My Freeman take: LJ has issues and the club should be ashamed

[Thatwasclose]

Interesting how it's been outed by LJ on both occasions that JK and LF refused to play wanting a move etc. 

In my view this happens at all clubs up and down the country and only the bitter clubs let it out to the media. It's unnecessary to let it out and should be delt with inhouse.

For all Freeman has done and all the stick he took last two years from fans for not being up to championship par it sickens me that some fans think he is in the wrong and put all blame on him. How can you sing Freeman's on fire every week then not wish the man well? 

The club should be ashamed that one of the players who made a a great contribution last few seasons and always worked hard even when it wasn't going for him is now leaving under this atmosphere when it could have been avoided.

Freeman you have my support and I wish you all the best in your career and life.

Being a fairy new fan seems like no one ever leaves this club on good terms...

 

 

[megansdad]

Gives the fans context and presume is an honest explanation. Seems you'd prefer LJ/club was not open and transparent. Very odd. Don't wish Luke any ill but dont see why the club should not give an honest update on the situation.

[winterbournered]

Great. Another LJ bashing thread. 

[Son of Fred]

9 minutes ago, Thatwasclose said:

Interesting how it's been outed by LJ on both occasions that JK and LF refused to play wanting a move etc. 

In my view this happens at all clubs up and down the country and only the bitter clubs let it out to the media. It's unnecessary to let it out and should be delt with inhouse.

For all Freeman has done and all the stick he took last two years from fans for not being up to championship par it sickens me that some fans think he is in the wrong and put all blame on him. How can you sing Freeman's on fire every week then not wish the man well? 

The club should be ashamed that one of the players who made a a great contribution last few seasons and always worked hard even when it wasn't going for him is now leaving under this atmosphere when it could have been avoided.

Freeman you have my support and I wish you all the best in your career and life.

Being a fairy new fan seems like no one ever leaves this club on good terms...

 

 

Spot on the money-truly inept man management..f'ing embarrassing.

[Rob k]

He's been awful since we got in to the championship - why shouldn't LJ out the players who are refusing to play for our club? 

[Son of Fred]

1 minute ago, Rob k said:

He's been awful since we got in to the championship - why shouldn't LJ out the players who are refusing to play for our club? 

If its lost on you,and it clearly is,then its lost on you....understand???

[Son of Fred]

15 minutes ago, Thatwasclose said:

Interesting how it's been outed by LJ on both occasions that JK and LF refused to play wanting a move etc. 

In my view this happens at all clubs up and down the country and only the bitter clubs let it out to the media. It's unnecessary to let it out and should be delt with inhouse.

For all Freeman has done and all the stick he took last two years from fans for not being up to championship par it sickens me that some fans think he is in the wrong and put all blame on him. How can you sing Freeman's on fire every week then not wish the man well? 

The club should be ashamed that one of the players who made a a great contribution last few seasons and always worked hard even when it wasn't going for him is now leaving under this atmosphere when it could have been avoided.

Freeman you have my support and I wish you all the best in your career and life.

Being a fairy new fan seems like no one ever leaves this club on good terms...

 

 

Being a Fairy,can you Please grant me three wishes??

I promise that one of them will be to get Lee into the Europa league(with us)in five years!!

[Guest Albert]

Dont see why ajyone should be blaming lj on this one.  A player lsigns a contract for x period of time for good money and should be  kai8ng every effort to play during that time.  IMO refusing to play makes that player a complete knob who should be fined his wages fr that period.  Added to that LF has not made the step up in standard,  thanks for one good season in L1 and good riddance

[Rob k]

2 minutes ago, Robert the bruce said:

If its lost on you,and it clearly is,then its lost on you....understand???

No it's not lost on me, **** the pampered ***** who refuse to play, see what happens to anyone else in life who refuse to work for their company just because they don't like their boss. 

LJ should not be in a job but he's not wrong with this 

[exAtyeoMax]

1 hour ago, Rob k said:

No it's not lost on me, **** the pampered ***** who refuse to play, see what happens to anyone else in life who refuse to work for their company just because they don't like their boss. 

LJ should not be in a job but he's not wrong with this 

Perhaps Johnson shouldn't have dropped Luke in the first place? He could have continued playing him. Why did he suddenly need him for Burnley?

