[DISCUSSION] Fans Forum - Kevin McCabe & Dave Green - 12th April 2013

[Foxy]

Here is your thread for any discussion regarding the Fans Forum with Kevin McCabe and David Green.

Live coverage can be viewed by Clicking Here and/or following our twitter feed - http://twitter.com/s24su

This thread will be opened at 6.45pm on the 12th April.

 

[Foxy]

Thread open, all of your discussion in here please

We're up and running in the Holme Lea and assuming my mobile data connection holds then we're in business.

 

[SotonBlade]

As much as McCabe is apparent friends with Megson, I think it's fair to say he'd have no chance of getting the job these days!

 

[Staffs_Blade]

"Who do we get? It's illogical to bring in someone who doesn't know the squad. There is a level of fortune in having a top class, aggressive, leader of men who can demonstrate his abilities, drive and I think different tactics starting tomorrow."
Does that mean hoof?

 

[Bedrock Blade]

I can see warnock coming back but not whilst mccabe is at the helm

 

[Kenilworth]

It's official - were are turning into Crewe

McCabe
Even through good managers, we've not used the academy as much as we have, whoever is in charge MUST follow the clubs remit to use the academy player. Not just flirting with the bench, but playing.
Season two, they become seasoned players.

 

[alcoblade]

It's official - were are turning into Crewe

McCabe
Even through good managers, we've not used the academy as much as we have, whoever is in charge MUST follow the clubs remit to use the academy player. Not just flirting with the bench, but playing.
Season two, they become seasoned players.

I'm all for using the kids over low level loans - but I worry we decide it's all about the academy. However much we want, if they aren't good enough they aren't good enough. And it's clear from this season that in general, fans are not more patient with youngsters. We also know that youngsters are no more loyal than any others - Overall I think it's dangerous to put too much emphasis on it.

UTB

 

[BerksBlade]

So we're relying on at least 2-3 from the Academy becoming regular first-team players every year? And that's assuming we don't lose any to bigger clubs. Is this realistic?

 

[alcoblade]

• let them all go - we'll have a young'un on the way. Gulp! ;
  
  
  
  
  
  Kevin McCabe - The logic of the academy is that there should be a strong set coming through continually. A steady stream.
  
  We can't always keep them, we have a system in place that should in theory give us replacements.​

  ​
• 8:18 PM​

  Question from the floor - Kevin, you're well quoted as saying we struggle not to let players go to a higher league. It worries me that we are going to rely so heavily on the academy players and then not hold on to them or not have the money to replace them.​

  ​

 

[gavtheblade]

If ched is released this summer,will we have him back?
As he owes us BIG TIME.

 

[Rodders]

Barca seem not to worry about putting their kids in the first team; why on earth should we? The risks to both teams are equally as comparable.

 

[alcoblade]

Barca seem not to worry about putting their kids in the first team; why on earth should we? The risks to both teams are equally as comparable.

I think you missed a from that post? Barcelona, a top world club, can probably take the pick from a country of 50,000,000. We're competing, as a third division club, from a pool a hundredth the size.

And do you think Naughton and Walker would have left Barcelona?

UTB

 

[Selly]

Danny is the one who made Ched, he knew how to work him how to get him playing.

For some reason with the others, we've not achieved it with.

Maybe we need the squad to take a night out in Rhyl then....

 

[raul]

And if that doesn't smarten them up take them again.

 

[Rodders]

I think you missed a from that post? Barcelona, a top world club, can probably take the pick from a country of 50,000,000. We're competing, as a third division club, from a pool a hundredth the size.

And do you think Naughton and Walker would have left Barcelona?

UTB

Wellif you'd have put one I'd have seen one

 

[FleaPitBlade]

"In terms of money, since relegation from the Championship it's probably cost the family about £1mil a month and it's failed."

Wow.

 

[alcoblade]

"In terms of money, since relegation from the Championship it's probably cost the family about £1mil a month and it's failed.

Wow.

I don't believe it. In what possible way is it costing £12M a year, when wages are at 65% of turnover?

He gets to say something like that, and then it moves on unchallenged. In all honesty, these things are a load of bollocks.

We've probably had 10 - 15 since relegation from the premiership, all hailed as "a success", as the club has constantly gone backwards.

In their current format, a compete waste of time. But I thank Foxy and linz for the effort, because I've enjoyed following.

UTB

 

[diplomat]

Thanks for that Foxters really good to be able to follow it.

 

[Flatulent_Bob]

If ched is released this summer,will we have him back?
As he owes us BIG TIME.

Why would he be released this summer?

 

[Deleted member 875]

An excellent evening, with a lot of questions asked and answered.

A couple of hundred hardened Blades in a room having a no holds barred forum with the key players at the Lane.

Well done Foxy and Linz. I was sat one table away from them and didn't them take their eyes off their laptops just so they can bring you all the full coverage they did, you should be thankful they do this in their own time and with their own money just so everyone can enjoy it

 

[JohnDenver]

I'm all for using the kids over low level loans - but I worry we decide it's all about the academy. However much we want, if they aren't good enough they aren't good enough. And it's clear from this season that in general, fans are not more patient with youngsters. We also know that youngsters are no more loyal than any others - Overall I think it's dangerous to put too much emphasis on it.

