Mark Gower to the Owls ?

[DTS]

Not good news this. Mark Gower is in my view one of the most gifted players we have. Whilst i'm not sure he'd be an automatic choice at SWFC it would be a good move for him. Lets's hope Ron is as good as his word and we prove not to be a selling club.

Is that why you always scream "Gower you lazy *******" at him each week?

:finger:

 

[EastStandBlue]

Hammell is a great left back at this level, and i seriously question the judgement of people who think otherwise. Pacy, Good going forward, a good tackler and a threat from set pieces... Being good in the air for a small lad is an advantage and just improves his game. Left backs don't come cheap, Good left backs that come on a free are actually impossible to find.

I'm not knocking Gower, I think he's done a great job this season... I just think he won't be the most tragic loss to our side.

JCR would do a hell of a lot better if, when he actually got to the byline, there was actually a forward in the box to aim for. People say he has no end product, but if you watch him, he gets there... looks up... and there is nobody to aim for. There's no point in delivering a ball, It'll just get cleared, so JCR is forced to hold the ball up waiting for someone to hit the box.

Eastwoods game is all about running at goal with the ball at his feet, and Bradbury just hasn't got the legs to hit the box as fast as JCR can. That's my view on things anyway... But as I'm not a member of the Mark Gower Fan Club i'm sure i'm an idiot.

 

[Yorkshire Blue]

Hammell is a great left back at this level, and i seriously question the judgement of people who think otherwise. Pacy, Good going forward, a good tackler and a threat from set pieces... Being good in the air for a small lad is an advantage and just improves his game. Left backs don't come cheap, Good left backs that come on a free are actually impossible to find.

Hammell came on a free, so as its impossible to find good left-backs on a free, he can't by that logic be a good left-back!

Seriously, I know he delivers a dangerous set-piece, but I'm not convinced he is great going forward. Sure, he's an improvement on Che Wilson going forward, but he is overly reliant on pumping the long ball forward for my liking.

Defensively, again he is an upgrade on Che by virtue of the fact he doesn't soil himself every time someone looks to run at him. I haven't heard Hammell described as pacy before, and I think he is weak in the air. Che was someone who was good in the air for his height.

I'm not knocking Gower, I think he's done a great job this season... I just think he won't be the most tragic loss to our side.

JCR would do a hell of a lot better if, when he actually got to the byline, there was actually a forward in the box to aim for. People say he has no end product, but if you watch him, he gets there... looks up... and there is nobody to aim for. There's no point in delivering a ball, It'll just get cleared, so JCR is forced to hold the ball up waiting for someone to hit the box.

Even when JCR gets in good positions and crosses it, he doesn't look a good crosser. Wayne Gray, Mitchell Cole for example whipped in dangerous balls to the danger areas. JCR doesn't whip the ball in dangerously, nor is he one to pick someone out like Gower looks to do.

 

[Beefy]

Hmmmm, I thought this might happen. I suppose all clubs look at teams who have been relegated and see if they can take any bargains and with ten goals to his name and, realistically, a modest price-tag, Mark Gower stands out a mile.

I think this would be a devastating blow for us. For all the love that Kevin Maher gets on here, Gower is the true heart-beat of the side IMO. Most of our best attacking moves start with him and he's also the player most likely to finish them off. In terms of vision, creativity, first-touch and passing ability over both long and short range, Gower is streets ahead of the other midfielders that we have. Replacing him for a quarter of a million would be a very tall order.

That said, after four good-to-great seasons here could we stop him leaving if a club the size of Wednesday, which is making all the right noises about a serious promotion push in 07-08, came in and offered us a 1000% profit on a guy in his late 20s with one year left on his contract?

 

[Dustybin]

Are these rumours as credible as the ones where Sherringham will sign for us and that Eastwood is on his way to any club in a 200 mile radius...?

 

[EastStandBlue]

Hammell came on a free, so as its impossible to find good left-backs on a free, he can't by that logic be a good left-back!

Now you're just being pedantic

Seriously, I know he delivers a dangerous set-piece, but I'm not convinced he is great going forward. Sure, he's an improvement on Che Wilson going forward, but he is overly reliant on pumping the long ball forward for my liking.

