There's nothing wrong with them - I'd hazard a guess that they will indeed be the first choice pair. But the hunt for better back-up players will continue.
Just out of interest where did I suggest it was real life? In real life I still believe him to be a useful squad player, particularly as we don't have anything better at the current time. You don't have to be so incredibly cynical all the time.
Also what is with the panic HB1, its not even June yet and your writing us off in our search for defensive players? At least give it until after the world cup before you starting ****ing all over our recruitment policy.
I’m not cynical on the whole but I just don’t understand the drawing of analogies between FM and the real world, that’s all. Very nice that he has performed well for you on screen but it’s totally irrelevant to whether we should give him another year. If it was tongue in cheek, fair enough.
Ok, well if you think 8 central defenders are not enough, then I think you’re the only one. Extending contracts of players who should be on their way out is not a good sign. We may get a left wing back, but he’s going to have to be cheap. It seems clear to me, that we’re not spending on the defence. I also remember SD being quoted as saying we’re not looking at doing much with the defence.
What a massive let down it is to retain certain players. We will be relegated with this shower of *hit.
Nope, making the sensible business decision to take up a years extension option on a perfectly decent squad player we would have otherwise lost for free is a sign that we're doomed. It also somehow proves that we are not going to sign any defenders this summer whatsoever and that we will be relegated. The fact that the transfer window hasn't even opened yet and that hundreds of players are currently preparing to take part in the World Cup is irrelevant.
Hopefully the piece of polyester that the players run around in for 90 minutes every week will be up to your standards this season though so you can at least make it beyond January before swearing off your support of the team this time around.
I must be wearing my pedant hat tonight... The transfer window opened on the 17th of May for domestic transfers, that's how we signed Wilmot from Stevenage.
Mason will probably have a decent career, I think the reasoning behind him going is Lewis Gordon has come on so well Britos staying is frightening. He's a waste of a squad place
Dear God, it's even worse than I imagined. Time to start building a squad capable of Championship survival in 19/20.
I like Britos and think he's a decent squad option. He's our best defender against big, less mobile centre forwards where he doesn't get bullied like Kabasele and Cathcart can on occasion. His lack of pace can be exploited out wide and he probably shouldn't start against quick, tricky forwards but the overreaction from the Liverpool game was ridiculous. It was Gracia's fault for leaving him exposed against the form player in the world at that time, particularly in his first game back after a few months out.
Surely the retained list is little more than a case of maintaining their value in the transfer market? If so, I am not sure what the fuss is. Britos can still be sold, can't he?
Realistically how much is a 33 year old, injury prone, card prone, underperforming centre back really going to be worth?
Exactly. He has no value. You don’t give someone like this a one year extension because you think you can sell him. You do it because you plan to use him in the squad for the coming season.
Britos to Udinese then. Mason and Rowan being released is understandable. Both didn't do much (or anything) out on loan and have been overtaken by other U23 players in their positions.
You'd have to do what Quique did and prioritise defensive shape over everything else and have eight outfield players whose first priority is to be in the right position when the opposition have the ball. If the shape of the midfield and defence is right, it limits the exposure of weaker individuals. The last two seasons, defensive shape hasn't been a priority for our coaches and we've conceded a bucket load. I think we might see a return to a Quique style, with limited ability players being given very strict instructions about where they should be at all times. Someone like Britos can do ok in those circumstances. Holebas is a lost cause though, he's incapable of concentrating or holding his position.
Kabesele, Cathcart, better than decent. Britos and Prodl, hugely experienced and will provide back up and will help the younger players like Wilmot. Mariappa ok as 5th choice. 3 of these are current international defenders and if they can stay injury free I’m not sure it’s as bad as everybody says.
Reckon we kept him to send to Udinese on loan, they'll pay his wages and he'll probably do alright. Fingers crossed i'm right anyway...
Why didn’t Udinese just take him outright then as they did with Behrami? Not gonna throw the baby out with the bath water on our recruitment just yet but this is a worrying sign. Whilst appreciating people saying it’s better to keep Holebas and Britos here just in case we can’t replace them - we have a whole summer ahead of us and if our recruitment team can’t find better than them with the resources we have, then they should be replaced too. We should be confident enough in our recruitment plans that we should be letting Britos and Holebas go, not handing them contract extensions. It’s a concerning indication that they are happy with the defenders at the club and plan no decent investment there once again.
