Highland Canary

The majority of fans at CR seem entirely content with the outcome of the season, including the matches referred to above. The apparent lack of ambition appears well aligned to that of the board or maybe it has become conditioned by the board. Whatever, that’s why there is only a tiny minority of fans advocating change.

The increase in salaries in the PL which, in turn, feeds through to the championship is a key reason why we need new investment, assuming we wish to be competitive in tier 2 let alone tier 1.

It would a real coup to hold on to Pukki. Sadly, I suspect high wage earners, including Krul and Pukki, will leave.

But this is the issue. We couldn’t afford the wages or, at least, we couldn’t afford the wages in the championship if relegated. Our business model does not allow us to make the necessary investment in the PL to be competitive because the associated wages will not be sustainable in the championship if relegated. Only with new investment might our cycle of failure be broken.

Jim, we are trying to square a circle. Those 4 better players would not have come on the wages we are willing to pay in the PL or are able to pay if relegated. Let’s not forget we couldn’t even get Ajer! I suspect even with the lower quality players we brought in we’ll be in danger (again) of administration if we’re not promoted next season. Sadly, the quality of the playing squad feels worse today than two years ago. Our business model is broken. Increasingly, we’ll find even being competitive in the championship difficult/impossible. We are entirely hamstrung as a club in the absence of new investment.

This is the fundamental issue. Webber had an impossible task. Buy premier league quality players. But those players also must appreciate in value. And, if the worst was to happen, wages need to be manageable in the championship without the need fir the club to take on external debt. Only new investment can break our cycle of failure.

With the deterioration in quality of the squad over the last year, and the associated relatively low value of player assets, presumably that leaves us only a ‘Maddison’ away from administration again, certainly if we fail to gain promotion in 22/33, given our business model.

The inevitable fire sale will recommence as we seek to offload high wage earners/any player with some residual value - presumably this will include at least Krul, Aarons, Pukki, Cantwell, Rashica.

I think the discontent narrative is grossly overstated. A bit of noise on message boards such as this and a tiny minority at Carrow Road. Apathy and disconnect with the club seem to me the predominant feelings. That will change come July.

Thousands will stay after the Spurs match to applaud the players and coaches for their efforts this season. Responsibility for our failure is not theirs nor is it that of the DoF. Simply, our business model does not support the necessary quality to be competitive in the PL. Going forward the greater risk is that our business model will not support competitive second tier football, especially in a world of reduced parachute payments (for which our business model arguably bears some culpability but that is another debate). Indeed, the level of ambition and football competitiveness it implies is entirely aligned and consistent with the vast majority of attendees at Carrow Road. Come August the ground will be full again and clapping will be to the fore much like it will be after the Spurs game.

Failure of the business model not of the various players, coaches or director of football.

I suspect no more than a handful of discontents. The board’s ‘self-sufficiency’ mantra - and associated acceptance of footballing failure - seems entirely aligned with the outlook of the vast majority of those attending Carrow Road.

Expect any player with some value and high wage earners to be moved on. Presumably, this would include Aarons, Cantwell, Krul, Pukki. I guess if we can get something for Rashica he’ll be away too. Can’t see much financial value in the rest of the squad so likely to be with us next season.

Webber is simply not the problem. Navigate the continual transition between premier league and championship on a self-funding basis - an impossible task. Good luck to him. Sadly, his departure will bring the risk of administration ever closer.

As a so-called ‘self-funding’ club relegation will imply a wholesale disposal of relatively high wage players plus the realisation of any players assets with some value (Pukki, Aarons, Krul). Even with these steps taken our wage bill will still likely not be manageable on a ‘self-funding’ basis if we’re not promoted at the first attempt. Failing promotion we’ll once again be faced with a massively downgraded squad and potentially a ‘Maddison’ away from administration but without an obvious Maddison type asset to stave it off. Only new investment will break our cycle of failure.

Certainly our general lack of competitiveness and ambition to compete is a strong argument for the discontinuance of parachute payments. That may give a better chance to other clubs who would value the opportunity to play PL football and have the ambition to stay there.

It seems that the board’s business model, and the consequent level of ambition it implies, is entirely aligned with the vast majority of the preferences of attendees at Carrow Road. In the circumstances why all the discussion of the disposal of the owners’ shareholdings? Maybe the Sheffield Utd supporters and board have higher footballing ambitions than we do?

Inefficacious business model

It really isn’t. Nor is it Farke’s, the players or indeed Webber’s. It’s simply a business model which is incompatible, obviously, with the PL and, ominously, I suspect with the championship. However, the fans appear entirely content with out football largesse, the ground is full and the level of ambition between fan and club aligned.

83% is impressive. Goes to show how aligned the fan base, board and level of ambition are correlated.

With our business model the money simply isn’t there. Non-renewals of key players - such as Pukki - and fire sales will be upon us again. Only new investment will change this.

Really, the focus needs to move away from the noise surrounding refs, VAR etc. The fundamental issue is that we lack quality to compete at this level. That’s what needs attention.* *and only if you believe the main objective is to win football matches at PL level. This may not be the most important aim for the club if the target is to be a top 25 club which with a 20th place finish is met. Greater focus may be on potential cash flows in the championship and the challenge of managing the transition for a self-funding club. Only new investment can help reconcile this dilemma.

Of course, it’s our inability to offer premier league wages which has doomed us to failure once again. Only new investment can address such a structural weakness.

Of course, H we start next season with a squad of lower overall quality and fewer high value playing assets to sell. Undoubtedly, there has been a deterioration of player quality and associated financial power since our last relegation.

An ownership model with only limited efficacy before the massive influx of broadcasting money and wealthy owners over the last decade with no efficacy today. A business model doomed to fail in the PL and one which will increasingly fail in the championship given the increase in wealth of championship owners. The outcome is likely to be relegation through the tiers and/or potential administration as any player assets with value are sold. Further, with this cycle it is much less obvious as to which players - if any - have significant value to realise on relegation. Without new investment the likelihood of administration undoubtedly will increase.