Harrold and McDonald contracts?

[EastStandBlue]

Chaz was bought in to be a fox in the box striker but, unlike the conference, in League One you need more than just good reflexes and instincts to score goals. Barnard came in, scored goals, and pretty much ended Chaz's time here.

 

[Southend_Lady]

i spoke to matt harrold while he was boarding the coach after donny
he told me he had 1 year left, but was leaving anyway
said he had offers to joine other clubs ?!

own up, whos sunday league team was it ?!!!

Who's that then? FC No one.

 

[ian_the_girth]

Who's that then? FC No one.

i have always said if someone wanted to buy harrold from us...
if harrolds the answer, what was the question !?

 

[Andy_S]

They both do indeed have a year left.

Harrold had a fair bit of interest in January and we told him he could go, but he turned down in particular Wycombe and Brentford. Quite why he did, I don't know. He'll be a regular in League 2 next season no doubt.

As for Charlie. Well, I don't personally think he was given enough of a go at the start of the season. Had high hopes for him, but he appears to have drifted off, although I remember him being excellent alongside Barnard against Leeds in Jan. I would be surprised to see him here next year though as well.

 

[BoyWonder2]

On the Harrold front we rejected a couple of offers in the summer, and a couple more in January, I'm pretty sure they where all from League Two Clubs.

Never are good enough for a team that is looking at getting in the Championship. Both have the effort, for that I can't knock them, but the talent isn't there. Harrold could possibly develop into a fairly solid League Two striker as his young and the potential is there, whereas MacDonalds level is the conference as shown by his decent record at that level.

When they both leave, which I'm pretty sure will be this summer, I will wish them all the best.

 

[Streaky]

get rid, with Foran and Hooper - just not good enough for championship chasing side....

 

[Andy_S]

On the Harrold front we rejected a couple of offers in the summer, and a couple more in January, I'm pretty sure they where all from League Two Clubs.

We definitely didn't reject any in January. We told him to go and thought he would, but he chose not to. Still can't understand his decision.

 

[BoyWonder2]

We definitely didn't reject any in January. We told him to go and thought he would, but he chose not to. Still can't understand his decision.

I was led to believe we rejected at least one offer, I knew he was told to talk to Brentford and Wycombe, but I'm sure we rejected an offer from an un-named League Two Club. Thats what my source said anyways.

 

[ian_the_girth]

a very poor matt harrold abuse song, sorry...
to the tune of "king of the road" by roger miller

Striker for sale or rent
Goals he'll score, yeh, go get bent
No touch, no skill, no pace
I say he's a waste of space
Ah, but, two years of playing upfront
Buys a two goals per season, ginger lump
Striker, by means of no means
King harrold...

 

[Kristof]

Think Charlie Mac will stay and Harrold will be off, he's just not cut it, shame because as others have said he really put the effort in.

 

[KrustyTheKray]

Please get rid of them both Tilly - Both are tryers and I commend that but both are sadly cack and that is not acceptable in my book......

Spot on!

Get rid of this dead wood now.

 

[Medway Blue]

Get shot of Harrold, but I reckon C-Mac is worth keeping on.

 

[Firestorm]

Charlie Mac to Gillingham

Stimmo likes a player proven at Non League level and he came from Ebbsfleet....

 

[Sandbach Shrimper]

They can't be released if they still have a year on their existing contracts.

Did Black only have a year contract then?

 

[Mr. Benedict]

Did Black only have a year contract then?

I think so - a year's contract with an option for us to extend it if he did well IIRC.

MacDonald might be worth another year, however I agree that Harrold should be shipped out - he's just not proved to be good enough.

Whether he would have done better if the boo-boys hadn't jumped on his back when he didn't score for a while is another question though.

 

[Nobby Snide]

personally..keep charlie mac...enough said about Harrold

 

[Kris]

Harrold will surely leave soon and when he does, he'll go with my best wishes. Some of the abuse he received, both in the stands and on here, was scandalous at times - mainly because he isn't actually that bad a player at all. Sure, his lack of goals was disappointing but his movement off the ball was underrated, he won a lot of free kicks in dangerous areas and his use of the ball and willingness to take difficult balls on his chest and lay it off, rather than head the ball on aimlessly, was very impressive for a targetman at this level.

My reckoning is that Tilly brought Harrold in as a Plan B player from the bench - and let's not forget that he made a very decent contribution as a sub in the Championship in games against Norwich, West Brom, Leicester and Burnley - but due to the Ricketts situation and Paynter simply not fitting in, he was thrust into the deep end a bit too soon and a bit too often.

As for MacDonald, I think how he does in pre-season will determine his future. The fact that he and Hooper seem to constantly leapfrog each other in the pecking order suggests that Tilly has yet to make his mind up on either player. However, if Hooper pulls his weight in pre-season and bags a few goals I reckon MacDonald will be on his way - or at least loaned out.

I personally think Charlie Mac, while a very willing runner, is a yard off the pace at this level. I can see why he scored a hatful in the Conference but against cleverer defenders who anticipate his next move I think he struggles. Like Harrold, a move to a League 2 club beckons.

 

[Matt the Shrimp]

Harrold will surely leave soon and when he does, he'll go with my best wishes. Some of the abuse he received, both in the stands and on here, was scandalous at times - mainly because he isn't actually that bad a player at all. Sure, his lack of goals was disappointing but his movement off the ball was underrated, he won a lot of free kicks in dangerous areas and his use of the ball and willingness to take difficult balls on his chest and lay it off, rather than head the ball on aimlessly, was very impressive for a targetman at this level.

:clap:

My understanding was that Harrold is regularly identified by his team-mates as being one of the most able / talented members of the side in training, but when he steps out onto the pitch he falls to pieces because he is aware of the vilification that he is about to receive from the home stands.

I'm sure he'll move on for the sake of his own sense of well-being and sanity, as well as for the sake of his career. I would not be surprised to see Matt Harrold and Southend United playing at the same level of football for an extended period of time... he is not as bad, nor are we as good, as a lot of people seem to think.

As for Charlie Mac... can't say I ever saw anything from him in terms of pace or physique which would suggest that he has a career above League Two / Conference. Sorry Charlie.

Matt

 

[NZamba Legend]

:clap:

when he steps out onto the pitch he falls to pieces because he is aware of the vilification that he is about to receive from the home stands.


Matt

Sorry Matt you are not allowed to say this sort of thing anymore because since friday's conga we are now officially 'the best fans in the world'. In future, please do not forget that as Southend United fans we have only ever offered unrelenting support and have given nothing but encouragement to our team. Even when Harrold misses a penalty we keep cheering.

 

[A Century United]

:clap:

My understanding was that Harrold is regularly identified by his team-mates as being one of the most able / talented members of the side in training, but when he steps out onto the pitch he falls to pieces because he is aware of the vilification that he is about to receive from the home stands.

I'm sure he'll move on for the sake of his own sense of well-being and sanity, as well as for the sake of his career. I would not be surprised to see Matt Harrold and Southend United playing at the same level of football for an extended period of time... he is not as bad, nor are we as good, as a lot of people seem to think.

As for Charlie Mac... can't say I ever saw anything from him in terms of pace or physique which would suggest that he has a career above League Two / Conference. Sorry Charlie.

Matt

Exactly. Harrold has played much better in the past than he has been given credit for, and will do a very good job for another team. Blue Voice may be starting to turn things around on the terraces, but sadly too late for Matt. Hopefully Walker won't get the same treatment.