Thetownend.com

According to Andrew Fitton................

http://www.thisisswindontownfc.co.uk/news/headlines/8195469.BREAKING_NEWS__Fitton_confirms_Paynter_exit_imminent/

Shouldn't be a surprise to anyone, more money, higher standard of football.

Good luck to him.

I'm stunned at this development, nobody saw this coming.

I'll need to find a new avatar and all.

This:

The Leeds fans will dissolve him in their corrosive venom by Christmas.

love fitton's parting shot. so very true. agree with red frog, i'm sure leeds fans will be very disappointed with paytner signing as a replacement for beckford...


good luck to him.

Should have offered him an extension much sooner than we did.

Good luck Billy...

....and good luck replacing him Wilson/Fitton

Thanks - Good Luck - Good bye.......

I think the biggest shock in this story is that the Adver have allowed the use of the forbidden "s"-word:


I'm sure they'll have corrected it to an "admitted" or "insisted" by the time they get to print

I suspect Fitton/Wilson have know for a while that Paynter was realistically going to leave, probably already have a list of potential replacements for him.

Look at last season, was this just a lucky season?

the lad's gonna get pelters up there.
not the player their fans will hope he'll be

Greedy git

Potential replacements then?

Laters, Kat Slaters!!!

you can't blame the bloke for going to a higher level and wanting more money, good luck to him. He did well for us, and I hope he does well where ever he goes.

If this really is the case, then the hunt begins for a new striker. I'm excited by the prospect of a new line-up next year. Danny's starting from a  stronger position than last summer, plus he has a better product to sell after what we have achieved this season.

Nick 'trying to see the bright side but still bloody miserable' Judd

Pitman from Ballmouth?

Agree with you Arriba - would be surprised if he manages a first team place on a regular basis tbh

we have to have a go at signing danny ward now,even if we only have a slim chance.you dont ask,you dont get.

At least we now know, rather than not knowing for the next month.

Thanks for the goals this season Billy,we'll move on just as you now are.

Once confirmed he isn't off to a rival team then I'll wish him good luck. Have we made him the player he is or has he stepped up his game (or both)?

Either way, I don't think we can begrudge him a move to a higher level. Nobody seemed to think badly of Cox or Parkin for moving on with their careers.

Already some incredible vitriol on the comments section.

I think we should push the boat out (WITHOUT BANKRUPTING THE CLUB AND KILLING IT!!) for Danny Ward, even more so than Ferry.

Strikes me that we can make half-decent players better, whereas Leeds only ever make half-decent players worse.

What do you think their fans would be saying about Pericard after five months...?

He could still be our player next season, it's not like he's gone yet.

He has undoubtedly just had his best season, will he repeat it? His history at player higher up doesn't lead you to believe he'll do a great deal, but as any financial adviser would surely tell you right before they pocket your money, past performance is not a guide to future performance.

I dunno, maybe Liverpool will loan us Pacheco? Good luck Billy.

Neither Parkin or Cox ran their contract out.

Parkin actually signed an extension so any club interested would have to pay a fee, although if we hadnt had any bids for Cox last summer he'd probably be off on free right now like Paynter is.

Either way, the main thing is - DONT WAIT TILL OCTOBER TO REPLACE HIM this time!

agree dave, danny dannny waaaaaaard

we got fees for parkin and cox.we'll get fuck all for paynter.that's why it aint gonna be greeted in the same way by town fans

surely we'd be a significant step down for ward, he could be pushing for bolton's first team next year.

i still say brett pitman.

oh, as for replacements - Simon Cox

Pericard was signed about the time BP didn't sign a contract....think Wilson sees him as replacement.

please god NO

oh dear

Noooooooooo  :cry:

replacing your top scorer with a striker that doesnt score goals is the way forward.

It's the club's fault for waiting until he had six months left on his contract, clearly they weren't sure about his ability either so Fitton and Wilson can't go crying now.

Quite a few seem bitter because he proved them wrong last season, yet he's decided to move on. He's never the fans over.

I suspect the same will be true of Pericard. We've got to start backing our own players instead of getting on their backs.

we signed pericard in early january, billy had until the end of march(?) to sign a contract before all negotiations were paused didn't he?

You can't blame Paynter if it is Leeds from his point of view; Big club,good contract, but demanding
fans.

Hand on heart,how many of us really,really believe that if Billy stayed that he'd have anything like
the same sort of season again?

It's a shame he's going,but we've lost far better players in the past and still gone on to improve.

eg.Jimmy Quinn left and we brought in Duncan Shearer.

Keep the Faith.

Thanks for the goals this year Billy. Really don't see him having an impact in the CCC, good season this year but both 'Parkin and Cox proved what a big step up it is. Tis a shame he is off but very much replaceable. If he didn't want to sign there isn't much you can do. Onwards.....
 

I agree with your first paragraph Si, hence why I think its important we start talking to Lucas, Greer, Cuthbert & Douglas asap about extending their contracts. I think they all signed 2 year deals last summer.

Get it done and get it done now.

Heard Jose is having problems with ronaldo, reckon he could do a job up front?  :cunt:

I agree: good luck Billy, great season, but onwards and upwards for Town...

big loss - never rated that highly by most fans but he will be missed big time and was a major factor in Cox and then Austin scoring so many

Need to make a special signing now Danny boy or we will be back to square 1

More post-Wembley bitterness from Fitton!  :soapy tit wank: I think Paynter might just have had his best season anyway.

To get a proven goalscorer is going to cost, either fee or wages, or both....therefore you have to gamble...we'll get nowt for BP, so its likely to be a loan replacement..

Doubt whether it will be a loan.

How about Le Fondre from Rotherham- surely could make the step up.

Agreed. I think a young stiker on loan from one of the recent 'links' and maybe a more experienced player on a free?

People like Brett Pitman will cost a fair bob now Ballmuff are in our league as will Adam Le Fondre. Marc Richards had a good season at Vale and i think is out of contract but what the fuck do i know, Danny will sort it.

Then the ball is very much in Mr Fitton's court, as to which route he wishes to go down.

As long as he's open and honest with the fans,it won't lead to rumour or false hopes.

then we better fucking gamble.

anything less than play off next season is regression.

they've set the bar themselves.

Cheers Bill, all the best...

Theres quite a lot of sinicism knocking about on here at the mo. Sure its a disappointment and whether or not he was just being a greedy fuck we'll never know. All we know is he is going, wont be playing for us next season, forget about it lets get behind the rest of the lads.

I bet Vincent gets 20 goals next year.  :nod:

I Think Mrs Paynter may have also been instrumental on a move away as I believe Billy may have "misbehaved" himself a few time recently!

Im full of gossip today!  :girlgiggle:

Really wouldn't surprise me to be honest. He's not quite done the job for us this year, but at the same time... he never got a good pre-season either.

Who knows what could happen!

What job hasn't he done for us?  Scoring a bucketload of goals?

i'll take this bet.
for everygoal he scores = £1. if he nets 20 + you get all the money (£20 +).
if he scores say 5 you owe me £5 and so on.

deal

He's going to Chelsea then?

Vincent Pericard

Sorry -was talking about Vince there (someone said he will probs get 20 next year - sorry, should have quoted it really to save confusion - call me a cunt, i deserve it :P)!

To clarify - it wouldn't surprise me if Vince comes good next year...

Ah, gotcha.  Apologies to luckyluck699

 :clap:

So I owe you more if he scores 19 than 1? :hmmm:  Let's do it a bit differently. Count down to 20 - I start owing you £20, but it drops a quid every time he scores, down to quits at 20. But since the bet's so much in your favour, you owe me £5 for every goal he scores beyond 20.

OK?

I think Pericard is the gamble....remember when we got BP he'd scored something like 7 goals in 30 odd games from the previous couple of seasons, in other words a gamble.

I said this before but I'll say it again....

Pericard and Paynter had very similar goal scoring records when they first joined us. So if Paynter can turn in to a goal machine with us, why can't Pericard?

