The pay cut and wage dilemma

Just a quick question to everyone saying that everyone needs to take a pay cut to stay, and if they don't, they don't really love the club, they're greedy bastards and they should **** off...

I know the financial situation is a bit different to what it was when Shearer was here, but i'd like to ask this question anyway.

Now, i think Shearer loved this club, and respected his local area and is a proper geordie.

However, do you think Shearer would have taken a significant pay cut to stay, especially when Man Utd were after him? I doubt it. Ofcourse i'm not a mind reader, so i can't really say, but he didn't have any hesitation of accepting being the highest payed player at the club. No one is so loyal that they'd accept anything to stay. I know there are some of you sitting at home now that would say you'd pay for your team for only 1k a week, because that's enough, yes maybe you would, but you are not a footballer, and most footballers aren't as loyal as you think you would be if you played as a footballer.

So can i ask, why some of you think that taking a pay cut is so important that you'd get rid of players like Coloccini, who may be on high wages yes, but has played almost every game for 3 seasons without complaint, and has been vital to the team for the best part of 2 seasons?

Don't you think in this case at least, that he has earned the right to stay on those wages?

We could lose a lot more by selling the player and losing the quality and the level of commitment.

Saying "we could just replace him with a quality option", is a stupid idea to have, because ripping away the heart of the team can totally kill the atmosphere in the dressing room and spoil the morale. At this rate, we're going to end up going out with a whimper again, and having no chemistry in the squad at all.

Coloccini, Enrique, Jonas, in a way, have been a massive part of the team. They've kept fit and rarely missed games with injury. Even though they've had some **** games, they've probably been the most consistant players over the last two years, and have great understanding and great relationship.

Don't you think that that is worth the extra cash, just to keep? Quality isn't everything. I know we don't want players on silly wages, but haven't these players earned it? In my opinion, Enrique should be offered higher wages to stay. Even though he says he has ambitions of the champions league, i think if we offer him a good contract, he'll stay and be happy with his mates and continue to player well.

If we take this pay cut thing too seriously and think that it will cause upset at the club, and a few players bitching "he's on this wage, why can't i have that", then we're not going to be able to keep vital players, it's simple as. If Tiote kept on form, and said he'd stay for the rest of his career if he was offered 70k a week, would you get rid of him? No. We need to be realistic.

Just because a player doesn't want to take a pay cut, doesn't mean he doesn't love the club and it doesn't mean he's a greedy ****. No player is 100% loyal.

How hard is it to find players that manage to keep fit, stay off the injury table and play reasonably consistently for so long? And our club is going to get shot of them, simply because they're on slightly higher wages then they'd like them to be on?

Is getting rid of them and the amount of money saved on getting cheaper players really worth losing the hard working players that our club is crying out for?

Rant over.

I know i'll get shot down for this from people that disagree, but please try and keep it constructive, and leave the words "i'm glad you're not in charge of our club" or "you're wrong" out of your comments. Everyone has their opinion.

 

You're wrong , I'm glad you're not in charge of our club.

 

Sorry HMT, I saw that the article was that long and didn't bother reading to the end. I agree about the first bit though...

 

The likes of Coloccini and Barton won't get what he's paid here at any other club, due to the new financial fair plays rules coming into action soon, so I'd say expecting them to take a pay cut is fairly reasonable. However you do raise some valid points about the fitness of Jose, Jonas and Colo since they've been here, the lads clearly look after themselves for the benefit of their careers and that can only be beneficial to the club

 

Not adhering to a wage cap means that wages in relation to turnover escalates and we find ourselves in a position where the club is running at a loss to fund all the other aspects of the club.

£50k per week is a lot of money and just because we've offered well above that in the past doesn't mean we should do so again.

I also never buy into this loyalty from players to a club. It's a job to them at the end of the day and if they see a better offer then they will most likely be off; just like the rest of society. There are some exceptions where players have shown loyalty to one club but they are en extreme minority.

