Elmander to be offered new contract?

[Alzheimer]

If he chooses to move on for another pay day rather than stick with the most promising side we've had in years then that says a lot about him, especially after the two years of mediocrity that we've put up with.

That doesn't make a lot of sense does it? I would have understood if it was Berbaflop we were talking about. But Elmander always tried hard and gave his best even if his best wasn't good enough at the time( Even if the lack of success to some degree was due to injuries and Megsons inclination for long balls and playing with a single man upfront).
When people like you learn to support players fighting and doing their best instead of mocking them and booing at them, that will be the day when you can expect them to show some loyalty towards you.

[CrazyHorse]

He'll sign. We can't afford for him not to. It's just a case of agreeing on how much of a pay rise he gets.

Option 1. Give him say £500,000 extra a year for three years
Option 2. Spend £10mil on a new boy and probably end up having to pay him whatever Elmander is demanding anyway.
Secret Option 3. Let him go at the end of the season and not bother replacing him. See you in the Championship in 2012 and the bankruptcy courts in 2013.

[thebish]

If he chooses to move on for another pay day rather than stick with the most promising side we've had in years then that says a lot about him, especially after the two years of mediocrity that we've put up with.

That doesn't make a lot of sense does it? I would have understood if it was Berbaflop we were talking about. But Elmander always tried hard and gave his best even if his best wasn't good enough at the time( Even if the lack of success to some degree was due to injuries and Megsons inclination for long balls and playing with a single man upfront).
When people like you learn to support players fighting and doing their best instead of mocking them and booing at them, that will be the day when you can expect them to show some loyalty towards you.

ooh! feisty for a first post! welcome to the forum! (why not introduce yourself on the intro thread)?

[Lofthouse Lower]

If he chooses to move on for another pay day rather than stick with the most promising side we've had in years then that says a lot about him, especially after the two years of mediocrity that we've put up with.

That doesn't make a lot of sense does it? I would have understood if it was Berbaflop we were talking about. But Elmander always tried hard and gave his best even if his best wasn't good enough at the time( Even if the lack of success to some degree was due to injuries and Megsons inclination for long balls and playing with a single man upfront).
When people like you learn to support players fighting and doing their best instead of mocking them and booing at them, that will be the day when you can expect them to show some loyalty towards you.

so it's OK for him to score 10 goals in two seasons because he tried hard? That doesn't make a lot of sense does it? I try hard and give my best at 5 a side, doesn't make me worth keeping on.

As for the people like me comment, I appreciate that, but those who pay their money week in and week out, home and away are entitled to an opinion on what they see and whether I boo and jeer (which I don't) would be my choice.

Try a bit harder next time pal

[Ianmooreslovechild]

15 good games vs 70 odd mediocre/shit ones - I think some of the more extreme reactions seen elsewhere on the internet are unwarranted. He's a fine player, but there are other fine players out there.

There may be other fine players out there but do you really think we can afford to pay the fee and wages of a new player able to perform anywhere near the standard Elmander is currently attaining?
As for the 70 mediocre/shit games,from what I remember he still showed intelligence and technique and put the effort in even when he couldn't score.The way the team was set up hardly gave him a strong chance to succeed and the attitude of his manager effectively drained him of belief and confidence.In retrospect the effort he put in during that period was admirable given the circumstances.
Few strikers look good in teams set up to play for goalless draws

[Lofthouse Lower]

15 good games vs 70 odd mediocre/shit ones - I think some of the more extreme reactions seen elsewhere on the internet are unwarranted. He's a fine player, but there are other fine players out there.

There may be other fine players out there but do you really think we can afford to pay the fee and wages of a new player able to perform anywhere near the standard Elmander is currently attaining?
As for the 70 mediocre/shit games,from what I remember he still showed intelligence and technique and put the effort in even when he couldn't score.The way the team was set up hardly gave him a strong chance to succeed and the attitude of his manager effectively drained him of belief and confidence.In retrospect the effort he put in during that period was admirable given the circumstances.Few strikers look good in teams set up to play for goalless draws

A good point for sure, but in this day and age I wonder whether we can afford to be sentimental over this. Another way of looking at it is giving him what he wants, and then should he continue this form then we could always flog him in the Summer for ££££

[Odelay]

If Elmander put away all those chances he had last season, would we be having this conversation? He did well to get himself into those positions and being a no-talent hack doesn't get you in front of the blockhole like he does. Only difference between Elmander this season and last is a bit of extra pace and the ball hitting the back of the net.

[Ianmooreslovechild]

15 good games vs 70 odd mediocre/shit ones - I think some of the more extreme reactions seen elsewhere on the internet are unwarranted. He's a fine player, but there are other fine players out there.