People really should have more faith in Wilson, he hasn't fucked up much has he? The majority of his permanent signings have been spot on. The only that haven't, so far, are O'Brien and Pericard and I think there is a very good chance that Wilson will be proved right with them next season as well. Both have shown signs of having something, a pre-season and decent run in the team might be all they need.

Couldn't we get a 'bemoaned' in there ?

Have to agree with Jonny here. I just somehow feel that vince has something to offer, that he hasn't quite been able to tap into yet...

And Danny & Co certainly do (or at least did!) given how quick they were to sign him. Either way though, I'm honestly nowhere near as worried about our strike force as I was this time last year.   :clap:

Don't think BP is a consistent championship player, surprised that he's on his way though I thought he may have learned earlier in his career at the likes of Vale that the grass is not always greener on the other side, and with him finishing top scorer good raport with the fan's he may have wanted to stay.

I am not as worried about him going than I was Cox though, I think he can be replaced reasonably quickly.

soapy tit wank. so a 30 goal season from pericard will net you £50.

shall we just say, to make it even. if he scores 20 or more i owe you £20. if he doesn't you owe me £20

Just checked Wikipedia and it shows that since leaving Port Vale and prior to joining us, he scored 7 in 46. At Port Vale he scored 30 in 144. With us he scored 41 in 121, which is clearly his best. Doesn't tell us a massive amount though, because we don't know how many of those apps were as sub.

On a Pericard note, i also believe he has something to offer. Obviously he's French which means he won't have the work rate of Paynter, or even a dole-merchant, but he does seem to have something that i like. He certainly has more strength and better feet than Billy.

i must be watching a different player

me too! better feet than paynter?

 :hmmm:

Probably Amankwaah.

Not a surprise, there's been rumours going around for months that he was off to Leeds - no smoke without fire and all that. Maybe if we had gone up he would of stayed, but can't really blame him for wanting to try his luck in the Championship again.

For what it's worth i'm not convinced he will score goals there, and the Leeds fans will be on his back straight away if he doesn't. Back on loan by Christmas I reckon!

I did laugh at the occasion slight booing of LJF on Saturday.

or JFL.

that air kick live on tv and in HD was just quality

There's a BIG difference between Vince and Kevin... Kevin has scored 2 league goals this year!  :clap:

Fucking class, as was him falling over straight after it.

Records before coming to Swindon....

Paynter = 164 starts, 43 as sub, 42 goals
Pericard = 86 starts, 55 as sub, 21 goals

Yes but by the time Paynter had had as much game time as Pericard has had at Swindon he had definitely scored goals.

How many games was it before Paynter scored for us? I know Pericard has been mostly a sub but still...

He scored a hatrick on his debut...

No he didn't. He scored a hat trick in his 3rd game for us, after which he scored another 7 in 37 games that season. So 10 in 40 in total in his first season with us, which is average at best.

Jonny appears to be right if espn is to be belived: http://soccernet.espn.go.com/players/gamelog?id=5736&season=2007&cc=5739

First game was as a sub vs Yeovil. a 1-0 loss... third game (2nd start) vs Bournemouth yielded a hat trick for Billy.  :sherlock:

i,m going to miss his performances like last saturdays.

No surprise really. I think we have got his best season out of him.

Good luck to him.

Was it his home debut then? First start or something? i know i remember debut being in there somewhere? Although i look wrong at the moment. Meh. :)

No real surprise him going, but saying that he won't do a job in the championship or with Leeds is probably a bit exaggerated seeing as he'd have been leading our front line next season had we have gone up. He's scored goals this season and has a chance at a higher level, I'm sure fitton and co have a replacement in their sights anyway.

I want to take the bet for the hell of it, so I'll make it easier for you. You only pay £2 a goal over 20. So you pay £20 if he makes 30, and I pay you £20 if he scores none. You're a winner two-thirds of the way, all the way up to 20. I only start winning at 21. But that's the price of my confidence in Big Vince!

His second home game, but first home start... so we'll go with that!  :hmmm:

I suspect he sees him exactly as he's used him - as a backup striker who can also be useful to bring off the bench to bully defences a bit when we need to hold the ball up in their area

That definitely explains his last 4/5 performances.History suggests this was a one-off season for him,we'll see.I agree with Fitton,he's a better player now than when he arrived-down to STFC I'd say.Any chance of getting Lukas back I wonder.

I believe it was his "starting a home league game on a Saturday in September with the sun shining" debut.

Oh well, that's a large portion of our Wembley side gone.

Lets hope Fitton/Wilson have some really good loan signings in the wings.


Good luck Billy.

Bang on. He's done well for us this season, can't blame him for wanting to take an opportunity if its there. Hope it works out better for him than some others who've moved on lately

Regarding Adam Le Fondre as a replacement, it looks likes some Championship clubs are looking at him....

http://www.yorkshirepost.co.uk/football/Moore-preparing-to-wield-the.6331914.jp

Seriously doubt we could afford him.

Full home debut then!

thanks and good luck and fuck off all at the same time.

had a great season, but can't see the leeds faithful taking to him, or see him playing  much by christmas.

Cheers Billy.

Good luck with the whippet fuckers, you'll need it.

Thanks for all the fish

That sounds like a good shout i reckon. Dunno whether he'd be good enough, but appears Everton don't want him and he'd be cheap.

We need to get looking now. Dave is right. We can't leave it till October this time. At now MUST keep hold of Charlie as well. And I mean turn down any offer whatsoever for the lad.

As for Billy well we all expected it. I wish him well tbh. He's been awesome for us in the last 2 years and deserves a crack at a higher level again. Good luck to him. I just hope it doesn't go wrong up there.

3 :)

Fuck it lets go for Clinton Morrison

is he still alive?

Kevin phillips - player coach role

Clinton Morrison is indeed still alive

494 games 149 goals.

Adam le fondre would be an excellent signing for us

Adam le fondre would be a excellent signing for lots of teams unfortunatly.

wot about Richard Brodie of york city a good young striker, would def get him here i imagine could be another Austin.
we would have 2 good young strikers up front for next season

They didn't really leave it until October, it wasn't exactly out of choice was it?

Think he's signing for Huddersfield...

they looked at him and werent impressed, even said in one of the programmes iirc

fair enough i did nt see that i don t but programmes

always gonna happen I felt... at least we probably have enough cash now to go and buy someone who's half decent

I'll reserve comment until it's actually confirmed he's gone.

Not to bothered he has gone.  Had one good season and will end up being a one season wonder like Ricketts was for Bolton.

I reckon Pericard is better anyway, he just needs a run of games in the team.

I can't see us signing Le Fondre as he would cost far too much and there are far better deals out there.

Rotherham paid £100k for Le Fondre 12 months ago, that is the sort of signing that we will go for. Someone with a half decent goal scoring record that Wilson thinks he can improve and get more out of, or a teenager that hasn't made the grade at a Premier / Championship club.

There are plenty of decent players out there available on the cheap (Cuthbert, Greer, Lucas, Douglas, Austin), we'll be leaving the spending money we don't have followed by administration to other clubs. Talking of which I see Huddersfield have started early and spent £400k already - maybe they'll let us have Theo Robinson on the cheap?

He can fuck himself as far as i am concerned.

Haha, Theo Robinson can fuck off. I'm sure you were just being funny though, it did make me smile!

Good luck to the guy, for this season alone he deserves the big move. We rescued his career when it wasn't going so well, for that I wouldve have liked to see him accept a new deal. However, he's honoured his contract so you can't ask for much more than that in pro football.

It would be a lot funnier if he did sign for us on the cheap. He'd look a twat for turning us down before thinking he was too good for us, Huddersfield would look twats for outbidding us and pissing the money away. Surely that's a win win?

He doesn't want to play for us, why would we want him?

Well we may unearth another Austin or Morison. You never know.

Has Jutkiewicz been offered a contract at 'well?

I personally think he'd be a perfect replacement for Paynter (if he goes).

I dont think he's out of contract he is?

