Yankee_Jack
Key Player
Rangers just signed Cantwell out of Norwich. What does this do to Whittaker?
Jan Window 2023
- Thread starter jackodiamonds
- Start date
Good player at his best and they've been after him for a while. Maybe they want both players which is why they're shy of our asking price. Don't want Whitts to go anyway. Reckon he could do a good job for us. Fans beginning to question Martin on line about his attitude to certain players.
Yankee_Jack
Key Player
The Cantwell deal would have originated at the end of last week. The player would have had to travel to Glasgow, get a medical, have his agent negotiate a contract, blah, blah, blah. I'm thinking that this deal put the kibosh on Whittaker's chance. Whittaker learned about it late Friday, early Saturday, after Rangers had pulled their offer. Hence, the fuck it attitude, etc. I'd be kinda bummed too getting screwed twice in one month - on a good situation at Plymouth and then a potentially great situation at Rangers. And now he has to sit in the stands or on the bench behind a set of players turning in anonymous performances and pets. Can't blame him for being unhappy. If he's lucky he'll be sent back out to Plymouth.
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Behindthegoal
Key Player
I feel for the lad. Is there a game before the window closes where he can play ,say at right back, badly, hooked at half time and on the mega bus to Plymouth. That is where he wants to be and he can sign for them when his contract runs out. If he stays with us, that’s another promising career ruined
My understanding was that Rangers were pursuing both Cantwell and Whittaker, since they're not like-for-like players. Cantwell typically plays deeper and on the left, whereas MW plays central or right and higher up the pitch.
I still don't believe MW was recalled to sell. If Swansea wanted only to sell, they'd have been better served letting him stay in Plymouth racking up goals and assists and inflating his market value until a serious bid comes in.
Martin recently said he expects MW to still be in Swansea past the 31st, and given how reluctantly he addressed the recall in the presser he gave at the time, it feels like he's been told to use MW whether he likes it or not.
That makes sense to me, because the board identified MW as a top prospect at Derby and bought him before Martin came along. I imagine Martin had some explaining to do when he sent him to Plymouth, and now MW is tearing it up, the board have come back to Martin and told him there's no excuse not to play him now, given his recent form.
Swansea need more goals, so of course the board will recall a high scoring player from his loan. Maybe Martin asked the board to get him a new forward, and this was their answer.
Besides, Rangers offer was what? £1.5M? For a player that cost £900,000, that represents a weak return on a good investment. If MW can replicate his Plymouth form over a whole season - or even the last half of this one - at Championship level, he'll be worth £6-£10m easily. That's based on Burnley's previous £6m offer for half-a-season's worth of decent Obafemi performances. Selling MW now makes no sense.
I hate to agree with Charlie Adam, but he's right when he says Martin should keep all this transfer business "in house". Martin coming out publicly, saying MW pulled himself out of the team, giving details of potential transfer interest, it's not professional. He should have said MW was pulled from the squad because of a fitness or family issue, downplayed the drama, and said nothing about any potential deals. Instead he's dragging the whole saga into the public eye, almost like he wants MW gone, and is creating a toxic atmosphere around the player to achieve that.
Martin should be careful. He's not in as strong a bargaining position as he thinks. If he plays this as a "him-or-me" situation, then who would you rather keep? A manager that has achieved nothing of note in his managerial career, divides the locker room, and has won twice in 14 games, or a high-scoring forward who could potentially be worth £10m+ within a season or two from now, in which case selling him would pay off Martin's compensation and still net a profit, and that's to say nothing about how much MW's goals and assists would help the team in the meantime.
Plus, you replace Martin and you can probably count on Obafemi and Pato stepping back up, ready to re-prove themselves. That's like adding 3 strong players for one mediocre manager, which for me is the best business Swansea could do this window.
I still don't believe MW was recalled to sell. If Swansea wanted only to sell, they'd have been better served letting him stay in Plymouth racking up goals and assists and inflating his market value until a serious bid comes in.
Martin recently said he expects MW to still be in Swansea past the 31st, and given how reluctantly he addressed the recall in the presser he gave at the time, it feels like he's been told to use MW whether he likes it or not.
That makes sense to me, because the board identified MW as a top prospect at Derby and bought him before Martin came along. I imagine Martin had some explaining to do when he sent him to Plymouth, and now MW is tearing it up, the board have come back to Martin and told him there's no excuse not to play him now, given his recent form.
Swansea need more goals, so of course the board will recall a high scoring player from his loan. Maybe Martin asked the board to get him a new forward, and this was their answer.
Besides, Rangers offer was what? £1.5M? For a player that cost £900,000, that represents a weak return on a good investment. If MW can replicate his Plymouth form over a whole season - or even the last half of this one - at Championship level, he'll be worth £6-£10m easily. That's based on Burnley's previous £6m offer for half-a-season's worth of decent Obafemi performances. Selling MW now makes no sense.
