If Madine doesn't play for the rest of the season

l think so, he’s out of contract, allegedly the highest earner and l suspect he may not fit into NCs plans for the team.
 
He’s been training on alone or with Bez from what I hear so I think he’s gone.

Shame really as we could have done with them both in the last game and during the rub in.
 
Only facts that we have are that Madine played up to the last game before the transfer window closed at the end of January. He hasn’t played a game since. On 8 Feb he was reported to have a groin problem. In March it was reported he still had a niggling groin problem.

And that’s it for facts I think. Given the lack of information, it isn’t surprising that people will start to speculate as to what’s going on.
 
We are all speculating.
Until we hear something concrete from the club its still a guessing game.
 
Madine came to us injured and it took ages for him to get up to peak form. Then he got injured again and unable to play with prolonged niggles. When fit, he added a useful dimension to the side and worked well with Jerry Yates. Then it stopped and we had to find a different way to play using Simms and Embleton.

Of course, he may not be injured at all, and it could be an attitude problem. We don't know enough to assess the situation, but it's clear that we've not had our "money's-worth" out of him this season. My thoughts are that his sickness record makes him an expensive risk for a new contract.
 
He may have scored a few goals, but definitely not in Yates' class. We have played long enough without him now and although Simms has his faults, I think I'd rather stick with those two. An extra striker would be handy, but if necessary let the kids have a go. I for one am happy with how things are going at the moment, playoffs, promotion or another season in league 1. Don't get me wrong, I'll be gutted if we don't go up , but at last things are looking very positive and we really do have "PROGRESS"
U.T.M.P.
 
Could it be appearance related? After so many it could trigger an automatic contract extension.....

Shame as I think he’s our next best goal threat after Jerry
 
Crichley said last week if all goes well in the next 2 weeks there may be a possible treatment option to explore to get him back playing again.
He sounds crocked tbh, and we certainly shouldn’t be offering him the same deal he’s on now to stay. It needs to be more appearance based.
It’s a shame because a fully fit Madine is one of the best strikers in this division IMO.
 
He made us better during that period we were useless, but we were never great going forward whilst he was in the team - we looked turgid going forward still, nicking games by a goal and it was a frustrating affair (IMO of course). We look miles better now in this new system and I think his use now would be giving us the option to change that when needed - should a player you only utilise to change a game be the highest earner at your football club?

I personally wouldn't extend his contract - we've discovered our style of play now, and unless he's willing to take a big pay cut he probably won't be in our plans. I'm sure our recruitment team could find a similar style player for much cheaper wages if all they're going to be utilised for is a sort of utility substitution.
 
Madine does appear to be frozen out, either by his or the managements choice.

Sad really as he was playing well and we're not exactly overloaded with forwards right now.

It may well cost us promotion.
 
Madine was excellent at holding the ball up and laying it off even before Critchley had a system and before Yates started scoring.

We need him for the run in .....

T peel you have a short memory
How do I? I completely admit that he vastly improved us at the start of the season, but everything I say is true - even with Madine we were never a good attacking side and the stats prove that, we only ever beat teams by 1 goal, we created barely any chances in games and our attacking play was slow and lethargic (I think at one point we had the 4th or 5th worst GF and we were mid table). Since the Burton game we've found a system where we score more goals more often, create so many more chances and our overall play is vastly superior - the build up in the 2nd goal against Lincoln and the 2nd goal against Gillingham were unbelievable.

I agree we need with him back for the run in, but as an option and that is my point. It was clear at the start of the season Critchley didn't want to use a player like Madine but we had to out of necessity and he deserves all the plaudits for getting us out that rut. But going forward considering the fact Madine is the highest earner at our football club and we've now found a system that doesn't suit a Madine-style player is it worth renewing his contract when he'll demand similar wages? Should a player who will be utilised as an option be the highest earner at our club?

I like Madine and I sang his praises on here consistently whilst he was in the squad. But I'm thinking logically now, we are not the same side that Madine came into and solved issues for, we no longer have a lot of those issues - in fact we're actually miles better than before. His use in the squad if he returns from injury would be coming on as an option or to help see a lead out - based on that he shouldn't, and I'm sure the club feels the same way, be the highest earner and he would have to take a pay cut in order for us to renew is contract - which I don't see happening unfortunately.
 