Maybe not, but the sweaties we're supposedly interested in signing him.

I hope he gets a game for Everton so Steve has to eat his bollocks.

I would love to see us go for Jutkiewicz.Imagine we could do a good deal with them aswell

Lukas is another who fucked off for the money. Judas cunt.

You need to include a mimimum starts/appearances clause in this. You're basing your confidence on his ability but you need him on the pitch to score the goals.

does billy think he is going to be leeds main striker ( if he goes there) now that beckford has gone, if he does he has got his head up his arse, or if that is the case leeds will be playing in good old league 1 next season :bye:

If I offer you minimum 30 starts, will you take me up? Goal every 1.5 games isn't a bad offer!

This isn't all bad.

One less scouser in town means more chance of my hubcaps staying intact. 

Every cloud and all that  :D

Not if Si Pie's got anything to do with it...

 :D

Interesting Donny......very interesting....... :hmmm:

I'm going to make a determined effort to have your hubcabs in my trophy cabinet by Christmas

That sounds like a euphemism

The prospect of Lukas and Austin up front next season = :drool:

I'm pretty sure that Lukas is still under contract, because when he was making the headlines after that goal in the 6-6 game he said he hoped that Everton don't put a price tag on him, because that would bollocks any chance of Motherfuckerwell signing him.

Maybe we could gazump the sweaties by offering Everton a few £££? Why would anyone in their right mind want to live in a 3rd-world country when he has a chance of coming back home......

Rumour is we're going to see Billy holding a Leeds scarf above his head at Elland Road today. 3 year deal and 8k a week wages!

Wow, really?

first I've heard of it....

I'm pretty sure he'll be contracted to us until 30th June, so unless Leeds have coughed up a fee he won't be signing for them until July.

Lukas is definitely being hunted by 'big' clubs up here, and he has said he wants to stay at Motherwell, so I fear we won't get a look in....

I think we'd need an experienced striker alongside Charlie next season, we have to remember that Charlie is still new to league football so at times needs that bit of guidance that an older head gives, Paynter has been around the leagues for a few years so was more experienced than Charlie

No reason why Pericard should not play that role - like Heskey and Rooney.  the supporting act doesn't need to score loits of goals, just to create the space....but that means we do need goal-scoring midfielders.

yeah austin clearly doesn,t know what to do without someone telling him.

You need to get out more...

we can release him early like leeds did with beckford. nah, make him wait.

agreed

Given time, i think peri has something to offer.

Yes - pay him another month for nothing.

Yuuurp, well said. I'm confident Peri Peri can find some form, just like the likes of BP, Parkin and even Coxy did. They were by no means prolific before they signed on. Pericard's shown glimpses of what he is capable of (Minus the diving header Vs Charlton....).

Nobody suggested he does not know what to do, just that sometimes it is better for younger players to play with someone with that bit of experience, as others have said Big Vince can probably play that role, Charlie is still raw and times will make incorrect decisions due to his inexperience but an experienced player next to him can have a word in his ear to help him along.  As time goes on Charlie will gain more experience and become an even better player for it.

i would like us to sign two forwards over the summer, one with a bit of pace and an experienced forward approaching the end of their career. i think charlie would benefit by playing and training alongside someone with a proven record at this level, i'm sure playing with billy improved his game.

I seriously think he is a cross between Heskey and Trevor Benjamin.  Clumsy and gets in the way.

I agree with you!

He's more mobile than the Flying Wardrobe, come on

Yes, he is very good at falling over too.

Signed a 3 year deal with Leeds

http://www.leedsunited.com/news/20100602/billys-the-boy-_2247585_2063633

Cherio!

see you in the cup.

Ken Bates screws us once again...

Grayson says hes no beckford  :)

He's gonna get bullied once the northeners realise that :)

Its good news its over and done with quickly, now we can move on to getting a replacement or two. I doubt Fitton and Wilson will fuck about like they did last season so hopefully we'll have something happen sooner rather than later.

Good luck to him, but Billy, look at previous players who've done well and moved on... The grass is rarely greener....

enjoy the money billy,as you aint gonna enjoy the football.

If he is not committed for playing for Swindon then let him go, just a bit annoyed that we were not able to get a transfer fee for him but we cant complain after getting Douglas, Lucas etc on a free last summer.

Part of me wishes him well at Leeds following his season but the vast part of me would like to see him fall flat on his face at Elland Road.

Good luck to the lad.

Hopefully we won't fuck around taking too long signing a replacement this time, although I fear Wilson will see Pericard as one...

the trouble we have is that one of our prize assets has gone for nothing.obviously he will need replacing, and the money for that will have to be found now.that's a bit of a pain in the arse as that means other areas wont get the dosh on them.so i have to say i hope it all goes wrong for the bloke.he could have signed a contract here and still got a move.down to pure greed,he'll trouser more dosh himself now.fuck him!

Don't know why anyone is pissed about it. We signed Douglas from Leeds in exactly the same circumstances a year ago.

Well, we've already got the money we were prepared to offer him,(which would have been one of our higher salaries) so that's a start - there must be other free agents out there.

Don't foget we're in a better position than last season - when Cox went we only had one striker - now we've got Austin and Pericard already

I wonder who "the other clubs"were?

and a much more attractive proposition.


We had only just beaten off relegation last time

I wish him all the best. You can't begrudge him leaving for a team in a higher division who'll pay better wages. It is slightly disappointing that he didn't show more 'loyalty' (I know there's no loyalty in football these days) and sign an extension in January so that we could've at least got a bit of cash for him, but he's been a good servant to the club in the three seasons he's been here.

Yep  (got a job ?)

I dont know where any of you lot work but if another company came to you and offered you better working conditions (CCC not L1 in this case) and a fuck load more money, would you stay in your current job?

Would you bollocks!

How much loyalty would we have shown if he'd had a shit season and just picked up a long term injury?

Fuck all, the same as he is showing when a large wad of cash and a higher league was offered to him.

anyone criticising him for leaving is ridiculous. We would all do the same given the chance. He's done well for us, so good luck n all that.

surely?

Im not sure why I feel like I dont care?

i aint got a problem with him going.it's that fact that this has been brewing for months, and he could have let the club who got him back on his feet get some money for him.

Agreed. I'm not gonna begrudge him a move, but the fact that its for nothing is the bit that makes me bitter.

Nah, he's Leeds Scum now :)

For me he sits between Lucas Jigglybits and Parkin/Cox.
I was annoyed LJ left without really 'doing it' for Swindon.
I was delighted for Parkin because he gave years of goalscoring bliss.
I was happy for Cox because he was too good for league 1.
I'm indifferent erring on the side of hoping he falls flat on his arse for Paynter. On one hand I don't blame him for leaving, on the other we've been dumped. Its like Grant Smith only Paynter gave us a whole season of goodness rather than half :)

Be suprised If paynter can continue his form in the division above, what with this being his first over 20 goals season an' all.

Be suprised If we sign a direct replacement too, at least right away. Can see Pericard and Austin up front in our first game of the new season

Pro-rata he was our second best striker with a lot coming from the penalty spot...  :bye:

Exactly, always amazes when people moan about players leaving to better their standard of life/work.

I want him to do well, mainly because of the sort of comments I've been reading recently. Sure, Billy is not exciting to watch over 90 minutes, but his goal tally and assists tally has been nothing but comendable for us.

Danny didn't rate him to start with, the fans didn't really rate him, yet we all want him to show some falsified loyality?!  He worked hard for us and did a fine job over 3 years, it's not liked he started handing in transfer requests or being a Billy-Big-Bollocks (hee hee, had to get that one in).

Then there's this: on the one hand he's 'entirely replaceable' but on the other hand people are showing their disappointment that he's left on Bosman. If he's so 'replaceable' you can't ask for a fee!

Oh and if our sole objective was to get a fee for him, should have sold him in January or given him the money he asked for with a view to getting rid at the end of the season.

not yet Nev


enjoying the sunshine

A lot of people have also forgotten that Cox and Parkin got the contracts they asked for before moving on.

