Haks and Biggo

[NickDRFC]

Seems like most people agree that whilst some would like both to have re-signed, the majority consider that it will be not a great loss, given the clubs current activity.
I liked both players, and was always looking for Harrison to perform like the last two months. He's a great striker of the ball and pretty good with his head too, so good luck to him for the future.
I just wonder what effect having Haks, in team, helped the likes of Harrison and some of the others to improve their own performances. We can't deny Haks was special and we were witnessing a very different approach, did this have any effect on the way Moly was approaching games etc?

Without a doubt having Hacks in the team affected Moly’s performances.
Previously there had been too much emphasis on home to be the person who created the chances etc as well as having to do his bit helping out defensively.
When Hacks came into the team opposition had two very creative players to think about and that in itself would have created a different mindset for Mols.
He blossomed as a result.
Hopefully the new players coming in will continue to have the same effect.
With regards to Biggins, for me he came of age at the Grimsby away game.
That day he was outstanding and continued generally to be the same for the rest of the season.

Totally agree with Biggins. I was at Grimsby which was my first game since Wimbledon away and I’d been saying before kick off that I didn’t know how he kept getting picked, but he was excellent that game in his new role and kept it up. We’ll miss that player and that form so hopefully we can replace it.

[roversdude]

Hopefully we already have

[Bills view]

I hope whatever business we do that a good pre-season to embed the style and philosophy means we start the season well.

We need to get off to a good start and not be playing catch-up. Get near the top of the league and stay there.

A few have pointed out the difference Craig made in partnership with Bailey. The midfield has to be the work engine. That's a key position we need to identify.

[scawsby steve]

Over 27% of Hakeebs career goals came in that loan spell with us. I would have thought he would have loved to have played under Grant, Cliff, Coops and Glover again. More fool him I think.

Money talks and it could be the difference between half a million quid a year to go somewhere else or play with us.

Bloody hell, mate. Your maths are way out there.

We're not talking about a Championship player here.

[colincramb]

Over 27% of Hakeebs career goals came in that loan spell with us. I would have thought he would have loved to have played under Grant, Cliff, Coops and Glover again. More fool him I think.

Money talks and it could be the difference between half a million quid a year to go somewhere else or play with us.

Bloody hell, mate. Your maths are way out there.

We're not talking about a Championship player here.

Might not even be the money. Could be length of contract offered? Heard whispers (don’t know how true) that we weren’t keen on offering him a long term contract.

If that was the case, it’s understandable given the levels of consistency he’s struggled with throughout his career.

He was great for the short spell we had and his contribution to that run will go down in rovers folklore. Happy just to remember that and see what the future brings.

[les@donr]

We need a midfield general who can control the.game. Service the forwards and break up opposition play in the centre of the pitch.

[GazLaz]

We need a midfield general who can control the.game. Service the forwards and break up opposition play in the centre of the pitch.

We need Steven Gerrard.

[Colin C No.3]

We need a midfield general who can control the.game. Service the forwards and break up opposition play in the centre of the pitch.

We need Steven Gerrard.

Too old.

[rover-n-out]

When all's said and done, being a professional footballer is a relatively short career, let's say 18 to 35. That's 17 years in which to amass as much money as you can for now and for your future after football. No disrespect to Hak's but ATM he's a league 2 player and I can't see him playing his trade in the Premiership or even the Championship where the big money is. Who knows why he's moved on, maybe we didn't offer him a longer contract that he may have wanted. Maybe we couldn't or didn't want to match or better any offers he may have had from other interested clubs. Maybe he thinks he's good enough to play at a higher level with a better wage and contract. Maybe he is money motivated and wants to get as much of it while he can over his career. If that's the case then he probably is looking at the years beyond his playing career and trying to give himself a bit of security for when it comes to an end. I can't blame the lad one bit for that, I'll just thank him for the time he was here and for the excitement he gave me watching him do his stuff for my team. Good luck Hak's wherever you go to on the next part of your career. RTID!!

[Metalmicky]

When all's said and done, being a professional footballer is a relatively short career, let's say 18 to 35.

You make it sound like they shoot them when their football career is over.... they can still do other things - some even do things that are not football related. 

[PDX_Rover]

When all's said and done, being a professional footballer is a relatively short career, let's say 18 to 35.

You make it sound like they shoot them when their football career is over.... they can still do other things - some even do things that are not football related. 

Exactly. It’s not like they can’t learn something else or have a qualification in another field.

[Northants Nomad]

When all's said and done, being a professional footballer is a relatively short career, let's say 18 to 35.

You make it sound like they shoot them when their football career is over.... they can still do other things - some even do things that are not football related. 

There’s some I think should have been shot after the careers they had, but that’s probably a separate matter.

[rich1471]

When all's said and done, being a professional footballer is a relatively short career, let's say 18 to 35.

You make it sound like they shoot them when their football career is over.... they can still do other things - some even do things that are not football related. 

And they draw their PFA pension at 35 year old as well

[NickDRFC]

When all's said and done, being a professional footballer is a relatively short career, let's say 18 to 35.

You make it sound like they shoot them when their football career is over.... they can still do other things - some even do things that are not football related. 

Exactly. It’s not like they can’t learn something else or have a qualification in another field.

Even so, you can’t blame them for maximising their earning potential whilst they’re playing. If he’s aiming for, say, £4k a week, that’s over £200k a year. How long would it take a footballer to reach that level post-retirement after going in at entry level in a new career? If ever?

Football in the lower leagues is no different to any other job. Some people just want to earn as much as possible, and will put up with a lot of shit (big commute, toxic environment, manager who is a dick) to get that, whilst others will place more value on other things and not get paid as highly. I’m sure we’ve all got friends or family, or perhaps even yourself, who fall into the former category so it’s not unrealistic to see it happen in football either when the window to earn that sort of money is significantly shorter.