Newcastle bid £15m for Trafford

[Burnley Ace]

Regardless of how he played:

He was never treated badly by Burnley fans
He should never have been bought
He didn't fit into our style of play
It was completely unnecessary spend
He should never have been given the shirt
Muric should never have lost the shirt

That is all on Kompany, not James Trafford

You think he wasn’t, I think he was.

[Quickenthetempo]

It may well have been Kompany’s fault for persisting with him but the response of the fans was not supportive. Did you ever chant James James James Trafford?

Did you ever chant his name?

[FeedTheArf]

Romano saying bid of £15m plus add ons being submitted.

Interestingly it says that personal terms have already been agreed. Struggling to see how they’ve managed this without a bid being accepted. Realistically I know it happens through agents, but once of a day there’d be cries of ‘tapping up’ players. Is that not a thing anymore??

[Rileybobs]

I never heard anyone boo Trafford when his name was read out at TM Rileyb, I am a season tkt holder and attended all but one home game last season ... So which match(es) are you talking about

Bournemouth at home. When the announcer read Trafford’s name as part of the lineup before the game it was met with boos.

[BigGaz]

Schroedinger's Trafford

The lad who has been simultaneously catastrophic but that anything less than 20m from his salw is a disgrace.

If we get back the money we paid for him + his wages I'd call that a fair go and wish him the best.

[what_no_pies]

This whole situation stings. The main justification for sticking with the lad is that he would develop and be a saleable asset. Instead seems like sticking with him contributed to our relegation and we have merely washed our face on the deal having given him the game time.

[boatshed bill]

Was (is) Muric really any better than Trafford?

[Goobs]

Was (is) Muric really any better than Trafford?

IMO he IS better than Trafford, however will he continue to be?

It would appear that most in the game believe the answer to that to be no.

Time will tell if they are right but if you asked me who I would prefer to be our number 1 next season then the answer would be Nick Pope

[bobinho]

Was (is) Muric really any better than Trafford?

Certain elements of his game may be. Certain elements may not be. Thing is though, the biggest and most puzzling decision of the season HAD to be starting Trafford against Man City in that first game. He should have been protected, he should have been managed, he should have been nurtured. I’m struggling to think of the right word to describe his inclusion on that day…. All I can come up with is “abandoned”. It was a spectacularly poor piece of management. Had we introduced him gently, mid season, we could well be looking at a £30m keeper right now.

Muric should have had the shirt. He’d done nothing wrong, certainly didn’t deserve to be dumped like he was - with hindsight, we could say that about a good many others.

[what_no_pies]

Muric was our most improved player in the Championship season. Benson shone brightly too. We devalued both of them massively through team selection. Signing several wingers and a £15m GK suggests we weren't planning to have them feature prominently so why didn't we cash in whilst their stock was high? It's not only poor man management, but poor management of our squad, finances and resources too.

[ClaretPete001]

I don’t personally think he’ll go for £30m unless we get a proper Chelsea/Newcastle/Bayern bidding war which is pretty unlikely, but to answer your question…

It would just underline that those who said that we would make a big loss on him if we wanted to sell really don’t understand what they’re talking about. There was a lot of nonsense written about him on this board last season.

VK decided to drop him for Muric who cost us £3 million. It wasn't anyone on here. Even when Aro let one roll under his foot he was preferred to Trafford.

We the loyal badge kissing Burnley fans wot only ever have loyalty in our hearts had no option but to support our glorious leader when he decided after 28 games that James Trafford was sh*t.

Genuinely speaking, I hope we sell James Trafford to Newcastle so that they can develop him into a top PL keeper. I think it is incumbent on those who wanted to keep him in the team to admit that he was very poorly served by us.

If you wish to apologies on behalf of the pro-Trafford community New - feel free to do so. We the drop the useless tw*t community have forgiveness in our hearts.

[Burnley Ace]

Did you ever chant his name?

No but I never chanted Roger Hansbury either.

[Enola Gay]

Was (is) Muric really any better than Trafford?

Right now?

Yes.

