Brentford want 10 million plus for the relatively untested Chris Mepham (21 appearancess). They have already rejected a 10 million pound bid from Bournemouth:
http://www.skysports.com/football/n...urnemouth-bid-10m-for-brentfords-chris-mepham
We'd be giving him away at that price, and stand very little chance of replacing him.A left football centre half, in his early to mid 20s who is good on the ball and in the air, and reads the game well. Rocking horse shit.
On another note, I think Blades fans need to understand where we are in the football food chain. There are clubs in our league (without parachute payments) whose owners are willing to put in 39 million of personal funds over every three year cycle.Sometimes they spunk it all in one year (Forest anyone?). There are also clubs with parachute payments willing to do this, which make the divide even bigger. Kevin McCabe publically admitted that we need an ownership model and personal that will allow us to come closer to doing this (last season at the University bash).Until then, I would suggest the Blades best chance of being competitive is to become a bigger Brentford. By that, I mean selling players at the right time; for the right money; then and reinvesting in the next line of potentially high value players that will come from the academy, and external conveyer belt, and make us big money.It is still possible to be successful employing this method; particularly if a club is patient with its manager.
My Concerns
Selling players at the right time?
A club who has a player on a long contract, with no release clause, has to be prepared to reject offers for young players if you think the value could exponentially grow within a year or two. Kyle Walker is the obvious example. Brooks may well prove to be the next.It is the football staffs responsibility to determine this, using their expertise.If the club's valuation is a long way from the buying club's, or you feel a player has the potential to drastically increase in value in the near future, you have to be prepared to say no and hold the player to their contract.
Selling for the right money
What is the right money for your best assets? I'd suggest the cost of replacing them with like for like replacements, and a big financial stipend because you don't let your best assets go just for what they're worth.If clubs aren't prepared to pay over the odds for your best assets, you keep them.
Reinvestment
The academy is holding up well post EPPP, and is still butressing our budget with player sales.I have concerns about the depth and breadth of our scouting system. Similar concerns have been expressed by the Prince. Wilder's track record whilst not perfect, is extremely good.
