You really should see the article in the Currant Bun, about our magnificently talented young midfield maestro Josh. Apparently worth £700,000, which made me laugh out loud. Our young hero has said that he has a clause in his contract, which states that any new deal must at least pay him what he is being paid now, £1,200 per week according to Wapping's finest. If he doesn't get it, there is a clause in his contract that allows him to leave on a free transfer.
Erm - now I don't wish to urinate in anyone's custard here, but all the information available states that his contract expires at the end of next month. You have to admire the workrate of his agent though, in finding superstar in the making Josh, a new home befitting of his burgeoning talent.
For those of you in need of a smile, read the "story" here. You will need to scroll halfway down to see it. Not exactly the most prominent story, but then again, Josh is a modest young man, with much to be modest about.
http://www.thesun.co.uk/sol/homepage/sport/football/2455937/More-of-todays-football-stories.html
Saturday, 30 May 2009
Friday, 15 May 2009
Shhhh!
The lull before the storm perhaps? With players contracts ending in June, I wasn't expecting a mad rush for the door, either in or out, but the day gets ever nearer, certainly for those exiting. So where will our departed go? The rumour mill has been steady in the background, with little of any concrete nature forthcoming.
Rumours about Sam going to Newcastle seem unlikely to be true, although as previously predicted, I do expect him to go, but to a Championship side, rather than a Premier one. Hudson and Bailey will also go to Championship sides, the former more definitely than the latter, who may well stay, unless the money offered is too good to turn down. Shelvey to be sold is a given in most quarters. Just a question of who will buy. Half the Prem seem to be in the frame. The transfer fee will help the board with its one year plan to get out of the third division. What I want to know is, what happens if we don't get out in one season?
No noises yet about the likely destination of those out of contract players, although I would like to see Fortune stay. Most will go, or in one or two cases reject reduced contracts. I have updated the status of the contracts position, as it now seems likely that Burton signed an 18 month deal, which means that it is highly likely he will be around next season. I have also removed the loan rangers, as they have now gone. Those in red, I believe, will no longer be with us come the start of next season. Bet I get loads wrong :-)
Rumours about Sam going to Newcastle seem unlikely to be true, although as previously predicted, I do expect him to go, but to a Championship side, rather than a Premier one. Hudson and Bailey will also go to Championship sides, the former more definitely than the latter, who may well stay, unless the money offered is too good to turn down. Shelvey to be sold is a given in most quarters. Just a question of who will buy. Half the Prem seem to be in the frame. The transfer fee will help the board with its one year plan to get out of the third division. What I want to know is, what happens if we don't get out in one season?
No noises yet about the likely destination of those out of contract players, although I would like to see Fortune stay. Most will go, or in one or two cases reject reduced contracts. I have updated the status of the contracts position, as it now seems likely that Burton signed an 18 month deal, which means that it is highly likely he will be around next season. I have also removed the loan rangers, as they have now gone. Those in red, I believe, will no longer be with us come the start of next season. Bet I get loads wrong :-)
June 2009 - Arter, Ambrose, Dickson, Fortune, Holland, Todorov, Wagstaff, Weaver, Wright, Zhi, Randolph
June 2010 - Basey, Burton, Elliot, Sam, Sinclair, Solly, Spring, Yussuff
June 2011 - Bailey, Christensen, Fleetwood, Gray, Hudson, Moutaouakil, Racon, Semedo, Shelvey, Youga, McLeod
Unknown - Clark, Stavrinou, Tuna
PS - Parkinson? I hear the arguments for continuity and stability, but I still want him to go!
Sunday, 10 May 2009
Sad News
For those of us who drink in the Rose of Denmark Dave was always the man who when not busy behind the bar, acted as doorkeeper when we returned from the latest abject Charlton capitulation. Dave, sadly, has died. I don't as yet know what the arrangements are for his funeral, but friends and fellow Rose of Denmark drinkers are endeavouring to find out.
