Concerned now (2 Viewers)

[SBT]

Im still waiting for the evidence he is on £19k a week

Bristol Post says that Palmer joining us saved Bristol City £1 million a year, which would be £19,200 a week

But it’s all just conjecture really - the numbers are all over the place

 

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[shmmeee]

I wouldn’t be relying on Eccles or Torp, both might come good and are excellent stand ins, but we need better next to Sheaf or his replacement. Midfield has been really poor this season in terms of beating the press and ball retention

 

[PVA]

Eccles is a 1st team player all day long - He is never going to be one of our key 5 superstars, but he will be doing the running and work behind them If we still had Hamer in there we wouldnt even be discussing it , the issue this season has been the midfield not linking with the forwards

Yeah I can't believe people are suggesting he's not good enough and should be moved on.

It's more likely he leaves for a bigger club than is moved on for not being good enough.

 

[TinPotTaylor]

Alan Browne set for summer exit from Preston despite offer of lucrative new deal - I hope Sheafo does stay, but if he goes, so be it. Let's get Alan Browne in for a couple of years. I know he doesn't fit the 'model', but he will help us on our way..

 

[skybluecam]

Yeah of course, I’m just saying it’d be nice if the whole team (bar the defence obviously) had the ability to shoot accurately or chip in with assists. The midfield are literally just there for passes completed atm, they don’t really worry the keeper much, just a lot of faffing around the opposition’s box and losing of the ball.

Basically I think that if we want to aim for automatics or at least a solid play-off place then we need to have a better midfield, and although players like Kelly and Eccles are alright they rarely look like causing the opposition problems.

Torp is that player, you can see his ball striking is a level above the others.

Kelly is finished really, doesn’t have the legs to play in our system.

To be honest, it’s not really a necessity imo. Wright and Simms should get 30-40 between them. Sakamoto/EMC hopefully 5-10 each. Maybe 10 goals total from Palmer and the O’Hare replacement. That’s 60 ish goals there. Only need 10-20 from the rest of the team and that’s playoffs/autos level of goals.

 

[Viktor17]

This is the one that I heard, doesn't fit the model, but exactly what we need. Bit like when we signed Matty James.

Hes absolute type we need. Wages likely issue.

 

[messiahrobins]

As you know I've been banging the Sheaf is staying drum for a while and that we will use Vik money

Thats not correct now. Sheaf has said he would like a crack at the premier league. Which we cannot blame him for of course

With his current value at its highest dont be surprised if we lose him

For me, if we do, that is too much of a rebuild again for the summer

Moore
Kelly
O'Hare
Bidwell
Godden
Sheaf
Allen

To replace, and then add more.
Feel very deflated hearing that to be honest

Losing Bidwell will be a disaster. Sheaf i can live with IF we got £10m plus for him as i do think that type of player is replaceable and i think if Gyokeres and Hamer are sold and we get the sell on fees, £20m plus if Robins is allowed to spend it should be enough to get us up and have another FA Cup run as we would have a deep squad.
I get the concern though about another rebuild as that likely means a slow start.

 

[messiahrobins]

We’ve got another 3 years of JDS after this as well.

FFS, cant we all club together and pay him off!!

 

[JSL]

He will come good in year 4

 

[messiahrobins]

The thing is, for our rebuild (and beyond) to be sustainable it makes perfect sense to cash in on Sheaf now. It's disappointing to lose him, but understandable from both sides perspective.

What boils my piss is Bidwell being thrown out, if true. Keeping JDS ahead of him is a retrograde step.

We are still in a better position first team wise, but I agree with you in that I think the turnover is going to be an issue. We are not 2/3 players away from autos, we are miles off.

I think we need to be prepared for a similar season next, and the worry being at that point the vultures will be in for simms, wright, mve and the heart of the team will be ripped out again.

Totally agree. Bidwell is a fantastic player. We need to keep him, but need far better competition for him as DaSilva is absolutely shite.
Sheaf should not be that hard to replace as holding midfielders are plentiful abroad, especially in the MLS where i think we have a scouting network. I love Sheaf and would name him Captain but if he wants to go and we get good money for him then its best for all concerned to let him go.

 

[BlueSkiesForever]

Torp is that player, you can see his ball striking is a level above the others.

Kelly is finished really, doesn’t have the legs to play in our system.

To be honest, it’s not really a necessity imo. Wright and Simms should get 30-40 between them. Sakamoto/EMC hopefully 5-10 each. Maybe 10 goals total from Palmer and the O’Hare replacement. That’s 60 ish goals there. Only need 10-20 from the rest of the team and that’s playoffs/autos level of goals.

Yeah I agree somewhat, it’s not down to the midfielders to get goals but I just find our midfield very lacklustre at times, there’s no quality vision or threat, just a load of passes in tight areas that rarely lead to quality chances. Eccles is a solid squad player and should be kept but I still can’t help but feel we shouldn’t be relying on him every week, we just need that extra bit of quality and I really can’t see him improving leaps and bounds.

