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Thierry Small - signed a 4 year deal with Preston (p36)
Comments
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SDAddick said:
I know I'm not the first to highlight this, but this is one of the most baffling things I've seen on here for a while. I would make the case that Small was the second best signing of last season after May even if we sold him tomorrow and got 200k for him. He came in at 19 and despite having barely played all season to that point, made the LWB spot his and made it so Jones didn't have to worry about it after that. That alone is very impressive for a 19 year old, and I think there's still more to come from him.se9addick said:I love you guys, anyone thinking we’re getting £1.2M for a 19 year old that’s played 14 games for us in the 3rd division & has 12 months remaining on their contract possesses a level of optimism I aspire to.He has clearly been offered a longer term deal, clearly not signed it, and thus we’ve been put in a position where we need to trigger a one year option or lose the player. Triggering the option is the right call, but anyone seeing this as any more than another failing of our recruitment strategy has clearly had the rose tinted spectacles welded on.
If we're going to complain about recruitment when it goes wrong (and it often has), then we should give credit where credit is due.
But he has?
I agree with @se9addick that if we can't convince 19yr old Small to stay for longer after playing 24 games it doesn't bode well for an "Ipswich style" summer window which some people have convinced themselves is on the way.2 -
It’s early in the negotiations by all accounts so anything is possible but I just don’t see that it bodes badly for the clubs summer recruitment if Small and his agent decide that their options are better kept open. I don’t see the club breaking the wage structure for a 19 year old with 14 games for us under his belt and a surprising catalogue of relative failure and six clubs in his locker including Charlton all by the age of 19. I think he’ll play for us all next season and do really well. Hopefully we’ll get him tied down because I think the lad needs stability to be able to push on but I’m not holding my breath and I don’t find fault with the club on this at all.Athletico Charlton said:SDAddick said:
I know I'm not the first to highlight this, but this is one of the most baffling things I've seen on here for a while. I would make the case that Small was the second best signing of last season after May even if we sold him tomorrow and got 200k for him. He came in at 19 and despite having barely played all season to that point, made the LWB spot his and made it so Jones didn't have to worry about it after that. That alone is very impressive for a 19 year old, and I think there's still more to come from him.se9addick said:I love you guys, anyone thinking we’re getting £1.2M for a 19 year old that’s played 14 games for us in the 3rd division & has 12 months remaining on their contract possesses a level of optimism I aspire to.He has clearly been offered a longer term deal, clearly not signed it, and thus we’ve been put in a position where we need to trigger a one year option or lose the player. Triggering the option is the right call, but anyone seeing this as any more than another failing of our recruitment strategy has clearly had the rose tinted spectacles welded on.
If we're going to complain about recruitment when it goes wrong (and it often has), then we should give credit where credit is due.
But he has?
I agree with @se9addick that if we can't convince 19yr old Small to stay for longer after playing 24 games it doesn't bode well for an "Ipswich style" summer window which some people have convinced themselves is on the way.9 -
not a very good comparison, if rumours during the time of Apples are correct, in that TC wanted to leave due to Apples managementHenry Irving said:Club had been speaking to Campbell's agent about a new contract since October 2023.
He signed in May 2024.
Deals don't happen overnight.
There is still plenty of time for Small to sign a longer deal before the season starts.0 -
The same 19 year old who has already had 3 different "home clubs" and not played more than 14 games a season for any one of them?Athletico Charlton said:SDAddick said:
I know I'm not the first to highlight this, but this is one of the most baffling things I've seen on here for a while. I would make the case that Small was the second best signing of last season after May even if we sold him tomorrow and got 200k for him. He came in at 19 and despite having barely played all season to that point, made the LWB spot his and made it so Jones didn't have to worry about it after that. That alone is very impressive for a 19 year old, and I think there's still more to come from him.se9addick said:I love you guys, anyone thinking we’re getting £1.2M for a 19 year old that’s played 14 games for us in the 3rd division & has 12 months remaining on their contract possesses a level of optimism I aspire to.He has clearly been offered a longer term deal, clearly not signed it, and thus we’ve been put in a position where we need to trigger a one year option or lose the player. Triggering the option is the right call, but anyone seeing this as any more than another failing of our recruitment strategy has clearly had the rose tinted spectacles welded on.
