NRC, Pires and Carew amongst Ten Players Released

[gervilla]

a player who wasn't offered a deal at a club and now has to look elsewhere with no guarantee of employment.

Yes of course I must have missed him down the Job Club yesterday, maybe he was signing on or finding out about free school meals.

The poor fucker. Should we have a whip around ?

[supertom]

Very surprised about Coker. One of the few to have had a decent season. He never lacks effort and his energy in midfield always helps us. We generally look less solid when he's not playing. However, he's getting paid too much as is, and his apparent demands are unrealistic.

Positively we're finally shedding some dead wood, as should have happen in the last couple of years. It's a shame a few more aren't being released.

If we can sell a few more, like Dunne, Warnock and Ireland in particular, then I'll be pleased. Ash Young has to leave. He wants out, so sell him for as much as we can and re-invest.

The key now, is who we bring in. We're incredibly light on numbers. I really hope that the likes of Gardner, Bannan,,Delph, Clark, Wee-man, Fonzie and Albrighton play more of a part next season.

[Dave]

Positively we're finally shedding some dead wood, as should have happen in the last couple of years. It's a shame a few more aren't being released.

Is there anybody else other than Friedel?

[Mortimer4England]

Reo-Coker - Workmanlike but no better. No really upset at him going. Will do a good job for somebody like QPR
Carew - Brilliant at his best, and funnily enough the one from the ten who I will miss
Pires - Saw flashes of what he was, but sadly well past his best for us. Will be class for Villa Old Stars!
Salifou - I saw he against Doncaster, he looked ok, will go off to the french 2nd Division or something
Osborne - Walsall??
Dont know enough about the younger players tbh, but I would not be surprised if the League 1 and 2 clubs snap some of the them up. For the others there is always Kiddy Harriers!

Overall, the squad has not been weakened and the wage bill trimmed while the hunt for new blood goes on over summer

Need to dispose of Warnock, Beye, Heskey and Ireland now too and work on keeping Downing

[supertom]

Positively we're finally shedding some dead wood, as should have happen in the last couple of years. It's a shame a few more aren't being released.

Is there anybody else other than Friedel?

Well, it's a shame 3-4 more aren't out of contract I mean. As for Brad, I'd give him one more year. He hasnt been as good this season as previous, because he's had the red sea in front of him, but he's saved our bacon enough times regardless.

[TimTheVillain]

Fuck off Pires.

Now I've said it !

[SoccerHQ]

Nor does it sound like we wanted to keep him. Since he's left for nothing.

I still don't think Houllier wanted him, which is the bottom line, and that's a disgrace given the effort he's put in this season, and how good he was in the last few months.

I really can't believe I'm reading this.

Houllier played NRC for most of the games he was fit for bar being left out a couple of times round February.

I really don't understand why you blame Houllier for this when our previous manager should be getting the blame, for falling out with him and letting him warm the bench and then not bothering to sell him so he went into the last 12 months of his deal still here.

In any case, decent player but I actually think if both can get good pre seasons then between them Makoun and Delph will comfortably replace him next season.

[john2710]

I can't see why people are concerned about NRC leaving. He didn't play under O'Neil because he wasn't good enough to get in the team ahead of Barry, Milner or Petrov. He got in the team under GH because after Milner left we had nobody better, except Delph & he was injured. Does anyone seriously believe he was worth what he was earning never mind giving him more. He will be very to replace.

I am more concerned about replacing those first team players who need replacing (Friedel, Petrov, L Young, Collins, Heskey, Warnock) or those who want out (A Young & Downing?).

It will be a very busy 3 months, one way or another.

[gti2win]

Not read all the thread, but with players mentioned, players already left, ash and ireland probably off, presumably are we are making large in roads into reducing the wage bill ?

[hawkeye]

Yes that footballing God Steve Sidwell kept NRC out of the team under MON

[Greg N'Ash]

Anyone heard these rumours NRC is going to Man U?

[Dave]

Anyone heard these rumours NRC is going to Man U?

I've said it before, but I wouldn't be at all surprised to see a 'bigger' team than us come in for him.

The fact that he doesn't have a transfer fee is going to make him a lot more attractive. There's no way that Chelsea and Man Utd would have paid money for Sidwell or Owen for example.

£35k a week isn't going to matter a jot to the likes of Man Utd if they can pay the likes of Brown and O'Shea double that and Nige can captain their Carling Cup team.

[Greg N'Ash]

right. the rumour seems to be doing the rounds but i can't seem to track down anything on the web. Must be a wind-up........

[garyfouroaks]

Anyone heard these rumours NRC is going to Man U?

QPR, Fulham or Reading (if promoted) far more likley.

[Eigentor]

Maybe he's agent is getting a little desperate trying to stoke up interest.