[Archived] Golden Oldies

[Hughesy]

Just been having a look at the contract situation of our club ……it seems we have a number of very experienced players coming to an end.

Are the following Golden oldies effectively finished as premier league players? Are they past it and injury prone? Would you offer to renew any of the contracts?

They say you can’t win anything with Kids so do we need to retain some of these experienced players?

Vince Grella (Expires summer 2012)

David Dunn (Expires summer 2012)

Michel Salgado (Expires summer 2012)

Jason Roberts (Expires summer 2012)

Ryan Nelsen (Contract till 2013)

There are then 2 other experienced players who only have 12 months left on their deal and probably very unlikely to sign a new one, so it’s a case of should we sell them for something or lose them for nothing

Gael Givet – 2013

Keith Andrews - 2013

[DE.]

None of them are worth retaining past their contract expiry. No club would pay any decent amount of money for any of them with their contracts expiring so might as well keep them until the end then let them go. I'd offer Salgado and Nelsen coaching positions should they no longer want to play at the end of their contracts... I'd arrest Grella for fraud and demand he pay back the wages he's stolen from us.

[Laurence]

We should make Salgado the manager (and bring back Tugay as his assistant).

[Grez]

Gael Givet only for me.

[Hughesy]

But would Givet sign again after being unsettled + his tax issue?! I doubt he would!

[davulsukur]

No to:

Grella

Sally

Roberts

Probably not too Nelly either. If his contract doesn't expire till 2013.

Dunny maybe, Flog Andrews and try and tie Givet down to a new deal.

[Muddboy]

I would only try to re-sign Nelsen (in some kind of defensive coaching capacity) and Givet as a player.

Mind you, I think Nelly will clear off back to NZ when his contract is up and I also expect Givet to depart back to France.

As for the rest? They can all clear off. No loss.

[m1st]

Of those five, Grella's the biggest enigma. How can anyone be so injury-prone?! And with such a variety of injuries, too. If we could be guaranteed a season where we could get [say] 30 - 35 games out of him, I'd offer him a 12-month extension because I think that a fully-fit Grella [never thought I'd write those two words side by side!] could offer us something which nobody else in the squad does.

Regrettably, I don't think we could offer Dunny an extension. He doesn't seem to be able these days to manage a full match - as one of my neighbours in the Riverside said the other week, "He's a substitution waiting to happen."

Roberts; no chance; let him focus on developing his media career.

Salgado; I wouldn't give him another playing contract after this season but I've been impressed by some of the things he's said so I'd want to explore with him whether he'd be interested in taking the first steps on a coaching/managerial career with us.

Nelsen; broadly similar to Salgado. I'd keep his playing contract until it expires and again I'd be asking him to think seriously about continuing his development as a coach here. It was obvious from what he said in the "E-males" feature in the programme for the Arsenal game that he's fond of the club and feels a loyalty towards us. I don't suppose he'll stay with us forever but it'd be good to have him around as someone the younger players could continue to respect.

I'm not sure about Givet; he's only just turned 30 so I think that I'd offer him another [say] 2-year contract.

As for Andrews, he's now 31 and, if Ipswich came in with a decent offer at the end of his loan period, I'd bite their hands off.

Mind you, if the worst comes to pass at the end of the season, we'll be playing next season at what is probably Andrews' level and we might need him?

I was interested not to see MGP on your list, Hughesy. He's also now 30 but I'm not sure how much longer he has on his contract. He is such a frustrating player, imo; so again I'm not sure what our best course of action would be so far as he's concerned.

[Hughesy]

MGP has got a big contract that's why I didn't add him mate.

[Steve Kean's Hypnotoad]

Grella - No. Too injury prone to be worth much and has been useless for us.

Dunn - Yes. His ability when fit is worth the gamble. Still our most gifted creative midfielder as the 09/10 season proved.

Salgado - Yes. 36 on Friday and age seems to be finally catching up with him. However as the only right-back currently at the club he'd be cover even if we sign a new one.

Roberts - Yes. Like it or not he's still our first choice striker when playing 4-5-1. Yakubu is too static and Goodwillie is too small.

Nelsen - Yes. Another who'll be pushing 35 by next season but at centre half I don't think it matters as much and he's a good un.

Givet - Yes. No reason not to.

Andrews - Probably not. Better than Petrovic has been so far but the angry mob has spoken and he's already been hounded out, unlikely to play for us again.

Also I'd only have Dunn, Salgado, Roberts and Nelsen on 1-year rolling contracts.

