They would be right. I think we will finish in the bottom third but expect us to stay up. As for Huddersfield they appear to have changed direction and are going down the same route as us in signing a couple of lower league youngsters, with good stats.
Doing what we're doing now and casting our net wider into Europe for bargains. The British market has boomed in recent years. Thanks in part to clubs like ourselves so the Hourihane's, Winnalls and Scowens of this world are costing top dollar even from League's 1 and 2.
That's true. 23 years old, player of the month award, helped his side make the play offs, 92 games in two seasons, 11 goals 15 assists last season...... https://www.htafc.com/news/2019/june/reece-brown-career-so-far/ 20 years old, helped his side get promoted, 11 goals 7 assists in 35 games last season...... https://www.htafc.com/news/2019/june/josh-koroma-career-so-far/ It wouldn't be a shock if both guys showed up on our spreadsheet as potential signings. Since we've started doing business the way we have, many other sides have done the same.
Totally agree SD. There are still some nuggets out there and it's up to our scouts to find them before others do. As well as any initial transfer fee, the revenue that can accrue from any future sell on clause is also very helpful to Clubs similar in size to ourselves. Don't know if Sheffield United will benefit ( like we did with Stones), but Harry Maguire is set to sign for Manchester City this week for £90 million on a reported contract worth £280k per week. Man City are also signing Atletico Madrid midfielder Rodri who is 23 on a reported fee of £62.5 million. How can many teams compete with the likes of Man City.? The Premier League is in danger of being dominated by a couple of teams in the future, similar to how it is North of the border, which will make it extremely boring, not that I follow it, apart from watching MOD on a Saturday night.
I've largely lost interest in the Premier League. This happened in the US & the draft was introduced in baseball. Present rules allow too many players to be signed to big clubs & then just loaned out. Not good for the England team, or competition. Time for a change. I'm only bothered about BFC these days & our travels. I look out for Dundee Utd too, due to one of the posters on here.
I think that greed is a key factor here. Parents are guilty too of using their children like pawns to make themselves rich. The big clubs are snapping up talent at young ages and these players are made for life after one senior contract. Assuming they make it that far. Most are content to sit in the reserves/under 23's until eventually they get an urge to play. Most have to drop down the leagues to do this. If you wicki search most of the squad players in the football league they have started off at a top end Premier League club or played reserve team football for one of the big boys at some stage.
It was the same when Man United dominated sometimes alternating with Arsenal. I think it will be different teams but you wont get 20 all on with a shout.
I think there should be a maximum number of academy players per team. Would stop the likes if Chelsea and Man city stockpiling. And no money to change hands until.a player is 16.
Good ideas in principal, but it only works if the rest of Europe sign up to it too. We had something like 3 homegrown players before but rule but was abolished. Also in this day and age too much money makes it easy to get round. They introduced it where a youth had to live I think was within 50 miles, but Man U showed the any round that when they bought the Brazilians twins parents a house in Manchester. Whatever you do the money. clubs will get round it, they won’t care about snapping up players at age of 8, keeping for 10years and letting go