Maja update

[Nacho]

The books will never balance in League One mate, the running costs of the club will cripple it if we have a second season in the league.

I repeat, and let’s wind the clock back. ‘Ellis will settle debts, a facet of that is he will receive fees from players sold in summer window’.

That’s what was sold.

Now, we owe Bordeaux for a player we signed under Ellis tenure, and Ellis received the fee from St Étienne as he was sold in summer window?

This needs clarity, there’s at best some spin, at worst some absolute bullshit to get fans on-side.

I appreciate the wage bill is still too high, I acknowledge we haven’t brought in wedges of cash.

We are supposedly ‘debt free’ other than the money the owners are liable for the Ellis. So, where are the 32k gate receipts going? I’d suggest the kit and sponsorship deals cover the salaries, or the bulk of, so is the clubs income being used to pay for the club? That’s what it’s looking like to me.

Fair play to them of it works but if this was the plan, and we stay down, there’s implosion version 2 to consider, cos no 2 ways about it we are royally ****ed if we stay down, how could we not be?

Balancing the books can’t be done on an uneven weight of income/outgoing. The Sky deal for Championship is way below the PL but it’s still substantial and we ****ing need it. We need the increased sponsorship, the coverage.

I’ll hold my nerve until the window closes as I do, genuinely, despite these concerns maintain belief in the owners.

If we do not finalise the playing side, I can’t pretend I’ll buy another word out of their mouths.

When I say they're working hard to balance the books I don't mean that it's possible this season in league one, just that it's very much their focus and they've done a great job so far.

I don't know the details of who owes what to who although it is concerning that we apparently still owe money for Khazri because the official line was that all that was sorted. If we close the window with no new signings I'll be worried but I don't think we will, Ross thinks we'll sign two forwards and I don't get the impression that Donald is talking **** to him.

 

[Nads]

When I say they're working hard to balance the books I don't mean that it's possible this season in league one, just that it's very much their focus and they've done a great job so far.

I don't know the details of who owes what to who although it is concerning that we apparently still owe money for Khazri because the official line was that all that was sorted. If we close the window with no new signings I'll be worried but I don't think we will, Ross thinks we'll sign two forwards and I don't get the impression that Donald is talking **** to him.

Aye and like I say mate I’m sticking to that for now. It’s all about what’s done between now and Thursday. The Maja issue has been a long time coming so if they haven’t been preparing a replacement and having the finances ready then there’s a rat away, simple as that.

I’ll continue on until Thursday and then we will all need to have a look at it from there.

 

[The Little General]

Aye and like I say mate I’m sticking to that for now. It’s all about what’s done between now and Thursday. The Maja issue has been a long time coming so if they haven’t been preparing a replacement and having the finances ready then there’s a rat away, simple as that.

I’ll continue on until Thursday and then we will all need to have a look at it from there.

Lets hope we get a nice surprise for a change , I doubt it tho with Cattermole et al on big money.

 

[Nacho]

Aye and like I say mate I’m sticking to that for now. It’s all about what’s done between now and Thursday. The Maja issue has been a long time coming so if they haven’t been preparing a replacement and having the finances ready then there’s a rat away, simple as that.

I’ll continue on until Thursday and then we will all need to have a look at it from there.

Very true mate we'll have to wait and see what happens and revisit this conversation then.

 

[The Norton Cat]

I think he's a w@nker who thinks we're all a bit backward up here.

Spin as someone said.

I wouldn't go that far. I think he genuinely wants to do a good job. I think he's a bit of a chancer though and he knows that he can't do it all on his own. That's why they need Sartori. If they don't improve the team, especially with a new striker, things will look a lot different.

 

[Nads]

Lets hope we get a nice surprise for a change , I doubt it tho with Cattermole et al on big money.

Aye failing to move any of Catts, Oviedo or Matthews is obviously a small justification, but that problem will roll in for years if we are stuck in the league.

 

[dansafcman]

Why would it be a joke? Its our fans all over, we never bat an eyelid when it's been us taking other teams players in the previous years. God forbid anybody has the sheer cheek to purchase one of ours.

The lad has an opportunity to go to a club that is in the top division and will be more than likely be involved in European campaigns. Maja had never once let this affect his performance or goals. He's done everything in the correct manner. I'm not going to spit my dummy out because somebody has left my league 1 club to go to one of the biggest teams in French football.

Ligue 1 is Championship standard outside of the top 4, and Bordeaux are currently 12th. Their average attendance is 21k.
Apart from Paris, no team can compete with the money in English football. Bordeaux average wage is 15k (pounds) a week! Their top earning player is on less money than Cattermole. If maja is on more than 10k (pounds) a week I'd be ****ing amazed.

Maja decision to go warm a bench in the French league is utterly ridiculous. I don't hate him for it, but I certainly can't think of any reason for him to make this decision for football reasons. Hell, I can't even believe its for money. Its just bizzare.

