The problem with this is, at 37, there is no resale value.
I suppose it depends on his character. Another Pratley? Yes please! A 37 year old looking for his last payday? I'm not sure...
There is no resale value with any player in terms of squad reinvestment. It's completely arbitrary how much Duchatelet invests in the team and commands for sales.
From a football perspective we'll be better off with a team of proven players that can keep us in this league and competing until he eventually sells.
Any player we sign that has mega resale value will likely be palmed off at well below market value/ potential going on evidence to date.
there are more and more 'elderly' players (lol) as well as young tyros in pro football nowadays, tribute to modern fitness and dietary regimes. If Bowyer thinks that Mears can do a job, then that will do for me. We need cover in defence from someone who does not necessarily expect to play very often. Perhaps Mears could also assist in coaching the juniors
He’s 36 - think a bit of experience is actually pretty good. If he has looked after himself which seems to be the case, he would compliment Pratley and Pearce nicely in that respect
Not sure why people are mentioning a resale value. If he proves his fitness he will be offered a contract until the end of the season and then released. Gives us good cover for Solly as we have a lot of Saturday Tuesday games coming up.
Interesting move this. Sort of assumed that Nathan Thompson was the obvious one. Presumably Bowyer wants some extra experience though, which seems logical
As long as our defence is rock solid , i don't care how old they are, thought we looked like a league one defence on Saturday sorry if thats burst anyones bubble.
Wonder if Nathan Thompson's wages were outside our budget?
Interesting move this. Sort of assumed that Nathan Thompson was the obvious one. Presumably Bowyer wants some extra experience though, which seems logical
As long as our defence is rock solid , i don't care how old they are, thought we looked like a league one defence on Saturday sorry if thats burst anyones bubble.
Wonder if Nathan Thompson's wages were outside our budget?
We look very poor playing out from the back and Lockyer looks careless with some of his passing - is it better to get the ball upfield a bit quicker? If our defenders aren't the best technically should we be knocking the ball about at the back?
I am concerned that we will gift goals away playing like this. Not a fan of the short goal kicks...
This. At the back you want players with experience. It makes me laugh when people write off Solly in their posts yet when the games come around he regularly puts attackers and defenders in his back pocket and gets on with the game without any fuss - to be able to do that comes from experience. If LB thinks Mears can do a job then sign him up.
Mears is in decent nick, and West Brom wouldn't have had him last year if this wasn't the case. This is only a good move on a one-year, rolling contract sort of basis though.
His age doesn't particularly concern me at the moment. Given how sports science and nutrition etc has evolved, certainly even in the last 10-15 years, the average age at which a footballer's legs seem to "go" has crept up. As has been said already, the likes of Bruno, Crouch etc still playing is indicative of this.
The key question, of course, is whether he's the right fit for us. And in Bowyer and Gallen's judgement we therefore trust.
This. At the back you want players with experience. It makes me laugh when people write off Solly in their posts yet when the games come around he regularly puts attackers and defenders in his back pocket and gets on with the game without any fuss - to be able to do that comes from experience. If LB thinks Mears can do a job then sign him up.
I trust LB to try and get the best out of players and work with the resources available within a limited budget. That's as much as we can expect.
Bowyer has played alongside Mears at West Ham, remember ..... so will know his character and attitude. At 36 years old, it's all about fitness.
“I played with Tyrone at West Ham and he will train with us for a week,” Bowyer told the South London Press. “We will just look at him fitness-wise. He is a fit lad anyway and still quick – he was rapid when I played with him.
I would also add that I have generally good memories of experienced defenders coming in towards the end of their careers.......
Mark Bowen Chris Whyte (he did a great job for us) Jorge Costa Christian Dailly
Roger Johnson, Rhys Williams, Gary Doherty.
Wait.
Roger Johnson - attitude problem Doherty - slowest footballer ever Williams - wasn't remotely fit
Mad signings
Bonkers. The saddest thing about Doherty is he'd just had a brilliant season for Norwich in L1 where they won the league and I couldn't believe they'd let him go at the end of it. I was really excited to get him in and it turned out Norwich had seen that he was shot by the end of that season and that's why we were able to get him. A real let down that one.
Johnson did the job in his first spell but bringing him in a year after we'd decided he wasn't good enough having spent the last sixth months playing football in India was insane.
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I suppose it depends on his character. Another Pratley? Yes please! A 37 year old looking for his last payday? I'm not sure...
Completely agree though Loopy, would only sign based on his character but reckon Bowyet will make a good judgement
From a football perspective we'll be better off with a team of proven players that can keep us in this league and competing until he eventually sells.
Any player we sign that has mega resale value will likely be palmed off at well below market value/ potential going on evidence to date.
Mark Bowen
Chris Whyte (he did a great job for us)
Jorge Costa
Christian Dailly
We brought in Motta and Fanni in the dreaded 2015/16 season, both were ok but took too long to get match fit.
If Bowyer feels he can still do a job and is a good character then I trust his judgement.
If he proves his fitness he will be offered a contract until the end of the season and then released.
Gives us good cover for Solly as we have a lot of Saturday Tuesday games coming up.
Wonder if Nathan Thompson's wages were outside our budget?
I am concerned that we will gift goals away playing like this. Not a fan of the short goal kicks...
Wait.
Doherty - slowest footballer ever
Williams - wasn't remotely fit
Mad signings
His age doesn't particularly concern me at the moment. Given how sports science and nutrition etc has evolved, certainly even in the last 10-15 years, the average age at which a footballer's legs seem to "go" has crept up. As has been said already, the likes of Bruno, Crouch etc still playing is indicative of this.
The key question, of course, is whether he's the right fit for us. And in Bowyer and Gallen's judgement we therefore trust.
At 36 years old, it's all about fitness.
“I played with Tyrone at West Ham and he will train with us for a week,” Bowyer told the South London Press. “We will just look at him fitness-wise. He is a fit lad anyway and still quick – he was rapid when I played with him.
“He can’t be far off it.”
Johnson did the job in his first spell but bringing him in a year after we'd decided he wasn't good enough having spent the last sixth months playing football in India was insane.