[Archived] Morten Gamst Pedersen

[XLM]

Bang on, especially with his tracking back. I do think one of the reasons he performs better in the centre is because when he is there its often in Dunn's role and he doesnt have to track back as much so his creative side comes out more.

Poor mans' Jason Wilcox, look at the stick he used to get. People often overlook defensive midfield play and the ability to continually track back does affect creativity. Worth hanging on to him.

His agent is an a***.

[colin]

Slowly but surely this is turning into the Lucas Neill thread where individuals turn vengeful for no reason. I guess it's a bit like a divorce for some when love can quickly turn to hate. A very peculiar human trait and difficult to comprehend.

As much as it hurts me & no doubt it hurts him, I agree with Thenodrog.

This thread is decending into a mindless slagging-off of MGP with unsubstantiated rumours of what he is asking for in his contract (details please someone - I think you haven't got any have you?)

MGP has been a stalwart for Rovers for many years, he's been a regular first team choice for all our managers since Souness signed him.

Perhaps it's not MPG who needs to address his performance, but possibly contributors to this board who are slavishly repeating the line that they got from their mates without actually seeing him in action.

For me, he's been a really good player for us for a number of years, OK, he hasn't slapped in one of those wonder free-kicks since the Peterborough game, but he's still a very useful player.

And just to repeat: no-one here knows why MGP & BRFC haven't come to an agreement yet. So it's probably a bit presumtious to slag him off for sopmething we know nothing about.

[AggyBlue]

This thread is decending into a mindless slagging-off of MGP with unsubstantiated rumours of what he is asking for in his contract (details please someone - I think you haven't got any have you?)

While he doesn't deserve the slagging, for the signing on fee that he'll want and the salary increase he'll want, I'm certain we could sign a far better player.

[DavidMailsTightPerm]

While he doesn't deserve the slagging, for the signing on fee that he'll want and the salary increase he'll want, I'm certain we could sign a far better player.

Who ? - and remember he has to have Premiership experience, be used to our style of play - and end up costing no more than MGP - oh and be less than 30 years old.

If we resigned MGP and he continues to improve as he has done this season - daft as it may sound - I could actually see us selling him on to a team like Sunderland (with more money than sense). To be honest at the time he was linked to money bags clubs like Tottingham - it was only because he had a run of spectacular goals - his overall play was no better or worse than it is now. His new role actually gives him more opportunities to score - so who is to say he couldn't repeat the goal scoring feats of a few seasons back next season.

[RibbleValleyRover]

For me, he's been a really good player for us for a number of years, OK, he hasn't slapped in one of those wonder free-kicks since the Peterborough game, but he's still a very useful player.

I'm sorry but I can't agree with that at all. Pedersen has had 5-6 decent games this season (solid but not spectacular), the rest of the time he has been a passenger in this side.

I don't see him as being a useful player at all. He can't play on the wing anymore because the quality of his final ball isn't good enough. So he now plays as a makeshift central midfielder, a role he doesn't excel at because he doesn't have the combative qualities to play as a tackling, battling midfielder nor does he have the attacking qualities (pace, ability to run with the ball, final ball, creative spark) to play as an attacking midfielder.

Taking into consideration his overall performances over the past 2-3 seasons rather than the 5-6 games this season does he really deserve a new 3 year contract? I don’t think so.

We won’t progress as a side in my view if Pedersen remains in the side. Our midfield is by far one of the worst in the league, he along with Andrews are two clear weak links and barriers towards any progression. Time to thank Pedersen for his service and let him go, it will benefit both the club and the individual.

If we resigned MGP and he continues to improve as he has done this season - daft as it may sound - I could actually see us selling him on to a team like Sunderland (with more money than sense). To be honest at the time he was linked to money bags clubs like Tottingham - it was only because he had a run of spectacular goals - his overall play was no better or worse than it is now. His new role actually gives him more opportunities to score - so who is to say he couldn't repeat the goal scoring feats of a few seasons back next season.

No clubs have shown a serious interest in Pedersen for some time. When he was offered and signed the new deal after Spurs were sniffing around he has been in decline ever since. He is now on a free contract, do you see loads of clubs racing to try and sign him? Clubs aren't thick, they do their homework on players by scouting them and looking at videos. They clearly have noticed that he is not the player he once was and that he peaked years ago.

