Would be really interesting to hear how you think football wouldn’t operate if no one had a contract which they had to honour. You seem to simply ignore realities that make your position untenable. Sidwell continued to play for us because he wasn’t trying to leave, He had a new contract lined up to...

So Sidwell wasn’t attempting to break a contract, simply looking for the next move once his contract expired. Clark was looking to break a contract. Can you not see a difference ? Nope. Because Sidwell demonstrated that it is possible to want to play for someone else, whilst still giving 100% to hi...

Do agree with you to an extent, in the sense that going off to speak to Fulham doesn't mean he wasn't putting in 100% Could be wrong here, but wasn't that exactly what Sidwell did when he was here, i.e. went to speak to Chelsea halfway through the season after rejecting a new contract here Indeed -...

Even if one does that, his record was still relatively underwhelming here What disappointed me was that we gave Clarke a relatively high budget to bring in his own squad. He brought in Al Habsi, Bond, Ferdinand, McShane, Taylor, Quinn, Piazon, John, Hurtado, Vydra, Sa. That's an entire XI of player...

Slight correction "Be our manager. We own you and will pay you for <insert length of contract>. If we decide we don't want to use you, we will still pay you, but we no longer own you" I don't know why you find this so strange. Yes, it's not like managing a shop, or a factory, or a call-ce...

Be our manager, have lots of money, but feel free to just disappear if you get fed up, or find it a bit tough, or think the grass looks greener elsewhere Why are you so keen on making it a one sided deal ? You want the manager to have it all and the club to have nothing, which can’t be right. I'm k...

'Be our manager. We own you, until we decide that you're not wanted.' Slight correction "Be our manager. We own you and will pay you for <insert length of contract>. If we decide we don't want to use you, we will still pay you, but we no longer own you" I don't know why you find this so s...

'Be our manager. We own you, until we decide that you're not wanted.' Be our manager, have lots of money, but feel free to just disappear if you get fed up, or find it a bit tough, or think the grass looks greener elsewhere Why are you so keen on making it a one sided deal ? You want the manager to...

'Be our manager. We own you, until we decide that you're not wanted.'

Going to speak to another employer is probably the clearest evidence you could have that someone is not 100% committed to their job ! I disagree. I'm almost constantly 'networking' with recruitment agents and speaking to other companies. And every morning I set up for work and (apart from the odd m...

Can confirm that wife's grandparents, who have secured tickets for tonight, have paid for those tickets, and that the money is not deducted from their retainer. They have been scammed then Tonight we are away at Sheffield Wed who are Tier 3 and not allowed fans yet.... Not tonight. Saturday. Obviou...

Can confirm that wife's grandparents, who have secured tickets for tonight, have paid for those tickets, and that the money is not deducted from their retainer.

I understand the difference perfectly, but thanks for your concern. My view is that money (i.e. the contract) buys day to day commitment to the role. If you can evidence that Clarke wasn't giving 100% to training, to motivating the players, to his analysis sessions with coaches and the data teams e...

I understand the difference perfectly, but thanks for your concern. My view is that money (i.e. the contract) buys day to day commitment to the role. If you can evidence that Clarke wasn't giving 100% to training, to motivating the players, to his analysis sessions with coaches and the data teams et...

So you would hope this should play nicely into the hands of clubs with decent academy setups. The price of an average academy graduate theoretically is going to increase. Could be good news for us. I mean, yeah, broadly for the English game, or for opportunities for young English players, this is g...

Yeah, he went to speak with them, then decided that actually Reading were better. But, once you've done that, you've marked your cards as being likely to leave when a better offer does turn up - you're not staying because you have a project you believe in, you're staying because something better ha...

Joleon Lescott comes out of retirement to join Racing Murcia in the Spanish 3rd div This is a very odd 'project'. Murcia is a club primarily of players from the region in Spain. Their owners want to increase the club's profile, which they want to do by signing lots of short-term deals with well-kno...

Didn't know Steve Shorey was still with us, a good bit of continuity.

Yeah, he went to speak with them, then decided that actually Reading were better. But, once you've done that, you've marked your cards as being likely to leave when a better offer does turn up - you're not staying because you have a project you believe in, you're staying because something better ha...

If anything sums up the mess that is VAR, it is the technology being used to disallow a Watkins goal correctly for offside, but the technology not being used to award a foul against the defender who was pulling him back and actually caused his body to move into an offside position.