January budget - how much should it be?

[Ricky]

This is a great opportunity for us. We're in the position we've wanted to be in for the last 3 years going into the transfer window, but never got near. And when we were last in such a position in 2013 we decided to sell our best player and rely on Jonathan Forte and Dominic Poleon to fire us to promotion, which, surprisingly, didn't work. We know how costly that turned out to be, and it's taken us this long to get in a similar position again. We simply must make it count this time. You never know when the next good opportunity will come along. We're doing well, but we can't afford to be complacent and must look to strengthen and cement our place in the top 2.

We cut the wage bill significantly in the summer. We've sold Adams and DCL. This should have at least funded the signings we've made so far. On top of that those signings have proven to be good ones and the team has been transformed for the better in a very short space of time. The manager has proven he can be trusted with money. He has surely earned further financial backing - especially when you consider Clough was rewarded with over £2m to spend in January 2015 after filling the squad with shite and leading us to 6th place, 15 points off the top.

There's also the additional revenue that promotion would provide, and even the likely increased attendances/revenue in the second half of this season to factor in. It's been said that the Prince will invest when we're in the Championship.... if there's any truth to that at all, now it's within reach surely he should put any issues with McCabe to one side and provide funds if necessary?


So everything considered, what do you think Wilder should be allowed to spend in this transfer window?
We'll assume that the money is there (whilst being realistic) and FFP isn't an issue.

I'd say it should be at least £1m plus anything generated by players leaving.


I'd say these three things to the board...

Learn from history.
Recognise this is the right time.
Recognise that we've got the right manager.

And back Wilder accordingly.

 

[Weasel]

£1.5m.

 

[knowsnowt]

However much Wilder thinks he realistically needs. If he only brings one player in for say 200k then I'm happy to trust him on that, if that's what HE'S requested from the board.

 

[Bladesman]

£2 million.

I expect it to be nearer two quid though unless we sell someone.

 

[georgebernardshaw]

Daft question, its United we're discussing - think of the players we need, work out the approximate value, then post again, asking "What Excuse Will They Use This Year?"

 

[west_yorks_blade]

I really feel that a wise crack about the fax machine is long overdue on this thread. Now that's done ....

I'll go £1.5 m let's finally learn the lesson that you need to spend some cash not asset strip if you are serious about promotion.

 

[GreasyChipBeattie]

One hundred thousand pounds, mwahahahahahaaaaaa

 

[SteveBlade]

1,242,092

In my opinion would be ideal.

 

[Tyler Durden]

5% of Saudi Arabias GDP.

You said "game changing" you cunts, I expect you to deliver.

 

[BigBed]

I'm just going to say, it should be enough to make sure we're a championship team next year!!

 

[Barney]

We need:

A better wing back/full back as Lafferty doesn't do it for me
A striker

Less important would be an extra CM and winger but I think we could do without.

 

[Bladeinleeds]

Depends who's available.

I'd love to spend £500k plus on a couple of players to cement our promotion push who would also be good enough if we do go up.

If we can't get the quality I'm not fussed about bloating the squad for fringe players.

My main worry is if Duffy gets injured. All our attacking comes through him - But that could be sorted by a loan move.

It's important we keep the current squad together at the very least.

 

[SwissBlade]

Spend 5Million and lets have a big party now

 

[Weasel]

We need:

A better wing back/full back as Lafferty doesn't do it for me
A striker

Agree. Need a winger and /or midfielder cover too. 3 signings would do very nicely and i think CW will get the rights ones. He's a clever chuffnuts is our Christopher.

 

[nopigfansintown]

I'd love us to sign a couple who are of a similar profile as Fleck and JOC. Young enough to improve and be an asset in the Championship, with a good resale value. These players tend to cost a decent fee - unless they're in the last six months of contract. Maybe a winger, central midfielder, or striker, but any position as long as it's an obvious improvement.

 

[Tyler Durden]

We need somebody who can play as both a defensive midfielder or a centre-half effectively because currently we have nobody who can perform that role.

 

[Large Mendonca]

Given this great position that Wilder has got us in, and the very fact that Wilder is proving a success following 5 seasons of (mainly) shit, McCabe wouldn't dare to not back us - even he's not that stupid, with the possibility of Chinese investment waiting in the wings (just my hunch, no proof).......is he ??

 

[Ricky]

I'd like us to sign three players ideally, with at least one on loan - the budget will go further with one or two loans.

Another way to maximise the budget is to focus on players whose contracts are expiring. There are plenty of decent ones in that situation.

Wilder's stated 'a midfielder, a winger and maybe one other position' is what he's looking at. I'd like the winger to be able to play RWB and the midfielder to be able to play wide. That would give us scope to strengthen one of the key positions at either end of the pitch - centre back or centre forward.

 

[PeteBlade]

I agree that we're in as strong position now as we've ever been in terms of putting a challenge together for the second half of the season so expect Wilder to be backed with whatever he needs.

If the Ched rumours are true, I hope we don't spend too much of our budget on him
And have learned lessons from Brayford's signing.

