After the Sess departure hit me hard I am slowly coming around to the new model being implemented at SAFC. Long story short we basically have everyone for sale and the new scouting team/DOF identifies and brings in replacements and future talent with the aim to improve the club's finances and turn it into a profitable organisation. I think we can all agree that after seeing that list of expensive squads and SAFC being up there with Athletico Madrid etc this was long over due. The first victim of this was Sessegnon to a lot of our disapproval, however the simple fact was that WBA paid the bounty we placed on his head and we loaned Borini, Kerchingggg of £6M and wage bill reduced. With this in mind I can honestly see AJ biting the dust in the coming windows as he is also on monster wages, especially if he continues fluctuate in his returns on the pitch. Its something that we are going to have to get used to and this will be quite hard for a club that has for its lifetime always liked to have that one player to idolize and relate too (Rowell, Phillips etc) and hope that they stay at SAFC for their whole careers but if the Bounty hunters are out there and pay the price I am sure we will sell although we do have peace of mind that they will be replaced, unlike the Mags! FTM and Haway for the new SAFC!
AJ will have to perform well enough for us to get an offer in for more than we paid for him. We got our money back on Sess, and our DoF and Short will want to do the same for anyone else unless they are totally useless.
All depends on how well this season goes for him, World Cup year and everything you would think he would have all the motivation he needs. If he does brilliantly this year and his is stock is high and a bid comes in next summer, I would definitely say hes gone with our new way of working.
I got used to it months ago mate, since we found out we were restructuring with a DoF. The Model is genius in my opinion. Just wait a few years and see the players we're producing. Skimming the cream off for ourselves and selling the other. We'll have players out on loan all over Europe and we'll profit on many a player who'll never pull on a first team shirt. Not to mention we'll have sell on bonuses written into contracts all over the world picking up a steady stream of revenue whenever old players move on again. It's a long term business plan with our clubs best interests at heart. Admittedly it doesn't benefit us as much now but I believe we already have a much improved squad on last season with a lowered wage bill so it's already bearing fruit albeit a very small yield. I just don't like that the squad is still thin of quality as good as our first 11 looks. But moving on players takes time when they're on inflated wages.
Spot on mate, short term we may be missing a few players and struggling to shift a few etc but long term the club is looking absolutely spot on. The aim this season has to be staying up first of all and pushing on and persisting with a new playing style along with settling/gelling the new squad and I believe PDC can do this which will enable him to have better player next season but this will need time, which i am 100% sure Short and the club will give him. As fans I think we have to realize that we are not going to get quality players and fill the positions in one window and once we realize that we can get on with supporting the team and PDC.
Thank god so many of the inflated contracts are up at the end of the season. Though I still think it's risky letting too many contract expire at the same time.
dont go to the aj thing ,hes been one of the biggest let downs ever for value for money, talk about sess not turning up ,if he gets another cap for england it will be a miracle, im hoping im wrong but i reckon hes a flop. In fact he should be leading the way to most in the team its not as if hes a green horn , he should be battling away as an example to the others, or is it another case i get paid anyway so ufck it, he is not the sort to be with when your backs are against the wall im afraid
Could be a good thing if we get relegated! haha It is a worry along with the 3 loans also needing a decision and I highly doubt Borini and Ki will be bought and that also depends on Swansea or Liverpool selling, which they wont if they have good seasons with us. One things for sure is that next summer looks like being just as busy as this one.
Why is it only us supporters who think we now have a better squad when you read every pundit across the sport who belittle our signings and all have us nailed on for relegation. Why is it that according to these pundits we will struggle to have all these players gelling when other teams who have brought in a shed load of players as well including Spurs, Hull, Norwich, and more have all bought well and improved their chances of having a great season. I just don't get it. I know what we all think of the pundits, but it really p1sses me off that we get no credit, and I know our start to the season hasn't helped, but here's hoping we can prove them all wrong..happy days.
Because Pundits are lazy knackers who do their research from reading newspapers instead of watching football. All the pundits will have seen of us this year is on MOTD and the Palace game. They're taking their information from the people carrying a vendetta over our club because of our head coach and their quest to sell papers.
The pundits hate us because we sacked one of their own in O'Neill, a fully paid up member of the old boys network who dominate commentary and punditry. I'm pretty sure Ki is already one year in to a three year deal so by the time he ends his loan with us he will only have a year left on his contract. Will put us in a very good position should he settle and do well here unless Swansea want to take him back then risk losing him for nowt 12 months later
I know its wikipedia but they claim Ki has a mid season recall option from this loan to us, so he may not even be here till May 14.
