Goodbye and Good luck - Aden Flint gone, official (Merged)

[Fordy62]

Just now, Silvio Dante said:

I think, of the four, my order of concern in leaving from least to most were Bryan (only because we insist on playing him LB!), Flint (for the reasons stated), Pack, Reid. 

I think it looks likely we’ll lose all bar Pack. However, the only one that really really concerns me is Reid. 

Brace yourself then mate. 

Those 3 (or 4 including Pack) will make such a massive hole in the spine of our team. 

[BRISTOL86]

16 minutes ago, Silvio Dante said:

Few things:

- For those who think we’ve undersold, clearly the market (or a clause) has dictated the fee here. If the other mooted clubs (particularly Burnley) were in, then they’d have offered comparable or more. Reality is, at Flints age, the fee is a decent one for someone with 3 seasons of champ experience

- I agree that we’ll miss AF as a figurehead, and for his goals. However, I don’t immediately hold we’ll miss him in defence. I’ve said numerous times he plays very well but is so focussed on his own game that I don’t think it always has a positive impact on the team. End of the day, we haven’t been great defensively for 3 years and AF has been part of that defence. Maybe, without saying he’s played badly, because of the whole he’s an inadvertent cause? 

- If you’re Flint, even if you loved Lee Johnson, if you can get a significant wage increase in what is likely to be your last contract, why wouldn’t you? No issue with him personally for taking the move on a purely financial basis.

So, for me, on balance it makes sense for the player, the fee is about right and I’m not convinced it’s a catastrophic loss bearing in mind our defensive record. How we spend the cash is another question, but as a deal in isolation, it ticks many more boxes than it doesn’t 

[oldstandrobin]

I think what pi**es me off more than anything is he is now a Pulis Player 

[BRISTOL86]

2 minutes ago, 054123 said:

In the current climate, i think you define what fish you are.

Bournemouth, Brighton, Stoke, Reading, Watford, Huddersfield, Fulham, Swansea...

These aren’t big fish. But they dare to believe they are. 

In my lifetime we have dared to believe that if things fall right we might just get out of division 3 for a couple of years.

Please don’t cite our ‘off the field ambitions’, they hold little relevance 

 

All of those clubs have to sell their best players if and when bigger, more powerful clubs come calling. No matter what they believe. That’s just life in football. 

[Vil1]

He might no go yet ! Would you want to upsticks and live up there .I wouldn't it's a pit.nearly as bad as kingswood

[JamesBCFC]

1 minute ago, 054123 said:

In the current climate, i think you define what fish you are.

Bournemouth, Brighton, Stoke, Reading, Watford, Huddersfield, Fulham, Swansea...

These aren’t big fish. But they dare to believe they are. 

In my lifetime we have dared to believe that if things fall right we might just get out of division 3 for a couple of years.

Please don’t insult me by citing our ‘off the field ambitions’.

 

Bournemouth, Brighton and Huddersfield were all in danger of financial troubles if they didnt go up.

Fulham have had parachute payments, of course they are a bigger fish than us.

Stoke, Swansea and Watford have all had (or still have, in Watfords case) a sustained period in the Premier League with vast amounts more money, Stoke and Swansea now have parachute payments and can operate in a different financial league to us.

As for Reading, in what way are they acting as 'big fish'?

[RedRock]

4 minutes ago, 054123 said:

In the current climate, i think you define what fish you are.

Bournemouth, Brighton, Stoke, Reading, Watford, Huddersfield, Fulham, Swansea...

These aren’t big fish. But they dare to believe they are. 

In my lifetime we have dared to believe that if things fall right we might just get out of division 3 for a couple of years.

Please don’t cite our ‘off the field ambitions’, they hold little relevance 

 

Yep, add Burnley, Fulham, Cardiff ..... wow.

Keep thinking little fish and you become one.

