Changed Policy On Players - Lansdown's Exceptions?

[hippy273]

http://www.thisisbristol.co.uk/story-17801594-detail/story.html#axzz2cbSMSU00

Correct me if i'm wrong but last season Lansdown said he would look to concentrate on players under the age of 24 and a dip in wages, which i agree has mostly been delivered. However Marlon Harewood, Frank Fielding and Aden Flint who is 24 have all still signed. Also Nicky Shorey, 32 may well demand wages of a similar Championship standard as will James O'Connor, 28 if he did come here. All of our transfer targets seem to be Championship and some above the age of 24, anyone thinking Lansdown has had a change of heart to some degree? i think the cheque book still has a presence in our signings. JET must surely be on a similar wage to a Championship player.

[BCFC_Dan]

As far as I'm aware the line has generally been that they will only look to pay a fee for players with a resale value, which tends to mean those who are 24 and under.

Unless they are quite exceptional a team made up exclusively of under 25s is going to struggle to compete over a season so there has always been a recognition that some older players will be needed, but that these would be free transfers as much as possible. I believe all the older players we've signed have been free transfers, whilst those for which the club has paid fees have been younger (Fielding may be over 25 but goalkeepers develop later than outfield players).

I don't think there has been any change of policy from Lansdown or the club. He's always been happy to pay for quality, but now he would say no to overpriced senior players (there's no way we'd pay £1m for Lee Trundle now for instance, but we might have done for the younger Sam Baldock.)