[Shaggy]

Was (is) Muric really any better than Trafford?

Is that even a question? BPF is also better than Trafford.

The warning signs were already there in Pre-Season with Trafford and he hasn’t impressed one bit.

[bumba]

Was (is) Muric really any better than Trafford?

Much much better, we was told Trafford was in for his shot stopping ability but he never produced. Muric came in and pulled off save after save.
Muric made two massive errors but he was still so much better for the team than Trafford

[Newcastleclaret93]

Isn’t it funny perceptions. Outside of this club Muric is looked at as a bit of a clown, yet he is worshiped on here.

Trafford is highly rated everywhere apart from here by the looks of it.

The reality is Trafford is a much better keeper and will have a much more successful career.

[claretonthecoast1882]

Much much better, we was told Trafford was in for his shot stopping ability but he never produced. Muric came in and pulled off save after save.
Muric made two massive errors but he was still so much better for the team than Trafford

Makes you wonder why the clubs being linked with Trafford don't just sign Muric, even more so when if someone offered 6-7m for him it would probably be accepted

[123EasyasBFC]

If Trafford wasn’t English there wouldn’t be a single premier league club looking at him

[bumba]

Isn’t it funny perceptions. Outside of this club Muric is looked at as a bit of a clown, yet he is worshiped on here.

Trafford is highly rated everywhere apart from here by the looks of it.

The reality is Trafford is a much better keeper and will have a much more successful career.

I'd say our fans are better placed than outsiders to see who is the better keeper

[bumba]

Makes you wonder why the clubs being linked with Trafford don't just sign Muric, even more so when if someone offered 6-7m for him it would probably be accepted

Because he's English and overhyped

[claretonthecoast1882]

Because he's English and overhyped

Yep, football history is littered with Premier League clubs signing overhyped goalkeepers just because they are English. I mean the number of English keepers Chelsea & Newcastle have signed in the last 20 years is huge.

[Poulton-le-Claret]

The warning signs were already there in Pre-Season with Trafford and he hasn’t impressed one bit.

I was a bit worried when Real Betis scored from their own half. I imagine that bit didn't make it on the highlight reel made by the Newcastle fans on Twitter/X

[Shaggy]

The reality is Trafford is a much better keeper and will have a much more successful career.

He isn’t though is he. He hasn’t shown that he is better in any area.

If there literally was a definition of a hype job then look up James Trafford.

[ElectroClaret]

Right now?

Yes.

I think this neatly sums up the situation.
Trafford will more than likely improve with experience.
But yes, despite his glaring errors, I felt far more confident with Muric in when VK finally bowed to the inevitable last season.
Dominated the area in a way JT couldn't.

[Newcastleclaret93]

If Trafford wasn’t English there wouldn’t be a single premier league club looking at him

That’s just an outright ******** isn’t it.

Do you honestly think clubs are looking at Trafford for approx 20m just because he’s English? Especially teams like Newcastle who don’t even need to sign home grown talent because they are well above the quota?

[bumba]

Yep, football history is littered with Premier League clubs signing overhyped goalkeepers just because they are English. I mean the number of English keepers Chelsea & Newcastle have signed in the last 20 years is huge.

You could make a long long list of players Newcastle and Chelsea have signed over the years who were overhyped at the time

[NewClaret]

Isn’t it funny perceptions. Outside of this club Muric is looked at as a bit of a clown, yet he is worshiped on here.

Trafford is highly rated everywhere apart from here by the looks of it.

The reality is Trafford is a much better keeper and will have a much more successful career.

I agree with your point about perceptions and probably who will end up having the more successful career. There are sliding doors moments in football though and Newcastle will probably be a great one for Trafford but I also think that a year in the Championship would be best for his development. Not that I actually want him to do a year in the Championship with us if it’s over Muric who I think is important to us in our old system at least.

[NewClaret]

Makes you wonder why the clubs being linked with Trafford don't just sign Muric, even more so when if someone offered 6-7m for him it would probably be accepted

God I would absolutely lose my **** if we took £6 or £7m for Muric.

