We've got 2/3 of a decent side here, yet we continue to make do mate, it really does annoy me. Since Micky Gray we have not had a decent, proper left back, we finished 7th with Micky Gray, closest since is 10th. In truth we need a ****ing RB as well, I just want to see the side balanced, properly, not just 'he's left footed, lets chuck him there'. Ricco was never a left back, Rose isn't either. Olsson is, and for arund £4million, we have a quick, 24 year old full international, with pace, good going forward , and decent, if not brilliant defensively. Why we are dragging our feet bewilders me.
I try not to voice my worry about money on here. Is MON being forced to work to a "very" strict budget? (Though the stupid figures bandied about for Fletcher beggars belief.) If it's a wages thing bring in a better player for less money to offset their wages. Berba for 5 million on top wage would still be a better option than all than the obscene amounts being talked of for Fletcher. (And Berba doesn't graft hard enough for me, be just like Bendtner and not getting into the box.) We know he is starting to shift the deadwood from SAFC. Plus you can see his managerial skill in the way we set up and hold our shape well. When I have heard him interviewed he agrees with the majority of fans with where we are short. I@m not panicking yet but would hope that he gets the players in sharpish and doesn't wait till the doors are about to be locked.
I did have a money worry , and posted to that end, about 2 weeks back, but the Fletcher bid, and the seemingly genuine attempt to bring in AJ have relaxed me on that. Ricco will be one of the highest paid players at the club, I know he signed a new deal, but his initial Keane contract will have been perverse, I'd hazard he's near 40k a week, Riveros, Angleri, Gyan etc will have been on decent wages, so why not, considering the new sponsorship, push the boat out a wee bit. I don't buy this bollocks that 'you give one 60k a week they all want it', that's horse ****, players appreciate the fact that others are more coveted, indeed, I bet every player at the club hopes we get AJ, even if it is 70k a week, cos they want to play at a progressing/successful club. The time to leap is now, or do we just accept that staying in the league is it? I'm sorry, but it's not right that a club with 40k crowds accepts a place amongst the also-rans, I think Ellis knows this, and I doubt MON would have even considered the job if that was the long term plans. We'll spend mate, on the right players, rather than the ****e we've hoyed money at recently (a few Bruce signings aside).
Its all rumors lets not forget lads.Lets just see what happens at least it looks like something will happen soon.
I read somewhere that some players (I believe Anton was one of them) had a contract which said they would get the same as the highest paid player at the club. Stupid business maybe but it was done when Keane was in charge and it was the only was to get players up here. I think these are the players Short has been keen to get rid of and we could now be in a position to offer the odd 1 or 2 bigger wages. I think Short it looking at it with the view that he will spend money on genuine quality, especially young players because he can see its possible to sell them on at a profit. Fetcher and Johnson are both young enough to be sold on in the future so he is probably happy to make the outlay believing he will get all or at least some of that money back. I can't see him being happy with big offers for the likes of Berba or Dempsey because they would have no re-sale value. Short has plenty of money, the figures were talking about are a drop in the ocean for him, but he will want to make sure he is getting value and that the business can balance its books for FFP. Were not skint but we are cautious. Does anyone know if Sess has been offered a new deal?? I would have thought that would be something they should do now to keep him at the club.
Chill out everyone, MON is "The Man" hes so cool and thank god hes our manager and none of us haha obviously he wants the quality players like AJ, Fletcher, Prinic, possibly Berba or Dempsey bu he also mentioned that we do need some quantity for the season ahead as our squad is very thin so if you get these 2 in to cover injuries etc then I dont mind at all. Rose by the way was great in the Olympics if anyone watched and he played left back, even against Brazil in the warm up he skinned rafael every time.
We have the same 'money problems' that 80% of the EPL have. There isnt much of it about outside City, Utd, Chelsea and probably Spurs after Modric is sold. Also, there isnt much quality about that we could attract and afford either. After Fletcher, I struggle to see real quality out there. For instance, I saw that Kone come on for QPR and he looked like a headless chicken. Granted they were struggling at that point anyway but he just looked lost to me in a way Saha didnt on Saturday. Many on here would have splashed the cash for him or 3 or 4 other foreign names but I have grave resevations that this will work. If we buy Johnson, this Croatian LB and Fletcher for a combined £30m and manage hang on to Sessegnon, then I'd say we will be one of the bigger spenders this close season?