If we're going to complain about recruitment when it goes wrong (and it often has), then we should give credit where credit is due.
But he has?
I agree with @se9addick that if we can't convince 19yr old Small to stay for longer after playing 24 games it doesn't bode well for an "Ipswich style" summer window which some people have convinced themselves is on the way.
I really wouldn't read too much into his not signing long-term, he's not one to hang around anywhere for long (whether for personal reasons or agent influence.)
If it were players like Campbell or Leaburn refusing to sign up and showing signs of wanting out, THAT would be alarming. This is just Small doing what he's done several times before.7 -
It isn't a comparison, it's an example of the complexity and timescales for negotiations.lancashire lad said:
not a very good comparison, if rumours during the time of Apples are correct, in that TC wanted to leave due to Apples managementHenry Irving said:Club had been speaking to Campbell's agent about a new contract since October 2023.
He signed in May 2024.
Deals don't happen overnight.
There is still plenty of time for Small to sign a longer deal before the season starts.
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Having been selected by Jones for those fourteen games and if as reported, he is happy at Charlton then the possibility that he might pen a deal is high. I’m sure his experience elsewhere will inform his opinion as to what’s best for his immediate prospects. I can’t imagine he’s been happy with how things have gone for him at Everton, Southampton and his loan clubs. Charlton and those fourteen games are probably the pinnacle of his career so far. I don’t blame him one iota for trying to get the best deal or for even considering his future options but I hope his agent is in his ear telling him he needs to start building a back history of playing games. It’s more games he needs on his cv. Not clubs.thenewbie said:
The same 19 year old who has already had 3 different "home clubs" and not played more than 14 games a season for any one of them?Athletico Charlton said:SDAddick said:
I know I'm not the first to highlight this, but this is one of the most baffling things I've seen on here for a while. I would make the case that Small was the second best signing of last season after May even if we sold him tomorrow and got 200k for him. He came in at 19 and despite having barely played all season to that point, made the LWB spot his and made it so Jones didn't have to worry about it after that. That alone is very impressive for a 19 year old, and I think there's still more to come from him.se9addick said:I love you guys, anyone thinking we’re getting £1.2M for a 19 year old that’s played 14 games for us in the 3rd division & has 12 months remaining on their contract possesses a level of optimism I aspire to.He has clearly been offered a longer term deal, clearly not signed it, and thus we’ve been put in a position where we need to trigger a one year option or lose the player. Triggering the option is the right call, but anyone seeing this as any more than another failing of our recruitment strategy has clearly had the rose tinted spectacles welded on.
If we're going to complain about recruitment when it goes wrong (and it often has), then we should give credit where credit is due.
But he has?
I agree with @se9addick that if we can't convince 19yr old Small to stay for longer after playing 24 games it doesn't bode well for an "Ipswich style" summer window which some people have convinced themselves is on the way.
I really wouldn't read too much into his not signing long-term, he's not one to hang around anywhere for long (whether for personal reasons or agent influence.)