 

[Nads]

Ligue 1 is Championship standard outside of the top 4, and Bordeaux are currently 12th. Their average attendance is 21k.
Apart from Paris, no team can compete with the money in English football. Bordeaux average wage is 15k (pounds) a week! Their top earning player is on less money than Cattermole. If maja is on more than 10k (pounds) a week I'd be ****ing amazed.

Maja decision to go warm a bench in the French league is utterly ridiculous. I don't hate him for it, but I certainly can't think of any reason for him to make this decision for football reasons. Hell, I can't even believe its for money. Its just bizzare.

Not sure where you got Bordeaux average wage from like, I’m not suggesting you’re a mile out but it’s speculation.

The French league is growing, no question. PSG rule the roost but they have massively raised the profile.

Marseille, St Étienne and Lyon all have big name players that could easily play overseas.

Monaco for all they are having a nightmare remain a big club with quality individuals, and there are other big clubs, even in Ligue 2 you have clubs like Lens, with massive support.

It’s a massive step up from League One, and it’s a small step up from the Championship.

IF he gets games, it could in theory advance him 2 years. I know that’s not why he went, but it’s still factual and relevant.

Young English lads going to European clubs is becoming the norm. Bordeaux is a big club, no question, and regular Europe competitors. They are in transition as are many clubs, but they are always going to be a significant club.

We have to forget we are SAFC and forget the Premier League years. We are a League One football club.

We are a big draw in this league, even v a large chunk of the Championship, but in real terms, whilst in this league, we are nothing.

We can be as salty as we like, Bordeaux is unquestionably a level or 3 above us.

 

[dansafcman]

I think he's a bit of a southern w@nker who thinks we're all a bit backward up here.

Spin as someone said.

Bloody hell mate. Ellis settled up all debts to the banks. Ongoing player payments werent paid off.

We were warned that we would have to operate within the clubs financial means, and donald has never claimed to be able to bank roll the club.

Griggs is all paper talk. We have no idea what we bid for him.

The only decision that's left me scratching my head so far is letting Nelson go, before we've got any replacements in.

If by the end of the window we have no players in, then I'll ask wtf is going on. Until then, we're just making judgement and guesses based on rumours and media stories.

 

[dansafcman]

Not sure where you got Bordeaux average wage from like, I’m not suggesting you’re a mile out but it’s speculation.

The French league is growing, no question. PSG rule the roost but they have massively raised the profile.

Marseille, St Étienne and Lyon all have big name players that could easily play overseas.

Monaco for all they are having a nightmare remain a big club with quality individuals, and there are other big clubs, even in Ligue 2 you have clubs like Lens, with massive support.

It’s a massive step up from League One, and it’s a small step up from the Championship.

IF he gets games, it could in theory advance him 2 years. I know that’s not why he went, but it’s still factual and relevant.

Young English lads going to European clubs is becoming the norm. Bordeaux is a big club, no question, and regular Europe competitors. They are in transition as are many clubs, but they are always going to be a significant club.

We have to forget we are SAFC and forget the Premier League years. We are a League One football club.

We are a big draw in this league, even v a large chunk of the Championship, but in real terms, whilst in this league, we are nothing.

We can be as salty as we like, Bordeaux is unquestionably a level or 3 above us.

Wages I'm quoting were published last year (Feb 2018). Might have changed a bit, but not much.

Psg, Marseille, Lyon, St Étienne are the top 4 I mentioned. 5 if you include Monaco due to its past. But how many of them have had European success recently?

Outside of those 4 or 5 it's Championship standard.

Lived here 22 years, I don't know anyone who would claim Ligue 1 comes close to premiership standard.

Ligue 1 is better than League one (our division) no doubt about it. But why make a decision that would make him a bench warmer, on what's likely a not massive increase in wages, is beyond me.

 

[Nads]

Wages I'm quoting were published last year (Feb 2018). Might have changed a bit, but not much.

Psg, Marseille, Lyon, St Étienne are the top 4 I mentioned. 5 if you include Monaco due to its past. But how many of them have had European success recently?

Outside of those 4 or 5 it's Championship standard.

Lived here 22 years, I don't know anyone who would claim Ligue 1 comes close to premiership standard.

Ligue 1 is better than League one (our division) no doubt about it. But why make a decision that would make him a bench warmer, on what's likely a not massive increase in wages, is beyond me.

Oh I’m not suggesting it’s anywhere near the Premier League mate, but it’s certainly improving and growing.

I also would agree on the bench warmer part, but I’ve a feeling that won’t be the case. They have a decent midfield and no goals in them, they could easily use him this season, time will tell. They took Brian’s who was released by Guingamp they are desperate for a forward to go into the side, he could play.

I can’t really fathom the move in all honesty, for him or for Bordeaux, he may have looked at Nelson and Sancho and thought ‘maybe that’s my route’, he’d he gone Bundesliga would anyone have bat an eyelid?

I’d argue Bordeaux are bigger than and Bundesliga club he could have went to, it wouldn’t have been a Dortmund or a Schalke, he simply isn’t good enough technically.

He may well get found out physically in France, one thing I like when I watch Ligue 1 is the defending is often utterly brutal.

Where about a do you live mate? Beautiful country.