Offering Pedersen a £30k+ deal for another 3 years in my view (going off the clear evidence he peaked years ago) means its more likely we will be stuck with a past it player for the full term of the contract and will be unable to shift him. Its just throwing money down the drain and goes against the club's vocal stance on trying to reduce the dominance of wages in our budget.

[AggyBlue]

Who ?

You might think he's worth a huge signing on fee and a salary hike, I don't think he's worth it.

As for who, that's up to Sam, I'm sure he has a book full of possibilities

[thenodrog]

You might think he's worth a huge signing on fee and a salary hike, I don't think he's worth it.

As for who, that's up to Sam, I'm sure he has a book full of possibilities

In fairness SA stated last year at Ewood that he wanted a smaller squad. The inference being players that can comfortably play in a number of positions rather than specialist replacements for each position. MGP easily fits that bill in midfield. And his throws and dead ball kicks increase his value to the squad.

[RoyRover]

I'm sorry but I can't agree with that at all. Pedersen has had 5-6 decent games this season (solid but not spectacular), the rest of the time he has been a passenger in this side.

I don't see him as being a useful player at all. He can't play on the wing anymore because the quality of his final ball isn't good enough. So he now plays as a makeshift central midfielder, a role he doesn't excel at because he doesn't have the combative qualities to play as a tackling, battling midfielder nor does he have the attacking qualities (pace, ability to run with the ball, final ball, creative spark) to play as an attacking midfielder.

Taking into consideration his overall performances over the past 2-3 seasons rather than the 5-6 games this season does he really deserve a new 3 year contract? I don’t think so.

We won’t progress as a side in my view if Pedersen remains in the side. Our midfield is by far one of the worst in the league, he along with Andrews are two clear weak links and barriers towards any progression. Time to thank Pedersen for his service and let him go, it will benefit both the club and the individual.

No clubs have shown a serious interest in Pedersen for some time. When he was offered and signed the new deal after Spurs were sniffing around he has been in decline ever since. He is now on a free contract, do you see loads of clubs racing to try and sign him? Clubs aren't thick, they do their homework on players by scouting them and looking at videos. They clearly have noticed that he is not the player he once was and that he peaked years ago.

Offering Pedersen a £30k+ deal for another 3 years in my view (going off the clear evidence he peaked years ago) means its more likely we will be stuck with a past it player for the full term of the contract and will be unable to shift him. Its just throwing money down the drain and goes against the club's vocal stance on trying to reduce the dominance of wages in our budget.

I agree with everything you've said. Our midfield is pathetic and is an area that has been consistently overlooked for a number of years now. People want Pedersen to stay because it is a cheaper option than buying an midfielder. Well Sam has stated that he wants two players in the summer a striker and a midfielder. If Pedersen leaves, the midfielder that Sam wants can fill his role. By Pedersen leaving, we can save on his reported £25,000+ weekly wages, which works out at a saving of over £3 million over 3 years. I too think that with him staying, we won't progess as a side. We will continue to hoof the ball up the pitch, hope to win a throw in, corner or free kick, which will then be lumped into the box and then maybe one of our players will be able to scramble it home. He is only in the team because of the way we play, which is a style we should be looking to move away from, as it is such a low percentage type of football.

[broadsword]

And his throws and dead ball kicks increase his value to the squad.

Not by much, surely?

[thenodrog]

Not by much, surely?

Well further to the case for the defence add the fact that he's left footed and decent in the air and to date definitely not injury prone and his cv increases in value. Grella and particulary Dunn are better players but how many matches do they miss? A hard headed manager of a team with limited finances would take him first over those two imo. Imagine £1.5m each per annum for the three of em .... and Grella and Dunn probably work out at 60-90k per appearance! Which club outside the Billy Big Times can afford that?

MGP's no Cec Fabregas or Paul Scholes but he does possess many qualities which managers with limited budgets will surely covet. His main problem which will not endear him to supporters with limited knowledge of football is that he is a jack of all trades and master of none. He does not have a really outstanding gift or talent but that should not detract from his worth to a squad.

Sometimes it's better and more enlightening to ask the opposition the worth of one of our players.

