I do wonder whether the majority of supporters really do appreciate the financial position the Club faces particularly when we are now in a league competing against many other Clubs who are as big or even bigger some of whom now having considerable extra financial backing. At least half of the Clubs in the Championship have as much chance of promotion next year as we have. The Board have had to look beyond the parachute payments and plan accordingly and that is the rationale behind the new structure. Last season the budget forecast a loss of £12m - I expect it will end up nearer £15m. That cannot go on so straight away the player budget given to SW will be at least £15m less than last season and that is only the beginning. If we got £40m last year in parachute payments then quite clearly the Player budget available when the parachute payments end will be £55m less than spent last season - one hell of a decrease!! Parachute payments are short term but contracts are long term so any contracts given now will have that in mind which quite clearly means that we can no longer be one of the highest wage payers in the League and need to get the high earners off the books whether it be a Player the fans like or one they don't . Easier said than done. Rangers allegedly want Dorrans and Naismith but will they pay them anywhere near what they are earning here. If not what will the players do? They are both over 30 with only a few years of playing and earning time left. If you were approaching retirement and somebody approached you with an offer of a more satisfying job for 3 years until you retire but your salary will be cut by half, what would you do? Some will query why we paid Naismith £50k a week but at that time we were trying to remain in the Premiership and £50k a week is what a squad player at a mid table Premiership Club earns. To get such a player you have to pay the money and in fact I seem to recall that Naismith took a small cut in salary to come here.We now have to deal with the problems that caused. No doubt our new maximum wage for new contracts is considerably reduced - probably halved - and I suspect that any existing player earning more than that will be sold if the right offer is received. As I have said it may be difficult to move a lot of the players on because of wages and age - Jarvis is another one who is 31 for example- but until we create space in the squad - which will also be reduced in number from previous seasons - and the space in the budget we cannot move on with replacements which will be, in my opinion, loans, youngsters and cheap buys from lower leagues or abroad. As well as looking into this I am certain that SW is taking a long and hard look at how our Academy is functioning as this will have to be the major source of future talent. Some will say that this is an acceptance of mediocrity - it isn't . It is an acceptance of the financial reality and the fact that we have got to find a new approach to achieve our aim of Promotion
Yes canario, I agree that played much better last season with the combination of Howson and Dorrans controlling most of midfield (I’m not convinced either will be at CR next season!!) and it was unfortunate that a Reading player ‘crocked’ Dorrans on Boxing Day, thus forcing him to miss the next 3 months of playing for us. Godfrey came to us as a ‘midfielder’ and when playing for the under 23s, he has regularly played at CB, but I feel certain that Daniel and Eddie can find his best position. Another name I haven’t added to the mix is Jamal Lewis, who has just been called up to the NI under 21 squad and I know ILD was impressed with his play when drafted in at LB playing for our under 23s. Assuming both are sold, then we do need to invest some of the money to plug the gap they’ve left and I hope we only see Tettey making brief appearances next season. Yes Rick, I think after shoring up our defence, our next priority has to be a player who can fulfil the box-to-box role. Edit - Just seen this - http://www.edp24.co.uk/sport/norwic...t-norwich-city-says-steven-naismith-1-5046902. Ahhh - That's more like it!!!! - http://www.hitc.com/en-gb/2017/06/0...et-emotional-move-for-manchester-city/page/1/
More rumours about an Angus Gunn loan deal and Naismith saying he's keen to stay. Salary-aside I wouldn't be too down about Naismith staying next season given his improvement towards the end of last season and his potential influence on some of the junior / academy players joining the 1st team ranks. If it was a choice though between Naismith and one or two quality CB hires then that's another matter.
Why do so many think that Angus Gunn would be a good signing? Have any of you actually seen him play? Has he been anywhere near the Citeh bench let alone starting eleven? Just because his Dad was a half decent custodian doesn't necessarily mean he is/will be.
The reports I have read of him say he hasn't made any senior appearances in any competitions yet. Are we really going to sign a keeper who hasn't played a single senior match?
You're right of course, it was the u21 and u23 cups for which he received high praise from Gardiola, suitable for praising the likes of Maddison, Godfrey, Efete and co but apparently not for Angus! Oh silly me!
England U21 squad for the this Summer's tournament alongside Redmond and Josh Murphy. Friday 16th June .
As you hadn't mentioned it was the U21s etc, I assumed you meant the senior team. We normally mention that it is U21 etc when talking about Josh and co. My apologies for not realising what you meant.
To be completely truthful, until you questioned it, I really thought he'd appeared in the League cup and FA cup, That's why I gave myself a slaphead and called myself silly.
Looks like it will be confirmed in the next couple of days - http://www.edp24.co.uk/sport/norwic...manchester-city-set-to-be-completed-1-5049711
I don't think we could afford the wages of more than 1 or 2 . Seem to remember an unheard of goalkeeper called Fraser Forster coming in on loan and doing a pretty good job.