Defensively, again he is an upgrade on Che by virtue of the fact he doesn't soil himself every time someone looks to run at him. I haven't heard Hammell described as pacy before, and I think he is weak in the air. Che was someone who was good in the air for his height.

Hammell wins far more than what he is entitled to. For his size, he is fantastic in the air and has a great spring about him, something i couldn't say for Che. There's no doubt about it hes a much better left back than Che and, If Che is our cover should Hammell move on, I will personally worry everytime a half decent winger is on the pitch. Even Cleveland Taylor at Scunny tore Che to pieces... It's for this reason i'd value Hammell as a greater loss to us.

Even when JCR gets in good positions and crosses it, he doesn't look a good crosser. Wayne Gray, Mitchell Cole for example whipped in dangerous balls to the danger areas. JCR doesn't whip the ball in dangerously, nor is he one to pick someone out like Gower looks to do.

The difference being JCR beats his man. Gower cuts inside because of his lack of pace and can find Eastwood or takes a shot... JCR beats his man with pace and trickery and looks just to knock the ball to a man in the box, but there never is a man in the box to knock it to... Playing in the same position, they couldn't be more different. I'd agree with you on Gray though, i always thought he had far more potential as a winger than a forward and can't believe Tilson, Brush or any of the coaching staff failed to see it.

 

[Interpol Shrimper]

I'd agree with you on Gray though, i always thought he had far more potential as a winger than a forward and can't believe Tilson, Brush or any of the coaching staff failed to see it.

He looked very tricky there for Yeovil against Forest on the TV the other night, was also unlucky not to score!

 

[SUFC_Al]

I thought Gray was a more than useful wide man, pace, strength and some of his crossing was pinpont accurate, see Freddy's first and hattrick goals in the Swansea 4-2.

 

[Pubey]

I thought Gray was a more than useful wide man, pace, strength and some of his crossing was pinpont accurate, see Freddy's first and hattrick goals in the Swansea 4-2.

good point

 

[Yorkshire Blue]

The difference being JCR beats his man. Gower cuts inside because of his lack of pace and can find Eastwood or takes a shot... JCR beats his man with pace and trickery and looks just to knock the ball to a man in the box, but there never is a man in the box to knock it to... Playing in the same position, they couldn't be more different. I'd agree with you on Gray though, i always thought he had far more potential as a winger than a forward and can't believe Tilson, Brush or any of the coaching staff failed to see it.

I agree with you that Hammell is an upgrade over Wilson, but I'd maintain that most left-backs would be an upgrade over Che Wilson anyway. I also think Barrett would be a more than adequate left-back, although we'd need to get another centre-half in, but I'd prefer a tall centre-half alongside Clarke or Barrett anyway.

I know Gower cuts inside a hell of a lot, but from worse positions he puts in better balls than JCR. JCR for all his talents is a poor passer of the ball, and doesn't have a good cross on him. As for Wayne Gray, he had the physical attributes to a be a good winger, but like Mitchell Cole lacks the all-round game. He's game is one dimensional, because he can't contribute to the passing game like Gower can, and doesn't have the defensive game of JCR.

 

[SUFC_Al]

good point

last time I heard that it wasn't from a male :p :hilarious:

 

[Kris]

I know Gower cuts inside a hell of a lot, but from worse positions he puts in better balls than JCR. JCR for all his talents is a poor passer of the ball, and doesn't have a good cross on him

To be fair, JCR's crossing improved considerably towards the back end of last season and he regularly put it in the right areas. In fact, our goals against Barnsley and Luton resulted from JCR crosses - one from the left and one from the right. His passing isn't all that bad either, actually, he rarely gives the ball away.

As for Gower, he would be a big loss because he is comfortable on the ball in all areas of the pitch and is always looking for it, even when he is having a bad game. I hope we keep him, though a bid of £250,000 would be difficult to turn down.

 

[Yorkshire Blue]

To be fair, JCR's crossing improved considerably towards the back end of last season and he regularly put it in the right areas. In fact, our goals against Barnsley and Luton resulted from JCR crosses - one from the left and one from the right. His passing isn't all that bad either, actually, he rarely gives the ball away.

