[Archived] Morten Gamst Pedersen

[Eddie]

He doesn't strike me as the kind of person who would play just for a contract, so I have no doubt that if we can keep his confidence up and give him this same role in the team that his form will continue.

[T4E]

One possible reason Pedersen is looking more like his old self is that McCarthy has left the club.

McCarthy used to spend 60 per cent of a match wandering offside and the other 40 per cent berating Pedersen. I watched McCarthy do it so many times that in the end I think Pedersen suffered a huge loss of confidence.

A revitalised Pedersen is another reason to celebrate McCarthy leaving Ewood.

Thats probably a pretty decent observation Jim.

However, if a circa £40k a week footballer can go from being touted around at £10m to it being debatable if he's worth a new contract at all, just because one of his team mates is giving him a hard time, then he's not the sort of character we want or need at this football club.

Just further evidence that Pedersen has no bottle.

[mellison24]

Thats probably a pretty decent observation Jim.

However, if a circa £40k a week footballer can go from being touted around at £10m to it being debatable if he's worth a new contract at all, just because one of his team mates is giving him a hard time, then he's not the sort of character we want or need at this football club.

Just further evidence that Pedersen has no bottle.

Personally, I think it's a very valid point. Unless it's one of those things that makes so much sense that it can't be right haha.

[T4E]

I don't dispute its validity, but how has Pedersen allowed McCarthy to get to him so much that he turned so sh!t?

Man up, for f**k sake.

[mellison24]

I don't dispute its validity, but how has Pedersen allowed McCarthy to get to him so much that he turned so sh!t?

Man up, for f**k sake.

Yeah, I guess. I wouldn't call it the only factor though. Maybe the Benni situation, Bentley getting set piece responsiblity and being told to be more defensive by Hughes all culminated into a massive ball of shitness and a black hole in terms of confidence. Now with the last remaining influence gone, he's been 'freed'. There's something about this evident 'rise and fall' that suggests he (as you say) DOES need to man-up. But a lack of confidence really can cripple a man. Thje only one who knows what's really hapopened is him

[S15]

What did MGP ever do when he was on 'form.'

Score screamers..

...

...

.....

That was always going to stop. He's not dropped form at all since he's been here, he just stopped scoring.

[Eddie]

That's not true at all. His main contribution at the time was the remarkable number of goals that he was scoring from midfield, but his all-round play was still better than what it was up until recently. He was trying nothing, losing the ball, misplacing the majority of his passes, the quality of his set-pieces had dropped dramatically as had his crosses.

[mellison24]

That's not true at all. His main contribution at the time was the remarkable number of goals that he was scoring from midfield, but his all-round play was still better than what it was up until recently. He was trying nothing, losing the ball, misplacing the majority of his passes, the quality of his set-pieces had dropped dramatically as had his crosses.

Agreed, and I think the point in bold is the main reason for his lack of goals. I may be wrong, but he seems to have scored mkore free-kicks in his career than from open play. But even so, this is probably a big factor in his goal drought.

[SergioPeter89]

http://www.espn.co.uk/football/sport/story/9069.html?CMP=OTC-RSS

Looks like he is set to sign a new contract.

[LeChuck]

http://www.espn.co.uk/football/sport/story/9069.html?CMP=OTC-RSS

Looks like he is set to sign a new contract.

I think that's good news, only because we really don't have money to buy anyone else. I think we still desperately need to add a quality wide player. Personally I see his role being as cover for all three attacking midfield positions, rather than being first choice in one.

Deviating a little bit, but I'm thinking where this leaves us needing reinforcements in terms of what the squad is going to look like.

GK : Robbo, Bunn, Brown, Fielding

DF : Salgado, Jacobsen, Chimbonda, Nelsen, Samba, Jones, Givet, Olsson

CMF: N'Zonzi, Grella, Andrews, Emerton

AMF: Diouf, Pedersen, Dunn, Hoilett

FW : Kalinic, Roberts

It's looking quite promising actually. I think we need a skilful goal-scoring midfielder (Ibricic?), a deep-lying playmaker and a striker to compete with Kalinic and Roberts.

Aside from that we look fairly well balanced. Ideally we'd move on Grella or Andrews though.

[RibbleValleyRover]

Cross your fingers then that after signing the contract he doesn't revert to the Pedersen of recent years otherwise we are stuck with a donkey of a player for 3 years on £40k+ per week.

[S15]

If his contract is worth anywhere near £40,000 a week some people's positions at the club need a serious good looking at.

[RibbleValleyRover]

If his contract is worth anywhere near £40,000 a week some people's positions at the club need a serious good looking at.

We gave him a nice contract when Spurs were after him for £10 million plus, he must be one of our biggest earners.

[super_arran]

If his contract is worth anywhere near £40,000 a week some people's positions at the club need a serious good looking at.

Wasn't it said that McCarthy's contract just before he made the move to West Ham was £35,000 p/w?

Wasn't he our highest earner?

so to say Pedersen's on £40,000 is a bit off

[Hughesy]

Wasn't it said that McCarthy's contract just before he made the move to West Ham was £35,000 p/w?

Wasn't he our highest earner?

so to say Pedersen's on £40,000 is a bit off

I think Pedersen is & was our highest earner....We offered to break that for RSC & Bentley. RSC took the money, but left not long after, Bentley didnt!

[super_arran]

I think Pedersen is & was our highest earner....We offered to break that for RSC & Bentley. RSC took the money, but left not long after, Bentley didnt!

See I don't reckon he is.

He came from a nowhere league in Norway, so his first contract would not have been more than £15,000 - £20,000 p/w

He gets a new contract when Spurs come sniffing.

I seriously doubt we would double his wage.

It just doesn't see plausible.

That's my take on it anyway.

[BigUts]

Really hope he stays. As i've said previously, even when he isn't playing well, he tries and constantly asks for the ball - which is more than can be said for a LOT of other players either in our squad or indeed within our price bracket. When on form, he's great. Has a good touch, decent amount of creativity, and takes all of our set pieces well.

He looks more comfortable in the middle, as I think he likes the pace to beat a man on the outside.

For the point about long throws, it creates problems for the opposition defence and puts us on the front foot. We also seem to be mixing that up a bit more now though - which is less predictable and provides another dimension for attack.

[Hughesy]

The problem with Pedersen is that for the last 2 1/2 years he has been sh!te - however for the last 3 months we have seen a big improvement....hopefully its the new position and not the new contract that is helping his performances.

It saves us a problem of having to find a replacement, and it allows us to protect an asset and not lose him for free this summer.

[Billy Castell]

I'd like to congratulate Morten on winning silver in the Women's skeleton in Canada.

[doctorryan]

I thought he was in Women's Cross Country Skiing.

[Look4Me]

I thought he was in Women's Cross Country Skiing.

If you could see her muscles you would never think it was MGP

[Majiball]

Another good game yesterday from Morten. His form recently has been much improved and he's doing well on the inside.

SO playing for a contract, or playing with more confidence?

Answers on a postcard. Or a poll? keep or not?

[Hughesy]

Keep id say - would cost a fair bit to get a player of his ability....heavily performance related pay!

[Bobby G]

It will never be performance related. He doesnt have to resign with us. He will have to agree possibly a similar if not 10-15% pay increase. This could be the last major contract of his career.

[tcj_jones]

After the booing he has received this season, could you blame him for not wanting to sign?