2024/25 Ins & Outs Discussion

[David]

2 hours ago, joewarkfanclub said:

Theo stays another year, develops more, a Championship club come in with a big offer next close season and he moves on to bigger wages in a really strong position to hold down his place and we gain a significant fee.

Everyone is happy.

Or, to play devil's advocate, Theo stays another year, doesn't replicate his form, interest in him dwindles, and the club loses a potential million-pound transfer fee, and the player loses the chance to sign a multi-year contract at substantially higher wages.

No one is happy.

[joewarkfanclub]

11 minutes ago, David said:

Or, to play devil's advocate, Theo stays another year, doesn't replicate his form, interest in him dwindles, and the club loses a potential million-pound transfer fee, and the player loses the chance to sign a multi-year contract at substantially higher wages.

No one is happy.

Why cut out the last line of my post that qualified my comment?

I agree, a million pounds for someone that looked like a "sem-pro" player a year ago is good business! 😉

[David]

14 minutes ago, joewarkfanclub said:

I agree, a million pounds for someone that looked like a "sem-pro" player a year ago is good business! 😉

It's outstanding business, and one thing we need to consider is how Theo himself would feel. Whatever he's earning just now, it's fairly safe to say that any club that puts £750,000-£1 million on the table is going to offer him the kind of wages he very likely never thought he'd get.

I'll be interested to see how he does in the next few seasons wherever he goes because as good as he's been this year, it still doesn't change the fact that before this season, he scored 8 goals in 94 games, an average of 0.08 goals per game. 

Either it all suddenly clicked for him at the age of 24, and he's now a double-digit goalscorer per season, Kettlewell is the striker-whisperer and succeeded where 3 or 4 other managers failed, or it's a fluke season. 

I'd rather find out the answer to that question from afar while Motherwell is close to a million quid richer.

[David]

13 minutes ago, wellgirl said:

We could say the same about Lennon Miller who extended his contract by a year. Folk seemed to be quite happy to keep him for another season.

Lennon is an entirely different proposition. He's looked like a top prospect since he was a kid, which is why he made his debut less than a week after his 16th birthday. 

He's got obvious quality, and barring an unforeseen injury or something along those lines, his form isn't likely to suddenly dip. He isn't a one-season wonder at this point. He's far more likely to improve than I'd say Theo is.

[joewarkfanclub]

2 minutes ago, David said:

It's outstanding business, and one thing we need to consider is how Theo himself would feel. Whatever he's earning just now, it's fairly safe to say that any club that puts £750,000-£1 million on the table is going to offer him the kind of wages he very likely never thought he'd get.

I'll be interested to see how he does in the next few seasons wherever he goes because as good as he's been this year, it still doesn't change the fact that before this season, he scored 8 goals in 94 games, an average of 0.08 goals per game. 

Either it all suddenly clicked for him at the age of 24, and he's now a double-digit goalscorer per season, Kettlewell is the striker-whisperer and succeeded where 3 or 4 other managers failed, or it's a fluke season. 

I'd rather find out the answer to that question from afar while Motherwell is close to a million quid richer.

Ketts is the striker whisperer for sure!

Just look at KVV!

Hopefully we are a million quid to the good and he can get a tune out of Ollie Shaw! 😆😆😆

[David]

Just now, joewarkfanclub said:

Ketts is the striker whisperer for sure!

Just look at KVV!

Hopefully we are a million quid to the good and he can get a tune out of Ollie Shaw! 😆😆😆

There's only so much even Kettlewell can do!

But aye, I'd take the money, thank Theo for his time and efforts, congratulate him on his significant wage rise, and then try to find the next diamond in the rough or "project."

[David]

Just now, wellgirl said:

I agree with you. But I don't think Theo is a one season wonder. He's put in a lot of graft to improve his game. That's very clear. He spoke about the work he's done with the club to improve. 

At this point in time, he's the very epitome of a one-season wonder. If he goes on to replicate his performances and goalscoring exploits next season, then he won't be, but at this particular moment in time? He's done what he's done for one season. 

I sincerely hope he progresses upwards and onwards wherever he's playing in the next few years. He seems like a nice guy, and I hope we're not talking about him in years to come as that guy who scored a lot of goals for one season before disappearing into obscurity shortly after.

[wellfan97]

Shaun Rooney signs for St Mirren so puts an end to those rumours. Would've taken him here.

 

https://www.stmirren.com/all-news/5417-shaun-rooney-becomes-first-new-signing-ahead-of-2024-25

[steelboy]

I really thought there was a chance we were going to get rid of O'Donnell as well.  Maybe next year.

[David]

6 hours ago, steelboy said:

I really thought there was a chance we were going to get rid of O'Donnell as well.  Maybe next year.

