That was my thoughts as well. So many people had our pants down back then and the club was oblivious to it.
Tbf with the whole Mowbray craic. It was clear the club wanted their own young foreign manager who properly trusted the project. It’s clear RLB is that as he worked in youth development for years and he loves working with young players. The club just simply trust him more really. It’s often mentioned how the board and manager are now a seamlessly connected team with RLB here
Mowbray was always a stop gap safety net after Alex neil they just couldn’t sack him after the season he had, hence we were after the manager who went to nice
All I keep thinking is, if we can attract this type of signing in the Championship.... Who can we attract if we do go up! Honestly I've not been this excited since the Reidy days!
I don’t think the club have learned from their mistakes. I’d imagine this sort of thing has always been the approximate plan. It’s always been about how you start a project like this. The investment in youth and potential yields better results over time, stronger and more capable squads, higher reputation, more financial strength through sales. The truth is likely to be far more prosaic. We are capable of a deal like ELF because we can now afford it and have reached a reputation where he’d want to come.
Even if the club are paying all his wages, which I would doubt, it is still only for 5 months. We are signing a luxury player to try and help with promotion which would guarantee financial rewards, to sign him. If we do not get promoted, one or both Bellingham & Rigg will depart in the summer bringing in £50 million so its a safe investment.
I thought the coach recruitment was a mess in the summer. I was wrong. They did exactly what they said they would - be thorough and get the right person not just who’s available.
Much as I like Mowbray as a bloke and he did a great job for us, he was always a short term appointment. A safe pair of hands to consolidate us and make sure we stayed up. He was never really the long term man to kick us on.
Yeah these type of signings aren't new, they are just at a higher level because we have the financial capability to do them. In theory, in a few years time we'll move beyond the Le Fee type signings.
If we are paying his full wage now, for the next x games, that is a benchmark the club have set as what they are willing to pay for a player right now. We are no doubt mid negotiations with other first teamers on a new deal. Dan Neil, team captain, being one. Why would Dan, for example, be out of order expecting the club to offer him the same? Would the club offer him the same? Then you have agents, seeing this as opportunity to do what they do best. If we get promoted, and he has a pre-agreed salary, then you can expect a raft of other players demanding the same or more. It feels like a big rod for our own back to be honest. I really hope he is worth it. This sort of thing has caused problems for football clubs for a long time now. Man Utd are the best example of this. They have brought in players from other clubs and given them huge contracts, like Mount. Now Mainoo is up for a new contract he wants a massive bump to at least match Mount. They are unlikely to be able to do it so he could well leave. The local lad out of their academy who their fans more associate with. And who is the better player as it turns out. I am basing all of this on the gap between Le Fees weekly wage paid for by the club and any of our other lads being significant. I read somewhere Ballard is our top earner and on around £20k. Suggestion Le Fee is on double. My experience is upset can be caused when some folk get paid significantly more than others.
Understood. unless we are paying £0 of his wages directly to him and have just paid £1.5m as a loan fee to Roma, which happens to cover his wages. Which is a nuance. if it all being paid to Roma rather than Le Fee, it’s indistinguishable how much of it is “wage” and how much of it is compensation to Roma for lending us their player. Basically it’s not like we suddenly have a player we are paying a huge wage to, that money goes to Roma
Think this is most likely. Key is what it means for any potential wage structure should we get promoted. It’s not surprise Neil hasn’t signed a new deal, what’s on offer to him could easily treble if we go up. On that basis I’m pretty sure they will all be happy we’ve forked out £1.5m to try and make that happen
Will be made official tomorrow morning and he'll be on the bench for Stoke, I imagine. EDIT: Just realised there's FA Cup matches tonight, so would it be too late for him to play in this round if he signs tomorrow?