[RevidgeBlue]

Available in cloud Cuckoo land, special offer this week only for 10m.

That's a silly comment, Dunn scored ten this season and cost 1m + add ons.

I simply can't understand all the gooey sentimentality being shown towards MGP. He was superb at one time but simply hasn't performed for around three seasons. Not a complete disaster if he stays but for the 40kp.w. he's likely to be on I'd be surprised if we couldn't get someone in younger hungrier and more effective.

[RoyRover]

Still no word from Pedersen? Right, enough's enough. He was given a deadline of a couple of weeks ago to decide. This was then pushed back by another week to last Wednesday (not the Wednesday of this week) and still no decision. He's taking the p!$$ now and should be told to clear off. Thank him his service to the club, but the time has come to part ways.

[gumboots]

Still no word from Pedersen? Right, enough's enough. He was given a deadline of a couple of weeks ago to decide. This was then pushed back by another week to last Wednesday (not the Wednesday of this week) and still no decision. He's taking the p!$$ now and should be told to clear off. Thank him his service to the club, but the time has come to part ways.

You've decided so it will happen, eh? He can't do anything about signing for another club until the end of the season unless he goes abroad so why should he? I know it's frustrating for us and I'm as frustrated as anyone by the lack of committment he's showing, in that if he really wanted to sign and wasn't looking around he'd have done it by now, but there's little the club can do, other than tell him they are withdrawing their offer and he's free to find another club when his contract ends, which doesn't really advance us at all, because unless we sign a freebie from abroad to fill his space, there's nothing we can do anyway.

[Rovermatt]

but there's little the club can do, other than tell him they are withdrawing their offer and he's free to find another club when his contract ends.

That sounds like a plan.

[RoyRover]

You've decided so it will happen, eh?... but there's little the club can do, other than tell him they are withdrawing their offer and he's free to find another club when his contract ends.

Yep, I have a direct line to JW, and have said that his time is up. Don't be daft. It's no different from someone saying that we should sign Jamie O'Hara or whoever. It doesn't mean it will happen. Yes, the club should just withdraw the offer.

[nottsrover]

I've just spent some time catching up on this thread. While I'm not a massive MGP fan, keeping him is surely a better option than letting him go for free for the following reasons:

1. MGP is proven at Premiership level. Those who say that he is a passenger should bear in mind that the only midfielder who has played more games in the Premiership this season is Nzoni (by a single game). Are we really saying that the other 10 BRFC players carried us through the season - what utter rubbish. One could argue that Dunn has been more of a passenger than MGP this season, having only started 19 games and been a total passenger in some of those due to the injuries he has carried (Burnley away is a prime example)

2. No-one has been able to suggest an adequate replacement for MGP who would cost the same/less money. If we can't find someone better why would we want to let him go?

3. We complain about the lack of loyalty amongst players these days. Loyalty is a two way street - MGP has been with the club for six seasons now and has provided many of the highlights of watching BRFC over that time. Why would we not want him to stay?

My 2p worth...

[Majiball]

I'm sure its been asked before, but can we have a poll on this?

[Kelbo]

I'm sure its been asked before, but can we have a poll on this?

I wonder what the price would be for a player who delivers all the dead ball situations, throw ins and despite what anyone says, works so hard for the team, he covers more ground than any other Rovers player!

Can play in a number of roles, which is what the manager wants (versatility)and still chips in with the odd goal or two!

£5,000,000 to £10,000,000 at a guess.

[Tim Southampton Rover]

If he does play his last game today then I hope we give him the biggest cheer this afternoon. Overall his time at Blackburn has been good and he's given me many moments of joy (and a few grey hairs!). Good luck to him!

[Majiball]

I wonder what the price would be for a player who delivers all the dead ball situations, throw ins and despite what anyone says, works so hard for the team, he covers more ground than any other Rovers player!

Can play in a number of roles, which is what the manager wants (versatility)and still chips in with the odd goal or two!

£5,000,000 to £10,000,000 at a guess.

At least, if not more. We need an extra midfielder especially since Dunn is so hot N cold, to play alongside Gamst and N'zonzi.

