skybluetony176
Well-Known Member
Just to put things into some sort of context with today’s win we now have more points than we finished the season on when we were relegated from the championship in 2012.
More points than our last championship season (8 Viewers)
- Thread starter skybluetony176
- Start date
Evo1883
Well-Known Member
If we stay up , we can kick on further
skybluetony176
Well-Known Member
That’s the hope. Afterall, it’s all we’ve done under Robins. Kick on season after season.
Not saying we’ll be champions, automatic or playoff contenders next season if we stay up but if we can finish comfortably mid table no looking over our shoulders then yet again we’ll have kicked on.
covcity4life
Well-Known Member
But robins and thorn are the same according to some!
skybluetony176
Well-Known Member
I think that’s a point often overlooked. Was there ever actually a plan to be in the championship this season? Fact is we have a very good League 1 side.
Adge
Well-Known Member
There is no way we will be challenging for the playoffs anytime some without some serious investment. We won’t be getting that under these owners and it will be a bonus is we just stay in the Championship with the budget on offer.
When you look at the strikers the other teams have, we will definitely need more investment if we stay up. Listening to OSB that money is unlikely to come from the owners, so it would probably require an asset sale, however I cant see a player that would get sizable a big fee. Robins and his staff will need to find a bargain again who can score at this level, one hopefully who has a decent injury record, I appreciate that's a big ask, but for me that's the reality of our situation. A few of those draws this season would have been wins. All I am talking about is staying up again, nothing more.
Liquid Gold
Well-Known Member
Recruitment is going to be so important next season if we stay up. Theres a lot of players that aren't up to it at this level and we need to try and move them on and replace them with some proper quality.
I'd be happier with a smaller squad of more quality players with U23s filling gaps for injurers and suspensions.
I'd be happier with a smaller squad of more quality players with U23s filling gaps for injurers and suspensions.
South West Sky Blue
Well-Known Member
I’m most worried about our defence for next year. Not confident in Hyam’s ability or McFadzean’s longevity. Rose & Dabo haven’t had a run of games to show what they can do at this level. Osti has been the best, but is highly unlikely to return. Can we get Sam back afsim
Lots of rebuilding. Several positions up for grabs, but defence is my biggest concern.
How can we attract better players when almost all the other teams in the division will be offering more money?
We need to sell a viable dream. At least playing in our city is part of it now....
fatso
Well-Known Member
How can you predict that?
Whatever the history with sisu, (and god knows they've made some fuck ups)
You cant argue that they haven't backed MR and supported his ambitions so far. Next season will see us return to the Ricoh arena and if gates permit, we can be as competitive financially as the likes of Barnsley or Brentford which are in the playoff positions.
As I've said before, it might take a couple of seasons to sort our squad out, but anything is possible if the fans believe and turn up in numbers!
Earlsdon-Loyal-Blue
Well-Known Member
Good point. I wouldn’t use the term poor but I would say we are carrying players that are good League 1 players but the step up to Championship is a step too far. Players like Biamou, Shipley, Rose, Hyam, Bakayoko, Allen, McFadzean, could be argued to fit into that bracket.
Earlsdon-Loyal-Blue
Well-Known Member
I think our most saleable asset is Gus Hamer or O’Hare.... but probably Hamer.
I think if we could get Liam Walsh back on a free, we might consider selling Hamer to raise funds for a forward. That’s the only way I can see us being able to afford a striker with any form of a good record In Championship/League 1.
If we want to make a step up in the Championship then we need to step up the quality of our defence as an immediate priority with no sentiment.
Kieran Westwood is available on a free transfer in the summer and I’m not one to suggest ex-players or players over the age of 27/28 but I think he would be an immediate step up on Marosi/Wilson in a position that I feel neither has made their own this season.
skyblue025
Well-Known Member
Westwood is on 30k a week and his injury record over the past few years hasn't been great for a keeper.