[Rob k]

7 minutes ago, exAtyeoMax said:

Perhaps Johnson shouldn't have dropped Luke in the first place? He could have continued playing him. Why did he suddenly need him for Burnley?

he's been awful for 2 seasons, it's also  the managers perogative who he picks and when. 

[LondonBristolian]

5 minutes ago, exAtyeoMax said:

Perhaps Johnson shouldn't have dropped Luke in the first place? He could have continued playing him. Why did he suddenly need him for Burnley?

We don't know because we don't know what went on behind the scenes. Perhaps LJ over reacted and sidelined a player we could have used or perhaps he was right Freeman was not in the right place. Maybe Freeman had hinted he  did not want to be considered, LJ had framed it as him being dropped to protect him if he ultimately decided to stay and then something happened last week that prompted LJ to go public.

Similalrly we don't know whether the club were slow to offer a contract or Freeman had made it clear that n the summer he did not want to discuss an extension.

We don't know any of those things. Which is why I find it odd that, rather than saying "ok. I don't know what happened here." fans feel the need to guess at what the facts might be and decide it must be the club's fault.

[exAtyeoMax]

Just now, Rob k said:

he's been awful for 2 seasons, it's also  the managers perogative who he picks and when. 

he suddenly dropped him though, it wasn't as if he hadn't been playing nearly all season…

 

[exAtyeoMax]

2 minutes ago, LondonBristolian said:

We don't know because we don't know what went on behind the scenes. Perhaps LJ over reacted and sidelined a player we could have used or perhaps he was right Freeman was not in the right place. Maybe Freeman had hinted he  did not want to be considered, LJ had framed it as him being dropped to protect him if he ultimately decided to stay and then something happened last week that prompted LJ to go public.

Similalrly we don't know whether the club were slow to offer a contract or Freeman had made it clear that n the summer he did not want to discuss an extension.

We don't know any of those things. Which is why I find it odd that, rather than saying "ok. I don't know what happened here." fans feel the need to guess at what the facts might be and decide it must be the club's fault.

…or the player's

[Selred]

10 minutes ago, exAtyeoMax said:

Perhaps Johnson shouldn't have dropped Luke in the first place? He could have continued playing him. Why did he suddenly need him for Burnley?

Even so, you get paid to play football. If you get picked then play. If you don't get picked train hard and you still get your wage.

I wasn't involved in a meeting last Thursday at work, but I'm not going to turn around and say I'm not going to the meeting tomorrow due to this.

Pathetic, such bubbles.

[steviestevieneville]

If you notice in LJ press conference he praised Conor hourihane and how he played his heart out to the end before he left Barnsley and reading between the lines suggested freeman downd tools a while ago. You do not know what happened behind the scenes but how anyone who can stick up for a player refusing to play is beyond me . I dare say he picked up his wages this month for doing sweet f.a

[exAtyeoMax]

1 minute ago, Selred said:

Even so, you get paid to play football. If you get picked then play. If you don't get picked train hard and you still get your wage.

I wasn't involved in a meeting last Thursday at work, but I'm not going to turn around and say I'm not going to the meeting tomorrow due to this.

Pathetic, such bubbles.

I suppose what I'm trying to say is, did LJ really need Luke at Burnley? He didn't need him for the previous games…

[famouslastword]

1 hour ago, Thatwasclose said:

Interesting how it's been outed by LJ on both occasions that JK and LF refused to play wanting a move etc. 

In my view this happens at all clubs up and down the country and only the bitter clubs let it out to the media. It's unnecessary to let it out and should be delt with inhouse.

For all Freeman has done and all the stick he took last two years from fans for not being up to championship par it sickens me that some fans think he is in the wrong and put all blame on him. How can you sing Freeman's on fire every week then not wish the man well? 

The club should be ashamed that one of the players who made a a great contribution last few seasons and always worked hard even when it wasn't going for him is now leaving under this atmosphere when it could have been avoided.

Freeman you have my support and I wish you all the best in your career and life.

Being a fairy new fan seems like no one ever leaves this club on good terms...

