Just as I thought this club couldn't piss me off anymore, we then go and say we want to sell on our only established striker. It's almost comical at this point.
Or financial reasons - maybe he is the only player we can shift and get decent money for? Its good that SR are investing in us but some of the transfer business so far has been very questionable. Although I'll add the caveat that we still have 3 weeks left and all could become clear come September.
'Saints looking to move' is very different to just receiving a decent offer. Suggests that the club/Ralph actively want him gone which is completely mental imo.
Whatever the reasons - if Ralph didn't feel he could bring him on then he's a gonner. Three reasons it worries me: 1. He's our most effective PL striker. 2. His likely destination is one of the clubs we are likely to be scrapping it out with this season - Forest, Everton, Leeds. 3.a £20m replacement would be far, far from a sure thing.
The only 2 logical reasons I can see for selling him is: 1. he’s fallen out with the coaches and wants out 2. We need to raise some money to buy and he’s the only player we can/want to sell who could do that (assuming we want to keep KWP and JWP at all costs) It’s a big risk as whilst he won’t score you many goals nobody else in this squad will either unless Mara settles very quickly and is very good. Also means we need 2 strikers and a centre back as a minimum (assuming Hassenhuttl sticks with either the 5 at the back or his old 4-2-2-2) and if the reason is option 2 then we aren’t getting enough for Adams to cover those 3 signings with anyone remotely proven. Does anyone else remember the sell on clause Birmingham have or did I just make that up?
There was definitely talk of it at the time but can't remember details of the percentage and whether it was total value or profit only.
What is it with Ralph and strikers? Ings didn't seem to like him, and apparently neither did Broja. With Ralph having been a striker himself, could it be a Hoddle-esque situation where he is weirdly competitive with the players and expecting too much from them?
I’d guess that’s it his style of play; being told as a forward you have to press/harass and chase down everything is not going to sit well with a lot of strikers
40% of the total fee, not just profit, goes to Brum according to FM. If this right then we only get 12m if we sell him for 20m
Can't believe we let Shane go now, absolutely ridiculous decision! At the end of last season I was in such despair that I wanted 90% of the squad gone. Che has done ok, some moments of magic but I wouldn't call him consistent. If he is to go then I hope we can get an experienced striker to replace him (I know, I know!). Silver lining; it may give Adam Armstrong more breathing space... Che and him had a pretty similar first season for us if I recall correctly. If he goes and we don't bring anyone else in then I fully appreciate the meltdown that will follow on here... However, I don't know why, but I'm quietly optimistic about this season. We did need a shake up, and that's exactly what we've got. Either way, it's not the end of the world... Enjoy life.
I really don’t think it’s because of a need to raise funds because they’ve talked of wanting up to 10 signings including a striker that would be an ‘expensive signing’ or words along those lines. I don’t think the people in charge would have left ourselves in this position this late in the transfer window that we can only buy in critical positions if we sell by far and away our best striker. Don’t know for sure, but I’d be very surprised if it was we have to sell to do more business situation at this stage. The falling out seems very plausible but this is really not leaving ourselves in a great position for the rest of the window as there’s still a lot to do. Would have much preferred us to sell AArmstrong for £10m to a championship club than Che for £20m but here we are. Going to need to pull some rabbits out of hats at this stage. Meanwhile Brentford who are tipped to be in the relegation mix with us are signing Damsgaard for just €15m…and they already have a striker better than any of ours in Toney.
I like Che and I think he's done a good job for us. However, if we're changing the way we play and it doesn't suit him or he's unwilling to adapt then the simple solution is to sell him and bring in someone who will.
it would be frankly bizzare to sell che now. with the season underway, already one striker short, nobody in the squad proving they can do the job and zero guarantees that a replacement will be better. One of a tiny handfull i would build the squad around from last year. Sell him and this goes to a 4/10 window, we will need to recruit big, instant successes or this season could be a blowout from the start.
I would refer everyone to my item I posted last week about Che and Ralph Following the snub last weekend I would suggest he is definitely off, my fear is His good friend KWP will go as well especially if Ralph is very likely to be sacked shortly
Well he's not is he. If he was going to be sacked, it would have happened at the end of last season. I think he's got until the World Cup break to improve things on the pitch and that's the right thing to do IMO. No sense in sacking him now.
