Easy 10
Brain dead MUG SHEEP
Its an immotive subject, as its always sad when a players career comes to an end because of injury. But the bare facts are that despite the Albion being in utterly dire financial straights, we handed a renewed 12 month contract to an aging player who had just picked up another long-term injury. For a 34/35 year old to come back from a cruciate ligament injury was always going to be a big ask. Far younger players than Blackwell have often never recovered.
Now it was an honourable and magnificent gesture by the Albion, particularly as no doubt Blackwell would have been one of the higher wage-earners at the club. But it was also a hugely costly one. Eyebrows were raised at the time that contract was given, and the harsh reality is that, from the clubs point of view, it turned out to be money down the drain. With a painfully thin squad, there's no getting away from the fact that the money could have been better used to bring in another MUCH NEEDED player to bolster the team.
The Albion really didn't owe Blackwell anything. He made 21 apearances for us, not even half a season, so we're not talking about a stalwart who'd given us many years of good service. Players know that careers are short, and sometimes shortened further by injury. Dean Blackwell wasn't the first and he won't be the last to have his last couple of seasons taken away from him because of injury. Players usually have insurance, they have the PFA, the Albion really didn't owe Dean a living.
I know this is harsh, and I'll probably be shot down for saying it. But my primary concern is NOT for any individual players welfare at the club. My primary concern is for the Albion, and the success of the Albion as a whole. I'm sure Dean is a smashing bloke, and the platitudes for his attitude and spirit are no doubt well deserved. But this club is not doing itself any favours by keeping on aging, injured players who are unlikely to ever fully recover, at the expense of bringing in new blood who can help the team to survive.
It certainly was a nice thing to do. But was it the right thing to do ?
Now it was an honourable and magnificent gesture by the Albion, particularly as no doubt Blackwell would have been one of the higher wage-earners at the club. But it was also a hugely costly one. Eyebrows were raised at the time that contract was given, and the harsh reality is that, from the clubs point of view, it turned out to be money down the drain. With a painfully thin squad, there's no getting away from the fact that the money could have been better used to bring in another MUCH NEEDED player to bolster the team.
The Albion really didn't owe Blackwell anything. He made 21 apearances for us, not even half a season, so we're not talking about a stalwart who'd given us many years of good service. Players know that careers are short, and sometimes shortened further by injury. Dean Blackwell wasn't the first and he won't be the last to have his last couple of seasons taken away from him because of injury. Players usually have insurance, they have the PFA, the Albion really didn't owe Dean a living.
I know this is harsh, and I'll probably be shot down for saying it. But my primary concern is NOT for any individual players welfare at the club. My primary concern is for the Albion, and the success of the Albion as a whole. I'm sure Dean is a smashing bloke, and the platitudes for his attitude and spirit are no doubt well deserved. But this club is not doing itself any favours by keeping on aging, injured players who are unlikely to ever fully recover, at the expense of bringing in new blood who can help the team to survive.
It certainly was a nice thing to do. But was it the right thing to do ?
