Like good old Rafa Benitez, I’m only interested in facts and not people guessing 2+2 and ending up with 5.
Fundamentally, can anyone remind me of what Nichols’ contract situation is, is it up in the summer or does it have another year or can we trigger an extension?
It could be crucial. Hypothetically, if you have a player attracting interest from other clubs, and he only has 6 months left, then the situation may present itself this window of getting some cash for him rather than seeing him walk for nothing later
I really hope we are not losing such a talented player.
Talented yes, but far from irreplaceable based on recent form.
Agreed. In 14 years of watching CTFC (yes, a newbie!) we've seen players come and go. Nichols would be far down my list of departees that would bother me.
It was mentioned on another thread that Nichols contract runs out in the summer but there is an option for a further year.
The only thing we, as fans, know is that Nichols was not in the squad yesterday and that was not the manager's decision. We know Matt Etherington said Nichols was not injured and he also stated he has been brilliant for him.
That leads us to one of three conclusions.
1, It has been arranged for Nichols to be sold and its such a good deal that the club feel they cannot risk him getting injured and scuppering the deal.
2, Nichols has had a row with the people above Etherington at the club and has said something that "they" will demand an apology for or go through club disciplinary before he is allowed to play.
3, Something from outside the club has come to light that means the club management feel they have no choice other than not play him.
There is another scenario where the club has very badly communicated to the press and us regarding a personal issue that meant Nichols could not play...I just feel that this would have already have been corrected so didn't include it.
I was speaking to someone before the game yesterday who said Lewis Young had been “advised” by those above before the Gillingham game to leave out Nicholls and Craig based on the numbers / stats. Young picked them anyway and left the club 5 days later.
Craig was on the bench yesterday and Nicholls nowhere to be seen….it left my powers of deduction to deduce that Craig has very little chance of a deal elsewhere and may have had to suck it up, whereas Nicholls will have options and won’t have taken well to being left out based on the DoFs laptop….
I won't be too disappointed if Nichols leaves to be honest. His recent performances haven't been very good and Balagizi offered a lot more yesterday going forward (Nichols had been pretty anonymous in the last few Lewis Young matches). He is a very streaky player who has periods where he looks like one of the best players in the league, then goes on a run where you question if he should be in the starting XI.
His contract runs out this summer (albeit with an additional one-year option available) but if there are clubs interested I'd see if we can move him on for a fee in January and then invest the money towards getting someone of at least similar ability in January (which I feel is definitely possible). I think I'd be a lot more upset if Tsaroulla was to go
Joel Lynch is 2 Levels above Nicholls, and Balagizi, Tsaroulla & Balcombe are All 1 Level above Nicholls so no Biggy as far as I am concerned if he goes.
Lets hope we do a Straight Swap Nicholls for Hector Kyprianou from Peterborough in January. This was the only player Etherington was Instrumental in Signing whilst at Peterborough and Close Mates with Tsaroulla.