Harry Darling …

[Andrew - North Hill]

I'm sorry, but once again this is a case of an awful lot of fuss being made over someone who is hardly a top Championship player. It was the same with Paterson, Ntcham, and a few others the last few years who were messing the club about. Darling is alright, but he's very error prone and he often fails to do the basics of defending, and can be quite easily bullied by big centre forwards. He's replaceable.

Let him walk. If he's looking for a fat contract well above his true ability levels, let some other mug pay it. Not us.

 

[Swanjaxs]

What was this accident he suffered before KO yesterday then?

He bruised his ego apparently.

 

[bytholwyn]

I'm sorry, but once again this is a case of an awful lot of fuss being made over someone who is hardly a top Championship player. It was the same with Paterson, Ntcham, and a few others the last few years who were messing the club about. Darling is alright, but he's very error prone and he often fails to do the basics of defending, and can be quite easily bullied by big centre forwards. He's replaceable.

Let him walk. If he's looking for a fat contract well above his true ability levels, let some other mug pay it. Not us.

Darling is great with the ball, and he's been spraying pinpoint 60 yard passes regularly since Sheehan has been in charge. His defending has also improved under Sheehan, with fewer lapses of concentration. Overall he's definitely above average for the Championship and will be missed if he leaves.

 

[FearOfAJackPlanet]

Darling is great with the ball, and he's been spraying pinpoint 60 yard passes regularly since Sheehan has been in charge. His defending has also improved under Sheehan, with fewer lapses of concentration. Overall he's definitely above average for the Championship and will be missed if he leaves.

He’s also our 3rd top scorer behind Cullen and VP. Now, there’s a whole other conversation to be had about that, but it’s true nonetheless.

 

[Blackpooljack]

He bruised his ego apparently.

I'd heard he'd tripped over his wage packet.

 

[Andrew - North Hill]

Overall he's definitely above average for the Championship and will be missed if he leaves.

Wyn, I wouldn't dispute that - but I chose my words carefully when I said he's not a top Championship player. If he was asking wages for a player just above average in the Championship then I would like to think the club have given it serious consideration but it's well known the figures he is asking for are more befitting of a side with a top 6 budget.

That ain't us. And so we shouldn't be paying that sort of money. Either he comes back in towards us with his demands, or it's cheerio.

 

[FearOfAJackPlanet]

It was a bit odd how Sheehan casually said Darling didn’t play due an injury at the hotel without any elaboration as if this is just completely normal.

 

[JackSomething]

Wyn, I wouldn't dispute that - but I chose my words carefully when I said he's not a top Championship player. If he was asking wages for a player just above average in the Championship then I would like to think the club have given it serious consideration but it's well known the figures he is asking for are more befitting of a side with a top 6 budget.

That ain't us. And so we shouldn't be paying that sort of money. Either he comes back in towards us with his demands, or it's cheerio.

Couldn't agree with this more, no matter that it means losing one of our better players for nothing and that we'd then need 2 CB's this summer rather than 1.

 

[monmouth]

He wants a big signing on fee as a free agent and not to be injured. Maybe already pretty much lined up. Make him an offer, give him a deadline of next Saturday and say tara if he doesn't want to sign. Then get on with finding a replacement (not Delcroix).

 

[bytholwyn]

Wyn, I wouldn't dispute that - but I chose my words carefully when I said he's not a top Championship player. If he was asking wages for a player just above average in the Championship then I would like to think the club have given it serious consideration but it's well known the figures he is asking for are more befitting of a side with a top 6 budget.

That ain't us. And so we shouldn't be paying that sort of money. Either he comes back in towards us with his demands, or it's cheerio.

We certainly shouldn't be breaking our wage structure to sign Darling or O'Brien for that matter. We must never lose sight of the bottom line.

 

[Swanjaxs]

Darling is a decent championship centre half, decent should be the very least we should expect from any player in our squad going forward, if he wants "over the odds" for decent at championship level then he can try elsewhere.

 

[Ringwood]

Problem could be we need to spend £1M plus to replace at least to his standard

 

[Dr. Winston]

Darling's a good player, but not irreplaceable. If a deal can be done for Delcroix then I'd be more than happy with that.

 

[Swanjaxs]

Problem could be we need to spend £1M plus to replace at least to his standard

Or pay more to get an upgrade...

 

[Ringwood]

Or pay more to get an upgrade...

Rather we spent strengthening other areas of the squad.. if we keep Darling and offer him a decent deal albeit he is looking for a big signing on fee somewhere else. Agree with other posters. He isn't irreplaceable and we should move on quick from him and Pedersen screwing us over on wages with no return.