Leaderboard

God I hope Villa get relegated

We don’t have the money to do anything else. £23million vs £23billion. Self-funding means you have no safety net for errors, you have to have actual positive cash to cover scenarios and liabilities. Actions - including transfers - will therefore be much, much more cautious and ‘defensive’ than anyone else. Because of our limited finance we attract young, promising players with playing opportunities that are often restricted to them. At a higher level they make mistakes, come up against a lot of unknowns, the Club overall may not succeed, but those players receive an unusual and priceless education that may well massively increase their asset value. We also attract players via ‘back-end’ deals that reward success and achievements handsomely, so when we do progress, they get financial benefits that are not regular liabilities on our books, but which do soak up Premier cash. Finally and crucially, the major drain on resources is nearly always wages, not transfer fees. We have relegation clauses with all our players because the Premier is so dramatically different. A theoretical example: Jamal Lewis in the Premier £20m transfer fee, then £50k per week x 4 years = £30m Sam McCallum £3m fee, then £10k per week x 4 years = £5m Difference to club = £25m Jamal Lewis Premier wages x 20 players = £50m per year (not including bonuses) Sam McCallum wages per year x 20 players = £10m Jamal Lewis x 20 players = £600m Sam McCallum x 20 players = £100m Difference to club = £500m Difference on pitch? Maybe nothing. And so we continue... The owners don’t have the money, promotion to the Premier swallows up lots of available cash through liabilities and increases in wages. Add in some previous errors that need correcting and you quickly arrive at £100m. Webber is doing exactly what is required and maximising outcomes via the parameters in front of him. Two possibilities for all: 1. Accept it 2. Different ownership Parma

I am confident we can remain unbeaten at home until the season end, based on recent performances. It becomes a mini-season, but the last six games are all there to be won, Imagine the momentum and belief that could snowball at Carrow Road. It could be set up for a thrilling finale that would match last season's enjoyment levels. We will need a bit of luck facing Leicester City as are a side that could score against any side as they are so rapid and inventive in the final third, so the first challenge is huge. After that, there is no team to be terrified of because if we defend properly we are now good enough to keep clean sheets. We have improved defensively as the season has developed, Pukki has it within him to hit a scoring run, two or three or the youngsters are getting better and better, Emi may be key (or not), and Tim Krul is currently looking worth a goal a game. Above all else, the team has a togetherness that other strugglers can only dream about. Lifelong heroes could emerge over the next two months. I am missing the next three games recovering from an operation, which breaks my heart, but I will be there for the run-in, confident this battle will run until the end of the season. Many, probably most, will disagree, as will the bookies, but I couldn't be happier to stick my neck out. Who is with me?

People seem to have forgotten that Leeds are in the position they are, because they spent money they didnt have chasing a dream they couldn't afford.

Webber would probably argue that 21 year old Neal Maupay cost Brentford around £1.6m and after two seasons they sold him for £20m. Even taking transfer figures with a huge pinch of salt it makes a big argument for trying to recruit the right talent at an early age rather than waiting to see their value explode. Similarly Adam Webster more than doubled his value after one season not playing for Ipswich (insert own punchline here).

So is it .. Support a balance sheet Or Support other people's money Or can we just support our team?

Is the game at Sloughbottom?

At what time does their manager make his substitutions? Could make all the difference.

I've done Fan of the match and it was a really good experience - Tour of the ground, meal in the Gunn Club, tickets to the game (regular seating) and access to the Gunn Club afterwards. The gift involved is a shirt (printed as you wish) signed by the entire squad presented by a member of the squad (and the moment is photographed professionally). Also get the name printed in the programme. The celebration package is similar, but instead of a shirt you get a cake or bottle of Champagne (also presented by a member of the squad and photographed). The meal is in Delias instead of Gunn club, and tickets are in top of the terrace rather than regular seating. You also get a matchday announcement and your name on the official team sheet instead of the programme. Theres also the Top of the terrace package which is about half the price but doesn't include a tour of the ground or any gift presented by a squad member. Fan of the match is sold out for the rest of the season but there are still celebration and top of the terrace packages available. I've sat behind the glass at top of the terrace before and utterly hated it - was very sterilised experience as it's all soundproofed and the crowd noise is piped in at a much lower volume, but that's from an entirely subjective point of view without having to consider anybody else's experience - obviously it may be entirely appropriate for you and your grandad. If you can tolerate sitting behind the glass then either of the TOTT or Celebration packages would be decent. If you can get organised for next year (they go on sale for the whole year at the start of the season) then I would 100% say Fan of the Match experience is worth doing at some point, if your grandad is mobile enough for the tour of the ground..

