The likes of the players that left or were sold last season, Tarks, McNeil, Mee, Cornet, and some that could not wait to get away, Wout etc,they look at the top of the Championship now and think that we might be swapping places with one of them in the Prem come May, Everton, Southampton,( Leeds Utd yes plz) yes i know now its a new team we have but they are playing as a unit, no bad apples in the squad,you can see how VK has got this squad to ALL gel with each other, in my opinion this team/squad is the best since Judas was here, but we are playing better now than in the 2009 season, lets just hope that we can get back at the 1st attempt, believe me the best is yet to come, i almost forgot i would like Notts Forest to come back down as well it if it did happen,regarding the mighty Everton would Dyche go to them then ?, because he thinks he is better than that, after all they would be in the Championship and us back in the Prem.

This team/squad is the best since Coyle?
Aye, alright then
That Coyle squad isn't even close to Dyche's best one.

Brentford should be ok, Mee made a good choice there.

The lads at Everton and Wolves will be concerned though.

They made their decision and joined clubs where they expected to remain in the PL for the foreseeable, so tough if they get relegated or are kicking around in a relegation battle all season, no tears shed here.

As for Cornet, he's disappeared at West Ham hasn't he?
Never in the squad and I don't know if he's injured, not fit or just not wanted/fancied by Moyes to do a job, which is odd because West Ham aren't doing very well at all.
Either way, we got our money back for him and that's all that really matters tbh.

GodIsADeeJay81 wrote: ↑

Wed Dec 28, 2022 1:59 am

This team/squad is the best since Coyle?
Aye, alright then
That Coyle squad isn't even close to Dyche's best one.

Brentford should be ok, Mee made a good choice there.

The lads at Everton and Wolves will be concerned though.

They made their decision and joined clubs where they expected to remain in the PL for the foreseeable, so tough if they get relegated or are kicking around in a relegation battle all season, no tears shed here.

As for Cornet, he's disappeared at West Ham hasn't he?
Never in the squad and I don't know if he's injured, not fit or just not wanted/fancied by Moyes to do a job, which is odd because West Ham aren't doing very well at all.
Either way, we got our money back for him and that's all that really matters tbh.

Calf injury for Cornet, hammers fans aren't happy with him at all because if it

I know we have a multitude of fantastic wingers, but i'd still take Max Cornet back in a heartbeat.

mybloodisclaret wrote: ↑

Wed Dec 28, 2022 2:58 am

I know we have a multitude of fantastic wingers, but i'd still take Max Cornet back in a heartbeat.

I wouldn't. Too injury prone.

When considering the loss of players from last seasons squad, I never foresaw the extraordinary changes to the way we play now and how well we are doing.
There is , however, just one player I wish we could have retained and that is Max Cornet. To see that West Ham are squandering his talent is disappointing.

SouthLondonexile wrote: ↑

Wed Dec 28, 2022 9:27 am

When considering the loss of players from last seasons squad, I never foresaw the extraordinary changes to the way we play now and how well we are doing.
There is , however, just one player I wish we could have retained and that is Max Cornet. To see that West Ham are squandering his talent is disappointing.

He’s been injured for 3.5 months.

He would have really struggled with the amount of matches in the Championship.

Would anyone swap Zaroury or Benson for Cornet ? Personally I wouldn't and it's incredible business to have picked up these two for relative peanuts. The real triumph of this season has been our recruitment and I'd love to know more about the responsibility for this i.e. which players were identified by VK personally and which by others (who?)

The players who have left are on very good contracts, I doubt they are too worried.

Stalbansclaret wrote: ↑

Wed Dec 28, 2022 10:44 am

Would anyone swap Zaroury or Benson for Cornet ? Personally I wouldn't and it's incredible business to have picked up these two for relative peanuts. The real triumph of this season has been our recruitment and I'd love to know more about the responsibility for this i.e. which players were identified by VK personally and which by others (who?)

