Shaun Barker

[rsmini]

I dont think he meant for Frankie to fall on to his knee so he could have a year off work!! The man is a born leaderand is totally committed to Derby. He is working hard in the background to get fit again and supporting his team mates on there quest this season.

I think it is a fantastic move by the club to give the man another year to help him get fit. Would you have said we shouldn't keep Roy Mac after he knackered his Achilles in 1974? He helped us win the league in 1975!!

[sage]

What a terribly rash decision by the club. Sentiment has been favoured over sense and this is not for the first time either!

Barker is obviously very well liked at the club and that's fine but considering he hasn't been fully fit for the entirety of his Derby career - something he and the club have openly admitted - and won't be able to play competitively for us until August 2013 at the earliest, extending his playing contract seems very risky.

There must be appearance-related clauses or non-playing staff terms because I would expect him to be amongst our highest earners.

Barker will be 31 next year and has had a spate of injuries since he has come here so to tie him down for a further year seems daft when there is no guarantee he'll return anywhere near his sharpest and let's remember his best is being a good to occasionally very good Championship defender.

With his injury history, I don't think we should be building the team around Barker at this point or even considering him as a key player. Well not if we harbour ambitions of promotion to the Premier League, that's for sure.

What a terribly rash response. 'http://www.dcfcfans.co.uk/public/style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/huh' class='bbc_emoticon' alt=':huh:' />

You have slated this decision in your first two paragraphs, then argued that it is probably a reasonable one in the end in your third paragraph.

[mcsilks]

Incredible that the signing of a contract is yet another stick that so many of you are using to beat the club with.

We are not aware of the details of his contract and can only merely speculate but I would be surprised if there weren't some form of proviso that favored the club should Barker not gain full fitness.

The board have spent the last few years getting the club out of financial trouble and are hardly likely to tie down any player with a career threatening injury if they had any doubts over the player.

Have a little faith and I for one am happy that we have tied down one of our key players for three years. This is good news isn't it?

[Uptherams]

I have never been a fan of Barker and think that he is over rated by allot of fans. However that does not mean I think he is rubbish. Considering how Keogh has done, Buxton and now O'Connor, with plenty of young talent in reserve, I don't see the point of offering him a contract extension. He struggled with injury before but even if he is available for the 2013-12 season with the current injury he has, he is unlikely to start even 15 games.

We seem now to have a center back who can pass and is extremely calm collected and composed in O'Connor, two center backs that are a massive threat in the air from set pieces (Keogh and Buxton) as well as being a great defender and a good one.

I understand that the contract offered will have a selection of clauses and the wage will have been reduced (significantly) based on appearance fees, but I still feel that we should have saved the money and taken our time to decide where the savings can best be spent. I can only assume that for the wage he is on we could get two very good young players such as Coutts and Jacobs.

[i84est]

Don't see how we can lose judging by comments of os seems like he may be on less money but more over the period of contract not fact just assumption and prob bull. But let's get it write if it's that serious he can't play surely he will retire than nobody loses

[observer]

cant football manager tell us his new contract yet 'http://www.dcfcfans.co.uk/public/style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/ph34r' class='bbc_emoticon' alt=':ph34r:' />

[Wilko]

Anyone else think this could be a bit like Savage's contract extension? Take a pay cut for an extra year on your contract or so?

On his day, Barks is one of the best defenders in this division. We've practically managed to tie him down for three more years, taking him through his prime years and giving him a bit of extra time to recover from a potentially career-threatening industry, all whilst saving a little bit of money on the extra year.

Win-win for all as far as I can see.

[Jourdan]

What a terribly rash response. 'http://www.dcfcfans.co.uk/public/style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/huh' class='bbc_emoticon' alt=':huh:' />

You have slated this decision in your first two paragraphs, then argued that it is probably a reasonable one in the end in your third paragraph.

It is just my opinion, sageisback. I was just trying to weigh up how rational a move it was.

Right now, it looks a bad decision but I'll be among the first to congratulate Nigel and the club if Barker makes a full recovery and comes back into the team and plays a key role in our progress towards the Premier League.