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Don t know what is happening with Madine but the club has to plan for the future
NC has youngsters striving to play in the first team the club can t pander to the
whims of some journeyman whose best days are in the past
 
Give Holmes a chance?
Scored 2 great goals yesterday!
Yes give him a chance. I remember Nigel Spinks as a young goalie for Villa being thrown straight into the European Cup Final, and Ian Rush for Liverpool as a very raw forward and he had a great debut can’t remember against who though 🤔
 
How do I? I completely admit that he vastly improved us at the start of the season, but everything I say is true - even with Madine we were never a good attacking side and the stats prove that, we only ever beat teams by 1 goal, we created barely any chances in games and our attacking play was slow and lethargic (I think at one point we had the 4th or 5th worst GF and we were mid table). Since the Burton game we've found a system where we score more goals more often, create so many more chances and our overall play is vastly superior - the build up in the 2nd goal against Lincoln and the 2nd goal against Gillingham were unbelievable.

I agree we need with him back for the run in, but as an option and that is my point. It was clear at the start of the season Critchley didn't want to use a player like Madine but we had to out of necessity and he deserves all the plaudits for getting us out that rut. But going forward considering the fact Madine is the highest earner at our football club and we've now found a system that doesn't suit a Madine-style player is it worth renewing his contract when he'll demand similar wages? Should a player who will be utilised as an option be the highest earner at our club?

I like Madine and I sang his praises on here consistently whilst he was in the squad. But I'm thinking logically now, we are not the same side that Madine came into and solved issues for, we no longer have a lot of those issues - in fact we're actually miles better than before. His use in the squad if he returns from injury would be coming on as an option or to help see a lead out - based on that he shouldn't, and I'm sure the club feels the same way, be the highest earner and he would have to take a pay cut in order for us to renew is contract - which I don't see happening unfortunately.


How do you know he can’t adapt to the system?
 
He def has a groin problem perhaps and I am only guessing we haven’t offered him a new contract so he’s not prepared to risk further damage with looking for a new club. Still a fair chance he can appear again he had a scan about a week ago that showed improvement.
 
I have been a Madine supporter since he came to us on loan a few years ago. I have defended him through his injury problems last season and was one of the ones shouting for him to be given a chance early this season, when Critchley wouldn’t give him a sniff. However, if this is a genuine injury problem and at his age I would say no, it’s not worth the risk especially next season if we don’t go up,with a reduced squad size. If as other posters have suggested it’s not just an injury and there are other factors involved then still no, we don’t need off field disputes next season when we are genuinely going for it. So all in all thanks Gary we appreciate your efforts and good luck with your new club.
 
No one knows. For sure. Speculation. He's a big squad miss for me. Offers something we don't have.
 
Madine was excellent at holding the ball up and laying it off even before Critchley had a system and before Yates started scoring.

We need him for the run in .....

T peel you have a short memory
Agreed. There was a period when Madine was the only creativity in the team such was our lack. We've had a really good run, but in there, we've had a share of games where we've needed 'something more' and Madine is a player who defences can rarely shut down totally.

We also beat Wigan 5-0 in his last start and he bossed the game.

More than anything, I think big Gaz can play with either Yates or Simms and that would give Jerry a much needed breather from time to time.

I really hope he's back and that it really is just a troublesome injury that sorts itself out.
 
How do you know he can’t adapt to the system?
But that wasn't the argument was it, you claimed I have a short memory which isn't true - I'll give Madine the credit he deserves and more for his contribution earlier in the season.

Whether he'll fit into the current system is an entirely different debate.
 
Madine has had a scan and it was good news Scrafton said last week. He is due to get back running and could be back full training in 2 weeks. I dont think the club has hid anything about Madine tbh, there's just not been much to talk about because his injury hasn't been improving. He went back to training and was due back but the injury flaired up again and he's been seeing a specialist. How much more does the club need to tell us? Someone started a rumours and it's now being talked about by some as fact. The first time I saw that rumour was on Twitter by an account that loves to argue with everyone and say stupid things, so I didn't believe it for a second. The day after it was on here. If he's had a row with Critchley, the club, Bloomfield bear or whoever else is being rumoured, then why was he allowed to travel to an away game to spend some time with the lads? If he is being kept apart from the team then why would they let him travel with them? Short answer, they wouldn't.
As for a new contract, as much as I like what he brings to the team I dont think he fits what we are trying to build going forward age wise. I would like to keep him though, a fully fit Madine is a handful for any defence.
 
