Hi all, sorry for being bone idle, but has anyone got a breakdown of our first team squad's contract end dates? I bought into the strategy, and even though I don't always agree with it, I accept how it works. So although I was delighted we kept Helik and Styles, arguably our prize assets, I realise that next window or summer one or both will be off. Do you think we will tie them down to new contracts in order to maintain the value? Because the downside of keeping hold is that their value will diminish the further into their contract they get. I'd like to hit that sweet spot as fans where we are neither moaning that we let them go for the first big offer, nor moaning that we only got £1m cos they only had 6 months left. Our crown jewels, IN MY OPINION in order of value: Helik Styles Andersen Collins Benson (now or future) Morris Woodrow (?) New guys (unknown!!) Then potentially, as they develop: Palmer (if he can improve stamina and stay on his feet) Kitching Benson (would love to keep him long-term - already a favourite) Kane, when he comes back with game time under his belt Sibbick (?) New guys (unknown!!) Would love to know their contract situation in order to gauge direction of value.
Frieser (+1), Halme (+1), Williams B, Palmer, Adeboyejo, Miller, Wolfe, Helliwell, Thompson 2022. Woodrow, Andersen (+1), Styles (+1), Collins (+1), Helik, Williams J (+1), Brittain (+1), Walton, Sibbick (+1), Thomas, Oduor, Morris (+1), Schmidt (+1), Moon, Marsh, Christie-Davies (+1), Aitchison 2023. Cole, Kane, Oulare, 2024 Kitching, Benson, Iseka 2025 +1 refers to players where the club have the option to extend for a year.
Frieser, Halme, Ben Williams and Romal Palmer all run out this summer. A lot like Woodrow, Styles, Morris, Andersen, Collins, Helik, Sibbick and Brittain are year after.
So thanks to the year in our favour with Fridge, we only have to worry about Romaldinho because the rest have been here long enough and not established themselves as first team regulars or in some cases even regularly on the bench. Next season looks a pain in the arse. Even with +1 for Andersen, Styles, Collins, Brittain, Sibbick and Morris, we could lose Woodrow, Helik and Walton for nothing.
Checking I've understood this right. In the 2023 'row' their contracts expire in the Summer of 2023 but we have the option in our favour to extend by 12 months? So Helik, for example, is essentially contracted until the Summer of 2024? Is there a reason some of the names are bunched together?
Helik doesn't have the option, so contracted to Summer 2023. Others, if we take up the option, would be to 2024 yes. But at this stage I'd think it unlikely we'd extend say Schmidts or Christie-Davies' contracts. Think the order was sorted on contracts and then by appearances by starts.
Helik is contracted till 2023, and the club do not have an extra year option. Styles and Andersen do have the option so effectively have 2 years after this season.
So this is where we're at contracts wise? 2022: Halme, B Williams, Palmer, Vic, Miller, Wolfe, Helliwell, Thompson 2022 +1: Frieser, Halme 2023: Woodrow, Helik, Walton, Thomas, Oduor, Moon, Marsh, Aitchison 2023 +1: Madds, Styles, Collins, J Williams, Sibbick, Morris, Schmidt, Christie-Davies 2024: Cole, Kane, Oulare 2025: Kitching, Benson, Iseka
At least its a lot more spread out. And we can at least when some move on or are sold, not have to replace an entire squad. It's taken a while to get this, and hopefully going forwards we can have some control of selling/replacing when we want
I wasn't disputing the list or saying you were wrong. It just wasn't as clear with how it was laid out, which is why I was asking you to explain it. Which you did. Which led to a much easier to read list of our contract situation
Much stronger position to be in definitely. Helik is the worry. He might be worth anything between £6 and £8 million if we sold him last week, but he won't be worth that with 12 months left on his deal. Not everybody throws Real Madrid money around. I'd be trying to negotiate a pay rise and an additional year with the reality we then sell him in the Summer anyway. Paying him an extra c. £200k now would be more than worth it in the long run and reward him for his stellar performances. Palmer is obviously another one that could walk in nine months too.
Always think about your audience. A man of your intelligence should know that I had to ask you to clarify so obviously wasn't crystal clear.
Thing is, who is going to pay £6-8m for Helik? This is the problem we have in the new world where finances start to bite. In the old world, if we fought our corner, we should be getting £5m+ for an international defender in their mid twenties with 18m on their contract. If we sold to the championship, and we'd have a fair few clubs interested and able. But there are very few clubs who can afford that now, or are willing to spend that money. I can see a world where contracts run out and free agents are more attractive. It's then financial muscle on wages and we're likely going to lose most of those tussles. Certainly challenging times ahead, unless we can convert one or two players into really good talents that may attract some PL interest. We might already have that, we might not, we'll just have to see.
