Had zero pre season so is 3 weeks behind everyone else according to RLB. Probably see him feature against Preston next week
Some have already said we shouldn't have signed Browne. Bloody hell one of the better midfielders in the Championship
Looking at estimates on Transfermarkt, most clubs who are spending have sold significantly. Only clubs bucking that trend to any extent are Burnley, Bristol City, Boro, Stoke and Coventry. Burnley benefit from massive parachute payments and of the rest all but Stoke made a good transfer profit last season. Of the relatively big spenders it's worth noting that Leeds, Hull, Norwich and Sheffield United have spent less than a quarter of what they've brought in thus far. Leeds and Hull less than 15%!
Looking at all the signings across the championship, I think it's in the top 5 for the best signings this summer taking into account the talent, lack of fee involved and what he brings outside of his football ability.
Even Bristol City made a huge sale last summer and barely spent anything, Boro will be spending the Morgan Rogers/Akpom money they didn't spend last season.
We look to be working smart when it comes to recruitment, we've made some horrendous signings in the past for inflated fees, we won't see that happen under this regime, Browne is an brilliant signing to make on a free too, how anyone can even begin to moan about that is beyond me. Clubs are going to gamble for that PL money and outlay millions, we clearly won't be doing that but what we should have is a very well run football club in terms of it's financials, this should put us in very good stead for years to come. hopefully within those years we see a return to the PL too.
£7m for Rowe has to be a joke? He averaged the same number of goals per game as Clarke last season, and did it without penalties. And he's 2.5 years younger. They'll get £20m+ for him next summer, imo
Norwich and WBA need promotion this year, if not both will be hit will fines etc possibly add Stoke to that list you can sign 524697464768465465 players but it doesnt work
Made some hellish signings that will undoubtedly help the club massively on the financial side. On paper we have one of my the most valuable squads in this competition and I trust KLD/Speakman to get it right when it comes to selling, we won’t be taken for mugs and give our best assets away for bout that much is clear. We’ve also signed a fair few who have proven to be duds so far anarl mind and I don’t think it’s beneficial to have so many young lads on the wage bill who aren’t impacting us at the min but that’s just me. Personally I would’ve tried my best to sell Jobe this window if we could’ve got £25m+ for him. Would’ve saved us a headache, would’ve returned a great deal of money to our coffers and allowed us to reinvest where we need it.
Alan Browne would have cost £5m last summer. Poveda was probably in the £1-2m bracket last summer from Leeds as well. We shouldn't conflate smart business for an unwillingness to spend.
That's the other good point you make, we aren't looking to rush and sell any players for anything less than what they're valued at, again because financially we aren't in a hole and can afford that luxury.
People used to call Chris Maguire fat but this lad looked as though he's just come back from a 3 week all inclusive holiday
I really don't get this mentality, I think it's some kind of residual trauma from the previous regime doing deals on the cheap. Think about it this way: You're looking for a new car, a specific model of a Land Rover Defender. please log in to view this image They're rare, the specific model you're looking for doesn't show up that often, suddenly there are two pop up at once that fit the requirements and are in your budget. One is listed at a reasonable price but at the top of your budget, the other is listed as POA. So you make the call POA, it's an old rich fella about to leave the country for retirement, he's says if you can take it today you can have it for nothing, just fill out the paperwork in front of him, no strings it's just that he wants rid and not interested in thrashing out a price. You turn up and get a nice Free Transfer, everything is legit, no tricks. Except, as this is a free transfer, you decide not to take the offer because it looks cheap, you're rather pay at the top of your budget for the other one, well done captain sensible.