If not for the ridiculous wage bill, we would have made permanent moves for the likes of Ki and Alonso, our net spend was 0 due to Bruce/Quinns ridiculous contracts. Once the larsson's, Gards, ect have gone then we can really get stuck into sorting the squad long term. Some of these players who's contracts are expiring are on 35k a week. Crippling. I n answer to retaining the like of Bardo and Larsson? If they take 15k a week wage cuts then yes, but to offer them the same money again only repeats previous mistakes.
I think Ellis got rid of Niall because of wages offered and the lack of reward. Ellis has now tried a new method of cheap from abroad and that was a massive failure. It seems a little like Ashley starting at the mags. It takes time to get the right people in the. Proper positions off the field. I think we now have the right manager but our recruitment people don't seem to be in place yet. I think the days of Ellis chucking money at it are well over.
Long term I don't think you want an owner who is simply going to chuck more and more money at it really. It sounds good but it usually just means one short fix after another (which we had under Shepherd as times) which messes the club up financially. The aim for clubs like ours are to be sustainable in the Premiership by obtaining decent players for reasonable prices/wages and then rejoice in the odd flair or bargain we manage to get. Not very glam but the alternatives can lead to very bad outcomes... That said, this summer you are going to need 5+ players and have got to hope they are the type who are at the club in a few years and bed in some stability.
Gets my vote. Re-negotiate contracts come summer to make wage bill more realistic for the likes of Gardner, Larsson etc as based on their performances over the season not many clubs will be lining up with huge contract offers.
Proving a point with actual proof, is not the way forward But seeing as you have put the actual evidence there for all to see, you are spot on, that is a shambolic squad, especially for a prem squad
