Alex Pearce

[Terminal Boardom]

I think the most frustrating thing about all of this is that, whatever the decisions behind leaving out Pearce for periods of this season, we have toyed around with all manner of different CB's which has been at a great cost performance and results wise. With Pearce now back in it has stabilised things somewhat, but to lose him potentially in Jan will see us back to square one with new signings potentially having to fill the void and learn a CB partnership very quickly. I have a bad feeling that Morrison may be out for a good few months too.

I agree that the most frustrating aspect of this is the fact that if he had been playing from the start of the season we would have had far more points, which could ultimatly cost us relegation!
The man clearly loves the club, anyone that saw his reaction after the west ham game will agree and I feel that the club needs to do everything it can to keep him as he will be one of the players that stays with us through relegation!

Morro isn't too far away, he came out to do a 'warm down' after the west ham game and was sprinting the full length of the pitch, I could even see him starting at the weekend!

Bit speculative at best to say we would have gathered more points had Pearce played all season. As for Morrison, I would be surprised to see him start at the weekend. More sensible would be to have him on the bench and give him 20-25 towards the end - depending on the state of the game. In all seriousness, the Baggies game is far more important in the grand scheme of things than the Cup tie at Crawley.

[Harpers So Solid Crew]

The club's wage bill in 2006/07 was £28.1M, meaning that if you split that evenly (which obviously it wasn't but still...) amongst a squad of 25 you'd get £1.12m a player per year. That's 20k a week give or take.

Obviously the individual wages are going to be all over the place, no way Cox was earning what Doyle/Kitson was on, but some in that team had to be making over £30k.

With that in mind again it's not the least bit surprising that Brian/Hammond would give their first choice keeper such a contract 5 years later.

that's if all the salaries went on the players. no wonder we ended up relegated the following if we did not say coppell or the restmof the staff anything.

[Cypry]

I think the most frustrating thing about all of this is that, whatever the decisions behind leaving out Pearce for periods of this season, we have toyed around with all manner of different CB's which has been at a great cost performance and results wise. With Pearce now back in it has stabilised things somewhat, but to lose him potentially in Jan will see us back to square one with new signings potentially having to fill the void and learn a CB partnership very quickly. I have a bad feeling that Morrison may be out for a good few months too.

I agree that the most frustrating aspect of this is the fact that if he had been playing from the start of the season we would have had far more points, which could ultimatly cost us relegation!
The man clearly loves the club, anyone that saw his reaction after the west ham game will agree and I feel that the club needs to do everything it can to keep him as he will be one of the players that stays with us through relegation!

Morro isn't too far away, he came out to do a 'warm down' after the west ham game and was sprinting the full length of the pitch, I could even see him starting at the weekend!

He started the first four games, with Gorkks, after which we'd accrued the princely sum of 1 point....

After that McD gave the Mariappa/Gorkks pairing a try in the QPR cup game (which we won), then stuck with that until the Arsenal cup game where he introduced Morisson (to much acclaim from many on here)....

I'd suggest our recent improved defensive performances have had as much to do with the return of Kebe and Harte to the side, as with the rerun of Pearce - for a number of games we were getting torn apart down our right hand side - the fantastic defensive effort that Kebe has been putting in seems to have gone a long way to fixing this problem....

[royal67]

I'd suggest our recent improved defensive performances have had as much to do with the return of Kebe and Harte to the side, as with the rerun of Pearce - for a number of games we were getting torn apart down our right hand side - the fantastic defensive effort that Kebe has been putting in seems to have gone a long way to fixing this problem....

Great post Cypry...... While the return of Peace has been welcome he hasn't been faultless and certainly cost us a goal against Spurs. Our 'new' formation and the work ethic of Kebe I think are the biggest contributions to our new found defensive performances.....

[LoyalRoyal22]

I think he is worth between 15-20k a week

If he wants more than that we should take some money for him in this window

[cmonurz]

I'd suggest our recent improved defensive performances have had as much to do with the return of Kebe and Harte to the side, as with the rerun of Pearce - for a number of games we were getting torn apart down our right hand side - the fantastic defensive effort that Kebe has been putting in seems to have gone a long way to fixing this problem....

Great post Cypry...... While the return of Peace has been welcome he hasn't been faultless and certainly cost us a goal against Spurs. Our 'new' formation and the work ethic of Kebe I think are the biggest contributions to our new found defensive performances.....

Bit ridiculous imho to say that Pearce's contribution to the defence is worth less than Kebe's.

[Cypry]

I'd suggest our recent improved defensive performances have had as much to do with the return of Kebe and Harte to the side, as with the rerun of Pearce - for a number of games we were getting torn apart down our right hand side - the fantastic defensive effort that Kebe has been putting in seems to have gone a long way to fixing this problem....

Great post Cypry...... While the return of Peace has been welcome he hasn't been faultless and certainly cost us a goal against Spurs. Our 'new' formation and the work ethic of Kebe I think are the biggest contributions to our new found defensive performances.....

Bit ridiculous imho to say that Pearce's contribution to the defence is worth less than Kebe's.

Why?

Prior to the return of Kebe our CB pairing (whoever they were) were having to deal with vast numbers of dangerous crosses into the box from our right hand side, as was pointed out in numerous match and BftG threads on here - Cummings and Gunter both looked a liability, and HRK / McCleary / Jobi seemed unable/unwilling to provide the support necessary to stop that danger. Since Kebe has returned, we've looked a lot more solid on the right, far fewer crosses have been coming in resulting in far fewer gilt edged chances for our opponents - yes, Spurs had a lot of shots on Tuesday, but the vast majority of those were speculative efforts from outside the box, much, much easier for the CB pairing to deal with....

