Tekel Towers » Last 10 days of Winter Window

Arabdownsouth · 22/2/2025 11:17 pm

JerryDungle wrote:
Arabdownsouth wrote:
Tek wrote:

We have Manny, Gallagher, Graham, Cleall-Harding and even Sevelj who can play Centre Half.

We could also play four at the back, doesn't have to be 3 CH's every week.

It's not great timing, but we'll be fine.

How many of those are left sided though?
We now have no decent cover for Graham or Ferry. The club should have moved to get someone in given this has been known about for weeks.

Holy wasn’t cover for Ferry. The reason you’ve had Middleton stepping in there is cause Kevin Holt told Goodwin he didn’t feel comfortable playing there. I’d imagine Luca could step in there if need be as well

I never said he was. Maybe I should have worded it slightly better but my point was that as well as having no cover for Ferry ( not addressed during the January window) we now also have no cover for left sided CB.

Tek · 23/2/2025 2:01 am

JerryDungle wrote:
Tek wrote:
See after reading United's statement, Kevin Holt can go take a flying fuck to himself.

Was basically threatening to go on strike and forced United's hand.

Prick.

United are being a bit economical with the truth in their statement so they can justify selling a key player.

What actually happened is he’s got a groin injury that will need an operation at some point and he told United basically if they don’t let him go now, he’d be getting his operation now as he didn’t want to go into the summer injured as a free agent.

Which is understandable, especially when he’s got a team with a billionaire owner chucking money at him on a long term contract. Even without the injury, he’d be stupid not to force a move like that. If we wanted to keep him, we should’ve offered him a longer term deal by now.

So, he'll put himself through the pain barrier for Derry but not United.

Whatever anyone says he hasn't came out of this at all well. This move has been mooted for weeks.

That it came down to the last couple hours of their window suggests they've been trying to lowball United the past couple of months, and Holt and his agent have facilitated that ultimately.

Anyway, he's gone now and i for one won't particularly miss him.

CCX2 2010 · 23/2/2025 9:51 am

I hope we can find a left sided defender that can come in for cover.

Very unlikely as it is.

Slotbadger · 23/2/2025 10:19 am

Sounds like best for all parties. I am fine with it. Calculated risk to end of the season. We get some money for a player who may not have been offered a new contract. If our 3 centre backs stay relatively injury free last few games then it will be a good decision. Maybe Goodwin rates Harding as well.

Never really took to Holt, but he has been good this season. Don’t think anyway can really disagree with that.

kdyteejay · 23/2/2025 11:27 am

Tek wrote:
Always_United wrote:
It's not a good move for United, in my opinion. A five figure sum (as quoted in the article) is pennies. If Goodwin wanted to give Ross Graham more minutes he could have done so, regardless of whether Holt was with us or not. Now we only have an untested young player as back up for the 3 at the back formation, so any injuries at all to the central defenders will leave us dangerously short.

I agree it's a decent move for the player and don't blame him for taking the money and European games on offer, and if he does go I wish him well.

I also accept that if Holt was adamant he wanted to leave then United probably had to let him go, no point in keeping him against his will.

Still a bad day for United tho, IMO.
We have Manny, Gallagher, Graham, Cleall-Harding and even Sevelj who can play Centre Half.

We could also play four at the back, doesn't have to be 3 CH's every week.

It's not great timing, but we'll be fine.

God forbid we get any injury to one never mind more than one central defender as I would have the real fear if we had to play Sevelj there never mind the young lad. I really like Sevelj but only in his current position.

CCX2 2010 · 23/2/2025 11:35 am

kdyteejay wrote:
Tek wrote:
Always_United wrote:
It's not a good move for United, in my opinion. A five figure sum (as quoted in the article) is pennies. If Goodwin wanted to give Ross Graham more minutes he could have done so, regardless of whether Holt was with us or not. Now we only have an untested young player as back up for the 3 at the back formation, so any injuries at all to the central defenders will leave us dangerously short.

I agree it's a decent move for the player and don't blame him for taking the money and European games on offer, and if he does go I wish him well.

I also accept that if Holt was adamant he wanted to leave then United probably had to let him go, no point in keeping him against his will.

Still a bad day for United tho, IMO.
We have Manny, Gallagher, Graham, Cleall-Harding and even Sevelj who can play Centre Half.

We could also play four at the back, doesn't have to be 3 CH's every week.

It's not great timing, but we'll be fine.

God forbid we get any injury to one never mind more than one central defender as I would have the real fear if we had to play Sevelj there never mind the young lad. I really like Sevelj but only in his current position.

I think Sevelj will be fine in there now, wins his fair share of headers in midfield and it's not as if Mani is dominant.

As you point out though, we had better hope the big Declan stays fit and avoids a repeat of the red card at McDermaid park. We are goosed without him I think.

Shakey Isles Arab · 23/2/2025 11:58 am

Never forget him bombing down left to lay on winger v Fun.
But leaves a sour taste just the same.
Got to look after himself but again players head turned by agent maybe ?
Welcome bawbees for upcoming Tax dues and good riddance it would seem.

Last edited by Shakey Isles Arab (23/2/2025 12:02 pm)

JerryDungle · 23/2/2025 1:28 pm

Tek wrote:
JerryDungle wrote:
Tek wrote:
See after reading United's statement, Kevin Holt can go take a flying fuck to himself.

