I just watched the highlights on the EFL on Quest and if McBurnie keeps scoring then they'll be rubbing their hands for sure. It's depressing knowing what's coming. As has been pointed out many times by just about everyone, a little, not excessive in any way but expected re-investment in the squad could have seen us with a real chance of being in contention. It's so frustrating. I'm not sure what to think any more but I want those w@nkers to make as little profit as possible. A promotion would be great for us fans but then it's back to season on season relegation battles until the inevitable (again) and meanwhile the vultures get fatter picking the club's bones. They probably have solid gold earplugs, plus they couldn't give a toss what the fans think anyway. The only hope I have left is that they'll eventually get bored with meagre profits and move on to a fresh victim. Despite that, I'm going to keep on supporting the team through thick and thin and when we win I'll enjoy it knowing the team's done it for the fans and not the owners.
The 27 Yanks have put their hands in their pockets to buy their shares - that’s their investment. They’ve paid c£70m for their shares - the value of which is much lower now, so they wouldn’t (in their eyes) want to throw good money after bad.... So the Club has to break even / wash its face itself. Hence the twin drive to slash the wage bill and generate cash from player sales. Prepare for more of the same next year when the parachute payment reduces...
We haven't backed Potter in the market Dai. Yes it was vital to cut the wage bill and offload some of the big earners etc but we still could have invested in the squad. Our squad is now threadbare and very inexperienced. A couple of decent signings is all we needed. If we make top 6 with this squad and don't go up, we could lose Potter next summer.
The foreseeable future for Potter is to stand on the beach and stop the tide coming in. He is performing miracles...………….. Seriously, I can see some Premier League clubs getting interested in him and I'm sure it wouldn't take much persuasion for him to go and join a Club where the Board takes football seriously.
Fair play swimaway, it all turned out well in the end but in my defense my comments you quoted I posted at half time when things looked bleak. I'm still not happy that we've fast tracked Fers recovery though, especially when we do have experience in the squad who could have taken some of the pressure off him. My fears for him have been realized, he starts his first game, far too soon imo, breaks down to be replaced before half time. Luckily we have the international break to minimize the impact of his loss but when we come out the other side Potter must give Fer the same consideration he's giving to Montero. As for the midfield its like we've signed three new players in Routledge, Dyer and Narsingh. The experience these three have could be invaluable to the squad and could be the make our entire season imo. Both Routledge and Narsingh can play in centrally as well as out wide, I hear the screams but I think both can be effective centrally particularly at AM, at this level and by utilizing this Potters options begin to increase. Dyer can play both flanks which gives Potter another option as he then has a new choice to consider regarding Mackay who too can play in the middle as well as out wide. Potter has to make the most of this experience and the options they give him. The Championship is all about wining games, draws wont do, losses will get you relegated. Winning in the Championship is everything so Potter has to improve the squad he's got by exploiting its resources to the max in order to make that happen. Six games in and we're doing OK but for me so far it's been an absolute privilege seeing the birth of a future superstar in world football. He cost us just £3m and in just 6 games he's quadrupled, quintupled his value as he's shown what he will mature into. If he continues to play as he has by the end of the season his value will be well in excess of £20 and you can double that if by some miracle we get promoted. Watching Bersant Celina grow into the great player he's going to be is a joy and with every touch he makes in every game he's plays he gets better and better.
Try telling Stoke that. There's a few clubs who have chucked money at this division and failed. I think with the ability to sign two or 3 players, you might have a man in Potter who COULD make it though. Also, I don't think he'd sign players for the sake of it and also wouldn't spend on big names. The midfielder you missed out on (sorry, forgot his name) for £600k is keen and hungry would make a big difference under Potter's tutelage. As posted elsewhere, if Potter keeps up the progress you're making, hanging on to him will be the big one.
Fer's injury is a groin strain which could happen as we saw yesterday with Rodon falling awkwardly after a challenge as did Ollsson at any time. I'm not sure who you refer to who at the moment has the requisite experience and who can play instead of Fer in that position and do as well I have to say that we don't know the reason why Dyer Routledge and Narsingh aren't being selected , I'd hazard a guess that they were planned to be pushed out the door and as the team travelled on Friday the squad would have been picked based on that assumption .Regarding Celina , I agree but what ever is value I believe Citeh have a buy back clause so we won't or rather the squad won't see the benefit should he be sold . Potter regardless has had to hit the ground running using players not of his choosing (in the main and where have we seen that before) but imo I think he will do well and hopefully will be with us a bit longer than the previous occupants that have sat in the managers chair
And that’s a shame and short sightedness of them grabbing ****s, if they would have backed Potter then it could have been a special season.
I watched the highlights on Quest as well this morning. How was the two footed tackle flying through the air from Wallace not a sending off - it was a definite red card. Where is the consistency ??? To compound the error from the ref in not sending him off - it was Wallace who scored their goal afterwards. These decisions have to be correct. There's no room anymore in football for poxy decisions when TV replays are available.
Are you saying Stoke have failed 6 games into the season, if they are in the same position after 46 games I will agree with you.
There is a Quest On Demand app you can download and watch Saturday nights show and also previous weeks
That Shaun Williams who spouted the crap about the New Den being an eye opener for our young players ---- the attendance was 12,440 yesterday in a stadium with a capacity of 20,146. The only eye opener was the half empty stadium.
Not sying that, just that instant rewards don't come from splashing cash. A lot of it comes down the type of player bought and the manager. With modest investment I think Potter has as good a chance as any manger in the league from what his team have shown at the start of the season. I know the season is 46 games long but if you get of to a bad start, it can leave you too much to do.
