Brownhill

[Commy]

I still think Brownhill will sign. If he was going somewhere else it would have been done day 1

He could be waiting whilst clubs go down their list of targets. He might be on a few but not at the top of the list.

[fidelcastro]

He could be waiting whilst clubs go down their list of targets. He might be on a few but not at the top of the list.

Strange, because the experts on here were all saying last season that numerous clubs were chasing him. He's available for free FFS!

[ClaretTony]

Come on Tony, that's not how you do this.

You need to present something outrageous as fact. We've offered him £150k a week and the hand of Pace's first born in marriage. Or maybe you've heard he's signing for Real Madrid and he's just stringing us along because he was upset at the range of vegan meals in the canteen.

I've got all that in a prepared article aggi, thanks.

[123EasyasBFC]

I still think Brownhill will sign. If he was going somewhere else it would have been done day 1

I would say the complete opposite, if he was staying it would have been done day 1

[The Shire Claret]

Hopefully he will still be a claret (Burnley Player) come the start of the season

[fidelcastro]

Hopefully he will still be a claret (Burnley Player) come the start of the season

Easy beans lower end PL player, you said, so no reason why he shouldn't re-sign!

[ŽižkovClaret]

Nearly ready to sign but there's a hold up over the contracting for vegan sausage rolls at Gawthorpe. Pace wants the cheaper Greggs option but Brownhill is holding out for some artisan Northern Quarter shite

[The Shire Claret]

Easy beans lower end PL player, you said, so no reason why he shouldn't re-sign!

Sign and score a brace against Spurs ....

Wouldn't that be nice !

[fidelcastro]

Sign and score a brace against Spurs ....

Wouldn't that be nice !

One can dream!

[Jakubclaret]

Strange, because the experts on here were all saying last season that numerous clubs were chasing him. He's available for free FFS!

That still might be case but possibly he could be asking for too much & needs to lower his demands. It's not necessarily a surefire indicator that clubs don't want him more of an impasse on personal terms.

[Commy]

Strange, because the experts on here were all saying last season that numerous clubs were chasing him. He's available for free FFS!

It isn't free though as he will be wanting a signing on fee. It will though be less than signing him from a club but, according to rumours a while ago, he was asking for quite a lot. If he was, I am sure he would lower his demands if he really wanted to go somewhere.

[bfcmik]

Strange, because the experts on here were all saying last season that numerous clubs were chasing him. He's available for free FFS!

No such thing as free. The signing on fee is often equivalent to the reported transfer value of the player.

[IanMcL]

Strange, because the experts on here were all saying last season that numerous clubs were chasing him. He's available for free FFS!

There is no doubt there has been lots of interest in Brownhill, from far and wide. His agent is able to assess the strength and value of such offers and then put the facts to him.

I think Brownhill then has to decide if any of the new offers, which will exceed that of Burnley, are worth uprooting the familymy for.

Is the challenge greater than the status he has achieved at Burnley?

There doesn't seem to be any panic, at Burnley.

[Conroy92]

You're right, it is petty.

In your opinion.

Personally I don't think there's much petty in offering someone a contract, leaving it on the table for 6 months, actually increasing said offer to try and get the player to sign when promoted and eventually getting to the stage where you need an answer so offer an ultimatum. Personally I would say its good business sense.

[Clive 1960]

And i thought someone in the know heard he had signed but just waiting for the club to announce it

[Jakubclaret]

In your opinion.

Personally I don't think there's much petty in offering someone a contract, leaving it on the table for 6 months, actually increasing said offer to try and get the player to sign when promoted and eventually getting to the stage where you need an answer so offer an ultimatum. Personally I would say its good business sense.

I agree. Surely a point has to be reached if you have done all you can do to be as reasonable & accommodating as possible & it still isn't enough a sense of disrespect & getting messed about emerges. Fair enough if you are talking odd weeks give the guy time & be reasonable to allow him to make a decision but when you are talking multiple months it needs to be nipped in the bud.

