Darren Ferguson has broken the silence over the “naughty four” Posh players who were earlier in the week fined and placed on the transfer list.
Speaking at this weeks Press Conference, Fergie confirmed a lot of the problem actually started after the Palace game last Saturday. He confirmed he had told the players that they needed to be more professional as a group.
However, Gaby Zakuani, Emile Sinclair, Tyrone Barnett and Nathaniel Mendez-Laing took it upon themselves to go out and enjoy themselves at a city nightclub. The night ended with two of the four players being cautioned by police in the early hours of Sunday morning.
“The fact they were out in Peterborough, I could not believe” said Fergie. “All four players admitted it was a stupid thing to do.”
Following an internal investigation, captain Zakuani has now been taken off the transfer list but the three others still remain on the list. None of the four players will be fined now though as Fergie didn`t specifically say they couldn`t go out on Saturday night and with the players having brought in the PFA, the fine has been rescinded.
Emile Sinclair remains on the transfer list for “football reasons” while Fergie confirmed Mendez-Laing and Barnett will never play for Posh again.
Mendez-Laing has already departed London Road?well, for a month at least. He has signed on loan at League One side Portsmouth.
Fergie confirmed he has also had interest from a number of clubs about Barnett so it sounds as though he may be departing soon as well although it won’t be on-loan.
Rotherham manager Steve Evans has already made an enquiry about Barnett and Sinclair but has been told neither player are available for loan. Evans is a keen admirer of the pair and would dearly love to see them in a Rotherham shirt but the money needed to buy the pair and then the wages they’d want is blocking any move to Rotherham.
Posh will be keen to recoup the money they forked out for the pair over the summer. Barnett is the clubs record signing at over a million pounds while MacAnthony said we`d paid a “substantial amount” for Mendez-Laing. It`s difficult to see who would pay out this sort of money for two “rebels” that failed to light up the Championship. Posh may have to be prepared to make a loss on both players.
It`s fair to say that Barnett hadn`t made the impact hoped he would at Posh but whether this is down to the player himself or the tactics employed is questionable. This season especially, he`s been disappointing and lacked the motivation needed to succeed.
Mendez-Laing was a strange signing in the first place. Having mainly made substitute appearances during his previous loan spell at Posh two seasons ago, he didn`t see many starts either when he went on loan to League One last season. MacAnthony defended the decision to sign him though and even questioned fans who disagreed with the signing. I wonder what MacAnthony thinks now to the signing??
Are Posh better off without Mendez-Laing and Barnett?
Do you think Emile will still be with Posh next summer?
Who should Posh look to bring in now they are lacking in the forward positions?
Let us know your thoughts in the comments box below.