As for Gower, he would be a big loss because he is comfortable on the ball in all areas of the pitch and is always looking for it, even when he is having a bad game. I hope we keep him, though a bid of £250,000 would be difficult to turn down.

£250,000 would be quite easy to turn down for a first team player IMHO. We aren't losing money, so we don't need to sell. Getting rid of Gower only makes us a weaker team, and we'd probably have to spend a similar amount to replace him anyway.

As for JCR's passing, he might not give the ball away but there is so much more to passing than ball retention. To be a good passer you need vision, timing and touch to weight your pass. JCR certainly doesn't have the timing, he runs into too many blind allies to suggest he has above average vision and I wouldn't say his passes were particularly well weighted (I'd suggest that a well weighted pass is normally one you don't have to wait for). JCR has his strengths, its just I don't think his passing is one of them.

 

[Shrimper2thecore]

Gower would be very much missed, I hope he does not go anyway, and we can keep hold of Gower Power, the man is surprising under rated by many in my opinion. As has been mentioned by some, the number of goals he got last season, from midfield, for a side relegated, is astounding!!

 

[Thor]

Spot on yet again BEEFY, your wasted on here mate.

 

[silentshrimper]

He should not go, I love the guy, my favourite player, ron should stop him from going like he does with eastwood, 250k isnt enough for me either, we would be hard pressed to find a good replacement winger.

 

[fbm]

The trouble is that whilst we may not be in need of the money now, we won't always have the luxury of long cup runs and 5-figure average attendances.

The harsh reality is that if Gower refuses to sign a new contract, he can go for nothing next year. If someone offered £250,000 for any of our players (with the exception of Freddy) I'd probably take it. That way at least we get some funds to try and replace the departing players. Sadly, clubs like ours can't afford to let good players go on Bosmans.

 

[shrimper4life]

Sadly, clubs like ours can't afford to let good players go on Bosmans.

which is what has happened to most players we have had over the last 3-5 seasons. I can't think of a player we have received a decent fee for over the past few seasons

 

[Pubey]

The trouble is that whilst we may not be in need of the money now, we won't always have the luxury of long cup runs and 5-figure average attendances.

The harsh reality is that if Gower refuses to sign a new contract, he can go for nothing next year. If someone offered £250,000 for any of our players (with the exception of Freddy) I'd probably take it. That way at least we get some funds to try and replace the departing players. Sadly, clubs like ours can't afford to let good players go on Bosmans.

I don't buy that really... I think RM and Tilly will probably chat to Mark about this (as i hope they would with a year left on his contract)... but 250k is too low for him IMO, he has scored and made a lot of goals in a pretty poor team and i think Wednesday are just testing the water... I wouldn't sell him for 250k because I think we need to have the guts (not by spending lots but just by keeping the faith with our current squad) to try and get straight back up. Gower is definitely worth more than 250k so we shouldn't be panicking to sell him just because we have got a good offer

 

[fbm]

I don't buy that really... I think RM and Tilly will probably chat to Mark about this (as i hope they would with a year left on his contract)... but 250k is too low for him IMO, he has scored and made a lot of goals in a pretty poor team and i think Wednesday are just testing the water... I wouldn't sell him for 250k because I think we need to have the guts (not by spending lots but just by keeping the faith with our current squad) to try and get straight back up. Gower is definitely worth more than 250k so we shouldn't be panicking to sell him just because we have got a good offer

Oh, I'm sure that they will be talking to him already about a contract extension. But he doesn't have to sign it. Agents usually advise their clients to "keep their options open". Even if we do go up we know we can't compete with CCC wages and Gower has got to look after himself. If there is CCC interest he will be able to receive comfortably double anything we can offer and he can then use us as an emergency, just in case he gets no other offers.

And who says he's worth more than £250K? The bottom line is that his contract runs out next year and then he's worth nothing.

We have to be realistic. If any of the players whose contracts expire next year can go for nowt on Bosmans, then we should listen to any decent offers for them (and, in truth, accept those offers).