I hate to agree with Charlie Adam, but he's right when he says Martin should keep all this transfer business "in house". Martin coming out publicly, saying MW pulled himself out of the team, giving details of potential transfer interest, it's not professional. He should have said MW was pulled from the squad because of a fitness or family issue, downplayed the drama, and said nothing about any potential deals. Instead he's dragging the whole saga into the public eye, almost like he wants MW gone, and is creating a toxic atmosphere around the player to achieve that.
Martin should be careful. He's not in as strong a bargaining position as he thinks. If he plays this as a "him-or-me" situation, then who would you rather keep? A manager that has achieved nothing of note in his managerial career, divides the locker room, and has won twice in 14 games, or a high-scoring forward who could potentially be worth £10m+ within a season or two from now, in which case selling him would pay off Martin's compensation and still net a profit, and that's to say nothing about how much MW's goals and assists would help the team in the meantime.
Plus, you replace Martin and you can probably count on Obafemi and Pato stepping back up, ready to re-prove themselves. That's like adding 3 strong players for one mediocre manager, which for me is the best business Swansea could do this window.
Yankee_Jack
Key Player
Whittaker’s contract ends mid-2025. He’s ours for another 2 seasons plus the balance of this one. I think @jackodiamonds has it right with the Club looking internally for performance and quality.
Martin hasn’t gotten anything out of the toys he brought in. Fisher is a bust. Darling is a fragile player, prone to doing the dumbest things … the piddly panic pass fo Benda against QPR is the latest example. Darling has delivered nothing we couldn’t have gotten out of Bradley Cooper. Why would the Club spend money on players when Martin can’t extract quality and consistency out of what he has. Whatever sheen Piroe arrived with has been coached off him. Fulton looks more dangerous in an advanced role.
on the bright side it might indicate that Martin is on a short leash. För all of Andy Pandy’s shortcomings, he delivered positively here, and has done so at Forest. Martin in comparison is a bust. His contract runs to mid-2024. Can we tolerate a third retrograde season.
Martin hasn’t gotten anything out of the toys he brought in. Fisher is a bust. Darling is a fragile player, prone to doing the dumbest things … the piddly panic pass fo Benda against QPR is the latest example. Darling has delivered nothing we couldn’t have gotten out of Bradley Cooper. Why would the Club spend money on players when Martin can’t extract quality and consistency out of what he has. Whatever sheen Piroe arrived with has been coached off him. Fulton looks more dangerous in an advanced role.
on the bright side it might indicate that Martin is on a short leash. För all of Andy Pandy’s shortcomings, he delivered positively here, and has done so at Forest. Martin in comparison is a bust. His contract runs to mid-2024. Can we tolerate a third retrograde season.
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Yankee_Jack
Key Player
Furthermore, Martin was given an attacking spark Flex and couldn’t figure out how to use him. Any other forward that is brought in is going to replace Cullen, which I’m guessing the Club don’t want to happen. Martin would probably start Piroe in goal if it was the only way to get him on the field.
Behindthegoal
Key Player
Any news re Manning and Lati, guys?
The Blobster
Prediction Champ
No news on any incoming ,outgoing transfers , nor on any new contracts for the squad .
Yankee_Jack
Key Player
We're not performing well enough as a squad to justify any new contracts
News that Obafemi is joining Burnley for £4m on loan for now with the move to be made permanent in the summer. Don't really understand why not a permanent move now - something to do with when the financials kick in most likely.
Yankee_Jack
Key Player
Assuming Burnley is promoted, in July they will be able to factor their EPL media revenue (due May/June 24) and have a ton of cash on hand. They can then pay all parties.
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KVetch
Key Player
That's more than I thought they would get for Obafemi, hope he plays for them honestly. He has potential but he won't achieve anything without hard work.
Swans rumoured to be close to signing the young striker from Leeds who I know little about. He likes to shoot from distance. Doesn't look particularly fast to me but we need a 2nd option. Cullen, Joe and Joel up front could be nice.
Swans rumoured to be close to signing the young striker from Leeds who I know little about. He likes to shoot from distance. Doesn't look particularly fast to me but we need a 2nd option. Cullen, Joe and Joel up front could be nice.
KVetch
Key Player
Cantwell leaving Norwich helps us ever so slightly. I know he wasn't playing much for Wagner but he's a good player. I'm afraid we will regret selling Whittaker for a pittance. Morgan and Liam Cullen could have been a good duo for Swansea together. If there is any chance left to keep him happy here I wish they would do something.
CroJack
Key Player
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Shame. He looked like he could offer what we've been missing. Sunderland will be all the stronger with his signing. I reckon he'll torment Championship defences...... including ours.