Apparently Cahill has already told friends that he is confident of a summer move to Arsenal.
Blake was a mystery to me too, maybe just the Burnley connection. Like you said a youngster could have taken his bench place.
Steinsson, I know he`s not the best, but he does have good games, remember home to Spurs? He also puts 100% into it. Would like to see him stay.

Stuart Holden will be like having a new player again. I just hope he will be as good next season as last season. We seemed to collapse after his injury. Vital to the team.

Whatever people think of Elmander he was our top scorer this season. I`m sure he would have scored many more if was played in the right position, so this is a worry for next season. Who is going to score the goals? Kevin Davies And Robbie Blake!!!!

I would also keep Gardner for another season as I think he still has something to offer.

in coyle we trust

I think Blake was signed with the vision of him going into coaching with us, but agree his place on the bench could have been used to progress one of our youngsters. Off the list I can only see Steinsson and maybe Gardner staying on. Its clear we need around 5 new signings and hopefully bring a couple of youngsters through. From what Ive seen Eaves and Ward seem the most likely to step up and pre season will give OC a decent idea of where to go next. If not then loan out Eaves, Vela, Blakeman, O'Halloran and Lainton and get them some competitive action.

Yeah I know, but why didn't we just sign Blake as a coach, would have been cheaper surely. I don't think we're in the financial position to be doing swan-song footballers favours by letting them sit on our bench.

Apparently Coyle has already begun his search for Elmanders replacement. Basically 'Chelski, please please give us Sturridge'

If we dont get Sturridge Id like us to permanently sign Borini from Chelsea. Hes impressed at Swansea and provided they dont come up Id love us to put in a bid for him. Also like us to sign Demba Ba as Elmos replacement

elmanders not going to take much to replace,just the 8-2mil quid

"If Johan goes that will free up a lot of finance because he was our record signing and on a terrific contract"

What do we make of this?

Johan must have been on more than I thought. I thought 30k max, but I don't think this is what OC is alluding to.

ed it's been rumoured credibly that johan was on over 60K a week. that would possibly pay for three young players with real potential if true and would explain why Owen doesn't seem too bothere by his probable departure. Even if JE wants to stay I doubt owen would be willing or able to offer him that much again do you?

Owen Coyle is obviously gutted by Elmanders leaving. He`s been trying desperately to persuade him to stay since January. That does not seem like a man not bothered in keeping Elmander to me.

60k a week! WHAT? Oh my, my whole opinion of the man has changed.

I wish the club would be bold and have transparency about what they pay players.

I was under the impression that noone earned over 40k at Bolton. Surely he is the only one?

We should introduce a 30k a week cap. Then just have massive bonus incentives.

If you do well: you get money.
If you don't: you don't get (as much) money.

Then, if we do well, we can afford it, but if we don't (i.e. relegation) then we can hopefully still afford it.

For instance, say we were to sign Sturridge. I'd put him on 30k a week, + 20k goal bonus.

So if he scores 20 for the season you've paid 400k more. But if he's scored 20 for the season, there's no way in hell we'd be anywhere near the bottom half of the table, let alone relegation, so the money you've paid out would be absorbed by the higher league placing.

Problem? Players are used to getting it easy. Convincing them to adopt this would be very tricky.

Yeah Ed he was on a ridiculous amount.

I think Coyle did want to keep him, but he wanted him to take a pay cut, JE wasnt prepared to do that and decided to look elsewhere. Coyle isn't bothered because he's a glass half full guy. He would have liked to keep him, he hasn't but he knows he can buy 3 young players ho can grow an really make a difference to are old team. It's scary how old our players are, we need to blood in se younger players!

Johnlockesbaldhead

Coyle has said they offered him a contract in December and the representatives of bwfc and JE have rarely met since. I think all parties are fairly happy about this as we can grow n increase the size and strength of our team and JE can keep earning a lucrative wage and playing in Europe.

Ah fair enough.

Holden's Hairstylist, you must have been pretty chuffed the other day when Stu won 'Best Hairstyle' at the Junior Whites end of year bash?!?

To be fair, I'll keep my eye on Elmander, and I hope he does well.

Oh I was delighted, I felt like all my Christmases had come at once, being given a pair of Golden Scissors was a nice touch.

I think he may very well do ok, but he is a disposable asset I think. it would be very easy to find a young player in the Chalp who could score 10 goals a season. Or Even DJ Campbell, and neither of those two options are gonna cost anywhere near as much as Elmander, on and upwards.

I told everyone Elmander was on £70k per week about 6 months ago and got told I was full of it... and here we have it.

Yeah, we could get 3x DJ Campells for 60k a week! (I'd imagine)

The Championship has really impressed me this season, there are some decent sides in there. I think with QPR, Norwich and either Reading/Swansea, the PL will be extremely tough next year.

Randomly, I don't know if its just me, but are we seeing a rise of the 'southern' clubs? Especially the south coast clubs...

Norwich, QPR, and Reading

Brighton, Southampton, and possibly Pboro (All southern) could get promoted to Championship.

League 2 is the odd one out, but Wycombe are up, and Torquay and Stevenage will take the final place.

Conferance: Crawley and Wimbledon...

So, of 12 promoted teams, 10 (possibly) could be southern??