There may be other fine players out there but do you really think we can afford to pay the fee and wages of a new player able to perform anywhere near the standard Elmander is currently attaining?
As for the 70 mediocre/shit games,from what I remember he still showed intelligence and technique and put the effort in even when he couldn't score.The way the team was set up hardly gave him a strong chance to succeed and the attitude of his manager effectively drained him of belief and confidence.In retrospect the effort he put in during that period was admirable given the circumstances.Few strikers look good in teams set up to play for goalless draws

A good point for sure, but in this day and age I wonder whether we can afford to be sentimental over this. Another way of looking at it is giving him what he wants, and then should he continue this form then we could always flog him in the Summer for ££££

Well yes that's always got to be a big consideration, we may need to push the boat out in the short term to ensure a decent return.Unfortunately his agent will be well aware of this.
I wasn't really being sentimental about the effort he put in.I just find it a bit irksome that Megson misused and mismanaged an expensive asset yet people still talk about his performances as if he wasn't putting the effort in.Regardless of the money he was earning he must have felt like shit.

[Alzheimer]

so it's OK for him to score 10 goals in two seasons because he tried hard? That doesn't make a lot of sense does it? I try hard and give my best at 5 a side, doesn't make me worth keeping on.
As for the people like me comment, I appreciate that, but those who pay their money week in and week out, home and away are entitled to an opinion on what they see and whether I boo and jeer (which I don't) would be my choice.

I have never said that you aren't entitled to an opinion.However, I hinted that your entitled opinion sucked which is an opinion I'm entitled to have.
Whether it is OK for him to score 10 goals in two seasons wasn't the issue either. It was whether a player should feel obliged to stay at a club for loyalty reasons (towards the fans) when the fans that demands a stay also probably are the same persons that have mocked him during previous seasons.
Loyalty and respect goes both ways. If you stand up for a player having a rough time but who is still putting in an effort (hence the Berbatov reference)then you show him loyalty and it is only then you can have any morally claims on him to stay imo.
You were not behind him during the tough times but at the same time you demand that he gives you two or three years more of his short career when he can earn more money and play in a club like Liverpool.

I would hate if Elmander left because I think Bolton is playing great football for the moment and I seriously think they will finish up amongst the top 6. They will surely do it without him too but I probably won't see all Bolton games then since I'm a swede.

[Worthy4England]

15 good games vs 70 odd mediocre/shit ones - I think some of the more extreme reactions seen elsewhere on the internet are unwarranted. He's a fine player, but there are other fine players out there.

No I understand that but currently the previous rubbish games do not affect his value so much as they current top quality ones.

So his market value in terms of what he can earn has rocketed (striker scoring goals in premiership will always do that) its just unfortuneate timing.

We'll struggle to replace what he's giving to the side currently but equally we can't give him a silly salary for 4 years and risk him going backwards in form terms.

Difficult balance really, but I trust Coyle and Gartside to get it right whichever way it turns out.

Not sure he was any "more" mediocre than many of the team from the last two years that have done Contract extensions.

Cahill managed to get picked for England coming from a side that managed to shunt 67 goals last year - and actually isn't doing much better this. We've got another forward who got a cap, who didn't manage to get as many as Carlton Cole last season (or for that matter Matt Taylor - "yeah but Taylor took the penalties" - I know, we'll knock 'em off Davo's tally this year).

Interesting how Elmander seems to be scoring more, in proportion to Davo passing him in, rather than the random headers (not a criticism of Davo, but the style of play)

Interesting too how some players seem to be playing better under a different general style of management than the previous one.

We were linked with Andrew Johnson for about £2m more if memory serves - he's hardly ripped up trees at Fulham.

Anelka was a £15m signing we were lucky to get for £8m there isn't a lot of deals like that I'm seeing done nowadays.

It's also great to see that some of the same people now arguing he should show commitment to us, want to offer him a 12 month deal.

The 10 goals in 2 seasons part is a great stat - similar to what Davo scored during 2006/7 and 2007/8 - 11.

[BWFC_Insane]

so it's OK for him to score 10 goals in two seasons because he tried hard? That doesn't make a lot of sense does it? I try hard and give my best at 5 a side, doesn't make me worth keeping on.
As for the people like me comment, I appreciate that, but those who pay their money week in and week out, home and away are entitled to an opinion on what they see and whether I boo and jeer (which I don't) would be my choice.

I have never said that you aren't entitled to an opinion.However, I hinted that your entitled opinion sucked which is an opinion I'm entitled to have.
Whether it is OK for him to score 10 goals in two seasons wasn't the issue either. It was whether a player should feel obliged to stay at a club for loyalty reasons (towards the fans) when the fans that demands a stay also probably are the same persons that have mocked him during previous seasons.
Loyalty and respect goes both ways. If you stand up for a player having a rough time but who is still putting in an effort (hence the Berbatov reference)then you show him loyalty and it is only then you can have any morally claims on him to stay imo.
You were not behind him during the tough times but at the same time you demand that he gives you two or three years more of his short career when he can earn more money and play in a club like Liverpool.