[Newcastleclaret93]

He isn’t though is he. He hasn’t shown that he is better in any area.

If there literally was a definition of a hype job then look up James Trafford.

I would say he’s probably better than Muric in nearly every single department apart from distribution.

Where the players will end up in September is a pretty good indicator of there level. Or even better give it 5 years.

I’m pretty confident Muric will end up somewhere like Turkey and will never be heard off again.

Trafford will likely be Newcastle or Chelsea’s number 1 and play for England.

Take your eyes away from last season for a minute , that system we played was a total disaster. Muric slightly suited it better, but even he was made to look very very bad on more than a handful of occasions. Like I said earlier perceptions are strange in this club, last season nearly everyone I spoke to outside of Burnley thought Muric was **** and when the howlers happened I was getting sent videos and screenshots taking the **** out of him.

[evensteadiereddie]

I think the fact that Trafford has been part of the England set up, now senior, speaks volumes for the lad's talent and potential.Anybody buying Trafford is getting at least ten years worth of great goalkeeping.
In front of a decent defence and midfield, Trafford will flourish.
Any keeper, Music included, will struggle and be exposed with a defence like ours.
I guess it's a straight choice, you trust the judgement of the likes of Shaggy and Bumba or that of the England, Newcastle and other Prem coaches ...

[Newcastleclaret93]

I agree with your point about perceptions and probably who will end up having the more successful career. There are sliding doors moments in football though and Newcastle will probably be a great one for Trafford but I also think that a year in the Championship would be best for his development. Not that I actually want him to do a year in the Championship with us if it’s over Muric who I think is important to us in our old system at least.

I’m hoping we don’t play the VK system. The thought of that hopefully in the premier league again sends shivers down my spine.

I would move both keepers on and start again.

Think both have burnt there bridges with the club now

[jlup1980]

Isn’t it funny perceptions. Outside of this club Muric is looked at as a bit of a clown, yet he is worshiped on here.

Trafford is highly rated everywhere apart from here by the looks of it.

The reality is Trafford is a much better keeper and will have a much more successful career.

Nobody can say that he'll have a more successful career. That's just hyperbole. Being a successful goalkeeper is probably the most difficult thing to do. You don't get thrown on for 10 minutes here and there like an outfield player. There's one shirt to play for and you need to nail it down. It's a tough ask.
I look at Trafford as a goalkeeper with tremendous potential, but that's all it is currently.

A good comparison is Jack Butland. He's played for England at U16, U17, U19, U20 and U21. He was in the Olympic squad in 2012 and got drafted into Euros squad in the same summer. He made his senior England debut at 19 and was playing regular Premier League football. Everybody thought he was going to be the England goalkeeper for the next decade. He was the next big thing. Fast forward 12 years and he's got a total of 9 caps and hasn't been called up since 2018. He's only managed 10 Premier League appearances since Stoke City were relegated in 2018. He's doing well at Rangers now and has had a good career, but not the career that was predicted.

Trafford could go on and be a brilliant keeper, but he could also be average. We can't afford to take the risk IMO. If someone is willing to pay £15-£20m for him, he has to go. If we keep him and he doesn't perform well, or he's second choice behind Muric, then his value drops dramatically. The sensible approach is to sell him and start again.

[CrosspoolClarets]

No doubts that Trafford is also not as good at high claims under pressure, as well as distribution. Muric did well when he came in, punched a lot, wasn’t exposed. That would be my biggest concern next season.

Then on shot stopping Muric was 2nd in the division whereas Trafford was near the bottom, on goals conceded versus expected goals conceded based on the quality of the shot. So there is 100% conviction that Muric is the better goalkeeper at this moment in time.

There is obvious potential though. I’d take £30m (with add ons) but not £20m. I’d very happily keep Trafford if he wants to stay but I would worry that the fans have him as a scapegoat and that he knows this and wants to leave.

[AGENT_CLARET]

Bournemouth at home. When the announcer read Trafford’s name as part of the lineup before the game it was met with boos.

