Contracts

[boooothy]

Tell you what has crept up on us, we actually have some money in our squad. At the start of the season i’d have sold the entire squad for 5 million.

Headley, Rudoni, Sorba, Helik must be worth some serious money. Problem
with that is if we don’t show some ambition they’ll be off.

[Wingman]

Scott High’s name mentioned above. Where’s he gone? Another that needs to go as he won’t make it at Town.

[turbo2]

Dec 30, 2023 18:23:47 GMT 1 overtonterrierspirit said:

Dec 30, 2023 16:35:25 GMT 1 turbo2 said:

Don’t tell me we’ve got ward for another year?

Don’t worry.
We won’t see him too often.

True. But he’s comfortably our top earner. A contract given to him by his mate.

Incredible

[richhtfc]

Dec 30, 2023 16:18:47 GMT 1 Christ in Shades (art) said:

Dec 30, 2023 15:59:17 GMT 1 htafcokay said:

Who was a better centre-half than REG.

Used to make me laugh, it was obvious that REG was garbage years ago yet people kept saying "he's a great prospect". Fuck knows what they were basing it on because aside from about two games under Warnock, he's been utterly hopeless in numerous different positions. 

And if he's a midfielder, then I'm a banana. 

Think fans used to buy in to this whole hyperbole set by Hoyle, let's sign these young lads and pass them off as great prospects when really it was Hoyle setting the narrative disguising it as some kind of progressive transfer policy and we were getting one over on the rest of The Championship when in reality we were signing average players, the fans lapped it up because Hoyle had spoken. Another one was that Justin Brown lad.

Or maybe the club and he just thought they were good at the time?

Every club in the world and the national football press do this all the time, but players don’t always fulfil their potential.

Oh hang on, it was all created by Hoyle 😂 This board is absolutely insane at times, that’s right up there with the daftest takes I’ve ever read.

[Sparrow]

Dec 30, 2023 23:08:32 GMT 1 Wingman said:

Scott High’s name mentioned above. Where’s he gone? Another that needs to go as he won’t make it at Town.

He’s on loan at Ross County….played about 30 mins in total. Don’t know if he’s had any injuries or not.

Contracted until 2025, so i’d imaging he’ll be sold in the summer

[ritchie]

Dec 30, 2023 15:49:23 GMT 1 htafcokay said:

Dec 30, 2023 13:30:42 GMT 1 Big Ern said:

Why on earth would we let Hogg go you must be mental. Our most consistent and passionate player.

Because he's 35 and we need to replace him with someone younger, fitter and better.

We might surprise ourselves and actually end up with someone better and we might actually progress on the pitch. 

Reminds me of when we used to wheel Boothy out every season, even though he could barely walk, just because it was Boothy. 

We should move on, he's been a great servant, but there's no way we should be relying as much as we do on a 35 year old.

Nowt like that. Hogg can still perform well in the championship. Just needs rotating with a prospect

Offer him a 3 year deal on half the money he is on now (3rd year a coaching wage). Gives us 2 years for the price of one to phase him out, with more room in ffp (half his wage) to pay an understudy.

Gives him security whereby he wont feel the need to leave the club.

Dont buy this "Fresh start" cull. If theyre shit/offer nothing to the club, yes. Hoggs one of our most succesful players in decades, and can still contribute on and off the pitch

Seems a long deal but we've lost a few 'club men' (schofield etc) and need to keep some behind the scenes. Especially with the new ownership/future plan. Hogg is someone who would knock on Nagle's door.. and possibly the only person at the club who knows how to get to the PL.

Im not usually one for the "give him a job he bleeds b&w" but not many Hoggs come along at any club

Give him reason to look elswere for a 2 year deal and there's high chance he ends up BHS at his new club in 2 years time.

