I think seven or eight from the first five games would be a decent return and set us up nicely. It's hard to gauge what this season will look like so early on, but you have to fancy the relegated teams from the PL for promotion. That being said, we need to be beating Sheffield United, can't have them taking three points off us.
Stoke have just sold Collins for £12m & replaced him with Wilmot for £1.5m-2m. Looks like really good business, they aren't supposed to be able to spend much of the £12m for FFP reasons. Suspect they'll be going for this lad if they can shift Clucas, they'll save a £1.5m a year from his wages alone.
Stoke are absolutely stuffed when it comes to FFP and their wage budget. Getting players in that club takes almost military level planning and they can only sign players if wages leave the bill first. If they didn't have the backing of their owners in the way they do, they would be in series series trouble
They lose £15m in parachute payments this year Are we after Ali McCann? I'm assuming, we like him but can't afford the fee.
Asked someone I know up there about him, "Decent mate - good footballer but a little lightweight. Works hard, NI International would be good for Hull"
Interesting tweet from Regan's dad last night. He said 'just let him go FFS!!!!!'. He's usually a really measured guy & doesn't give much away but there's clearly some frustration over this waiting game.
I've not seen it as not on twitter, but it wouldn't surprise me in the slightest nor would I disagree
That's the one! He'd be a huge signing for us, I thought Regan was the best of the 3 we played in that defensive role and it's no coincidence that our best results came with him in there. He improved so much throughout the season & he's still got so much progression left. If he can keep improving I think he could be a PL player. There aren't many defensive midfielders around with his passing ability.
It makes you wonder what Coates now feels about changing direction when replacing Pulis. I know he doesn't play the most attractive football, but he kept them in the top flight quite comfortably, and look where they are now?
It's difficult to bridge the gap to being an established top 10 side and it requires smart recruitment. Leicester have done very well on that front for a prolonged period, West Ham look like they may be starting to get it right too. A lot of Stoke's issues have come from the spending once they came down. The spent a fortune on Championship proven players and it failed miserably. Probably the best example of why buying proven players is surprisingly a flawed plan. It just feels like a team of individuals from afar.
What exactly has happened with FFP? Wasn’t there a case last season that caused it to be suspended? Obviously not given the conversation here, maybe I dreamt it.
-> "Hopefully we have enough to stay up in the Championship. I’ll be more than happy with that". Ehab wouldn't! He's aiming for the play offs, by punching just a little above our "roughly mid-table wage budget"