Keep the wage cap in place and the benefits of this action will be felt for a long time.

 

I think anyone that says player X doesn't love the club because they left is being so narrow-minded it's untrue. There are so many things to put players of signing for or staying with us:
1) Wage cap
2) Not likely to win a trophy very soon
3) Not likely to get into Europe very soon
4) Knowing you are likely to be sold if a decent offer comes in (which means you can't have a stable life)
5) Knowing other players and managers are likely to go if they don't believe in Ashley
6) Newcastle is isolated and lots of players like to be in London or near Manchester

Players have short careers (most are only 10 years of quality football long). Can players really waste 3 or 4 years under those conditions when there are better offers elsewhere? They may love the club and the fans, but not love how the club is now.

 

655 words later:

I'd hate to see you labour over a point or go into real detail.

 

You stated why some of us would want Collocinni to go because of his wages, who the hell has said that? I've yet to find someone who wants Collocinni to go, but however doesn't think we're doomed if he does. Want, and maybe are different things.

Also, do you expect anyone to read all of that? You're rants are seriously too long and are not worth reading at all please, shorten them down and get to the ****ing point.

And what wage dilemma? IMO and many others the wage cap is brilliant for the club and I personally believe it's the best thing Ashley has done so far, it's got rid of greediness and £50,000 is a brilliant wage still. I think you're turning a good situation on it's head and working yourself up over nothing!

 

To be fair, you said 'Rant Over' but I think this is one of the most measured things you've written....Have some rep sir!

I think its a valid point bringing Shearer's wages into it...He had the clause in his contract saying he HAD to be the highest paid player at our club. He was loyal, but it wasn't without reward!

I personally think the wage structure is imperative...You talk about ripping the heart and morale out of the team, but if contract negotiations are stalling because a player wants 60k or 70k and we just cave in and give it to him, that will set the precedent for all incoming transfers and renegotiation!

50k a week is a HUGE amount of money to be offered by a club without European football! When our incomes increase, so can our wage limits, but until then, I think people should be happy with that!

 

I'm glad you're in charge of our club and you're not wrong

 

Tolstoy eat your heart out! Lol!

 

What you are failing to realise Tash, is that we cannot afford to offer players "what ever it takes to keep them".

Football clubs have to be run as a sustainable business, and as much as I would love my club to pay huge wages and attact the top players, it is financial suicide to have a wage bill of 80-85% of your income. The players have to realise this, and when the time comes to renegotiate their contracts, have realistic expectations of what the club can offer. There will be very few clubs who can offer £70-80k per week for 5 years.

 

The question was so quick that I didn't have chance to read it...

 

Bear in mind that Spurs have a similar wage structure to ours and haven't had any major personnel issues barring Berbatov (who went to Man Utd, presumably for success rather than simply money) and possibly Modric now (again, to Chelsea, Champions League football and possible title) I don't think as a midtable club we want to be doing the Leeds, West Ham, Portsmouth thing of spending more than we earn and ending up in bother again. If Tottenham can manage the Champions League like that, why can't we manage in midtable?

With the added fact that like some have said, the likes of Colo who started their contracts pre current wage structure would not get the same at many other clubs these days due to not being quite good enough (or young and good enough) for the top clubs and the midtable clubs being more sensible than in recent years. If Ben Arfa and the other new boys are willing to fit into it (and £50,000 isn't a small amount however you look at it), why can't some of the aging stars like Colo and Barton?

 

The whole game needs to get a grip on finances, wages in excess of £50K per week are obscene really when the clubs fund tax etc on top, surely £2.5 million a year is an acceptable reward for playing football, with all the add ons of endorsements, paid appearances etc surely in 10/15 years a player can earn enough.

 

The thing you don't seem to be realising Tash is that premiership players are overpaid full stop and all clubs are going to have to reduce wages to meet the FIFA regs.