Right enough of this good luck crap.I loved him when he was here-now he's a Leeds player I cant stand the bloke.Dont blame him for going but that doesn't mean I have to wish him well.Maybe if he'd put in a bit more effort in what turned out to be our most important games of the season,I'd feel different but rightly or wrongly if he already knew he was gonna be a Leeds player I cant help feeling he didnt want us to go up.

Glad the transfer has been done swiftly.

he's history.

now lets get a move on and get a bloody replacement.

What Dave said.

Too-da-loo. Sad to see him go but that's the modern day game.

A real shame breaking the news to my 5 year old who worships him. Literally broke his heart which was sad but equally amusing in equal measure. I know, I know... that's a bit twisted!

I'm confident Danny had more than a few irons in the fire already plus we've hopefully got VP firing on all cylinders after the big pre-season to come. Charlie has also shown us he can lead the line and will be another one that will benefit massively from a full professional pre-season under his belt.

They weren't greedy though were they. They wanted a reasonable wage within our budget. Say £3,000 to £4,000 a week.

Billy is greedy and see's the ££££££££ at Leeds.

How do you know Billy's wage demands?

And you know Billy is leaving because he didn't get the contract offer how?

We can't compete if Leeds were (for e.g.) to triple his wage. We offered what we thought he was worth, he chose to better himself.

We move on.

So then. Bet's on how long it takes for us to actually sign a replacement?

October again!

Yup, once it's decided then that's it - thanks and goodbye. It's a rapid turnover with players these days & we're used to it now. I don't get as 'attached' to players as I used to because I know deep down that 99% of them would be off like a shot with a better offer on the table. And I don't hold this against them, good luck to anyone that can go up a league, play in front of bigger crowds & earn £8k a week for 3 years.

Apart from getting a fee it's all good really, we got the best out of him (although this is questionable in his last few games) & he got a good deal out of it. Until our current owners came along this would've been very worrying, but we should all be confident of more than adequate signings this summer.  

You are assuming VP isn't the replacement. He hasn't been bought to sit on the bench. I think we'll get a couple of young guns in. Would be nice to have pace up front.

Bollocks.

Wouldn't mind that tbh. I rate Vince. I just hope we start the season with at least 3 strikers this time as opposed to 1 or 2.

first post can i just ask how you know this?

thanks :headhurts:

Vincey deserves his chance. I can see a Fjortoft-esque, meteoric rise for Pericard. One goal and he won't stop scoring from that point onwards.

I hope...

Seems to be split between two opinions at the moment, just wondered what the general consensus was?

Opinion 1
Billy, You served us well, you scored us goals. You've been given a chance to play at a higher level, for more money, closer to home. I don't begrudge you going. it all makes sense! Good luck and i hope you do okay at dirty leeds.

Opinion 2

You've lied to us all season you scouse cunt saying you wanted to stay and now this!? You were barn door billy for the first third or so of the season behind Hutchinson and Revel until Charlie came in and saved the day, we stuck by you and this is the loyalty you show? If you start the season for Leeds the way you did for us you'll be a figure of hatred! i hope you fail and are at playing in League 2 in a few years.

Don't care too much about him now?

third option added

My lord, did we really need another Paynter thread?

Nope :o

Opinion Two for the most part is made up isnt it?

They decorate the forum rather nicely I thought

So you're telling me that he's going purely because he wants to play in the Championship and would do so even if Leeds offered him £1,500 a week rather than the £8,000 that he will be getting?

I think its safe to say he would of still left to play for Leeds even at the same salary, test yourself in a higher division in front of 30k crowds would of been a massive temptation for him.  The interesting thing would of been if we had been promoted as then he would of had a dilemma.

WHAT HE FUCKING SAID !

Ignore the fact we are Swindon fans and anyone would do exactly the same in his position.

i think pericard will outscore billy next year.

No I'm not telling you that Ralphy. He's going because Leeds are offering him 8k per week (assuming that's how much it is because none of us actually know). HOW THE FUCK IS THAT BEING GREEDY? As Abrathingy said, any of us would do the same. Anyone with any sense that is! We're not talking about Premiership 'telephone numbers' money here, at this level you have to get what you can. Your career can be over in two years, two months or next week. It really is not being greedy. That, returning to my original point, is bollocks ::)

8k a week for 3 years is £1.25m before tax. Blimey.

I tell you what, I'd take that. And if people wanted to call me 'greedy' that would be just fine 8)

Opinion 2 is a load of shit...that's my opinion.

Greedy ;)

Well of course he's a greedy bastard. That's how football fans work. It doesn't have to make real world sense.

Same goes for O'Hanlon, I mean he probably went to Franchise for the cash in the same way Paynter has (though in the same league as us). In the real world nobody would blame him. But he's still a greedy bastard when he comes to the County Ground.

All this talk of not showing any loyalty and fucking off to another club for more money reminded me of that Pericard video, for anyone that missed it before or who wants another look (it's still funny as fuck)....

http://www.xtranormal.com/profile/1980859/

Looks like you can edit it and create your own version via the remix button. Maybe someone with some spare time and a real hatred for My Paynter can give it a go?

Paynter at least did a decent job for us and earnt his rise.

O'Hanlon was crap for us.

I think that's hit the nail on the head.

When a player leaves your club for more money, he's always going to be labeled a greedy bastard. Football fans aren't the forgiving type.

How do you know he didn't want that but wasn't offered it?

He wasn't that bad. That's why we offered him a new deal.

Oh for the chance to be called greedy Ralphy 8)

we.re a pretty bad bunch towards our ex players.

I am glad he has gone,without the penalties he would have been a below average goal scorer.He wasn't a team player and had he used the ball wisely instead of going for glory goals we may have gone up automatically.Glad hes gone to Leeds he can help bring them back down.Not that I'm bitter!Perhaps Bodin might get a chance now.------G.O.N 

Oh behave.

Wow! He really was crap when you think about it. Thank God he's gone ::)

I suspect he might have something to do with that sink hole in Central America as well :hmmm:

Must. Stop. Making. Paynter. Threads.

Poll merged with this stevecolins. :)

I see paynter in the same light as I see fallon, kinda good/kinda shit! Still think we will miss him mind

I will wait until the end of August to see if we miss him. Really don't know why but i got a feeling Pericard will come good.Scored goals first half and has shown he can score goals.Without having a pop at Paynter here but if Wilson can turn Paynter into the goalscorer he has been this season i see no reason why he can't do the same with Pericard.

We can't judge Pericard until he's both starting and fully fit at the same time. So I agree with DRS and his gut feeling.

Pericard just needs a decent run in the side playing 90 minutes, not just coming on for the last 5/10/15 mins of games. That must be bloody hard. He still showed some promise in those games though. DW must have had an eye on the Paynter situation when he signed VP.

Interestingly, Pericard has never really had a decent run in his entire career - doesn't seem to have managed more than 20 games in a season with a lot of substitute appearances. Didn't Wilson do pretty good getting him to come here? He only stepped down to Carlisle to get some games and a move to a bigger team and I'm sure there was talk of other bigger clubs being interested in him. I have a really, really good feeling about him.

The encouraging thing about Pericard is he tends to be noticeable when he gets onto the pitch. It's not often that the game passes him by, even if he only gets 5 minutes. He just needs the rub of the green.

No way can I see him playing 50 games though. We need viable alternatives to push him for his place.

I believe Billy has peaked - he would have been a good sell had he some time left on his contract.

In fairness, good or bad, he's often been the most committed player in the team. Coxy and Charlie haven't done themselves any harm playing alongside him.  For his running when things weren't going our way - rather than for his ability or goals - I reckon he deserves our thanks and good wishes for the his future.

 I've got no complaints about BP....he's done a good professional job for us, we can't expect more.

