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I’ve got no idea what money he’s on, but if it’s minimal, he might be paying for himself in loan fees.
Same for Hamelainen, Shodipo, and anyone else whose length or renewal of contract seems surprising.
If this is the case then it would make sense to keep him around both as an example of a player who’s come through the youth system and who may, one day, command a transfer fee. Or in the case of Drewe and Gubbins serve as an emergency backup.
I’m not saying this is what you are doing, but it’s an unfair weapon to use on the SMT. Every club does it and if the money is right it makes sense and there is so much else to criticise them with.
Think he was considered a promising talent as a teenager. He represented N.Ireland at Under 19 and Under 21 level. but continental injury problems look to have ravished his career, only 10 professional appearances for us, Wycombe and Colchester on loan over 5 seasons.
He was on the cusp of the first team squad about 3/4 years ago when he was 20 years old and then had a horrendous injury. We gave him a contract extension as we wanted to show other promising youngsters that we treat people right (which is a big selling point that you won't be left injured and without a club). Came back from that injury and immediately suffered another awful one. Think at that stage he was on very little money and was probably worth the extra year as they thought he could come back and feature... just hasn't worked out. We've certainly treated him well though!!
Think he was considered a promising talent as a teenager. He represented N.Ireland at Under 19 and Under 21 level. but continental injury problems look to have ravished his career, only 10 professional appearances for us, Wycombe and Colchester on loan over 5 seasons.
Blimey, he makes Tyler Roberts and Jake Glass-Salter look like Tony Ingham.
I don't really understand what we're getting out of having all these mid 20s players who obviously aren't good enough hanging around earning, even if it's not earning very much. Nico is obviously the worst example, 26 now FFS, but Owens is 25, the official site is wishing Ody Alfa a happy 24th birthday today - played for Billericay, Maidenhead, Aldershot, Dartford and Chelmsford on loan. Shodipo is 25. What are we doing? Seriously, what are we doing?
I don't really understand what we're getting out of having all these mid 20s players who obviously aren't good enough hanging around earning, even if it's not earning very much. Nico is obviously the worst example, 26 now FFS, but Owens is 25, the official site is wishing Ody Alfa a happy 24th birthday today - played for Billericay, Maidenhead, Aldershot, Dartford and Chelmsford on loan. Shodipo is 25. What are we doing? Seriously, what are we doing?
For every Owens or Alfa there is a Shodipo (Oxford) and Hamelainen (LA Galaxy) though.
It’s not just us it just seems obvious while things are shite I think.
Maybe they make great tea.
[Post edited 9 Mar 2023 10:23]
We brought in £250k on player trading last year and that includes Kane to Coventry and Kelly to Motherwell.
If we are tricking people into not only borrowing Nico and Mide from us, but also paying us to do it (spoiler, we're not) then a) they're not paying very much and b) they're hiding it very effectively in the accounts because it's not there as far as I can see.
I don't really understand what we're getting out of having all these mid 20s players who obviously aren't good enough hanging around earning, even if it's not earning very much. Nico is obviously the worst example, 26 now FFS, but Owens is 25, the official site is wishing Ody Alfa a happy 24th birthday today - played for Billericay, Maidenhead, Aldershot, Dartford and Chelmsford on loan. Shodipo is 25. What are we doing? Seriously, what are we doing?
Exactly: these players should be absolutely smashing it at non league level to show they have something about them to potentially play for our first team. Quite often they aren’t even regular starters at their loan clubs let alone getting rave reviews. Total waste of time and money unless they are still teenagers needing to play mens football IMO.
I don't really understand what we're getting out of having all these mid 20s players who obviously aren't good enough hanging around earning, even if it's not earning very much. Nico is obviously the worst example, 26 now FFS, but Owens is 25, the official site is wishing Ody Alfa a happy 24th birthday today - played for Billericay, Maidenhead, Aldershot, Dartford and Chelmsford on loan. Shodipo is 25. What are we doing? Seriously, what are we doing?
I don't really understand what we're getting out of having all these mid 20s players who obviously aren't good enough hanging around earning, even if it's not earning very much. Nico is obviously the worst example, 26 now FFS, but Owens is 25, the official site is wishing Ody Alfa a happy 24th birthday today - played for Billericay, Maidenhead, Aldershot, Dartford and Chelmsford on loan. Shodipo is 25. What are we doing? Seriously, what are we doing?
hasn't this always been the way at football clubs having back up players who are probably not good enough but you need them to fill the squad out. We've had tons over the years, Maurice Doyle was one in the 90's always around the squad but rarely played, The Graham brothers as well A few years ago these kind of squad players at QPR were short term contracts from all around the world costing tons of money.
It's never black and white with these things, we were complaining recently that we released Jamal Lowe too early and are now having to pay big money to get him on loan when we had him in the first place.
hasn't this always been the way at football clubs having back up players who are probably not good enough but you need them to fill the squad out. We've had tons over the years, Maurice Doyle was one in the 90's always around the squad but rarely played, The Graham brothers as well A few years ago these kind of squad players at QPR were short term contracts from all around the world costing tons of money.
It's never black and white with these things, we were complaining recently that we released Jamal Lowe too early and are now having to pay big money to get him on loan when we had him in the first place.
I’m playing devils advocate, and I know we have an exceptional situation in regards to injuries right now, but who would we have played or filled the bench against Rotherham if we didn’t have Drewe, Gubbins, Dixon-Bonner, Aaoroha (sp).
Would have to have been 15/16 year olds. That works fine for me but I don’t see how useful it would have been for one of them to have had a debut under the current toxic cloud.