Ricardo Gardner

[jimbo_bwfc]

From Marc Iles on twitter:

rumours of Bibi's release have been greatly exaggerated... heard some surprising contract news but keeping my trap shut (for once).

Perhaps he's staying for another year!

...I saw this, and yet I'm sure the place where Gardner/released was originally reported was in the Bolton News!

I hope the surpsing news isn't to give someone like Joey O'Brien or Samuel a contract...surely not!

[hi there, i'm chris]

It'll be Gardner. The tweet seems to remain in the same topic.

[Tombwfc]

Elbow room yes, but it also opens up the possibility of us spreading ourselves thin, given we don't appear to have a big budget. In fact, the only way it seems we'll have any budget whatsoever will be by losing more players.

Well, quite, but you imagine OC knows that – and he appears to be thinking in terms of existing wage bill.

In fact, the only way it seems we'll have any budget whatsoever will be by losing more players.

Trading, by selling key assets at the top of their value. 'Sfair enough. But it's worth noting that while we've all been rubbing hands over the Cahill cash-in, there's (quite properly) been no mention of what Coyle's budget would be without a single sale. If nobody stumps up the necessary for Cahill, we need to make/save cash somehow.

I just hope it doesn't come to the point where we've shipped out 'deadwood' so we can bring in a fresh load of 'deadwood'. I would be pleasantly surprised if our fringe players next season are as good as Gardner.

Couldn't agree more on the first point. Guess we'll see, but he has (earned) the right to have his own squad. As for the second part, I'll be pleasantly surprised - but I'd also guess that we'd be horrified if any fringe players are on Ricardo's wage-per-input level (an assumption, I know, but a fair one).

'We'll see' is pretty much all there is to it, it's impossible to say how the summer will pan out two days after the end of the season. The point about Cahill is very pertinent - What happens if that move doesn't materialise?

Regardless of that, it seems to me Owen has a massive job on his hands just to keep us stationary, it'd be adding to that to let another capable body walk out of the door.

I can see the point about his possible wages, although I've no idea what they are, or what the wage demands of his replacement would be. Equally though, the story yesterday was that we weren't going to offer Ricardo anything.

If we offer him terms acceptable to us (and Iles tweet suggests theres a chance of that) and he decides he'd rather go elsewhere, then that's all we can do and I'm fine with that.

[jimbo_bwfc]

We've given Robbie Blake another year. fecking ridiculous.

Thanks for the goal at Birmingham, an undoubted quality technical footballer but no way should he be in our (most anyone's) Premier League squad anymore.

Couldn't get on the bench this season, it obviously doesn't say much for our transfer prospects up front if Coyle thinks he'll be needed for even one minute of next season.

If he's going into coaching and is on some sort of player/coach deal (with comparitive wages to the likes of Steve Davis/John Hendry) then fair enough I suppose- but otherwise shocking, and would stink of Coyle just keeping a mate secure. We're a business, not a charity.

[Choppers]

RE: Blake.

With I could pay my mates a decent wage to just be around at my place of work.

[Dave Sutton's barnet]

From Marc Iles on twitter:

rumours of Bibi's release have been greatly exaggerated... heard some surprising contract news but keeping my trap shut (for once).

Perhaps he's staying for another year!

...I saw this, and yet I'm sure the place where Gardner/released was originally reported was in the Bolton News!

Indeed. Tweet should perhaps read "rumours of Bibi's release have been greatly exaggerated by me... heard some surprising contract news but keeping my trap shut (for once)."

Blake extension seems to be arousing ire. Intriguing. I can only assume he's not on owt much, but to use the ol' yardstick, imagine if a Megson "pal" had been thusly rewarded...

[keveh]

Blake must simply be for moral, and if it works then fair enough, just hope he isn't on a lot of money.

If Gardner signs then I will definitely get a tshirt done!

Has anybody got a strap line ideas, or do we simply stick with 'Legend'

[Prufrock]

I hope Gardner gets another year what with the whole best left back at the club thang. The Spanish problem may make that more likely. Though, don't forget, Stephen Warnock is definitely coming so....

[Lord Kangana]

Re the t-shirt, something along the lines of Reebok Reggae Boyz?

Or something.

Look, I cook food for a living ok, cut me some slack.

[Beefheart]

Re the t-shirt, something along the lines of Reebok Reggae Boy?

Or something.

Look, I cook food for a living ok, cut me some slack.

'chicken and rice and peas'? Lets put a spliff on there somewhere, and a picture of bob marley as well!

[Prufrock]

Blake must simply be for moral, and if it works then fair enough, just hope he isn't on a lot of money.

If Gardner signs then I will definitely get a tshirt done!

Has anybody got a strap line ideas, or do we simply stick with 'Legend'

It HAS to be 'Move to your goal'

[Lord Kangana]

Are you wagging your finger at the screen when typing that?

I'd like to think so..

[LiOC]

Blake must simply be for moral, and if it works then fair enough, just hope he isn't on a lot of money.

If Gardner signs then I will definitely get a tshirt done!

Has anybody got a strap line ideas, or do we simply stick with 'Legend'

It HAS to be 'Move to your goal'

Haha, had totally forgotten about that song.

[Gary the Enfield]

Blake must simply be for moral, and if it works then fair enough, just hope he isn't on a lot of money.

If Gardner signs then I will definitely get a tshirt done!

Has anybody got a strap line ideas, or do we simply stick with 'Legend'

Got to be 'Cool Runnings' surely?

[scotty]

official site says contract negotiations are still ongoing with Ricky.

[ohjimmyjimmy]

i'll wager the surprsing contract news is that Blake is staying.

[bobo the clown]

official site says contract negotiations are still ongoing with Ricky.

Like a lot on here I'd like to think Bibi offers us something. He is toward the end now, but he seems to have another year or so available and he's here & loyal.

I would cut the emotion if he wasn't good enough, but I think he is.

If he stalls on the offered contract then good luck to him, but with his sickness record he can't expect top dollar any more.

[Lord Kangana]

I'm sure if we offer him reduced terms he'll just f*ck off to Turkey giving it the "woe is me" card anyway.

[keveh]

So, just knocked up an image for the Gardner tshirt, just going along the same theme.

It would be good to release a Legends range to be honest, I know people have wanted McGinlay one for a while. That could continue to Worthington, Lofthouse etc etc

Anyway, here's the image:

[Gary the Enfield]

Cool Runnings?