Howson 'can't see any reason' why a new contract won't be agreed

Would definitely only offer him a one year deal. I feel he's looked off the pace these last few games, but in fairness we're at the end of a long season and he's played a lot of games. I'm willing to give him the benefit of doubt.

We definitely need to sign a 'destroyer' for the midfield in the summer though.
 
Happy to keep him as a squad player mainly but we need to replace him with more physically and drive. Also hes started getting injuries and missing chunks of the season. Time for howson type 2.0
 
UTB70 said:
Happy to keep him as a squad player mainly but we need to replace him with more physically and drive. Also hes started getting injuries and missing chunks of the season. Time for howson type 2.0
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He has only missed 8 league games this season to be fair. And nobody has started more league games for us this season (34), or indeed featured in more games in all competitions (42).
 
I’ll be chuffed if he signs. As for him being a back up player - I don’t really see it unless his form dips. He’s been our best CM again this season, rarely puts a foot wrong and we always look better with him in the team. He’s comfortably played the most minutes of any of our CM’s this season, and he’s actually been one of our lesser injured players.
 
WilliamMunny said:
He has only missed 8 league games this season to be fair. And nobody has started more league games for us this season (34), or indeed featured in more games in all competitions (42).
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Thats a fair point. I just feel the 8 game's hes missed might be 16 next season as age finally catches up with him , also we have only managed one playoff place with him in the team since hes arrived. Always got to improve in football if you want sucess.
 
DanBoro4499 said:
Are there actually any midfielders in this league who we could afford, that could actually come in and take howsons place in the team?

I don't think there is personally.

At this level he's still one of the best in the business, easily.
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We don't have to buy them from the championship so to answer the question then 100% yes. Would any of the teams above us in the league, or those coming down, take Howson on a free to be their 1st choice central midfielder? I don't think any of them would. He's been very dependable but he isn't a stand-out player. There are other better players available in the championship, in the PL and abroad.

He's only missed 8 games but he probably would have missed a lot more if we had a full squad to choose from. He would definitely have been rotated more and given more rests. I don't think we can rely on him to keep playing a full season as he gets older.
 
same really as last year .. didnt he get a one year deal after a bit of discussion ... emotions aside it would be a good shout for Johnny for another year on same terms
 
UTB70 said:
Thats a fair point. I just feel the 8 game's hes missed might be 16 next season as age finally catches up with him , also we have only managed one playoff place with him in the team since hes arrived. Always got to improve in football if you want sucess.
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Do you think that may be due to some of the others playing too?
 
Nano said:
We don't have to buy them from the championship so to answer the question then 100% yes. Would any of the teams above us in the league, or those coming down, take Howson on a free to be their 1st choice central midfielder?
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Well Ipswich took two of the players who couldn't even get into the team ahead of Howson, and it's done them OK ?
 
The_Lizards_Jumpers said:
Well Ipswich took two of the players who couldn't even get into the team ahead of Howson, and it's done them OK ?
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I agree. I'm countering the fact that we can't find a replacement. I think we should be able to. I think Howson is a very good player and has been excellent for us for many years but there are plenty of other players out there that are younger and can be our replacement for many years. We obviously overlooked Morsy and Luongo as top end championship players for whatever reasons and maybe we didn't need to spend several years and several millions trying to find the next Howson like we have done. I would still guess though that Morsy and Luongo aren't top end championship players but can play a role in a system effectively and if you took them out of that system and put them into another one they would be less successful.
 
We aren't going to sign a destroyer. We're a passing team and Carrick will want passers in his midfield. If it's someone who can tackle as well then great, but we aren't getting a boateng or a Clayton.
 
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Alan Browne is ideal on a free , and get Connor Barron on a free to back up. Paris Maghoma also worth getting in .
 
Merlin said:
He must be a very fit lad to still be performing to the level he does as a midfielder at his age
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Did you see Maldini at 40?
Italians seem to excel in playing well into there 30's, centre backs especially peak in italy in their 30's in a lot of case

Lets be honest, with modern approach to diet and sports science, a lot more players with the correct application could play deep into their 30's

Even Merson played until he was about 37/38 with his lifestyle
 
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