 

[Blade for Sale]

23456. It's swapping with the attendance figure. Expect a crowd of 800,000 tomorrow. Get there early.

 

[blade too long]

we could offset any ched approach by letting chesterfield have mcnulty or a n other as chessy need players
but our board HAS always funded whatever is needed, see N clough spend
the tired old cliches are about as truthful as saying wednesday fans are intelligent

 

[mattbianco1]

If they don't give him enough, he could just adjust the slider to reduce wage budget. Or, just put it all on wages and sign some out of contract players like Fernando Torres.. Too much FIFA 17!?

 

[Boxer Blade]

The fans have constantly backed Wilder this season, "in wilder we trust" has been knocked out a few thousand times, well I reckon when our owners get together they will be feeling good with themselves about their appointment and will back Wilder with whatever he wants, they kniw he wont go overboard, he states he treats the clubs money like his own, their confidence will be the same as ours and will be surely saying "back Chris in January and promotion is almost there", do whatever it takes Chris, we believe in you.

 

[Maidenhead]

This is a great opportunity for us. We're in the position we've wanted to be in for the last 3 years going into the transfer window, but never got near. And when we were last in such a position in 2013 we decided to sell our best player and rely on Jonathan Forte and Dominic Poleon to fire us to promotion, which, surprisingly, didn't work. We know how costly that turned out to be, and it's taken us this long to get in a similar position again. We simply must make it count this time. You never know when the next good opportunity will come along. We're doing well, but we can't afford to be complacent and must look to strengthen and cement our place in the top 2.

We cut the wage bill significantly in the summer. We've sold Adams and DCL. This should have at least funded the signings we've made so far. On top of that those signings have proven to be good ones and the team has been transformed for the better in a very short space of time. The manager has proven he can be trusted with money. He has surely earned further financial backing - especially when you consider Clough was rewarded with over £2m to spend in January 2015 after filling the squad with shite and leading us to 6th place, 15 points off the top.

There's also the additional revenue that promotion would provide, and even the likely increased attendances/revenue in the second half of this season to factor in. It's been said that the Prince will invest when we're in the Championship.... if there's any truth to that at all, now it's within reach surely he should put any issues with McCabe to one side and provide funds if necessary?


So everything considered, what do you think Wilder should be allowed to spend in this transfer window?
We'll assume that the money is there (whilst being realistic) and FFP isn't an issue.

I'd say it should be at least £1m plus anything generated by players leaving.


I'd say these three things to the board...

Learn from history.
Recognise this is the right time.
Recognise that we've got the right manager.

And back Wilder accordingly.

I take it you're talking wages and signing on fees and not transfer fees?

As we all know, money isn't the answer.

We've been trying that route for ages and got nowhere near since Simmo launched his satellite into orbit.

Wilder needs what Wilder wants.

 

[PokerBlade]

Voted 2m when actually I have no idea what the club can afford nor what is needed to secure Wilder's targets.

I would like to think that if there were a price tag that Wilder wanted covering that we would do it for him within that range.

 

[HodgysBrokenThumb]

In January, money is not usually the answer. The first priority is to keep 'our' players; second, keep the loan players, if possible. Then it is a matter of recruiting, if Wilder wants, some of the following: Young players from higher leagues, on loan; players in last 6 months of contracts who can be bought relatively cheaply; good players from the league below, or from clubs in our league who have financial problems. We are unlikely to be able to buy good players from higher leagues, or from clubs in our league unless they have money problems. Good as it would to acquire a good player to cover for Duffy, it is hard to see where you would find a similar player willing to sit on the bench.
For me, the number one requirement is for the Board to trust Wilder's judgement, and if he feels a player will improve our promotion prospects, they should look at his record so far, and back him up.

 

[DronnieBlade]

We need:

A better wing back/full back as Lafferty doesn't do it for me
A striker

Less important would be an extra CM and winger but I think we could do without.

Have to agree wholeheartedly with that Barney. The only two positions in which we are weak.

Any strengthening in other areas is of course good but that would require a few going out before we get the new blood in.

UTB

 

[Fulwood Blade]

OK, i'll put a different spin on this - do we actually need anyone?

Will it upset the apple cart of team spirit and cohesion?

Some have said we need out and out wingers - that means we have to ditch 3-5-2 and wing backs, but it's the 3-5-2 that has put us where we are at present.

UTB

 

[Fanny magnet]

Dont think anyones expecting owt really are they ?

Anyone who is will only end up getting their panties in a bunch by the end of january

 

[Grappler]

I posted a couple of youtube clips in the "January" thread on the "Rumours" section. CW is grinning on both (go and take a look), when he talks about who he is targeting (says he is/has been, in talks already) and when he talks about the board backing him (he talks to McCabe and the Prince), and he seems happy enough. Look at him smiling and his body language, it says (to me) that he knows something and he would love to let the Blades fans know, but can't. I get the feeling that we are almost at the "done deal" stage, or maybe already there.