Even if that's true it was only one game out of all the game's he played in, and even then if he was booed it was more because he was in the starting line up and that was more aimed at Kompany for picking him than at Trafford himself

[Rileybobs]

Even if that's true it was only one game out of all the game's he played in, and even then if he was booed it was more because he was in the starting line up and that was more aimed at Kompany for picking him than at Trafford himself

Someone claimed Trafford was never treated badly by Burnley fans. I’d suggest that booing him is treating him badly, even if it was just on one occasion and for whatever reason you think they did it.

[ClaretPete001]

The reality is that the club probably can't afford to have players who likely cost £17 million or so on the bench in the championship while they are developing.

The problem is not with Trafford or Muric but with a policy that commoditises young players in the hope that they can cope with life in the PL and waits 28 games to change to plan B when it isn't working.

Trafford will likely be a good goalkeeper and the fact that others have retained their faith in him even though he has been poor for us is an acknowledgement that with better care and some time he will be worth the money being paid for him.

Having signed Tresor, and along with others, we could end up with a £50 million bench in the Championship. A nice problem to have if you can afford it.

[123EasyasBFC]

That’s just an outright ******** isn’t it.

Do you honestly think clubs are looking at Trafford for approx 20m just because he’s English? Especially teams like Newcastle who don’t even need to sign home grown talent because they are well above the quota?

It’s completely true, he wouldn’t be getting anywhere near the attention from clubs if he wasn’t English, because Newcastle are above their home grown quota now doesn’t mean they always will be and a keeper is a safe option.

This isn’t just a Trafford issue either so many English players are completely overpriced.

Take branthwaite for example, I don’t think he’s anywhere near the 60-70m being quoted, it’s just because he’s English. Dyche makes defenders look better. Maguire when he went to United was nowhere near worth the price he went for

[123EasyasBFC]

Yep, football history is littered with Premier League clubs signing overhyped goalkeepers just because they are English. I mean the number of English keepers Chelsea & Newcastle have signed in the last 20 years is huge.

Arsenal spent 30m on ramsdale and then dropped him after a season

[Foshiznik]

So many people absolutely certain we paid £19 million for Trafford. There is no evidence or precedence for such a fee and the fact he is being touted as moving for £15-20m is more evidence that we probably paid alot less. The fact is no one knows who isn't involved at the club so continuing to push it as fact looks ridiculous.

[Quickenthetempo]

Isn’t it funny perceptions. Outside of this club Muric is looked at as a bit of a clown, yet he is worshiped on here.

Trafford is highly rated everywhere apart from here by the looks of it.

The reality is Trafford is a much better keeper and will have a much more successful career.

Yeah, perceptions change accross the country. All the none Burnley fans I speak to reckon we would have stayed up with Muric in goal instead of Trafford.

I speak to a lot of Boltons fans now through cricket who love Trafford to bits. None of them thought he was ready for the Premier league and would be hung out to dry.
Especially with a high price tag.

He is young and hopefully fills his potential somewhere else, as it could benefit England one day if he does.

But you're forgetting that Muric is still very young in goalkeeper terms. He has improved his GK skills massively since we got him, although he had far too many chances to show this off in the prem.

I don't ever want Burnley to repeat the experiment of having a 20yr old in goal.

[Ric_C]

Some wild opinions on this thread. I guess this has been done to death now and both sides have their stakes set in the ground. All I'll say is this.

Having spoken to friends who are fans of other teams who follow the premier league, they pretty much all said these comments throughout the season:

1. Trafford looked out of his depth
2. Why is Kompany persisting with Trafford? His confidence looks shot.
3. Playing such a young keeper for so long, with our high risk defending was extremely unfair on him.

Pretty much every fan I spoke to were asking the same questions we were. VK badly mismanaged him.

Put it this way, if we sold Trafford for 15 million tomorrow, I'd be relieved. If we sold Muric for less than 10 million I'd be furious.

We'll see if Trafford grows and becomes this super keeper some people are convinced he will be. As for me, I'm not sure he has the natural physical attributes. Nothing against the lad, but that's just my opinion.