 

 

Regardless of what freeman wants... he signed a contract to play at this football club and earn all the money that he does per week. Why should a player decide he no longer wants to play and turn around and say his head is not into it because hes trying to move on? 

He should of shut up honoured his contract and played as long as fit when the club needed him to. Too much power is given to players nowadays and their is not enough respect to the club or the fans by the players/agents. 

He could of done a job for us in the last couple of games he refused to play in. Im sure he didn't refuse his weekly wage when he wasn't playing?

Stop clutching at straws to have another dig at the club/LJ. 

I would much rather the club spoke out about individuals who throw their dummies out the pram, rather than a club where we are being taken advantage of.

[Frenchay Red]

All very odd. You can't tell me that they both were unaware that the move to QPR was about to happen. Why would LJ suddenly want him to play having made it public knowledge that he wasn't being considered.

And similarly why would LF want to risk injury as he was leaving 2 days later. Poorly handled by a clueless manager so out of his depth in so many ways.

[Selred]

19 minutes ago, exAtyeoMax said:

I suppose what I'm trying to say is, did LJ really need Luke at Burnley? He didn't need him for the previous games…

No, he didn't need him. But Luke should of been a model pro and always be ready in case needed.

[David Brent]

I don't believe that Freeman simply refused to play.

Put it this way. LJ has turned a situation, brought about by awful management, into one that looks more favourably on him.

[LondonBristolian]

48 minutes ago, exAtyeoMax said:

…or the player's

Indeed. 

[Ivorguy]

2 hours ago, winterbournered said:

Great. Another LJ bashing thread. 

The buck stops efc

[Bar BS3]

Whether he's great or rubbish is irrelevant. (As proven by Kodjia) makes no difference. 

The club should absolutely tell the fans if a play wants away and is refusing to commit their future to us, or, as has been the case and far worse, refusing to make themselves available for games. 

If a player wishes to move on, that's fair enough. Not making yourself available to play is very poor. 

 

[Alessandro]

4 minutes ago, Ivorguy said:

The buck stops efc

Well actually, in regard to signing new player contracts the buck stops with the player and Ashton.

[Alessandro]

20 minutes ago, Libertine1 said:

I don't believe that Freeman simply refused to play.

Put it this way. LJ has turned a situation, brought about by awful management, into one that looks more favourably on him.

Why do find it so hard to believe Freeman refused to play when two days after he did, he is seen pictured in a QPR shirt?!

There is no 'awful management' here. Players come to the end of the contract, either they sign a new one or move on. Simple. This kind of thing happens all the time in football, we are not special. Look at Barnsley right now.

We've offered him a new one and he decided he wanted to move on, no problem with that. The real reason the player moved is known only to him and a handful of others, but a well paid London move would always be tempting for Freeman.

But the fact remains, the player should remain available and committed to play to the end of his contract. It's disappointing he wasn't irrespective of if we 'needed' to play him or not and LJ verbalised that for us.

[Super]

28 minutes ago, Libertine1 said:

I don't believe that Freeman simply refused to play.

Put it this way. LJ has turned a situation, brought about by awful management, into one that looks more favourably on him.

It's what players do these days they have all the power look at Payet and Ulloa for example.

[1960maaan]

I thought it was poor that the club let his contract wind down so much before offering a new one, when QPR came. I was corrected and told that he had been refusing to sign since the summer. So to my mind the poor work by the club was not getting rid then, at a better price. He continued to refuse, and play, and I guess that LJ and the club hoped he would change his mind. He didn't , he's out of contract in the summer and would leave on a free, he liked the QPR offer.......
Right up until now there isn't a problem, he had played and it was negotiations and posturing . When he refused to play he crossed the line and I don't blame LJ for coming out and saying that. For one Johnson is (rightly) getting enough stick for other reasons , he doesn't need to give the fans another reason to slate him. He explains why a player, who is still like by a large percentage of fan base , is leaving and in doing so distances himself from blame, make sense. 
This downing tools is getting to regular now, Payet,Freeman, Ulloa , on the odd occasions you may feel sympathy for the players circumstances but NEVER for refusing to work. Been said before, try going into work and saying I fancy working somewhere else, I won't be coming in until I sort out a new job , and just see the response. You ain't gonna be popular.
Whether he was worth a place in the team is immaterial , you get to that position you don't play, and if the club had accepted he was leaving why Cup tie him and put a potential stumbling block in the way of a move. 

