Post-Match Thread and Ratings Southend United 2-1 MK Dons

[Kris]

Okay, let me pose you 3 questions and give your honest answer. In fact i pose these to everyone;

1) Peter Clarke was on high wages. DF will be on a par with that level of wages, give or take a few hundred quid. Is he worth these high wages?

2) Tilly wanted to send him out on loan. No-one wanted him. Are you suggesting Tilly doesn't know best? If he was still worth having in the squad, why would Tilly WANT to send him out?

3) It's the end of the season, you ar the chairman. What do you do - Offer DF a new 1-2 year contract on the same wages, OR release him and bring in 2 maybe 3 new players?

1) Well, we still don't know exactly how much Freedman earns. Any figure is pure speculation.

The key point is whether he was worth it at the time of the signing. I would argue definitely yes. He got rave reviews from Leeds and Palace fans and he was pretty much unanimously hailed as a brilliant signing on here. He made a fantastic start, to the point where I actually think he was playing below his level, and I'm convinced that had he not suffered the knee injury against Orient, he would still be that same player. Sadly it looks that injury has effectively shaved a year from the end of his career.

I promise I'm not playing devil's advocate here. Had he been on his last legs when we signed him and demanded sky-high wages then I'd definitely agree with you. However, he still had a lot to offer at the time and it's just unfortunate that his injury has limited him since. That's not his fault and I don't think he deserves to be scapegoated the way he has.

Is he still worth the wages? Well, probably not but as I said above, we didn't sign the player he is now. Nevertheless, in our current situation I maintain that he's still a vital part of the squad, not least because of his experience, and it's also clear he commands plenty of respect at the club, particularly from the youngsters.

2) You'd have to ask Tilly that. My guess is that maybe he didn't think Freedman was fit enough at the time to start for us so wanted to loan him out to get some match fitness, rather than sitting on the bench here.

3) I think I'm right in saying Freedman's contract is actually two years with the option of a third. Presumably that's up to us so it will be interesting to see what happens. If his wages would genuinely free up cash for new players then of course I'd release him but frankly I can't see us being able to make a permanent signing for quite a while so I'd probably use up the extra year, providing there was a wage-cut clause, and then continue the loanee route.

My gut feeling, mind you, is that Freedman will retire at the end of this season anyway, making the scenarios above - as Del Boy would say - epidemic.

 

[philtalkin]

Not serious are you? Barney has improved beyond all recognition, he's not had any fitness issues at all so far and his strength and stamina are massively improved. He could cut it at CCC as he is now, no doubt about that.

He has managed to get his strength and stamina levels up to where they should be, but he isn't quick enough for the championship.

If he carries on scoring, then of course there will be clubs willing to take a punt and he might even have one good season, but not a good long term prospect.

I am a big fan, and he can do a job in L1, great touch etc... but the Championship is a step too far for him.

And don't forget he is injury prone. So far so good this season but I wouldn't invest big money on a player, who has only managed half a season of non stop pro football.

 

[Andy_S]

I just want to say that some of the estimated wages being banded about on here couldn't be further from the truth. Especially one post that suggested the likes of Herd were possibly on £1200 a week!

 

[EastStandBlue]

Herd's on £400 tops.

As for Freedman, I do think he's been below par recently... Especially Friday night when I thought he was absolutely anonymous and failed to have any impact on the game whatsoever. In all fairness, I think his legs have completely gone now and he's struggling. The fact of the matter is, if our squad wasn't so thin, he'd be a bench player at most.

 

[Mick]

As i mentioned earlier Roy Keane was in the directors box for the match, though Barnard put in a good shift I doubt Roy Keane will be bidding for him based on that display

Possibly just catching up with ex-teammate Paul Ince ? Probably left early to get the drinks in.