Hi all. I've seen a lot of debate elsewhere on our recently released accounts, which show that, like pretty much every other football club, SAFC is unsustainable, we made a loss and our wage to turnover ratio is truly shocking. I'm anything but a doom monger, but it's surely just a matter of time before spending is reined in. As things stand, our squad, as noted elsewhere, is "half-built" - Elmohammady, Onuoha, Muntari and Welbeck are all on loan, Darren Bent is yet to be replaced according to most, and, without taking anything away from the excellent Phil Bardsley, a natural leftback is surely still a priority. As a result, most of us expect substantial investment in the summer. How do we proceed? Personally, I believe we might end up like Everton. Good squad, a big signing once in a while (Fellaini - Gyan), a cracking academy prospect (Rodwell - Henderson), "stars" being sold when the need arises (Rooney - Bent) and a few players signed for peanuts making the step up (Coleman - Meyler). Both clubs have relatively modest turnover, the main differences being that SAFC actually have investment, a modern ground and our debt has mostly been written off by Ellis Short. Don't think it's a bad future to look forward to TBH, as we'll never become a massive brand like Arsenal, Utd and Spurs.
A couple of weeks ago I put on an article showing we were in surplus with regard to transfer dealings since SB took over. The figures you referred to did not take the Bent transfer fee (or some others such as Waggy) into account although they didn't include the Gyan payment or Sess's I know transfers are only a part of the monies but with tv, merchandising and gate receipts we should be doing ok. There are two caveats; wages and the debt SB inherited from Keane. On the whole I reckon we're one of the better off clubs, somewhere between ã5m. - ã10m. in either the red or black although it's only guesswork and I stand to be corrected by anyone who knows better.
I read your article Charlie, and it made me appreciate the shrewd nature of Steve Bruce's transfer dealings even more. I can already sense concern over Gyan's long-term future here, and considering how high the bar has been raised with the transfers of Carroll and Torres, we can only expect a truly mind-boggling fee should he leave.
I agree with Farley in that the figures are not that bleak. Plus the revenue generated from being 5 places higher adding in rising live TV money - a bit like Everton? More like Villa I hope. I also concur we're in much less of a mess than many clubs.
Not having a go Ballin, far from it but what do we class as a 'natural' Left Back? Bardsley IMO is head and shoulders above the rest of the squad for Player of the Season and he's done it at left back, does that not make him a 'Natural'? we don't have any cover for him admittedly but from what i've seen of him i can't recall anyone getting the better of him. Sorry for moving off topic but your comment got me wondering. If the reports are correct and we are in deb,t then i'm confident that Sir Niall has it under control. Don't forget, we are still owed money for Bent and we're carrying a hell of a lot of dead wood which i expect to see get offloaded in the summer, that will trim the wage bill as well.
How long a contract is Gyan on? People bound to come sniffing sooner or later so how much can we bargin for?
The way PL clubs have been run for many years is unsustainable - without owners who have bottomless pockets - and things will change when the new rules hit. Pompey were amazingly lucky to not have been wound up (any other company would have been) and clubs finances are generally run appallingly! The fat man up the road put a 5 year plan in place for the scum to break even by 2015 - so they will continue to pile up losses until then - oh dear. ES has pumped tens (or even more) of millions into the club, it will not be allowed to continue so we have to sort things out. The moves SB has made, are I am sure, part of the journey to sustaining our club into the future. Mega million transfers will come to an end very soon, and a "retro" look will come to many teams with youngsters coming through. Slightly apprehensive, but confident that ES/NQ/SB are working to a plan. KTF
I'm not very knowledgeable on these things, but Baines is what I'd call a "natural" LB. Brilliant player IMO.
I agree, shame we missed out on him. If topboy/chris doesn't agree, he isn't the football oracle he'd like to think he is.
No, he's not rubbish, he crucified us last time at the SOL, put a peach of a cross in for their goal and i agree with Ballin, he is a natural. My point was that Bardsley is doing a fantastic job at LB whether you see him as a natural or not, you'd struggle to tell. McCartney is supposed to be a natural LB, can you compare him to Bardsley? there is no comparison IMO.
Sorry mate, seem to have highjacked you thread with my comments which were a bit off topic, not intentional i assure you, just picked up on something you said. Fully agrewe with your comments though, with Niall & Ellis at the helm our future looks very bright. I don't think either are going to let the club get into massive debts and TBH i think the new rules being brought in by the FA will more or less put a stop to all this massive spending by the rich clubs anyway. I'm confident the club is in the right hands and our future looks very good indeed. We're now in the top 20 clubs in the world according to reports last week so we have to be doing something right and once we get a fully fit squad for SB to choose from then well be a consistent top 6 side for sure.
No problem! With the experience of Steve Walton as well, I believe we are in very good hands. I hope I didn't paint a bleak picture in my OP!
