McKenna: It’s Not Always About Making Cruel Decisions
Talks are underway with Blues players who may leave the team before the transfer window closes on Friday, according to manager Kieran McKenna.
Even without any more signings, Town now has 27 players who make its 25-man Premier League roster, including Armando Broja and Chiedozie Ogbene (or maybe another player if that move falls through).
When questioned, McKenna was asked if this meant he and his team would be having to make harsh choices in the coming days.
“By no means is it about making ruthless decisions,” he stated. “The goal is to determine what is best for both the players and the club.
Everyone wants to play in the Premier League, of course, but there are only 11 players who can play each week, and you can only keep a respectable number of players below that to maintain the right depth in your squad.
Naturally, there are restrictions on having a large squad, but that is our goal. We’ve already had talks with the players, and at our club, we try our best to act in the best interests of the players by reaching out to them on a regular basis, having honest discussions, and doing our best to strike a balance between our interests and their careers.
“We’ll be having some of those this week and we’re having those conversations every day, every week throughout the season anyway. We’ll make sure that we have the right options, depth, and cover in the squad and we’ll also try and find the right pathway and the right options for each player who is under our care.”
Half of the center Dara O’Shea’s arrival over the weekend effectively makes George Edmundson the sixth center-half, as he looks to be among those who will be moving on.
The 27-year-old surprised everyone on Saturday by making an unexpected late appearance off the bench for Manchester City, the team he grew up supporting.
Speaking about any specific person would be improper, McKenna stated. We have conversations with every member of the team regarding their career path, available options, potential position within the team, and what could be best for them both this season and in the future. We take that action for each member of the team.
Marcus Harness may also be leaving, and it seems inevitable that Freddie Ladapo will be among those going on. After the Blues have signed more forwards, Ali Al-Hamadi might also be sent out on loan, and Jack Taylor would now seem to be the team’s fifth-choice center midfielder.
Players that have contributed to Town’s incredible journey over the past two seasons will be leaving.
“That’s already the case,” McKenna thought. “There were players who moved on last summer who were instrumental in leading the team back to the Championship, and there were players who left in the summer who had played a significant role in the club’s journey.” There have been and will continue to be this summer.
The difficulty lies in the fact that we must continue to grow and change the team as we go; not every player who has traveled the entire journey will stick with it.
Once more, that might be a necessary as we add players and bolster the team, but it might also be in the player’s best interest.
“We’re thrilled and proud that Kayden Jackson, who wasn’t playing here a few years ago, moved on to Derby to play for a major football team, won himself a long-term deal, and earned a starting spot at a respectable Championship club in the summer.
“We had an amazing experience, moved on, and are currently playing consistently excellent football for a lengthy contract.
Greg Leigh left in the summer of last year to play football for his country and received a promotion with Oxford. When those stories happen, everyone in the building is ecstatic.
Finding the appropriate thing to do is more important than making cruel decisions when people go on in our club and surroundings.
It’s also about striking a balance between what’s best for the player in terms of their career advancement, what possibilities they will have here, and when it’s best for them to move on and pursue options elsewhere that could advance their careers.
“To be honest, we’re just as proud when those things happen to the players who are still here as we are when good things happen to them.”
GET MORE NEWS HRER
Be the first to comment