Does anyone think we’ll struggle to attract players?

[B_G]

I think money and promotion likelihood are generally the biggest incentive for any prospective signing.
We are paying the same money as we did a year ago.
It feels like we are currently less likely to get promoted given the state of the squad.

Probably slightly less attractive than we were last summer but I dont think that has anything to do with the change in manager. More so that we finished 10th last season and finished the season poorly.

 

[Frozen Horse]

I do think that playing for a club that have a certain expectation level and fan base is a factor too.

I'd have it as a distant 4th to any of the factors I mentioned.

Players would pick Oxford over us if they paid more.

I think players pandar to fans by citing them as important when they sign, but most would prefer to be playing in Saudi in front of a few hundred than in the championship in front of 30k.

 

[equaliser]

Now that Carrick has gone?

Does Edwards have the same pull?

Could that be why it’s quiet?

Food for thought.

There's no doubt playing for Carrick was a big draw - both for what he achieved in the game as a player and for his style of management and football. Edwards doesn't have anywhere near that pull and there's no point in kidding ourselves.

It's one reason why I didn't want Carrick sacked, but there it is.

 

[newyddion]

The championship is a relatively big pull in itself.. outside of the top leagues prem, la Liga, Bundasliga, Seria A.. then we have the young players sat on the fringes of those league not getting any game time.. then we have lower league players.. recently relegated perhaps.

We’ve had some good players choose Boro.. Man City and Chelsea keeping tabs on our academy.. Morgan Rogers, RVDB and Hayden Hackney attracting international interest.

Not too shabby. Young London based players can live ‘the footballers lifestyle’ without having to earn premier league wages. Great facilities and a club that is thereabouts in the mix.. we always do well against big teams. DJed Spence hit his move to Spurs of the back of one.

As long as we don’t do a monk and pay over the odds for championship filler.. we’ll be alright.

BIG SUMMER for Kieran Scott!

 

[Scrug]

Are we ready to accept Edwards might not be the pull Carrick was yet?

 

[TeaCider]

Are we ready to accept Edwards might not be the pull Carrick was yet?

Nope.

The club and Gibson are clearly having real financial issues, we're quibbling over hundreds of thousands on our first choice player in a position where we literally don't have a genuine option.

Brittain wants to come here, Blackburn were expecting him to come here, the club aren't paying.

That's not on Edwards.

 

[The Card Cheat]

Now that Carrick has gone?

Does Edwards have the same pull?

Could that be why it’s quiet?

Food for thought.

Was thinking exactly this last night. For all his flaws he was an extra attraction for players. Both because of his playing career, and the perception that he’d significantly improved players like Akpom and Rogers.

 

[Scrug]

Nope.

The club and Gibson are clearly having real financial issues, we're quibbling over hundreds of thousands on our first choice player in a position where we literally don't have a genuine option.

Brittain wants to come here, Blackburn were expecting him to come here, the club aren't paying.

That's not on Edwards.

You do like burying your head in the sand don’t you?

 

[TeaCider]

You do like burying your head in the sand don’t you?

Not at all, if anything I'm too pessimistic and negative lately, I just think it's clear that club doesn't have the available cash that it's had previously and that's the biggest factor in our lack of business this summer.

 

[Ravshoutsatbeck]

Nope.

The club and Gibson are clearly having real financial issues, we're quibbling over hundreds of thousands on our first choice player in a position where we literally don't have a genuine option.

Brittain wants to come here, Blackburn were expecting him to come here, the club aren't paying.

That's not on Edwards.

The truth is we don't know that.

He might be one of several options and if they are asking more than we are willing to pay we might be looking elsewhere. More difficult when it is a direct rival.

 

[Scrug]

Not at all, if anything I'm too pessimistic and negative lately, I just think it's clear that club doesn't have the available cash that it's had previously and that's the biggest factor in our lack of business this summer.

The club absolutely has cash, we’ve never been healthier (parachute payments aside) than we are right now. So either - the club isn’t willing to spend, or they’re finding it hard to attract players. Or both.

 

[TeaCider]

The club absolutely has cash, we’ve never been healthier (parachute payments aside) than we are right now. So either - the club isn’t willing to spend, or they’re finding it hard to attract players. Or both.

The club being incredibly comfortable from a PSR perspective doesn't mean that it has available cash.

If there was a real war chest, Brittain would probably already be here, rather than the deal stalling because of 6 figures difference with the season just around the corner.

 

[TeaCider]

Speaking of, one of the usual suspects is saying we hope to finally have him in early next week, so that's good timing.

Presuming that'll be linked to the fact we'll be seeing van den Berg leaving in the near future, so more money will be available.

