' The nature of his departure was very disappointing '

The nature of Lex Immers’ departure was very disappointing

By Scott Johnson

Wednesday 11th Jan 2017


It was no surprise to see Lex Immers depart during this window.

He was very much a Paul Trollope player and was never likely to find favour with Warnock, who prefers 'blood and guts' to nimble artistry. He was a big earner that was struggling to make the match day squad, so in order to free up space on the wage bill, his departure was inevitable.


It was also likely that he would leave early in the window to afford Warnock more time to shop around, but the nature of his departure was still bitterly disappointing. Having reportedly paid as much as £2m for his services in the summer, to then write off that outlay by terminating the deal a few months later is no way to run a football club. It displays a lack of faith, patience and foresight.

Hopefully this is a one-off because a couple of years ago, this became the norm. Lumbered with an unmotivated collective of misfits after the departure of Ole Gunnar Solskjaer, Juan Cala, Magnus Wolff Eikrem, Jo Inge Berget and Guido Burgstaller were all cut loose for the same reasons.

It wouldn’t be a surprise to see Bruno Ecuele Manga leave in the same way later this month.


Granted, nobody expected Immers’ form to drop off a cliff once he signed permanently and Warnock alluded to certain personal circumstances that played a part, but why not try and recoup some of their investment?

They could have tried to loan him out like Tom Adeyemi and Adam Le Fondre, who were not freed from their deals for some reason.

It all feels rather hasty. Having impressed enough on loan last season to earn a permanent move, Cardiff were well aware of what they were getting. So his expensive departure just nine starts later and the inevitable news that he'd scored a goal on Club Brugge debut was all a bit of a frustrating mess.

Well, i only have to remind you of Eikrem and Burgstaller, who none of you know.. Eikrem has been voted "most valuable player. Best player by the press, managers and players in the sweedish league. Assist king and what not. Burgstaller have gone on a scoring spree in the best second tier in the world. Both of them released on free.. Then we have Guerra, Cala and what not.. f**k me City lost some money not realizing what they got..

Well, i only have to remind you of Eikrem and Burgstaller, who none of you know.. Eikrem has been voted "most valuable player. Best player by the press, managers and players in the sweedish league. Assist king and what not. Burgstaller have gone on a scoring spree in the best second tier in the world. Both of them released on free.. Then we have Guerra, Cala and what not.. f**k me City lost some money not realizing what they got..

all of those were never given a run in the team to prove themselves. Same thing is happening now - players must love signing for us, big wages, play a few games then get their contract paid up earning a fortune for doing next to nothing

Well, i only have to remind you of Eikrem and Burgstaller, who none of you know.. Eikrem has been voted "most valuable player. Best player by the press, managers and players in the sweedish league. Assist king and what not. Burgstaller have gone on a scoring spree in the best second tier in the world. Both of them released on free.. Then we have Guerra, Cala and what not.. f**k me City lost some money not realizing what they got..

I made my strong comments at the time and was shot down by the usual suspects,saying good business,we are moving forward

They were better players than many gave them credit for,just not managed properly at City.

Well, i only have to remind you of Eikrem and Burgstaller, who none of you know.. Eikrem has been voted "most valuable player. Best player by the press, managers and players in the sweedish league. Assist king and what not. Burgstaller have gone on a scoring spree in the best second tier in the world. Both of them released on free.. Then we have Guerra, Cala and what not.. f**k me City lost some money not realizing what they got..

all of those were never given a run in the team to prove themselves. Same thing is happening now - players must love signing for us, big wages, play a few games then get their contract paid up earning a fortune for doing next to nothing

Eikrem would have nothing in a Slate set up to do. Neither a Wornock set up. But man have the proved a few doubters wrong!
Burgstaller has blown me away since he left. And he would be perfect for Warnock. City need to stop giving them away, even if they dont fit the ever changing bill

Well, i only have to remind you of Eikrem and Burgstaller, who none of you know.. Eikrem has been voted "most valuable player. Best player by the press, managers and players in the sweedish league. Assist king and what not. Burgstaller have gone on a scoring spree in the best second tier in the world. Both of them released on free.. Then we have Guerra, Cala and what not.. f**k me City lost some money not realizing what they got..

I made my strong comments at the time and was shot down by the usual suspects,saying good business,we are moving forward

They were better players than many gave them credit for,just not managed properly at City.

