NRC "playing hardball"

[Dante Lavelli]

According to the Mirror NRC has rejected villa's first contract offer.  The paper claiming he wants parity with Villa's other senior players.  Whilst he has been valuable this season do you think he is justified in wanting his wages doubled from £30,000 to £60,000 per week?

I'd put him around the £40k/week mark (crazy numbers but...) and then offer performance related additions.  If he decides that is not enough then I think we could replace him reasonably easily.

http://www.mirrorfootball.co.uk/news/Nigel-Reo-Coker-prepared-to-play-hardball-over-new-Aston-Villa-contract-article629227.html

[PaulWinch again]

If he wants £60,000 no thanks. I like Reo, but he isn't worth that.

[picicata]

Of course this is in the Mirror so could be bollocks, but...

No where near worth £60,000 a week, in fact barely worth the £30,000 a week he is on already. Give him a take it or leave it offer and then start looking else where if he is not interested.

[pauliewalnuts]

He's done well since coming back, but not quite well enough to double his wages.

[pablopicasso_10]

if he wants to play hardball, and thats a big 'IF'. as the story is in a horrible little nazi redtop rag like the mirror, but if he is holding out for that, then i would let him go and replace him with someone with good technical ability to go with the graft like lassana diarra for example...

if we are going to give out 60k per week, and again, its just tabloid speculation at the moment, but if we are, then i would rather see it spent on someone better than reo-coker...

[alanclare]

No way an increase! He wont get better than he's getting now wherever he goes.

[Dante Lavelli]

Agreed there is a bit of me that is amazed he has the cheek to even ask to double his wages, but then I take it all with a pinch of salt as it's only negotiation at this stage and of course is in the Mirror.

[Dribbler]

I believe he's been offered £40k a week but is after £50k, give him £45k and a pay as you score bonus (so £45k), but not a penny more. 

[Pete3206]

The way it's going, he might be hard pressed to get a first team spot next season. Now is not the time to rock the boat Mr Coker.
However, The Mirror and pinches of salt go hand in hand.

[Concrete John]

No way an increase! He wont get better than he's getting now wherever he goes.

I reckon someone would pay him around the 40k mark, whether he's worth it or not.

You can sort of see his point of view in that he's first choice now and as such feels he should be paid something similar to the other first team regulars like Gabby and Ash.  But he's much more easy to replace and he needs to remember that.

[Brend'Watkins]

We should do the same as Manu have done with Rooney, give him an improved contract for signing for another 3 years, hope he earns it by keeping up his form then sell him to the highest bidder at the start of next season.

[timeoutbigbar]

give him 40ish, i think he is probably worth that, but as others have said, no thanks at 60k, even if he is amongst the best players in the world without a football.

[MoetVillan]

£40K?  Bye

[KevinGage]

I was one of those who wanted him to feature more regularly over the past few seasons.

Perhaps not as a guaranteed first choice but as an option in a three man midfield to make it more combative.

It's only right that he and his agent get the best deal they possibly can. Factor into the equation also that a number of Prem clubs would possibly pay that if he becomes a free agent. As fans we'll automatically assume that even if he gets a lower offer from us he should stay, but he's endured a frustrating few years at the club and his next contract will probably be the most important of his career.

That said, what he'd be looking for there (if true) would be elite wages compared to others at the club and I don't think he's an elite player. If he goes, so be it. I'm pretty certain we could get better.

[PeterWithe]

The kind of wages earned by modestly talented players never fails to astonish me.