Yes they are definitely our most saleable assets we would have got a lot for hamer 1st half if the season now I only think a couple of million. Probably worth keeping to see if he finds his form again he is worth over 5 million. Not sure what we would get for ohare to be honest.
cov donkey kick
Well-Known Member
I'm of the opinion that Robins will get the backing when you think this season with no fans money was spent on walker and gamer, also ohare wages wise hilsnerand decosta. So with over 7000 MS/St sales sold already I think he will get backing.
He will need to move on certain players, but next season as this season has proved we will need a in depth squad also and a strong reserve team of youngsters from the acedemy.
He will need to move on certain players, but next season as this season has proved we will need a in depth squad also and a strong reserve team of youngsters from the acedemy.
Sky Blue Pete
Well-Known Member
I think the argument goes that defenders command less wage than strikers
Sky Blue Pete
Well-Known Member
Think Dave Boddy has been very clear that this season will need paying back over the next 5 or 6
And interest to the loans
Jamesimus
Well-Known Member
I don't think we can be as financially competitive as Brentford surely?!
Evo1883
Well-Known Member
We're not ..they've sold some players for big money in recent years
Brighton Sky Blue
Well-Known Member
Walsh has basically not played for a year. With us needing improvements in goal, all of defence except for right back, attacking midfield and up front on a shoestring budget it’ll take 2 or 3 windows to get the side up to strength.
skybluesam66
Well-Known Member
not quite what he said . He said there would be incremental increases, but with that proviso
Barnsley
Well-Known Member
Their wage bill is 160% of their revenue, and they owe their owner £102M that always helps.
shmmeee
Well-Known Member
TBF we’re probably not a million miles from that last couple of seasons.
skybluesam66
Well-Known Member
you think so - our revenue this year despite Covid will be quite comfortably > player wages
Season tickets / TV money/ Consolidation payments/ Player sales/ Commercial income - with overheads minimised
shmmeee
Well-Known Member
Maybe, though I’d be surprised. Depends what our wage bill is this year. Who have we sold this financial year? McCallum was last year.
AFCCOVENTRY
Well-Known Member
If we stay in the Championship then the summer is going to be pretty brutal for the squad. There has to be a big clear out to enable us to progress next season. A lot of the players are not at this level:
Marosi
Wilson
Rose
Fadz
Hyam
Dacosta
Shipley
Allen
Hilsner
Sheaf (no idea if we can back out of deal)
Kasta
Jobello
Baka
Loan players gone:
Osti
McCallum
James
Viktor
That’s nearly 17 players. Of course Robins will probably keep some like Marosi, Rose and Sheaf (if we have to sign him).
Huge churn coming and the recruitment department are going to have to be on their A game, as I’ve not been convinced by a lot of the signings
Brighton Sky Blue
Well-Known Member
In reality you ain't going to turn over that many players in one window. Focus on the 2 or 3 most urgent areas to improve on and bring quality in for while trying to develop the rest.
Liquid Gold
Well-Known Member
We need to be smarter than just moving on all of the players not quite up to it and replacing them. If you're moving on 17 players then it's 17 new championship level contracts plus signing on fees and possible transfer fees.
As an example you only move on Wilson then get a keeper in to challenge Marosi. Hyam and Rose stay as squad players on reasonable wages and you bring in 1/2 top class defenders.
I just don't see the point in going into next season with a big but not good enough squad like this year. Spend the money on a few quality players and back them up with those still on cheap contracts and youngsters. After a few years of that you've got a squad that can compete at the better end of the division.
skybluesam66
Well-Known Member
Callum Wilson sell on
Brighton Sky Blue
Well-Known Member
Also gained £500,000 from TV appearances.
shmmeee
Well-Known Member
Yeah but no crowds say £10/head, what? 15k attendances? That’s £3.45m over a season (assuming iFollow is cancelled out by corporate and programs and whatever).
O’Hare, Hamer and James alone are £1.5m/year according to rumours, there’s the £5m gone already.
Id be very surprised if we didn’t lose money this season.
Liquid Gold
Well-Known Member
We sold the same number of season tickets as last year and I think averaging 15k is very optimistic.
Ifollow also generates revenue from away games which is something we never got before.