Hi all,
First post so don't beat me with it too much!
I think that the signings so far are sensible. For a few years we have signed waifes and strays, with only a few exceptions (hume/kisnorbo). We haven't been able to sign any half decent players because we were sh!t creek money wise or being very careful (understandably) and so we didn't pay a lot of wages and couldn't afford any decent signing on fees.
What you have to think about the modern player is that moving clubs is a lucrative business. We couldn't give good signing on fees, so even when we had a little cash no-one would come.
I think the idea of "free" signings is something of a misnomer. There's no such thing and I'd bet that most of our signings thus far wouldn't have come without the signing on fee or ambition fronted by MM. What we have so far is a good base, some experience and some potential.
Look around the championship, most clubs aren't yet spending the big bucks. It makes no sense - afterall, the majority of clubs want a good idea of their season ticket sales before they spend. We don't have to reply on these tickets but I don't beleive that we should go out spending before we know what budget we will have next season. The board are being sensible and I expect that in time money signings will start to appear.
Also, consider that we will get fees for certain players who are up for sale. Why shouldn't we wait to see what comes into the club before we assess what should come in? If we are to grow in a sensible way we need to have reasonable finances in place. I guarantee that MM will not pump money in forever - we need to be self-sufficient and that comes from two things. Firstly, talent which we can sell at good prices (Hellings and Sappleton), also supported by the scouting structure being put in place to pick up good foreign players at cut cost. Secondly, being in the Prem. To get to the prem you do not need a prem team, however, you need good, solid championship performers.
When (if) we get to the prem MM will dip into his pocket to ensure we stay up.
In essence - be patient. Things will not happen overnight. What i will say is that, with the players brought in already, we will not be near the foot of the table next season. Peronally, I would love to see us sit in mid table - if we went up next year it would be too soon and we would struggle to stay up!
First post so don't beat me with it too much!
I think that the signings so far are sensible. For a few years we have signed waifes and strays, with only a few exceptions (hume/kisnorbo). We haven't been able to sign any half decent players because we were sh!t creek money wise or being very careful (understandably) and so we didn't pay a lot of wages and couldn't afford any decent signing on fees.
What you have to think about the modern player is that moving clubs is a lucrative business. We couldn't give good signing on fees, so even when we had a little cash no-one would come.
I think the idea of "free" signings is something of a misnomer. There's no such thing and I'd bet that most of our signings thus far wouldn't have come without the signing on fee or ambition fronted by MM. What we have so far is a good base, some experience and some potential.
Look around the championship, most clubs aren't yet spending the big bucks. It makes no sense - afterall, the majority of clubs want a good idea of their season ticket sales before they spend. We don't have to reply on these tickets but I don't beleive that we should go out spending before we know what budget we will have next season. The board are being sensible and I expect that in time money signings will start to appear.
Also, consider that we will get fees for certain players who are up for sale. Why shouldn't we wait to see what comes into the club before we assess what should come in? If we are to grow in a sensible way we need to have reasonable finances in place. I guarantee that MM will not pump money in forever - we need to be self-sufficient and that comes from two things. Firstly, talent which we can sell at good prices (Hellings and Sappleton), also supported by the scouting structure being put in place to pick up good foreign players at cut cost. Secondly, being in the Prem. To get to the prem you do not need a prem team, however, you need good, solid championship performers.
When (if) we get to the prem MM will dip into his pocket to ensure we stay up.
In essence - be patient. Things will not happen overnight. What i will say is that, with the players brought in already, we will not be near the foot of the table next season. Peronally, I would love to see us sit in mid table - if we went up next year it would be too soon and we would struggle to stay up!
good first post