Was basically threatening to go on strike and forced United's hand.

Prick.

United are being a bit economical with the truth in their statement so they can justify selling a key player.

What actually happened is he’s got a groin injury that will need an operation at some point and he told United basically if they don’t let him go now, he’d be getting his operation now as he didn’t want to go into the summer injured as a free agent.

Which is understandable, especially when he’s got a team with a billionaire owner chucking money at him on a long term contract. Even without the injury, he’d be stupid not to force a move like that. If we wanted to keep him, we should’ve offered him a longer term deal by now.
So, he'll put himself through the pain barrier for Derry but not United.

Whatever anyone says he hasn't came out of this at all well. This move has been mooted for weeks.

That it came down to the last couple hours of their window suggests they've been trying to lowball United the past couple of months, and Holt and his agent have facilitated that ultimately.

Anyway, he's gone now and i for one won't particularly miss him.

United aren’t the ones offering him a long term contract on big wages though. Surely you can understand his reasoning for pushing for the move?

We’re lucky in the sense that we have a left footed centre half that’s at least equally as good as Holt ready to come in. And it ultimately is better for us long term to play him as he’s on a long term deal and is a saleable asset. Just got to hope he stays fit for the 11 games left of the season.

It’s a shame it’s ended on a sour note with Holt. He’s been pound-for-pound one of our best signings of the last decade, came up with some big moments and we’re definitely a stronger squad for having him in it.

Arabdownsouth · 23/2/2025 3:28 pm

JerryDungle wrote:
Tek wrote:
JerryDungle wrote:

United are being a bit economical with the truth in their statement so they can justify selling a key player.

What actually happened is he’s got a groin injury that will need an operation at some point and he told United basically if they don’t let him go now, he’d be getting his operation now as he didn’t want to go into the summer injured as a free agent.

Which is understandable, especially when he’s got a team with a billionaire owner chucking money at him on a long term contract. Even without the injury, he’d be stupid not to force a move like that. If we wanted to keep him, we should’ve offered him a longer term deal by now.
So, he'll put himself through the pain barrier for Derry but not United.

Whatever anyone says he hasn't came out of this at all well. This move has been mooted for weeks.

That it came down to the last couple hours of their window suggests they've been trying to lowball United the past couple of months, and Holt and his agent have facilitated that ultimately.

Anyway, he's gone now and i for one won't particularly miss him.

United aren’t the ones offering him a long term contract on big wages though. Surely you can understand his reasoning for pushing for the move?

We’re lucky in the sense that we have a left footed centre half that’s at least equally as good as Holt ready to come in. And it ultimately is better for us long term to play him as he’s on a long term deal and is a saleable asset. Just got to hope he stays fit for the 11 games left of the season.

It’s a shame it’s ended on a sour note with Holt. He’s been pound-for-pound one of our best signings of the last decade, came up with some big moments and we’re definitely a stronger squad for having him in it.

We are bolloxed if Graham picks up an injury though,this is my only real issue with the situation. We have plenty of cover for the right side of defence, absolutely none for the left.

United Arab Emarite · 23/2/2025 7:04 pm

Cleall-Harding might be a belter, I hope we at least get to find out.

Hands off Kevin Holt, he owes us nothing & the best of luck to him, Derry City are getting an excellent defender. Thanks for the last two seasons & the Dens cutback Kevin.

redford_must_score · 24/2/2025 12:07 am

I think when a player wants to leave it's very difficult to stand in his way. You don't really want an unhappy player in there.
In trying to keep him at Tannadice we maybe looked to him and his agent like we were the bad guys. I can see both sides and imo it's unfortunate that the negotiations leaked out to the press in the way it did and how the club statement reads.
The difficulty is the timing because had this happened in December into January window we'd most likely be wishing Kevin Holt all the best.
It's a short career, it's not like he's been earning life changing sums and I really don't grudge him his move. And I won't remember the transfer, I'll remember that header against Aberdeen, the resulting explosion in the ET, and his brilliant pass into Dalby for the winner at Dens.
And. Not to mention the hundreds of brave defensive clearances he made for us.

Tangy · 24/2/2025 12:51 am

Fuck holt.

As ok as he was for us, goodwins formation is what plays to his strengths and makes him look good. Hes pretty average but in a flattering formation.

Would he have got a new contract come June, I don't believe so. However, he signed a contract with the club - for him, he had to play to the best of his abilities when asked to and for the club to pay him every week, whether he is awful or amazing. The club don't threaten to not pay him - so I'd expect him to fulfill his side of the bargain too.

Thevworlds a screwed up place where Kevin holt has all the power over united.

Tek · 24/2/2025 12:52 am

His agent is Robert Snodgrass.

Hopefully we are wary when dealing with him going forward.

This was not handled at all well.

Finn Seemann · 24/2/2025 11:55 am

Football is full of Kevin Holts. He's been at best a journeyman player for most of his career. Has had a fair few clubs and most fans of those clubs end up being not overly impressed by him. Undoubtedly this season and some of the last season has seen him at his best under a manager who plays him to his strengths. He's decided to cash in his chips whilst he's ahead and gone for the career wind down on good money at a footballing level he should be comfortable with for a couple of seasons. Good luck to him. He's got a family to look after. He's owe us nothing and vice versa.

We won't miss him.

Last edited by Finn Seemann (24/2/2025 11:57 am)