Change the record SOD!

[Filo]

On Roberts

\"At 32 years of age, he doesn't have to talk to you via somebody else; he'll come and have a chat. We have done what we can to keep him but we are still far away from what he has been offered.\"

On Shackell

\"We were a long way off of what he had been offered elsewhere

[Smeg]

You can't blame Sean. He's not the one responsible for funding wages. I think you need to direct your anger higher up.

[Filo]

Smeg wrote:

You can't blame Sean. He's not the one responsible for funding wages. I think you need to direct your anger higher up.

I don`t blame him one bit, it`s not anger, it`s more disappointment. Every Radio interview, every Newspaper article it`s we can`t afford thi and we can`t afford that, we know, it does n`t need ramming down our throat!  I did my bit, I bought my ST early despite money being tight, I`ve been defensive of the clubs position in the past but it seems we just lie down and die when it comes to keeping players, this is the second time we`ve let a player run his contract down and Derby have nipped in, if an extension of his contract was offered earlier maybe 2 or 3 months then clubs would n`t find it as easy to cherry pick our players

[dijit8]

Derby's previous left back was on 15K a week, even if they offered Roberts half that we can't get anywhere near that on wages.

As with Shackell, Barnsley got rid of a few high earners so that free's up some money for them to make better offers than we can.

I thought we started last season with a weaker squad than the previous one, but i was wrong as we got more points and finished higher.

There will be plenty of players around that we can afford and will probably improve the squad. (depending on existing players we have out of contract signing on again)

I am uncomfortable about the amount of players we have out of contract, but it does sound that Sean hasn't been told what is budget is early enough so then can't make an offer.
Even so if agents are telling the players to keep their options open not a lot we can do about.

[Filo]

Agents!, the scourge of the game!

[dijit8]

Filo wrote:

Agents!, the scourge of the game!

Agreed

[steve@dcfd]

Quote
I thought we started last season with a weaker squad than the previous one, but i was wrong as we got more points and finished higher.

We did start weaker and would have been in the bottom four, but we added Billy Sharp on loan, then Shackell on loan, then Ward,then Gillet, then Mutch, then Jet. Do you think without those players our squad would have frinished 12th?

We signed one player who came good last summer the others were no where to be seen.

[dijit8]

steve@dcfd wrote:

Quote
I thought we started last season with a weaker squad than the previous one, but i was wrong as we got more points and finished higher.

We did start weaker and would have been in the bottom four, but we added Billy Sharp on loan, then Shackell on loan, then Ward,then Gillet, then Mutch, then Jet. Do you think without those players our squad would have frinished 12th?

We are quite likely to use the loan market again when the season starts, a club of our size and revenue needs to.
Most of those players we wouldn't have been paying their full wages for all the time they were here.

Not sure if signing Ward is on the cards without him taking a massive wage cut as i am sure he will have been a top earner at Coventry

[Drover]

Filo wrote:

Agents!, the scourge of the game!

Does anyone know who Robbo's agent is?I have good info that his agent was unhappy with Rovers a couple of months ago and has been planning a move for Him from then(Don't get me wrong I do know its their job to weight up options for their players coming to the end of their contract).But I have been told he has also been heard saying he will try and take his other players away from Rovers.I have managed to link a few players to their agents with research but so far do not know Robbo's.

[graingrover]

it's becoming obvious that the Greeny connection with ex playeres is not such a jolly old boys club , and what's the betting that Copps lets his contract run down for the same reason!

[Nudga]

Why are we not renewing contracts in january with our own get out clause if we get relegated? If Robbo had signed a two year deal in january, we could have got £125k transfer fee, maybe more. We seem to be losing money hand over fist with leaving it late with contract renewals. As for Shacks, i'm disapointed he hasn't been signed but well done to the club for not being held to ransom. In the long run, this policy will stand us in good stead.

[Al4475]

According to Radio Sheffield, Elliot Ward's agent is the same fellah as Shackell's - doesn't bode too well! But as Nudga says, if we aren't held to ransom, we'll continue to run a tight ship and keep our affairs in order - gotta be a better option than bankrupting ourselves.

[Drover]

When I did a bit of research the other day I found Shackells agent to be Andy Evans of world in motion.But their website does not list their clients(players) even though I thought they had to by law but maybe i'm wrong,some other site's of players agent companies list their clients.I assume he will be Elliott Wards agent then.I also noticed Copps and O'connor have the same agent as Matt Mills!

[JonWallsend]

Drover wrote:

Filo wrote:

Agents!, the scourge of the game!

Does anyone know who Robbo's agent is?I have good info that his agent was unhappy with Rovers a couple of months ago and has been planning a move for Him from then(Don't get me wrong I do know its their job to weight up options for their players coming to the end of their contract).But I have been told he has also been heard saying he will try and take his other players away from Rovers.I have managed to link a few players to their agents with research but so far do not know Robbo's.

\"At 32 years of age, he doesn't have to talk to you via somebody else; he'll come and have a chat. We have done what we can to keep him but we are still far away from what he has been offered.\"

That suggests that Gareth has been doing most of his own negotgiations.
 I dont subscribe to the idea that one agent is capable of taking his players away. He is sadly misguided if he feels that they will now go as he has fallen out with the club.  It's more akin to the behaviour of overbearing parents on
discovering their prodigy has been left on the bench for the under 8 sunday team.
 The players are grown ups and professionals. Give them credit for being able to think for themselves and make their own decisions. They are aware that they could be offered considerably more at other clubs. I don't think it's any secret that we were the third lowest wage payers in this league last year and if players want to go they will. Money will dictate that not some svengali agent.

Without wishing to spread the doom any further, I concur with Grainge: Copps will go and more than likely to Derby.
Ultimately though, I still feel we will be fine next season without Shackell, Copps and Roberts (see what I did there), Sharp or whoever else leaves or doesn't sign. It's disappointing but I have total faith in the management of the club, to keep within a sensible budget outlay, in bringing in some good players.