Di Canio confirms Bradford bid for Flint rejected (From Swindon Advertiser)

I am personally a big fan of Flint who has put in some towering performances for us over the past couple of years. He regularly was MoM for us last season. I know he does make some rash challenges and his ball distribution could be better. But these things can be worked on and improved. I feel Flint is the future of the club and I would hate to see him go. He has the potential to become our ne Shaun Taylor (oooohhh Shaun Taylor…). Good Luck to the lads tomorrow. If we focus on our own game, I cannot see Bournemouth winning.

Re. above. Not tomorrow, Saturday! Doh!!

Totally agree...he's always impressed me and in my view can only get better. We need to hang on to him, he's a part of the future of our club.

Unless their cup glory has gone to their head and they offered silly money it would have been complete madness to accept an approach for Flint bearing in mind Troy's position!

wiki27 wrote:
I am personally a big fan of Flint who has put in some towering performances for us over the past couple of years. He regularly was MoM for us last season. I know he does make some rash challenges and his ball distribution could be better. But these things can be worked on and improved. I feel Flint is the future of the club and I would hate to see him go. He has the potential to become our ne Shaun Taylor (oooohhh Shaun Taylor…). Good Luck to the lads tomorrow. If we focus on our own game, I cannot see Bournemouth winning.

Spot On Wiki27.

Average I'd say. Devera and Ward much better all round players. Not saying Flint can't do a job but it's only really his height on his side that carries him. Handy against long ball teams but not so handy when we want to get it down and play as his distribution is not good. He'd get found out in the Championship big time.

Flint is a better centre-half than Joe Devera IMO, however, Devera in combination with Ward has been outstanding. The fact that Flint is out of the side is for no other reason than that and should not reflect on his ability. He will get his chance again. A friend of mine who is an Old Trafford regular came to a couple of Town games earlier this season and he was very impressed with Flint and couldn't believe that bigger clubs haven't come knocking yet.

I would be desparately disappointed if Flint were to leave. Also, with TAH out injured for some weeks to come, it would not be in the interests of the club to leave the squad so exposed.
COYR

Flint has gone from Blue Square to League Two to League One, in successive seasons, a big leap for somebody with, politely, lesser experience. Apart from the odd tackle he has done well and will benefit further from training here with the likes of Ward , MacCevely, and Macca. He has potential and at present is our only back up for defence with Jay and TAH both out for a while yet.

stfc2012 wrote:
Average I'd say. Devera and Ward much better all round players. Not saying Flint can't do a job but it's only really his height on his side that carries him. Handy against long ball teams but not so handy when we want to get it down and play as his distribution is not good. He'd get found out in the Championship big time.

Not so sure. As Wiki says, Flint's rough edges can be smoothed out. At this stage, I don't think it really matters which of our players are capable of competing at the next level. We have to get there first. As it happens, although I think Ward and Devera are right for the moment, I think Flint has more chance of stepping up - but they can all try to cross that bridge if we get to it.

I'd say Ward and Devera are steady and more mature both on the pitch and off. What we need in the side are players that arent going to make those rash decisions and get sent off or give the ball away too easily. Greer was rash at times and doesn't have pace but he does have the rest which makes him a very good Championship defender. Morrison even has a maturity about him at such a young age. All players make mistakes and I just hope during his time out of the side Flint sees what is required to be a more complete player by watching how the other 2 work. Aaron Oakley will hopefully make the bench at some point this season

Personally I don't either Ward of Devera's distribution is that great. Better than Aden's for sure but not amazingly so. His bigger achilles heel is his rash challenges.

He came out after the first red of the season and said he would learn from it and was sorry for costing the team 2 points. I'm afraid you can't keep making the same mistake and expect to be in the side with the Emperor.

That said I'm delighted we haven't excepted the bid both for the short term (with Troy out) and the long term as others have said has time to improve.

Remember George Best saying he was two footed because he spent hours kicking the ball against the wall. Modern footballers would be well advised to remember that.

Looking forward to the surge up the table starting in earnest on Saturday.

Is Flint out of contract at the end of the year? I can't see him going anywhere but if we could get decent money plus a loan as cover eg young prem player It may not be such a bad move!

Straight swap for Wells would do it for me!
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Bradford don't need Wells anyway as they have Connell!
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Shame Benson rejected a move there otherwise we could have done a double swap with Oliver too!
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The big question though is long term v short term
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Short term if he goes it means we keep Hollands and Martin for the seaso then that is better for us and more likely that we will go up
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Long term though he has potential and we could benefit both on the field and of it via a bigger fee
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This is where I'm confused by the recent comments - surely if we are that poor- then fringe players should be sold and other loaned out rather than paid off
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Or is PdC going to get the backing to keep the 2 he wants regardless of other activities?