Darn. That is a pain. We won't get to see another moment like this against Wolves...

You're talking about different ownership coming in, I thought, to solve the fact that we aren't going to go and spend millions on players in the next season or so. Which would likely mean that they'd want to put their stamp on the club. So, different head coach and different sporting director (bearing in mind they even decided to run with that model). You'd rather we do that and potentially face utter oblivion if things don't work out, than carry on with what we're doing at the moment. OK. It seems stupid to me but whatever. We all know you are an angry fellow 😊

Option 3. Come on pinkun message board, try to convince eeveryone that if we had only spent €30 m on player(s) . We'd be safe mid table by now. 😄👍 Cheers for that Mouldyo. A different angle on a rather over discussed subject.

It's not about 'pleading poverty', it's about looking for good value and shrewd investment. Look at the highest fees paid since the summer for an individual player by the other 'smaller' teams in the league: Watford: Ismaila Sarr, £27m Aston Villa: Wesley, £22.5m Sheffield United: Sander Berge, £20m Brighton: Adam Webster/Neal Maupay, £20m Southampton: Danny Ings, £20m Bournemouth: Arnaud Danjuma, £13.7m Burnley: Josh Brownhill, £9m Crystal Palace: James McCarthy, £3m Burnley and Palace have spent the least out of these teams, but look pretty safe. These figures in isolation aren't worth a great deal as they don't factor in total spend, but it does show that you don't necessarily have to spend huge amounts on players to survive if you have a decent squad and a decent manager. Also, just for comparison, let's take a look at the top six in the Championship, which is where we want to be next season (assuming we don't pull off a miracle): West Brom: Kenneth Zohore, £8m Leeds: A couple of minor undisclosed signings (one from Man City academy and one from Carlisle), plus a few loans Fulham: Ivan Cavaleiro, £10.5m Brentford: Bryan Mbeumo, £6m Forest: Carl Jenkinson, £2m Preston: Tom Bayliss, £2m I've had a quick look at the rest of the Championship too, and there really isn't that much money being thrown around. A few big individual signings (Mbenza to Huddersfield for £11m, Bielik to Derby for £7.5m, Kalas to Bristol City for £8m, Sunjic to Birmingham for £7m, Puscas to Reading for £7m, and a few signings around the £5m mark), but competing for Championship players is the absolute worst business plan when we're in the division itself. We are in an outstanding position. Webber's interview makes it abundantly clear that we won't be looking to sell in the summer; if bids come in from big clubs (ie. the traditional top six plus Leicester, Everton and Wolves, and possibly West Ham/Newcastle at a push) then we'll listen to them, and they'll have to pay top whack to get our top talent. If those bids come in, we'll be able to invest the money sensibly and sustainably, whether on players in the McCallum/Maddison/Godfrey mould, or more young players from abroad in the Buendía mould (plus any talent from our academy, of course). And if the bids don't come in, we'll be in a position where we can attack the Championship with pretty much the squad we've got now, which we already know is good enough to win the division. And for every player that does leave for big bucks, the higher the price will go for the others. My guess (for what it's worth) is that we'll probably lose Aarons and Cantwell to Spurs/Liverpool for north of £50m, but the others will stay... unless someone has already said they want Lewis in the summer, which was the reason we bought McCallum?

Upshot was McNally was a bit aloof but approachable enough and gave any proposals a serious and appropriate amount of consideration. Moxey was a ****.

Well, let's see if we can make Pugin's scenario happen: We need to score theoretically at the very minimum 6 goals, in 6 games where we also keep a clean sheet. Norwich has scored on average 0,92 goals per game. There's 12 games left. 11 goals. Do you think that amongst those 11 goals we can't find 6 games where we let in 1 less than the opponent? Suddenly doesn't sound so impossible... There's another thing. It has nearly zero predictive value towards any single game, but over the long run...Norwich as a whole has underperformed its xGs. There is bound to be a correction eventually. It's probably worth a few goals above our current trend, meaning we could expect to score 13 or even 14. Half of the goals are going to come from the Pukki, Cantwell, Duda trio. The other half the rest of the team needs to pick up. The signs are in the air that I can imagine such chain of events materializing. But the chances are low. A convincing win on Sunday and it's a whole another outlook.