 

[Scrug]

The club being incredibly comfortable from a PSR perspective doesn't mean that they have cash.

If there was a real war chest, Brittain would already be here, rather than the deal stalling because of 6 figures difference.

You and war chests, I’m sure you were on another thread telling me we had one and you were expecting significant investment.

Gibson could stump up the money and spend if he wanted to, we have sold Jones, Latte Lath & Coburn for in excess of £30million, are you telling me none of that is left?

The truth is probably somewhere between what we’re both saying, but previous managers have been on record saying it’s harder to get players to join us and we have to pay them more. If you couple that with a manager who had a terrible season last time around, and who doesn’t have a huge reputation in the game (you only have to look at the reaction of our fans when he was first linked to see that) then you’re going to struggle to get players in.

 

[TeaCider]

You and war chests, I’m sure you were on another thread telling me we had one and you were expecting significant investment.

Gibson could stump up the money and spend if he wanted to, we have sold Jones, Latte Lath & Coburn for in excess of £30million, are you telling me none of that is left?

The truth is probably somewhere between what we’re both saying, but previous managers have been on record saying it’s harder to get players to join us and we have to pay them more. If you couple that with a manager who had a terrible season last time around, and who doesn’t have a huge reputation in the game (you only have to look at the reaction of our fans when he was first linked to see that) then you’re going to struggle to get players in.

I'm sure Gibson could stump up the money if he really wanted to, my point is that he and the club may not be willing to.

I was expecting significant investment, before outgoings, now I think I'd misjudged how much the club was willing to invest off its own back in this season, I said that over 3 weeks ago and almost nothing has happened since.

I think it's the most logical explanation for a lot of what's been going on in the last 6 weeks.

 

[newyddion]

I'm sure Gibson could stump up the money if he really wanted to, my point is that he and the club may not be willing to.

I was expecting significant investment, before outgoings, now I think I'd misjudged how much the club was willing to invest off its own back in this season, I said that over 3 weeks ago and almost nothing has happened since.

I think it's the most logical explanation for a lot of what's been going on in the last 6 weeks.

There are a lot of assumptions in what you are saying.. none of which are backed up by anything.

 

[Ravshoutsatbeck]

I'm sure Gibson could stump up the money if he really wanted to, my point is that he and the club may not be willing to.

I was expecting significant investment, before outgoings, now I think I'd misjudged how much the club was willing to invest off its own back in this season, I said that over 3 weeks ago and almost nothing has happened since.

I think it's the most logical explanation for a lot of what's been going on in the last 6 weeks.

I personally think the most logical explanation is that our management have more faith in our squad than our fans. They are taking their time with the additions they think are needed.

 

[Soutra]

The club absolutely has cash, we’ve never been healthier (parachute payments aside) than we are right now. So either - the club isn’t willing to spend, or they’re finding it hard to attract players. Or both.

I'm not sure how you could possibly imagine that. Operationally it's pretty clear that MFC loses between £1 million and £2 million every month. Selling bankable players like Rogers and Latte Lath just defrays the losses for accounting and FFP purposes. But every time a good player is sold the team is depleted and weakened, and promotion becomes less likely.

Having positive cash flow from selling players is not the same as being financially healthy.

 

[Muttley]

I personally think the most logical explanation is that our management have more faith in our squad than our fans. They are taking their time with the additions they think are needed.

I think it's simply that we have a budget and within that budget we have money to spend. As various "experts" on here regularly preach that is anywhere between six and sixteen "first team" players we need to sign. We will not have the budget to do that, we have to spend it frugally, stretch it, get our money's worth. So if Blackburn want us to pay (simplified figures) £50 and we are only willing to pay £40 we hold out. Perhaps if another target falls through we will go to £45 but not today.

You cannot draw any conclusions about the "willingness to spend" or the "depth of the war chest" from this. Its just business, leave it to the people who know the numbers involved (probably much bigger than my exemplars)

 

[The_Big_Woodowski]

It’s a tough balancing act..

We go mental when the club overpay for the likes of Fletcher, Britt, Saville and flint, then complain that we aren’t shelling out a few extra 100ks for a player.

Spend spend spend, oh but not that much on him, what a waste. Should ave signed x for a number I have just made up in my head or signed him for on FM.

I Think we had a reputation for overpaying and inflated wages in the past. Perhaps we are trying to align ourselves to a more sustainable model and rest the dial, to a more frugal outlook with good facilities and a stepping stone if needed.

Or may be we just not got the funds, or somewhere in between. We may never know.

I like probably all of us don’t know all the facts figure and pieces in the chess board. It’s frustrating but we got to trust and have a leap of blind faith .