[HuddsTerrier]

Don't need a cull - we have a good core team. Trouble is squad depth and it's imbalanced (no strikers)

I would retain Diarra (sounds unlikely) and Ayina (Lees is 33 and there's a pathway there for Ayina)

I'm on the fence with Yuta. I would like to keep him but if depends on wages and our budget. He will be a good earner and we may want to use that money elsewhere

I would also keep REG. I think he's versatile so covers a lot of options from the bench. I also think he's steady. For those old enough he reminds me of Tom Heary, he was not appreciated by the fans (me included) but I remember speaking to Jon Dyson when he was playing with him and he said he was a good pro to play with as his positional sense was bob on. You knew he'd be exactly where he was expected to be which helped with shape/ holding a defensive line etc. I guess there are things pros see that fans don't.

Hogg definite retain and as said phase into a Whitehead role

I'd give Chapman an extra year with the aim of loaning him out so he can come back ready to challenge for the first team spot. Something there though and keepers mature a little later

Aaron Rowe is probably on a decent contract and he will almost certainly leave

The other B team player probably likely to get a deal and step up is Olagunju - looked a prospect, had a 'mare with injuries but seems over that and is playing well apparently on loan. Remember this time 12 months ago Headley hadn't played for anyone other than Harrogate

I'd also like to see us extend the contracts of a few of the better first teamers and show some proper intent from Nagle that he means it when he talks about having a crack at the PL in the next 3 years

[sapphireblue]

All this talk of REG having potential or showing promise.
He is 25 years old in a fortnight.

He is the best he will ever be.

It reminds me of the former player, who was still referred to as the "promising Simon Baldey", when he left Town when he was 27 years old.

[stevvy]

Agreed. Plus at Rotherham last season he barely played, and even with 20 man matchday squads nowadays, he wouldn't be near the matchday squad if we had less injuries and more quality backups. It's only through the amount of injuries and lack of quality backup that he's anywhere near the matchday squad, let alone actually getting on the pitch

[bentley316]

Problem with letting a bunch of these not good enough players go, is that they need replacing.

Id argue other than Holmes and Rhodes everyone we released last summer wasnt good enough. But they gave us options. Let all of those go and we need to replace the gaps in the first team, gaps in the squad and the depth in the youth prospects. Youd probably be looking at 12-15 players. Thats a big churn.

Either way, if they want to stay id keep Nakayama, REG and Hogg. Even if Hogg doesnt play much next year (hopefully he doesnt) his influence on the training pitch and dressing room is worth keeping around.

[richhtfc]

I’d give Hogg a year and try keep Nakayama but let REG and Diarra go. REG isn’t championship standard imo and Diarra has had enough opportunities to shine. We need better depth in the squad. Haven’t seen enough of Chapman and Ayina to have an opinion on them, if the club are happy with them, they should be retained.

[Jello Biafra]

Others are obviously seeing something in Chapman that I’m not. He’s already 23yo and I’ve seen nothing at all in the lad to suggest that he’s ever going to be Championship quality. On that basis, he’s a wasted wage and should be released. Further more, if he’s the ‘best of the rest’ then the goalkeeping department needs a bloody good clear out.

[Baby Ate My Eight Ball]

Dec 31, 2023 10:31:29 GMT 1 bentley316 said:

Problem with letting a bunch of these not good enough players go, is that they need replacing.

Id argue other than Holmes and Rhodes everyone we released last summer wasnt good enough. But they gave us options. Let all of those go and we need to replace the gaps in the first team, gaps in the squad and the depth in the youth prospects. Youd probably be looking at 12-15 players. Thats a big churn.

Either way, if they want to stay id keep Nakayama, REG and Hogg. Even if Hogg doesnt play much next year (hopefully he doesnt) his influence on the training pitch and dressing room is worth keeping around.

You make a good point overall, yet I’d let REG go. He covers a few positions but if Nagle is serious then we should have better quality in the positions he covers for and therefore not require him.

I’d also say that with the B Team model we have, we should be giving those youngsters coming through a chance, otherwise what’s the point.

