Any news on Ben Mee ?

[warksclaret]

To be fair to Mee after the last 5 years playing for Burnley he might not realise clubs can sign players this early in the window and therefore might have his phone switched off

I think in the North West people still use pigeons as a way of communicating if they have no phone or its switched of. You would think a couple of clubs would be coo-ing up to buy him by now

[LeadBelly]

The Telegraph (online) has an article today suggesting that (footy player) free agents are maybe finding it more difficult this year to get contracts. Not saying the bottom has dropped out of the market but that some of the power has shifted to clubs rather than the players/their agents.

Couple of quotes
"The tendency in the past has been for big free agency deals to be announced on July 1, the earliest possible day after the expiration of the previous contract at the end of June. This year many players have drifted past that date. Paul Pogba’s deal to join Juventus took longer, a sure sign that it had not been quite up to his expectations. Amid much anticipation of interest from clubs in Europe, thus far only West Ham have made a serious offer to Lingard and like everyone else in his position he needs an auction to get close to the contract he wants."

"At the top end of the free agent market, Antonio Rudiger and Ivan Perisic, agreed their deals with new clubs at the start of the month. Others are waiting much longer as clubs manage the limited wage budgets at their disposal this summer. The big signing-on fees are not materialising as they once did. Some clubs are asking for payments to be deferred to the end of contracts rather than up front. The collision of reality with expectation has meant a lot of players heading into pre-season without a club. There is less money for these kinds of deals."

"Those at the end of their careers are taking the best of the deal available, like Angel Di Maria at Juventus. But the old notion that this would yield major salary upgrades seems to have been demolished by the game’s financial straits. Clubs are not prepared to pay signing-on fees to free agents that take their overall wage levels far beyond that of the rest of the squad. To do so is to invite unrest among the squad and a wage bill that gets dragged more rapidly upwards."

The author has selected an "out of work XI" which has a back 4 of: Serge Aurier (Villarreal), Ben Mee (Burnley), Jason Denayer (Lyon), Marcelo (Real Madrid),

[FCBurnley]

Didn’t take Phillips long to ditch his beloved home town Leeds and follow the money once City cane calling.

[AfloatinClaret]

Didn’t take Phillips long to ditch his beloved home town Leeds and follow the money once City cane calling.

I and I'm sure many others, 'ditched' my home town and employer when someone offered to more than double my salary; why would/should professional footballers do differently?

[FCBurnley]

I and I'm sure many others, 'ditched' my home town and employer when someone offered to more than double my salary; why would/should professional footballers do differently?

Ask DA lol

[CharlieinNewMexico]

Can anyone else see Ben, with his personal / family life etc and his respect amongst fellow professionals transition early into a media / PFA thing?

I can.

Why would you keep going nonstop in your 30s when you have found a really good (lesser paid) gig that people can really buy into you for. Family Man. Tough Nut. Exemplary Pro.

Thoughts?

[superdimitri]

Can anyone else see Ben, with his personal / family life etc and his respect amongst fellow professionals transition early into a media / PFA thing?

I can.

Why would you keep going nonstop in your 30s when you have found a really good (lesser paid) gig that people can really buy into you for. Family Man. Tough Nut. Exemplary Pro.

Thoughts?

I don't think he's played for a reputable enough club at high enough level to be a main pundit and they're the ones that get paid decent money. Local radio maybe.

I expect he'll end up with a team in the prem either bench warming mid table or for one of the newly promoted sides.

[ŽižkovClaret]

Everton could do a lot worse than team him up with Tarky

[Quickenthetempo]

I don't think he's played for a reputable enough club at high enough level to be a main pundit and they're the ones that get paid decent money. Local radio maybe.

I expect he'll end up with a team in the prem either bench warming mid table or for one of the newly promoted sides.

It will be a car crash for him to be a starter in one of the promoted teams.
All 3 are quite attacking, possession based sides. He would get very exposed.

A back up for someone who pays decent wages will be his best bet.

[forzagranata]

The idea that Ben Mee wouldn't fit into 'Kompany's system' (whatever that proves to be) is laughable.

He is an established PL defender. We've replaced him with kids who couldn't make the grade at a PL club. There is no comparison. He would massively strengthen our side if he was, somehow, re-resigned.

[gawthorpe_view]

Everton could do a lot worse than team him up with Tarky

Add Michael Keane and play 3 -5 -2.

[GodIsADeeJay81]

The idea that Ben Mee wouldn't fit into 'Kompany's system' (whatever that proves to be) is laughable.

He is an established PL defender. We've replaced him with kids who couldn't make the grade at a PL club. There is no comparison. He would massively strengthen our side if he was, somehow, re-resigned.

Couldn't make the grade at a PL club?

I'm going to need a min, but that sounds awfully familiar, like we've signed players from a Manchester club because they couldn't make the grade before......the names of the players are right on the tip of my tongue...

[deanothedino]

I do think the style of play thing can be over egged - while not the most technically gifted, he can pass a ball a few yards.

Nah. Never seen a video like that McNally one

[fanzone]

2 year deal at Burnley hopefully now Collins has gone.

[Middle-agedClaret]

2 year deal at Burnley hopefully now Collins has gone.

[clarethomer]

The idea that Ben Mee wouldn't fit into 'Kompany's system' (whatever that proves to be) is laughable.

How can you call something laughable when you admit you don't know what, or how, we have asked Ben to play and how we are actually going to play?

[forzagranata]

Couldn't make the grade at a PL club?

I'm going to need a min, but that sounds awfully familiar, like we've signed players from a Manchester club because they couldn't make the grade before......the names of the players are right on the tip of my tongue...

Lee Roche?