Connel cant get in the Bantams team , he's only a bench warmer same as he was here.
Flint is O.K but thats all he is at present. He'd have done better in the old days when players were allowed to tackle, as it is he's restricted by modern rules .

LR,

Sadly nothing is as easy as you say, a lot of what you state although desirable is not as clear cut as things would suggest, ie Risser for one. A lot depends on whether the players are agreeable to loans and exchanges if they are still in contract. the players have the final say, not the desire of the manager or the balance sheet. Seems crazy but its a crazy world in which we will and not all the square pegs like going into their square holes, its never as neat as that, shame, but there you are.

We have an embarrassment of riches in this department at the moment. Who would thought earlier in the season that there would be a broad consensus that Devera/Ward was the best combo. I still think that we've yet to see the best of TAH.

Despite that, who would have argued that Flint/Macca wasn't our best option here going in to the season.

Delighted we're keeping Flint. He has a big future and above all others in this position is the most potent in front of goal.....and that where we might have another ooooh Shaun Taylor!

stfc2012 wrote:
Average I'd say. Devera and Ward much better all round players. Not saying Flint can't do a job but it's only really his height on his side that carries him. Handy against long ball teams but not so handy when we want to get it down and play as his distribution is not good. He'd get found out in the Championship big time.

spot on i would sell him,hisnot up to playing in this div.so when we go up he will have no chance of getting in the side think div two is about ritefor him

mancrobin wrote:
We have an embarrassment of riches in this department at the moment. Who would thought earlier in the season that there would be a broad consensus that Devera/Ward was the best combo. I still think that we've yet to see the best of TAH.

Despite that, who would have argued that Flint/Macca wasn't our best option here going in to the season.

Delighted we're keeping Flint. He has a big future and above all others in this position is the most potent in front of goal.....and that where we might have another ooooh Shaun Taylor!

I wouldn't say we have an embarrassment of riches on defence, in fact I think we should be trying to sign a full back.

Currently we have Thompson who is still young and learning and Macca playing as full backs. Jay is soon to return but wont be match sharp for a couple of weeks and even with him we have a converted CM who plays CB covering LB/RB...

In the centre we have Ward and Devera with Flint as cover because Troy is out. If we lost Ward we'd have to play Macca and flint at CB with Devera and Thompson on the wings and no cover.

Flint is clearly one for the future and if Troy was fit I would guess he'd be on loan somewhere. When Flint is at his best he's kept some good attachers quiet and dominated in the air and on the ground. Occasionally he gets carried away and goes through someone, but I like defenders who stick a tackle in.

The only way I can see us freeing money for Hollands and Martin is moving on Beno and Luke Rooney. We don't have scope anywhere else in the squad to move players without replacing them.

Id loan him out to bradford 100 percent wages and immediate call back clause everyone wins

Flint is young(23), Flint is getting better,
Ward is good, Ward has experience, Ward is 34. Flint is gaining experience by having Ward, McCormack(29) and Devera(26) amongst the ranks.

KEEP HIM, he will be worth money.He is one for the future

Perhaps a loan spell to a Div1 team but keep him.

sideshow_bob wrote:

mancrobin wrote:
We have an embarrassment of riches in this department at the moment. Who would thought earlier in the season that there would be a broad consensus that Devera/Ward was the best combo. I still think that we've yet to see the best of TAH.

Despite that, who would have argued that Flint/Macca wasn't our best option here going in to the season.

Delighted we're keeping Flint. He has a big future and above all others in this position is the most potent in front of goal.....and that where we might have another ooooh Shaun Taylor!

I wouldn't say we have an embarrassment of riches on defence, in fact I think we should be trying to sign a full back.

Currently we have Thompson who is still young and learning and Macca playing as full backs. Jay is soon to return but wont be match sharp for a couple of weeks and even with him we have a converted CM who plays CB covering LB/RB...

In the centre we have Ward and Devera with Flint as cover because Troy is out. If we lost Ward we'd have to play Macca and flint at CB with Devera and Thompson on the wings and no cover.

Flint is clearly one for the future and if Troy was fit I would guess he'd be on loan somewhere. When Flint is at his best he's kept some good attachers quiet and dominated in the air and on the ground. Occasionally he gets carried away and goes through someone, but I like defenders who stick a tackle in.

The only way I can see us freeing money for Hollands and Martin is moving on Beno and Luke Rooney. We don't have scope anywhere else in the squad to move players without replacing them.

