Not all of them and I’d actually say that they’re getting more than ever before. This one may be bollocks but Hope, Downie, Edwards and Caulkin have all been pretty accurate so far.
Thing is, we signed Trippier for £12m and he'll be on a fair chunk (£100k a week?). Over a three year deal that's £27m. That felt like a bargain. For Lingard if we paid, let's say, £175k per week it's also £27m over 3 years. I think people see the wages and baulk (right so) but you need to look at the overall finances - these "free" transfers are certainly not free but if we'd signed Lingard for £15m this summer and given him £80k per week I think people would look on it as a good deal but thats the same as giving him £175k per week for us. The main issues for me are a) whether his attitude is going to be ok - and personally I think it is b) whether having a player on that wage would unsettle others and cause them to expect more - that is my real worry. As such it's a no thanks from me but it's a close one, I do think he's a big improvement on what we have.
Fully on board with your reasoning there, but that is where it comes down to the player. Just as he's a free agent (**** happens) doesn't mean he's worth more to pull on the shirt on a weekly basis than the rest of the squad. We're right to be well shot of him in my opinion.
Yeah, see the problem is if you give Lingaard £200k a week you then have Bruno saying "I'm the best player I want £250k a week" you have maxi saying "I'm better than him and play more regularly than him I want £250k a week" you have Joelinton saying "I want a pay rise" etc etc etc. They aren't just going to burst the wage structure for someone like him.
Oh i agree, that was my main issue. As a player, and for the overall outlay I actually think it's a good deal, I just don't think it's manageable for the knock on effects it would set in motion.
Its actually a relatively cheap deal as long as they keep it short and there’s a relegation get out clause. There’s no transfer fee so they get him for ~10 million quid for a season. He would have cost double that plus a salary at the end of his loan spell with West Ham.
So it’s a slow day today. Gayle leaving for free. Bargain. Best business we have done this transfer window.
Just he's going to be allowed to leave so he can move back closer to his family. Bournemouth have been muted as a possible destination but I think that's just a story piece for the press putting 2+2 together at the minute. Might happen but that would require Bournemouth to want him.
Yeah, back to B'mouth or also of interest to Champ clubs. We do desperately need this, cut away some of these lads because if we shove another 3 or 4 out, following Clark, Hayden, Gayle, Hendrick, then we can reinvest those wages into 2 or even 3 Bruno-class players. Gayle's ****, but I don't think they're getting rid without having another option lined up or in the pipeline. No club goes into a season with 1 striker and Chris Wood.
Tbf not every club has 1 quality striker whereas we already have 2. I think that’s what the issue is.