UTB

I'm all for investing in our own kids and taking a few more risks with them. But there's no bloody point in doing that if we can't keep them for more than a year. Much of the reason we got into the Prem was keeping the youngsters we had blooded in 2002, and adding a couple of old heads around them. In the end we did make millions by selling them, but it was nothing compared to the millions they earned us by getting us promoted.

McCabe saying we can sell players and not worry because there'll be another one coming along out of the academy is pure bullshit. You really cannot succeed that way. I mean, what are the odds of getting a crop of academy players of promotion quality in a variety of positions all at the same time? Nil.

The academy is brilliant, but without an owner willing to hold his nerve when the offers come in, it can't deliver success. That is rather depressing.

 

[alcoblade]

I'm all for investing in our own kids and taking a few more risks with them. But there's no bloody point in doing that if we can't keep them for more than a year. Much of the reason we got into the Prem was keeping the youngsters we had blooded in 2002, and adding a couple of old heads around them. In the end we did make millions by selling them, but it was nothing compared to the millions they earned us by getting us promoted.

McCabe saying we can sell players and not worry because there'll be another one coming along out of the academy is pure bullshit. You really cannot succeed that way. I mean, what are the odds of getting a crop of academy players of promotion quality in a variety of positions all at the same time? Nil.

The academy is brilliant, but without an owner willing to hold his nerve when the offers come in, it can't deliver success. That is rather depressing.

I wonder if the academy really is brilliant? How much does it cost to run? Does it build a false sense of security? Does it promise what it can't deliver? Tonge, Jags and I believe Woodhouse were actually a product of the previous basic youth set-up.

This season's brightest sparks were Miller and Blackman. Murphy came with lots of promise. Those 3 cost probably 1 month's running of the academy. What if we put the effort into scouting and funding the best available youth out there?

(I don't expect much support for this notion....)

UTB

 

[UnitedBlade]

I don't believe it. In what possible way is it costing £12M a year, when wages are at 65% of turnover?

UTB

Obviously I don't know the figures but the back of a fag packet says the two main changes are:

- lost £13M last year (see accounts)
- assume this season's revenue drops by £2M at least
- assume this season's player wages reduced by £4M (more or less halved the wage bill)

- 2012/13 loss running at £11M ?

The problem is that 65% of turnover is only player wages (for those over 21). There are the costs of running the club and running the Academy.

OK other cost cutting must have saved some money but how much of a dent into the loss would it have made ?

It's hard to think this adds up to double figure £M of losses but that's what it was last year and the year before.

I'm certainly not looking to defend what McCabe said or looking for a fight. But it underlines the potential damage of staying in L1.

McCabe is now saying they've put in £80M.

This is truly, truly scary. It can only go one way if we stay in L1.

 

[Kenilworth]

Thanks Foxy & Linz.

 

[alcoblade]

Obviously I don't know the figures but the back of a fag packet says the two main changes are:

- lost £13M last year (see accounts)
- assume this season's revenue drops by £2M at least
- assume this season's player wages reduced by £4M (more or less halved the wage bill)

- 2012/13 loss running at £11M ?

The problem is that 65% of turnover is only player wages (for those over 21). There are the costs of running the club and running the Academy.

OK other cost cutting must have saved some money but how much of a dent into the loss would it have made ?

It's hard to think this adds up to double figure £M of losses but that's what it was last year and the year before.

I'm certainly not looking to defend what McCabe said or looking for a fight. But it underlines the potential damage of staying in L1.

McCabe is now saying they've put in £80M.

This is truly, truly scary. It can only go one way if we stay in L1.

Losing £13M can be about depreciation of assets, rather than cash.

After the remaining 35% of turnover is used to cover other costs - we should be questioning where that money is going. We are now just a football club.

My suspicion is the cost is more a paper based servicing / buying back of existing debt - a debt run up on McCabe's failed projects and debt he has no realistic hope of getting back, and he shouldn't hope to.

UTB

 

[riselikeasalmon]

Great job tonight, thanks both of you.
COYRAWW

 

[UnitedBlade]

Losing £13M can be about depreciation of assets, rather than cash.

After the remaining 35% of turnover is used to cover other costs - we should be questioning where that money is going. We are now just a football club.

My suspicion is the cost is more a paper based servicing / buying back of existing debt - a debt run up on McCabe's failed projects and debt he has no realistic hope of getting back, and he shouldn't hope to.

UTB

Oh yeah I see to remember someone commenting on the actual breakdown of last year's loss.

We'll have to wait until December to see the next lot !

Staying in L1 doesn't bear contemplation

 

[LoughboroBlade]

KMc: We have been unlucky. Such as Robson was a good manager. You shake your heads as supporters...

Had I been there it's fair to say I'd have done more than shake my head - I'd have told you quite plainly that you were utterly clueless if you thought Robson was a good manager. And based on his jobs he's had since, the rest of the footballing world would agree with me.

 

[fishpie]

First of all thank you Foxy and Linz. Really appreciate your efforts..It's not been an encouraging read.. I'm suspending belief though and perhaps we do need more of a "yes" man as a manager than Danny Wilson ..one who plays the youth and holds their nerve and no doubt keeps their fingers crossed.. I've still got enough life left to surpass our 4th division title..Come on Blades

 

[breeny]

Thanks for taking the time to get the info across