Coloccini is overpaid according to the means of our club and the wage cap has been set for a reason. It is the maximum salary our club can afford to pay any one player. How is it fair to refuse to pay new signings or players who previously earn't less than the wage cap more than this amount, but agree to extend the contract of someone like Colo at an amount in excess of it, just because they have been paid that excessive amount before. It applies to all or it applies to none! and it is imperitive that the wage cap be implemented for the future well being of our club.

As for players moving on, there will always be some clubs; Man U, Liverpool, Arsenal who will be able to pay higher wages than us because their income is so much higher. There will also be others who will be willing to make exceptions and treat some players favourably and pay them more than they should. If they come calling then we will lose players to these clubs if money is that motivating to the them and there is nothing we can or should do about that.

I'm not gonna judge those players though, it is their life and they have the right to choose. NUFC will still live on after them though and that is the important thing.

 

Same, cba to read all that

 

Sorry I've just been to the job centre and just got back to see some peoples comments, so sorry if it looked like i was just ignoring your points.

I've looked at all your comments -

I agree we shouldn't just bow to the commands of any player we want to stay and pay them what ever they want, however, my argument was for those that will have to take pay cuts to stay.

Ofcourse, i would prefer it if they did take a pay cut, but with players like Coloccini, why can't we reward his consistancy and dedication by just letting him stay on his wages, if he asks?

If he asks for anymore then i agree it would be too much, but asking a player like Coloccini to take a pay cut is a bit harsh seeing as he's played nearly every game for the last 3 years, and has rarely been injured/suspended. Thats the sort of player that money cannot buy. He's priceless. So yes, if he asks for anymore then we shouldn't just give him it, however i don't think he should have to take a pay cut, but he could be asked to do so, and hopefully he'll agree.

50k is an amazing wage in OUR opinion, but to footballers it may not seem so. I have no doubt Lionel Messi loves Barcelona and is loyal to the club, but he also no doubt loves the 200/300k a week he's probably on.

I know it's a complex system i'm commenting on here, and i'm not claiming i'm an expert on this subject, but to me, the little bit extra in cash that we'd be saving on a cheaper payer over Coloccini, may not be payed back, and we could end up losing more than we gain in savings over lower wages. That's all i'm saying.

It's a hard thing to try and figure out, which is why i try not to criticize the club too often when it comes to financial matters, as i don't know a percentage as much as the people in the board room at NUFC.

Thats just my two cents. I hope we don't lose Coloccini, Jonas and Jose. Also i think Barton should be kept.

 

I think if a player isn't happy on around 50/60k per week max they need to be slapped good and hard, it is stupid money considering problems in the world today etc. I think footballers for the most part need to be educated on responsibility, and how they handle themselves in general...

Take Michael Owen as an example - horrible person who demands high wages, why could he not live on say 50k per week? If you invest it wisely it's not a big deal to them. It's more than the average person earns in a year ffs!!

Yes TV revenue and sponsorships bring in a lot of money, however clubs overheads need to be met also. Football needs to take a stand as a whole on wages. As per Alan 'shuggs' Sugar's documentary, West Ham etc were spending nearly or maybe even over 100% of their income on players wages - it is non sustainable - FACT.

Ashley for all his sins/whatever motive he has (personal profit gain being most likely) is developing a good financial structure for the club as a whole. Players need to realise what they are on is fair and they should be proud to play for a club such as ours. Force out the greedy money grabbers and we will be a lot better off.

I think Colo should be on around 50k - just needs to be explained to him that the new wage structure makes it necessary, he enjoyed 3/4 years on 80k so that should be enough. Build in a big bonus for cup run/league position maybe which I think will motivate players who are financially driven a well as covering the reduction in wages, we could afford the bonus if the cup run happened anyway.

 

I think Colo may agree on a wage cut, considering he's nearing 30 years old and probably wont get the same amount anywhere else.

He deserves the wage cap AT LEAST though, the same as Jonas and Jose, and Barton.