 This time last year, I'd have been happy to take a punt on SSP, but it really does look like he's a goner.... :cry:

Nice to see him warming Leeds bench come October next season, I really can't see him being a consistent championship performer - but I think Leeds will struggle anyway

Possibly - but that's with the hindsight of knowing that our play off campaign was ultimately unsuccessful.  Can you imagine the outcry if we had sold BP in the winter?  The board would have been accused of lack of ambition, jeopardising a shot at the play offs etc. - which I'm sure is why we chose to keep him.

For what it's worth, the last board would have flogged him without a second thought.  It's a mark of how far we've come that we're holding on to players for football reasons now.

Paynter was alot more than a goal scorer, he created chances for the other striker (Austin&Cox) with his movement, hold up play and link up play.  Sorry without the penalties he would of still had a very respectable goal tally (way above average).  He was also one of the biggest team players we had, working hard and linking up the play.  To suggest he cost us automatic promotion is ridiculus and just sour grapes.  Hes not irreplaceable by any stretch of the imagination and Danny has a great eye for talent so feel confident we will replace him.  All the angry talk and negativity since play off final and Billy leaving is really irritating, we have just had our best season in a long time and surely after the players Danny brought in last summer (Douglas, Lucas, Cuthbert) people feel he will make astute signings and we will come back stronger next season.

I don't disagree with this and have always liked Billy as a player even when he wasn't playing at his best.  However, having read Nick Watkins comments today, it seems that it was common knowledge that his mind was made up a while ago that he was going to join Leeds and even if we had won promotion, I don't think that would have changed.  I know a lot of your will probably disagree with me, but if that was the case, then top scorer or not, I personally feel he shouldn't have started the game on Saturday.  As mentioned previously, he had looked decidely disinterested in recent games and we managed quite adequately without him in the two semi-final games.  I’m quite pissed off that a player who’s heart and mind wasn’t with the club was given the opportunity to play in what was the most important game ever for the majority of the other players!

True, but its all hindsight.

If Paynter hadn't played everyone would be saying not playing your top scorer in the final was stupid.

However, Millwall and Charlton he didn't look fully fit which is a different issue.

The board were in a lose / lose situation with paynter.  Sell him for money in jan and get accused of lack of ambition or keep him and hope to go up and take stick for losing him on a free if we dont.

Whilst it was clear that he was a decent player and likley to be a regular starter, how the fuck was anyone supposed to know he'd score twice as many goals as he had ever managed before in a season?

If someone had come on here last summer and said paynter would score 29, everyone would have pissed themselves laughing

Well not 29....take out the pens and I reckon...this isn't far wide.

Reg Smeeton wrote:

you cant just ignore the pens to make yourself seem more right

And you can't add them in to make yourself seem less wrong  :)

As the pens are part of the goal total, he doesn't need to "add them in". They're there, it's you who's trying to take them out

FFS T*dd was suggesting that the idea of Paynter becoming a major goalscorer was laughably unpredictable...I pointed out not so.

No, I'm with Todd on this one.
In fact his original post is absolutely spot on

Indeed - how many people thought of betting on Paynter for top league one scorer (I know he wasn't, but not far off)

Always found Billy a bit of an enigma regarding his goalscoring feats yet still looking like he could do more somehow. It was mentioned before that he helped Charlie and Coxy a lot which is true, but he benefitted from them equally. It was lucky for us that he was able to gel with both seemingly easily. Will he do that at Leeds ? Not convinced he will some how, still good luck Billy and thanks for goals.

Billy got what 14? In his first season and 16 last season. That's 30 in two seasons without penalties.

That's 15 a season anyway. With Penalties its easy to see how he could get 20+

I wasn't expecting close to 30 goals admittidly but hitting 20 was no surprise to me.

Not really, you suggested that Wilson would hope for a better return from paynter ie over 20 goals. You didnt actually predict it yourself or say that was at all viable did you?

Keep telling yourself that you have magical powers of prediction though.  :)

 

 

 *Paynter is now of teh rightsort of age and experience to kick on and become a 20 goal man*.

That was my take on things....as Dave pointed out given his previous, one could see it happening....Grayson said that Paynter had matured over the last couple of seasons.

Now I think Wilson probably sees VP as a replacement....but there's no way I'd predict he'll score 20 goals....that would be laughable

*Paynter is now of teh rightsort of age and experience to kick on and become a 20 goal man*.

But that dosnt say you thought he'd do it does it?  Stop trying to claim credit for something you didnt say!

For what its worth I agree with the sentiment of your statement, he WAS the right age and experience, but given some of his finishing previously and the fact that at times he wasnt getting in enough scoring positions I didnt have a great deal of faith it would actually happen.

Think he'll struggle with the step-up!

Prove me wrong billy!

My Dad did.

Of all the top scorers to leave over the last decade or so, he's the one I probably care least about.

Toodlepip Billy you over-rated chode.

Why has nobody commented on my Bodin recommendation.We very rarely seem to play our promising youngsters and seem to loan in youngsters from other clubs.We then let them go to other clubs and very rarely see them again.The only ones I can recall are,Morrison,Macklin,Kennedy and of course"Young Alan Young.You will never know how good they are until you try them out.So do you lot agree          G.O.N.

The problem is alot of our youngsters look like youngsters.

I dont know if its a problem with our club specifically but none of youngsters look 'beefy' Billy Bodin would get kicked over the Town End in L1.

Ward and Ferry whilst not the biggest, still looked relatively strong.

Apart from Lukas Jutkiewicz all our kids who come through, look like kids and are built like kids.

If he turns out to be as good as Alan Young,we're onto a winner!(do get your point though)

Give the weed bodin a chance!

I have watched our youth team and reserve time a few times over the last couple of years, based purely on that the best player I've seen after Lukas Jutkiewicz was easily Lloyd Macklin.

If he doesnt make it (which looks very unlikely at the moment) then Bodin wont.

"Make it" as in at Swindon or in professional football? It's a fair shout but plenty of players who lack build have made it... Good to see Scott Doe return to the FL with Dagenham & Redbridge last year where he's done really well.

Billy Bodin interests me because he's highly regarded by the Welsh and did okay for us.

pro footballer.

i think Bodin is a decent little player but far from the best to come up through the ranks in recent years and probably the smallest to.

Thought he looked pretty handy against Supermarine in the cup final. Good peno too.

A good what now? ???

Maklin looks light weight.........make him eat doughnuts all summer!

But in youth and reserve team games there is no pressure in a pro game situation macklin has crumbled and repeatedly given away possesion. It depends how well young billy responds to a game situation if he does well then he will "make it"

Penalty. A well taken penalty.

Point taken.

Perhaps if we dont boo his first ever professional touch like we did Macklin.

I still dont think Bodin is as good as Macklin.

No one boo'd they groaned.Big difference

i hope macklin gets one more season with us its annoying seeing young players thrown out before they have had time to mature, it only takes a few good games to get going with some players and once there in he right frame of mind it could work out for everyone.

To be fair to macklin at MK away in the league cup he was skipping away from players like they werent even there he looked pretty handy against Yeovil away too. Maybe he just dosent like playing in front of our fans. Just like you said we booed his first touch in pro football !

He did have a bit of a mare the first time he played at the CG, looked like nerves to me. Hope he does get another chance though - a fresh start next season could be just what he needs.

I have a feeling Lloyd posts on this forum, so be nice

chromedome, where are you ;)

To be fair it was about his 3rd, we did give him a chance.  :)

Yeh id like to see him get another chance. Not many homegrown players have come through and done well in recent years.

Macklin has a lot of potential anf bags of pace, just needs to work on his concentration, composure in front of goal and crossing and he would be class.

So he can run fast but cant play football?

True though ;)

Yep, hes the new walcott

From the interview -

"The Leeds move is a big opportunity for me and it's a great chance for my family to be closer to home and play championship football."

Sounds like a good deal Billy has arranged - the whole family will be playing!

Anyway - all the best Billy and good luck.

i'd give macklin this season to prove himself.if he does nothing, then get rid this time next year

Best of luck Billy.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1NBedrRon-U

 :D

None of us (except maybe those who went to MK in the cup) will have a clue about Macklin until he gets over his obvious psychological barrier. Enter Messrs Wilson/Shirtliff/Byrne......

