Is Mapou the real deal?

Another Carr gem. Love this lad.

 

And then promptly sold to the highest bidder, putting NUFC back to square one on the pitch.

Agreed it's great we've buying players young and full of potential at low prices, but unless we're allowed to enjoy their best years once matured we'll never progress.

What worries me slightly is that we have a prejudice against buying experience that can make an impact NOW and help bring on the younger players.
We should remember that a transfer policy that revolves around age and resale value is scant consolation if you end up getting relegated.

Just saying... A healthy blend would be nice!

 

I disagree here.

If we sign players and get a couple of years from them before they are sold for sky high fees, that is progress.
You saw what we did with the AC money? bought several top notch players... and progressed.
If, in 3 year Mapou gets sold for say, £20m... then we go and replace him for £10m and buy two other class players I'd be more than happy.
We have a scout who is top drawer and because of him we will always fair well in the market.
I used to get worried when a top player is sold... not anymore. I just think.. 'I wonder who Carr has lined up now'- such is my respect for the job he does.

 

This!

It'll inevitably get harder, big clubs will have scouts who will scout Graham Carr, selling clubs will push up their price or demand huge sell on percentages. But one of the genuinely great things about Ashley is that he won't be taken for a mug. Tight fisted? Maybe, but we offered Remy decent wages, he wanted more, he went elsewhere, Douglas, Sissoko, Cisse - all played we've been linked with for big money for a while, then chosen to bide our time 'till the deal suits.

 

I also think we will do early business in the summer window.
Ashley won't hang around.

 

!

 

Agree he looks like he is going to be a special player. Shame he's already called us a stepping stone in his career. Still, at least when he does eventually go we should make a nice profit and be able to reinvest it in 1,2 or maybe even 3 quality players.

 

Think he's definitely a good player, but once or twice he's tried running the ball out, or shoddy decision making from no pressure whatsoever has left us in trouble. Hopefully he can iron those out.

 

Yep, think he will only get better and better

 

I agree with that, that's not what I'm saying. However that only works if we're likely to spend as much as £10m+ to replace a proven, effective player that can deliver immediately.
I'm not sure that spending the going rate for proven, experienced players NOW fits with the club's recruitment policy.

We paid that sort of money for Papiss and Mapou, granted, but these are still young players who are finding their way in the game. We hope they'll be great, they're not great yet.

What I'm saying is, buying potential is fantastic but we don't want to become a development club that gives young players a chance to become good only to flog them on when they do.
IF – we simply then replace with undoubtedly promising young finds at bargain fees who again need 2/3 years development time to deliver.

We undervalue age and experience at our peril. For instance if Colo leaves in the summer and is replaced by a 23-year old you're losing so much game time and wisdom.

It can be two steps forward, three steps back.

We'll always do well financially this way but we have to balance that against success on the pitch. Personally I think this has been highlighted by this season's performance.

The big question for Ashley this summer is how he responds to that. I'm sure his transfer philosophy is still weighted towards finance than it is sporting ambition.