If there's one thing I've learnt over the past few years about The Pozzo era, is that no matter who we hand out new contracts to, it has absolutely no bearing on their squad status.
Agree Kabasele and Cathcart are decent first teamers. Unfortunately both are injury prone and the remainder are: 2 players who are constantly injured 2 players who have deteriorated with age and injury that they are now a liability. 1 player who is not premier league standard but tries hard 1 exciting prospect. We’d be in serious trouble with this centre back unit in my view.
I could be bang out of order here, and I expect a lot of abuse for this (well more than usual), but I'm seeing some red flags at the moment with Watford. It's almost as if we are having some financial concerns. Ok, before anyone thinks this is a veiled attack on Gino, it's not. I trust the owner and the people running this club implicitly, but I think when concerns arise, views should be aired. Firstly, there was supposed to be some work on the stadium this summer, that has taken a back seat. The renewed contracts of players we all know should be moving on is another indicator. Now, again, I do expect us to sign Deulofeu and a striker, but I also believe the likes of Richarlison, Doucoure and Gray will be sold, which will give us plenty in the bank. The lack of investment in defence is a big surprise to me and it can only really be about money. Britos, Holebas, Prodl were all signed when we got promoted. They did a job but were really the sort of players that bridge the gap from Championship to Premier League. They cost virtually nothing to sign. Britos and Prodl were free transfer and Holebas was around £1.8m. It was understandable back then we wanted to furnish the side with cheap options, but this is now going to be our fourth season and we're still going to rely on the same players. Have they really shown they are good enough? Maybe in their first season they were, but it's clear they are all on the decline. Prodl is 31 this month and was given a 4 year extension, Holebas is 34 this month and was given a 2 year extension and Britos is 33 next month and is given an extra year. It's an aging defence, that is only going to get worse. I really don't understand the logic behind these decisions, but it can only be for financial and not footballing reasons.
It may have been the cheaper option (he may have demanded more money than Udinese were willing to pay for a 1-2 year deal so exercising the 1 year deal was more financially viable). But seems unlikely. I don't know what to expect anymore.
I can't wait for the response by many on here when Kaboul is given a new and improved three year contract next week. David Busst is also on the verge of signing now his leg is a mere two years from possible full use.
Kaboul is contracted until 30/06/19 so nothing will probably happen with him this year. The fact he's on the retain list tells me he's staying.
Glad to see Britos get an extension, by far our best centre back and a guaranteed starter. Also stops rival teams from taking him. Well done Pozzo!
I totally agree with you here. The signals that are being sent out hint at this. This is genuinely not meant as another 'Malteser criticises Gracia' post, but I can't imagine he's on a massive salary either.
I don't see why you should get any abuse. I think the accounts show we're not as rich as people presume. There's lots coming in but heaps going straight back out the door as well just to enable us to tread water at this level. Plus the debt to Gino keeps rising. I'm not sure you can easily attribute what look to be poor footballing decisions to financial concerns. We were high net spenders last summer and I expect us to be again this summer. The problem is the people being signed are very hit and miss. And arguably if you had financial issues it's hardly a great idea to renew contracts of bit part players like Britos or award 2 year PL wage contracts to 33 year old full backs...plus continually having players around the place who don't make the grade for the 25 man PL squad and end up being paid to do nothing for months on end. I'm also not sure where 'there was supposed to be some work on the stadium this summer' comes from. There is work going on at the stadium this summer, as for the second year in a row the club are making adaptations for disabled supporters. As I understand it, it's not minor work. If you mean a new stand or ground expansion then I don't think the club have ever given a date or specific commitment for that. It's disappointing nothing has happened since promotion, especially as the waiting list seems to suggest the demand is there if the club can provide quality seats rather than singles hanging off the end of stands. But it's hardly like we're Chelsea, throwing a whole set plan in the bin because the sums no longer add up. I'd end by saying it's clearly too early to work out if we're going to 'rely on the same players' in defence for another season. I'd hold that thought until the closing days for the transfer window really.
Of course, I should imagine Gracia will be on a relatively low salary. There's not a problem with going to the shops with your coupons trying to get a bargain or two, but it has to be a mix. You need to occasionally go to John Lewis to get something nice. The message the club are sending out......so far.....is that we are having some financial issues. Again, I could be completely wrong, but this is how I'm reading the current situation.