If it were players like Campbell or Leaburn refusing to sign up and showing signs of wanting out, THAT would be alarming. This is just Small doing what he's done several times before.3 -
Agreed. I would very much like to see him sign another, longer deal and that it would also benefit him to put down some roots instead of hopping between clubs.ShootersHillGuru said:
Having been selected by Jones for those fourteen games and if as reported, he is happy at Charlton then the possibility that he might pen a deal is high. I’m sure his experience elsewhere will inform his opinion as to what’s best for his immediate prospects. I can’t imagine he’s been happy with how things have gone for him at Everton, Southampton and his loan clubs. Charlton and those fourteen games are probably the pinnacle of his career so far. I don’t blame him one iota for trying to get the best deal or for even considering his future options but I hope his agent is in his ear telling him he needs to start building a back history of playing games. It’s more games he needs on his cv. Not clubs.thenewbie said:
The same 19 year old who has already had 3 different "home clubs" and not played more than 14 games a season for any one of them?Athletico Charlton said:SDAddick said:
I know I'm not the first to highlight this, but this is one of the most baffling things I've seen on here for a while. I would make the case that Small was the second best signing of last season after May even if we sold him tomorrow and got 200k for him. He came in at 19 and despite having barely played all season to that point, made the LWB spot his and made it so Jones didn't have to worry about it after that. That alone is very impressive for a 19 year old, and I think there's still more to come from him.se9addick said:I love you guys, anyone thinking we’re getting £1.2M for a 19 year old that’s played 14 games for us in the 3rd division & has 12 months remaining on their contract possesses a level of optimism I aspire to.He has clearly been offered a longer term deal, clearly not signed it, and thus we’ve been put in a position where we need to trigger a one year option or lose the player. Triggering the option is the right call, but anyone seeing this as any more than another failing of our recruitment strategy has clearly had the rose tinted spectacles welded on.
If we're going to complain about recruitment when it goes wrong (and it often has), then we should give credit where credit is due.
But he has?
I agree with @se9addick that if we can't convince 19yr old Small to stay for longer after playing 24 games it doesn't bode well for an "Ipswich style" summer window which some people have convinced themselves is on the way.
I really wouldn't read too much into his not signing long-term, he's not one to hang around anywhere for long (whether for personal reasons or agent influence.)
If it were players like Campbell or Leaburn refusing to sign up and showing signs of wanting out, THAT would be alarming. This is just Small doing what he's done several times before.
I'm not advocating for him to move on, simply pointing out that the fact he has not yet signed a longer deal does not in this particular case suggest that the offer is unduly low or unfair, or that Scott (or Jones or both) has undervalued him - he just doesn't seem to hang around for long, rightly or not.
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The year extension is triggered so there's a bit of time for a new contract to be considered. In his shoes I'd want to see the club showing some ambition in it's signings before putting pen to paper on a longer deal.2
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I really don’t think Small is realistically in a position to see what ambition the club show. Hes not that sought after. He’s failed or at least underwhelmed at Southampton, St. Mirren and Port Vale. He has bags of potential but until he can show he’s able to hold down a place week in week out for a season that’s all he’s got. Potential. We could offer him a three year deal and he reverts to the player that couldn’t get a game at St. Mirren. Personally I like him and think he’s got what it takes but there is nothing on his CV to indicate that at this stage he can do much better than Charlton.IdleHans said:The year extension is triggered so there's a bit of time for a new contract to be considered. In his shoes I'd want to see the club showing some ambition in its signings before putting pen to paper on a longer deal.3 -
Small does not care one single bit who we sign or where we are in the league, He will be after the big move and more money as is the case with every youngster now a days, don't delude yourselves9
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The longer this whole saga goes on, and after reading various posts regarding his playing background, the more I am starting to get slight doubts bubbling up regarding Small...
Has he got what it takes to knuckle down and show some commitment to the game and the team he is playing for, currently us, or is he just a loose canon, that will just go AWOL at the drop of a hat.