 

[dansafcman]

He may well get found out physically in France, one thing I like when I watch Ligue 1 is the defending is often utterly brutal.

Where about a do you live mate? Beautiful country.

That's why I think he'll warm the bench. His new manager basically said it, as well as admitting he didn't know much about maja.
Oh well, guess we'll see. As said, don't hate him for it and his attitude in games was still good up until the last one he played for us.

I live in Alsace, right next to the border with Switzerland. Beautiful country. French are a good bunch in general as well, though they do moan an awful lot

Now (talking about Alsace) Strasbourg are a team on the up. Selling out every home game, planning a stadium extension - genuine football City. Whereas rugby is still the main sport in a lot of France.

 

[Nads]

That's why I think he'll warm the bench. His new manager basically said it, as well as admitting he didn't know much about maja.
Oh well, guess we'll see. As said, don't hate him for it and his attitude in games was still good up until the last one he played for us.

I live in Alsace, right next to the border with Switzerland. Beautiful country. French are a good bunch in general as well, though they do moan an awful lot

Now (talking about Alsace) Strasbourg are a team on the up. Selling out every home game, planning a stadium extension - genuine football City. Whereas rugby is still the main sport in a lot of France.

Nice mate.

Aye I’ve been keeping an eye on Strasbourg, been a strong 2 or 3 years, I read they get the highest % of stadium full in the league. Some history as a city as well, be a place I’d not mind visiting.

They’ve got a few smashing players Lala the RB looks quality, I watched them against Monaco other week, I know Monaco are having major issues but they were ruthless.

Didn’t the Germans try and nick the city at some point? Ha.

 

[SaintsForTheWin]

Christ, club clearly not happy with him — no thanks, no well-wishes, nothing. Tells me all I need to know, he's clearly acted like a bit of a **** throughout the process.

We’ll find out in the 2nd season of Sunderland til I die.

Amusing what’s been put by your lot on Wikipedia.

“It is a dream come true to sit on the bench next to so many great players.”

 

[Brian Storm]

Still think it's wages where we're struggling to manoeuvre. Stu said moving on Pappy and and Ndong won't give us much freedom and since we've sold a lad on who was on 500 quid a week.

Catts and Oviado are ruining us. Thats the fact of the matter. Stu has always said we've got capital to spend but wages are the problem. Still looks the same to me.

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[dansafcman]

Nice mate.

Aye I’ve been keeping an eye on Strasbourg, been a strong 2 or 3 years, I read they get the highest % of stadium full in the league. Some history as a city as well, be a place I’d not mind visiting.

They’ve got a few smashing players Lala the RB looks quality, I watched them against Monaco other week, I know Monaco are having major issues but they were ruthless.

Didn’t the Germans try and nick the city at some point? Ha.

One of my mates is a season ticket holder he's been trying for months to get a few extra tickets so a few of us can go watch them. No luck, impossible to get especially if we want to sit together.
Yep it's a great city, beautiful. Colmar is another one, not as well know but a lovely place.

Germany and France fighting over alsace for centuries. Got a friend who's a carpenter, can't cut down a certain type of trees from the local forest. Tried it once, blunted 3 saw blades worth 900 euros a go. Kept hitting billets lodged in the trunk since WW1 and WW2.

 

[spirit of 73]

One of my mates is a season ticket holder he's been trying for months to get a few extra tickets so a few of us can go watch them. No luck, impossible to get especially if we want to sit together.
Yep it's a great city, beautiful. Colmar is another one, not as well know but a lovely place.

Germany and France fighting over alsace for centuries. Got a friend who's a carpenter, can't cut down a certain type of trees from the local forest. Tried it once, blunted 3 saw blades worth 900 euros a go. Kept hitting billets lodged in the trunk since WW1 and WW2.

Billets ? Is that an "Allo, Allo" translation

 

[Brian Storm]

We’ll find out in the 2nd season of Sunderland til I die.

Amusing what’s been put by your lot on Wikipedia.

“It is a dream come true to sit on the bench next to so many great players.”

On the subject of wiki. Have you read Jordan Lukaku's wiki page? ****ing hell. [emoji23] Sad as ****

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[Jack TheLad]

Still think it's wages where we're struggling to manoeuvre. Stu said moving on Pappy and and Ndong won't give us much freedom and since we've sold a lad on who was on 500 quid a week.

Catts and Oviado are ruining us. Thats the fact of the matter. Stu has always said we've got capital to spend but wages are the problem. Still looks the same to me.

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But wouldn't some simple maths mean you could offset some of the transfer budget against the wage budget?

I know that's a bit of Football Manager kind of thing but would seem easily enough from where I'm sitting (haaa!!)

 

[master-simpson]

Sick of hearing about this 19year old already!!!

Time to move on - I’m sure we will see reinforcements before the end of the window.

Am pretty sure Maja will do feck all in France, so I’m not worried. We have to trust the new owners and manager!!

They still need our full support - let’s give them the benefit of the doubt. The time to challenge is if we don’t go up.

HAWAY THE LADS

Bart