Reports on BBC Swindon this morning is that Paynter may have broken his leg...

Poor bloke. He'll be thanking his lucky stars for that contract now if that is the case.

It won't reduce his chances of starting for Leeds.

Awful news for him. George Ndah all over again. At least he isn't a pace-reliant player. He'll be back.

I really hope Billy's injury doesn't turn out to be a broken leg. I'd be gutted for him if it is  :(

Feel sorry for Billy if that's true.

didnt he have a similar injury well he was at hull?

Danny Wilson must have fucked a lucky black cat!

Feel for BP but, as others have said, he'll bounce back.

Can't be that be bad if it's reported as 'may' have broken his leg... It certainly won't be a compound fracture which would be reported as 'poor fucker, that makes me feel sick - he's out for the season'

I don't know if it's true, a mate of mine apparently heard it on BBC Radio Swindon this morning, but I can't find anything on t'internet, so who knows.

Shame, That will teach the greedy cunt for fucking off. He was fuck all before he was here and will be fuck all now he has gone to Leeds to warm the bench. Atleast now he wont be benched becuase he cant cut it in the championship and cant handle the pressure from the Leeds fans.

Don't be a cunt Gazza. He is hardly up there with the likes on Beauchamp and Mooney is he.

Poor Ked :(

Nope but we made him the player he became last season when he was nothing and he fucks off for free (whcih he was well in his rights to do) and spits in our faces, Wish him nothing but the worst of luck, he was nothing without us and he will be nothing now he has left.

prick

Oh dear.

Sorry Gazza, but that's bollocks.

Good luck to him, we got him for a pittance and he gave us 2 seasons good service. He's not tied to the club, for him it was just a job.

Yeah, leaving to go to a bigger club, in a higher league, on probably double the wages.

What a wanker.

Got to feel sorry for Billy.  I hope this is not the same age old curse that seems to ruin the careers of every striker that leaves us for a bigger club.

And on a different note, I think Gaz is a little out of line but love the way he wears his heart on his sleeve.  If all our fans were like him, we'd be ####ing Newcastle.

If all our fans were like him we'd be as deluded as Leeds fans....

That too.

Shame for him, would have been intresting to see how he got on in the championship, hopefully he comes back just as strong.

Still havn't seen anything about this anywhere mind.

Me either, anything on WACCOE?

Nothing I can see on WACCOE, or anywhere else for that matter.

sounds like it's bollocks, something like this would have been reported somewhere.

you use the words Us and We quite a lot, What exactly did you do for BP? the grand sum of fuck all! stop being a cock.   

I like Gazza's post - they;re usually so far off the mark, yet written so earnestly.

Gazza, he moved on to a better paid job after performing very well.  I'm sure you would have done the same.

Good luck to him, I hope this rumour is part of the 80% referenced in this forum's tagline.

It must be me, I have been offered a better job at a bigger company on a bigger wage and I turned it down becuase i enjoy what I do and where I am, I enjoy working with the people I am with and the company I am with now had enogh faith in me to give me a promotion not too long ago and recommend me to work on a new project.

Personally fuck all, US and WE refers to the football club, and THE FANS are the football club, therefore that is us. It's the same way people say "WE are playing well" Do you go to them and say "what do you mean WE, were you on the pitch?, when people say a player is "joining us" , do you say? "what do you mean us? is he moving in with you and your mates or family? coming for a few beers with you and your mates? how is he joining us???

Can't be that bad, he's playing tonight: http://www.yorkshireeveningpost.co.uk/leedsunited/Hartlepool-v-Leeds-United-Paynter.6433367.jp (http://www.yorkshireeveningpost.co.uk/leedsunited/Hartlepool-v-Leeds-United-Paynter.6433367.jp)

Leeds lost 4-0 to Bury in their last friendly :Ride On Fatbury's Lovestick:

Hmm, it must be bollocks then, but I heard it from two different people who said they heard it on the radio this morning.

Calm down! When did he "Spit in OUR face" ? Do you think that Swindon did him a favour by signing him? no, the fact is that we needed a striker and BP fitted the requirements, he did a good job for us for a couple of seasons and then moved on, he didnt owe us anything . I suggest that you do the same, he is history, deal with it.

Think it was just a knock.

http://www.yorkshireeveningpost.co.uk/sport/Hartlepool-v-Leeds-United-Paynter.6433367.jp

I'm glad he has not broken his leg, just as I am for (almost) any human being.

Other than that I'm not going to get too upset about a player that performed for a total of one season in his three years here.

Totally agree, just saying that before he got here he was a "bit part" striker and didnt have much going for him. Did ok at Vale, Did nothing at Hull, Nothing at Southend and for the first part did nothing here until we (being the club) managed to coach him into a complete striker where as before he wasn't. He got his big move becuase of us and yes I know its all well and good because we are fans of the club to say "he should have stayed here" but he could have noticed that STFC made him the striker he is now and repaid the faith we showed in him. Old news now but I have no sympathy for him. Besides it seems like it was all bollocks anyway so it doesn't matter!

more like hop i'd say

I keep finding bits of crusty paynter phlygm on my face.  Must remember to wash more thouroughly.

I expectorate better of you CT

Paynter gave us 3 pretty good seasons.

We let his contract run out. If we'd offered him something last summer, who knows....

Whilst its all chinese whispers, I'm sure more people than myself have heard that Mrs. Paynter has a pretty big say in where Billy went.

with the new money he's getting,his mrs might not have to wear the chav gear she donned last season?

If shes scouse, its unlikley isnt it?

She was sat behind us last year at Tranmere away (she did look quite chavvy) and she also got quite pissed off when the town fans were singing 'sign on'

I once saw her in a Vest top which I have an identical on which I brought in the sale in New Look for £3!

Girl after my own heart!  

i was referring to the bright pink velour tracksuit

Or the purple addidas one??

If I was a WAG I would wear nothing but velour tracksuits (juicy couture of course!) its there godgiven right

Thing is at the start of last season he had only scored 22 in 88 games and the 3 season prior to that he has only scored 10 in 67 games (Port Vale, Southend, Hull, Bradford) so 1 goal every 4 games for us and 1 goal every 7 games previously.

So at the start of last season he had scored 59 goals in 278 games, a scoring rate of 1 goal every 5 games, including a strike rate of 1 goal in every 6 and a half games for us.

I don't think ANY manager/chairman would have offered him a 3 year deal (making him the highest paid player in our history) which in January he was offered, at that time.

Yes he had a good season last year and did well but a fair few of his goals were penalties.

Hes gone.......good luck for the future away from Swindon, move on.

he still gave us 3 good seasons regardless of his stats before, during and after. I know because I was there.

I dont think he did. At times when he got here he looked overweight and disinterested and was sat on the bench.  To his credit his fitness,  performances and goalscoring improved during his time here, but lets not try and re-write history to say he was consistantly good in the way that someone like Parkin was. He's had 1 properly good season in his entire career, along with a few half decent ones.

I know beacause I was there, and I agree with JJ

his last season was obviously his best but he wasnt exactly crap in the first two either.

i'd call it 2 good seasons and 1 very good season.

She wasn't saying ANYTHING when Billy was very reluctantly carrying her out of the end of season do a couple of days after Wembley - she couldn't even stand up and he really did not want to leave !

How you knos this, did you see?

I'd call it 1 very good season and 2 average ones. Even the season just gone he was dropped for a few games (before Austin came). And he was useless after his injury at the end of the season too, but I don't think he was fit.

But we'll never agree,  and he is history now.

I know to some extent we're arguing over adjectives here, but his contribution alongside Cox cannot be described as average. Her was just as important that year as Cox himself in keeping us up. Cox admitted it and Wilson knew it too.

Well if he got dropped for a whole 4 games then he must be shit.

