Ex-Player Thread Jamie Donley

[Northstandboy]

 

[spmox]

But

They will probably win it, so they will enjoy that. But if they struggle, pretty unlikely, then doing badly at a level they haven’t played at for 50 years is not going to be very enjoyable, can’t say I was enamoured of the Patterson years in the Conference.

At least it’s actually an interesting relegation battle in the prem this season, much more so than the title race.

But Patterson didn't put us there.

 

[greatunclekip]

Even if we stay up I’ve resigned myself to Will Lankshear moving on. I’ve decided to take the Josh Murphy approach. I won’t cry that it’s over; I’ll smile that it happened.

I suspect we’d see Lankshear back if we stay up.

 

[Eric Blair]

I suspect we’d see Lankshear back if we stay up.

That would be incredible

 

[holdsteady]

But
But Patterson didn't put us there.

No but his spell in charge wasn’t fun was it?

 

[spmox]

Not fu

No but his spell in charge wasn’t fun was it?

Not fun, no.

 

[Orkney Islands Yellow]

Totally anonymous today.

 

[Foley]

Totally anonymous today.

Looked tired after 2 games for NI.
A position where we don't have too many other options

 

[Isle of Wight Yellow]

Totally anonymous today.

You mean apart from his great through ball to Lankshear when he won the penalty? Played a couple of other decent ones to him as well. Plus worked hard and closed down. Definitely tired but that’s because the Blackburn manager was allowed to give him 80+ minutes in two consecutive games

 

[Jaboysmith]

Expected, but no option exercised on Donley

 

[Billyox]

Imo he wasn't quite ready for championship football strangely he probably could do with another season in league one

 

[greatunclekip]

A deal I’d have definitely tried to do at the right price. Suspect he’ll line up against us this season.

 

[Gordon]

Not unexpected. The reported option-to-buy fee was pretty high, not sure if we would have triggered it even if we had stayed in the Championship.

Don't think we ever saw the best of him, admittedly that's probably hard as a creative playmaker and your team has such little possession of the ball.

No doubt he'll find another Championship team next season. Good luck to him

 

[londonyellow]

A deal I’d have definitely tried to do at the right price. Suspect he’ll line up against us this season.

I'd expect him to get another champ loan. You think he'll go to League One?

 

[SirAndyOfCrosby]

Don't think we ever saw the best of him, admittedly that's probably hard as a creative playmaker and your team has such little possession of the ball.

And also if (as said 'creative playmaker') you are largely wasteful when you do have possession of the ball and an opportunity to use to effectively.

 

[holdsteady]

We were never paying £3.5 million for a player once we were relegated.

 

[battman]

I'd expect him to get another champ loan. You think he'll go to League One?

I think he probably has one more chance to crack it at that level, could easily see him on loan at Lincoln next season

 

[Yellowmania]

Playing in that no 10 role for us makes any player look like they’ve stepped into the Bermuda Triangle.
Showed glimpses of what he could do but was always up against it in that role with our style of play ( or lack of style of play from us often enough).

 

[TheDukeOfBanburyshire]

We were never paying £3.5 million for a player once we were relegated.

On the balance of his performance levels snice joining, I'd be f*****g livid if we had decided to blow £3.5m on him, regardless of what division we ended up in.

 

[SirAndyOfCrosby]

Playing in that no 10 role for us makes any player look like they’ve stepped into the Bermuda Triangle.
Showed glimpses of what he could do but was always up against it in that role with our style of play ( or lack of style often enough).

Powderpuff shots from distance, giving the ball away under little pressure, appalling set-pieces (both corners and free-kicks).

None of that comes from 'style of play'.

 

[greatunclekip]

I'd expect him to get another champ loan. You think he'll go to League One?

I suspect he might. I think Champ is clearly a step too far at the moment.

 

[Eric Blair]

Controversial take but I would have 100% signed him. Made a big impact on League One when he was there with Orient, the right age profile, huge resale value. If he goes to a League One team next season he will be one of the better players in the division imho.

 

[Upthecowboys]

Controversial take but I would have 100% signed him. Made a big impact on League One when he was there with Orient, the right age profile, huge resale value. If he goes to a League One team next season he will be one of the better players in the division imho.

I don't think that's controversial, he is a proven performer in Division 1.

I would have thought the club would have been keen to keep him, but the need to cut our cloth accordingly probably makes it a difficult deal to do.

 

[holdsteady]

Controversial take but I would have 100% signed him. Made a big impact on League One when he was there with Orient, the right age profile, huge resale value. If he goes to a League One team next season he will be one of the better players in the division imho.

You got £3.5 million?

 

[Eric Blair]

You got £3.5 million?

Me, personally? No.

 

[holdsteady]

Me, personally? No.

I think that might have been your only hope of us signing him then, you gifting us the money, as no way could we spend that and not be breaking whatever the financial rules are called at league one level.

 

[Sutton Yellow]

He was brought in to improve our pedestrian football but unfortunately contributed to it.

If you aren't blessed with great athleticism you have to be really good on the ball amd he didn't do enough.

He would do far better at league one, we know he has already, but not at that price.

 

[ZeroTheHero]

£3.5M? I hope that if we have that sort of money, we invest it more wisely. For that money, he would have to be a complete game-changer and (at least from what I saw) he isn't.

I don't think a Champ team will pay that for him, so I suspect it's another loan. Maybe they could just loan him to us if he has shown he can be effective in L1!

 

[Osei Yaw]

He's only 21, so plenty of time on his side, yet also at an age where he needs to be playing men's football regularly. He's definitely got something about him.

I'd like to think there would be a way to bring him back next season in a deal that works for all parties. Perhaps another loan with option to buy where the purchase is triggered by conditions such as us getting promotion and him playing X number of minutes across the season to that point.

 

[carefreeoufc]

£3.5M? I hope that if we have that sort of money, we invest it more wisely. For that money, he would have to be a complete game-changer and (at least from what I saw) he isn't.

I don't think a Champ team will pay that for him, so I suspect it's another loan. Maybe they could just loan him to us if he has shown he can be effective in L1!

He has been effective in L1. If you go H2H against Tyler Goodrham and Jamie Donley in their last full season at L1 level

Goodrham (23/24, aged 20): 40 league appearances, 8 league goals, 3 league assists
Donley (24/25, aged 19/20): 39 league appearances, 8 league goals, 10 league assists

I can't remember exactly how much some were suggesting Goodrham was worth last season, but it was certainly a lot more than the £3.5m option we have on Donley.

 

[ZeroTheHero]

He has been effective in L1. If you go H2H against Tyler Goodrham and Jamie Donley in their last full season at L1 level

Goodrham (23/24, aged 20): 40 league appearances, 8 league goals, 3 league assists
Donley (24/25, aged 19/20): 39 league appearances, 8 league goals, 10 league assists

I can't remember exactly how much some were suggesting Goodrham was worth last season, but it was certainly a lot more than the £3.5m option we have on Donley.

Personally I don't think Goodrham is worth anywhere near what some people are speculating.

But then I think that transfer fees currently are ridiculous (especially when you are talking about players of decent L1 level), so maybe it's just me!