Gartside, please just shut up!!!!

[Lord Kangana]

We've been letting a whole host of contracts run down in the last few years. If someone can dig out DSB's last (or maybe last but one, erm, one) we'll see that the majority of out of contract/high earners have been dispatched. Do I think Knight, for example, will go this summer? Almost certainly, I don't think it matters whether its Dougie Freedman, Tony Pulis or Wee Willy Winky in charge, he'll be 34 and on a decent wedge (though lets be clear, a wedge probably comensurate with a defender who's played most his career in the top flight) and so is highly unlikely to be retained.

Of course, if you were Bruce, you'd still be befuddled how many of those premiership games he did rack up, but seemingly he gets picked wherever he goes. If you recall, he was one of he reasons (wasn't he?) that we got Gary Cahill (I'm sure he was, wasn't he? Please tell me I'm right!). Whatever he's got, he's managed to fool more than our Dougie into thinking he's not a complete liability.

[Beefheart]

We've been letting a whole host of contracts run down in the last few years. If someone can dig out DSB's last (or maybe last but one, erm, one) we'll see that the majority of out of contract/high earners have been dispatched. Do I think Knight, for example, will go this summer? Almost certainly, I don't think it matters whether its Dougie Freedman, Tony Pulis or Wee Willy Winky in charge, he'll be 34 and on a decent wedge (though lets be clear, a wedge probably comensurate with a defender who's played most his career in the top flight) and so is highly unlikely to be retained.

Of course, if you were Bruce, you'd still be befuddled how many of those premiership games he did rack up, but seemingly he gets picked wherever he goes. If you recall, he was one of he reasons (wasn't he?) that we got Gary Cahill (I'm sure he was, wasn't he? Please tell me I'm right!). Whatever he's got, he's managed to fool more than our Dougie into thinking he's not a complete liability.

He even managed to get 2 England caps. I have no idea how.

[StaffsTrotter]

We've been letting a whole host of contracts run down in the last few years. If someone can dig out DSB's last (or maybe last but one, erm, one) we'll see that the majority of out of contract/high earners have been dispatched. Do I think Knight, for example, will go this summer? Almost certainly, I don't think it matters whether its Dougie Freedman, Tony Pulis or Wee Willy Winky in charge, he'll be 34 and on a decent wedge (though lets be clear, a wedge probably comensurate with a defender who's played most his career in the top flight) and so is highly unlikely to be retained.

Of course, if you were Bruce, you'd still be befuddled how many of those premiership games he did rack up, but seemingly he gets picked wherever he goes. If you recall, he was one of he reasons (wasn't he?) that we got Gary Cahill (I'm sure he was, wasn't he? Please tell me I'm right!). Whatever he's got, he's managed to fool more than our Dougie into thinking he's not a complete liability.

think he was and why we nearly got Wright Philips.

Nearly 300 PL appearances over 10yrs. If we didn't have him, know and love him, he's probably the kind of solid experienced defender people would be clamouring for

[Bruce Rioja]

He even managed to get 2 England caps. I have no idea how.

Indeed. Segar Bastard only achieved one England cap whereas his possible descendant, Big Useless Bastard managed two

[Lord Kangana]

I even said at the time I thought he was a solid signing (sorry Bruce!). I even remember BR (thats why I keep mentioning him btw, not some bizarre fetish) saying one of his mates (Fulham or Villa fan?) called him Knightmare. Must've let my guard down, as I spotted Shittu for the fraud he was the second he put pen to paper.

[Bruce Rioja]

I even said at the time I thought he was a solid signing (sorry Bruce!). I even remember BR (thats why I keep mentioning him btw, not some bizarre fetish) saying one of his mates (Fulham or Villa fan?) called him Knightmare. Must've let my guard down, as I spotted Shittu for the fraud he was the second he put pen to paper.

Pah. I thought my luck was in there for a minute.

Yes, one of my mates works in a senior position (I mention that just so you know that I'm talking about a guy that countersigns the cheques and not one that sweeps the changing rooms out etc.) at Fulham FC. They picked Knight up from non-league Rushall for either a load of balls or training kit or summat. In the time he was there he earned the nickname Knightmare for presumably playing for them similarly to the way in which he plays for us and was something of a fun object/laughing stock. However, in the same way that a fecked clock gives the correct time twice a day, Knight had a decent season (presumably the one in which he won the caps). My mate tells the tale of how they were hoping on hope that someone had noticed this and been sufficiently fished-in to make an offer. Low and behold at the end of that season up popped Aston Villa with £3.5m and a snapped-off hand.

According to Villa fans I know it wasn't long before he was found out there either. Like us now, they too thought that they were landed with him as he was on a four year deal, and in his second season he only played about a dozen games.
However, out of the gloom at the end of that second season a ginger prince on a white charger swept up Knight leaving an absolutely inexplicable £4m cheque fluttering on a Heartlands breeze as he rode away.

