We have to be one step ahead

The re-sale value transfer policy is a good one, and one that a lot of clubs our size are having to use in order to become sustainable. While it is always disappointing to lose our star players, it is important to remember that doing so is part of our policy. Holgate being the first of those.

It is fairly inevitable that the likes of Hourihane and Scowen will leave at some point and the clubs and fans know this, and thee are plenty more fish in the sea so to speak, but we have to make sure we are prepared for the day that an unrejectable offer comes in for one of those players.

If sometime Scowen, Davies, Hourihane and Mawson all left, yes we may have millions in the bank but we would be without star players. That's why it's vital we are one step ahead.

A good example is Swansea, who signed Bafatembi Gomis last summer because they knew that Bony would leave at some point. When he left in January, Gomis was there as a ready made replacement.

That's why I'm quite encouraged by the fact that we're seemingly trying to sign Townsend on a permanent deal. It means that as and when Davies leaves we're not searching for a replacement, we already happens.

Hopefully we can do similarly for other players who could leave in the next few years for bigger clubs, and continue to be sustainable in terms of finances and players

 

If we can get promoted with these players still at the club with a few additions we would be on a far better footing than the last time we got into the championship....

 

I agree

 

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Sensible post.

 

I'm not sure I agree maybe we are but we are still heavily loaned up. Granted we seem to have put a bunch of younger players together but the last time we were promoted we had a number of good players as well. Hayes, Mcphail, Devaney, Nardiello, Howard, Reid etc. I think the problem was we didnt add to them until it was too late and we went with what we'd got. Ritchie got the sack and the dossier destroyed that team and we built another full of foreigners. We continued this cycle year after year.

If we did get promoted again this year we'd need more money spending on the squad. The loans are the biggest gap to fill and thats the concern. Well when I say loans, Crowley and Pearson in particular.

I do feel confident, that Johnson is the right man at the helm and with the right strategy theres no reason why we couldnt do a Preston, but I don't think the squad we've got now are so much better than the last one that went up, we just failed to add more quality onto what we had, and if we do that again, it'll probably end up with the same result.

 

I agree. I'd go as far as saying that if we don't challenge for the top six this season, with the talent we have, then something has gone badly wrong.

If we don't at least challenge this season I fear an exodus of our best players and we're right back to square one.

 

Think the difference is if we do see and exodus I think we'd get plenty of cash to spend.

Scowen, Winnall, Hourihane, Mawson and Roberts all now £1m+ players.

Watkins, Bree, Davies all have the potential to be that as well.

And if we could sign Pearson, Townsend, Harris and Rothwell we have a real solid base of players worth money.

And the key is to look for and sign the next batch of Hourihanes, Winnall and Scowens on the cheap and help turn them into multi million pound players. The more we do it, the easier it will be to tempt the next batch in as they'll see us as a step to higher things. If we go up in the meantime we just up our level of recruit and do the same thing.

It's bloody exciting times to be a Reds fan. Just hope we can all show patience, accept we will lose a few along the way - both our better players and games - but we'll be entertained and hopefully progress as well.