Much as I loved his input last season, not currently convinced he is the long term LWB that we have been looking for and someone we can rely on day in day out,... I am open to be proved wrong...🤷♂️
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If we get a half decent offer. ie a couple of hundred grand, we’ll take it. I think he wants to play at a higher level0
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So should every player but he allowed his presumably better paying contract at a higher level club to be torn up so he could sign for a mid-table league 1 club on a six month deal.Ducktapeshoerepairs said:If we get a half decent offer. ie a couple of hundred grand, we’ll take it. I think he wants to play at a higher level
To me that sounds like a player who wants to play rather than, as others has said, just chasing the money.6 -
I’m sure he does but what is there in his record to suggest he can. 14 games for us and that’s about it. IMHO he needs to knuckle down and play some games. If he’s that good his time will come.Ducktapeshoerepairs said:If we get a half decent offer. ie a couple of hundred grand, we’ll take it. I think he wants to play at a higher level2 -
In what way is a couple of hundred grand a good offer? Yes he’s 19 and largely unproven but he has the potential to be one of the best LBs in the league this time next year. We’d be better off keeping him if that’s all anyone would pay.Ducktapeshoerepairs said:If we get a half decent offer. ie a couple of hundred grand, we’ll take it. I think he wants to play at a higher level8 -
Ducktapeshoerepairs said:If we get a half decent offer. ie a couple of hundred grand, we’ll take it. I think he wants to play at a higher level
I think he needs to grow a pair and smell the coffee really!!3 -
Agreed. Even sell on clauses aren’t really worth much given his track record for moving around as often as he has.Scoham said:
In what way is a couple of hundred grand a good offer? Yes he’s 19 and largely unproven but he has the potential to be one of the best LBs in the league this time next year. We’d be better off keeping him if that’s all anyone would pay.Ducktapeshoerepairs said:If we get a half decent offer. ie a couple of hundred grand, we’ll take it. I think he wants to play at a higher level
Anything less than half a million for a talented young left back would be very disappointing - regardless of how long he has or hasn’t been here.1 -
The lad has played a total of 23 games. 14 of them since January. If we get offers over £500k I’d be amazed.Callumcafc said:
Agreed. Even sell on clauses aren’t really worth much given his track record for moving around as often as he has.Scoham said:
In what way is a couple of hundred grand a good offer? Yes he’s 19 and largely unproven but he has the potential to be one of the best LBs in the league this time next year. We’d be better off keeping him if that’s all anyone would pay.Ducktapeshoerepairs said:If we get a half decent offer. ie a couple of hundred grand, we’ll take it. I think he wants to play at a higher level
Anything less than half a million for a talented young left back would be very disappointing - regardless of how long he has or hasn’t been here.3 -
When you put it like that Shooters, and based on his playing career history so far, i'd be amazed if we get any offers at all...🤷♂️ShootersHillGuru said:
The lad has played a total of 23 games. 14 of them since January. If we get offers over £500k I’d be amazed.Callumcafc said:
Agreed. Even sell on clauses aren’t really worth much given his track record for moving around as often as he has.Scoham said:
In what way is a couple of hundred grand a good offer? Yes he’s 19 and largely unproven but he has the potential to be one of the best LBs in the league this time next year. We’d be better off keeping him if that’s all anyone would pay.Ducktapeshoerepairs said:If we get a half decent offer. ie a couple of hundred grand, we’ll take it. I think he wants to play at a higher level
Anything less than half a million for a talented young left back would be very disappointing - regardless of how long he has or hasn’t been here.1 -
Archie Brown, a 21 y/o English left back, played 30 odd games in the Swiss 2nd division the season before last. Genk then paid 4 million for him last summer. They might flip him to Chelsea for even more after only one season.ShootersHillGuru said:
The lad has played a total of 23 games. 14 of them since January. If we get offers over £500k I’d be amazed.Callumcafc said:
Agreed. Even sell on clauses aren’t really worth much given his track record for moving around as often as he has.Scoham said:
In what way is a couple of hundred grand a good offer? Yes he’s 19 and largely unproven but he has the potential to be one of the best LBs in the league this time next year. We’d be better off keeping him if that’s all anyone would pay.Ducktapeshoerepairs said:If we get a half decent offer. ie a couple of hundred grand, we’ll take it. I think he wants to play at a higher level
Anything less than half a million for a talented young left back would be very disappointing - regardless of how long he has or hasn’t been here.
