This issue is starting to really get up my nose. Players who are simply not good enough earning good money for nowt. No disrespect to them or their desire to do whats best financially for themselves but we are saddled with them. What is the best solution? Pay off their contracts? Bobbys scenario is like my banana grove in the Bahamas. Too thick.Too full of ones that will never bear fruit and the best feeling was getting in there with a machete and giving what for. Aswell as some careful signings we need some bloody radical pruning. But how is he going to do it?

-- Anonymous, May 09, 2000

Answers

I think their contracts just have to peter out then we get no money for them. They have to learn to live on 1st or second division wages and we just have to hope we never have such stupid managers ever again.

Ideally you'd fine them a weeks wages every week until they performed but the PFA woudl moan on about that. If they really aren't up to it then degrade them, make them cut the grass, wash the 52000 seats, make them do something useful. If they have any self respect they'd leave.

-- Anonymous, May 09, 2000

If I was to put myself in the place of these players, then I'd sit tight. Let's face it, they aren't going to enhance their reputations by going to Bury or Hartlepool, or even Norwich. There's plenty of folks outside football who milk their employers. Why should professional footballers be any different? They aren't going to get anywhere near the wedge they get at SJP. We gambled and we lost.

The only thing to stop this would be a performance related contract. It might work in industry, but it wouldn't work in football. Le's hope that the powers that be recognise the foolishness of their ways and don't make the same mistake again.

However, while the likes of Phillips, Anelka, Poyet etc come good for a relatively small outlay then managers and boards will gamble. How many of us hope Gavilan will come good? Who (still) thinks Maric could do it given the right break (or left, depending on your viewpoint)?

-- Anonymous, May 09, 2000

I was just about to say something simular Screach, I think also if they renaged on their contracts we'd string 'em up.....Perhaps Bradford would have Hamilton back if plunge headlong into Div 1?

-- Anonymous, May 10, 2000

I did ask earlier, about a when the famous firteen were listed, does anyone know when any of their contracts are up?

No not your own contracts as he tries to deflect answers from pedants.

The players that time forgots contracts. Will we lose any this season?

How much longer do we have to pay Silvio and Lionel?

-- Anonymous, May 10, 2000