I know there a lot of us who are bitterly disappointed to see Sam leave especially after all the rhetoric bouncing off the walls at Ashton gate over the last few weeks. According to the press releases Sam was more than happy to stay settled with us and yet beneath the surface something else was stirring and it all makes me wonder just who to believe in the truth stakes. City were being backed in to a corner when you consider that the player was in the last year of his contract and he was also a prolific goal scorer. Surely these attributes on his resume should increase his worth to a potential new employer and yet I have this sneaking feeling that we did not even come close to maximising our return on our investment. When I hear the term "an undisclosed fee" I shudder and wonder why we are not prepared to scream from the rooftops that we sold someone who was generally held in high regard for a good price and have generated revenues that can now be used to improve other areas of the team to continue our climb back to some dignity. How much effort was put towards getting Sam to stay with us under an improved contract, which he had earned, and did we stay on the right course to achieve that end or did we just say that his departure was inevitable so let's just see what the market will allow? Second guessing what our management gets up to behind closed doors is a waste of time because nothing we say will make any difference when it comes down to the nitty gritty so I suppose we now move on and wish Sam all the best for his future and hope that someone has our best interests and future under control. Surely that's not too much to ask - is it? Welcome to the new dawn folks!
City have not, to my knowledge, disclosed any transfer fee paid or received for several years, so I don't believe we should read too much into that. All transfer fees have been guesstimates by fans or at best a leaked figure some considerable time after the event which may have been fact or fiction. IMO the probability is that we recouped what we spent on him whatever that amount was. It was clouded in mist because while it was a separate deal, it was intertwined with the Maynard sale. Whether we made a cash profit is known only to a few within Ashton Gate. Whether we had offered Sam a new contract or not is almost irrelevant. The stark fact is that under the SCMP rules that we operate under, with gates around 11,000, we could not expect to match what Brighton could offer him with attendance's above 25,000 and FFP rules. Sam is a pro with a short career span and will want to sell his labour for a good return just like all of us do in our own employment field. SCMP allows us to spend 60% of our turnover on players wages whereas FFP allows a loss of £4 million on total turnover. I think that City must have seen this coming for some time and for the first time that I can remember, we have replaced a departing player before he has actually been transferred. Perhaps we are all a bit too quick to criticise the club especially when we do not know the true facts behind the transfer. So now the king, Baldock, is dead and long live the king Agard.
you maybe right cidered, but us fans are really disappointed to be kept in the dark all the time often lied too, thats most peoples anger at mo, we hear SC and sammy saying he aint going then we stop ST sales and hes off, i dont think any true City fan hates /dislikes Sammy but the scenario leaves a bad taste in our mouths, thats only my opinion anyhoo.
Every player has his price - we sell take the money and use it to sign someone else I really don't see a conspiracy about season ticket sales - Brighton made 6 bids - they eventually made one that matched the valuation. As for the communicting with fans, the clubs not going to say he's for sale because that would lower the price we got for him
Every player does have a price. However, with the Baldock deal we've shown, once again, that we are a selling club, and that the price we want is not the price they'll have to pay. We've always liked to believe that we are big fishes in the small pond, but many other teams in League 1 would have held their ground. Since we didn't we've told all other clubs and players that we're a pushover club; a springboard to better things.
there one line in the media that sums it up as the agent wants his wages Sam was constantly kept up to date by his agent and at least 6 offers were made............. so was it Sam said NO NO NO NO NO then the club said YES ?
Sam appears to be a decent sort of person and perhaps he was genuinely content at the Club and living in this part of the world, until recently when he realised that Brighton were determined and also what the footballing and financial benefits were to him. Better prospects and a significant pay increase are two things that, in this materialistic world, are difficult to ignore. It now remains to be seen if he really is Championship quality because his previous experience at WHU and City at that level was disappointing to say the least.