I’m not expecting millions but 500k is nothing to a top team. If Small reaches his potential he could be worth 20 times that in a few years.5 - Sponsored links:
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And yet there he was on a free transfer in January to a team in danger of relegation to the fourth division.Callumcafc said:
Archie Brown, a 21 y/o English left back, played 30 odd games in the Swiss 2nd division the season before last. Genk then paid 4 million for him last summer. They might flip him to Chelsea for even more after only one season.ShootersHillGuru said:
The lad has played a total of 23 games. 14 of them since January. If we get offers over £500k I’d be amazed.Callumcafc said:
Agreed. Even sell on clauses aren’t really worth much given his track record for moving around as often as he has.Scoham said:
In what way is a couple of hundred grand a good offer? Yes he’s 19 and largely unproven but he has the potential to be one of the best LBs in the league this time next year. We’d be better off keeping him if that’s all anyone would pay.Ducktapeshoerepairs said:If we get a half decent offer. ie a couple of hundred grand, we’ll take it. I think he wants to play at a higher level
Anything less than half a million for a talented young left back would be very disappointing - regardless of how long he has or hasn’t been here.
I’m not expecting millions but 500k is nothing to a top team. If Small reaches his potential he could be worth 20 times that in a few years.5 -
And yet he was rumoured to be worth a million or more just over a year ago.ShootersHillGuru said:
And yet there he was on a free transfer in January to a team in danger of relegation to the fourth division.Callumcafc said:
Archie Brown, a 21 y/o English left back, played 30 odd games in the Swiss 2nd division the season before last. Genk then paid 4 million for him last summer. They might flip him to Chelsea for even more after only one season.ShootersHillGuru said:
The lad has played a total of 23 games. 14 of them since January. If we get offers over £500k I’d be amazed.Callumcafc said:
Agreed. Even sell on clauses aren’t really worth much given his track record for moving around as often as he has.Scoham said:
In what way is a couple of hundred grand a good offer? Yes he’s 19 and largely unproven but he has the potential to be one of the best LBs in the league this time next year. We’d be better off keeping him if that’s all anyone would pay.Ducktapeshoerepairs said:If we get a half decent offer. ie a couple of hundred grand, we’ll take it. I think he wants to play at a higher level
Anything less than half a million for a talented young left back would be very disappointing - regardless of how long he has or hasn’t been here.
I’m not expecting millions but 500k is nothing to a top team. If Small reaches his potential he could be worth 20 times that in a few years.
He’s not guaranteed to ever amount to anything but as a Premier League club you’d be buying potential more than what he was six months ago, or is now. It’s only my opinion but selling him for £200-300k to a Championship team, only for them to make millions off of him twelve months later, would be a big mistake.
At that point we might as well keep him until his contract expires next summer and take the gamble on promotion with him in the team.3 -
I’m sure he’s not a name that’s completely unknown to Premier league clubs yet none of them took him for nothing five months ago for free. Now suddenly after 14 games he’s worth a million. I really don’t think so.3
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£4m I heard.ShootersHillGuru said:I’m sure he’s not a name that’s completely unknown to Premier league clubs yet none of them took him for nothing five months ago for free. Now suddenly after 14 games he’s worth a million. I really don’t think so.1 -
Disagree, I am 100% confident we would not find a better replacement for him if he left.Dazzler21 said:A very bright prospect, but not irreplaceable. If we get a half decent offer and can sign a player with decent pedigree to replace him, It won't be the end of the world.
I would however like to see us keep hold of some players that have promise.2 -
I heard Madrid are after him after deciding not to go for Alphonso Davies.Alwaysneil said:
£4m I heard.ShootersHillGuru said:I’m sure he’s not a name that’s completely unknown to Premier league clubs yet none of them took him for nothing five months ago for free. Now suddenly after 14 games he’s worth a million. I really don’t think so.0 -
the extension was for Charlton to triggerIdleHans said:The year extension is triggered so there's a bit of time for a new contract to be considered. In his shoes I'd want to see the club showing some ambition in it's signings before putting pen to paper on a longer deal.
