Most likey leave again next summer to get to his target
This is the first decent contract he has ever been given in his football career. Stop making out he is some money grabbing arsehole. He’s a professional footballer trying to earn a living in a brutal profession.
If you know how much better it is than the one offered by us, then please do share the details. I will bet a gold plated spanner that you don't know, mind.
Most likey leave again next summer to get to his target
This is the first decent contract he has ever been given in his football career. Stop making out he is some money grabbing arsehole. He’s a professional footballer trying to earn a living in a brutal profession.
If you know how much better it is than the one offered by us, then please do share the details. I will bet a gold plated spanner that you don't know, mind.
This is the crux of it really. If rumours were true and he was (this season) on less than 3k a week. Depending on our offer the gap between ours and Preston could've meant he has at least doubled his wage going there.
If I was 20 and was offered a 4 year contract that meant i could buy myself, mum and siblings houses outright and effectively set them up for life in an industry where that scenario may be a once in a life time opportunity I would not think twice.
Good luck to the lad....gave some great times for us and was very much a popular part of the squad with great rapport with the fanbase.
There is no loyalty in football and we've just let Watson and others go without a second thought and there's never any fan hoo ha when we release players and effectively put them out of work, turn their and their families' lives upside down e.g. potentially having to move areas, schools etc. It's the game.
100% this, the lad has made a move to improve his life, to a club that’s been far more successful than us over the last decade, yet we have people hoping he fails and others assuming he’s been manipulated by some evil agent.
This isn’t a sideways move, it could easily be a move up, it could also totally backfire but let’s not blame the lad for taking the chance.
If I was 20 and was offered a 4 year contract that meant i could buy myself, mum and siblings houses outright and effectively set them up for life in an industry where that scenario may be a once in a life time opportunity I would not think twice.
Good luck to the lad....gave some great times for us and was very much a popular part of the squad with great rapport with the fanbase.
There is no loyalty in football and we've just let Watson and others go without a second thought and there's never any fan hoo ha when we release players and effectively put them out of work, turn their and their families' lives upside down e.g. potentially having to move areas, schools etc. It's the game.
All true, and I wish him well.
But it's a £2m deal over 4 years - net £1,100,000. From that he has to live. Let's say he spends £100k a year - he ends up with £700k'ish in savings. That is not insignificant but as a 20 year old, a house for him, his mum and siblings all paid for? Of course it is big money but not 'set-up for life' money. £500k a year for a 20 or 30 year career is what sets people up for life - footballers have a very small window.
He will need another big contract to be able to set himself and his family up for life.
We brought him in on a six month contract with a one year extension, both he and we took a flyer on him. He fulfilled his obligation to us and we did the same to him .. all done.
We need to look after ourselves by offering him a contract that is fair and would not create a domino effect of other players knocking on the door for a rise. He may not develop better at PNE or he might not ... PNE and our fans will disagree.
Not unhappy he has gone as he is neither a corner stone of the team nor a consistent game changer.
Good luck to him. I'm having lunch with a Charlton friendly PNE fan in September and will see how he is getting on
Sorry if this has already been discussed but It will be interesting to see if we directly replace small. I think we will, but do we see NJ adapt for next season and find a new solution/system? He did it midway through last season by putting small high up the pitch and Kayne at CB. Will we see us recruit for a different formation?
Sorry if this has already been discussed but It will be interesting to see if we directly replace small. I think we will, but do we see NJ adapt for next season and find a new solution/system? He did it midway through last season by putting small high up the pitch and Kayne at CB. Will we see us recruit for a different formation?
I agree - although it may not need a change in formation. Replace Small with a CB and move Ramsay wide and more attacking.
It does show that we won’t splash the cash for just anyone.
Preston are clearly paying more.
We have awarded NJ a better contract and I suspect (don’t know) at least Lloyd Jones and Godden may have clauses which enhanced their salary upon promotion.
We have announced a free signing only so far.
NJ was seemingly weening himself off Small anyway given the recent substitutions so I assume has other targets.
Small looked well off it at start of season - probably gutted we triggered his year extension maybe hoping for a move - once that didn’t happen he knuckled down and got fitter and got back in the side - if we saw him as the future maybe we would have bumped his deal up last summer like we have done with NJ this summer
Most likey leave again next summer to get to his target
This is the first decent contract he has ever been given in his football career. Stop making out he is some money grabbing arsehole. He’s a professional footballer trying to earn a living in a brutal profession.