I would hate if Elmander left because I think Bolton is playing great football for the moment and I seriously think they will finish up amongst the top 6. They will surely do it without him too but I probably won't see all Bolton games then since I'm a swede.

I think you are spot on. And I'll add there was no contract extension talks last season. That would be the club really standing by him.

IMO a deal should have been offered in the summer, I understand why it wasn't, but I said at the time we might regret it, and we are now!

[Lofthouse Lower]

15 good games vs 70 odd mediocre/shit ones - I think some of the more extreme reactions seen elsewhere on the internet are unwarranted. He's a fine player, but there are other fine players out there.

No I understand that but currently the previous rubbish games do not affect his value so much as they current top quality ones.

So his market value in terms of what he can earn has rocketed (striker scoring goals in premiership will always do that) its just unfortuneate timing.

We'll struggle to replace what he's giving to the side currently but equally we can't give him a silly salary for 4 years and risk him going backwards in form terms.

Difficult balance really, but I trust Coyle and Gartside to get it right whichever way it turns out.

Not sure he was any "more" mediocre than many of the team from the last two years that have done Contract extensions.

Cahill managed to get picked for England coming from a side that managed to shunt 67 goals last year - and actually isn't doing much better this. We've got another forward who got a cap, who didn't manage to get as many as Carlton Cole last season (or for that matter Matt Taylor - "yeah but Taylor took the penalties" - I know, we'll knock 'em off Davo's tally this year).

Interesting how Elmander seems to be scoring more, in proportion to Davo passing him in, rather than the random headers (not a criticism of Davo, but the style of play)

Interesting too how some players seem to be playing better under a different general style of management than the previous one.

We were linked with Andrew Johnson for about £2m more if memory serves - he's hardly ripped up trees at Fulham.

Anelka was a £15m signing we were lucky to get for £8m there isn't a lot of deals like that I'm seeing done nowadays.

It's also great to see that some of the same people now arguing he should show commitment to us, want to offer him a 12 month deal.

The 10 goals in 2 seasons part is a great stat - similar to what Davo scored during 2006/7 and 2007/8 - 11.

He didn't cost us £8m to score goals, though

[Worthy4England]

He didn't cost us £8m to score goals, though

Pretty pointless point. Are you saying that if Elmander had been brought to the club on a free, you'd have been delighted with him?

[Lofthouse Lower]

He didn't cost us £8m to score goals, though

Pretty pointless point. Are you saying that if Elmander had been brought to the club on a free, you'd have been delighted with him?

Definitely

[Worthy4England]

He didn't cost us £8m to score goals, though

Pretty pointless point. Are you saying that if Elmander had been brought to the club on a free, you'd have been delighted with him?

Definitely

I think you might just be saying that to support your argument.

[Lord Kangana]

He didn't cost us £8m to score goals, though

Pretty pointless point. Are you saying that if Elmander had been brought to the club on a free, you'd have been delighted with him?

The transfer fee will always dictate the level of scrutiny.

If Berbatov had signed at United on a free at the end of a contract, he'd be seen as a decent signing, and indeed the pressure to play him out of bad form would be diminished, on many levels.

Most people have virtually forgotten about the likes of Riga, because he didn't cost us a bean. He's an ongoing burden with his wages, but he didn't cost millions.

[David Lee's Hair]

RIGA!! RIGA!! RIGA!!

[BWFC_Insane]

I don't see how his fee was relevant.

For two years for whatever variety of reasons he was a dissapointment.

Now he's looking a player worth double his original fee.

The shame in it all is the timing of his form but thats the way things happen sometimes. I'll be sad if we lose him but wouldn't blame Elmander if for his own reasons he feels he can do better. Good luck to him. There is probably not much more anyone could have done.

Still there is hope he stays.

[Lofthouse Lower]

[quote="BWFC_Insane"]

Now he's looking a player worth double his original fee.

[quote]

Calm down.

[bobo the clown]

IMO a deal should have been offered in the summer, I understand why it wasn't, but I said at the time we might regret it, and we are now!

Had we offered him this in the summer many of us would have been questioning the club's sanity.

Who knows what motivates him ? Maybe the uncertainty is what's helped the turnaround. Maybe another 3yr contract would help him lose it all again.

I want him to sign, & actually I believe he will. It'd be a shame to lose him, but the club will move on. If we lose one occasionally via a Bosman, one we'd prefer to keep, we'll be miffed, but we'll gain a few the same way.

I'm very impressed that we've quietly signed Lee, Cahill, Holden, Klasnic etc. on extended terms recently. We must be doing something right & it seems that there's a good team spirit.