not triggering it would have been ludicrous
Small being under contract means Charlton get a fee if Small and his agent get a better offer elsewhere
Triggering the extension also signals to Small that NJ and the club value him sufficiently to guarantee him another year's wages irrespective of whether he plays
that's going to feel like he's got a pretty firm hold on the left(wing)back birth0 -
If he doesn't sign a new contract, but stays for the season, this time next summer he could have another 50 games under his belt here, which would give him a decent back history, so he doesn't need to sign an extension to get that.ShootersHillGuru said:
Having been selected by Jones for those fourteen games and if as reported, he is happy at Charlton then the possibility that he might pen a deal is high. I’m sure his experience elsewhere will inform his opinion as to what’s best for his immediate prospects. I can’t imagine he’s been happy with how things have gone for him at Everton, Southampton and his loan clubs. Charlton and those fourteen games are probably the pinnacle of his career so far. I don’t blame him one iota for trying to get the best deal or for even considering his future options but I hope his agent is in his ear telling him he needs to start building a back history of playing games. It’s more games he needs on his cv. Not clubs.thenewbie said:
The same 19 year old who has already had 3 different "home clubs" and not played more than 14 games a season for any one of them?Athletico Charlton said:SDAddick said:
I know I'm not the first to highlight this, but this is one of the most baffling things I've seen on here for a while. I would make the case that Small was the second best signing of last season after May even if we sold him tomorrow and got 200k for him. He came in at 19 and despite having barely played all season to that point, made the LWB spot his and made it so Jones didn't have to worry about it after that. That alone is very impressive for a 19 year old, and I think there's still more to come from him.se9addick said:I love you guys, anyone thinking we’re getting £1.2M for a 19 year old that’s played 14 games for us in the 3rd division & has 12 months remaining on their contract possesses a level of optimism I aspire to.He has clearly been offered a longer term deal, clearly not signed it, and thus we’ve been put in a position where we need to trigger a one year option or lose the player. Triggering the option is the right call, but anyone seeing this as any more than another failing of our recruitment strategy has clearly had the rose tinted spectacles welded on.
If we're going to complain about recruitment when it goes wrong (and it often has), then we should give credit where credit is due.
But he has?
I agree with @se9addick that if we can't convince 19yr old Small to stay for longer after playing 24 games it doesn't bode well for an "Ipswich style" summer window which some people have convinced themselves is on the way.
I really wouldn't read too much into his not signing long-term, he's not one to hang around anywhere for long (whether for personal reasons or agent influence.)
If it were players like Campbell or Leaburn refusing to sign up and showing signs of wanting out, THAT would be alarming. This is just Small doing what he's done several times before.
And as a free agent, he'll be free to go wherever he wants next summer for a nice signing on fee.
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Goes both ways though, if he signs the new deal he will earn probably 3/4x the salary next season and doesn't have the risk of no contract should he get injured or underperform. Worth noting that he is earning absolute peanuts (less than Karoy and Assiimwe) as we originally signed him for our under 21s in January.killerandflash said:
If he doesn't sign a new contract, but stays for the season, this time next summer he could have another 50 games under his belt here, which would give him a decent back history, so he doesn't need to sign an extension to get that.ShootersHillGuru said:
Having been selected by Jones for those fourteen games and if as reported, he is happy at Charlton then the possibility that he might pen a deal is high. I’m sure his experience elsewhere will inform his opinion as to what’s best for his immediate prospects. I can’t imagine he’s been happy with how things have gone for him at Everton, Southampton and his loan clubs. Charlton and those fourteen games are probably the pinnacle of his career so far. I don’t blame him one iota for trying to get the best deal or for even considering his future options but I hope his agent is in his ear telling him he needs to start building a back history of playing games. It’s more games he needs on his cv. Not clubs.thenewbie said:
The same 19 year old who has already had 3 different "home clubs" and not played more than 14 games a season for any one of them?Athletico Charlton said:SDAddick said:
I know I'm not the first to highlight this, but this is one of the most baffling things I've seen on here for a while. I would make the case that Small was the second best signing of last season after May even if we sold him tomorrow and got 200k for him. He came in at 19 and despite having barely played all season to that point, made the LWB spot his and made it so Jones didn't have to worry about it after that. That alone is very impressive for a 19 year old, and I think there's still more to come from him.se9addick said:I love you guys, anyone thinking we’re getting £1.2M for a 19 year old that’s played 14 games for us in the 3rd division & has 12 months remaining on their contract possesses a level of optimism I aspire to.He has clearly been offered a longer term deal, clearly not signed it, and thus we’ve been put in a position where we need to trigger a one year option or lose the player. Triggering the option is the right call, but anyone seeing this as any more than another failing of our recruitment strategy has clearly had the rose tinted spectacles welded on.