[054123]

2 minutes ago, BRISTOL86 said:

All of those clubs have to sell their best players if and when bigger, more powerful clubs come calling. No matter what they believe. That’s just life in football. 

But still hung on to enough to believe they could get out of this league.

I can only assume that Boro are paying an obscene salary.

We are what we are, Lansdown knows it. Just wish he’d be more honest about it, that’s all.

[Jacki]

1 hour ago, Olé said:

I've made it 1.5 pages into this thread and already liked about 10 posts. It's nice to see so many people share the same view.

But I've stopped at this one, as you've nailed it it. It's not just the selling, it's the abysmal record the current people at the club have of recruitment.

It's like a double whammy. You take out part of the spine of the team (and certainly the heart) from the side AND we're likely to replace him badly.

 

I made the point at the end of the season when we were debating the likelihood of the "three possible sales", that this one makes the least sense.

He isn't going to go to the Premiership, I think we're all agreed he isn't a Reid or Bryan - he is at the top of his game, what you see is what you get.

He's worth disproportionately more to us now than anyone else, as no one is going to pay top dollar for a 29 year old (£5m wouldn't surprise me).

His next contract (including the 4 year one he'd signed with us) is his last at his peak, and in 4 years another transfer will be for significantly less.

So who'll shell out market value on a depreciating asset? No one. That's why he's better value to us. He plays a key role at both ends of the pitch.

To me, selling now to a Championship rival (I would say a promotion rival but not sure if we're serious) is a bizarre, high-risk low-reward strategy.

 

The mind boggles that SL sanctions sales like this for a management team that has recruited poorly and depended so much on winners like this.

Surely he can see it runs counter to every bit of evidence: how important Flint contributes and how poorly his management team have recruited.

You can't replace Flint for £5m and I doubt Middlesbro are paying much more than that, so what exactly have we gained - unless Flint wants out.

A couple of other points - the idea he's a bad defender is nonsense, everyone makes the odd mistake but he has improved significantly over time.

At the end of last season Baker and Wright were both calamitous (I still have nightmares about Barnsley and Millwall), Flint was far more reliable.

Secondly the idea we have other match winners - at Hull or Sheff Utd you saw how much more Flint wants to win than anyone else we have got 

 

Great post, you’ve said pretty much everything I’ve been thinking.

The only explanation I can think of is that they must have made some kind of agreement with Flint when he signed the contract either in the form of a release clause or a gentleman’s agreement. Something along the lines of not standing in his way of a Prem club or a club with parachute payments and spending power comes on for him. He gets his mid-season pay rise, and the move that he’s clearly wanted for some time if we don’t go up, and we get to keep him until the end of the season to aid our push for promotion. 

Not worked out fantastically has it....

[054123]

1 minute ago, JamesBCFC said:

Bournemouth, Brighton and Huddersfield were all in danger of financial troubles if they didnt go up.

Fulham have had parachute payments, of course they are a bigger fish than us.

Stoke, Swansea and Watford have all had (or still have, in Watfords case) a sustained period in the Premier League with vast amounts more money, Stoke and Swansea now have parachute payments and can operate in a different financial league to us.

As for Reading, in what way are they acting as 'big fish'?

In respect of Reading they believed they could be a premier league club and achieved it.

Dont get me wrong, I’ve not overly concerned what league we play in, I just like supporting my local club.

It doednt matter what the name of the division is.

[BRISTOL86]

4 minutes ago, 054123 said:

But still hung on to enough to believe they could get out of this league.

I can only assume that Boro are paying an obscene salary.

We are what we are, Lansdown knows it. Just wish he’d be more honest about it, that’s all.

As will we. Our wage budget and the calibre of player we can attract won’t be a million miles off of any of the clubs you cite during the time they had some success at this level. 

But of course you’re going to get the odd player who will have his head turned along the way. It’s only natural his performances have attracted interest.   