That might be, and they might not fit the future bill. But to give them away? I recon Eikrem for a good 3 mill now, and Burgstaller the same. Cala, if pushing it, a mill. Guerra went straight back scoring in la liga. Berget got his viking cult status, same as Gunnar. Dont get why they are not loaned out to attract interest, and bring money to the club. Immers the same. Madness!

Well, i only have to remind you of Eikrem and Burgstaller, who none of you know.. Eikrem has been voted "most valuable player. Best player by the press, managers and players in the sweedish league. Assist king and what not. Burgstaller have gone on a scoring spree in the best second tier in the world. Both of them released on free.. Then we have Guerra, Cala and what not.. f**k me City lost some money not realizing what they got..

I made my strong comments at the time and was shot down by the usual suspects,saying good business,we are moving forward

They were better players than many gave them credit for,just not managed properly at City.

That might be, and they might not fit the future bill. But to give them away? I recon Eikrem for a good 3 mill now, and Burgstaller the same. Cala, if pushing it, a mill. Guerra went straight back scoring in la liga. Berget got his viking cult status, same as Gunnar. Dont get why they are not loaned out to attract interest, and bring money to the club. Immers the same. Madness!

Maybe losing money on them helps the club with tax or something. Otherwise I can't see any logical explanation for consistently giving players away after signing them on decent wages and paying fees only a short time before. As you say, we don't even try to generate any interest in them. Bizarre.

The nature of Lex Immers’ departure was very disappointing

By Scott Johnson

Wednesday 11th Jan 2017


It was no surprise to see Lex Immers depart during this window.

He was very much a Paul Trollope player and was never likely to find favour with Warnock, who prefers 'blood and guts' to nimble artistry. He was a big earner that was struggling to make the match day squad, so in order to free up space on the wage bill, his departure was inevitable.


It was also likely that he would leave early in the window to afford Warnock more time to shop around, but the nature of his departure was still bitterly disappointing. Having reportedly paid as much as £2m for his services in the summer, to then write off that outlay by terminating the deal a few months later is no way to run a football club. It displays a lack of faith, patience and foresight.

Hopefully this is a one-off because a couple of years ago, this became the norm. Lumbered with an unmotivated collective of misfits after the departure of Ole Gunnar Solskjaer, Juan Cala, Magnus Wolff Eikrem, Jo Inge Berget and Guido Burgstaller were all cut loose for the same reasons.

It wouldn’t be a surprise to see Bruno Ecuele Manga leave in the same way later this month.


Granted, nobody expected Immers’ form to drop off a cliff once he signed permanently and Warnock alluded to certain personal circumstances that played a part, but why not try and recoup some of their investment?

They could have tried to loan him out like Tom Adeyemi and Adam Le Fondre, who were not freed from their deals for some reason.

It all feels rather hasty. Having impressed enough on loan last season to earn a permanent move, Cardiff were well aware of what they were getting. So his expensive departure just nine starts later and the inevitable news that he'd scored a goal on Club Brugge debut was all a bit of a frustrating mess.

Hmmm.

Couple of things I'm not sure I agree with there. Immers was never a Paul Trollope player - his most successful period with us was at the end of last season when Slade was in charge. Although he started against Brum in the first game of the season he was never a regular during Trollope's disastrous spell in charge.

I also don't think Manga will leave in the same way. Bruno's contract is up at the end of this season - I would expect the club to do everything they can in January to get a fee for him which won't be easy with him being away in Africa but if a buyer can't be found I fully expect Bruno to remain here until the end of the season when no doubt he'll leave on a free.

Apart from that there can be no doubting that the Immers of this season was absolutely nowhere near the player who was on loan last season. Why that was we'll probably never know but with him not playing regularly it is difficult to see who would pay a fee for him.

Well, i only have to remind you of Eikrem and Burgstaller, who none of you know.. Eikrem has been voted "most valuable player. Best player by the press, managers and players in the sweedish league. Assist king and what not. Burgstaller have gone on a scoring spree in the best second tier in the world. Both of them released on free.. Then we have Guerra, Cala and what not.. f**k me City lost some money not realizing what they got..

I made my strong comments at the time and was shot down by the usual suspects,saying good business,we are moving forward

They were better players than many gave them credit for,just not managed properly at City.

I agree with you, we actually brought in some decent players under OGS, it was criminal the way many of them were let go for nothing.