[Quickenthetempo]

So many people absolutely certain we paid £19 million for Trafford. There is no evidence or precedence for such a fee and the fact he is being touted as moving for £15-20m is more evidence that we probably paid alot less. The fact is no one knows who isn't involved at the club so continuing to push it as fact looks ridiculous.

There's not a chance we paid more than 9m for him (he can't have reached any add ons)

[morninbob]

Isn’t it funny perceptions. Outside of this club Muric is looked at as a bit of a clown, yet he is worshiped on here.

Trafford is highly rated everywhere apart from here by the looks of it.

The reality is Trafford is a much better keeper and will have a much more successful career.

Muric had the best save stats in the league.

[ClaretPete001]

There's not a chance we paid more than 9m for him (he can't have reached any add ons)

It's on multiple sources including the BBC that we paid £15 million plus £4 million add on and City have a 20 per cent sell on clause.

If you can cite your sources please feel free to do so.

[123EasyasBFC]

Isn’t it funny perceptions. Outside of this club Muric is looked at as a bit of a clown, yet he is worshiped on here.

Trafford is highly rated everywhere apart from here by the looks of it.

The reality is Trafford is a much better keeper and will have a much more successful career.

Their perceptions outside of Burnley was that weghorst was a natural Chris wood replacement

When in reality weghorst shrinks when he jumps

[Darthlaw]

Regardless of how he played:

He was never treated badly by Burnley fans

Some of the quotes on here (by some of the posters on this thread):
'I would have been happy to see him leave last month for half of what we paid for him if it got him out the side stinking out the place.'
'Trafford strikes again....'
'Laughable from Trafford, a boy playing in a man's game'
'Thick from Trafford'
'he is weak and will single handedly cost us another season'
'The rest of the team must hate Trafford'
'get out of my club'
...In addition to one poster trying to get 'calamity' to stick as his nickname.

Add to this the Muric chants whenever he misplaced a pass or the general groans and I'd suggest he was treated badly by a good slice of Burnley fans.

At least once Trafford has gone it can bring the whole sorry chapter, how we've treated one of our own young lads, to a close.

[Quickenthetempo]

It's on multiple sources including the BBC that we paid £15 million plus £4 million add on and City have a 20 per cent sell on clause.

If you can cite your sources please feel free to do so.

I made a judgement through all the sources that came out at the time.

Plus I'm old enough to realise the press always put the highest figure possible to create headlines.

[warksclaret]

The person to blame is our big ego manager, and not the fans. After about 5-6 games Muric should have been played, leaving the door open for Trafford to step back in if Muric had several bad games.Cannot think of another PL manager that would have persisted so long with a young player. This young goalkeepers confidence will have been shattered by continually playing him for 28 league games for a team that did not know how to win. This young lad will want out of our club in order to rebuild his career and who can blame him

[Ric_C]

Some of the quotes on here (by some of the posters on this thread):
'I would have been happy to see him leave last month for half of what we paid for him if it got him out the side stinking out the place.'
'Trafford strikes again....'
'Laughable from Trafford, a boy playing in a man's game'
'Thick from Trafford'
'he is weak and will single handedly cost us another season'
'The rest of the team must hate Trafford'
'get out of my club'
...In addition to one poster trying to get 'calamity' to stick as his nickname.

Add to this the Muric chants whenever he misplaced a pass or the general groans and I'd suggest he was treated badly by a good slice of Burnley fans.

At least once Trafford has gone it can bring the whole sorry chapter, how we've treated one of our own young lads, to a close.

A few over-reactions on a messageboard are a lot different to fans digging him out at the games. Personally thought in the main the fans were extremely patient with him, and the only frustrations were in not giving Muric a chance over hating on James Trafford. The fact the fans started singing songs in his favour to boost his confidence was pretty good tbh.

[KRBFC]

I’d be absolutely amazed if we got more than £7m for Muric, the most inconsistent erratic goalkeeper I have ever seen, I like his loose cannon energy when we’re winning but it’s hard to stomach watching him endlessly give the ball away and make brutal amateur mistakes when losing.

He needs moving on for me regardless of what we do with Trafford.