11 Jun 2025 05:00:39
I am beyond frustrated that Petrovic has not been registered as part of our squad for the club world cup.
The least the club could have done is taken him as part of the squad to see what he can do now, as he seems to be our best goalkeeper by some distance.
I guess the club is only thought of as a potential money printing machine.

1.) 11 Jun 2025
11 Jun 2025 08:14:21
Emil, I think we just have to except we are a trading club but so far at least any money that has been generated from sales appears to have been used to balance the books. If that makes sense.

If I am Petrovic I am thinking what’s the point of the loan system? Is it just to increase my value or is it to prove I’m a top keeper?

Of course we don’t know what’s been said to Petrovic. It could just be a Chelsea only decision but then they are taking Santos. I suppose Santos going to the CWC has been a long term plan.

2.) 11 Jun 2025
11 Jun 2025 08:28:46
EmilSC, He had a release clause built into his loan agreement when he joined Straasbourg last season stating he would be allowed to leave if HE so desired. He has a number of offers on the table and HE has decided to leave.

3.) 11 Jun 2025
11 Jun 2025 08:54:15
If I was a player that our club wanted, I would tell us to do one.

4.) 11 Jun 2025
11 Jun 2025 09:08:24
Bill, why?

The club is about to play in the CWC and is in the Champions League. We offer the supposed security of long contracts and a PRP scheme that is obviously attractive to certain players. On top of that we are based in London and train in Cobham. All sounds good to me.

If it’s a question of joining a trading club, they all have advisors and should know what can happen in football.

5.) 11 Jun 2025
11 Jun 2025 09:11:27
RPD, I haven’t seen Petrovic state any desire to leave and I had no idea about a release clause. The only thing I have seen has something to do with his image rights.

Having said that, I do think we will be selling him.

6.) 11 Jun 2025
11 Jun 2025 09:56:51
RPD, I must too - like Tom - question the clause you mention. I have not read about that, nor Petrovic expressing a wish to leave. Further, such a clause would be near impossible to enforce in practice and would surely have lots of exceptions and/ or conditions, such as the club receiving certain amounts of money.

7.) 11 Jun 2025
11 Jun 2025 10:05:42
I may be wrong Tom, EmilSC but I seem to recall reading that Petrovic was not happy when we sent him on loan and only agreed to go to Straasbourg if he could leave on a permanent basis if a suitable offer came in? As regards his image rights it appears he sold those to a third party which surely will complicate any sale anyway? I guess he must of been hard up?.

8.) 11 Jun 2025
11 Jun 2025 10:27:48
RPD, we are, as usual, all just guessing. Maybe the club won’t sell Petrovic. Maybe he has a bad attitude. Maybe he has told the club he would like to leave. Maybe another loan. Who knows!

9.) 11 Jun 2025
11 Jun 2025 10:30:56
I think Rice was only about 14 at the time. If that was the case it would have been hard to make a judgement.

In recent times mine are Livermento and Hall. I would also add that is also with a pinch of hindsight.

10.) 11 Jun 2025
11 Jun 2025 12:26:12
I would think Petrovic had earned right to be retained by CFC and fight for start. and CWC a good place to test him I'd think.

11.) 11 Jun 2025
11 Jun 2025 12:55:29
Tom, you are certainly hung up on us being a trading club, it appears to be your new mantra. I don’t necessarily agree . I would prefer us to be a football club striving to compete at the highest level and to win trophies. However, if you are right it doesn’t bode well for the future. While other clubs are strengthening their squads to maintain or improve their standing we will get left behind. We might as well swap Pokeman cards, it would be more entertaining.

12.) 11 Jun 2025
11 Jun 2025 14:51:21
Jimbo, I sure am because that’s as I see us and I do not see our current owners as “fans” but I just consider them as investors.

There is nothing wrong in being a club that continually trades players as long as its upgrades. It’s also one of the reasons I will no longer become attached to any player. I just see them as tradable commodities, all with a price.

13.) 11 Jun 2025
11 Jun 2025 15:18:22
Tom

In my opinion, it's a totally stupid decision by the coach in not including Prtrovic in the CWC squad, not even giving him a chance will lose us what I believe to be our best goalkeeper in our team of goalkeepers.

Tom, just curious if we sell Petrovic, who is the upgrade replacing him?

14.) 11 Jun 2025
11 Jun 2025 16:22:26
Bill, I have already said I wouldn’t sell Petrovic and I’m only guessing that they will. We have zero ish idea of why the club might reach that decision but if they consider him to be a “top” class keeper they surely will not sell him. Or, they will ask for a lot of money for him.

If they do go down the route of selling him they have Penders who can take his place at Strasbourg and keep Sanchez and Jorgensen at Chelsea.

Also, I guess they can hope that Milan agree a fee with the club for MM. That would obviously mean a different solution being required.

15.) 11 Jun 2025
11 Jun 2025 17:52:35
Tom

Reports in Italy are suggesting they won't sell unless they receive the fee they are demanding and they are hoping he signs a new contract.

Just wondering by the way where the special relationship is with Milan bearing in mind we practically paid them to take our players.

16.) 11 Jun 2025
11 Jun 2025 18:27:59
Matt Law in The Telegraph now confirming what I said earlier, Petrovic asked to be left out of the CWC squad!

17.) 11 Jun 2025
11 Jun 2025 18:36:59
Bill, if anyone had wanted our ex players who were prepared to pay more we would have sold them to them rather than Milan but no other clubs wanted them. They are hardly pulling up any trees!

I’m not fussed if we sign MM given his form at a struggling Milan last season. That doesn’t mean he can’t return to his historic form. I think we just stick to our offer and if it doesn’t happen so be it.