A sense of optimism...

[Bramley]

...despite the financial results, lack of transfer resources and patchy form, is anyone else feeling a sense of optimism with Speed at the helm? I'm quite looking forward to him spending a season or two building a team of young, exciting players. :thumbup:

In 5 years time - Premier League!

IN SPEEDO WE TRUST - UTB

 

[Houso]

I don't know.

I'm not going to lie, these last couple of days of our admittance that we're financially struggling (severely), the imminent takeover in S6 and our recourse to loan moves for Wolves youngsters has shook my usual optimism. That's a bit of a lie mind as I've been slowly losing faith through the season.

 

[SwissBlade]

Bramley, I said that we should write this season off when Speed took over. Not because I don't have faith in him, but because I think he wanted to do something different and in that time it'd be transition.

All of his signings (loanee's and permanents) have been young or hungry players. Warnock always used to say he brought players with a point to prove or wanting to step up to the mark again - Reid fits that bill. The other lads like the irish lads are young lads who will need to fill out but next season i think we'll be raring to go.

Gutted that we lost Morgs as I don't think he'll make a full return to where he was.

But looking around the squad we have a mixture and with the likes of Lowton, Slew and the other lad all starting to break through (and the Argie) its good news.

Mind you it had to be really, we've got no money!

 

[raul]

I don't know.

I'm not going to lie, these last couple of days of our admittance that we're financially struggling (severely), the imminent takeover in S6 and our recourse to loan moves for Wolves youngsters has shook my usual optimism. That's a bit of a lie mind as I've been slowly losing faith through the season.

You're mine, all mine.

 

[SteelCity Blade]

I don't know.

I'm not going to lie, these last couple of days of our admittance that we're financially struggling (severely), the imminent takeover in S6 and our recourse to loan moves for Wolves youngsters has shook my usual optimism. That's a bit of a lie mind as I've been slowly losing faith through the season.

Why do people just look at the £18M loss headline and decide that we're fucked financially?! As the report and TB have clearly outlined, the football club will be debt free in a couple of years and the Tevez money has seen to that. The big loss is down to a number of factors that we have rectified and some that we are in the process of rectifying. I would like to bet that when the next annual report rolls around we wont be remotely close to this year's figures.

Yes we have lost money and that is never good, but the reasons for it are clear and we have guarded against it affecting the club's financial future. So we owe McCabe money, so what?! He's never going to take his interest/money out of the club so its not like he's going to be banging the door down for it. The only problem we have is not being able to spend a lot of money on players anymore but that doesnt bother me. At the end of the day I want to see a club being run within its means and that can sustain itself.....that is our current and future strategy so I am happy.

 

[parisblade]

...despite the financial results, lack of transfer resources and patchy form, is anyone else feeling a sense of optimism with Speed at the helm? I'm quite looking forward to him spending a season or two building a team of young, exciting players. :thumbup:

In 5 years time - Premier League!

IN SPEEDO WE TRUST - UTB

In a word - yes

 

[beechblade]

Yes we have lost money and that is never good, but the reasons for it are clear and we have guarded against it affecting the club's financial future. So we owe McCabe money, so what?! He's never going to take his interest/money out of the club so its not like he's going to be banging the door down for it. The only problem we have is not being able to spend a lot of money on players anymore but that doesnt bother me. At the end of the day I want to see a club being run within its means and that can sustain itself.....that is our current and future strategy so I am happy.

Likewise, I'd rather the team focus on developing our younger players, and bringing in younger players, if we are going to change the style of this club that is the starting point, of course we need to keep a mix of good experience to help the youngsters along but we need to look at developing the clubs future and that has to be done by utilising the assets of the academy. I think since its development, it hasn't been utilised in its best possible manner. Sure we have had players come through that system but in my eyes there haven’t been enough. In this climate our club has to focus on staying within its means, regardless of whether we are the only club in this league that does, it’s other clubs that need to change their ethos. And if other football clubs started doing this, our countries own football talent might grow, developing youth football is the better option for the future of the English game in my opinion.

 

[Kev Gee]

I alwasy thought this season would be one of consolidation & building for speed.. Next season should be wrote off as well & season 3 is were we will push on to be around the promotion places.

We need to give Speed time to gel & get HIS ideas & players in.

We also need to stop using the loan market as much & try & get players who stay injury free.

Season 3 should also be the time when we are debt free.

 

[SotonBlade]

Why do people just look at the £18M loss headline and decide that we're fucked financially?! As the report and TB have clearly outlined, the football club will be debt free in a couple of years and the Tevez money has seen to that. The big loss is down to a number of factors that we have rectified and some that we are in the process of rectifying. I would like to bet that when the next annual report rolls around we wont be remotely close to this year's figures.

