The clubs financial health is (sort of) a separate consideration to FFP though. It just defines what your maximum playing budget is without risking fines and points deductions. We appear to be mindful of breeching it, which is surely no bad thing, and only places us in the same boat as 2/3rds other ambitious champ clubs who don't have the parachute income but are spending the max they can.
Yeah, and it sucks the fun out of football. It was designed to mitigate against clubs spending beyond their means but there’s no carrot and the stick is only used to punish the clubs further with points deductions, not the profligate owners who cut and run like Mel Morris.
Interesting Connolly's now being reported as a permanent which goes back to my original point that we were supposedly taking him on loan in the last year of his deal, which was not significantly different to a one year permanent deal, so interesting to see it's flipped in that direction. Saves a loan spot in the squad.
Oh, I agree, it basically cements a Premier league cartel of about 25 clubs, some of which spend a season or two in the championship every now and again
I think there an element of your 1st&3rd point in all this. But as I've said, I've no way of knowing 100% as I can only go on things I'm told. My question to LR/the club would be, if we are getting our first choice targets then why haven't we got them in? Because if we are still working on first choice targets then it seems to be taking a hell of a long time. The LR/the club will have identified their first choice targets months ago. My experience tells me very few "first choice targets" come in the later part of the window and if we are leaving it late to get in our first choice targets and they don't come off, where does it leave us?
Gotta say Tetteh seems to have all the tools but sadly looks like he wants out, so be it, no point teying to keep him, I suspect there's a hell of a player in there when his head and body are right. Re Connolly I say again, disappointing end to his loan spell, and yes poses a few questions, but when he was on the pitch he was something different, and fingers crossed, with a decent run injury free (and mentally) fit and raring to go I honestly believe he'll do well for us. Acun certainly isn't going to throw his cards on the table, as to how much wriggle room we have, but at this point I'm happy to trust in him, the bloke seems to be trying to do the right thing within the constraints we have. I dare say he has learned from.last seasons gung ho transfer policy, and also keeping an eye on the finances to ensure we don't drop in the sh1t with the rule makers. Let's see we're we are come the end of the window, that should give us a clue as to how healthy we are.
It's probably media guff. I get the argument that why say it all if its not true but it could be as a ploy who knows. You are right though concerning if its true
It's not unusual for a mid table champ club not to land it's first choice targets and if you are, then maybe you're aiming too low? Barring last year, which was ridiculous turnover by our standards I'm not seeing much difference in the pace of this window than usual. Folk were praising Bristol for early business but it's not that spectacular and if players are moving on permanents that early then it's most likely because there's only 1 suitor or one of the suitors have significantly overpaid. Once the transfer cards start to drop in the PL and pre-season tours end then that's when most of the championship business is done also. We've done 3, with a 4th probably by Saturday and we're still not at the real business end with 5 weeks left of the window.
I've said for a while I think we'll see more business at the back end once the prem boys are settled. But I also doubt we are getting all our first choice targets in ( lb aside if we are being fair ). We are crying out for some real championship experience still imo. It's robustness and consistency that gets you out this division and I personally don't think have that in our squad yet.
I’ve never believed we are getting “our first choice”, I’m doubtful the lb was. You’re right though if we are still working on our first choice targets then that’s a dangerous game, if they don’t happen for whatever reason then second and third choice have gone elsewhere. You’d think we’d be working on first choice before the season finishes. Loans maybe slightly different as we are governed by the parent club but transfers should be easier
To be fair it was mentioned we need to sell some players to move. Nothing has changed. Our wage bill is in the top 6/8 this last season and we massively overspent compared to our income. The gamble didn’t pay off due to poor recruitment. We spent the KLP so poorly, if you look at Coventry in comparison they are spending their windfall of Gyorokes brilliantly. Simms and that RWB they signed from the Dutch league amongst a few others. Unfortunately our chairmen went for higher ended foreigners on huge wages, with little or no re sale value. Anyway, we are in a better position than last season in a highly competitive league with a style of play and a young upcoming manager. We all need a reality check and will need to over perform to be anywhere up in the top 7/8 clubs.
You not think maybe we have players who are starting to look that way despite us maybe signing them in L1? Your Macca’s, Jones and Slaters? Tufans more consistent, Seri's got bags of experience, Greaves if he stays is every bit a championship player in 2 positions. Coyle, Christie?
People do get extremely carried away with their perceived “quality” of signings. We’d have probably been disappointed with the summers Luton and Coventry had last year!
Seri I'll definitely give you, and the defenders you mention are definitely becoming every bit champ players, along with Ingram, but top end of the pitch and out wide, where's the championship experience and robustness that's needed? Tufan has improved, but do you honestly think we'd get a full season of consistency from him? Oscar you can argue would do it, but as with tufan, do you really think we'd get a full season out of him based on what we know of him so far? And if he's out injured who else up there is a potentially 15+ goal a season player? The wide players we have bar longman (who isn't good enough imo) don't have much experience combined and definitely don't strike me as full season players when it comes to consistency and robustness let alone the quality that's needed.
