sending him back.

 

[norfolkblade]

Blackwell and United have got exactly what they deserved.
Stupid signing, ridiculous outcome.
Just par for the course with the way the club is being run at the moment.

You baffle me at times, how the hell can you say that we deserved that to happen just because you thought he was shit? We can no longer afford star players, and Walton could have gone one of two ways, if he was player of the season and we went up, I am sure you probably still would find something to moan about. This could have happened to any of our players, new signings or not, but I wouldn't say we deserved it just because the club is being "ran badly". Clubs like fecking Portsmouth are ran badly, or would you rather see us in that kind of state?

 

[Oreyt]

You baffle me at times, how the hell can you say that we deserved that to happen just because you thought he was shit? We can no longer afford star players, and Walton could have gone one of two ways, if he was player of the season and we went up, I am sure you probably still would find something to moan about. This could have happened to any of our players, new signings or not, but I wouldn't say we deserved it just because the club is being "ran badly". Clubs like fecking Portsmouth are ran badly, or would you rather see us in that kind of state?

He's a wind up merchant. That's the only conclusion to be drawn from statements like ''Blackwell and United got exactly what they deserved''.

 

[Wards]

I'd have thought the player insurance would cover the cost of rehabilitation, wages etc anyway?

 

[sitwell]

The same would have been said if Doncaster no-hoper Brian Deane had torn his cruciate 15 minutes into his debut. Shit happens ,can't understand why people get so wound up about it.

 

[SoccerCynic]

The only criticism that could be levelled is if there is no insurance cover surely.

 

[lenners]

Why have they got what they deserved ?
We can debate all day about whether he was a good siyning or not but as no-one could have foreseen what has happened it hardly has any bearing on how the club is being run. What if the same had happened to Britton, would that have also been Blackwell/the club's fault ?

Club in complete shambles makes pointless, stupid signing, said signing now costs us in wages and medics bills.
Totally and utterly deserved and completely in tune with the cack-handed managment of the club.
Perhaps someone will think in future about the phrase no-lose signing.

 

[Gingerblade]

Club in complete shambles makes pointless, stupid signing, said signing now costs us in wages and medics bills.
Totally and utterly deserved and completely in tune with the cack-handed managment of the club.
Perhaps someone will think in future about the phrase no-lose signing.

Why dont you clear off to S6, or better still.....Barnsley


I have never come across such a miserable man, have you ever had a positive thought in your entire life?!?!?

 

[Mousey]

The same would have been said if Doncaster no-hoper Brian Deane had torn his cruciate 15 minutes into his debut. Shit happens ,can't understand why people get so wound up about it.

Sadly I think a few people on here probably ripped their cocks off in excitement when they heard this news. Such a cherry to abuse the management doesn't come along this often so they have to take their tugs where they can.

 

[Zlatan]

KEVIN BLACKWELL admits finding a replacement for cruciate knee ligament victim Simon Walton will be difficult because the club will continue to pay the loan player's wages.

It is understood that Walton did not arrive on a contract that put him anywhere near the club's top-end earners and he also forfeited any appearance or goal bonuses.

So what's the problem?

 

[lenners]

The same would have been said if Doncaster no-hoper Brian Deane had torn his cruciate 15 minutes into his debut. Shit happens ,can't understand why people get so wound up about it.

No it wouldn't.
We signed him on a proper contract, we were in division three, he was young and had promise - and we had a decent manager.
Walton's considered a joke by Plymouth and one they were desperate to get rid off.
It was an example of the failure of United to plan properly, to scout properly - the result being we ended up with a signing based on Blackwell's six-year old recollections of a bloke who's a waste of space and now a waste of a signing, wages, loan place etc.
The whole thing is completely symbolic of what we're doing as a club at the moment.

 

[lenners]

Why dont you clear off to S6, or better still.....Barnsley


I have never come across such a miserable man, have you ever had a positive thought in your entire life?!?!?

About Simon Walton? No.

 

[Vancouver]

Best way to deal with Len is "Don't feed the trolls." In the many years I don't think I've ever seen him answer a direct question or praise the club; every little issue is a cause for criticism.

 

[Sothall_Blade]

KEVIN BLACKWELL admits finding a replacement for cruciate knee ligament victim Simon Walton will be difficult because the club will continue to pay the loan player's wages.
It is understood that Walton did not arrive on a contract that put him anywhere near the club's top-end earners and he also forfeited any appearance or goal bonuses.
So what's the problem?

Thank god he forfeited his appearance and goal bonuses, we've saved a bundle there! Personally, I would have thought that we'd have a six-month "send him back" clause as they (and Spurs) had a six-month "recall" clause. These clauses never seem to work in our favour somehow.