I know there are many other threads having a pop at our owners about whimsical new stadiums, them charging the football club rent (if it was ever built) etc, but one thing that really annoys me about their statement at running the football club is their intent to sell any decent players that come through the academy process.
I know people will say that we have always sold on our better players, and that it makes financial sense, but it is such an own goal in my opinion, as if you start out with the 'no' approach, you will inevitably force the price up for a player. Giving everybody advance notice that we intend to sell will unsettle the individual (bye bye Maddison, who I was looking forward to seeing progress with us), as well as making prospective purchasers pitch low - knowing we will capitulate. Not only are they rubbish at all football related matters, this is another own goal as far as I am concerned.
I know there are many other threads having a pop at our owners about whimsical new stadiums, them charging the football club rent (if it was ever built) etc, but one thing that really annoys me about their statement at running the football club is their intent to sell any decent players that come through the academy process.
I know people will say that we have always sold on our better players, and that it makes financial sense, but it is such an own goal in my opinion, as if you start out with the 'no' approach, you will inevitably force the price up for a player. Giving everybody advance notice that we intend to sell will unsettle the individual (bye bye Maddison, who I was looking forward to seeing progress with us), as well as making prospective purchasers pitch low - knowing we will capitulate. Not only are they rubbish at all football related matters, this is another own goal as far as I am concerned.
Thanks for listening Otis - it just annoys me when I see some clubs good at getting value 'plus' (Southampton currently, and Wimbledon in the eighties/nineties, when they could get £xm for players like Warren Barton, Carl Cort ? -tall, gangly, rubbish, made Adebola look like Messi - for 7m to Newcastle etc)
I agree with this and the timing of any sale is important. We should develop them and get at least 2-3 years out of them and progress the team....not sell at the first opportunity and offer of some cash
I agree with this and the timing of any sale is important. We should develop them and get at least 2-3 years out of them and progress the team....not sell at the first opportunity and offer of some cash
There is probably a formula involving the following factors, how much have we invested in them, how much they are worth today on the open market, what is their value to our club in playing, do we need them.
Selling the youngsters isn't a new thing, we've done it for decades. The first one I remember when I was a kid was Gary Gillespie. The issue now is, as Otis said, when we sell them. Particularly now that we are relying on the kids to bulk the team out. However, I'm not adverse to selling them full stop. Bigi for example, wasn't really bothered about him. Nor Thomas when he went to Liverpool.
Selling the youngsters isn't a new thing, we've done it for decades. The first one I remember when I was a kid was Gary Gillespie. The issue now is, as Otis said, when we sell them. Particularly now that we are relying on the kids to bulk the team out. However, I'm not adverse to selling them full stop. Bigi for example, wasn't really bothered about him. Nor Thomas when he went to Liverpool.
Like Otis says, it's about timing. A club can survive selling anyone if it's done right. Look at Man Utd under Ferguson and some of the player he let go, but the team carried on because he could hold to let them go at the right time (see Ronaldo) and he could have a replacement ready.
No-one would be bothered about Wilson going if we'd spent £3m on improving the first team. Instead we lost 50 goals last season and replaced them with Tudgay.