Thank you PuPs for your generous time in suggesting possible winners Nutty, I would like to pick the following please; Porto v Portimonense (Home win) - My Pick SPAL v Juventus (Away win) Slavia Prague v Opava (Home win) Barcelona v Eibar (Home win) Werder Bremen v Borussia Dortmund (Away win) Inter v Sampdoria (Home win) In our game, I'd like to go for a draw - Good luck FD

Firstly, sincere congratulations on finding a never-before used angle of attack on the club! Big Vince, Keith Scott, Highland Canary et al will be kicking themselves for not having had the idea. Secondly, all I know about women's professional football, and that is not much, although I have seen one match, comes from listening to the extensive coverage on the Guardian Football Weekly (actually bi-weekly) podcast. And one of the frequent points is that even some of the clubs that have a team in the top flight do not support them that generously and, for example, often force them to play their 'home' games at grotty grounds with lousy pitches. So I am not sure it is true that we have done a lot less than most. I don't know what it would cost to properly bankroll a Norwich City women's team but my suspicion, given that even much wealthier clubs are not doing all they could, is that we would find it too much of a financial stretch at the moment. But that is not to say we shouldn't do better than we are. The obvious first step for you is to raise this at a fans' forum or contact the club directly.

Norwich to Great Yarmouth in 90...

Good on him, each to their own, but he was far from a disastrous signing, I thought considering his minutes were few and far between I don’t think he let us down.

Villa are also getting tax payers money to build their new training ground as the route for HS2 goes through their old one. Looks like HS2 was a huge con by David Cameron to get his team a new training ground for free. 😀

Let’s turn it around Hermy, from the negative mindset that pervades this thread, how about instead of “plenty of things to fight against” try “ plenty of things to fight for” . It needs a small shift in outlook but is far more positive (makes you all look less like a bunch of belligerent losers) and puts your mind in a more healthy place. Its the way to make a difference, be positive, try to shape things in the way you want, whilst following the general direction your country has voted for, the alternative is you get nothing, which is not good for any of us!

What a ****ing tool. Desperately hope they go down now and Leeds **** it up

It's not over, there are plenty of things to fight against. It is quite clear what Johnson,his government and the right wing press are trying to do to the country. A Trumpian/Orbanic authoritarian and dystopian ****hole is not the country people fought and died for.

Having personally and recently visited Auschwitz and Birkenau......anyone who is in denial of the Holocaust, is as ignorant, as ignorant can be.....

It clearly isnt over - the first and easy bit is over (and that was a shambles resolved only by the current incompetents signing an even worse deal than the terrible deal that Theresa May had achieved!) The tricky bit is only just beginning and is immeasurably more complex than the bit we've done. Given that we're being led by the idiot that has just negotiated and signed the deal that was 'so bad no British Prime Minister could ever sign it' I don't think any of us will be doing any celebrating for the foreseeable future. However I think you can reasonably expect some grim satisfaction to surface as the many myths, delusions and lies of Brexit are exposed for what they were and still are in the minds of many of the most deluded. You are right that its too late to do the country any good but even eventually shutting up idiots like mad Moyo will be a small consolation.

Basically if you’re able to shout “over ‘ere son, on me ‘ead” you’ll be ok.

Maybe there should have been a choir at the back singing ‘ You’re not famous anymore ‘

No need to apologise. I understand a change of ownership could go either way. I think it will happen(not in the near future and probably after Tom takes over) so patience is a virtue I guess.

The Premier League negotiates their TV deal. The members of the Premier League at any given season are the owners of the league . The owners of the league obtain the best terms they can , and this is distributed. I’m no expert and frankly can’t be bothered to find out , but I suspect that the distribution is more equitable than other major European or Global leagues? The EFL can take its wares to market and negotiate with the media companies. EFL will sell to the highest bidder. That the bids are nowhere near the Premier league bids tells you all you need to know about the global attraction of the EFL. As i said on the other thread have Leeds been in TV more than us this season? Why the Villa bloke is now shouting “it’s not fair” at the AGM could be down to numerous reasons. Perhaps he is diverting attention from their own potential plight of spending another huge chunk of money only to go down again. Bloke sounds worried to me!

Best of luck to Crabby, Flying Dutchman and all PUP’s. Sheffield Utd vs Brighton - home win. Nutty, I’m okay for the 7th March 👍

Hmm. And we got promoted by playing better football, Leeds failed to go up. Sounds fair to me. Or maybe rather than kicking a ball around the teams should just line up the supporters, see who has more, award them the game and go home?

One of his early chances against Liverpool was an excellent shot which brought a great save. His pass led to Cantwell's goal v Man City. Good squad player and excellent Championship player.

I hate to break it to you but Johnson has already signed over a worse deal than Theresa May. He has effectively split the UK. As to trade deals. We'll either get one that means we have to take the EU's rules with no say or nothing, absolute bottom of the ladder type deals, below third world countries like Mauritania or basket cases like North Korea. And another simple fact. We go into negotiations still with no plan, no idea what we want and with the people still in the dark (willing or unwilling) of want we could have to give up. As has been said. This is all on you and your fellow brexiters and brexitty government now. You'd better hope, for all our sakes, that this goes well.