[Natchfever]

I don't rate LJ and want shot of him but I don't see an issue here.

Freeman wouldn't sign a new contract so was dropped from the squad then refused to play to force a move and LJ makes the fans aware of the situation.

Plenty of other things to beat LJ with but not this one - and to be honest Kodja didn't have a contract running down so no comparison he clearly was just a money chasing ****.

[Marina's Rolls Royce]

I guess from those with the perspective that every single thing that LJ/MA does is incompetent and wrong then Luke Freeman was just a "great servant"who despite his best efforts could not get into the team.

I guess from the perspective of Luke's agent  forcing a bargain end of window deal through with a massive pay day for him and his client then encouraging his client to avoid injury by not playing worked out rather well.

What I find pitifully hypocritical is that some of those criticising our club about the manner of LF's departure were also only too happy to inform us that he was not good enough for the team or, indeed, the Championship.

 

[Alessandro]

4 minutes ago, Marina's Rolls Royce said:

I guess from those with the perspective that every single thing that LJ/MA does is incompetent and wrong then Luke Freeman was just a "great servant"who despite his best efforts could not get into the team.

I guess from the perspective of Luke's agent  forcing a bargain end of window deal through with a massive pay day for him and his client then encouraging his client to avoid injury by not playing worked out rather well.

What I find pitifully hypocritical is that some of those criticising our club about the manner of LF's departure were also only too happy to inform us that he was not good enough for the team or, indeed, the Championship.

 

Can I double 'like'?

People seem to have completely forgotten week after week of 'Freeman's not good for the championship' debate.

He is not a pivotal player for us, he's been in and out the team and inconsistent. MA and LJ will have decided that it's fine for him to leave if he doesn't sign a new contract. So why would they do anything differently?

[Roger Red Hat]

1 hour ago, Libertine1 said:

I don't believe that Freeman simply refused to play.

Put it this way. LJ has turned a situation, brought about by awful management, into one that looks more favourably on him.

Do you  believe JK refused to play?

[cidered abroad]

3 hours ago, Thatwasclose said:

Interesting how it's been outed by LJ on both occasions that JK and LF refused to play wanting a move etc. 

In my view this happens at all clubs up and down the country and only the bitter clubs let it out to the media. It's unnecessary to let it out and should be delt with inhouse.

For all Freeman has done and all the stick he took last two years from fans for not being up to championship par it sickens me that some fans think he is in the wrong and put all blame on him. How can you sing Freeman's on fire every week then not wish the man well? 

The club should be ashamed that one of the players who made a a great contribution last few seasons and always worked hard even when it wasn't going for him is now leaving under this atmosphere when it could have been avoided.

Freeman you have my support and I wish you all the best in your career and life.

Being a fairy new fan seems like no one ever leaves this club on good terms...

 

 

What a load of absolute tosh. Over the years I have supported City, 99.999% of players who leave our club, do so on the best of terms with the club and supporters. Many are respectfully welcomed back, even those small number who have crossed over to the blue side of town. When Nicky Maynard left, I cannot remember the manager making any such statement but it was clear to all that he had been a pain in the ass for some considerable time before he left.

So when a Head Coach states that a player has refused to play for us, it's not done lightly. Even if LJ had said nothing, it is clear from the small amount of info that we get, that he has not been interested in the last few weeks.

PS. I am not a fan of our current Head Coach as I don't believe he is right for the job, but at least I respect him enough to believe that he isn't lying about such matters. 

[Honiton Tony]

This Is getting boring ......... the player has gone [It happens ] move on and look at the big job we have for the rest of the season

[David Brent]

14 minutes ago, Roger Red Hat said:

Do you  believe JK refused to play?

Yes. That was an example of a player forcing a move to a bigger club.

Freeman though was out of contract in the summer. The club knew before the Burnley game that he was going to QPR. It's just LJ trying to save face in my opinion.

[1960maaan]

1 hour ago, Marina's Rolls Royce said:

What I find pitifully hypocritical is that some of those criticising our club about the manner of LF's departure were also only too happy to inform us that he was not good enough for the team or, indeed, the Championship.