[chaddyrovers]

The only one I would keep would be Nelsen as a Player/Coach role.

I reckon Givet will go back France.

I think Salgado will retire at the end of this season and will go back to Spain.

But I will let Roberts, Grella and Dunn all go for me.

[LeChuck]

If we're in the Championship then none of them will be getting a new deal.

[DE.]

If we're in the Championship then none of them will be getting a new deal.

Ironically most of them would probably be far more effective in the championship and worth a new contract.

[RibbleValleyRover]

None of them would be getting new contracts.

[Andy]

I would only try to re-sign Nelsen (in some kind of defensive coaching capacity) and Givet as a player.

Mind you, I think Nelly will clear off back to NZ when his contract is up and I also expect Givet to depart back to France.

As for the rest? They can all clear off. No loss.

Agreed with this.

It would be nice to retain Nelsen in a coaching role, if he was interested.

[Steve Moss]

Are the following Golden oldies effectively finished as premier league players? Are they past it and injury prone? Would you offer to renew any of the contracts?

They say you can’t win anything with Kids so do we need to retain some of these experienced players?

Vince Grella (Expires summer 2012)

David Dunn (Expires summer 2012)

Michel Salgado (Expires summer 2012)

Jason Roberts (Expires summer 2012)

Ryan Nelsen (Contract till 2013)

There are then 2 other experienced players who only have 12 months left on their deal and probably very unlikely to sign a new one, so it’s a case of should we sell them for something or lose them for nothing

Gael Givet – 2013

Keith Andrews - 2013

None of them as players. Let their contracts expire.

Nelsen and Salgado might be worth keeping in a coaching capacity. But with the way our luck seems to be going (bad), we'd wind up with Roberts and Dunn.

We should make Salgado the manager (and bring back Tugay as his assistant).

Other way around and we have a management team.

[Steve Kean's Hypnotoad]

Don't really get why so many fans would be happy to just dump most of these players. There seems to be a growing obsession with youth but experience counts for a hell of a lot and a lot of these guys were far better players in their prime than most of our current side.

When we had Dunn, Salgado, Nelsen, Givet and in parts Andrews and Roberts in the team we were a top half side. Now we're a bottom 3 side. Granted the difference in managers plays a big part but I'd also say we've had a lowering in the quality of our players. The old guard in their prime were generally worth about double the £2-3m Kean has signed his batch of unproven youngsters for this summer.

Most of these players will still be in their early 30s when their contracts are up and can still contribute.

[chaddyrovers]

I would get rid if Grella and Dunn because they are too injury prone and don't play enough games through the season.

Roberts isn't PL standard any more sadly. Be a good servant tho to the club.

Givet might want to go back to France. If not then I would give him a new contract for 2 years.

Salgado has been a good player for us. But his legs have gone this season. I would try to keep him at rovers in a coaching role with the Rovers academy or reserve team!

[Roversi]

None of them, i'd like to retain Salgado and Nelsen in scouting roles for Spain/NZ,Aus with the options of them coaching here etc etc.

Even if we offered Nelsen a contract i think he has his heart set on a return down under when his contact expires so either way i dont think he will be here after then.

definatly would love to see Salgado stay at the club in some capacity.

[Amo]

Could you really make an argument for any of them?

They're all either crippled or too old for top-flight football. And they're on top whack, as well.

No one's saying we field a team of kids, but we're not saying keep a bunch of has-beens either.

[Doug]

Nelsen, Dunn and Grella too injury prone. Dunny and possibly Nelsen to Brockhall.

Givet - sell or let contract run out, NEVER been good enough for prem!

Salgado - with his consent, send doing his badges, has pedigree to be a decent manager.

Roberts - He is the best of the worst set of strikers I can remember (John O'Mara excluded).

Andrews - arguably better, less injury prone, quicker and more effective than our current selection. (ironicaly couldn't wait to get shut of him 10 months ago).

[Baz]

I'd give Givet a 2 year deal and Nelson 12 months (as cover), others are past it.

Salgado is going back to Spain.

[SIMON GARNERS 194]

None.

All of them are either too old or simply not good enough anymore...a damning indictment on the overall strength and quality of our side.

[Doug]

None.

All of them are either too old or simply not good enough anymore...a damning indictment on the overall strength and quality of our side.

Agreed, our least competitive squad in years!

[Sparky Marky]

I'd give Givet a 2 year deal and Nelson 12 months (as cover), others are past it.

Salgado is going back to Spain.

Unbelievable comment on Givet. There's better players on our back field. Truly awful and completely knackered..