[htafcokay]

Dec 31, 2023 9:49:23 GMT 1 sapphireblue said:

All this talk of REG having potential or showing promise.
He is 25 years old in a fortnight.

He is the best he will ever be.

It reminds me of the former player, who was still referred to as the "promising Simon Baldey", when he left Town when he was 27 years old.

He's a great prospect though.

[htafcokay]

Dec 31, 2023 4:19:48 GMT 1 ritchie said:

Dec 30, 2023 15:49:23 GMT 1 htafcokay said:

Because he's 35 and we need to replace him with someone younger, fitter and better.

We might surprise ourselves and actually end up with someone better and we might actually progress on the pitch. 

Reminds me of when we used to wheel Boothy out every season, even though he could barely walk, just because it was Boothy. 

We should move on, he's been a great servant, but there's no way we should be relying as much as we do on a 35 year old.

Nowt like that. Hogg can still perform well in the championship. Just needs rotating with a prospect

Offer him a 3 year deal on half the money he is on now (3rd year a coaching wage). Gives us 2 years for the price of one to phase him out, with more room in ffp (half his wage) to pay an understudy.

Gives him security whereby he wont feel the need to leave the club.

Dont buy this "Fresh start" cull. If theyre shit/offer nothing to the club, yes. Hoggs one of our most succesful players in decades, and can still contribute on and off the pitch

Seems a long deal but we've lost a few 'club men' (schofield etc) and need to keep some behind the scenes. Especially with the new ownership/future plan. Hogg is someone who would knock on Nagle's door.. and possibly the only person at the club who knows how to get to the PL.

Im not usually one for the "give him a job he bleeds b&w" but not many Hoggs come along at any club

Give him reason to look elswere for a 2 year deal and there's high chance he ends up BHS at his new club in 2 years time.

A 3 year contract to a 35 year old? 😂

I'd rather give a 3 year contract to a younger midfielder in the same mould.

[suttystolemymarsbar]

Dec 31, 2023 12:40:18 GMT 1 Jello Biafra said:

Others are obviously seeing something in Chapman that I’m not. He’s already 23yo and I’ve seen nothing at all in the lad to suggest that he’s ever going to be Championship quality. On that basis, he’s a wasted wage and should be released. Further more, if he’s the ‘best of the rest’ then the goalkeeping department needs a bloody good clear out.

Not seen many keepers make a penalty save as good as that the other night

[Christ in Shades (art)]

This crazy talk about giving Jogg a 3 year contract or a 2 year contract is absolute madness. He's been a good servant to Town but the guy looks absolutely shot, which at 35, is no surprise. He probably knows this himself. Give him a coaching role, he might make a good manager and day.

[Wingman]

Phased player coaching contract for Hoggy. We need to be mindful a good player does not readily equal a good coach, but the passion Hoggy has for the club, you’d think he would be a decent youth coach to guide those kids from the age groups to the B team and beyond.

[Sparrow]

With Hogg it probably all depends on what he wants to do really. He came to us from Watford because he wanted to be nearer family in Middlesbrough. So the first question is how much playing time does he want. He could definitely do another season and maybe 2 playing most weeks in L1 or L2. So if he wants to play every week, i think he’ll leave.

If he’s more happy with a squad rotation role, then i can see him staying for another 2 seasons. And if he wants to go into coaching, then the second season will include some coaching with the B Team or whatever we have at that time.

[twyford]

Lots of talk of a cull being required.

Didn't we just have one in the summer window? 20+ leaving and only 4 coming in.

[htafcokay]

Dec 31, 2023 15:00:52 GMT 1 Wingman said:

Phased player coaching contract for Hoggy. We need to be mindful a good player does not readily equal a good coach, but the passion Hoggy has for the club, you’d think he would be a decent youth coach to guide those kids from the age groups to the B team and beyond.

Give him an ambassador's role if he wants it.

With the way he shouts and bawls at some of the younger players, and has done over the last few years, I don't think he'd be suited to being a youth coach in this day and age.

