Fuber

Good old Rolls-y! Guess which club had an injury hit March? The prize is an empty pack of chewing gum and an odd sock that my dog chewed.

Out of interest, with a few people (on the likes of Twitter, etc,) highlighted an interest as to whether city should sign the likes of Hector (who was on circa £20kpw at Fulham) - what's a wage bill that people consider 'sustainable' in lieu of the last few seasons and the general overspending that's occurred? For example in 18/19, 19/20, and 20/21 wage spending was circa £30m, £33m, and £36m respectively. For context, average Revenue between 2017-2020 was circa £26m, peaking at around £31m in 18/19. Discounting the 20/21 results on revenue in leiu of the impact of COViD. What should we overall perhaps be aiming for as wages% as a proportion of turnover? For example, my logic would be circa 90-95% wages as proportion of turnover, overheads to be offset by odd bits of player trading. Which would thereby mean wage bill of around £22m/per annum. My educated guess is that we're currently in or around that figure currently around £23-24m if NP and RG have reduced the overall bill by a third. So what are people general views on how Sustainability should look for us?

Worth pointing out that while it's a blatant Saudi connection, Newcastle have had both green and white change kits before. I dont consider it anywhere near the same bracket as Tan/Cardiff etc.

That's because there's no losses in the off season for the cretins to dogpile on.

They are a danger - until lowered by stewards in case of an emergency. Some are also powered by gas struts in some stadia such as in the Bundesliga that open in case of emergencies that are tested regularly, vertical as opposed to Wembley's horizontal as pictured. If people hurt themselves hurtling over them in a non emergency situation, then they 100% deserve it imo.

Out of interest do we have any ideas as to when CFs contract ran to? I'm aware it was an initial 3 month to cover Simpsons absence, but when and for how long was it extended?

Bradley Orr?

The issue is if you look at the more of our finances have been in due to the onset of his reign, it's doesn't read well. Granted, year on year improvement. However over the same period as noted elsewhere on this forum, wages to turnover rose 50%, irrespective of having Ashton above him, he himself stated he had final sign off on signings. Hence nobody else in the championship coming in for him. His man management is simply not good enough. See Fielding/Wilbs comments, etc. Similar at Sunderland it seems.

Agreed. But I wouldn't consider it as urgent as a full back or midfield. Added to which, there are a fair number of centre backs available on a free or for low transfer fees this window. We're not short of options.

My view is better squad player than Vyner, ergo keep. I'm assuming four at the back next season. Extend Klose, get rid of Kalas where possible as well as Baker, Taylor Moore, and Vyner if any takers, then have Cundy as a squad option along with Towler and Idehen who for me have greater potential. Would also help cutting wage costs further. Would give options at CB of; Klose, Atkinson, Cundy, Idehen, Towler, with a further option to be signed where we wish to loan out on of Idehen/Towler. Would free up wages to sign a right-back, centre-mid, and winger.

I'd actually be a fan of the circa 1990-92 yellow/green away shirt to be redone in Hummels style. Lumsden era I think? Granted we'd probably get mistaken for the Canaries on occasion but heyho.

He is a quick option who can play wide or central in the forward areas. Currently we don't really have anyone who can take on his man, Semenyo aside. Especially if the latter gets injured. Maybe Edwards but that's it, and the latter really needs consistent game time in League One.

I dont think he was on that much at Villa, they signed him on a fringe/backup playtime contract. Most resources I can see online estimate a figure of circa £8-12kpw at a Villa Park and £4-6kpw at Luton. Entirely realistic that we could offer him £6-8kpw, and keep the change from O'Dowda's wage. Hell we could get him and Kane Wilson in if needed for Callum's wages almost (less signing-on fees). Of those a handful stand out as possible very good options for our financial position, did my own browsing also. If I was shortlisting for recruitment (Ha, I wish!): - Goalkeeper: Michael Cooper (22, Plymouth), Only if Bentley is sold. - Right Fullbacks/Wingbacks: James Bree (24, Luton) Free, Kane Wilson (22, FGR) Free. Andy Yiadom (30, Reading) Free. - Central Defenders; Eirin Cashin (20, Derby), Tom Holmes (22, Reading), Elliott Moore (25, Oxford) all free agents end of season, latter may have an option (?). - Wingers; Femi Azeez (20, Reading) Free. - Midfielders; Andy Rinomhota (25, Reading) Free. The issue I have with some names mentioned - Wages. Byrne, Lawrence, Pack, are all on decent wedges, other clubs will be able to easily compete with us if said demands are lower, with said clubs have higher ceilings than we have (Parachute, Sponsorship, Turnover). I also realise Nige isn't a fan of loans, but if we can get one or two in where we only pay a proportion percentage of wages and minimal fees there are some superb options who can act as cover while we scout replacements (Massengo) and rotate with players who need time to develop, I.e. Charlie Patino, Alfie Devine, Tommy Doyle, whose wages match outgoings assuming contract situation remains unchanged and a buyer comes forward. It would then mean we could offset fees received for the year to benefit our FFP outlook, provided we get rid of the deadwood and higher earners (Moore, Kalas, Baker, Wells, Palmer, King, Bakinson, O'Dowda) and give us breathing room to allowa stronger negotiating position (Scott, Semenyo). This is all personal conjecture and means nothing, but just sharing for the sake of discussion. Feel free to debate.