Monday, 4 May 2009
Fun In The Sun
Well it was, wasn't it? Great banter in the Rose of Denmark beforehand with the Norwich boys and girls. Good fun, and as it turned out, we will see them again next year, or at least I hope so, but more of that later. The game had an end of season feel to it, which given what was at stake for Norwich struck me as a bit strange. In fairness, their chances of survival were very poor, and much like us, the general feeling was that they knew they were going to be relegated in November last year. For me it was November 1st, when I genuinely believed we were likely to go down after the abject performance against Barnsley.
Even after a 4-2 victory, I still felt a tad irked. Once again, as for most of the season, we had let in two soft goals, one from a woeful piece of defending that left a Norwich player unmarked in the six yard box, and the second from a free kick awarded for a panic tackle on the edge of our area. Nevertheless I enjoyed the game, but I didn't wait around to see if the players did a lap of honour.
So now the summer, and the great clear out, both of players and staff will begin in earnest. I have kept the table showing when the players contracts expire updated, and if correct, the following first team squad players will be out of contract in a months time.
Ambrose, Burton, Dickson, Fortune, Holland, Randolph, Todorov, Wagstaff, Wright, Weaver, Zhi
Of these, the only one I am expecting to be offered a new deal is Fortune. It is also possible that Wright and / or Wagstaff may be offered new terms. I am not convinced that either Holland or Randolph will be. In addition to these, the candidates to be invited to seek employment elsewhere will probably be Gray, Moutaouakil, Fleetwood, and McLeod. Sadly, we will also lose players, albeit for a transfer fee, and so a probable goodbye to at least three of Shelvey, Racon, Hudson, Bailey, and Sam.
It could be worse, we could be Norwich. As has been widely reported, they have managed to attract 18,000 season ticket holders for next season, which sounds like great news for them, but unfortunately part of the deal was that if Norwich got relegated, then they would receive 20% of their money back. According to a Norwich fan in the Rose of Denmark yesterday, the club is already asking the fans to waive their right to the refund. It has been reported that if Norwich were to pay the 20% refund back, it would tip them into administration. There is also considerable doubt as to whether Southampton are going to be able to avoid full blown liquidation.
As for talk of Peter Varney riding white knight like into the Valley, well it is just that for now.....talk. Silly season now begins, and I hope you all have a great summer, and that we all return invigorated for the new season.
Even after a 4-2 victory, I still felt a tad irked. Once again, as for most of the season, we had let in two soft goals, one from a woeful piece of defending that left a Norwich player unmarked in the six yard box, and the second from a free kick awarded for a panic tackle on the edge of our area. Nevertheless I enjoyed the game, but I didn't wait around to see if the players did a lap of honour.
So now the summer, and the great clear out, both of players and staff will begin in earnest. I have kept the table showing when the players contracts expire updated, and if correct, the following first team squad players will be out of contract in a months time.
Ambrose, Burton, Dickson, Fortune, Holland, Randolph, Todorov, Wagstaff, Wright, Weaver, Zhi
Of these, the only one I am expecting to be offered a new deal is Fortune. It is also possible that Wright and / or Wagstaff may be offered new terms. I am not convinced that either Holland or Randolph will be. In addition to these, the candidates to be invited to seek employment elsewhere will probably be Gray, Moutaouakil, Fleetwood, and McLeod. Sadly, we will also lose players, albeit for a transfer fee, and so a probable goodbye to at least three of Shelvey, Racon, Hudson, Bailey, and Sam.
It could be worse, we could be Norwich. As has been widely reported, they have managed to attract 18,000 season ticket holders for next season, which sounds like great news for them, but unfortunately part of the deal was that if Norwich got relegated, then they would receive 20% of their money back. According to a Norwich fan in the Rose of Denmark yesterday, the club is already asking the fans to waive their right to the refund. It has been reported that if Norwich were to pay the 20% refund back, it would tip them into administration. There is also considerable doubt as to whether Southampton are going to be able to avoid full blown liquidation.
As for talk of Peter Varney riding white knight like into the Valley, well it is just that for now.....talk. Silly season now begins, and I hope you all have a great summer, and that we all return invigorated for the new season.
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