[dsr]

And i thought someone in the know heard he had signed but just waiting for the club to announce it

So we'll find out when they announce the team for the first game?

[willsclarets]

Don't think this has been posted glancing through the posts but, Toronto have reportedly offered him a huge bump.

"According to TBR Football’s chief correspondent Graeme Bailey, TFC submitted a £20 million (USD 27.25 million, CAD $37.23 million) offer for the 29-year-old. TFC executives reportedly flew to England to present their long-term project to Brownhill"

The article comes from the Toronto fanzine site "The Big Red", and the comments from fans below are pretty much unanimously against the idea!

[Cheshireclaret]

Don't think this has been posted glancing through the posts but, Toronto have reportedly offered him a huge bump.

"According to TBR Football’s chief correspondent Graeme Bailey, TFC submitted a £20 million (USD 27.25 million, CAD $37.23 million) offer for the 29-year-old. TFC executives reportedly flew to England to present their long-term project to Brownhill"

The article comes from the Toronto fanzine site "The Big Red", and the comments from fans below are pretty much unanimously against the idea!

If there is an ounce of truth in that and it comes to fruition, then it's a real shame that this would be the extent of his footballing ambition. I don't know the lad personally of course, but from a footballing perspective he strikes me as someone who would much rather be playing at the very highest level, an opportunity this offer doesn't provide!

[CyrilEbokiPoh]

Let’s be honest. If a player like Brownhill is being offered £20m to go and live and play football in Toronto. And maybe be part of something big. At 29 years old. He’d be insane to not consider that.

[Conroy92]

Don't worry- he's not considering any other options according to come

[claretonthecoast1882]

Let’s be honest. If a player like Brownhill is being offered £20m to go and live and play football in Toronto. And maybe be part of something big. At 29 years old. He’d be insane to not consider that.

And those criticising him would also snap the hand off if they were offered a similar pay rise to what they currently earn

[Bordeauxclaret]

To be honest, if I was already a millionaire and was being offered millions to play at a very good standard any offer to go to Toronto would be way down the list.

[Cheshireclaret]

And those criticising him would also snap the hand off if they were offered a similar pay rise to what they currently earn

I'm not criticising him at all, it's his career, his life, his choice - he can do what he wants with it. I'm certainly not one of the number on this thread who seem to think we ought to have a hand written note from the man himself thanking us for our support down the years - he owes the club and us fans nothing! But by the same token, purely from a footballing perspective, I still think Brownhill sees himself as being able to do it with and against the very best.

There's no doubt the money and location are attractive and I would understand that side of things - it's the sporting challenge that I'm talking about.

[ŽižkovClaret]

Let’s be honest. If a player like Brownhill is being offered £20m to go and live and play football in Toronto. And maybe be part of something big. At 29 years old. He’d be insane to not consider that.

NGL the climate would put me off. After 11 years here im certainly making doe eyes at a country with warmer winters and im sure Josh is more minded that way too

[dandeclaret]

Canada is a brilliant country..... it's one of the few I would consider leaving Ireland for.

[CoolClaret]

The MLS will still be an option for Brownhill in 2 years, though likely for less money. ]

He'd bag for fun in that league - not as straightforward a decision as some are making out, imo.

It's a choice between a PL relegation battle in the most watched league in the world, testing yourself against the best players as a small fish in a big pond, versus the chance to be a big fish in a smaller pond, being the face of a franchise and potentially the face of a league....

Over to you JB.

[Newcastleclaret93]

The MLS will still be an option for Brownhill in 2 years, though likely for less money. ]

He'd bag for fun in that league - not as straightforward a decision as some are making out, imo.

It's a choice between a PL relegation battle in the most watched league in the world, testing yourself against the best players as a small fish in a big pond, versus the chance to be a big fish in a smaller pond, being the face of a franchise and potentially the face of a league....

Over to you JB.

I think the decision is retire with a **** load of cash playing Sunday league football.

Or be a squad player for a team struggling in the prem.