Worth noting Rinomhota is a decent box to box / ball winning midfielder. Really solid option on a free.

The games long moved on. Albeit unfortunately.

I'd actually say barring Peterborough the defence has markedly improved - the issue being these same games have had a Cundy-Klose-Atkinson combination at the back. I actually wouldn't be averse to selling Kalas at this moment in time, moving on the likes of Taylor-Moore, Vyner; need to find out the situation with Baker this summer and see if enforced retirement is needed, which would be covered by insurance in best case scenario(?). I think one of the weaker points may actually be keeper. O'Leary is at a stage where he needs games, and barring the odd wonder-save, Bents does give me kittens when he comes off of his line, for anything, I.e. Sheff Utd. What we need most of all is proper fullbacks. Especially RB, where its just Tanner on paper. Who knows. No matter what, despite early signs, it's going to be an interesting summer.

That was Dawe's appointment wasn't it?

Only point I would disagree with - is that SL will most likely leave a lasting legacy. I think his heart was in the right place. But overall decision making and appointments have been shambolic, mostly down to what has to be a very weird amateurish culture at the club The latter, ultimately comes from the top down. Any proficient chairman gets all the infrastructure in place first, and places trust in his process depending on the aim, once decided on a method. See examples with regards to other chairman who got clubs similar and smaller into the PL, i.e. Brentford (2014-Present), Reading (Madejski, 1990-2012), Swansea (Jenkins, 2002-2018). All of them made decisive decisions in the first half of their tenures (Recruitment, Academy, Infrastructure) respectively. It's taken SL over 20 years as a board member to get up to date training facilities, and refurbish Ashton Gate. They should have been first on the list.

The key difference is that the latter is corroborated across multiple sources and witnesses and verified by credible authorities, individuals, and witnesses. Ergo it can be critically analysed and confirmed factual. Nobody can confirm the wages, it's as simple as that. Critiquing NP also does not make you a clown. What makes the original post laughable is drawing upon a random source as fact with no secondary evidence to corroborate. It's also (you may not be aware) been bought up before on the forum and widely written off as speculative at best. Secondly, some of the other points you make can't be used to smear Pearson with as they are untrue (Diedhiou, Paterson) and are more applicable to Ashton. With regards to Palmer, he's injured (again), and a waste of a wage. With respect to Peterborough match, three of the players were signed by Pearson, two being free agents. Wells' wages would almost pay the wages of all three, which is laughable.

Also worth noting that Simpsons salary is taken from what he was earning at Huddersfield. ... 3 years ago, after leaving Leicester ...and they had parachute payments. The page is purely speculation and guesses.

Really? He completely turned Watford around in EPL with then having been bottom and adrift, and actually gave them a bit of fight, and then inexplicably was sacked with two games to go (I.e. Fosters comments on NP). The only job that he shouldn't have failed at was Derby on paper - but even then, him and Morris were never getting along. OH Leuven was always going to end in tears (Moyes in Spain etc). Nige wants triers and people that fight. We only have one or two.

That was in no way sustainable, flawed, and has us in the current mess. For every position gained on the table, we essentially smacked £4m on wage spending. If it had carried on we'd currently be in Reading's current situation.

I can't go back to the David Brent style spin. I just can't. I was about to suggest Pearson as DOF/Consultant and LJ as Head Coach. Then realized if Lee said any kind of buzzword, Nige would probably sit there utterly stumped wondering what it was he meant and after the fourth would probably punch him.

None of that in bold matters however does it? Especially when we're in such a mess financially. - Our facilities are good for this level sure. However. - Stadium doesn't matter if we can't fill it, attendances and income will only decrease. - Stable must be a by-word for innept and rudderless. - Talents that will be sold to cover said ownerships own failings. No other club at this levels has the sheer scale of cultural change required that we do, within both playing staff, ownership, and management. The only club arguably in a worse situation than us that will be in this league next season is Reading. Maybe Birmingham. And the latter two are all but hamstrung by worse owners than ours, which makes our situation all the more laughable. I just don't see who joins us that has experience at this level. Simple as that. We'd end up with another lower league manager, a coach, or LJ. Warburton, if he leaves QPR as an example, would be mad to take us on. Much better clubs would be lining up for him, at the very least more stable than us currently.

I mean, you can either take it literally - or more perhaps how I mean it in that - do you trust the club to appoint anyone better out of those managers who are realistically available? I genuinely think we're fudged either way.