Fair points here when looking across the back four. I was looking more narrowly at the centre back positions

Hs a decent L2 player at best; we should sell up and use the money elsewhere. Ward and Devera light years ahead of him and we have cover so he should be allowed to go for right money with our thanks for his contribution last year.

peatmoor pirate wrote:
Hs a decent L2 player at best; we should sell up and use the money elsewhere. Ward and Devera light years ahead of him and we have cover so he should be allowed to go for right money with our thanks for his contribution last year.

Sell him in haste, repent at our leisure. Devera is doing a great job but may be playing at the top of his potential. Ward is also doing well but he was only on the fringe of Millwall's side and he's no spring chicken. Maybe Flint won't make it. Who knows? I just don't think we can take the gamble of letting him go now and seeing him flourish elsewhere while we have to delve into the market for a replacement who also may or may not turn out to be what we need.

I always worry about Flint leaving us with 10 men. He's a good defender (long ball player though) but seems to like to get stuck in if there is a bit of handbags. TAH - for me, the jury is out - I've seen him play wonderfully and then I've seen him appear from my perspective to panic and hoof. They will both learn.

Rate Flint highly and he can certainly cut it in L1 and has played very well at times this season so to say L2 is his level is harsh IMO. Yes he has picked up 2 reds this season, now we have to see will he learn, i suspect he will. First time he said he'd cost us points and wouldn't do it again, But he did and after that in an interview he was quite candid in admitting he is guilty of challenges that in past would perhaps be fine but are now deemed dangerous and will have to adapt his game. I still remember the debate about the second red which i and many others argue he won ball fairly but laws have changed and HOPEFULLY he has learned the hard way. I think we need to get him signed up as a valuable asset. COYR

Big fan of both Troy and Aden. Both for the future let's move Benno, Luke Rooney and anyone else we need too.

Sean Morrison was similar to Aden A couple of years back, now he's played in the Pemiership. Trust the manager he won't sell him.

All roses in the garden, there's magic in the air....

Lets not forget Flint could actually be our 5th choice CB!
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Granted TAH is out for a couple of months but it was only last week he was on the bench ahead of Flint - so is TAH 4th when fit?
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If Jay is fit and either Devera or Ward get injured we know Macca would go in ahead of Flint - so max 4th choice now with TAH out
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Is that a luxury we can really afford to have on the off chance he makes it?
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Plus if we sell him now we could reap the benefits - we would then have the sell on instead!
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So should he become amazing and get snapped up for £2m we would get say £400k - not bad for our £150k outlay plus whatever fee Bradford or whoever pay now
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If he doesn't make it then we have potentially cut our losses by recouping some of the outlay rather than him leaving for a free which he can from next summer (this year a new contract offer will see a tribunal)

I wonder how much Bradford bid? Didn't he cost us £150k from Alfreton with only Conference experience? He now has a League 2 championship where he played in the meanest defence in the league, and although not in the side at present can clearly cut it in League 1 with potential to improve further. You would think that the £150k should now be worth quite a bit more, or have Bradford put in a derisory bid 'Bournemouth style'?

London Red wrote:
Lets not forget Flint could actually be our 5th choice CB!
.
Granted TAH is out for a couple of months but it was only last week he was on the bench ahead of Flint - so is TAH 4th when fit?
.
If Jay is fit and either Devera or Ward get injured we know Macca would go in ahead of Flint - so max 4th choice now with TAH out
.
Is that a luxury we can really afford to have on the off chance he makes it?
.
Plus if we sell him now we could reap the benefits - we would then have the sell on instead!
.
So should he become amazing and get snapped up for £2m we would get say £400k - not bad for our £150k outlay plus whatever fee Bradford or whoever pay now
.
If he doesn't make it then we have potentially cut our losses by recouping some of the outlay rather than him leaving for a free which he can from next summer (this year a new contract offer will see a tribunal)

LR, you were prepared to keep Magera and Risser when it was clear (to me anyway) that neither of them was cut out for the rigours of English football - and you suggest that Flint is a luxury we can ill afford? I'm sure we watch a different game of football!