If you know how much better it is than the one offered by us, then please do share the details. I will bet a gold plated spanner that you don't know, mind.
Not sure it takes a genius to workout that a 4 year contract from an established Championship club will be the best contract of his career so far. Charlton’s offer would have been too. He chose Preston’s. I wasn’t comparing the offers… I was actually saying it is unfair to accuse him of club hopping.
Let’s not kid ourselves, he was a cheat code in L1. He might not have great end product stats but the combination of him Godden and Campbell unsettled defenders and created chances. Him and Campbell often required two defenders to handle them and unlike Campbell he’d often get past them. The problem was Small wants to be a RWB when he isn’t a great defender. I remember he would occasionally try and beat two markers in our own half, lose the ball and put us under pressure. I’m sure that must’ve infuriated Jones and he would’ve questioned his ability to be a team player. Which fits in with his past reputation of being a trouble maker. It was exciting and a privilege to watch him in that post December glorious promotion run, but Thierry thinks he knows best, and with a very leaky defence last year, Preston will suit him well. I think NJ got the best from him, hopefully, for his sake, other managers will do the same.
I think people are a wide of the mark claiming he moved up north for the money. The way I hear it Thierry's a well known trainspotter which incidentally was a big reason for him joining Charlton in the first place. Unfortunately once Preston showed their interest and pointed out how easy it would be for him to ride on the Ribble Steam Railway every day after training his head was completely turned. Fair play to him, I doubt many of us would turn down an opportunity of a lifetime like that.
Worth remembering that Alfie Doughty had barely played a minute of league football before we got promoted to the Champ, and by Christmas was a good option at that level. You never know which youngsters may step up this season to replace Small.
Worth remembering that Alfie Doughty had barely played a minute of league football before we got promoted to the Champ, and by Christmas was a good option at that level. You never know which youngsters may step up this season to replace Small.
Doughty could fit into smalls role, although guessing too expensive now and most on here dont rate him from memory
Worth remembering that Alfie Doughty had barely played a minute of league football before we got promoted to the Champ, and by Christmas was a good option at that level. You never know which youngsters may step up this season to replace Small.
Asiimwe and Mitchell have built up some good loan experience so both have a chance. Going to be interesting to see if we bring in two RWBs and any right footed CBs.
Enslin and Fullah haven’t been on loan, but it wouldn’t surprise me if either made an impact. Either could come off the bench out wide or as an attacking midfielder with some freedom, which would help ease them into first team football. Having 9 subs will help.
I’m less convinced by Mbick, Dixon and Mwamba being ready next season, I think they’re more likely to need a good loan spell or two to develop. Sooner than later they’ll need bigger tests than U21 football.
With Small leaving for £10 grand a week wages ,we now got to up the wages for our better players or there agents will start preparing to move there players on
More than 10k a week …our wages were in the top 4 in league one , sure there was increases in the contracts if we got promotion..
With Small leaving for £10 grand a week wages ,we now got to up the wages for our better players or there agents will start preparing to move there players on
More than 10k a week …our wages were in the top 4 in league one , sure there was increases in the contracts if we got promotion..
Describing Small as a cheat code is absolutely hilarious/insane.
Did you see many games this season? Him and Campbell terrorised defenders post December. This denial he was ever any good sounds like post break up comforting.
Describing Small as a cheat code is absolutely hilarious/insane.
Did you see many games this season? Him and Campbell terrorised defenders post December. This denial he was ever any good sounds like post break up comforting.
Being good and a cheat code are two entirely different things. A league one club spending £15m on a striker is a cheat code. Small is the former of the two adjectives.
Just my take - for a full back, he wasn’t brilliant defensively, and against better opposition in the Championship he’ll need to up his game in that department, especially going to a club who like us will be happy to stay in the division.
Likewise going forward, he’s exciting but wasteful. I’d expect a ‘cheat-code’ to finish the season with better than 3 assists and 2 goals.
Not to be overly negative, he’s only 20 and has bags of potential. He’s going to need nurturing and really looking after mentally to fulfil that promise.
