Not at all my friend, like you, I enjoy the Championship more than getting tonked every week in the Premier League (how many points have the three promoted teams accumulated between them so far this season??). I am quite relaxed whether we go up or not but, would happily take promotion if it came. There are plenty who are desperate for Promotion this season and I understand why and was just joining in the debate - we have never once been really close to the top two all season and this week is a chance to change that.
Since that glorious December day, we have made up exactly zero points on Ipswich over the last four games. Also, having beaten them twice (with an aggregate score of 8-3) it has to be a concern that they are still 7 Points in front because it suggests they are 13 Points up from all of the other fixtures - in other words, they tend not to have the Preston and Stoke type results in them (well, not to-date). Hence my view, for those of you desperate for promotion, we really need to make hay from Preston at home when they travel to Leicester the following day. This is all getting a bit complicated, can't we just enjoy winning the majority of our games and see where it takes us??
And on that note Im actually looking forward to Sundays game more than I did for last two seasons. Previous to this I kinda expected to lose and hoped it wouldn't be too heavy. I travel this time expecting a win
All good aspirations but you were correct earlier when we blew the chance to catch Ipswich who were on a bad run. If we hadn’t lost those 2 games not only would we have caught them, but would have forced pressure on them and just maybe forced the wheels to come off. We didnt and they then just cruised with a couple of draws to extend their lead and then got back into winning ways. Hard to take for me as my brother in law is an Ipswich fan. Whilst we decided to lose a couple along came Saints to go past us and they manage to keep on winning too even leaving it late, but they manage. I am hoping we get promoted because if we don’t we have financial issues next season, not only having to deal with the rats, but replacing Rodon, Cooper, Ayling, Byram, Rutter, Summerville, Gnonto maybe even Ampadu. Trying to make a squad better than this seasons to go for promotion again will not happen. In my humble opinion
Agree with all of that Doc and it isn't great for us either because we only live about an hour away from Ipswich in the Suffolk countryside so the majority of football fans around here are Town fans. I'm with Eire in the sense that I really didn't enjoy the last two seasons and this is much more fun! I totally get the financial implications if we don't go up but, let's say we lost Rutter, Summerville, Ampadu, Gnonto or Gray, surely the key would be to getting really good money for them and scouting well. Let's face it, to an extent, that is what the three teams above us have done this year and keeps FFP at bay. Kamara is a good example that we don't necessarily have to spend big to be competetive. Ok, Rodon probably goes back but be in the hunt for the best loan players available. Also, apart from the current squad, we have the loanees such as Harrison, Llorente, Sinisterra, Kristensson and Aaronson that we can negotiate sales for if it suits both parties so I am not sure it is as desperate as people seem to think.
Glad you pointed that out. Most of the posts on social media are like it's either promotion or bust for us. Let's be honest, if we were told midway through last season that wed have all the rats jumping ship and wed have to build a promotion challenging side on scraps, wed be laughed at. But we have done, and absolutely no reason we can't go again next season if we miss promotion and have to shed a few more
All sensible and very laudable mate, but the difference in player valuations for championship to PL is massive. As an example we turned down £25m for Gnonto and also over £20m for Meslier, but both those values are now half. The rats values is the same. Right now a massive success is Marc Roca his value is now €20m or £17.5m because he’s playing great and wanted by 7 La Liga teams. If we don’t go up he is contracted to stay on loan at Betis so we get nothing, if we go up Betis can buy him for £12m but they can’t afford him so we would be able to sell to the highest bidder.
I get that Doc but, let's say, we "only" got £ 10 Million each for Gnonto, Meslier, Roca and Harrison - £ 40 Million is a lot to reinvest (without jeapordising FFP) if you spend it wisely, especially if you buy the best players from the Championship (or below) or abroad. Example, one of Ipswich's best players this season has been Conor Chaplin. I have just Googled him and they paid circa £ 750k for him from Barnsley (having been at Portsmouth and on Loan at Coventry). He is 27 this year so also a great age. Alternatively, where did Coventry find Gyokeres and how much did they pay for him?? Now been touted as a £ 75 Million player after a season with Sporting. Fortunately, I don't think our owners will be pressured to sell cheaply so, good selling, wise scouting and quality coaching should keep us in or around for the next few years. As i said, not necessarily Doomsday just yet.
The rats out on loan have their loan clauses reactivated next season if we stay in the Championship so the likes of Sinisterra, Roca, Llorente, Harrison etc will be available for minimal (or no) loan fees. I'm not sure clubs will pay transfer fees if they can get a season for free. I'm of the opinion that we'll only get money for this lot if we go up.
Get that but, of course, if someone wants to buy a player and offers higher wages, that will all change in a flash. You may say why would they but, if Harrison was touted about for £ 30 million last year and someone sees the opportunity to buy him outright for £ 10 million it actually makes sense. They have a resaleable asset at a bargain price
Most players want the security of a long term contract. Going out on loan for a second season means they'd be only have one further year left on their Leeds United contracts (assuming they signed 4 year contracts with us) when that loan ends. This is why most contracts are extended when there are 24 months left as it usually suits both parties. As we've seen with Dallas you're potentially only one dodgy tackle from a long spell on the sidelines, or even worse. Marcos is right plenty of deals to be done this summer whichever division we're in.
The flip side is that if your contract runs down then you go on a free. Get bigger wages and a huge sign on fee.
True but it's quite high risk when most have usually got a piece of expensive crumpet to provide for. Just speculation on my part before anyone starts checking the stats
I can still hear the bollox spouted by Phil Hay on Llorente signing a new long contract. He kept Quiet about Koch refusing to sign and now we see Koch has already walked on a free so we get zilch from him and Llorente who Hay said was now worth more than what we signed him for because CBs are highly prized around the world of football therefore Orta was smart giving him a new deal. How did that work out Phill as Llorente has not been seen in Leeds for 18 months and his contract still has a way to go and his value is £7m…..
There were loads as well as Hay spouting about how clever Orta was at the time extending his contract I seem to remember