 

Two separate issues, whatever you thought/think of Freeman there are ways of going about a move. He would/should have been allowed to go in this window anyway. Unless the club were happy to let him go on a free in a few months. As we are trying to become sustainable I doubt this and I think he would have been given his move. How he performed is immaterial , refusing to play unforgivable .

[Major Isewater]

2 hours ago, exAtyeoMax said:

Perhaps Johnson shouldn't have dropped Luke in the first place? He could have continued playing him. Why did he suddenly need him for Burnley?

To put pressure on QPR to conclude the deal I would imagine.

Well done LJ .

[italian dave]

Plus, of course, if LJ had said nothing then there'd have been plenty of threads slating him for leaving Freeman out of the squad. 

[Fuber]

The thing I'd question is whether this was less supposed to be a slight versus the club by Freeman; but more slighting LJ by basically telling him to "Fu** Off".

LJ has publicly tried blackmailing Luke to sign a contract. Which to me, is shocking man-management. Especially if this was outed to the press without Luke's prior knowledge, it's no wonder he wouldn't want to play for a man who he may no longer trust.

But again, we don't know what's going on behind the scenes.

What has been overlooked is Luke has been through the same situation with Stevenage, and agreed to sign a year extension just so his former team could collect a fee - instead of it being set by a tribunal which could of been bad for Stevenage, ergo doing his old team a great favor.

What possible reason could he have for not doing the same with us?

Something is definitely very, very odd, about this whole scenario.

[Alessandro]

7 minutes ago, Fuber said:

The thing I'd question is whether this was less supposed to be a slight versus the club by Freeman; but more slighting LJ by basically telling him to "Fu** Off".

LJ has publicly tried blackmailing Luke to sign a contract. Which to me, is shocking man-management. Especially if this was outed to the press without Luke's prior knowledge, it's no wonder he wouldn't want to play for a man who he may no longer trust.

But again, we don't know what's going on behind the scenes.

What has been overlooked is Luke has been through the same situation with Stevenage, and agreed to sign a year extension just so his former team could collect a fee - instead of it being set by a tribunal which could of been bad for Stevenage, ergo doing his old team a great favor.

What possible reason could he have for not doing the same with us?

Something is definitely very, very odd, about this whole scenario.

How exactly did LJ publicly blackmail Freeman?

And what is odd about a player and a club jostling to get the best deal for themselves when a contract is running up. Not odd in the slightest, happens at every club, every transfer window.

[AshtonGreat]

4 hours ago, Rob k said:

He's been awful since we got in to the championship - why shouldn't LJ out the players who are refusing to play for our club? 

Because Freeman has always struck me as a hardworking, honest and enthusiastic kind of guy. And also he's not been awful - I've seen matches where he's created two or three clear-cut chances for teammates but still been criticised, while everyone hailed the genius Tomlin because he did a Rabona. I imagine most of the players are feeling disillusioned by LJ's doofishness, so if Freeman saw an opportunity that was too good to miss, who can blame him for wanting out?

I'll always be thankful to him for contributing to one of our most exhilarating seasons ever.

[Roger Red Hat]

1 hour ago, Libertine1 said:

Yes. That was an example of a player forcing a move to a bigger club.

Freeman though was out of contract in the summer. The club knew before the Burnley game that he was going to QPR. It's just LJ trying to save face in my opinion.

So you believe JK refused to play, you don't believe LF refused to play.

Fair enough.

[Natchfever]

1 minute ago, Roger Red Hat said:

So you believe JK refused to play, you don't believe LF refused to play.

Fair enough.

I believe they both refused to play.

Difference is (I think) that we wanted Kodija to play who flat out refused, but brought Freeman back in from the cold to try and generate an improved bid from QPR although that didn't seem to work. Freeman saw it for what is was, and (wrongly from a BCFC perspective) refused to join the matchday squad as he knew he wasn't really wanted and was just a pawn.

Players should take the rough with the smooth, after all if they become sicknotes or flat out shit (Nicky Hunt) they still get paid. The converse is that sometimes they don't get it all their own way like the Argy at Leicester who wants to play but is down the pecking order. Tough tits really.