You know the rest.

[BL3]

Freedman has inherited 4 centre backs who aren't good enough

Says who?

[89bwfc89]

Freedman has inherited 4 centre backs who aren't good enough

Says who?

Our current goals against stats?

[Dave Sutton's barnet]

We're still paying too much in wages, that's the problem and it will remain so until next summer's big clearout.

Of whom? I need to update the Contract Expiry thread now the window's shut but given that Wheater signed extended terms and Ricketts has gone, I think we've only got four players out of contract next June: Mears, Knight, Ngog and Eagles... enough to make savings but not exactly a cure for all ills.

In terms of proportion of wages I think that will be very significant. Three of those seemed to be on his get-rid list this time around weren't they/ Under the new budgetary constraints I reckon you'll a lot more than 3 players for the savings made.

True, they may be the last of the big earners, but I reckon some of 2015's expirees are too - Mills, Andrews, Chungy, maybe Ream, Pratley and Sordell.

Also interesting to hear you say "budgetary constraints" and "more than 3 players" in the same clause... I know what you mean but it may not be that simple.

If someone can dig out DSB's last (or maybe last but one, erm, one) we'll see that the majority of out of contract/high earners have been dispatched.

Hit the top of the thread for Feb 2012, friend.

[plymouth wanderer]

Freedman has inherited 4 centre backs who aren't good enough

Says who?

Our current goals against stats?

Wouldn't waste your time dear

[Prufrock]

I think N'Gog is wank and I was panicking he was out of contract. Who the shit decided to leave it until now to let me know Eagles is swanning off in't summer too?! Is it money? Do we have life insurance on Zat? I know a guy.

[LeverEnd]

Freedman has inherited 4 centre backs who aren't good enough

Says who?

Our current goals against stats?

And all the managers who don't want to sign them, including the one down the road with money to burn who actually brought them to us in the first place.

[Lord Kangana]

Bet Megson was pissed off that Burnley's manager was dictating our transfer policy.

[LeverEnd]

Freedman has inherited 4 centre backs who aren't good enough

Says who?

Our current goals against stats?

And all the managers who don't want to sign them, including the one down the road with money to burn who actually brought them to us in the first place.

*OK some of them!

[BL3]

Freedman has inherited 4 centre backs who aren't good enough

Says who?

Our current goals against stats?

And all the managers who don't want to sign them, including the one down the road with money to burn who actually brought them to us in the first place.

*OK some of them!

Presumably that doesn't include Freedman though, as he has a ready made replacement currently playing at full-back. He also had the option of keeping Ricketts who could have played there and he also chose to strengthen the full back positions in the summer rather than sign a centre half.

[StaffsTrotter]

and made Zat captain and gave a new contract to Wheats.

Also has Ream and Mills on the books who whilst clearly DF'd rather move on, we paid good money for and even recently have proved can step in and give decent performances.

As I've said before, if you were Eddie wouldn't you be a little sceptical of being asked for money for another silver bullet CH, particularly without shifting out/ recouping something for the surplus you already have ?

[Beefheart]

Does make you wonder, why have we spent so much money on centre halves? Knight 4m, Wheater £2.5-£3.5m (?), Shittu £2m(!), Ream £2m (ish?), Mills £2.5m (?). Cahill another £5m but we recouped that at least.

Our midfield looks like excellent value for money in comparison.

[thebish]

Does make you wonder, why have we spent so much money on centre halves? Knight 4m, Wheater £2.5-£3.5m (?), Shittu £2m(!), Ream £2m (ish?), Mills £2.5m (?). Cahill another £5m but we recouped that at least.

Our midfield looks like excellent value for money in comparison.

maybe - since Big Sam we haven't had a manager who knows what the feck a defence is supposed to be about?

[Beefheart]

Does make you wonder, why have we spent so much money on centre halves? Knight 4m, Wheater £2.5-£3.5m (?), Shittu £2m(!), Ream £2m (ish?), Mills £2.5m (?). Cahill another £5m but we recouped that at least.

Our midfield looks like excellent value for money in comparison.

maybe - since Big Sam we haven't had a manager who knows what the feck a defence is supposed to be about?

I think for the most part it displays a lack of imagination when signing players in that position.

[Lord Kangana]

I think borh Wheater (1.8 as I recall by rthe way) and Cahill represented decenrt signings at the time of signing. Shittu I've no idea, ditto ream, Mills I can see, but we should have been wary after his fall out with Pearson. Is that maybe what the issue is now maybe, that he's a disruptive character? He can't haave fone fron decent to completely unplayable inside 2 years, can he?

And if you threw in the money we've thrown at fullbacks in the last few years, you do wonder what the f*ck has been going on.