by Vision »
22 Feb 2020 09:04
muirinho Hound
Its not a case of having sympathy or shedding tears.
Its simply a) making usable players unusable (esp Baldock who we really could have used early doors), and b) upsetting the squad. Obviously b) is more difficult to make judgement on, but it certainly wouldn't have helped having 2 popular players (Swift went on hols with Gunter for example) and one who seems to be rated in the squad, made to train with the u23s
Yes, not just making the players unusable, but making them in effect worth nothing financially either. Why should clubs pay a transfer fee or wages for a Reading player who Reading have made absolutely clear they aren't going to play? If you just want them out of the dressing-room, you pay their salary, so they'll go elsewhere to play. But Reading, under Gomes, wouldn't take the financial hit - why should the players or other clubs pay it instead?
Replying to both of you here
Except ;-
"paying them off" doesn't help you with the FFP restrictions we were under when these decisions were being made. IE prior to the magical new income stream late August. No doubt being paid off was exactly what Gunter and McCleary were hanging out for.
Even then there clearly was a possible pathway back under exceptional circumstances. Baldock went on the pre-season tour and was part of the early matchday squads. Wasn't it widely reported that 1 if not both McCleary & Gunter were asked to go on the tour but refused.
Backroom staff resource is also important. The reason managers often want leaner squads is because they can focus more time with individuals. I've made this point before but it often seems to be the case the bigger the squad the more injuries to key players you seem to get. Again resources being overly stretched perhaps?
Swift played well early season under Gomes so Gunter's treatment didn't seem to effect him unduly however friendly they might be.
Gunter/McCleary?Baldock are all very well known within the game. No-one (Gomes included ) ever mentioned them being rotten apples. Being excluded from the 1st team squad won't have made suitors think again. A transfer fee for any of those 3 was never likely to be a thing. A permanent transfer also unlikely so a Loan deal as always going to be the most likely solution. And offers were made which both Gunter and McCleary turned down.
Ultimately we're never know what would have happened had they been included within the squad and it certainly didn't work out in the end for Gomes but I can totally see why those decisions were made particularly at the time they were taken.
Much as I understand the reasons for Gomes making his choices , equally I understand why Bowen having only been given 6 months (and a side in the relegation zone) made the decisions he did. However by integrating those 3 (whose peak playing years had already gone ) you could argue we lost promising , developing players such as Howe/Barrett and to all intents and purposes Loader.
People still bemoan losing Fosu/Stacey/Dickie as poor long term management yet didn't we finish 3rd and a penalty shoot out away from promotion the season they left?
Just my take on it. Enjoyed the discussion gents.
