Middlesbrough boss Neil Warnock wants to raid his old club Cardiff City for veteran defender Sol Bamba

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by dml1954

One of the best and most influential players this club has ever had. Helped lift the club up by the bootstraps and get it moving forward again. A very important and motivating figure in the dressing room. Let him go at our peril. Still has a part to play as back up this coming season. Deserves more respect for what he has done here than some people are giving him.

---

“Let him go at our peril”. He has hardly been in the first team squad for many months therefore, his dressing room influence is virtually zero.
The club has moved on. Get him off the wage bill

Let him go and get lockyear in on a free. Should be cheaper wages. May count to our homegrown player (?) but even if not would still swapping a 35 year old for a 25 year old which is what we need to start doing.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by ManBearPig

Let him go and get lockyear in on a free. Should be cheaper wages. May count to our homegrown player (?) but even if not would still swapping a 35 year old for a 25 year old which is what we need to start doing.

---

Sounds like good business to me.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Trigger

Is it really that bad though? I've never been up that way. Must be some decent areas around it at least.

People often say similar about cardiff without ever being here probably, some areas of the city aren't great, same as any city but overall having lived in a few places around the UK I think its a great place to live with plenty to do relative to its size.

---

Yes, it is really that bad. As another poster says, you have to live in a place to know it, but of course once you're living there it's too late. As Jon says, there are some nice areas in Teeside but Middlesbrough is not one of them.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by xsnaggle

Yes, it is really that bad. As another poster says, you have to live in a place to know it, but of course once you're living there it's too late. As Jon says, there are some nice areas in Teeside but Middlesbrough is not one of them.

---

It is desperate up there. I did some consultancy work at Redcar and Cleveland council back in the day, I think 'boro were in the Prem and struggling, but it was the only talking point in the office.

Not long after that, I spent 1 month in Runcorn and that was really dire. Two guys working there, one opened one envelope a day with a computer tape. The other guy would load the tape. Job done, chat for 2-3 hours, long pub lunch and finished at 3pm. I asked them what happens if one of them go on leave :hehe:

If the opportunity arises to get him off the payroll then take it. No doubt he is on more than a fair whack. Colin would have seen him OK. If we need cover get Ciaron Brown back from Livingston.

I would love to see Sol stay at the club as a coach or an ambassador - but bar an emergency cameo I can’t see him playing again. He may be on a decent wage in his last year - and the club may not be getting full value for it - but Sol has become a Cardiff icon in recent years. He is a very big personality, seems to be important in squad morale and cohesion, and he is an articulate and personable representative in the media and with fans. Wanting him to stay may be sentimental - but what is wrong with that? Supporting a football club with all the cost and grief that comes with it is not rational. Sentiment has its place.

A good outcome could be if Sol goes there on loan for the season, then comes back to Cardiff to take up a coaching role.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Trigger

Is it really that bad though? I've never been up that way. Must be some decent areas around it at least.

People often say similar about cardiff without ever being here probably, some areas of the city aren't great, same as any city but overall having lived in a few places around the UK I think its a great place to live with plenty to do relative to its size.

---

I've never heard anyone badmouth Cardiff. Isn't it renowned as one of the best cities in the UK? Obviously, it's no London. But London isn't for everyone anyway. Especially if you've got kids.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by xsnaggle

Yes, it is really that bad. As another poster says, you have to live in a place to know it, but of course once you're living there it's too late. As Jon says, there are some nice areas in Teeside but Middlesbrough is not one of them.

---

All the players live in Yarm, which is lovely. Mendieta still lives in there!