If we're going to complain about recruitment when it goes wrong (and it often has), then we should give credit where credit is due.
But he has?
I agree with @se9addick that if we can't convince 19yr old Small to stay for longer after playing 24 games it doesn't bode well for an "Ipswich style" summer window which some people have convinced themselves is on the way.
I really wouldn't read too much into his not signing long-term, he's not one to hang around anywhere for long (whether for personal reasons or agent influence.)
If it were players like Campbell or Leaburn refusing to sign up and showing signs of wanting out, THAT would be alarming. This is just Small doing what he's done several times before.
And as a free agent, he'll be free to go wherever he wants next summer for a nice signing on fee.0 -
Which is exactly what his agent will be telling him.killerandflash said:
If he doesn't sign a new contract, but stays for the season, this time next summer he could have another 50 games under his belt here, which would give him a decent back history, so he doesn't need to sign an extension to get that.ShootersHillGuru said:
Having been selected by Jones for those fourteen games and if as reported, he is happy at Charlton then the possibility that he might pen a deal is high. I’m sure his experience elsewhere will inform his opinion as to what’s best for his immediate prospects. I can’t imagine he’s been happy with how things have gone for him at Everton, Southampton and his loan clubs. Charlton and those fourteen games are probably the pinnacle of his career so far. I don’t blame him one iota for trying to get the best deal or for even considering his future options but I hope his agent is in his ear telling him he needs to start building a back history of playing games. It’s more games he needs on his cv. Not clubs.thenewbie said:
The same 19 year old who has already had 3 different "home clubs" and not played more than 14 games a season for any one of them?Athletico Charlton said:SDAddick said:
I know I'm not the first to highlight this, but this is one of the most baffling things I've seen on here for a while. I would make the case that Small was the second best signing of last season after May even if we sold him tomorrow and got 200k for him. He came in at 19 and despite having barely played all season to that point, made the LWB spot his and made it so Jones didn't have to worry about it after that. That alone is very impressive for a 19 year old, and I think there's still more to come from him.se9addick said:I love you guys, anyone thinking we’re getting £1.2M for a 19 year old that’s played 14 games for us in the 3rd division & has 12 months remaining on their contract possesses a level of optimism I aspire to.He has clearly been offered a longer term deal, clearly not signed it, and thus we’ve been put in a position where we need to trigger a one year option or lose the player. Triggering the option is the right call, but anyone seeing this as any more than another failing of our recruitment strategy has clearly had the rose tinted spectacles welded on.
If we're going to complain about recruitment when it goes wrong (and it often has), then we should give credit where credit is due.
But he has?
I agree with @se9addick that if we can't convince 19yr old Small to stay for longer after playing 24 games it doesn't bode well for an "Ipswich style" summer window which some people have convinced themselves is on the way.
I really wouldn't read too much into his not signing long-term, he's not one to hang around anywhere for long (whether for personal reasons or agent influence.)
If it were players like Campbell or Leaburn refusing to sign up and showing signs of wanting out, THAT would be alarming. This is just Small doing what he's done several times before.
And as a free agent, he'll be free to go wherever he wants next summer for a nice signing on fee.0