From a completely selfish point of view he would be stupid not to take it. He’s basically going to retire at 29 with millions in the bank

[BurnleyFC]

I think the decision is retire with a **** load of cash playing Sunday league football.

Or be a squad player for a team struggling in the prem.

From a completely selfish point of view he would be stupid not to take it. He’s basically going to retire at 29 with millions in the bank

Sadly, I agree.

It’s not like he’s got an international future to think about.

[ŽižkovClaret]

Canada is a brilliant country..... it's one of the few I would consider leaving Ireland for.

Winter in Spain, Summer in Canada, now that i could do

[aggi]

To be honest, if I was already a millionaire and was being offered millions to play at a very good standard any offer to go to Toronto would be way down the list.

Setting aside people always want more money I can see the temptation.

Toronto are on a bit of a poor run at the moment and are planning a big rebuild project in the next few seasons. Being a major part of that kind of project could be appealing and the standard and coverage is ever increasing over there. Playing against Messi and the like and competing for titles is going to be different from what he's going to get elsewhere.

Add to that Toronto is a pretty nice city to live in and I can see why it would be attractive.

[Tribesmen]

Canada is a brilliant country..... it's one of the few I would consider leaving Ireland for.

It's a big world out there .

[Elbarad]

Considering Ashley Westwood is a starting player at Charlotte FC I’m sure Brownhill would be a great signing for Toronto.

[IanMcL]

Considering Ashley Westwood is a starting player at Charlotte FC I’m sure Brownhill would be a great signing for Toronto.

...and captain

[IanMcL]

I hope he stays with us, however, if he goes, then I hope he goes outside the prem. Canada seems a decent option. Not as backward as some think.

[jrgbfc]

Pretty damning if thats his best offer after 6 months.

[Pickles]

He's not good enough for the Premier League. He knows it. We (well most Burnley fans) know it.

Why would he spend another year in a league he's not good enough for - when instead he can go to one of about three or four countries he'll have offers from, be one of the best players in the league and earn excellent money?

If it is Toronto - then it's a brilliant move for him. Exciting rebuild at the club which he'd be one of if not the poster boy for. A cool city to live in.

Makes absolute sense and from his point of view I'd find it odd if he did turn back up at Burnley. Actually - from our point of view too.

[Big Vinny K]

Toronto have had some pretty decent players in last few years - mostly Italians.
They’ve paid some serious wages too - Defoe was on £90k a week when he signed for them and Insigne signed for them just after he had played for Italy when they won the Euros and was on at the time one of the highest salaries ever paid in the MLS.

But the standard is generally a long way behind ours. I doubt it’s even championships standard. So there is a good chance that Brownhill can stand out and also earn himself a lot of money. Toronto is also a great place to live. Quality of life is fantastic and you can see the attraction from the point of view it’s the same language and similar culture etc.

At his age if he can secure a long term contract anywhere near the level that Insigne or Defoe got then it makes perfect sense on many fronts.

[bobinho]

Hopefully he will still be a claret (Burnley Player) come the start of the season

I’ll be honest, I ain’t too bothered now. In fact, I’m just about favouring a move away.

[dsr]

If there is an ounce of truth in that and it comes to fruition, then it's a real shame that this would be the extent of his footballing ambition. I don't know the lad personally of course, but from a footballing perspective he strikes me as someone who would much rather be playing at the very highest level, an opportunity this offer doesn't provide!

It's all very well to say that his ambition should be to be a regular in a mid-table or Europe-bound PL team - but sooner or later, just perhaps, we all have to realise that we aren't going to achieve that.

His option is to play for the highest level club he can get, possibly in the reserves, and with little chance of any medals; or else move to a new country, get paid shedloads more, and be a kingpin in a team that might even win something.

He did that last year. Perhaps he enjoyed it.

[Jakubclaret]

He's not good enough for the Premier League. He knows it. We (well most Burnley fans) know it.

