I really don't see the need for any big clearout based on wage levels, assuming they are now at manageable levels. Our income will also increase significantly next season assuming we stay up. I can see the point of getting rid of players whom Lambert has made plain he doesn't really want to use - Hutton, Warnock, Makoun, and possibly Delfounso. Maybe even Dunne. But we need a squad, and shipping out players with the ability and experience of Bent. Ireland, N'Zogbia, and Given who have all featured under Lambert, for wage reasons doesn't make much sense. It really could come back to bite us on the arse when injuries, suspensions, fatigue and loss of form start to bite in the second half of the season.
Quote from: ktvillan on December 19, 2012, 04:47:07 PMI really don't see the need for any big clearout based on wage levels, assuming they are now at manageable levels. Our income will also increase significantly next season assuming we stay up. I can see the point of getting rid of players whom Lambert has made plain he doesn't really want to use - Hutton, Warnock, Makoun, and possibly Delfounso. Maybe even Dunne. But we need a squad, and shipping out players with the ability and experience of Bent. Ireland, N'Zogbia, and Given who have all featured under Lambert, for wage reasons doesn't make much sense. It really could come back to bite us on the arse when injuries, suspensions, fatigue and loss of form start to bite in the second half of the season. The need is because a lot of these players are a total waste of money. I'm not suggesting we run a 20 man threadbare squad, just sell some to cut the wage bill and re-invest in a mix of experience and youth at reduced cost.And I am not referring to Petrov in any sense' he should be given a coaching role working with McGrath on bringing the best out of the squad talent.
No one is saying sell N'Zog, Bent, Ireland etc without bringing in replacements, just that if they're no longer starters we ought to be able to replace them with players of similar quality on less money. We may still get circa £25 mill for those 3, look what Lambert did with £20mill last summer, I'm sure he could improve us immensely and would bring in 4/5 players of the quality of Westwood, Lowton, Benteke, Vlaar etc.