Yes we have lost money and that is never good, but the reasons for it are clear and we have guarded against it affecting the club's financial future. So we owe McCabe money, so what?! He's never going to take his interest/money out of the club so its not like he's going to be banging the door down for it. The only problem we have is not being able to spend a lot of money on players anymore but that doesnt bother me. At the end of the day I want to see a club being run within its means and that can sustain itself.....that is our current and future strategy so I am happy.

Totally agree with you SCB. That is exactly how i saw things.

I alwasy thought this season would be one of consolidation & building for speed.. Next season should be wrote off as well & season 3 is were we will push on to be around the promotion places.

We need to give Speed time to gel & get HIS ideas & players in.

We also need to stop using the loan market as much & try & get players who stay injury free.

Season 3 should also be the time when we are debt free.

Agree with you too Kev. However, I wouldn't get carried away with us having more cash from Season 3. The Tevez money will service the outstanding debt till it is payed off in 2013. The tevez money then finishes and the debt is gone. We'll still be operating with what we have. They 'll be no extra coming in or going out, as we are now really. Don't be fooled!

 

[Houso]

Why do people just look at the £18M loss headline and decide that we're fucked financially?! As the report and TB have clearly outlined, the football club will be debt free in a couple of years and the Tevez money has seen to that. The big loss is down to a number of factors that we have rectified and some that we are in the process of rectifying. I would like to bet that when the next annual report rolls around we wont be remotely close to this year's figures.

Yes we have lost money and that is never good, but the reasons for it are clear and we have guarded against it affecting the club's financial future. So we owe McCabe money, so what?! He's never going to take his interest/money out of the club so its not like he's going to be banging the door down for it. The only problem we have is not being able to spend a lot of money on players anymore but that doesnt bother me. At the end of the day I want to see a club being run within its means and that can sustain itself.....that is our current and future strategy so I am happy.

And while this is my response to Wednesday mates when we have a bit of a 'discussion' about our respective clubs positions at the moment, I don't entirely subscribe to it. There are a number of ways of looking at the debt, and yes, while much of the losses can be attributed to the release of the hotel and Chengdu, I think we can actually discern as much from the way that the club has handled the PR.

 

[SteelCity Blade]

Exactly Soton, as you pointed out to Kev we're going to be working on an even basis and must only spend what we generate. The key to improving that (without finding investors) is to bring youth through and possibly some young players from elsewhere and raising their value. This way when we have to sell (and inevitably we always will) we can increase our income and reinvest in the squad.

As KM said, in Gary Speed and John Pemberton I think we have the men to do this. Pembo has obviously been very successful in youth development elsewhere as he is highly regarded. Gary Speed seems prepared to take a look at players from other countries and give them a chance (e.g. Calve, Connelly, Parrino, McAllister). With his experience in the game and his knowledge of what it takes to be a top player he could be just the man to find little gems.

I like the way Speedo talks about the game and if given time to build his own team I think he'll be a great manager for us. He's patient but also hungry for success, which is just what we need IMO.

 

[broomhillblade]

I don't necessarily buy into this "consolidation" thing.

We're not a million miles away from the playoffs. What if we got a bit of momentum going (thanks to the likes of Reid and some of the new signings coming good) and we crept into the playoffs, and then bagged that third promotion spot?

I know it's a long shot - clutching at straws perhaps - but if it did happen, would it be a good or bad thing to go into the Prem with a threadbare side that would need considerable strengthening (and expense)?

The trick would be not to spend squillions and end up a couple of years later back in the Championship with a huge debt, but to keep a tight rein on costs - build gradually - and if relegated take the benefit of 4 years' parachute payments.

 

[JJ Sefton]

I don't necessarily buy into this "consolidation" thing.

We're not a million miles away from the playoffs. What if we got a bit of momentum going (thanks to the likes of Reid and some of the new signings coming good) and we crept into the playoffs, and then bagged that third promotion spot?

I know it's a long shot - clutching at straws perhaps - but if it did happen, would it be a good or bad thing to go into the Prem with a threadbare side that would need considerable strengthening (and expense)?

The trick would be not to spend squillions and end up a couple of years later back in the Championship with a huge debt, but to keep a tight rein on costs - build gradually - and if relegated take the benefit of 4 years' parachute payments.

I agree, thats how Charlton did it and Blackburn too I think. We got it all wrong back in 2007, thats where the McCabe era turned the corner from success to failure.

