Leeds Cool on Bartley

ivoralljack

ivoralljack

Grizzled Veteran
Staff member
WOL reporting that Leeds' interest in Bartley is cooling and that maybe Bielsa isn't that fussed. Personally I'm pleased about that. No question that Bartley is an accomplished Championship CB as he proved during his loan spell with Leeds. Tall, physical CBs are the order of the day in that league and Bartley fits the bill to a T. He has a long contract with us; I doubt he's on huge wages and we'd only have to replace him if we sell. Could we get better for the money we're likely to get for him? I doubt it.

In the same article it's said that Mesa might not complete his move to Valencia until July. It's suspected that they might be playing games trying to reduce the fee even further, 7 million euro being freely quoted. I'd rather keep him for that pittance.
 
Jackflash

Jackflash

Midfield General
Staff member
ivoralljack said:
WOL reporting that Leeds' interest in Bartley is cooling and that maybe Bielsa isn't that fussed. Personally I'm pleased about that. No question that Bartley is an accomplished Championship CB as he proved during his loan spell with Leeds. Tall, physical CBs are the order of the day in that league and Bartley fits the bill to a T. He has a long contract with us; I doubt he's on huge wages and we'd only have to replace him if we sell. Could we get better for the money we're likely to get for him? I doubt it.

In the same article it's said that Mesa might not complete his move to Valencia until July. It's suspected that they might be playing games trying to reduce the fee even further, 7 million euro being freely quoted. I'd rather keep him for that pittance.
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If as you say he's (Bartley) on a long contract Ivor,then with the probability of us losing two of our regular back four whether Leeds want him or not he should stay,or at least until Potter assesses him. Actually there shouldn't be any squad transfers until Potter decides they're surplus to requirements,if we're going to give this manager a fighting chance then lets at least let him be the judge of both departures and arrivals.
 
Borini

Borini

Key Player
I am waiting for him to say

I am happy with the squad I have got.


He should say this is all we have now I have to make the most of it :(:(
 
LittlePuma

LittlePuma

Key Player
I really don’t understand selling KB unless he is just hellbent on leaving. His fee and wages won’t move the needle on our overall budget and he’s proven he can play well at the championship level.
 
ivoralljack

ivoralljack

Grizzled Veteran
Staff member
LittlePuma said:
I really don’t understand selling KB unless he is just hellbent on leaving. His fee and wages won’t move the needle on our overall budget and he’s proven he can play well at the championship level.
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He was a force at Leeds, defended well and scored a few as well. Wasn't he also captain for a spell? Although I might be mistaken about that. If Fede leaves as well, that leaves us with VdH (should be good at Championship level) and Amat, who I read is quite happy in Spain. Anybody aware of players from the U23s who can step up? Rodon or Harries maybe? Not as au fait with the U23s as I should be - would have paid far more attention had I known we'd be relegated!! But, whoever they are, I doubt they'd be as good as Bartley right now and certainly won't have his experience. And I agree that what we'd get for him wouldn't cover the value he'd offer as a player.
 
LittlePuma

LittlePuma

Key Player
ivoralljack said:
He was a force at Leeds, defended well and scored a few as well. Wasn't he also captain for a spell? Although I might be mistaken about that. If Fede leaves as well, that leaves us with VdH (should be good at Championship level) and Amat, who I read is quite happy in Spain. Anybody aware of players from the U23s who can step up? Rodon or Harries maybe? Not as au fait with the U23s as I should be - would have paid far more attention had I known we'd be relegated!! But, whoever they are, I doubt they'd be as good as Bartley right now and certainly won't have his experience. And I agree that what we'd get for him wouldn't cover the value he'd offer as a player.
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Honestly the most frustrating part of the whole saga is we would be selling him, not to a Prem club (or any top flight club) or not to a smaller club that value him greatly, but to a club that is literally in the same boat as us.
 
Behindthegoal

Behindthegoal

Key Player
LittlePuma said:
Honestly the most frustrating part of the whole saga is we would be selling him, not to a Prem club (or any top flight club) or not to a smaller club that value him greatly, but to a club that is literally in the same boat as us.
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I am a little nervous that the game plan emerging is to sell anyone if there is a buyer. That will leave us with a squad that no one else wants and a moth-eaten purse to pick up what's left on the last few days of an "everything must go" sale.
I hope I'm wrong and that stuff is going on hidden from the public eye.
Regarding the unders, it's fair to say that those few who have been selected for the first team have not let us down.
 
CroJack

CroJack

Key Player
If we keep Fede, VDH and Amat, then selling Bartley for £4 m is a good business, even if we sell him to WBA. I am not so worried about our defence (actually the only one who worries me is Nordfeldt), but I'm worried about our midfield and attack. Remember, we were relegated last season because we couldn't create chances and score goals.
 
The Blobster

The Blobster

Prediction Champ
I must be honest Nordfeldt worries me too !
Doesn't come for crosses ( despite being tall ) slow to get down to shots , tends to palm shots back out into the box rather than away from goal but distributes quicker and better than Fabianski .
 
Yankee_Jack

Yankee_Jack

Key Player
https://www.swanseacity.com/news/bartley-joins-west-brom

It's confirmed. Bartley has gone to WBA. He played just 21 times for us over a 6 year span. Despite having a lot of promise, he never really made the impact expected and was part of the infamous 5-0 thrashing at 'Pool before our League Cup Final match when he teamed with Monk to form a sieve. It was the despondency of that performance that relegated both he and Monk to the sidelines as Laudrup preferred Ki at CB in place of the suspended Chico.

Bartley didn't appear against Yeovil so obviously either the player had requested out or the Club had decided there was no future.

Will we miss him? Probably not; not unless Amat leaves also. Question: who in the U-23 is considered good enough to replace him or does this mean that we have our eyes on a replacement.
 
ivoralljack

ivoralljack

Grizzled Veteran
Staff member
Bad move, imo. Bartley is a proven, physical defender at this level and, unless we got a good fee for him, we might regret this - particularly as WBA will be a strong rival of ours. But, whatever the fee, it's no good to us if it goes straight into the greedy pockets of the board.

As for the U23s, Rodon and Harries are considered good prospects but are prospects good enough to see us mount a realistic challenge for promotion? The Championship is a physical, direct league and the one thing you have to have in place is a robust, experienced defence. Bartley ticked the boxes for that, now he's ticking them for our rivals. I can only hope that the club have someone better to come in. Chico maybe? ;)
 
Yankee_Jack

Yankee_Jack

Key Player
@Borini ... this McKenna kid was made captain of Scotland against Mexico as couple of months ago. It appears he is very highly regarded. Looks like he would be a strong replacement but I am not sure that Aberdeen are going to let him go.
 
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