London Red wrote:
Lets not forget Flint could actually be our 5th choice CB!
.
Granted TAH is out for a couple of months but it was only last week he was on the bench ahead of Flint - so is TAH 4th when fit?
.
If Jay is fit and either Devera or Ward get injured we know Macca would go in ahead of Flint - so max 4th choice now with TAH out
.
Is that a luxury we can really afford to have on the off chance he makes it?
.
Plus if we sell him now we could reap the benefits - we would then have the sell on instead!
.
So should he become amazing and get snapped up for £2m we would get say £400k - not bad for our £150k outlay plus whatever fee Bradford or whoever pay now
.
If he doesn't make it then we have potentially cut our losses by recouping some of the outlay rather than him leaving for a free which he can from next summer (this year a new contract offer will see a tribunal)

I see the logic in what you're saying here LR and if we could secure that very favourable sell on deal, it would be tempting. Especially as he is not one of PdC's boys and I'm not so sure how good his relationship with P dC is (and we all know what happens then).

But, and there's a big but for me. In our rise up the football league we are in danger of losing our DNA too quickly and Flint (like Caddis, Ritchie, Ferry, Thompson, Storey) is one of the few who can come through on the journey.

As I've said before, he's also a different sort of CB than any others we've got and had potential to score goals. Someone on this thread made a very valid comparison to Sean Morrison, now in the Premiership.

I say stick.

Forget personal preference, who is better than who and look at the bigger picture. We have a centre back pairing that is keeping Flint and Troy (pre-injury) on the bench, that has to be good news for STFC.

COYMR

Oi Den! wrote:

London Red wrote:
Lets not forget Flint could actually be our 5th choice CB!
.
Granted TAH is out for a couple of months but it was only last week he was on the bench ahead of Flint - so is TAH 4th when fit?
.
If Jay is fit and either Devera or Ward get injured we know Macca would go in ahead of Flint - so max 4th choice now with TAH out
.
Is that a luxury we can really afford to have on the off chance he makes it?
.
Plus if we sell him now we could reap the benefits - we would then have the sell on instead!
.
So should he become amazing and get snapped up for £2m we would get say £400k - not bad for our £150k outlay plus whatever fee Bradford or whoever pay now
.
If he doesn't make it then we have potentially cut our losses by recouping some of the outlay rather than him leaving for a free which he can from next summer (this year a new contract offer will see a tribunal)

LR, you were prepared to keep Magera and Risser when it was clear (to me anyway) that neither of them was cut out for the rigours of English football - and you suggest that Flint is a luxury we can ill afford? I'm sure we watch a different game of football!

I agree with you Den. I absolutely 100% promote the fact that everyone is entitled to their opionion and I respect those opionions..........b
ut, there must be a limit, surely? Flint is not a distributor I acknowledge. But he does the job we need at Leagua Wooooooon very well and we have to keep him.

We live in different times now Den
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We have no money to spend anymore so we have to look at things differently - thus the long term short term comment
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Short term Hollands and Martin are more important than Flint - simple as that really
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If PdC was given the budget to keep them then selling Flint wouldn't be discussed

Also squad structures are completely different now too - no one think of losing Benson last year but most agree with this now

London Red wrote:
We live in different times now Den
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We have no money to spend anymore so we have to look at things differently - thus the long term short term comment
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Short term Hollands and Martin are more important than Flint - simple as that really
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If PdC was given the budget to keep them then selling Flint wouldn't be discussed

He's not selling him and for the reasons I've set out on an earlier post. Well done that man.

London Red wrote:
Also squad structures are completely different now too - no one think of losing Benson last year but most agree with this now

Flint is young and many of us believe he has potential. Benson has probably still got a bit left in him but can hardly be considered one for the future. Of course Hollands and Martin are more important than Flint for the short-term. That's why they're in the side and he's not. But I don't think we should let short-term thinking tempt us into letting a potential star (IMO) slip through our fingers. Good players are hard to come by. I believe Flint's is a talent worth nurturing. And - this is going to sound daft - I honestly believe that the new short haircut might be a statement of intent - "I am going to impress this manager".

London Red wrote:
Lets not forget Flint could actually be our 5th choice CB!
.
Granted TAH is out for a couple of months but it was only last week he was on the bench ahead of Flint - so is TAH 4th when fit?
.
If Jay is fit and either Devera or Ward get injured we know Macca would go in ahead of Flint - so max 4th choice now with TAH out
.
Is that a luxury we can really afford to have on the off chance he makes it?
.
Plus if we sell him now we could reap the benefits - we would then have the sell on instead!
.
So should he become amazing and get snapped up for £2m we would get say £400k - not bad for our £150k outlay plus whatever fee Bradford or whoever pay now
.
If he doesn't make it then we have potentially cut our losses by recouping some of the outlay rather than him leaving for a free which he can from next summer (this year a new contract offer will see a tribunal)

Hi London red i dont think their is any order a squad of players that are picked on merit and what the tatics are for the game.If the team we are facing play long balls and have 7" giants up front then A.M would be on the bench its horses for courses for pdc .