These 4 year deals with an option for a 5th. If you trust our scouting team, which I certainly do, I believe this actually allows us to close the gap to other Championship teams in wages. We know that any players we bring on hugely in 2 years time could be commanding 10m instead of the 500k-3m we're used to because they'll still have a while left on their contract when we've got peak performance out of them. Those future fees perhaps allow us to offer higher wages now. Could be a gamble, but we hardly have a bad track record. Very optimistic.
Bit difficult not to trust our scouting/recruitment team after the gems they've unearthed over the last few years. They don't always get it right, but more often than not, and their hit rate is better than any recruitment team I've ever known. Even the ones that don't make it sign for Luton and beat us to the League 1 title. What they need to do now is acknowledge that the players they do sign, by the very nature of the type of player they target, take a while to get up to speed. And we then find a way prevent that weakness in the system from leaving us exposed. That will probably mean a bigger squad, signing players to replace those we're going to sell a year in advance, layering, but we trust these recruitment guys or we don't, and if we do, we can afford to do that, because we're confident we will recoup the outlay on transfer fees and wages in the long run.
I seem to recall back when Liverpool were THE team (back when they could only draw with us at Anfield), that they used to buy 'prospects' - put them in their reserve side and only return them in the first team once they had learned their trade, when they were the finished article. They only difference I can see is that we have to put them in the first team much sooner, like immediately.
Agreed. I think for us its that we believe we can't afford that model. I think we can't afford not to do it. But, it's not my money and it's easy for me to say that. I won't be gambling on the recruitment team always getting it right.
Old players on long expensive contracts = bad Young players in inexpensive long contracts = good I think I’ve solved it. Of course it’s not as simplistic as that as some players want to move after 2 years as it benefits their wage packet and done players don’t card about contracts when it’s time to move it’s time I do think though this is definitely a step in the right direction
If you don’t try and finger a bird you’ll never get the chance to have a shag. It’s a bit 1990s granted.
Our record with players signed immediately for the first team has been outstanding. Our record with players signed for the development squad not so good.
Also I think we will be able to attract better players, offering them a 4 year contract instead of the standard 2 year must show the faith we have in them whilst giving them a bit more financial stability.
True I think the idea isn't to keep them here any longer if they progress just increase the sale value. As we have seen with Winnall and Hourihane, and now with Pinnock and Lindsay.
Went to bed at 3am blindo. Woke up at 7am. Wife on the blob, so it’s going to be a long day curbing the hangover horn. Just thought I’d take it out on you lot.
Correct I’ve been saying this the last 2 years the only way the system works and allows us to move forward as a football club is to get market value for players to reinvest back into both the purchase of players and improving players contracts (I.e Mowatt, mcgheehan, Woodrow just signed new contracts). It wouldnt surprise me if Cauley had a good season and was bought next summer but more importantly he’d have 2 years left on his contract so the fee would be more like true market value and not the pittance that we’re accustomed to in recent history. The increased revenue to would be reinvested and we’d break this mould of only affording to pay league one wages. I realise were never going to pay championship wages that top end championship can but paying an % increase in existing contract will get most players to sign as we’ve seen this summer. I for one didn’t want to see the new owners come in an ploughs tens of millions into us it’s not the Barnsley fc way but I was a bit peed off with the lack of quality signed jan 18 to ensure we avoided relegation. Were in a lot better place now we have a terrific manager we can all relate to, a unified squad who seem to get on both on and off the field and a clear strategy for the future to hopefully enable us to be more competitive in the championship. Well done to all over the last year a lot of hard work has been put in and I for one are exited about our future. You Reds ️
Would imagine that is what they see the U23 for, buying players who might make it, to step up, that part we have not been so successful at yet, but hopefully with time will start to blossom
4 extensions for Cavare (year in our favour), McGeehan, Brown and Woodrow. 4 players signed on permanent deals Bahre, Thomas, Collins and Andersen. Eight pieces of business before the players are even back for pre season training. By the time the season starts that number will be around double what it currently is. It's great to see so much business done so early. It's never been known.
I thought that was that booming headache you have when finally waking up after a strenuous afternoon and evening.