 

[Grecian2000]

We got it all wrong back in 2007, thats where the McCabe era turned the corner from success to failure.

I think you can be a bit more specific than that. It all went tits up in that 20 second period after the words "Bryan Robson's available Kev" were spoken.

PS. On the optimistic thing. I will be very happy looking forward IF we can avoid disaster (i.e. relegation) this season. We are not clear of the prospect yet and the sooner we are the more I think we can plan for a brighter future with young and hungry (ish!) players.

 

[beightonblade]

my sense of optimism has shot through the roof this morning.
our gerts got a reight outfit on !

 

[raul]

Are you related to any of this years' X Factor contestants BB??

 

[SotonBlade]

Are you related to any of this years' X Factor contestants BB??

More than likely Wagner!

 

[beightonblade]

Are you related to any of this years' X Factor contestants BB??

not that i know raul.

---------- Post added at 12:05 PM ---------- Previous post was at 12:05 PM ----------

More than likely Wagner!

i'm his dad !

 

[broomhillblade]

my sense of optimism has shot through the roof this morning.
our gerts got a reight outfit on !

You mean she's dressed up like Eskimo Nell?

 

[Pinchy]

I'm cautiously but resolutely optimistic. GS is showing real signs of adapting to management. His recruitment policy seems sensible and we know he wants to play proper football. He is, however, working within narrow limits. We must all be patient and enjoy the ride.

 

[JohnDenver]

I'm pretty sanguine with things, but as ghandi points out in another thread we need to find an extra £5m next year. If we have saleable players, they'll be hard to keep.

Reprofiling is still upon us. Until the books balance, we will still be running to stand still.

 

[Grecian2000]

If we have saleable players, they'll be hard to keep.

Don't think we need to worry about too much about that (unless Slew comes in and bangs a couple home before the end of the season).

 

[Worksop II]

As the report and TB have clearly outlined

So basically the same fuckwits who have presided over this £18 million loss, have produced a report saying all will be well.

I cant see why they didn`t produce the report earlier ..........

 

[Wards]

While I'm very optimistic for the future under Gary speed I still can't help but feel that the squad is short of 2 or 3 players to really make me believe we won't be also rans in this years division

That said, I'm certainly not unhappy and will happily back the club and trust them to get it right in the long term.

 

[raul]

So basically the same fuckwits who have presided over this £18 million loss, have produced a report saying all will be well.

I cant see why they didn`t produce the report earlier ..........

Debt free in three years Worksop. Make a note.

 

[beightonblade]

our gerts just come in ............................. she says i was reight to be optomistic this morning...........i'm on a promise for Christmas 2013

 

[DuncDisorderly]

our gerts just come in ............................. she says i was reight to be optomistic this morning...........i'm on a promise for Christmas 2013

...and if rumours are true, it'll all be over by Christmas 20:15...

Keep thinking of the Queens speech...

 

[oldblade]

I'm pretty sanguine with things, but as ghandi points out in another thread we need to find an extra £5m next year. If we have saleable players, they'll be hard to keep.

Reprofiling is still upon us. Until the books balance, we will still be running to stand still.

I think you are right.

From page 19 of the 2010 Annual Report And Accounts:

"The directors have reviewed the cash flow forecasts prepared for the period of 12 months from the date of this report. These forecasts show that the club can continue as a going concern, but is reliant on the club raising £5.2 million of further finance.

The directors are actively seeking this finance from additional equity investment, the sale of certain assets, or the raising of new banking facilities. In addition to these initiatives, a cost reduction programme is underway."

 

[Worksop II]

the sale of certain assets

What saleable assets does SUFC have (left today) that can raise £5 million smackers ?

I can only think of a couple of things, The Academy and Bramall Lane, would we get much for the Jumbotron at Cashconverters ?

---------- Post added at 07:39 PM ---------- Previous post was at 07:23 PM ----------

or the raising of new banking facilities

So after losing £18 million in one year, then announcing we will be debt free in 3 years, part of the plan could be to borrow £5.2 million next year.

fuckwits the lot of em .......

 

[sheffielder]

There are a few things I believe in.

1. A future of sheffield lads making us proud, not some average has beens taking money out of the club.
2. We will try and play football the right way
3. The crowds will come back because they want to see the above.
4. Lastly, I just really can't believe Beighton has a bird

I have no affinity really any of the players apart from Lowton because he is one of us.

We are where we are, so I think people should stop moaning about the past or future. We have been told what we are getting for Christmas (which isn't very much!) and I have quickly got used to it.

Come on Blades, let's do it the right way