| Hladky is such a difficult one really. 09:31 - Jul 1 with 1214 views | Asa |
33 years old and likely to not be anywhere near as financially secure as lots of other players having played in Scotland and League Two for most of his career.
He's never played even in the Championship until last season where he only comes in due to an injury. Otherwise, he probably leaves for a League One or Scottish side this summer for nothing.
Instead he wins promotion playing superbly and being vital to what we do. But we have every reason to be worried he won't make the step up next season and perhaps our style will evolve slightly to being slightly less about the keeper being good with his feet and more needing someone good enough in the Premier League to turn draws into wins with a save or two Hladky isn't capable of.
How many of us were worried when Walton got injured? I certainly was. Nobody had Vaz down as a top Championship keeper but he was. How many seriously expect him to be one of the better Premier League keepers? That's the position we are in now. Forest got Navas. Sheffield United loaned Henderson and Ramsdale when they were deemed to be the next big thing. It's within our reach to sign a keeper that ends up being one of the best 8-10 in the league. Just don't see Hladky being that guy.
We will be offering him a fair amount, but probably as backup and therefore maybe only a year and someone else, in the Championship (maybe even Celtic as suggested), may very likely offer him 2-3 years to make him their #1. This is a guy, surrounded by multi-millionaires, who for the first 80% of his career probably earned £60k a year.
So sad to see the guy go. As I have mentioned before I sit in front of the players families. Being in front of Vaz's dad when he made those two stops against Boro in a matter of minutes was quite the experience emotionally!
A great guy, a key component of our promotion but you can certainly see why the club might be looking for a much younger, long term #1 who is streets above Hladky in terms of overall ability and why whatever we'd offer him is not as attractive as one big last pay day he can get elsewhere off the back of a season that is outrageously above any other he's ever had in his career.
We've been good for him. He's been good for us. Who knows he may even decide to accept whatever was / is on the table but I'd imagine he'll end up at a decent Championship club on a good contract with everyone's best wishes. [Post edited 1 Jul 2024 9:47]
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| Hladky is such a difficult one really. on 10:55 - Jul 1 with 966 views | TractorWood |
Not sure there is any great shame in shaking hands and calling it a day as you imply. |  |
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| Hladky is such a difficult one really. on 10:59 - Jul 1 with 932 views | Asa |
| Hladky is such a difficult one really. on 10:55 - Jul 1 by TractorWood |
Not sure there is any great shame in shaking hands and calling it a day as you imply. |
Absolutely.
Most people would have had no issues him leaving for free last summer.
Instead he stays, is vital to our promotion, and will forever be a cult hero. He might get a deal with another club that secures the life his family want now. He might get to play for Celtic in the Champions League. He might not want to waste the last year or two sitting on the bench for us in the Premier League.
His comments have probably allowed some to put 2 and 2 together and get 31.
As good as he was last season, we have signed two players that the likes of Wolves, Palace, Brentford and Brighton would likely have happily taken. We are now competing with established PL clubs for players, so making a 33 year old, who (despite being great and it hardly being his fault of course) conceded 60 goals last season in the division below, when much better keepers are now available.
We can do better that Vaz. He can do better than what we will offer him. So it's fine to say goodbye with him forever being fondly remembered as a brilliant keeper and player who played a big part in getting us into the Premier League. | | | |
| Hladky is such a difficult one really. on 11:28 - Jul 1 with 824 views | heavyweight |
I can see one of our two loans that are allowed being a goalkeeper. | | | |
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