I thought Luke was poor last season and frustrated the hell out of me this although he did look a bit better. I don't wish him ill, and I don't wish him the best either, certainly dont want him to get any success at QPR nor for that shithouse of a club to make any money on him.

[BigAl&Toby]

6 hours ago, Thatwasclose said:

Interesting how it's been outed by LJ on both occasions that JK and LF refused to play wanting a move etc. 

In my view this happens at all clubs up and down the country and only the bitter clubs let it out to the media. It's unnecessary to let it out and should be delt with inhouse.

For all Freeman has done and all the stick he took last two years from fans for not being up to championship par it sickens me that some fans think he is in the wrong and put all blame on him. How can you sing Freeman's on fire every week then not wish the man well? 

The club should be ashamed that one of the players who made a a great contribution last few seasons and always worked hard even when it wasn't going for him is now leaving under this atmosphere when it could have been avoided.

Freeman you have my support and I wish you all the best in your career and life.

Being a fairy new fan seems like no one ever leaves this club on good terms...

 

 

Bollocks.

Time to move on. Yesterday's man, yesterday's news. I never thought either Luke was up to it. And Christ was one ugly? And both had ponytails or buns.

Made my girls laugh every time they saw them.

And if the £300k goes to getting Matt Taylor - or at the very least gives us something to look back on and laugh at - then I'm all for that!

Tonight's the night.

[Talk Of The Town]

Don't know what all the fuss is about and why it's necessary to analyse the ins and outs of a cats ass. Freeman wasnt good enough at this level with us. If he improves at rangers then good on him. Sometimes we get stale at our place of work and need a change.

[Meryl Goodrum]

7 hours ago, Thatwasclose said:

Interesting how it's been outed by LJ on both occasions that JK and LF refused to play wanting a move etc. 

In my view this happens at all clubs up and down the country and only the bitter clubs let it out to the media. It's unnecessary to let it out and should be delt with inhouse.

For all Freeman has done and all the stick he took last two years from fans for not being up to championship par it sickens me that some fans think he is in the wrong and put all blame on him. How can you sing Freeman's on fire every week then not wish the man well? 

The club should be ashamed that one of the players who made a a great contribution last few seasons and always worked hard even when it wasn't going for him is now leaving under this atmosphere when it could have been avoided.

Freeman you have my support and I wish you all the best in your career and life.

Being a fairy new fan seems like no one ever leaves this club on good terms...

 

 

I absolutely agree with everything you have said. I blame LJ entirely for not capitalising on Luke Freeman. He admittedly seemed to struggle in the early days of the Championship but was starting to shine again until he got the horrible ankle injury. I've been looking through old games and photos of some of his spectacular and committed play. This is a young man with talent and good temperament and we should have hung onto him. LJ is just using the excuses about both him and Kodjia. And while we're on the subject, he should have kept Luke Ayling too. For God's sake Mr Johnson, use the talent you have and give players a chance, instead of collecting goalies.... It's about ten men getting the ball in the net, not one man keeping it out. Good luck Luke and COYR.

[Guest The Original BBB]

Get over it. Hes gone. 

Wasn't a Bristol City player anyway.

[robinreliant]

He's gone. I just want to know what the fee was.

 

[Nibor]

9 hours ago, Thatwasclose said:

Interesting how it's been outed by LJ on both occasions that JK and LF refused to play wanting a move etc. 

In my view this happens at all clubs up and down the country and only the bitter clubs let it out to the media. It's unnecessary to let it out and should be delt with inhouse.

For all Freeman has done and all the stick he took last two years from fans for not being up to championship par it sickens me that some fans think he is in the wrong and put all blame on him. How can you sing Freeman's on fire every week then not wish the man well? 

The club should be ashamed that one of the players who made a a great contribution last few seasons and always worked hard even when it wasn't going for him is now leaving under this atmosphere when it could have been avoided.

Freeman you have my support and I wish you all the best in your career and life.

Being a fairy new fan seems like no one ever leaves this club on good terms...

Disciplinary issues should generally be kept in house and a player is free to ask for a move with no recriminations.  But when a player refuses to play they have gone too far.  Their wages are paid by the fans and the disrespect being shown to the fans is something they should know about.  If Freeman refused to play he deserves it.