If he does play his last game today then I hope we give him the biggest cheer this afternoon. Overall his time at Blackburn has been good and he's given me many moments of joy (and a few grey hairs!). Good luck to him!

I would hope so too, but given what's written on here I doubt that would happen even if we did know what was going on.

[Tyrone Shoelaces]

I'm sorry but I can't agree with that at all. Pedersen has had 5-6 decent games this season (solid but not spectacular), the rest of the time he has been a passenger in this side.

I don't see him as being a useful player at all. He can't play on the wing anymore because the quality of his final ball isn't good enough. So he now plays as a makeshift central midfielder, a role he doesn't excel at because he doesn't have the combative qualities to play as a tackling, battling midfielder nor does he have the attacking qualities (pace, ability to run with the ball, final ball, creative spark) to play as an attacking midfielder.

Taking into consideration his overall performances over the past 2-3 seasons rather than the 5-6 games this season does he really deserve a new 3 year contract? I don’t think so.

We won’t progress as a side in my view if Pedersen remains in the side. Our midfield is by far one of the worst in the league, he along with Andrews are two clear weak links and barriers towards any progression. Time to thank Pedersen for his service and let him go, it will benefit both the club and the individual.

No clubs have shown a serious interest in Pedersen for some time. When he was offered and signed the new deal after Spurs were sniffing around he has been in decline ever since. He is now on a free contract, do you see loads of clubs racing to try and sign him? Clubs aren't thick, they do their homework on players by scouting them and looking at videos. They clearly have noticed that he is not the player he once was and that he peaked years ago.

Offering Pedersen a £30k+ deal for another 3 years in my view (going off the clear evidence he peaked years ago) means its more likely we will be stuck with a past it player for the full term of the contract and will be unable to shift him. Its just throwing money down the drain and goes against the club's vocal stance on trying to reduce the dominance of wages in our budget.

Re my last post. What I meant to add was I agree with every word of that. Sorry for the glitch.

[Amo]

1. MGP is proven at Premiership level. Those who say that he is a passenger should bear in mind that the only midfielder who has played more games in the Premiership this season is Nzoni (by a single game). Are we really saying that the other 10 BRFC players carried us through the season - what utter rubbish. One could argue that Dunn has been more of a passenger than MGP this season, having only started 19 games and been a total passenger in some of those due to the injuries he has carried (Burnley away is a prime example)

Pedersen is consistently picked because we play the percentage game, and apparently he's our only set-piece taker and has that "deadly" throw of his - even though his success rate is considerably poor. If he was such a proven Premier League midfielder, how come none of the bigger clubs have snapped him up with a better offer?

2. No-one has been able to suggest an adequate replacement for MGP who would cost the same/less money. If we can't find someone better why would we want to let him go?

Possibly because most of us don't have our own scouting network or football agent phonebook.

3. We complain about the lack of loyalty amongst players these days. Loyalty is a two way street - MGP has been with the club for six seasons now and has provided many of the highlights of watching BRFC over that time. Why would we not want him to stay?

You've said it yourself - loyalty is a two-way street. Pedersen has managed to take home a healthy wage for years despite perennial underachievement.

[MarkBRFC71]

Sometimes it's better and more enlightening to ask the opposition the worth of one of our players.

The fact that no other Premiership team seems interested would seem to suggest he's not really worth that much - perhaps their scouts also see the lack of heart and commitment, half-arsed performances, poor free-kicks and corners, and unwillingness to get stuck in that most Rovers fans see, and decide to look elsewhere?

The Pedersen of 3 or years ago I would snap up straight away - the current version I wouldn't offer £3k a week, never mind the alleged £30k. Time to move on, and move him on.

[RoyRover]

3. We complain about the lack of loyalty amongst players these days. Loyalty is a two way street - MGP has been with the club for six seasons now and has provided many of the highlights of watching BRFC over that time. Why would we not want him to stay?

The club have shown him loyalty by offering him a new contract he doesn't deserve. They set a two deadlines for him to decide, but he seems to have totally ignored both of them. The highlights he provided were in his first three seasons. Since the spectacular goals dried up, he has done little else over the past three years to justify him signing a huge long term contract.

[alexanders]

I think his premier league experience and freekicks/corners will be hard to replace.

I am very split over if I want him to sign a new contract or not.