 

[Grendel]

Bristol Post says that Palmer joining us saved Bristol City £1 million a year, which would be £19,200 a week

But it’s all just conjecture really - the numbers are all over the place

Well you have frequently claimed the wages were never that high anyway but hey ho

 

[BlueSkiesForever]

Kelly - end of career, Eccles at the front end of his. You do need at least one of these type of players in the team to break up play, hold the team together. It is why England will always have a Rice type to let Foden, Bellingham etc go do their stuff, and why you'll rarely/never see a Maddison, Bellingham, Foden, Grealish type midfield. It's always about getting the right mix. Whether Eccles will need upgrading at some point, perhaps - but he's at the very least a decent squad player.

Yeah Kelly needs to go now, we can and need to do a lot better than that if we’re ever to make it into the prem. I think there’s a lot of sentiment on this forum (not talking about you in particular) and if we genuinely want to be a ruthless team that win 3-0 or 4-0 fairy regularly then we need to remove the sentiment and improve the squad, personally I feel the midfield and perhaps defence needs an upgrade first.

 

[DazzleTommyDazzle]

Bristol Post says that Palmer joining us saved Bristol City £1 million a year, which would be £19,200 a week

But it’s all just conjecture really - the numbers are all over the place

If the saving was accurately quoted, his wages would be less than that as the saving would include employers' NI.

That would then make his weekly wage about £16,900.

 

[messiahrobins]

Yeah I agree somewhat, it’s not down to the midfielders to get goals but I just find our midfield very lacklustre at times, there’s no quality vision or threat, just a load of passes in tight areas that rarely lead to quality chances. Eccles is a solid squad player and should be kept but I still can’t help but feel we shouldn’t be relying on him every week, we just need that extra bit of quality and I really can’t see him improving leaps and bounds.

Eccles is a tremendous player, he is badly underrated. We are far better with him in the side and Sheaf plays much better with Eccles alongside him. A midfield trio of Torp Sheaf Eccles would be magnificent and i think would make us defensively much more solid. Our problem with a 4-2-3-1 is when we have a no10 in the side, when we dont have the ball the midfield gets overrun and i would have said if fit playing Allen with Sheaf and Eccles this season would have made us a better team than playing Palmer as Palmer is a luxury player who in all honesty we cannot really afford to play as we are not good enough in possession and are prone to turning the ball over too often.
Torp will be huge for us.

 

[chiefdave]

Love how quickly its changed from left back being a priority recruitment position in the summer to Bidwell is an incredible player and irreplaceable as soon as there's a rumour he might go

 

[Mucca Mad Boys]

Hes absolute type we need. Wages likely issue.

This is the one that I heard, doesn't fit the model, but exactly what we need. Bit like when we signed Matty James.

Agreed, with the loss of McFadz, Kelly, Godden and potentially Sheaf, we’ve lost our first 4 choice captains in one season. On top of that, if Allen and/or Bidwell could be on their way out. It’s another leader or two off the books in a young squad so we absolutely need some experience and leadership.

Browne is PNE’s skipper so even if he’s not made club captain, it’s a big personality to guide players through. If we’re signing 2 CBs, one of them will surely be a more experienced pro.

 

[Viktor17]

Bidwell been close to Player of season. But let's calm down, there are other left backs about and he is certainly not irreplaceable!!! Id like to keep him as back up ideally if we could get a MVE type left back.

JDS is funny one, clearly more of a left wing back and really struggles as a left back. Lets see what pre season does for him.

 

[StrettoBoy]

The press speculation is that Bournemouth and Brentford want to sign Ellis Simms.

We would doubtless get a good fee for him but it is depressing that it looks as if we are in for another major rebuild this summer.

 

[JSL]

Thats the way the model works. Buy cheap, develop the player, sell for a profit, reinvest and so on. If we had a larger fanbase, more ticket sales, more shirt sales, better sponsors then the need would reduce. Our wage bill has a ceiling based on income. Increase the income and the club can get more ambitious

 

[ptr]

Browne and Mowatt would be unreal. Not going to happen but they are two midfielders available on a free. Would sort midfield out.

 

[Hincha]

Bidwell been close to Player of season. But let's calm down, there are other left backs about and he is certainly not irreplaceable!!! Id like to keep him as back up ideally if we could get a MVE type left back.

JDS is funny one, clearly more of a left wing back and really struggles as a left back. Lets see what pre season does for him.

The Bidwell situation is similar to the Jack Grimmer one back in League One.

A fans favourite and solid player for the division being replaced as Robins wants somebody better on the ball to progress the team.

If we sign a LB as good as MvE we'll have all forgotten about Bidwell by September.

 

[BlueSkiesForever]

A fans favourite and solid player for the division being replaced as Robins wants somebody better on the ball to progress the team.

If we sign a LB as good as MvE we'll have all forgotten about Bidwell by September.