Part two...

I'm afraid I couldn't comment. I've led a sheltered life

It really doesn't matter, but God Save The Queen/King is a dirge of a tune with infantile lyrics. I Vow To thee My Country would be an improvement from both points of view.

1. No. 2.Yes.

Another horrible policy is to spend more on schools. Let’s hope this will result in more people knowing the difference between there and their. 🙂

The question is whether the risk endangers the financial security of the club. What is often described here a 'a calculated gamble' is actually a risk the poster would never take with their own finances.

Yes and I would have been massively unhappy as he really wasn't very good. This is the point. Why beg that we spend loads of money when no player is necessarily guaranteed to work out?? I am so glad we got him on loan and were able to move him on. Would have hamstrung us financially if we'd signed him or Fahrmann on permanent deals. The sooner our fans start understanding that there is absolutely NO WAY we'll be spending big on players, the better. Perhaps in another season's time if we've managed to stay in the Prem or been promoted again. But not now. And why should we? Done alright, really, without splashing out too much. I call that smart recruitment and managing the finances properly. NOT pleading poverty.

A government implementing a manifesto policy? Utterly outrageous, Doing what it said it would do, Carry on remoaning.

Doesn’t mean it’s not a stupid rule though.

It's not just the youth players though. It's also the fact that players like Stiepermann, Vrancic, Leitner, Zimmerman, Trybull, Hernandez have all succeeded at championship level yet to buy a proven version of them in the championship would have cost 3,4, maybe even 5x more.

Offer of job. 20 Skill level. 20 Salary. 20 That leaves 10 points required. Speaks English to required standard (10 points) presumably means you need to be able to speak English well enough to do your job. Some may disagree but I don't think you need to be able to speak any English to be a footballer. If you don't agree, try watching the interviews on MOTD or reading footballers' posts on social media...... Many years ago Dennis Van Wyck told me he'd come to play in England to improve his English. He was surprised to find he had the best English at the club. Nothing much has changed since then, the most intelligent footballers seem to come from outside the UK.

Even Ipswich look half decent

HELLO. I’m home secretary Priti Patel, and soon I’ll start deporting even the white ones. So are you economically inactive and useless? Retired You’ve worked your entire life so it’s time to sit back, relax and sign up for hauling turnips out of the ground or a role in the hospitality industry. I hear old people whining about feeling isolated and unwanted, but I don’t see them working as baristas at Starbucks. Student Many students have part-time jobs during term time and full-time jobs in the holidays. That’s not enough. You’re young. You need to be working at least one full-time and one part-time during term, and two full-times and a part-time in the summer. Don’t make us raise tuition fees again. Carer Caring is a job? P*ss off. If you’re doing it for free – perhaps for an elderly relative or sick child – then you’re hurting yourself and hurting Britain. Stop being so selfish and care for somebody else’s 95-year-old mother for a change. And make sure they pay for it. Long-term sick To put it politely, it’s time to either void or vacate the bathroom. A buccaneering, vibrant, low-tax, post-Brexit economy can’t afford passengers. A job at a roadside car wash might kill the seriously ill, but at least you wouldn’t die a burden. I know what I’d choose. Other If you cannot be bothered to specify why you’re economically inactive, then I certainly can’t be bothered to consider your reasons valid. Report to the east coast of Britain. We need untrained people out there on trawlers catching fish and fighting off Spanish fishermen.

Don’t mind that we won’t be in the ‘established Championship player’ market. Possibly the worst value league £ for £. Don’t get me wrong, there is talent there, not saying there isn’t, but if it’s there so long to be called established then it’s probably not good enough for the Premier League - and with a hugely inflated price tag too. I like how we do our business now, good technical players that are unearthed from nowhere - far more satisfying than just flinging £60mil at anything we want to (each to their own I guess though, but I like us not being a ‘Man City’).

Isn't it amazing that the longer a player doesn't play, the better he becomes.

There's a big difference between poverty and prudence. We have behaved as if in poverty for a season in order to reset the financials and build prudently from our consolidated base for evermore. We will all live happily ever after. The End.

I really don't get your point. No, he's not the world's best CB, but there's only one person out of the 7 billion people on planet earth who is. Aarons, Godfrey and Lewis are worth a bundle because they are superb young players who are already playing week in, week out in the most competitive League in the world. Godfrey has already captained England U21s and Aarons has excelled when he's played for England U21s. Lewis is already a seasoned full international. I've replied on another thread lampooning Adam Webster. He went from Bristol City to Brighton (having never played Premier League football) for £20 million. That's the market these days.