Well, his contract is up at the end of this month as far as I know, so you may very well get your wish.

[Kmcalpin]

Whatever his strengths, SK has been unable to fortify our defence and defensive midfield this season. Hopefully this will be addressed over the summer, but given his track record in this regard we simply cannot afford any "projects". Within budget contraints, we need to bring in solid reliable defenders and a solid defensive midfielder. 

[joewarkfanclub]

On 5/15/2024 at 10:45 AM, wellfan97 said:

Shaun Rooney signs for St Mirren so puts an end to those rumours. Would've taken him here.

 

https://www.stmirren.com/all-news/5417-shaun-rooney-becomes-first-new-signing-ahead-of-2024-25

Thats a shame. Would have liked to have had him on board.

Definitely the type of defender we should be going for imho.

[robsterwood]

1 hour ago, joewarkfanclub said:

Thats a shame. Would have liked to have had him on board.

Definitely the type of defender we should be going for imho.

Not overly impressed by Rooney 

[mothman]

On 5/14/2024 at 9:48 PM, David said:

It's outstanding business, and one thing we need to consider is how Theo himself would feel. Whatever he's earning just now, it's fairly safe to say that any club that puts £750,000-£1 million on the table is going to offer him the kind of wages he very likely never thought he'd get.

I'll be interested to see how he does in the next few seasons wherever he goes because as good as he's been this year, it still doesn't change the fact that before this season, he scored 8 goals in 94 games, an average of 0.08 goals per game. 

Either it all suddenly clicked for him at the age of 24, and he's now a double-digit goalscorer per season, Kettlewell is the striker-whisperer and succeeded where 3 or 4 other managers failed, or it's a fluke season. 

I'd rather find out the answer to that question from afar while Motherwell is close to a million quid richer.

I think your facts here on Theo Bair's appearances/goals record prior to joining us can be a bit misleading to be fair. If you take a closer look at those appearances - he only averaged about 35mins over the 90-odd games with many coming off the bench. So if going by 'per 90-mins' - he actually averaged a goal every 4.5 games, give or take.

My point being that up until this season, he has never had a proper run of games at pro level. He's been on an upward trajectory, personally I'd prefer if we managed to keep him at Fir Park and try to extend his deal on improved terms with a view to sell after next season.

[texanwellfan]

So who do we currently have that will be with us next season? 
can one of the mods pin a list of players we currently have for next season, to the top of this thread? Kinda like the man of the match thing. Maybe anyone can do it but I have no clue. Would be nice to have that very handy reference and update as we go. 

[wellfan]

24 minutes ago, texanwellfan said:

So who do we currently have that will be with us next season? 
can one of the mods pin a list of players we currently have for next season, to the top of this thread? Kinda like the man of the match thing. Maybe anyone can do it but I have no clue. Would be nice to have that very handy reference and update as we go. 

Check the first post on this topic.

[texanwellfan]

1 hour ago, wellfan said:

Check the first post on this topic.

Thanks! Being a lazy git it would be nice to have it like the MoTM

im assuming we have some offers pending to some of the out of contract players? Would be nice to see some players beyond 2025. 

[David]

Out of contract (1st team squad)

• Liam Kelly
• Aston Oxborough
• Bevis Mugabi
• Ricki Lamie
• Stephen O'Donnell
• Callan Elliot
• Paul McGinn
• Barry Maguire
• Calum Butcher
• Callum Slattery
• Sam Nicholson
• Blair Spittal (signed pre-contract with Hearts)
• Jonathan Obika
• Mark Ferrie

So, with the season about done, who would you want to keep from that lot? Obviously Spittal is offski, but from the rest?

[The African]

McGinn, Nicholson and maybe Ferrie.

[grizzlyg]

11 minutes ago, wellgirl said:

Slattery. Nicolson. McGinn. O'Donnell. Possibly Ferrie. 

Snap

[Kmcalpin]

1 hour ago, David said:

Out of contract (1st team 

Ewan Wilson?

[David]

1 hour ago, Kmcalpin said:

Ewan Wilson?

Yeah, as I said in the first post, there's a number of younger players but I didn't add them to the list. I'm talking mostly about first team players.

[steelman1991]

Lamie and Elliott have already moved on.

[Spit_It_Out]

If we offer terms to Obika,Butcher or Maguire basically throwing away money and wouldn’t bode well for me what other grand plans were in store.

McGinn 100 percent,SOD for back up role,If we get two wing backs to complement each other then Bair will score 20 plus goals next season easy!

 

[Big Wispy Flossy]

Offer a contract to mcginn for another year, the rest out of contract can go. Try and get gent back next season and if rumours are true about Halliday signed for next year find a way to find him another club.

the rebuild needs to be better than last years.