Virtue

ParkerAteMyKebab said:
Thought he looked good watching back the game on YouTube - are we dismissing him too early and actually his age, experience and time at BFC is now a big asset. Would sooner have him in the squad than Dougall tbh.
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It is over 18months since we saw him play apart from cameo appearances at the start of last season. He is not injury prone had one serious injury that kept him out for a year.
Think he is a different kettle of fish to the player we remember as being lightweight and easily knocked off the ball. Agree with the Dougall comment
 
I think if we sell him we will regret it, he is the sort of player who is going to improve and he's at a really good age now. He could be swayed by the Hollywood buzz at Wrexham but at the end of the day it''s about what level he wants to play at. He could be playing in the Championship with us next season.
 
We've gone down a division. This is now a chance for all those players who we doubted were good enough for the Championship or were still considered too young to step up and prove themselves. So potentially a big season for the likes of Carey, Apter, Virtue, Casey Tharme and Hamilton.
 
Some of you need to deal with your swings in opinion. Virtue was part of a squad that some of you had pegged for potential double relegation in the close season. Now we are supposed to believe we will regret it if we sell him?
And that he could be worth a Championship squad place if we get promoted?

Not everything has to be either solid gold or worthless.

Virtue, in my view, is a decent squad player who doesn't fit naturally into many of the systems we've seen NC play. He's a no. 8 when Critchley has predominantly used 2 no.6s and occasionally a no. 10. He is also injury prone, with some of them very serious injuries.

A decent performance in a friendly doesn't supersede all the above. Let's see how he gets on in the first 15 games of the competitive season.
 
hertfordseasider said:
I think if we sell him we will regret it, he is the sort of player who is going to improve and he's at a really good age now. He could be swayed by the Hollywood buzz at Wrexham but at the end of the day it''s about what level he wants to play at. He could be playing in the Championship with us next season.
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He cannot improve his pace, that is his fundamental flaw. He’s always had his qualities, but as with Patino, a lack of pace will always limit a career. It’s as simple as that, and some midfield players can have a burst when needed, Charlie Adam is a perfect example. Virtue and Patino are exceptionally one-paced.
 
Murciaseasider said:
All depends I think on where Virtue is in the pecking order. I've not seen much of him since he went out on loan to Lincoln but given the players we now have on the books in midfield, I can't see him being a regular. On that basis it would make sense to cash in. That said Critch might see things differently, and the rumour might be a load of tosh anyway of course.
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I think we’re a bit too disposable with our squad players. As a fan base we seem to have this idea that ‘cashing in’ is better than having them in the squad. Far better to have some decent players sat on the bench than having cash sat in the bank.
 
Virtue is a difficult one, I really like the lad and would love for him to do well with us. However, if losing him means we can bring in someone better then I'm OK with him going. Think he needs to be getting first team football and I'm really doubtful that will happen with us. Might be the best thing for the player and us.
 
Had quite a lot of mentions in reports etc the last few games. Not seen him myself but I'd like to keep hold of him even if not for first team duties. Strong, resilient player if we're holding on to a lead or need to push on if we're trailing.
 
Had an ok game at Morecambe and would be useful to have but if decent money is on offer for him and we can get Moxon and a decent forward in I would say let him go.
 
I've been a bit over critical of him in the past but seeing him last night he seems to be a lot more of a physical presence in that centre mid area, they've definitely done work with him in the gym!
 
I bleed Tangerine said:
Virtue is a difficult one, I really like the lad and would love for him to do well with us. However, if losing him means we can bring in someone better then I'm OK with him going. Think he needs to be getting first team football and I'm really doubtful that will happen with us. Might be the best thing for the player and us.
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Agree but to replace 25 year old Virtue who has played in the Championship with 25 year old Moxon who has never played above L2 and shell out hundreds of thousands needs seriously questioning.
Not saying it should not happen and maybe Moxon is a late developer and will prove to be a better player.
 
tangysider said:
Agree but to replace 25 year old Virtue who has played in the Championship with 25 year old Moxon who has never played above L2 and shell out hundreds of thousands needs seriously questioning.
Not saying it should not happen and maybe Moxon is a late developer and will prove to be a better player.
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Virtue has played in the Championship but not very well. I think, and it’s obviously only an opinion, but if you put Virtue in league 2 he wouldn’t have the same numbers Moxon has.
 
I dont think Moxon will come to us. Carlisle will try to hold on to him and only let go if they get money they cant refuse. He's a Carlisle fan so won't kick off.
 