A few people seem to suffer from 'Gary Stanley syndrome':

"Oh but Paynter's not a natural goalscorer, he doesn't score enough goals and even if he's setting them up for our other striker to knock in I don't rate him. Even if we're winning games he's still not good enough. Even if he scores a hattrick it's only because the opposition was soooooo shit"

Then when he isn't playing second fiddle to Cox and has a stand out season and leaves:

"Fucking wanker. We made Billy Paynter. Without us he'd be playing in the Blue Square Premier Tiddlywinks Division. I can't believe he would go to a bigger club on a higher salary and playing in a better division instead of sticking with the club which made his career. But he's not even that good anyway, easily replaceable. Look at all the fabulous strikers we've brought in. Oh fuck it's Pericard. Oh but he's not a natural goalscorer, he doesn't score enough goals and even if he's setting them up for our other striker to knock in I don't rate him. Even if we're winning games he's still not good enough. Even if he scores a hattrick it's only because the opposition was soooooo shit"

Ha.

There really are some utter cunts around...and I'm not talking about Billy Paynter ::)

Most people conveniently forget that Paynter was pretty crap last season until around the time Austin arrived (though after that he was pretty much on fire for the rest of the season). Sure, he did a good job supporting Cox but the one period when he was our main striker he showed he simply wasn't up to the job.

I'm probably on my own with this, but I don't think he formed that good a partnership with Austin. Sure they both scored a lot of goals, but it seemed more a case of two strikers who couldn't stop scoring rather than a partnership (of the kind he had with Cox).

Paynter wasn't worth anything more than a one season extension last summer and everyone would have been complaining if he'd been given that and had a poor season. By the time he hit his top form consistently last season and was worth a two (or more) year deal it was too late and he was never going to sign it (except maybe if we'd gone up).

He was shit last all he did was score penalties.

All strikers who play upfront all on their own score LOADS.

All our other players played well every single game and no one ever dipped in form ever.

Douglas had one bad game last year, usless cunt.

I heard he dropped his wallet on his foot, greedy cunt :D

Feel free to name them then, just so there's no confusion.

STFC_Gazza :D

Thing is ofcourse I am annoyed not because Paynter was shit for us, but because he was good.

Paynter will do well to score 10 goals for Leeds next season. His failure to fire them into an expected safe, mid table position by Christmas, is why Larry will get the boot.

Fuck the stats and rose tinted glasses; He came alive when Austin joined us last season. Prior to that he was a fucking enigma at best.

I dont blame him for taking the big wages, but Leeds will crush him.

shit, when did paynter leave? we're fucked.

 :cry: :cry:

Yeah I went to the "do" at the CG - certain players making a bit of a show of themselves to be honest - DW had gone by then BUT PS looked like he was going to kill someone......

Also interesting that talking to Billy, 2 days before they announced he was leaving, looked myself and my brother in law straight in the eye and said he hoped he was staying and didn't want to leave !!!

No-ones actually saying that are they. You see everything as black and white

It has been said of Paynter though, maybe not in this thread but they were consistent themes.

Anyway, regardless of the silly arguing over Paynter's merits or lack of, there are clearly people who are bitter that he's left despite the fact they didn't rate him highly.

A few of our fans seem to be a bit too full of themselves after our previous season.

Losing Paynter was a direct result of the way Fitton handles players and their contracts.

Young players will be given 2 or 3 year contracts, often with extension clauses built in, and we'll pay a fee for them where necessary. They'll be offered extensions well in advance to tie them down if they are still showing potential so we don't lose them without getting a fee.

Senior players will be given 1 or 2 year contracts, and it's highly unlikely we'll pay a fee for them. They will be offered extensions no earlier than a few months in to the final season of their contract, sometimes we'll lose them on a free.

Personally I think what he does is spot on as we need to make money from transfer fees for the young players and at the same time ensure we don't end up with senior players on high wages on the books when they turn to shit. Fitton has achieved those aims pretty well but sometimes it will end up back firing, ie Paynter.

Absolutely spot on Jonny

why will the Paynter back fire?

as deltaincline said he was an enigma at best before Austin appeared.
Yes he scored 29 goals but Cox scored 32 the season before and we all thought the same about him leaving.

There will always be someone there to fill the gap and DW + AF will make sure of that.

We wont miss paynter

I'm not bitter about him leaving. Fair play to him, he put in a good season and got a big contract at a big club and we move onwards. It was a shame to see him leave but i think he is definitely replaceable.


Pray do tell which players were making a show?

Well it's already backfired, we wanted to keep Paynter but he didn't stay.

and we didn't get a transfer fee for him. Hence our player contract strategy back fired.

we wanted cox too

That was our player contract strategy working as we got a decent transfer fee for him.

what i'm meaning is life goes on. we never missed cox last year and we wont miss paynter this season

Whilst I agree, people are still clearly hung up about him ditching us for a bigger team.

I think we'll be better all over the pitch next season, though not as potent up front. But it won't matter if we're still winning games.

I just hope Pericard doesn't get the Paynter treatment all over again.

yeah i don't understand that either. he's left to play championship football. whats the biggy?!

The problem is our fans seem to only remember the negative.

An enigma? He must have got close to 60 goals for us over 3 seasons.

Hardly an enigma. I still maintain he was a good player for us over all 3 seasons. Some better than others naturally but the way some go on you'd have thought he was Tony Thorpe for his first two seasons then fluked 29 goals.

I'm with Dave on this. Which, frankly, worries me

Its not negative, its perspective. We've had better strikers in recent years (only a handful, admittedly but they were still better) and whilst he generally did well in the season playing with Cox it did not warrant a 3 year deal last summer on the type of money that would have made him the highest player in the clubs history.

Hindsight is a wonderful thing

Yes, but I doubt his demands would have been as a high this time last year as they were come January.

Why do we continually debate this whole Paynter contract bollocks? We haven't yet learnt to travel in time and he's gone. I don't see what's there to debate?

Obviously not Dave, because he wasn't worth as much, to us or anyone else.  The fact remains that there weren't that many people who were overly concerned this time last year about whether or not Paynter signed an extension - he didn't have the track record.  By January he did - sometimes life works out like that.  No-one has made a mistake here.  The board and management have moved on - I think maybe you need to do the same.

I have moved on and so has Paynter. Just because he has doesn't mean we should suddenly lable him as crap or try and convince ourselves he had one fluke season and he won't be missed.

He didn't have a fluke season but he won't be missed.

Wrong choice of phrase

He will be hard to replace.

i seem to remember you saying similar when Cox went.

if he'd scored 29 goals in each of the two previous seasons i might agree but on this occasion i don't.

he's gone. will be replaced. we wont miss him.

Whether we miss him will not be apparent until we have finished next season. People arguing either side of the coin are merely hypothesising, it's obvious nobody actually knows.

I agree with the comment about ceasing the continuous circle of arguing his merits/failings. He's gone get over it. If he does well at Leeds then he does well at Leeds. If he doesn't make an impact up there he doesn't make an impact. Six months down the line I'm sure there will be a 'told you so brigade' or people towing the 'we need another 20 goal a season striker because Pericard doesn't cut the mustard' line (sound familiar).

The thing which irks me are the people who haven't ever rated him suddenly making bitter and twisted remarks over his departure. There's a massive amount of irony in the fact an easily replaceable player causing so much fuss and controversy.

he's a loss for sure but not the end of the world.not getting some money for him is the biggest pisser really.
i agree that leeds will ruin him.he aint good enough for what their fans will demand

There is no guarantee that he would have had such a good season again anyway.

That was my point, If he stayed here I don't doubt he would have done a job here where as he was nothing before he got here and will be nothing at Leeds.

How are those sour grapes?

Just heard from a Leeds fan that Paynter is our for 6-8 weeks with a stress fracture.

http://www.waccoe.com/index.php?showtopic=189244

Well,well...............fucking great!

Have to be a member to see it leef. What did it say mate

Generally along the lines that they are now in the shit as they don't have any strikers of note without Billy. Jumping up and down for Bates to splash some cash on a replacement.