While I love these two I think you might be underestimating what Maxwel could have done in this league. Barring injuries I do imagine he’d be top scorer.

Looking at how they are doing I'd say we got good money for Wood, McNeil, Collins and Cornet

Pope was a steal at 10m, still don't know why we sold so low

Tarks and Mee we couldn't do anything about

I love Cornet, but as others have said, he's made of glass

Didn’t think I’d be saying we don’t need Cornet but we don’t.

Why would we want Cornet back he's always on the treatment table for goodness sake.

For the rest Mee, Pope and Wood will be happy they are playing regularly or are part of a winning side.

Collins, McNeil and Tarks might well be concerned about the prospect of Championship football, however they've made their bed so let them lay in it.

They clearly wanted to leave and we got good money for most of them to allow VK to refresh the squad, and it's not turned out too badly has it.

This side are brilliant against the dross they play most weeks. Take out the loan players, Cork and JRod(I doubt they have another PL season in them) and we are rebuilding for next year again. I trust in VK so not negative about the situation.

To answer the OP, no.
The players thst left wanted either
A. More cash
B. To be premier league players ( even if just by name )
Or both

None wanted to be here, and if their current clubs go down they'll be happy to jump ship again if it means one of the aforementioned is available.

99% of Footballers have no loyalty or morals when it comes to who they plsy for, it generally comes purely down to cash

Mee is doing well, good move for him. Tarks signed his last big contract so at his stage of career I imagine he’s pretty pleased with life.

Cornet looks like he’ll always have an injury issue, but again he’s no doubt on huge wages and enjoying London. McNeil is probably wondering if he made the right move although it’s the biggest contract he’ll ever earn so a relegation fight at Everton is a price worth paying.

Not sure about Collins, he looked destined for the very top for a while with us but has struggled a bit. Maybe with the new manager there he’ll find his form again, still think he’s going to be top class.

Massive cornet fan.

Cornet and McNeil or Benson and Zaroury?

Not even close.

MACCA wrote: ↑

Wed Dec 28, 2022 1:49 pm

99% of Footballers have no loyalty or morals when it comes to who they plsy for, it generally comes purely down to cash

Unlike most other working people.

I was wondering if they actually care. Which I doubt they do.

mybloodisclaret wrote: ↑

Wed Dec 28, 2022 2:58 am

I know we have a multitude of fantastic wingers, but i'd still take Max Cornet back in a heartbeat.

He'd spend 95% of his time either on the bench or the treatment table. I wouldn't have him over Zaroury.

Let me think about it for a moment… would I swap World Cup Semi finalist Zaroury for injury prone Maxwel Cornet…? Nope. I loved Cornet, but he’s now proving to be injured more than not and that doesn’t bode well. We have struck gold with Zaroury and Benson, if we can secure Tella permanently too it’s a case of Maxwel who…?

Cornet would have lasted about 5 minutes in this league. We were well shot of him. He is not physically up to English football

Cash is King

McNeil doesnt play for us in this team

4midable wrote: ↑

Wed Dec 28, 2022 6:36 pm

McNeil doesnt play for us in this team

I think the closest you get with McNeil making it in this side is an attacking central midfielder and that replaces Brownhill's position. So you could see McNeil benched and having to work his way into the side. McNeil would do some damage in this division most certainly, so it's not laughable to have him in.

HiThere wrote: ↑

Wed Dec 28, 2022 2:22 pm

He'd spend 95% of his time either on the bench or the treatment table. I wouldn't have him over Zaroury.

I can't think of anyone I would have over Zaroury to be honest. That guy is insane, he is just far too good. Cornet as a false 10 perhaps spells a lot of goals, but as you say, it already seems like his athleticism is failing him. Which is a shame as he is a great player, not better than Anass in my opinion, Anass will go to the very top.

2 Bee Holed wrote: ↑

Wed Dec 28, 2022 2:09 pm

Unlike most other working people.

Then you'd be being very nieve...