Boro pay very big wages and it’s hardly a secret that Flinty loves his cash. It’s a good move for him and at his age probably his last shot at a bumper contract, and is as close to a premier league move as you can get without it actually being one. 

Anyone who can’t see that it’s a very attractive move for him has their head in the sand about our standing as a club. At this moment in time we are a stepping stone, just like all those other clubs have been for many players. 

Regarding the fee I would be very surprised if we didn’t make an agreement with Flint when he signed his new deal that he’d be allowed to go with our blessing if a reasonable deal could be agreed with a bigger club. 

[Selred]

36 minutes ago, Nogbad the Bad said:

All entitled to our opinions but that's a bit weird tbh.

At the time I ranked Wright and Baker as our starting CBs. Preferred Mags cause he was promising, and liked Jens because he was different type of CB. 

[Fordy62]

I do hope this means we get to see more of Hegeler at Centre Back. 

[RedRock]

8 minutes ago, Silvio Dante said:

I think, of the four, my order of concern in leaving from least to most were Bryan (only because we insist on playing him LB!), Flint (for the reasons stated), Pack, Reid. 

I think it looks likely we’ll lose all bar Pack. However, the only one that really really concerns me is Reid. 

My four were Flint, Flint, Flint and Flint.

Love Joe but if LJ insists on playing him left back , he’s replaceable. Reid is great and I think he could sustain his form but may find it more difficult as the opposition may sus his game/our game plan. Pack, I like but not irreplaceable. 

Flinty a winner, leader, goal preventer, goal scorer, passer, header, baller ...... the team’s talisman. A very rare commodity.

If we had 11 Flinty’s we’d walk this league.

[JamesBCFC]

Just now, 054123 said:

In respect of Reading they believed they could be a premier league club and achieved it.

Dont get me wrong, I’ve not overly concerned what league we play in, I just like supporting my local club.

It doednt matter what the name of the division is.

I assumed you were talking about now, not their promotion 12 years ago.

After relegation they then had parachute payments and were able to use financial clout to boost their promotion chances.

[1960maaan]

This just popped up , does change perceptions a little...... if true.
£7m for a 29 year old that expressed an interest in leaving before. I'm more annoyed about the Mags fee really. 
If only we had confidence in the scouting set up to bring in replacements.

 

[054123]

Just now, JamesBCFC said:

I assumed you were talking about now, not their promotion 12 years ago.

After relegation they then had parachute payments and were able to use financial clout to boost their promotion chances.

I like supporting city, it doesn’t matter about whether we’re serious about the premier league or just staying up.

What do you think Steve Lansdown wants and what do you think he could achieve?

[BRISTOL86]

1 minute ago, 1960maaan said:

This just popped up , does change perceptions a little...... if true.
£7m for a 29 year old that expressed an interest in leaving before. I'm more annoyed about the Mags fee really. 
If only we had confidence in the scouting set up to bring in replacements.

 

What was the Mags fee? £7m is almost a record breaking deal for a centre back at this level so dreamland to think we’d get much more than that for him at nearly 30. 

If a straight £7m then hats off to the deal makers. Now give it to someone who can be trusted to spend it wisely!

[MC RISK77]

Tough one really not sure what the club could do so not sure criticism is merited. I would imagine we cannot compete with boro wages wise as they have just come down from prem. 5-7m is a reasonable enough fee for someone who has only ever played at this level.

hands are probably tied as at 29 flint has one more big move and pay day left.

very sad to see him go but the main worry is can we replace him and that I do not trust the club at.

[1960maaan]

1 minute ago, BRISTOL86 said:

What was the Mags fee?

Rumours I saw were around £2 1/2 m . I would have kept him.

[DirtySanchez]

Always going to happen. Instead of saying the board is shit (as always) I think we have to say well done for getting Flint to sign the contract extension last season. And thank Flint for doing the same for our club. 5-7million is good  in my eyes - great in the air - suspect when ball quick around his feet. But will miss his jovial presence in and around the club. Good luck Aiden! 

