I sort of agree, but we are just miles off the top clubs, even back then. Sure we may have competed for a season or 2 in the European places but as soon as one of the big clubs come sniffing the players would want to go. Who knows what conversations were had behind the scenes about trying to keep the players, maybe we did fold easily, maybe we didn’t and the players still wanted out (see VVD as an example) I haven’t seen anyone really confirm either way beyond some promises about staying another year and being let go. Look at other clubs of a similar size. Leicester won the league and still lost Kante and Mahrez immediately after (maybe Mahrez was in January actually), the pull of the top teams is just too big for 99% of players to turn down. See Brighton recently consistently selling their players for big fees to the top teams, it’s just basically impossible to keep hold of the players if the top teams want them. Tony Bloom said as much in an interview where he said it was impossible to compete and it was a miracle that they had done so for a few seasons in a row. There are also other negatives to not selling as well. I’m sure there are examples of players explicitly saying they joined us because we were a good route to a top team because we didn’t stand in players way like, off the top of my head, West Brom did with Berahino (sure there are better examples! But the fact that I can’t think of any also shows how rare it is for a smaller team to keep a player when a big team comes knocking) If you really make it hard for players to leave then they just won’t join in the first place if they have options, which you’d hope the players we want do as that would indicate that they are rated. Anyway that’s just the way football is, the top clubs will always be on top and we aren’t one and there is no way to become one without a Man City style takeover Also when Koeman left it was when Moshiri was throwing money round at Everton so even though they finished 11th it still would’ve been very attractive for any manager.
I cannot see the sense in buying more players in January given that SR have a poor record in the transfer market. We are already relegated in my opinion and think it is sensible to reevaluate in the summer. I think we will replace Martin in the summer and have a decent pot for a new manager to build his own team. In hindsight , we should have upgraded on Martin after promotion...as unreasonable as that might have seemed . Shame we did not let Brighton progress their alleged interest.
Don't think we could; he's played for both West Ham & Forest this season, and (I think) the rules stop you from featuring for 3 clubs a season
No chance we sell Dibling this winter. I know some people like to sulk that we have the worst owners in the world, but they're not so bad as to sell our crown jewel in the midst of a relegation battle.
Yeah 99.5% think he is gone in the summer, but not now. We play suicidal football, but the owners aren't so suicidal.
I would agree with you but the problem is we're not in a relegation battle. We're done. It's over already. If the money is right they'd sell.
That's just your opinion. I'm sure they won't sell a player just because some of our fans have given up hope already. And even if they do believe we are likely to go down, why would that mean they have to sell him in the winter window (for a likely lower fee), rather than hold onto him until the summer (for a potential bidding war and higher price)? He has two years left on his contract.
I don’t mind people bashing the board if it makes them happy, but why turn it into some hysterical melodrama? We have spent lots of money and demanded high fees. We may have spent poorly but the last thing the club is is tight or desperate for cash. I think some people are losing their grip on reality.
We could have a lot worse owners, they just need to get better scouts and recruitment staff and a new manager that plays sensible and practical football.
I’m not sure I’ve seen anyone being hysterical on here. If wanting a manager who plays to our strengths, and being pissed off that this useless, arrogant, aggressive, egotistical stain on our club is being melodramatic, then count me a shrieking Shiela.
Think we're all together on the RM front. The hysterical behaviour refers to the conspiracies of SR wanting us to get relegated and that we're a feeder club for Goztepe.
Ah I see. So one person wasn't it?? who just had a brief thought about it on a forum. Where people discuss random stuff.
Chelsea, Utd, Villa, Spurs and Everton all battling for Dibling apparently. With Saints open to offers of £21m, presumably so they can fund Goztepe’s CL push
Trust me… people are way too quick to forget the Rupert Lowe era ay.. that was a million times worse. We’ve had these owners for all of 2 seasons, they’ve been hit and miss so far, but they at least show they want to try to improve things, even if people disagree with the way the spend their money
The source is complete crap. 21mill is not enough for his right leg and he only uses that to stand on!
I mean the source of that story is "Caught Offside". Just a brief glance of that website is enough to tell you it's complete garbage.
