VisionSouthbank Old Boy
Just how I feel. As I said, I don't want us to let players go for a pittence, but at the same time, there is no point keeping players for the sake of 500k or whatever IF we think they're not going to be buying 100% into our future.
We'd be much better off clearing the decks and getting on with the rebuilding even if it means we get a few mil' less into the coffers.
Our future is going to be dictated by how well we rebuild the squad right now, not by the amount we receive in transfer fee's for players who think they're better than the championship.
But thats the problem isn't it. Judging exactly whether those players are buying into our future. Theres no doubt that they would all prefer to play in the Premier League for substantially more money. In order to judge whether they are prepared to give their all for us if they don't get their dream move means Coppell has to weigh this up whilst watching them in action. Given that some of those that have generated interest have only just returned to training then its a little early to draw that conclusion.
I agree about being more proactive but as i've said before its a fine balancing act and it one of the reasons sides that on paper you'd assume should go straight back up, rarely do.
Also in looking for replacements if we look at the average figures being bandied around which are generally circa 3m or above in the cases of Shorey, Hunt Harper, Kitson, Doyle etc does anyone think that we'll be prepared to pay that figure to replace them with better whilst in the Championship? Not very likely i'd wager and equally difficult would be attracting that calibre of player to the club anyway.
Its all well and good saying, "cash in and freshen up" the squad but those players that are on the hitlist so to speak are proven quality at this level. However they're only likely to be replaced with players that potentially could be better but are likely to need to be bedded in.
We're obvioulsy not going to get players in that are currently perceived as being as good as the players we lose to the Prem, otherwise they'd probably be the ones going to the Prem in the first place. This is where the manager and his staff have to come into their own and bring in players they think they can turn into players as good as, or better, than the ones we're going to lose. That's a hell of a big task.
The alternative is bringing in players to do a slightly different job within the team but those changes make the team stronger.
I guess it all comes down to what players will do a good job in this division. Will Shorey do a better job in this division than a lesser, younger, more hungry left back with more to prove? Debatable of course, and it's a question we can't really know the answer to.
In terms of judging who is buying in and who isn't, I think the manager and his staff should already have a decent idea of that considering how well they'll know the players personalities, ambitions, state of minds etc. Sure there will be a few question marks over some, and the odd surprise along the way, but I bet Coppell knew in May who he thought would probably want to be out the door and who would want to knuckle down and fight for their careers at RFC.