Who's Sorry Now: Down by the Riverside

[westoelad]

There seems to be a disconnection between younger players who are criticised for maximising their potential while they still have the opportunity, and older players who are given diminished contracts the second they falter. It's not practical to keep on players beyond the point where they weaken the side, which is pretty ruthless Darwinism for the individual concerned. But surely given that harshness, the players should be morally free to seek the most advantageous environment for their skills, prosperity and longevity. That's a liberty we all exploit, though thankfully in more forgiving circumstances.

The disconnection is because they're entirely different circumstances. Young players are free to further their career wherever they wish nor can older players expect to be retained out of loyalty. The loyalty compensation comes with the awarding of a benefit.
There's a perfectly justifiable bone of contention, call it bitterness of you wish, in that clubs aren't adequately compensated for developing the young player. Whether a player owes a degree of loyalty to his parent club after being nursed through several periods of inactivity is an entirely personal decision. I'm of the view that perhaps he does but recognise that such a view is old school to many.

[captaincolly]

Jennings to Lancs on a 4 year deal.

[westoelad]

Jennings to Lancs on a 4 year deal.

Logical , so much for waiting for Notts to be promoted. Mind Lancs record at signings from other countries is pretty abysmal.
Hameed to Durham on an NHS sponsorship

[captaincolly]

Jennings to Lancs on a 4 year deal.

Logical , so much for waiting for Notts to be promoted. Mind Lancs record at signings from other countries is pretty abysmal.
Hameed to Durham on an NHS sponsorship

[captaincolly]

Stokes and Hales apparently not training for England today and will miss the last two one day games. Statement coming soon according to Sky and they are reporting Strauss is on his way to the Oval?
Wonder what those two have been up to?!

[westoelad]

Welcome home
http://www.durhamccc.co.uk/news/welcome-back-will/

[Aidan11]

Stokes and Hales apparently not training for England today and will miss the last two one day games. Statement coming soon according to Sky and they are reporting Strauss is on his way to the Oval?
Wonder what those two have been up to?!

Stokes was arrested in Bristol after the ODI. I don't know any more than that.

[Aidan11]

Another message board suggests he got into a fight in a bar with a member of the public.

[captaincolly]

Another message board suggests he got into a fight in a bar with a member of the public.

Sounds ominous. Hales also helping police with their inquiries!

Welcome home
http://www.durhamccc.co.uk/news/welcome-back-will/

All the best of luck to him and here's hoping he can do a good job for us. It's not a signing I'm really impressed with but my judgement is usually appalling so he'll probably be a great success!
Edit: I thought the headline referred to Will Gidman!

Smith I am happy to have back! So that means he'll probably have a shocker!

[Aidan11]

Must admit I'm not overwhelmed with the Smith signing but at the present it is good to see anybody playing at the club next season.

[captaincolly]

I suppose I'm biased because I've always had a soft spot for Smith. His attitude is always exemplary and I think he should score runs in div 2. Should also be a safe pair of hands if he has to do any captaincy.

According to the great man Piers Morgan (!) Stokes hurt his hand during the incident on Monday and could miss the Ashes tour! Whether or not that's just Piers being mischievous remains to be seen -.unless he has been told something by KP.

[Durhamfootman]

Maybe I'm on my own here, but for me, this news beggars belief. I know that Onions maybe isn't the force of his peak years, and it's true he has started to pick up more niggling injuries. But to lose a club legend who has represented us so well for all these years - and who is averaging 23 with the ball this season - because we couldn't agree a two year contract is ridiculous in my opinion. TWO YEARS! Jesus wept. We have a squad so decimated that it can hold team meetings in a phone box, but are willing to let a proven performer leave in this way.
In addition, didn't Coughlin and Jennings sign new contracts last year? Wasn't that supposed to be the good news to counter-balance the departures of Stoneman and Borthwick? Now they're gone/going too. Seems as if Durham have dusted off their copy of "The Neville Chamberlain Guide to Negotiation" and are following it to the letter in all contract talks.
I really hoped we'd come back stronger after the gutting events of the close season, but it just seems to be one body blow after another - some sadly self inflicted.

well, first of all, welcome back KingOttis, good to hear from you again

I'm firmly of the opinion that if Coughlin and Jennings want to go, then they should. I have no interest in retaining players who want to be away, whatever their reasons. If they think their careers will be furthered somewhere else, then fair enough, but after the investment, faith and loyalty that the club showed to them in the fledgling part of their careers, I won't be wishing them well of it.

Different with Onions, and with Mustard last year... coming to the end of their careers and featuring less and less in our plans, if they can extend their careers by moving on, after providing us with years of loyal service, then I wish them every success. I was very happy when I saw that Phil had not only revitalised his waning career at Gloucs, but ended up becoming their captain... good man. I also firmly believe that their careers with us had gone as far as they could go.... end of their natural lifespan, as it were

[Durhamfootman]

not sure what I think about Smudgers return. I did like him as a player, and thought it was shocking the way he was treated both by the club and within the dressing room by players who should have known better, but at the same time he's had a pretty lean time of things at Hants. That Hanty fans will probably be chuffed that he's leaving, which makes me a little worried about his return

[westoelad]

2 year contract for Onions at OT but no mention of a coaching post.
http://www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk/ ... m-13678252

[captaincolly]

2 year contract for Onions at OT but no mention of a coaching post.
http://www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk/ ... m-13678252

Yeah, it mentions he has coaching qualifications but no suggestion that he's got any post. If that's the case it is strange because the impression was that a coaching role was the reason the talks with Durham broke down.
Wouldn't be a surprise if his agent called Durham's bluff with demands and it backfired.