Transfer Speculation / Gossip

[RussellC]

But how much money has Lerner pumped in? And how much has he written off? I'm not assuming a position on this, because I honestly don't know.

All I know is that he stands to receive at least double what he paid for the club as-and-when he sells. Will this approximate £65m not more-than-cover whatever money he has put into the club? And has he been taking a salary out of the club while he's been here?

It'll nowhere near cover it and in all seriousness, hasn't the "Does he take money out?" question been answered often enough?

If it has I've missed it. You do know you're not obliged to respond to my question if it's too much trouble for you?

He doesn't, and never has, taken a penny out. There was a year when we paid 8 million in management fees to another of his companies but that's it. I'm not sure of the exact figure he's put in but 250 million would be in the rough area.

Thanks Dave. I saw from that 2012/13 accounts that our parent company had 'waived' a £90.1m loan and £20.3m from the previous year, but had no idea that it exceeded that at all.

[Nastylee]

Now, whilst I don't think we're going to go mad on the transfer front, it's pretty obvious that if you want to tie up some freebies to fill the squad you have to act pretty quickly as they're the first to go. I'd imagine most of the players we've signed so far had offers elsewhere. The squad needed filling, especially with players who had played at this level before and with the current constraints meant we had to act and fast or lose out. I'm hoping that there are a few more aesthetically pleasing signings in the pipeline, which I'm sure won't be big enough to satisfy some who seem to forget our current status, but might appease a few. Imagine putting your house up for sale, you wouldn't pay for an extension would you? However, you might paint the skirtings and patch the fence.

[Clampy]

Why can't Lerner just come out and say if there's any money for transfers? It's always just shrouded in secrecy - the club needs more transparency. Instead all you get is endless rumours and counter-rumours amongst the fans & media. A shambolic situation that's just left to fester.

I'd have no problem with him doing that but then people would want to know how much and the rumours would still continue anyway.

[Clampy]

Now, whilst I don't think we're going to go mad on the transfer front, it's pretty obvious that if you want to tie up some freebies to fill the squad you have to act pretty quickly as they're the first to go. I'd imagine most of the players we've signed so far had offers elsewhere. The squad needed filling, especially with players who had played at this level before and with the current constraints meant we had to act and fast or lose out. I'm hoping that there are a few more aesthetically pleasing signings in the pipeline, which I'm sure won't be big enough to satisfy some who seem to forget our current status, but might appease a few. Imagine putting your house up for sale, you wouldn't pay for an extension would you? However, you might paint the skirtings and patch the fence.

This is what i've been thinking. If he's not planning on spending very much, maybe a takeover is nearer than we think.

[Nastylee]

So tell me this; if Stoke, Hull, Sunderland, West Brom (probably our 4 main rivals) bring in new players on free transfers alone and put all of the tv money in the bank does that not make them self sufficient as well? I cant believe any of their player wage outgoings are higher than the tv money/prize money being paid out.

If you are not going to invest to become sustainable, being self sufficient really isnt anything to shout about. On the contrary, it will eventually catch up with you...

And who have these clubs signed that make you sit up and take note? Ince? A young player, unproven at this level. (Haven't we already been there? Lescott? Proven, but also not played much in the last season or so and getting on a bit. Not going to carry a defence on his own with Baird as his partner. These teams are hardly splashing the cash on top players.

[PaulWinch again]

Now, whilst I don't think we're going to go mad on the transfer front, it's pretty obvious that if you want to tie up some freebies to fill the squad you have to act pretty quickly as they're the first to go. I'd imagine most of the players we've signed so far had offers elsewhere. The squad needed filling, especially with players who had played at this level before and with the current constraints meant we had to act and fast or lose out. I'm hoping that there are a few more aesthetically pleasing signings in the pipeline, which I'm sure won't be big enough to satisfy some who seem to forget our current status, but might appease a few. Imagine putting your house up for sale, you wouldn't pay for an extension would you? However, you might paint the skirtings and patch the fence.

Yes but unfortunately at the moment it's more like the roof is caving in and we're not doing much about it.

[boboonthecorner]

On Kieran Richardson, let me just ask this

We're playing stoke away first game and have luna, Bennett and Richardson to pick from. Imagine the game is tomorrow. Who do you pick at left back?

I pick Richardson

Totally agree. Nominal fee, still a few years and better than we have. People need to realise our level now, its all about consolidation. Hopefully under a new owner things may be different but even thats not guranteed.