Sadly, nobody seems to care about how Paynter is or to wish him all of the best...I don't think they really have any faith in him doing much already.

This made me laugh:


Massive club.

Oh and

Is there a league known to all of humankind that Leeds would not be too big for?

"Massive club" stuff aside, the rest of it's the standard pre-season "We absolutely have to sign a new striker/right-back/centre mid or we're all doomed, doomed I tell you" stuff you see everywhere. Like a good chunk of this thread for starters. Not to mention the various Chicken Little threads after Greer's departure hastened the imminent arrival of the Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse.

Heh! heh! Yeah, perspective does get rather lost along the way on this and all football forums. Pre-internet, if we (or any club) sold a player people would just have a quiet moan about it down the pub and that would be it. Now they can  post their feelings on a forum of their choice, other people respond and they just wind each other up into a frenzy. Other people who previously didn't have an opinion, read it and think "oooooh, yes I'm angry too!" Before you know it, an every day event such as a player changing clubs escalates to something worse than a thousand Hirioshimas.

Mind you, Leeds are a massive club. If there was any justice in the world, they would have been promoted directly back to the Premier League and entered into the Champions League (group stage mind you, none of this qualifying bollocks)

I think we could all learn from the war.

[url width=328 height=476]http://i494.photobucket.com/albums/rr309/jodeshere/keep-calm-and-carry-on.jpg[/url]

I feel much more wrath towards Greer than I do Paynter even though they've both gone to clubs I hate.I wish neither of them good luck-who wants to see either team do well?

See that Paynter is injured already

http://www.skysports.com/story/0,19528,11688_6281004,00.html

hmmmm, interesting news. I wonder what STFC_Gazza makes of all this?

STFC Gazza thinks "That desperately unlucky for young Billy. I really do wish him well after last seasons exploits"

Dave thinks "This would never have happened if we'd have offered him £30k a week last summer. That is an actual FACT"

Tee hee.

Leeds fans think: No matter, he's easily replaceable  :)

Heard a whisper hes coming back on loan to gain match fitness

An unfit Paynter, great.

Its how it all started..

unfit paynter + dossevi + pericard will set the division on fire.

http://www.motforum.com/phpbb/viewtopic.php?f=1&t=21431

the Leeds fans have given up on him already by the looks of it

They say he's injured again so can't be coming back on loan

Personally (and I accept I may be in the minority here), Paynter can go fuck himself for all I care...

Onwards and upwards COYR...

agree, he wasnt intrested at the end of last season, and as for his wembley contribution :no:

thats because he was still injured.

Please don't let facts get in the way of a chance to slag off an ex-player  ;)

Paynter knew where he was going long before his poor form at the end though.

Exactly and even if he hadn't gone, what use would he have been to us this season if he was still injured?

Ermmm...maybe if he hadn't gone to Leeds he wouldn't have been involved in the challenge that injured him in pre-season, and would thus be fit...

Good point.  However, he's apparently recovered from that injury and now picked up a different one.  Bearing in mind he was injured at the end of last season as well it does seem as if he's generally struggling a bit?

Obviously it'd be better if we still had our top goalscorer from last season but that isn't the case. Pointless debating this imo.

Apparently playing leeds res tonite.

He better get used to it.

meh


so fucking what

i am agreeing with you all the time scouse tosser

How many has he netted so far?

He should have at least let me know he was moving on, before i picked my username. :)

 Got 9 mins off the bench today...

He'll struggle to get a regular game.

Not picked for Coventry game...those Leeds fuckers will soon send him packing.

we will take him on loan!

fucking hell is this thread still going on ?

No, it isn't.

Fred's got the paynters in.

Si Pie, if you are reading this Neville seems to have hacked your TEF account :)

Sorry to bump an old thread but Billy is starting tonight for Leeds.

Tune into ITV if you're interested!

:eek:

odd choice of thread Ralphy but meh. I went back a few pages.

I hope he scores but Leeds lose. And i hate Arsenal.

I didn't want to start a new thread on Billy boy.

Be interesting to see how he does against a top quality side.

Thats what the ex swindon players thread is for.

Paynter easy to replace  :no:

Also lets not forget that this time last season Grayson was under real pressure...the Leeds board stuck by him and after our 3-0 win there last year it looked a bit ominous for him.
OK they were not in our position but just shows that you dont always have to sack the manager to turn things round.

 On 5Live....Lawrenson "is Billy Paynter injured....he seems half a yard off the pace?"
 :)

He looks shocking. First touch is abysmal.

Doing ok....this is Arsenal.............not Tranmere.
Getting through a lot of work.

He's a chunky chappy....I'd have thought he needs to be playing every week.

Is this his first start for the Champions, the Champions of Europe?

3rd apparently

good hit by bradley johnson there, shame the lino didn't bother giving a foul in the build up

Looking at Paynter reminds me exactly what we're missing...

A striker who can lead the line, compete physically, hold up the ball and bring others into play. He could teach Vince and Doss a thing or two!

I thought he looked unfit and disinterested. Not a jot on the Paynter we had last year.

Not used to actually getting on the pitch.  He's only played about 180 minutes of first team football all season.  He'd have been better off staying here and maybe our season would have turned out differently?  I know it's all about money these days, but it must be shite knowing you're only going to get a game if Becchio's injured?

On 10k a week I could probably cope with the ignominy.

There was a Leeds counter in the latter stages of the first half where Billy looked desperately off the pace.

Decent link-up play but he clearly still isn't ready/good enough.

Fitton did say at the AGM that last January that he was offered a new contract, and they did turn down an offer from a club for Paynter but they wanted to keep him here.

Was he off the pace or was he playing in midfield?

I know, but it's always a bit disappointing when you see a player who did a good job for you move on to supposedly higher things but effectively ending up being little more than a spectator.

I'd leave my job to get paid 3 or 4 times more and actually do less work!

He's been injured most of the season though

Did they say why he was subbed? The music in the pub outweighed the commentary  :)

Another forward from swindon who fails at a higher level.

Only Fjortoft played the big time for lesser clubs.

We seem to produce better defenders and midfielders - Calderwood, Kerslake, Summerbee, Horlock,Moncur etc etc

He did ok from what I saw. Looked to be working hard from the off, good strength and laying the ball off. But one counter he looked absolutely fucked. Guess that's what 5 months out will do to you.

Leeds look as if they miss Prutton.

By failed, you mean injured, yeah?

Its hard to judge and make a comparison of the Paynter who played for Swindon and one who played last night.
When he was brought into the game on the very few occasions he did ok.
Snodgrass and Howson and nippy little fucker on the left did not do him any favours, instead of putting the ball into Paynter's feet, chest, head they continually tried to beat the man in front of them, lose the ball and Paynter's runs probably went unnoticed by most. All Paynter could do was to trot from one side to the other to try to get into the game. Totally different style to what he received at Swindon. The only time he received it to his feet he laid off a beautiful pass into the oncoming midfielder.
It's going to be hard for Billy at Leeds.

I agree with this. Also, let's not forget he was a lone striker amongst the premiers leagues best defenders.

I can't believe people are still bitter about it

No....its just we never seem to produce a forward who goes on to the top........they always flop....injuries included so i take your point.

City had Andy Cole, the Pox had Aldridge, even Rovers had Gary Penrice...

we had Paul Rideout! did'nt he score the winner for Everton in the Fa cup against Man u?

Always ready to pull Paul Rideout out of your ass!!!

Saw him play for England Schoolboys.

I'm going to thrash you all around the court next week for this!!!

I'm all for not slating an ex-player but I wouldn't go that far.. Djourou, Koscielny, Gibbs and Sagna are not really in the PL's best defenders category are they?

Thought he looked a shadow of the player that left us, but 5 months of injury and playing in the stiffs will do that. I'd have him back in an instant at the moment.

Technically if we are looking at stats Gibbs aside those Arsenal defenders have consistently played all season and they currently have the 2nd best defensive record in the division.  So although individually they may not be the best defenders as a back 4 they are the 2nd best in the league.