IMO Smithies is worth more than a few million & as that's roughly what we were supposed to have forked out for Conor, a few million really isn't going to go far enough for CDs & the prolific striker(s) we need.
And thats taking for granted that the entire sum made from any sales will even be made available to Shteeeve
Looks like the chickens are coming home to roost for Villa...... A football finance expert says Aston Villa’s predicament is ‘really severe’ and has predicted sales this summer. The claret and blues were resigned to a third successive season of Championship football with defeat to Fulham in the play-off final at Wembley. Steve Bruce’s expensively-assembled squad is now expected to be broken up this summer as the club desperately attempt to stay within Financial Fair Play restrictions. The club’s most valuable asset, Jack Grealish, is already being linked with a host of Premier League sides with Villa likely to sell at least one of their top players. Read the rest here......https://www.birminghammail.co.uk/sp...news/tony-xia-villa-ffp-championship-14717203
Nothing wrong with sending keepers out on loan if you can recall them at the drop of a hat. I agree regarding Ingram. With that said, perhaps he could surprise us and step up to the first team football. Lumley... he's still young. He's paid well. I don't know if he'd be in that much of a hurry to get into another team if he has to sit in the number 2 spot. And I don't think he has that much attention coming from anywhere else, to be honest. So I think he'd happily take the 2 spot over Ingram. I'd send Ingram out on loan and see if he can find form, with Smithies and Lumley on the team sheet every week.
This was heavily reported pre the play off final in I think either the Telegraph or the G*ardian It was clear they had spent big and gambled on going back up The downsides, as we know only too well, are ruinous I have nothing against the Vanilla per se, apart from JT, but these fly by night owners are seriously screwing up some old and valued clubs To paraphrase Churchill, 'Football will eat itself'
Strange one this. It makes one wonder what the young up and coming managers who have done the hard work in the lower leagues have to do to get a decent gig when a big name player with absolutely no managerial experience can waltz in and get one of the biggest jobs in the championship. No doubt the spreadsheets and power point presentation convinced the owners that he was the best candidate but it's a bit of a kick for the likes of the Cowley's at Lincoln, Jones at Luton etc who have worked hard to get their sides playing good football on a meager budget, to see this happening. No doubt Derby will be installed as favorites for promotion and a certain John Terry will rock up there to help his mate out on £80k a week.............cynical moi?
I doubt Derby will pay those wages to anyone let alone a shot Terry. Lampard is a very bright bloke so I don’t think it’s fair to label this one as the typical good player being given a role above him based on a name. You could argue, what do the likes of Jones know about players of this calibre and what would Lampard know about Conference football if he started there? I’d say management is more important the lower down you go.
I don't disagree about him being a bright chap, he's always spoken well when on the TV and appears to be personable, but for example if the list of applicants included the aforementioned Jones, Cowley, Ainsworth, Lampard, Coleman from Accrington, Lambert etc it's no surprise that the owner has gone for the big name even though all the others have experience and won things with their clubs......Lampard as far as I'm aware has never organised a training session, never signed a player or selected a side. It's win/win for Lampard especially on a 3 year contract if it doesn't work out, not so sure it's a win/win for Derby.......
As you say, the guys starting off managing the lower leagues may fill peeved seeing Lampard waltzing in taking the Derby job but..... probably fair to say he will have a lot more pressure and expectations on him. Either way, l think it’s good to see recently retired players looking to utilise their knowledge by coaching instead of taking the easy way out, as paid commentators. Keep in mind, the more upcoming coaches coming thru will surely help move on the ones at the other end..... The Mick McCarthys, the Alan Pardews to retirement.
Well it’s never a win-win for the club I guess. Those you list are all respected and experienced guys but can they command a room full of millionaires like a multi-millionaire Lampard can? Interesting he’s got Jody Morris with him who is very highly thought of at Chelsea rather than the usual approach of getting in an old codger as assistant. Morris will run training, I expect, and Lampard will be an attractive option in terms of recruitment.
Terry will probably find himself another playing role, but he'll have to take a further pay cut. It'll be interesting to see what his first non-playing job is. I heard Pat Nevin on the radio the other day saying that, of all the players he's ever been around, he's never seen anyone he thought would be more suited to management than Terry (the dirty racist scumbag). (he didn't actually say the bit in brackets)
Just waiting on Uncle ‘Arry “dodgy knees Spendalot “ Redcrapp to be unveiled along with Racist Terry as his minder and captain respectively!!!
I wouldn't personally want Lampard at QPR. Nice guy but a big gamble. I was reading last week that Derby are slashing their budgets this season. 6 points in the bag hopefully!
I have this recurring nightmare that Frank Lampard brings Uncle Harry Redcapp into the Derby camp and they get to the Play Off final to play...us, under Steve McClaren. It's 0-0 at half time, then in the second half, Derby have a man sent off and McClaren has us apply all the pressure. Under the cosh, 10 man Derby make a rare foray into our half and then...no, no, it's too dreadful to contemplate...
Here is all the very latest from my very own ITK source... If you want to read any of them then please go to http://www.newsnow.co.uk/h/Sport/Football/Championship/QPR