[melonhead]

I'd suggest our recent improved defensive performances have had as much to do with the return of Kebe and Harte to the side, as with the rerun of Pearce - for a number of games we were getting torn apart down our right hand side - the fantastic defensive effort that Kebe has been putting in seems to have gone a long way to fixing this problem....

Great post Cypry...... While the return of Peace has been welcome he hasn't been faultless and certainly cost us a goal against Spurs. Our 'new' formation and the work ethic of Kebe I think are the biggest contributions to our new found defensive performances.....

Bit ridiculous imho to say that Pearce's contribution to the defence is worth less than Kebe's.

impossible to say really, since our defensive tightening has coincided with so many changes, in tactics, personell, formation etc
but i dont think its too outlandish to say the other changes have been as/more important

[Ian Royal]

I think the most frustrating thing about all of this is that, whatever the decisions behind leaving out Pearce for periods of this season, we have toyed around with all manner of different CB's which has been at a great cost performance and results wise. With Pearce now back in it has stabilised things somewhat, but to lose him potentially in Jan will see us back to square one with new signings potentially having to fill the void and learn a CB partnership very quickly. I have a bad feeling that Morrison may be out for a good few months too.

I agree that the most frustrating aspect of this is the fact that if he had been playing from the start of the season we would have had far more points, which could ultimatly cost us relegation!
The man clearly loves the club, anyone that saw his reaction after the west ham game will agree and I feel that the club needs to do everything it can to keep him as he will be one of the players that stays with us through relegation!

Morro isn't too far away, he came out to do a 'warm down' after the west ham game and was sprinting the full length of the pitch, I could even see him starting at the weekend!

Bit speculative at best to say we would have gathered more points had Pearce played all season. As for Morrison, I would be surprised to see him start at the weekend. More sensible would be to have him on the bench and give him 20-25 towards the end - depending on the state of the game. In all seriousness, the Baggies game is far more important in the grand scheme of things than the Cup tie at Crawley.

You don't sub a CB unless you absolutely have to. Or you have a big lead, and even then that isn't secure with us and not that sensible.

[royal67]

I'd suggest our recent improved defensive performances have had as much to do with the return of Kebe and Harte to the side, as with the rerun of Pearce - for a number of games we were getting torn apart down our right hand side - the fantastic defensive effort that Kebe has been putting in seems to have gone a long way to fixing this problem....

Great post Cypry...... While the return of Peace has been welcome he hasn't been faultless and certainly cost us a goal against Spurs. Our 'new' formation and the work ethic of Kebe I think are the biggest contributions to our new found defensive performances.....

Bit ridiculous imho to say that Pearce's contribution to the defence is worth less than Kebe's.

I disagree........ We have always been most vunerable in the LB and RB positions. Love him or hate him, Jobi has always done a very good job at protecting Harte. Recently Jimmy Kebe has been transformed by McD into probably our best RWB. He has done tireless work covering up the positional gaffs that Gunter (and Cummings) are prone to make. This in isolation has reduced the number of goals we are conceding down this flank. I'm pleased to see Pearce back in the squad but I don't feel that he offers any more than Morrison would in the same position........ It is the 4-5-1 formation and JK's hard work that has made the biggest difference. IMHO......

[Ian Royal]

Why don't we just settle for the return of Kebe, Harte, Pearce and Karacan, along with the switch to 5 in midfield has all contributed to an improved defence. Rather than trying to pin it all on one or two players?

[royal67]

Why don't we just settle for the return of Kebe, Pearce and Karacan, along with the switch to 5 in midfield has all contributed to an improved defence. Rather than trying to pin it all on one or two players?

Corrected for you....

[Extended-Phenotype]

Why don't we just settle for the return of Kebe, Harte, Pearce and Karacan, along with the switch to 5 in midfield has all contributed to an improved defence. Rather than trying to pin it all on one or two players?

Because then nobody on the team board would post anything.

[melonhead]

anyway- seems like weve gone back with an improved contract offer, and still had no response.


brian says he wants him to stay, and says pearce says he wants to stay. either his agent is just holding out for as much as he can get, or he is off in jan

[royal67]

anyway- seems like weve gone back with an improved contract offer, and still had no response.


brian says he wants him to stay, and says pearce says he wants to stay. either his agent is just holding out for as much as he can get, or he is off in jan

I thought I'd read that the improved offer had been turned down.......

Brian McDermott has confirmed that contract talks with Alex Pearce are still on-going.
The Royals boss gave an update on the situation in his pre-match press conference earlier this week.

“We want him to stay. But it’s been going on for a long time now,” he said.

“Alex says he wants to stay – I want to try and keep him, but they’re still talking. They’ve made another offer and I don’t think that’s been accepted so time will tell on that.”

[melonhead]

id take that as - thats just not been accepted- ie not responded to yet rather than turned down

[cmonurz]

Why?

Because it’s totally ridiculous to diminish the contribution of a centre-back to a defensive performance. Kebe could tackle like Makelele and it wouldn’t matter a jot if there was a massive hole in our central defence.

[melonhead]

thing is, pearce played in games in both 4-5-1, and 4-4-2 formations, without kebe, and not alongside marriappa and we conceded alot of goals
so its either kebe, mariappa, or the pearce mariappa partnership, or a combination of all of these things

[USA_Loyal_Royal]

id take that as - thats just not been accepted- ie not responded to yet rather than turned down

this is how i would take that statement as well.

[Royal Lady]

"they've made another offer" - I wonder whether anyone bothers to ask McD what he thinks a player is worth - you know, say they've offered Pearce £20k and he wants £25k, do you think they ask McD whether he wants him to stay badly enough and is he worth that money to them? Or is everything out of McD's control?