Bump... (I was looking for something, came across this)
From May 2010
This is Devon
Grass might yet be greener for Mackie on Queens Park wingsTHE SALE of Plymouth Argyle striker Jamie Mackie to Queens Park Rangers has provoked a lot of comment among the Green Army.
Mackie signed a four-year contract with QPR, which shows you how highly Rangers' boss Neil Warnock rates him.
Even at a conservative estimate, that deal must be worth in excess of £1 million to Mackie.
One recent trend in football has been the reluctance of clubs — whether they are buying or selling — to divulge the transfer fees for players, and that was the case with Mackie.
Argyle and QPR both described it as an undisclosed fee, but Herald Sport understands it was £500,000.
The cash-strapped Pilgrims will not pocket all of that, however.
When they signed Mackie from Devon rivals Exeter City for £145,000 in January 2008 they also agreed a sell-on clause for him.
They must pay Exeter 20 per cent of the profit they made on Mackie, and that comes to around £70,000.
Argyle will, therefore, bank a little less than £430,000 for the 24-year-old striker.
Some supporters were upset the Pilgrims did not receive more money for arguably the club's most prized asset.
And they were also surprised Mackie was allowed to leave before Argyle appointed a new manager.
Perhaps, they have argued, Mackie could have been persuaded to stay, despite the club's relegation to League One.
After all, he still had another year remaining on his contract with the Pilgrims.
But the reality is Argyle are desperate for funds after losing their Championship status this season, and they had to cash in on him.
And, presumably, Mackie made it clear to them he wanted to sign for QPR, who are expected to be challengers for promotion to the Premier League in 2010/11 under the leadership of Warnock.
Argyle went out of their way to state that Mackie had expressed 'a strong desire' to leave them.
I have always believed that if a player does not want to be at a club then, whatever the circumstances, it is best for all concerned to let him leave. Otherwise, you run the risk of them becoming a disruptive influence in the dressing room.
Now I am not suggesting that would have been the case had Mackie stayed with Argyle, but it will be of paramount importance that there is a good team spirit at Home Park next season after the bitter disappointment of the past campaign.
Mackie is a decent player, no doubt. But eight goals in 42 starts in the Championship last term, despite the team's struggles, is not an outstanding strike rate by any means.
He had enough chances — either created by his own play or by his team-mates — to have easily doubled that tally.
I believe, but I am not sure Mackie does, that his best position is out wide on the left.
He could then either cut inside and shoot for goal, or speed past the full-back and supply a cross for a team-mate.
Warnock has favoured a 4-3-3 formation over recent times, both at QPR and before that at Crystal Palace.
So it is possible Mackie could be one of the two wide attacking players for the west London club next season. He could flourish in that role.
Mackie is not a natural goalscorer, whereas 19-year-old up-and-coming Argyle striker Joe Mason is.
He netted three times coming off the substitutes' bench in the Championship last season, and all of them were in and around the six-yard area.
They were the sort of opportunist goals that Mackie rarely converted. He specialises in spectacular, instinctive strikes.
Without wanting to put too much pressure on Mason, who still has a lot to learn, I do believe he has the potential to be a regular scorer in League One next season.
There will also be high hopes Bradley Wright-Phillips can stay injury-free and provide plenty of goals.
Mackie's departure could be followed later in the summer by another of Argyle's strikers — Rory Fallon.
The New Zealand international is currently preparing for the World Cup in South Africa next month.
Herald Sport understands Argyle would not stand in the way of Fallon moving on, should he receive offers after the tournament.
Fallon, 27, has one more season on his contract at Home Park.
FORMER Argyle player Tony Capaldi has been released by beaten Championship play-off finalists Cardiff City.
The 28-year-old signed for Cardiff from Argyle on a Bosman transfer in the summer of 2007.
Capaldi had been part of the Pilgrims' Division Two title-winning squad three years earlier.
The versatile left-sided player made 70 starts and seven substitute appearances for Cardiff during his time with them, but did not get any goals.
Capaldi holds the record for most international appearances by an Argyle player, having played 21 times for Northern Ireland while with the club.
Cardiff have also released striker Warren Feeney, and Herald Sport understands Argyle have shown an interest in the 29-year-old.
ARGYLE chief operations officer Tony Campbell will be the guest speaker at the monthly meeting of the Senior Greens in the Far Post Club at Home Park tomorrow (2pm).
The meeting is open to members only
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