100% agree, we need to not get sentimental about certain players. They just play for us, they don’t live and breathe the life of the average Coventrian, we’re the ones that are passionate about the club, we’re the ones that give away our own money to support our club, not the players.

The likes of Bidwell have been great for us but if someone gives us a fair whack for him then absolutely he should go. Let’s get in another Van Ewijk for £3-5 mil and upgrade the squad. If we spend £15-£20 mil wisely this summer we can have a promotion worthy team, we just need to accept that we may have to break some eggs to make a promotion-omelette.

 

[David O'Day]

The press speculation is that Bournemouth and Brentford want to sign Ellis Simms.

We would doubtless get a good fee for him but it is depressing that it looks as if we are in for another major rebuild this summer.

That is bollocks as well

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[Skybluekyle]

As you know I've been banging the Sheaf is staying drum for a while and that we will use Vik money

Thats not correct now. Sheaf has said he would like a crack at the premier league. Which we cannot blame him for of course

With his current value at its highest dont be surprised if we lose him

For me, if we do, that is too much of a rebuild again for the summer

Moore
Kelly
O'Hare
Bidwell
Godden
Sheaf
Allen

To replace, and then add more.
Feel very deflated hearing that to be honest

I wouldn't listen to this "Saddlebrains" guy, I hear he tortures kittens and thinks Andrew Tate is innocent and is a "good guy"

 

[Saddlebrains]

I wouldn't listen to this "Saddlebrains" guy, I hear he tortures kittens and thinks Andrew Tate is innocent and is a "good guy"

He is

 

[skybluecam]

100% agree, we need to not get sentimental about certain players. They just play for us, they don’t live and breathe the life of the average Coventrian, we’re the ones that are passionate about the club, we’re the ones that give away our own money to support our club, not the players.

The likes of Bidwell have been great for us but if someone gives us a fair whack for him then absolutely he should go. Let’s get in another Van Ewijk for £3-5 mil and upgrade the squad. If we spend £15-£20 mil wisely this summer we can have a promotion worthy team, we just need to accept that we may have to break some eggs to make a promotion-omelette.

What’s a fair whack in your view? We’d probably get 5-800k max for Bidwell.

Don’t see us spending 15-20m unless Sheaf leaves and Vik moves.

 

[Sky Blue Harry H]

Yeah Kelly needs to go now, we can and need to do a lot better than that if we’re ever to make it into the prem. I think there’s a lot of sentiment on this forum (not talking about you in particular) and if we genuinely want to be a ruthless team that win 3-0 or 4-0 fairy regularly then we need to remove the sentiment and improve the squad, personally I feel the midfield and perhaps defence needs an upgrade first.

It's a tough old league to win 3-0 and 4-0 fairly regularly. That said, we have scored 3 goals in 6 or 7 away fixtures(iirc) including Wembley. Somebody will correct me!

 

[WestEndAgro]

ffs are you a lawyer or something -

no he's the tea boy at JLR

 

[Skyblue Bangkok]

E

That is bollocks as well

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Except he still has more than 3 years left on his contract so no pressure to sell unless silly money is offered.

 

[StrettoBoy]

That is bollocks as well

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How exactly do you know this? Have you spoken to the player and senior officials at Bournemouth and Brentford?

Unless you have I will treat your comment with the same degree of suspicion as the press speculation.

I haven't got the foggiest idea whether there is anything in this. I could however see Brentford being a possible move for him. Ivan Toney is likely to leave Brentford in the summer for decent money, so they will have a hole to fill and the necessary resources. They are also about the right level for Simms' next move.

 

[shmmeee]

Honestly, hate losing a favourite and love Simms and Sheaf, but last transfer window, signings galore, breaking transfer records, rumours everywhere, was probably the best summer since the Prem. I wouldn’t complain if we had £35m to spend again.

 

[ptr]

People saying they would happily sell Sheaf/Simms etc so we can spend money are the same people that will moan after an inevitable poor start.

Keep who we can. Add to it sensibly. Start well. Can’t just keep signing 8/9 players every summer then wonder why it takes us ages to get going.

 

[Trueskyblue20]

People saying they would happily sell Sheaf/Simms etc so we can spend money are the same people that will moan after an inevitable poor start.

Keep who we can. Add to it sensibly. Start well. Can’t just keep signing 8/9 players every summer then wonder why it takes us ages to get going.

Playing Devils Advocate but it is so different to last year where we were reliant all year on 2 top prem quality players in Hamer and Vik. Once they left we were down to bare bones and after the loans went had to have a complete squad rebuild which caused the horrendous start.


This year the sales from the summer have allowed us to have a brilliant starting point for pre season with some real quality players on long term contracts (MVE, Thomas, Wright, Sakamoto, EMC etc).


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[SBT]

Nothing inherently wrong with selling Simms (or Sheaf, or anyone) and reinvesting, but at some point you need to pick your moment go for it. Very hard to rebuild the side every season without the occasional transitional year like this one.