Why would he spend another year in a league he's not good enough for - when instead he can go to one of about three or four countries he'll have offers from, be one of the best players in the league and earn excellent money?

If it is Toronto - then it's a brilliant move for him. Exciting rebuild at the club which he'd be one of if not the poster boy for. A cool city to live in.

Makes absolute sense and from his point of view I'd find it odd if he did turn back up at Burnley. Actually - from our point of view too.

If he's not good enough for it by your own admission & the general consensus all agree me included. You ask the question "why would he" well he's been offered a contract extension so someone somewhere must disagree with most of us & why wouldn't he accept something regardless of whether he's capable or not it wouldn't be unusual to take advantage of the offer even if it's just to challenge yourself.

[exilecanada]

Toronto have had some pretty decent players in last few years - mostly Italians.
They’ve paid some serious wages too - Defoe was on £90k a week when he signed for them and Insigne signed for them just after he had played for Italy when they won the Euros and was on at the time one of the highest salaries ever paid in the MLS.

But the standard is generally a long way behind ours. I doubt it’s even championships standard. So there is a good chance that Brownhill can stand out and also earn himself a lot of money. Toronto is also a great place to live. Quality of life is fantastic and you can see the attraction from the point of view it’s the same language and similar culture etc.

At his age if he can secure a long term contract anywhere near the level that Insigne or Defoe got then it makes perfect sense on many fronts.

Apparently Insigne was on circa $320,000 USD/week at Toronto, second highest only to Messi. Him and another Italian were cut from the club couple weeks ago so Toronto are in the market for two ‘designated players’. Toronto isn’t the city it once was, gun related crime has gone through the roof, traffic is horrendous. Cost of living has skyrocketed and forecast to get worse mainly thanks to the ‘orange lunatic’ down south, real estate prices are among the highest in the world.

[Big Vinny K]

Apparently Insigne was on circa $320,000 USD/week at Toronto, second highest only to Messi. Him and another Italian were cut from the club couple weeks ago so Toronto are in the market for two ‘designated players’. Toronto isn’t the city it once was, gun related crime has gone through the roof, traffic is horrendous. Cost of living has skyrocketed and forecast to get worse mainly thanks to the ‘orange lunatic’ down south, real estate prices are among the highest in the world.

Was thinking more in terms of an hour or two from the actual city !!
Unfortunately most major cities in the world are now like Toronto in terms of crime rates.

[exilecanada]

Was thinking more in terms of an hour or two from the actual city !!
Unfortunately most major cities in the world are now like Toronto in terms of crime rates.

He'd be better off buying a condo in the city. I'm about 100 km west of Toronto, depending on time of day it can take 3 hours due to traffic congestion on Highway 401. I haven't been to Toronto for years, no interest in putting up with the traffic both on the highway and in the city. Parking costs a fortune, IF you can find a parking spot anywhere near ones destination.

[Big Vinny K]

He'd be better off buying a condo in the city. I'm about 100 km west of Toronto, depending on time of day it can take 3 hours due to traffic congestion on Highway 401. I haven't been to Toronto for years, no interest in putting up with the traffic both on the highway and in the city. Parking costs a fortune, IF you can find a parking spot anywhere near ones destination.

Just get on the Go Train with all the supporters and he’ll be fine !!
Or he can car share with Matty Longstaff and use the commuter lane !

Seriously though it’s easy to see why playing for Toronto could be attractive to him for all kinds of reasons at his stage of his career.

[burnley007]

Has Brownhill retired or what??

What a weird situation.

[jedi_master]

Has Brownhill retired or what??

What a weird situation.

May as well have done if he's going to the MLS.

[BurnleyFC]

The MLS move would be a great move for him financially. I wouldn’t begrudge him going at all.

[Woodleyclaret]

Apparently it's a great place to get a curry

[bumba]

He's played for years in the premier league he'll know himself he doesn't impact games in the same way, maybe he just fancies a fresh start abroad and settling down in a new country on a big contract with a big signing on fee in a league where he will make an impact but also have a better quality of daily life.