Lanc_seasider said:
Virtue has played in the Championship but not very well. I think, and it’s obviously only an opinion, but if you put Virtue in league 2 he wouldn’t have the same numbers Moxon has.
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Remember him scoring at Sunderland years ago, he has the knack of finding space outside the box and unusually for our midfielders will take a shot.
I would back him to score at least 5 goals for us if played regularly(scored 3 for Lincoln in 31). So any replacement would have to score more for me.
Goals from midfield will massively help our promotion push
 
tangysider said:
Remember him scoring at Sunderland years ago, he has the knack of finding space outside the box and unusually for our midfielders will take a shot.
I would back him to score at least 5 goals for us if played regularly(scored 3 for Lincoln in 31). So any replacement would have to score more for me.
Goals from midfield will massively help our promotion push
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A midfielders job is primarily other stuff so taking the odd shot and getting 5 goals doesn't get you in the team or even near it. Kenny Dougall will get us 5 goals in L1 and he'll win many more tackles than Virtue ever will cos he reads the game better and has the knack of nicking the ball. Hopefully Kenny can get back to where he was pre Appleton. And even then he'll have a job to budge Trybull and Norburn. Virtue is fourth of the four for me.
 
tangysider said:
Remember him scoring at Sunderland years ago, he has the knack of finding space outside the box and unusually for our midfielders will take a shot.
I would back him to score at least 5 goals for us if played regularly(scored 3 for Lincoln in 31). So any replacement would have to score more for me.
Goals from midfield will massively help our promotion push
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His goal at Bradford will be remembered for ever to the fans that were there.
 
Marton Monorail said:
We have to aspire to better, he's a decent performer in L1 but if/when we achieve our stated aim and get promoted he isn't a decent performer at the higher level, he's very much like Kenny Dougall from that perspective.

Norburn and Trybull are proven at championship level and could almost certainly step up, Morgan we don't know yet, but the coaching staff clearly believe in him and his ability to improve given his age and the length of contract he's signed.

Throw Apter and Carey in to the mix and you have to say we have better (currently and potentially) than MV, if there's a chance to get £200k for him I'd snap their hand off tbh.
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A bit of a stretch to say Norburn is proven at Championship level. 🤣 He's played over 350 games for the likes of Guiseley, Brizzle Rovers, Shrewsbury and Trampmere and had just 34 starts for Peterborough in the Championship the year they were absolutely tripe and finished bottom.
 
Fylde Seasider said:
Players move all the time to lesser clubs or leagues 💷💶💵💴
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Usually that's young players leaving PL academies, or old ones who are well past their best, 25 y/o's who've established themselves at a higher level aren't normally going to want to move down the leagues because the money they can earn there is lower.
 
Lost Seasider said:
Usually that's young players leaving PL academies, or old ones who are well past their best, 25 y/o's who've established themselves at a higher level aren't normally going to want to move down the leagues because the money they can earn there is lower.
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You do know the lower league team that has been mooted is Wrektum who are the Man City of the lower leagues? 🤣
 
Fylde Seasider said:
A bit of a stretch to say Norburn is proven at Championship level. 🤣 He's played over 350 games for the likes of Guiseley, Brizzle Rovers, Shrewsbury and Trampmere and had just 34 starts for Peterborough in the Championship the year they were absolutely tripe and finished bottom.
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And beat us 0-5.
 
tangysider said:
Remember him scoring at Sunderland years ago, he has the knack of finding space outside the box and unusually for our midfielders will take a shot.
I would back him to score at least 5 goals for us if played regularly(scored 3 for Lincoln in 31). So any replacement would have to score more for me.
Goals from midfield will massively help our promotion push
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Carey much better bet .
 
Always tangerine said:
Carey much better bet .
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Think Carey may play more up front, and hopefully fulfill the talent we have glimpsed Virtue is a different type of player coming from far deeper.
That does make him harder to mark with late runs in or to the edge of the box.
I do not see Virtue starting every match but the way he plays allows you to change tactics, none of our other midfielders play a similar role they are defensive or attacking.
 
Fylde Seasider said:
You do know the lower league team that has been mooted is Wrektum who are the Man City of the lower leagues? 🤣
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You do know there's a salary cap in League 2, don't you?

They're not going to be able to simply spend the owners' money in that division, in fact I think they might struggle to meet the salary cap.
 
Lost Seasider said:
You do know there's a salary cap in League 2, don't you?

They're not going to be able to simply spend the owners' money in that division, in fact I think they might struggle to meet the salary cap.
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Got scrapped one season after introduction. It was in League One too - we had it promotion year. Awful rule.
 
Chrismalkin said:
Got scrapped one season after introduction. It was in League One too - we had it promotion year. Awful rule.
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I've checked the regulations for 2023/24, it's there page 445 onwards.

It's a bit different to the cap we had in 2020/21 (?), clubs are limited to 50% of regular turnover plus 100% of "fortune income" (i.e. transfer fees, cup runs), but they've not sold anyone, so they're in quite a restricted position, especially because I expect their wage bill is fairly high at the moment.

It's 60% in L1, but we have the Bowler/Yates money, so that's less of an issue.


Edit:

Checking the rules, cash injections etc are allowed, so they can spend what they want so long as the money isn't coming from loans.
 
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Wrexham’s income will rocket over the next few years due to their global exposure. United Airlines will be paying for more than other league two short sponsors for one. They will be able to outbid and outlay other clubs and still stay within FFP.
 
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