Has played 55 premiership games, which would make him one of our most experienced players at that level, at 24 years of age. He can't be that bad. Bolton had him as their player of the year as well. Worth looking at.
Apologies, yes, but everything else remains true. And we don't have to many players who have played at Liverpool standard at all. He may be ****e, but I would have thought he had a more "proven" pedigree than almost any of our other players and most other targets.
Probably true, I think maybe we're being swayed by the fact he looked **** against us last season, he must have done something right to win Bolton's player of the season.
I think you're right. He was crap against us, and for some reason I let that sour my opinion of him but it's daft to base it on that. I'd previously thought he was a decent larker, or at least was gradually turning into one.
if we're priced out of landing Bridcutt, which is looking increasingly likely, he'd be a reasonable replacement target. compact, likes a tackle and a neat and tidy passer.
Assuming our transfer budget is the £15m which has been quoted: Assuming prices below (approx) Austin or Hooper £4 to £5.5m Scmeichel £2.5m Davies £3m Elmohamady £1.5m Another keeper £1.5m Elmander £0.5m That pretty much takes up all our budget using approx transfer costs based on what has been quoted/rejected. What else do we need? Clearly more options in the striking department, without another fee heading out the club are there many freebies or out of contract players that would add to the team in areas we may be short in? £15m sounds a lot, but in reality I think even spending that amount will leave us really short in key areas. Will the £15m just take into account fees required up front? So if the payment for a striker is £5m, but only £2m up front with the rest in add ons, does the £2m go off this years budget with the remainder off next years? Or does the full amount come off our total spend as it's committed?
I'm not joking about Warner, just wandering why we signed him? Was it mandatory to have 3 keepers in the PL last time? If so, with the Jak deemed surplus and It has already been referenced that Oxley will go out on loan - we'll only I assume have 2 registered goal keepers, unless we use Cracknell?
We need a midfielder or 2 preferably an ashbee style if poss, I think midfielders are a must our current midfield isn't good enough
This is what I have never been sure about. I think the answer must be that, although clubs can do it anyway they want, it makes more sense to do it on a cashflow basis. They would have a monthly cashflow forecast for the current season and then a yearly cashflow forecast for the next three years. They slot in the transfer fees and wages for the next four years and have two sets of income for the next three years - one assuming Premier League and one assuming Championship. They would also have profit and loss accounts prepared for the same periods based on the accruals concept which would include an expense for gradually writing down the player transfer fees, etc. The costs of each player could be quite complex and variable given the contract deals they have nowadays. I don't think they would say that if they pay £4.5m spread over three years they would take £4.5m out of the £15m budget. I would have thought it would be £1.5m per year. Having said all that I don't think that what clubs say in public has much bearing to what they are thinking privately.
Heard Assem Allam talking with Burnsy on Humberside after fixture list came out. Says in talks with strikers and needs to sort out midfield, just working with Bruce's list. Seems very hands off but thinks rumours funny. specially the 'Belgium Striker' who turned Hull City down after 8 mill bid - says club never heard of him before that came out. No chance of club buying anyone for 8 mill. Goalkeeper being sorted soon, thinks will be the Turkish club one, Mcgregor. Survival this season, about tenth next....
Survival this season, about tenth next.... well the first 9 points are nailed on....its only Chelski away......, Norwich home....manc city away