[Duncan Shaw]

Back to Richardson - according to the Daily Mail via BBC Gossip he's having a medical today and turned down three others to join us.  Having though about it overnight, it's not what I was hoping for, but as a cheap signing it is not too bad and does improve the squad, particularly on our weak LHS.  Maybe we are saving the quality for centre mid!!!!

[Gregorys Boy]

On a positive it's better than the wreckless approach MON took.

Curtis Davies £10m or Swiss Phil - free
Stephen Warnock £8m or Kieran Richardson - free
Habib Beye £3m or Joe Cole - free

Linking those deals is really probmatic. 

To start off with the state of the club is very different now than during the MON days.  Fact is O'Neill was given more freedom to spend, and no one here would denay that he over spent, but when you look at the promise of Davies at the time (he is finally starting to come into his own), then I think that one seemed a fair gamble so I would have him over Senderoes personally.  Warnock was a decent buy who we paid too much for, so considering it is on a free maybe go with Richardson on that one.  Beye was a bad signing, but he certainly looked good at Newcastle, and nowadays £3m is like pocket money.

But like I said those were different times, and the fact remains under MON we became a top six side who could have done more, and had the money to spend, but now we are in the same boat as Wigan had been before going down so are looking to cut costs and are in the market for a different kind of player. 

Back to Richardson I think its a decent signing, he works hard, has decent skill, experience and like others have said can play in a number of positions.  It just that I don't know if he is going to open up defences, or give the service to the strikers which we need, but oddly it maybe our best signing of the summer so far.

[Boz]

" Aston Villa are readying a move for Crystal Palace forward Marouane Chamakh according to Football Direct News.
Villa Park boss Paul Lambert is keen on landing the Moroccan, who has been in excellent form since moving to Selhurst Park after a decidedly average stint at Arsenal.

Oh how we laughed at this potential signing on the opening page of this thread.

Thank the Lord, he's staying at Palace

[Toronto Villa]

Now, whilst I don't think we're going to go mad on the transfer front, it's pretty obvious that if you want to tie up some freebies to fill the squad you have to act pretty quickly as they're the first to go. I'd imagine most of the players we've signed so far had offers elsewhere. The squad needed filling, especially with players who had played at this level before and with the current constraints meant we had to act and fast or lose out. I'm hoping that there are a few more aesthetically pleasing signings in the pipeline, which I'm sure won't be big enough to satisfy some who seem to forget our current status, but might appease a few. Imagine putting your house up for sale, you wouldn't pay for an extension would you? However, you might paint the skirtings and patch the fence.

Yes but unfortunately at the moment it's more like the roof is caving in and we're not doing much about it.

the season hasn't started, so the roof isn't caving in. What happened at the back end of last season for any team doesn't automatically carry over because so much changes. Firstly the momentum of the decline from Chelsea onwards has been halted because the season ended. Players will return, there will be a natural level of freshness amongst the squad. Karsa and Culverhouse are not there.

We needed to add some experience and depth and we've done that and should continue to do so. However, whilst the window has not closed, none of us can accurately predict what will happen regarding transfers in or out between now and the end. We've never gone a window without spending any money so why is there this air of doom and gloom suggesting that we are about to do that? We're not. We might not break the bank for anyone, but we won't end the window with the squad as it is today.

Nothing will be decided in June or July or even August or September. A lot will change and I believe including the  ownership. The new owner will want to show his own intent by backing the manager, be it Lambert or someone else in this window or January. While the current situation isn't ideal, it's not going to get us relegated in July.

[RussellC]

We've never gone a window without spending any money so why is there this air of doom and gloom suggesting that we are about to do that?

Quite simply, because we weren't up for sale in the previous windows.

[PaulWinch again]

If we don't spend some money on a couple of good players we will be in big trouble. Teams can't continuously just avoid relegation year after year without it eventually catching up with them. Our squad isn't good enough as it stands.

[Ads]

If we don't spend some money on a couple of good players we will be in big trouble. Teams can't continuously just avoid relegation year after year without it eventually catching up with them. Our squad isn't good enough as it stands.

Good enough to stay in the league? I would disagree with that.

[gpbarr]

If we don't spend some money on a couple of good players we will be in big trouble. Teams can't continuously just avoid relegation year after year without it eventually catching up with them. Our squad isn't good enough as it stands.

Disagree - it's good enough to stay in this league, as has been proven these last 2 years. That doesn't mean it's a great squad or that we will play entertaining football or that I'm happy about it - but not good enough for this league is just baloney