Think we are always likely to be a selling club- Doesn't matter about size- Look at Southampton- Premier league side and yet they are always selling- I don't agree with their youth programmes ie at Bath etc but they do keep unearthing them- We have, in the past, got it badly wrong with transfers- In the absence of any contract being agreed with Baldock, the risk was letting him go free at the end of next year- Do you take less money than he is worth, but still a handy sum now, or nothing next year? Pretty easy decision, even if it is one we didn't want to hear I guess. To answer the question on the thread- I guess we gained a small profit, plus we got 36 goals and 2 years service- Overall, one of our better deals, but might have been better-
I've been saying all summer that I think he will go and alas I'm proved right, however I have no bad feelings towards the club or Sam regarding this transfer. Sam was happy to stay here as he said but anyone in employment would listen to a potentially better offer. Anyway he wasn't going to state publically he wanted out just in case it never happened even if this was the case, which I don't think it was for one second. I think Sam has acted above board in this scenario and his parting words are testament to his character. I also think the club has acted ok in this, ok nobody wanted him sold but we knocked backed 5 offers and finally sold him for a price we were willing to accept for a player with a year left on his contract, after it also must be said getting in a replacement for him. Football is a business, SL is a business person. As for being kept in the dark, were we really? We all knew the bids were out there. We should move on, get behind the club and cheer them to promotion. The King is dead, Long live the King
While I appreciate the decision to be made, it's a reactionary decision rather than a proactive decision. We shouldn't have even come close to this situation again, and the second our future in the league was decided we should have pushed Baldock to sign or to leave. This way, we could have negotiated with Baldock and his agent to arrange a move that would suit all parties. In terms of the decision that was made, if we missed out on promotion this season due to our forwards being in poor form would it be worth it then? Additionally, would £1m be enough to rebuild key areas of the squad to help secure promotion? I don't think so. £3m would have been a happy medium for me. £1m is enough for a solid Championship player, so £3m would easily secure us at least three top players at this level AND pay their wages.
undisclosed.so why are people postulating it was under a million about a million ..? I think all things be equal if we have sold him for less than £2 million we undersold, other points to note is if Aggers is his replacement on less wages then that is a gain in real terms...a million pounds would leave us about 750K ?
'I've been saying all summer that I think he will go and alas I'm proved right' And yet 7 days ago 21/8 'This is the first time all summer that I feel confident that he is going to stay'.
Thanks for the thoughtful replies guys and it appears that the general consensus is that although we are all disappointed to see Sam leave most of us believed it was an inevitability and was going to happen soon. Even though I felt there was some collusion going on here it remains that the club has to keep relatively tight lipped about the discussions to keep the integrity of the deal from the public, but we still feel somewhat cheated yet again. For many years now I always get the impression that Bristol City rarely get close to becoming the real deal and for some reason known only to the selected few we continue down that road again, and while many of us were licking our lips at the prospect of a power scoring front line our hopes have been dashed against the rocks that seem to be an integral part of being a supporter of this club. Maybe, just maybe, SC has put together an alternative proposition that can fill that role but for some sneaky feeling I have my doubts and the line up, and result, vs Notts County will answer some of those questions. If indeed the intention for this season is to gain promotion then we must show our hand sooner rather than later but should the order of the day be further consolidation and rebuilding then I shall scream because it is a discipline in which we do not have a very good track record. It is good to see our start of the season in the top half of the division and let's hope that the Sam transfer works out for all parties, especially us - so onwards please.
£1m+ compensation for a player wanting out, who hasn't scored or assisted so far this season, with his contract running out and could have walked on a free next transfer window. Not great, just ok.
Keiran Agard and Sam Baldock are similar players both lively round the box but not a goalscorer out of nothing player. So I suspect Mike we've got the replacement already, it's just we've for the first time I can remember got the replacement before selling. So in that respect it's a bit confusing for us to take in, I doubt if Sam stayed we would of got Agard as I could never see them playing in the same team. Some on here will shot me down but I'm used to it now. The one thing I will miss from Baldock is his commitment like the time RR posted that thread about missing chance after chance against MK Dons he went on and scored 2 in the second half so well done RR you can have all that credit It will be interesting to see how quickly Agard settles in
Meant as a cynical joke Tampa, like most others I wouldn't have him anywhere near the place - he got what he deserved and I'm glad.