[forzagranata]

How can you call something laughable when you admit you don't know what, or how, we have asked Ben to play and how we are actually going to play?

Because Ben Mee could play in any system we might operate in the Championship and to suggest otherwise is silly.

[Top Claret]

I am surprised Mee isn't training with us to keep his fitness levels or some other club

[clarethomer]

Because Ben Mee could play in any system we might operate in the Championship and to suggest otherwise is silly.

Interesting - how do you know that?

[warksclaret]

Unless I have missed it, Ben has yet to find a club, and you would have thought as a FREE he would have been snapped up by now.With the PL season less than 3 weeks away I am sure he would have liked to start integrating with a new group of players by now. Hate to say it but I fear he may end up in the Championship with someone like Boro, Preston or Sheff Utd.

[Vegas Claret]

it's astounding he hasn't been signed by anyone. His agent must be shockingly bad

[Andreshotboots]

Who cares? He’s decided to leave us after an outstanding career. He’s made his choices, good luck to him but I basically couldn’t give a hoot about him now.

I’m only interested in supporting the current clarets…end of rant

[fatboy47]

Maybe he's earned enough in the last 10 years and has other fish to fry.
The silence is pretty deafening if not.

[jrgbfc]

it's astounding he hasn't been signed by anyone. His agent must be shockingly bad

He's been playing in the Prem for the last six or seven years. Not exactly an unknown quantity.

[Top Claret]

Heard from a good source that he is training with Stockport County

[Steve1956]

Heard from a good source that he is training with Stockport County

[Steve1956]

Proper lump it team!

[boatshed bill]

it's astounding he hasn't been signed by anyone. His agent must be shockingly bad

Or, just possibly, he's not had a satisfactory offer.

[Vino blanco]

I can’t believe he hasn’t logged on to this forum to let us all know in detail exactly who he is talking to, what his new salary will be, if he has any coaching/punditry plans, if he’s planning to downsize his house etc.

[snapcrackleandpop]

it's astounding he hasn't been signed by anyone. His agent must be shockingly bad

Why? He tried this at his last contract review and guess what there were no takers then either. Maybe other clubs can see his limitations.

[Longsidelenny1882]

That’s very unfair on him been one off the best buys the club as made in the last 50 years claret legend for mee. Utc

[arise_sir_charge]

It is a bit strange that Mee hasn’t got a club two weeks prior to the season but more so doesn’t seem to be actively linked with anyone.

[Longsidelenny1882]

Remember he had a bad injury utc

[Claretforever]

Loved him in a Claret shirt, but now he’s gone I don’t care where he ends up to be honest. Good luck to him, but you sense he’ll end up in the USA for a couple of years or something if he still has a bit of ambition to play on.

[Tricky Trevor]

As Lenny said above he was injured the last two months of last season. Possibly he isn’t currently up to passing a medical?

[fatboy47]

As Lenny said above he was injured the last two months of last season. Possibly he isn’t currently up to passing a medical?

In which case, according to the acknowledged wisdom on here, he'd still be on the Turf Moor payroll and comfortably ensconced in our treatment room.

[Top Claret]

Collins kept him out of the side end off.

Mee is keeping his self fit down Edergly with the County

[KRBFC]

Couldn't make the grade at a PL club?

I'm going to need a min, but that sounds awfully familiar, like we've signed players from a Manchester club because they couldn't make the grade before......the names of the players are right on the tip of my tongue...

Neil Wood? I was there to see his home debut against Norwich, scored a cracking free kick.

[KRBFC]

Because Ben Mee could play in any system we might operate in the Championship and to suggest otherwise is silly.

I don't think so honestly, really poor on the ball and I thought his level has dropped in the last year or so, more injuries too.

[k90bfc]

Ben Mee with whatever the future holds,All best with yourself and your family,You Always gave your all for us Clarets,You Only Deserve the Best,Thank You,Best Wishes For the Future.

[Newcastleclaret93]

I would love it if he re signed for us

[fidelcastro]

Collins kept him out of the side end off.

Mee is keeping his self fit down Edergly with the County

Nothing to do with him being injured then?

[Bordeauxclaret]

Collins kept him out of the side end off.

By that logic so did Kevin Long.

[longsidetrumpet]

Ben Mee is becoming a steadily worse player the longer this thread goes on

[CrosspoolClarets]

Ben Mee is becoming a steadily older player, and therein was the problem.

Mounting injuries and form problems caught up with him, his trademark desperate challenges now get him injured, with that miraculous tackle after the mistake from his teammate leading to his two months out. Unfortunately, had we stayed up, his time in the side would be coming to an end anyway. You can’t defend like he does and keep fit through it in in your 30s.

[DCWat]

Some frankly disrespectful comments aimed at a player and captain who served us brilliantly for ten years on and off the pitch. Short memories.

I hope he gets a good move and wish him well, wherever that may be. Whichever team gets him, they’ll have a solid player.

I’d be far more confident in the season ahead if he was still with us.

[dsr]

Ben Mee would have no problem at all finding "a club". Accrington Stanley, for example, would almost certainly do the deal in 5 seconds if he approached them. The reason he hasn't got a club yet, I presume, is that he wants a better club than has so far been offered. How high up he is aiming, only he knows.

[1914tyrone]

The most underrated player for a long time. The best defender and most committed I've seen in my 32 years as a season ticket holder. I'd give anything to still have him, I'd be confident of an immediate return with him at the heart of things.
Those dissing him have no idea of his value on and off the pitch.

[IanMcL]

Maybe he's earned enough in the last 10 years and has other fish to fry.
The silence is pretty deafening if not.

If he is considering fish, I suspect he might need to continue working a little longer! Prices through the roof!