He meant at the end of the season about to start when we will hopefully be back in the Premier League and will now be carrying two players who have been proven not able to perform at that level.
Exactly this, not to mention that both are already the wrong side of 30. Valerien has said since his arrival that he wants younger, energetic players, so these contract renewals are completely mystifying just from that perspective.
Bartley and Phillips won't earn us any money when they leave - if we're dishing out new contracts, at least do it with players who we think we'll be able to sell for a profit during the contract period, should that be warranted. It just seems like jobs for the boys at present and I hate that mentality.