[Sparrow]

Dec 31, 2023 17:10:31 GMT 1 htafcokay said:

Dec 31, 2023 15:00:52 GMT 1 Wingman said:

Phased player coaching contract for Hoggy. We need to be mindful a good player does not readily equal a good coach, but the passion Hoggy has for the club, you’d think he would be a decent youth coach to guide those kids from the age groups to the B team and beyond.

Give him an ambassador's role if he wants it.

With the way he shouts and bawls at some of the younger players, and has done over the last few years, I don't think he'd be suited to being a youth coach in this day and age.

It’s a good point, but also interesting how much some players can completely change when they become a coach/manager. There’s a really interesting episode of The Overlap with Ruud Van Nistelrooy, where they discuss that (now there’s a striker!!!!!😉👍⚽️)

[ritchie]

Dec 31, 2023 13:07:32 GMT 1 htafcokay said:

Dec 31, 2023 4:19:48 GMT 1 ritchie said:

Nowt like that. Hogg can still perform well in the championship. Just needs rotating with a prospect

Offer him a 3 year deal on half the money he is on now (3rd year a coaching wage). Gives us 2 years for the price of one to phase him out, with more room in ffp (half his wage) to pay an understudy.

Gives him security whereby he wont feel the need to leave the club.

Dont buy this "Fresh start" cull. If theyre shit/offer nothing to the club, yes. Hoggs one of our most succesful players in decades, and can still contribute on and off the pitch

Seems a long deal but we've lost a few 'club men' (schofield etc) and need to keep some behind the scenes. Especially with the new ownership/future plan. Hogg is someone who would knock on Nagle's door.. and possibly the only person at the club who knows how to get to the PL.

Im not usually one for the "give him a job he bleeds b&w" but not many Hoggs come along at any club

Give him reason to look elswere for a 2 year deal and there's high chance he ends up BHS at his new club in 2 years time.

A 3 year contract to a 35 year old? 😂

I'd rather give a 3 year contract to a younger midfielder in the same mould.

Learn to read. 

[htafcokay]

Jan 1, 2024 13:03:38 GMT 1 ritchie said:

Dec 31, 2023 13:07:32 GMT 1 htafcokay said:

A 3 year contract to a 35 year old? 😂

I'd rather give a 3 year contract to a younger midfielder in the same mould.

Learn to read. 

Sod off.

[rockwall]

Jan 1, 2024 13:03:38 GMT 1 ritchie said:

Dec 31, 2023 13:07:32 GMT 1 htafcokay said:

A 3 year contract to a 35 year old? 😂

I'd rather give a 3 year contract to a younger midfielder in the same mould.

Learn to read. 

You literally said give him a 3 year contract.
Htafcokay didn't mention anything else.

[ritchie]

Jan 1, 2024 19:19:56 GMT 1 rockwall said:

Jan 1, 2024 13:03:38 GMT 1 ritchie said:

Learn to read. 

You literally said give him a 3 year contract.
Htafcokay didn't mention anything else.

Yes, but it's not all I said. So it was a pretty inane response that didnt take the rest of my post into account.
I literally put forward a scenario involving a younger midfielder coming in, and how that could work

Obviously im not privvy to wages, what hogg wants etc, so its just a hypothetical for discussion
2 years on half wages = same as 1 year extension. Not a ridiculous thought - the benefit of spreading over more time would be ffp.
1 year coaching wage = him being 35 is irrelevant.

Do I hope/expect to see him starting games for us for 3 years? No
Could we offer him a package thats an incentive (reward?) to stick around/transition to behind the scenes? Yes, i think that would be a good idea given our current lack of identity, extremely young squad, and dearth of club men about the place. 

If he starts half the games next season, then the following transitions from starting to more bench/coaching, I dont think it's ridiculous. The third year means very little in this discussion other than offering him a pathway to staying here after he's done playing. (of course, that's if he even wants to)