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Madine has had a scan and it was good news Scrafton said last week. He is due to get back running and could be back full training in 2 weeks. I dont think the club has hid anything about Madine tbh, there's just not been much to talk about because his injury hasn't been improving. He went back to training and was due back but the injury flaired up again and he's been seeing a specialist. How much more does the club need to tell us? Someone started a rumours and it's now being talked about by some as fact. The first time I saw that rumour was on Twitter by an account that loves to argue with everyone and say stupid things, so I didn't believe it for a second. The day after it was on here. If he's had a row with Critchley, the club, Bloomfield bear or whoever else is being rumoured, then why was he allowed to travel to an away game to spend some time with the lads? If he is being kept apart from the team then why would they let him travel with them? Short answer, they wouldn't.
As for a new contract, as much as I like what he brings to the team I dont think he fits what we are trying to build going forward age wise. I would like to keep him though, a fully fit Madine is a handful for any defence.


Same question to you as to T peel.

How do you know he can’t adapt to the new system or any system?
 
But that wasn't the argument was it, you claimed I have a short memory which isn't true - I'll give Madine the credit he deserves and more for his contribution earlier in the season.

Whether he'll fit into the current system is an entirely different debate.

Ok you have a decent memory.

It’s a discussion not an argument.

So what do you reckon then?
 
Ok you have a decent memory.

It’s a discussion not an argument.

So what do you reckon then?
Very true, wrong use of word there with argument instead of discussion!

It's entirely possible he could, but I think he's the sort of striker that needs another striker like Yates working off him - that is why they worked well together in the 4-4-2. In this new 4-2-3-1 or 4-5-1 whatever you want to call it we use an isolated striker which I don't think would particularly suit him, if you look at his goalscoring tally throughout his career he has never been particularly prolific so utilising him as a striker on his own isn't a route for success unless you're getting lots of goals from elsewhere on the pitch, which we don't really. But he isn't that sort of striker, he allows another striker to be prolific - when Yates is already being prolific within the new formation though, there isn't any room for him in it really.

But there will be times when we do play a 4-4-2, we've seen that against Accrington for example - or switch to a 4-4-2 to see a lead out and such. But that then draws back to my point that he doesn't really fit into the style of play we're now trying to achieve, and would be utilised in the occasional game and based on that I can't see us renewing his contract if he still demands the wages he's on which is apparently the highest at the club.
 
Same question to you as to T peel.

How do you know he can’t adapt to the new system or any system?
I've not said that he can't, I said that age wise he isn't what the club seem to be looking for going forward. They've been signing young prospects with their future ahead of them, not guys coming towards the end of their careers. He's the only player we have over the age of 30, so I don't think he will get offered another contract. I'd be happy to be wrong, he gives any defence a nightmare on his day.
 
I would definitely like to have Madine available for the run-in if possible because if Simms or Yates get injured, having just one up front won't get us enough points for the playoffs. In my mind, he would have to play one of our youth players to maintain our formation.
 
Was his word good enough for you when he said he still hasn't seen the league table yet😉
Yes. Why would he say that if it wasn’t true ?
He may have been told where we in the table . He may have been told who is above us and below and the margins.
If he says he doesn’t look at it then I have no reason to not believe that.
 
Why?
He hasn’t given me any reason to doubt what he says is true.
I like to take people at face value unless they give me a reason not to. He hasn’t.
Lets face it he won't be the first manager to tell porkies, in fact I reckon every manager has at times been economical with the truth if it served a purpose, believing every word that they utter is the truth, the whole truth and nothing but the truth is being naive to say the least, well that's my honest appraisal of them.
 
I've said earlier in the thread that we've probably seen the last of him. However, focussing on what we need over the rest of the season I hope he does come back into contention, and offers us something useful.
 
We'll definitely see him once or twice before the end of the season as he's out of contract and will want to prove that he's worth another contract at some club, however I don't think that will be with us as he's our highest earner and hasn't played up to the money he's being paid.
 
Groin injuries are notoriously slow to heal so for me that's all it is.
Fully concur with that.
I have had a recurring groin problem for absolute ages. One minute it’s fine and then an awkward twist and I struggle to walk.
Actually having a scan on it tomorrow so hopefully it will divulge something.
But if a footballer with access to top sports physios can be out for so long, I have no chance😂
 
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