I totally agree but the player has to want to stay, I understand he probably wants to make as much money as possible, there is also the draw if it's a premier league team as there are no guarantees he'll get there with us. I'm all for paying him what he wants to keep him but with the structure of the club there has to be a limit the problem is we don't know how much past the limit he wants, if ots not that much I'm sure a deal is possible if its way above then the club need to make a stand
Exactly. We've discussed many times on here that the most important people at our club at the moment whilst we're running this strategy, are the recruitment people.
Yes but that's hoping we can find a young striker who can fill his boots, Ross knows the craic his agent is very switched on, touting between Gers and Everton must be a stiffy for him.
At the end of the day football is now a sports entertainment business, and a company selling an asset for 3200% profit now, when they might only get 1800% profit in 6 to 12 months, makes financial sense. Reinvestment back in the the business after the sale on a younger asset with a higher potential value will be done, but only on the right terms and at the right time. We could potentially see a short term loan in the interim whilst the marketplace is volatile.
We won't get a like for like Stewart replacement, that's just the way it is. Brentford are the perfect example of how this works. In 2014 they paid £950k for Scott Hogan from Rochdale. 22 years old and had just scored 17 goals in League Two. Not a household name. 2 years later, they sold him (by this time their top scorer) to Villa for £9.5m. They weren't able to bring in a player who could provide the same goal threat that Hogan had, so they invested in 2 younger players instead. 21 year old Ollie Watkins (£6.5m from a League 2 club) was the main replacement - Hogan scored more goals in the Championship the year he was sold than Watkins scored in League 2. They spent the other £2m in an unknown 20 year old French lad who wasn't cutting it in the Saint Etienne team (Neal Maupay). Maupay did well and was sold 2 years later for £15m. Watkins took 3 seasons of continuous improvement but eventually became a player that Villa paid £33m for. When Brentford lost their main striker Maupay, they didn't spend £15m on a replacement or break the bank to try and get him to stay. They spent the money on 4 players - 19 year old Bryan Mbeumo, Ethan Pinnock, David Raya and Christian Norgaard. When Watkins left (the same time as Benrahma) for a combined £60m, they spent less than £10m. Not on someone who had proven themselves in the Premier League or Championship. They spent it on 23 year old League One striker Ivan Toney. Brentford didn't just sell their star striker once and replace them with someone less proven, they did it 3 times and also in multiple other areas of the pitch. The point being that selling Stewart won't be the end of the club and anyone we bring in needs to be given time. That's what the model is all about.
Excellent post Flash. That is the model we are going for. They also got a new stadium out of that money as well.
Speakman wants to sell and agent wants the big licks. All in all, very unlikely we keep him much longer.
Whether we're successful at it remains to be seen, but we have to give it time. If we try to spend money and wages like a rich club and hold on to star players, then we end up being beaten by all the richer clubs than us. We need to do something different. A surplus cash flow and valuable resalable assets allows you to punch above your weight and take the necessary gambles when they arise. A bloated wage bill doesn't.
You have raised great points but it really is a tough pill to swallow when it's likely your best player is out of the door. In his prime. We can talk about models etc forever, but the fan inside all of us wants ambitious moves and no matter how it's dressed up, this squad without Stewart is weaker. Replacement will be so hard to replicate, possible but difficult.
If all of that is right....and I have no reason to believe it isn't.....that's an excellent post mate.
@Flash Gordon just seen your post above. It's a great one. Really does depend on how trust we all have in the model and people making the calls.
Agree with the sentiments mate.....we all want to keep our best players,and we love Ross. However,at our level,no-one is irreplaceable.
I also think it’s important to be able to seperate being upset by something and whether you agree with it or not. The fan in me would want us to keep Stewart for as long as we want him. I’ll be gutted when he leaves. But at the same time I’m looking at the situation and all variables and think the way to maximise benefit for the club out of this situation will be to sell him now, unless he’s willing to sign a contract. Each situation needs to be treated on its merits. But a player that is in demand with his contract running out is always going to have us over a barrel.
Totally agree with this too. I'll be devastated when he leaves, as a fan I have genuine affection for him (and a lot of this team to be honest). But I'm done with blame. When he goes I'm not going to get angry at the club for taken £2m less than what I thought he was worth etc. Or boo the player for wanting to leave. I'm ready to thank a player for his efforts and the memories and trust that the club are doing the best business they can for our long term security and prosperity.
The massive difference this time around is most of the fans I know and thank to aren't bothered about the Premier Leauge. Most have accepted that we're a Championship club now. Naturally the owners may have a different approach and goals, but our "modle" keeps us safe and if we're promoted within the next 3 or 4 years, it'll be down to fluke. I agree with a post saying if we sell Stewart for 10, we'd probably get 2 or 3 players out of it and bank the change. Football is for the wealthy these days, the rest of us have to try a new approach. Sensible heads needed.Time will tell.
