I am not at all angry with the owners. I am questioning them where it appears that others are not. I agree they aren’t rinsing us at every opportunity and I’ve been very pleasantly surprised with the signings made to date. I have, however, questioned their motives due to their tenure at Nice which appeared disastrous according to their fans and their apparent reluctance to put a single penny of their own money into the club. I am not asking to break the financial fair play rules, I just don’t believe we can survive as a championship side as a self sustaining club in the current climate. You can tell me to fck off and support Man City like the other chap if you disagree with that but it’s what I believe, and has been evidenced over the last few years. We will see as this season progresses but I consider that while our model is promising, we need some older heads particularly in defence to help develop the players and make them more valuable which we seem to be reluctant to do. This model of develop the players then sell most at once is not sustainable and I feel it should work more like a conveyer belt- ie younger, ready made replacement prepared to fill the boots of those sold on. I do not currently feel this is the approach we are taking. Please engage with these points as you see fit- ie like the football discussion forum this is- without telling me to go support another club or slandering me entirely unfounded as xenophobic if at all possible.
I'm also still unsure about motives, and only time will tell as they clearly don't want to share them having been asked multiple times. On the flipside, every club that has gone basket case, has built up unmanageable debt that for years was considered safe. They've then had a conveyor belt of owners throwing millions into a pit for no benefit, often only increasing debt more. I've worked with a fair few people in the business turnaround community and its very common that their own money is never put at risk. I've no issue with that. Though it can benefit owners more than entity depending on its structure. Agree with the player sales. I think we're largely out of excuses with the long deals handed out. Keith Hill talked of layering. We've never done it well. Maybe we will now, but I do think we need some nucleus to build around and pass on values instead of full rebuilds every 18-24 months.
Agreed - and I would never want to put ourselves in a position where we are a Bolton or a Sheffield Wednesday. I’m not calling for anywhere near that level of investment. I am optimistic of the medium term future, however I am very worried about the short term future as I do not feel we have a championship - ready defence at all and if kieffer goes a championship - ready strikeforce beyond Woodrow. This is not to say these are poor players, just inexperienced. Thus what I was hoping for is a modest cash injection to help retain championship status this year, purchasing a couple of experienced players outside of the model. After which I believe we would be in a much stronger position. If we are relegated this season, and either promoted or not the next, we will be back to square one with players we’ve developed in the last year or 2 of their contract and doing this all over again.
There's a difference between investing billions of pounds, and being able to back a project financially because you have wealth behind you. Ever needed a guarantor to sign off a lease?
I didn't tell you to f- off at all. I'm telling you how you come across and your attitude stinks. It is up to you what you do with that but I am certain you don't speak to people in person like you do on here.
I apologise if you find me confrontational- and don’t mind whatsoever if you put me on mute. There’s just no need to get personal, I’m engaging conversation about the club not the posters.
Just to clarify, i was meaning that give us stability as a whole. Admittedly they're not throwing money at the club like the situation at Wolves, which we all hoped would be the case when we hear of a Chinese consortium buying BFc. But their wealth and commitment has meant that we don't need to hoard our out-going transfer fees. in the form of our rainy day fund. They give us more flexibility in the transfer market and allow us to offer (slightly) longer and higher contracts, because even if we do go back down they'll support us until we can get un-affordable players sold.
Interesting take, do you think the current model will develop to promotion to the premier league? It’s not outside the realms of possibility if done right. Brentford are certainly a role model or appear to be.
I think it will, it is a longer term view than the boom or bust model of other clubs. It seems like the new owners are building something here and without spending a lot of money that cannot be done overnight. Somebody mentioned the need to layer contracts, that can only be done over time. I think the new 4 year contracts are the start of that. Obviously we are going to have to have some patience to see how it pans out but the beginnings look like they are going in the right direction.
It's definitely possible. It might take longer than i predicted in my original post, but as long as we make progress year on year i think we'll do it. Only sticking point is if we go down. Cause it'll lead to a exodus of players (both ego and financial based) and we'll have to rebuild. it will also lead to impatience with fans etc whom are paying to see the club and i can see the atmosphere souring. This doesn't affect me cause i currently don't go to the games live and don't invest my Saturdays and paycheck into the team, so i'd like to think i'm pretty calm with my opinions. But yeah if we keep on the right track and avoid relegation this year, i see a bright future.
Agreed, however I do not believe we will survive in the short term long enough without an injection to assist in championship survival. I fear a relegation and us being in the same situation in 2 years with players approaching the end of their following being developed and leaving. I think the model can be successful, I don’t think it has enough support given the current state of the squad to flourish longer term. It would be a shame to be back here in 2 years. CC @LiverTyke
Mind it would be a set back but we'll still profit from the players that we've brought in. Not the end of the world, but would make it more difficult.
I think there are enough teams that will end up below us at the end of the season for us to be ok. I’m not a happy clapper but try to be realistic. We have a great manager and some players that he seems to want.
No need to apologise, just wanted to draw your attention to how you came across that's all. I don't have anyone on ignore and don't plan to.
Fair enough. I just thought it was odd that someone would be quite so fiercely critical of the current board given how Cryne behaved through his tenure. You did mention though in your post that actually you'd been critical of him so that's fair enough. As you say you were consistent so that takes away any inference that you had something different against the current guys. I honestly think you should give this new lot some credit. I think they are actually very transparent in their motives. I was obviously disappointed to lose the two central defenders - and personally I think it could have waited, but there you go - but one thing I will say is that when a target is identified we seem to just go and get it done rather than the many long, drawn out failures we've had in the past when trying to bring players in. Anyway, we'll see. It's a shame you're not looking forward to the season - I'm actually bang opposite since the last regime has ended as to me that was really putting a dampener on my enjoyment and this new lot have felt like a breath of fresh air. It's the first time I've properly looked forward to a season for years.