Steed and Sidwell, A Case Study

I agree with Fog about the way Cookie handles public relations. I don't think he has quite figured out how to speak to his team, the opposition, or the fans through the media. He sometimes speaks in absolutes, like with Steed, that leave little to no room for negotiation if the situation changes (just ask BuSh how great an approach this is). Or he seems to chastise the team or belittle them, without providing a foundation for building them back up (BuSh analogy again? hmmmm, don't know).

I think Cookies energy and relationship with his players is probably pretty good, but he needs to work out some kinks in the delivery of his messages (like the new offal messageboard. I'm full of analogies today, or full of something).

 

While based on recent news Coleman did make the right decision. It was risky in that if Steed had held out the team would get nothing out of him in the final year of the contract. Both sides played hardball and Coleman won. At least if the recent news is correct, I really hope it is.

I realize this is common practice and I understand why they do it. My beef is that just because a guy says no doesn’t mean you let him rot for revenge sake or trying to black mail him into a new contract. Take Volz for example, if rumors are true that he turned down a new contract. Maybe he doesn’t know where his heads at, could be home sick or maybe wary of becoming home sick in the future, perhaps he doesn’t like the philosophy of the club or the direction he thinks its heading in, or one of many other possible reasons. The bottom line is that at this time for some reason he's not ready to tie himself to the club for a longer length of time than he already is. To me that’s fine as long as he is prepared to play %100 for the team remainder of the contract.

You can't force the player to want to stay at your club, but you can do as much as you can to accommodate his needs or ease his concerns. Sell him if that’s what you see best, but don't let him rot just because he wants to move on when his contract is up. Odds are pretty good he may have a change of heart and want to stay at the club after all. If you let him rot you canceled out that possibility all together.

 

It is interesting how Volz is in the same situation with his contract as Steed is yet the club treats the two completely different. I would not be shocked though if Fulham sold Volz in January to try and recoup some of the money for him rather than letting him leave on a free.

The other thing is that Fulham has made the effort to allow Steed to leave. It is not as though they said he could not leave. He has been given the chance to go to a number of clubs and he has turned down the contract. Steed is worth far more in the transfer market than Volz would be.

It just disappoints me that it has come to this between Steed and the club. Steed has been a great player for Fulham over the last five years and he has been a joy to watch. I can understand that he wants to go, but it is a two-way street where both Steed and the club must help one another in making this situation a good one for all parties involved.

Both the club and Steed are to blame and it is rather sad. As I have said, I hope Fulham can sell him in the next few days to get some money. Not just to get this ordeal over with, but because we need that money badly to bring in a new player or two. As we saw Sunday, some new blood is desperately needed.

Good points made Spencer! Well done mate!