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[Albion] Lallana SINGS extension to Summer 2024









dazzer6666

Well-known member
NSC Patron
Mar 27, 2013
52,565
Burgess Hill
I appreciate what he brought to the club but he’s a high wage earner who hardly plays any minutes for us really, like many on here I wish he was 10 years younger but he’s not. I’m sure he would be a great asset as part of the back room staff
He essentially already is. Pretty sure his influence on the younger players and around the club in general is hugely positive
 


Seaview Seagull

Well-known member
NSC Patron
Mar 1, 2021
496
He essentially already is. Pretty sure his influence on the younger players and around the club in general is hugely positive
Absolutely. Did those who want rid actually notice how we were able to control the game once he came on? He gives us the one thing we really need for now, the ability to hold on to winning positions. No one thought we were getting a goal scorer - we have enough of those even If they are not firing at the moment.
 


dazzer6666

Well-known member
NSC Patron
Mar 27, 2013
52,565
Burgess Hill
Absolutely. Did those who want rid actually notice how we were able to control the game once he came on? He gives us the one thing we really need for now, the ability to hold on to winning positions. No one thought we were getting a goal scorer - we have enough of those even If they are not firing at the moment.
Might not have any physical pace, but his speed of thinking and spatial awareness (watch his head - it‘s constantly and rapidly scanning everything around him) gives him half a yard every time, and he’s able to pick a punchy pass at almost any angle, drop a shoulder or do a half turn. There were a couple of beautiful long passing sequences in the closing stages yesterday when Forest were absolutely chasing shadows and couldn’t get near us - Lallana was instrumental in keeping those going.
 




Rdodge30

Well-known member
Dec 30, 2022
439
He essentially already is. Pretty sure his influence on the younger players and around the club in general is hugely positive
I agree but if his reputed wages are true then he is extremely poor value for what he brings to the pitch and I would prefer to see him on a coaches wages - he was great value to start with as the wages were offset by the free transfer but he plays less and less now
 


dazzer6666

Well-known member
NSC Patron
Mar 27, 2013
52,565
Burgess Hill
I agree but if his reputed wages are true then he is extremely poor value for what he brings to the pitch and I would prefer to see him on a coaches wages - he was great value to start with as the wages were offset by the free transfer but he plays less and less now
I don’t think it’s ‘extremely poor’……..went a long way to gaining us 2 points yesterday. We also wouldn’t have known about his (perceived at least) fairly steep drop-off in fitness in what now looks increasingly like his last season. What wouldn’t be ‘extremely poor value’ to have someone like Lallana working with Hinshelwood, Buonanotte, Enciso etc etc every day, plus all the other younger academy kids he’s spending a lot of time with ? We can employ all the coaches in the world but there’s no substitute for his kind of experience, allied to his attitude and role-model behaviour. Decent long-term investment imo, really hope he stays on the staff when he decides not to play any more.
 










Nicks

Well-known member
I was worried he was given another year by this bounce. He should hang up his boots along with Milner. Certainly for us anyway. Give Welbeck another year
I would give him another year

There are some games that are just to frantic for him where we have no time on the ball in the middle of the park.
But I've noticed lately he has come on and played the number 10 role although in my opinion he isn't suited to it.( But what do I know )
When he has the time he is a class above everyone else in the pitch and his first touch and vision are something to be admired.
 






BBassic

I changed this.
Jul 28, 2011
12,352
I would give him another year

There are some games that are just to frantic for him where we have no time on the ball in the middle of the park.
But I've noticed lately he has come on and played the number 10 role although in my opinion he isn't suited to it.( But what do I know )
When he has the time he is a class above everyone else in the pitch and his first touch and vision are something to be admired.
All this.

Plus he wears basic black football boots. None of this fancy pink and snot green nonsense favoured by da yoot.
 


dazzer6666

Well-known member
NSC Patron
Mar 27, 2013
52,565
Burgess Hill
I would give him another year

There are some games that are just to frantic for him where we have no time on the ball in the middle of the park.
But I've noticed lately he has come on and played the number 10 role although in my opinion he isn't suited to it.( But what do I know )
When he has the time he is a class above everyone else in the pitch and his first touch and vision are something to be admired.
Agreed. If during next season he gets used less and less (which is entirely possible) then he can increase his coaching remit. Win/win.
 




Nobby Cybergoat

Well-known member
Jul 19, 2021
7,059
I was worried he was given another year by this bounce. He should hang up his boots along with Milner. Certainly for us anyway. Give Welbeck another year
I'm with you.

Watching him play, he can barely run any more. Though his physical decline is still being masked by his outstanding touch and control. He should know himself it's time to hang up his boots and if not, then the manager / club should tell him. I'd be using the Lallana wages elsewhere in the playing budget.

Milner we'll see if he gets back on the pitch this season. If not, then no way. I suppose he can at least cover a few positions.

Welbeck, yes 2 more years fine with me. He's playing as well as ever as far as I can tell.
 






Uh_huh_him

Well-known member
Sep 28, 2011
10,704
Total luxury player.
Doesn't score or assist and can't play more than 45 minutes a week.

Lovely to watch, but he doesn't add anything to us, on the pitch, that others can't.
100 appearance at an average of 48 minutes per appearance, over 4 seasons.
2/3s of those minutes from his first two seasons.

It really is diminishing returns,
We really shouldn't be thinking of extending his contract
 




hans kraay fan club

The voice of reason.
Helpful Moderator
Mar 16, 2005
61,379
Chandlers Ford
I'm with you.

Watching him play, he can barely run any more. Though his physical decline is still being masked by his outstanding touch and control. He should know himself it's time to hang up his boots and if not, then the manager / club should tell him. I'd be using the Lallana wages elsewhere in the playing budget.

Milner we'll see if he gets back on the pitch this season. If not, then no way. I suppose he can at least cover a few positions.

Welbeck, yes 2 more years fine with me. He's playing as well as ever as far as I can tell.

Total luxury player.
Doesn't score or assist and can't play more than 45 minutes a week.

Lovely to watch, but he doesn't add anything to us, on the pitch, that others can't.
100 appearance at an average of 48 minutes per appearance, over 4 seasons.
2/3s of those minutes from his first two seasons.

It really is diminishing returns,
We really shouldn't be thinking of extending his contract
The thing is, unless you are privvy to what those wages are - or rather what they would be NEXT season, then you really can't tell whether an extra year would be worthwhile / good value.

The guy has been a Premier league footballer for 12 seasons. Money is unlikely to be his motivation at this point. IF he sees the Albion as the best place to spend the next year, for his development towards a future coaching / management career, then he'll stay, and the wages he'll demand are unlikely to be prohibitive, IMO.

Of course whether he'll want to stay, may well depend on who the manager is.
 


Beanstalk

Well-known member
Apr 5, 2017
2,548
London
I would give him another year

There are some games that are just to frantic for him where we have no time on the ball in the middle of the park.
But I've noticed lately he has come on and played the number 10 role although in my opinion he isn't suited to it.( But what do I know )
When he has the time he is a class above everyone else in the pitch and his first touch and vision are something to be admired.
I'd agree with this. A mate, who attended the Albion throughout lockdown (as a journalist), said he couldn't wait for crowds to come back because without them all you could hear was Lallana screaming for 90 mins. He just never let the standards drop.

He's a leader, he's embedded into the club superbly, and (whilst I've found myself frustrated by him on occasion) done a really good job for us. As @hans kraay fan club says, if it works for all parties, he'll stay.
 


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