But for me, this looks like another token extension similar to those handed out to Deeney, Pringle, Savage and Buxton in years gone by, especially puzzling given his injury history and position at the club which you would think put him amongst the highest earners.

Now if this was Mark O'Brien or someone with time on their side or obvious potential to improve, it'd be different. But I daresay we've seen the best of Shaun Barker.

[sage]

It is just my opinion, sageisback. I was just trying to weigh up how rational a move it was.

Right now, it looks a bad decision but I'll be among the first to congratulate Nigel and the club if Barker makes a full recovery and comes back into the team and plays a key role in our progress towards the Premier League.

But for me, this looks like another token extension similar to those handed out to Deeney, Pringle, Savage and Buxton in years gone by, especially puzzling given his injury history and position at the club which you would think put him amongst the highest earners.

Now if this was Mark O'Brien or someone with time on their side or obvious potential to improve, it'd be different. But I daresay we've seen the best of Shaun Barker.

How was Buxton a token extension?

[derbydan]

We seem now to have a center back who can pass and is extremely calm collected and composed in O'Connor, two center backs that are a massive threat in the air from set pieces (Keogh and Buxton) as well as being a great defender and a good one.

From what I have seen O'connor is dire imo rather have Barks play with one leg!

[RIMBAUD]

From what I have seen O'connor is dire imo rather have Barks play with one leg!

really?

[sage]

It is just my opinion, sageisback. I was just trying to weigh up how rational a move it was.

Right now, it looks a bad decision but I'll be among the first to congratulate Nigel and the club if Barker makes a full recovery and comes back into the team and plays a key role in our progress towards the Premier League.

But for me, this looks like another token extension similar to those handed out to Deeney, Pringle, Savage and Buxton in years gone by, especially puzzling given his injury history and position at the club which you would think put him amongst the highest earners.

Now if this was Mark O'Brien or someone with time on their side or obvious potential to improve, it'd be different. But I daresay we've seen the best of Shaun Barker.

But was is your opinion? Have they made a rash decision or have they given him an extension that is largely based on fitness and appearances?

[Ash]

From what I have seen O'connor is dire imo rather have Barks play with one leg!

How much have you seen? Can't agree myself.

[Uptherams]

really?

I know...

[RIMBAUD]

It is just my opinion, sageisback. I was just trying to weigh up how rational a move it was.

Right now, it looks a bad decision but I'll be among the first to congratulate Nigel and the club if Barker makes a full recovery and comes back into the team and plays a key role in our progress towards the Premier League.

But for me, this looks like another token extension similar to those handed out to Deeney, Pringle, Savage and Buxton in years gone by, especially puzzling given his injury history and position at the club which you would think put him amongst the highest earners.

Now if this was Mark O'Brien or someone with time on their side or obvious potential to improve, it'd be different. But I daresay we've seen the best of Shaun Barker.

do reckon they asked the medical specialists they have employed to aid them in their diagnosis/decision.

[Jourdan]

How was Buxton a token extension?

Well I believe, correct me if I'm wrong, he has had three contract extensions since he first arrived at the club and you could argue the first two weren't warranted in respect to his contribution on the pitch and his own difficulties with injury.

Granted, last season, Buxton seized the opportunity when it was presented to him and secured his future as a first team regular here. He deserves credit for that.

But I don't think many would have protested had he been released in summer 2010 or summer 2011.

[RIMBAUD]

yes and the fact that he was retained - despite injuries, has been vindicated by his subsequent contributions.

barker may well do likewise.

[Alph]

Even the most gentle topics can get a bit heated lately.

[Mr Tibbs]

From what I have seen O'connor is dire imo rather have Barks play with one leg!

Bit harsh, apart from the mistakes against Wolves and Watford he's been solid. Very comfortable on the ball - ten times better than our Shaun (and I love our Shaun).

If theres a chance Barker can get back to the same sort of standards we know he can then theres every reason to give him another year.

[derbydan]

I missed the watford game so can't really comment on that game but I just don't rate him based on what I've seen makes silly mistakes out of position at key points ect hopefully he'll prove me wrong al a Roberts