I’ll have to take a look at the video again then. I accept that the words out of his mouth weren’t that we had to sell to survive, but that was my interpretation.
If we didn’t have to sell, then I am even more disappointed with the unforced decision to weaken our prospects of achieving the Chairman’s stated aim for the season.
The first thing I would do is bring in an man of experience of all aspects of the game to run the football side of the business. I would have the person in charge of the Academy and the first team coach reporting to him and one of his tasks would be to ensure there is smooth transmission between youth level and first team level. The “Crewe” model if you like and if players of real quality (like Rico) come along I would make sure the club’s interest was protected by longer contracts but those type of players are not the norm so I would do as we currently do with the rest offer either 2 year or 1 year rollover contracts. We won’t always get it right but if we use Adebayo as an example there is no way I would have offered him a 3 year deal.
Another one of your blinkered, self righteous posts 
I suppose you are an expert in running successful businesses
He’s a magician don’t you know 
shame one of his best tricks isn’t a vanishing act.
1 Like
So not much different to what I was proposing then. Rollover contracts are longer term contracts by another name.
I’m not sure about the academy, maybe, maybe not. There are other models which can be successful such as picking up released youngsters from bigger clubs / good non league prospects. But yes, a DOF in either case.
This isn’t about Adebayo per se, it is about the club’s strategy.
I don’t see the imminent end to a contract as a need to sell. It may well be a reason, but only if you value such money above the stated aim of the Chairman, that being promotion.
To seriously undermine the prospects of achieving the aim if you didn’t need to sell, by replacing the players with unproven loanees, sends out a worrying message.
I agree there are issues with clubs like Walsall running academies but I think we should continue with it for the greater social good of giving youngsters some experience of playing the game in controlled environments as well as giving the youngsters an interest to pursue in their teenage years.
My grandson was in the academy for a couple of years and then went to another club.He is a useful footballer but not of League standard and he benefitted greatly from his time in academy football. He has made some good friends and it helped his development generally. So even if we only find a few players of League standard I think the benefit to the community is worth having anyway.
2 Likes
Well if the players want to go then what choice does the club have? I agree with you about the replacements but sometimes players are simply not available in the time available. As it happens I think Melbourne is a decent player.
I accept that the players wanted to go, but that’s a slightly different argument. Both players would likely have had plenty of offers in the summer so it was never a question of being tied to this club for much longer. Had we not let them go, I appreciate the issue of their motivation to the cause etc. might be in question.
I agree with you with regard to Melbourne, he seems fine, but that arguably isn’t the critical replacement position. He was deemed to be worthy of an instant starting place in the team, whereas Yaw was not. I’m not having a pop at Yaw either, but the striking role was the position that had to be filled properly.
I’m going away from my original point now and so if I’m wrong about my interpretation of why the players were sold then fair enough and hopefully our finances aren’t as dire as I believed from listening to the Chairman.
1 Like
When discussing the length of contract that should or shouldn’t be offered to young developing players, just ask yourselves how many Pattersons are there for every Adebayo?
If you tie them all into three year (or longer) deals just in case they become very attractive prospects (Adebayo), how many sit taking a much needed wage because they haven’t fulfilled their potential (Patterson)?
1 Like
Are you talking about Jamie Paterson?
Do you really mean Patterson? He fulfilled his potential as far as I am concerned.
1 Like
Re academy.
I don’t think having an ‘old’ academy now would be a good option. There are bigger clubs around with better setup to do it, so finding good players now would be very costly. But academy as some bridge to the local community, a place for kids to spend some time doing PE, could be good. It helps to inflate, even a little, fanbase. But second thing, some development squad. Every season clubs around normally release a handful of players they don’t see as good enough. Could be said every year they release the next Mantoms and Sawyers. Scouting such players, helping them train well and later selling them is a very good option to acquire some funds for later. Possible rent could be meaningless then. And of course the first squad will benefit too. It means seasons with no relegation threat, another round or two in cups, maybe some tasty draw. For me that’s the most concerning thing, when I read about JB. Not rent, but not even trying to explore all possible football options. It looks like the venue will be going, have directors responsible for running it, but football? It’s more like a problem, not theoretically the main part of the football club. Yeah, that’s the Walsall way probably. Not liking it too much, but it is what it is it seems.
And on the margin, offering longer contracts has some risk sewn inside. Position of the club would be better in any transfer negotiation, but there always could be next James Baxendale. Probably that’s why there are clauses in contracts, not to be committed to a not so good option. But first, you need to have such players in or around the team.
1 Like
Paterson was brilliant for us, and we sold him for good money, and I don’t think there’s been a time since when we wouldn’t have been a better team for still having him here.
1 Like
Can’t mean Jamie Paterson surely?
You couldn’t run a bath mate, from what I read of your Post.
So predictable
Always a pleasure👍
I think you got Patterson mixed up with someone else but yes, no Club at our level and probably any level, would hand out 3 year deals as was suggested.
Shows a total lack of common sense and basic understanding to make such a suggestion.
I agree with those that Dutton should be replaced now before the rot really sets in.
I don’t think LP will have the courage to do it as BD was his “lets go with the cheapest option” when DC left.
We need to bring in someone to steady the ship until the end of the season. I’m sorry, but Dutton is not that man. Whatever he’s doing is not working, tinkering with formations, players out of their natural positions and looking confused. We’re not even getting the basics right, controls the ball, find a team mate and pass the ball accurately. When you don’t have that down you can see why we’re in trouble.
Our passing accuracy and crossing was shocking yesterday, I was shacking my head on how inept we were.
I don’t what has happened to Josh, he not the same player before he was injured. Lavery is just useless, contributes nothing and Wes has just totally lost form, if he would use his pace and power instead of trying to beat everyone on the pitch, he would be much more effective. I propose we drop Wes, Lavery and Gordon. Put Wright on the left flank with Osei and Reid up top and Holden (when he returns) in the number 10 role. I might even consider Wright as a striker. I know Reid hasn’t played yet but he’s got to be better than Lavery or Gordon are currently offering, it surely wouldn’t hurt to try.
Come on LP, the time has come to grow a pair and make the change now!