Contracts

Good issue to have, being concerned that we'll lose our talent rather than frustratingly asking when the f**k are we free of Morgan, Blizzard, etc? Only got one of those types, maybe two, left at the club for me. The rest I'm delighted to have.

Interesting - can I ask who they are? Assuming one is Smalley but no idea who the second of that list is..

Paven wrote:

Interesting - can I ask who they are? Assuming one is Smalley but no idea who the second of that list is..

There's a surprise. Who knows, maybe it's Ben and Tyler-not looking good for them ATM.

Greenskin wrote:

Paven wrote:

Interesting - can I ask who they are? Assuming one is Smalley but no idea who the second of that list is..

There's a surprise. Who knows, maybe it's Ben and Tyler-not looking good for them ATM.

They both aren't good enough currently and need loaning out to develop, IMO.

Greenskin wrote:

Paven wrote:

Interesting - can I ask who they are? Assuming one is Smalley but no idea who the second of that list is..

There's a surprise. Who knows, maybe it's Ben and Tyler-not looking good for them ATM.

You sound as though you're absolutely thrilled about it.

It is only one person's opinion  You lot are making out it is a matter of fact, or that Derek Adams himself has identified two weak links he doesn't want.

I wouldn't bet against Smalley making a good impression either. Where the commonly shared view that he and Brunt are crap players comes from really baffles me.

GreenSam wrote:

Greenskin wrote:

Paven wrote:

Interesting - can I ask who they are? Assuming one is Smalley but no idea who the second of that list is..

There's a surprise. Who knows, maybe it's Ben and Tyler-not looking good for them ATM.

You sound as though you're absolutely thrilled about it.

Who, me?

ejh wrote:

It is only one person's opinion  You lot are making out it is a matter of fact, or that Derek Adams himself has identified two weak links he doesn't want.

I wouldn't bet against Smalley making a good impression either. Where the commonly shared view that he and Brunt are crap players comes from really baffles me.

I don't think people have necessarily said, (or think) they are 'crap'. As far as Smalley goes, he's been a crock, so there is little to judge him on apart from his pretty modest efforts previously in his career.

ejh wrote:

Angry wrote:

The option could be activated to bump up the price so I guess there is that plus. But you are right basically .

Like with Hourihane? Turning down the initial bid of £100k, before haggling a Plymouth price of £200k to buy out the year on his contract.

Meanwhile Exeter negotiate £2m for Matt Grimes.

Hourihane was out of contract that season and had no option to extend. Argyle folded in with £100,000 and could have asked for a bitmore and in hindsight should have given the impact he has had at Barnsley.

Hence why leaving it to the last minute with key players with a year left on current contracts to negotiate new ones as come jan we could be in a big mess.

Paven wrote:

Interesting - can I ask who they are? Assuming one is Smalley but no idea who the second of that list is..

Correct with Smalley, the other is Bittner. I say maybe with him though as he's at least more coaching focused now than playing potential, he's a pointless part of the squad but perhaps a valuable member of the staff - I don't know, I'm not privy to the training ground. He's a false number on our squad size as his prospects of playing should be nil.

Yes but he's only there to fill the gap in a game should Luke get sent off or injured. Can a club like Argyle really afford to have 2 proper 'keepers no matter how desirable it might be to have them?

Even Wycombe last year ended up playing a teenager in the play-offs so they didn't have a proper back-up goalie.

If you look at Bittner as gaining a coach as opposed to losing a 1st teamer (which he clearly isn't) then it's a pretty good deal. In the olden days as outfielder used to have to go in goal and I remember Steve Castle, Nicky Marker and Gordon Nisbet donning the gloves for us... I wonder who would do that in the current squad?  Is that a better solution?

The Bittner thing isn't great but it's far from something to get stressed about.

My opinion is that Luke would benefit from an understudy, someone to learn off him, but also push him. As he did with Romain. No one fancy, but while our own keeper youth products aren't ready then why not raid the market of discarded Prem academy kids, just as we did with Luke once upon a time. While that kid might not turn out to be any good, at least there's an unknown potential for them to become brilliant. Whereas with Bittner, as a player, we know he's not good enough and we know he's not going to improve given his age. It's short sighted imo.

Tbh i think ruebin & luke are getting to comfortable in the side and not getting pushed enough for there places ruebins lazy performances at times lukes been playing quite well shot stopping but if you noticed his kicking and ball distrbution has not been up to much lately