[cityexile]

Well, good luck Flinty. Has very much defined the team for me in the last few years. New chapter ahead.

Would feel an awful lot more confident about this if we did not have a track recovery of piddling this kind of money away on hopes that never make it.

 

[JamesBCFC]

9 minutes ago, 054123 said:

I like supporting city, it doesn’t matter about whether we’re serious about the premier league or just staying up.

What do you think Steve Lansdown wants and what do you think he could achieve?

I think he wants City to become a side that doesn't need him to underwrite millions of pounds of losses, while also wanting to see the side in the Premier League.

 

If he went "**** it, let's go **** or bust" then I think potentially we'd be able to become a lower end Premier League side, but in an incredibly unsustainable way, leaving us in a Villa type situation if we A) didn't make it up within 3 years of going for it or B) got relegated after making the Premier League.

 

We have seen Lansdown use this type of thought back when we signed David James, and that was the start of a slippery slope that you could argue we have only just recovered from (first season since that signing where we have finished in a comparable position.)

 

[Kid in the Riot]

9 minutes ago, BRISTOL86 said:

What was the Mags fee? £7m is almost a record breaking deal for a centre back at this level so dreamland to think we’d get much more than that for him at nearly 30. 

If a straight £7m then hats off to the deal makers. Now give it to someone who can be trusted to spend it wisely!

It's not. £2m are add ons we may never see.

 

[Red Army 75]

Shame such an iconic figure is leaving. If it’s 7 million it’s good business by the club . 5 million profit maybe. But as others have said it’s how they spend it . Thats the scary part. 

Also maybe in the contract he signed not so long ago . It could of been a similar scenario to Matty Taylor. 

Shame he’s gone . Wish him all the best. 

Talk about put yourself under pressure . That’s without the inevitable departure of the others . 

[Davefevs]

1 hour ago, ZiderEyed said:

It hasn't.

There's been more than enough posts on here that show the scale of the problem. I think @Davefevs had a graph on here that showed how many players could be considered 'failures', 'successes' and 'in between/development players'. (Might not have been Dave but someone will know what I'm on about and post it). Not to mention the rumours from very trustworthy posters about Ashton's "overinvolvement" in the transfer dealings.

There were a great deal more failures than there were successes and that is the origin of my worry going in to the new season. With a whacking great amount of money I'm very concerned we'll end up with a team of expensive Scandinavians.

I would love nothing more than to be proved wrong.

No, I started one, but then Fuber did a whole post that saved me my summer!!

1 hour ago, Fuber said:

May of been me. There were one or two.

I compared players on that basis iirc, along with whether they would garner a greater fee.

Someone also argued with me that Maggs would sell for a profit. I pointed out he only had a year left and WC aside, would be lucky to recoup the €3m we spent l him. We did make a loss in the end if the rumoured fee is correct. 

@Davefevs can you recall? I cbf to trawl my past posts.

 

[Cov 77]

5 minutes ago, Kid in the Riot said:

It's not. £2m are add ons we may never see.

 

Where had anyone said that , no one said that 

[Andy082005]

22 minutes ago, 054123 said:

But still hung on to enough to believe they could get out of this league.

I can only assume that Boro are paying an obscene salary.

We are what we are, Lansdown knows it. Just wish he’d be more honest about it, that’s all.

Your bottom paragraph is exactly right 

The bollocks Lansdown and co come out with. We as fans get sucked in every time .

We will never become a top championship club as long as this regime are in charge 

As you said...we are what we are. And no matter how much you dress up the facilities and how great the stadium is....they will never turn us into a top 6 team 

 

[TheCulturalBomb]

If he leaves the only word I will use for him is hero. 

Mr Bristol City for the last 5 years. All the best big man.

[1960maaan]

1 minute ago, Andy082005 said:

We will never become a top championship club as long as this regime are in charge 

Well we sure won't become one without it.