I don’t blame him for leaving for more money, but I also don’t blame us for not matching their offer.
Describing Small as a cheat code is absolutely hilarious/insane.
Did you see many games this season? Him and Campbell terrorised defenders post December. This denial he was ever any good sounds like post break up comforting.
Is funny before he left was described as the difference with TC to our play improving from hoofball after the new year and the team benefited greatly now he's overrated etc.
Quite a difficult decision for a talented young player. Stay with a club where you have done very well, perhaps for less money, but with a manager who knows how to get the best out of you. Or take your chances with another club, and hope to improve again. I expect he probably decided well before the playoffs.
If he did then fair play for helping us get promoted, for that I wish him the very best success. Even if not he was part of a great team.
From the outside I don't think it was his best decision, based on the club and location he has chosen. I believe he would have stepped up again with us, I hope for his career it isn't another CBT type move.
Can’t believe the revisionist views on here downplaying Theirry Small’s contribution this season. In my mind we carried so much more threat with him on the pitch. I know he was far from perfect and was unpredictable and inconsistent but that’s what he brought to the team. Gutted that he has left not sure it will be a good decision for him but thanks for the memories Theirry and good luck for the future.
1. In most highly paid professional employment sectors, "job-hoppers" are viewed with some suspicion. Is this not the case in football? if it is, did you advise Thierry to consider this before deciding on yet another move at such a young age?
2. You benefitted from several years at the same club in your formative years as a player. Would it not be good for Thierry at such a young age to benefit from the same stability? Why is it better for him to move now to a club with a very similar profile but located in a very different part of the country? Does Thierry have family/friends links to Preston?
3. How do you benefit financially from this transfer compared with Thierry deciding to accept Charlton's offer?
Regardless of Fortune's own past here, lest we forget he is only Smalls most recent agent - and Small has done this before, more than once. Its easy for us to assume this fits into the narrative of an agent getting into a naive young player's ear, whispering of higher earnings to line his own pockets.... but thats not necessarily the case.
Based on previous history it's equally possible that Small is the one pushing for a move away and whatever his agent may think of that, it would then be his job to negotiate with whatever party the player wants to sign for.
If Small wanted to stay, he could have done. I think trying to cast aspersions on his agent is a bit premature given Small's track record for such things.
I'm only replying to your post because I'm on a train with my shitty mobile & can't be bothered to search for previous similar posts, I just wondered re "Smalls track record" (&I have no idea, so just asking) did he walk out of Everton and saints or did they just release him ?
Our main consistent threat in 2nd half of season. Toothless without him. He enjoyed it here, why has he gone? Hope we have Ofiah up our sleeve, but doubt he can cross as well on his wrong foot.
Comments
We need to look after ourselves by offering him a contract that is fair and would not create a domino effect of other players knocking on the door for a rise. He may not develop better at PNE or he might not ... PNE and our fans will disagree.
Not unhappy he has gone as he is neither a corner stone of the team nor a consistent game changer.
Good luck to him. I'm having lunch with a Charlton friendly PNE fan in September and will see how he is getting on
I agree - although it may not need a change in formation. Replace Small with a CB and move Ramsay wide and more attacking.
I'm hoping that by upgrading our midfield over the summer we won't be so reliant on the wings to provide attacking threat.
Enslin and Fullah haven’t been on loan, but it wouldn’t surprise me if either made an impact. Either could come off the bench out wide or as an attacking midfielder with some freedom, which would help ease them into first team football. Having 9 subs will help.
I’m less convinced by Mbick, Dixon and Mwamba being ready next season, I think they’re more likely to need a good loan spell or two to develop. Sooner than later they’ll need bigger tests than U21 football.
Just my take - for a full back, he wasn’t brilliant defensively, and against better opposition in the Championship he’ll need to up his game in that department, especially going to a club who like us will be happy to stay in the division.
Likewise going forward, he’s exciting but wasteful. I’d expect a ‘cheat-code’ to finish the season with better than 3 assists and 2 goals.
Not to be overly negative, he’s only 20 and has bags of potential. He’s going to need nurturing and really looking after mentally to fulfil that promise.
I don’t blame him for leaving for more money, but I also don’t blame us for not matching their offer.