Munneh

[ThatJa]

I'm not too concerned about this next season, we did well with the players we bought first time we went up, enough to stay up. What we did with the next lot of PL money was the issue. We wasted it, and came straight back down.

If we can stay up this season, then spend the next lot wisely, we should be able to consolidate and become a PL regular team.

This season will be a fight for survival.

 

[jono_t2000]

Taking the academy to Cat 1 status is a want.

Improving our scouting facilities from 2 men and a dog (Literally what it is right now with Mitchell and the bloke they nabbed from a different department in-house) to a TOP team with worldwide reach is a MUST.

No point having A if B isn't at a top level.

Just my opinion of course.

 

[dn5 shaun]

Need tekova.

Isn't he Russian

 

[Berkshire Blade]

Isn't the main argument for Cat 1 something to do with being able to cast our net wider. As a Cat 2 don't we have a geographical 'limit' on where we can scout? So although we have a good reputation as an academy there are certain youngsters that are simply out of our reach currently??

Not sure how correct that is. Brooks and Ndiaye came from outside the area and we have signed other kids from near me too. Quite a few from Bracknell for example! Doesn't seem like much of a geographical limit? Osula was at Manchester United too. RND is Welsh Saudi born so no idea where we found him

 

[SouthStandGBlock]

Of course it's not £20m, but he's not going to say that is he? The Prince is one shrewd operator, he's done McCabe, had £10m out of Dozy, so there's no way he's fessing up to his actual transfer budget. He smashed it several times the last time we were in the EPL.

Heckys another one, he hardly ever tells the truth in pre-match interviews.

They're both smart blokes. Buckle up and enjoy the summer, I think there will be a lot of surprises in store.

If the budget is £20m then that's not going to go far for 3/5 permanent signings that will be good enough. I know many quote Anel as an example of value in Europe but at the same time there's many who come from abroad who don't adjust and then just take up a wage for their contract. I think it'll be more likely 1/2 permanent signings, maybe O'Brien will be one those, he certainly will be worth signing and won't cost the earth and he will be a great signing for the next few years.

 

[St Annington]

Not sure how correct that is. Brooks and Ndiaye came from outside the area and we have signed other kids from near me too. Quite a few from Bracknell for example! Doesn't seem like much of a geographical limit? Osula was at Manchester United too. RND is Welsh Saudi born so no idea where we found him

Yeah, but didn't all those players join as scholars i.e. had left school?? I was thinking more of school aged kids, I thought there was some sort of restriction on how far kids could travel to midweek training sessions etc?? And it varies with Academy ststus??

From the EFL https://www.efl.com/siteassets/efl-...layers-and-parents-guide-2018-19--e-book4.pdf

 

[Berkshire Blade]

Yeah, but didn't all those players join as scholars i.e. had left school?? I was thinking more of school aged kids, I thought there was some sort of restriction on how far kids could travel to midweek training sessions etc?? And it varies with Academy ststus??

From the EFL https://www.efl.com/siteassets/efl-...layers-and-parents-guide-2018-19--e-book4.pdf
View attachment 161703

I wonder how many families move across the country at under 16 levels. If the kid was that good a lot of areas would have a academy not too far away

 

[Booker4]

Of course it's not £20m, but he's not going to say that is he? The Prince is one shrewd operator, he's done McCabe, had £10m out of Dozy, so there's no way he's fessing up to his actual transfer budget. He smashed it several times the last time we were in the EPL.

Heckys another one, he hardly ever tells the truth in pre-match interviews.

They're both smart blokes. Buckle up and enjoy the summer, I think there will be a lot of surprises in store.

I take your point that the Prince is a smart cookie and also that he isn't going to say what we have to spend but evidence over the last three transfer windows points to the fact that we are/were skint, particularly the last window when we were under a transfer embargo. I can't for a minute see spending that we had previously under Wilder so it could well be that type of figure. I certainly don't see us smashing the transfer budget this summer or spending more than £10m on a player and I doubt they'll be more than 1/2 permanent players coming. This could all change though if we get taken over or the Prince does indeed get the extra investment he desires from the Middle East which seems to be the latest update rather than takeover.

 

[St Annington]

I wonder how many families move across the country at under 16 levels. If the kid was that good a lot of areas would have a academy not too far away

Yes, I assume you are correct. But that in itself is the problem. If one of those academies not too far away is Cat 1 and the youngster is good enough they'll more than likely go there, meaning clubs like the Blades (cat 2) miss out?? Both Manchester clubs have Cat 1 academies within a 1 hour drive of South Yorkshire. They have literally hundreds of kids turn up for training each week (I know because I know someones kid who goes to ManUre's academy from Sheffield twice a week after school). If we could get to Cat 1 status then maybe we could have first pick at a few rather than sifting through what's left.

 

[SouthStandGBlock]

I take your point that the Prince is a smart cookie and also that he isn't going to say what we have to spend but evidence over the last three transfer windows points to the fact that we are/were skint, particularly the last window when we were under a transfer embargo. I can't for a minute see spending that we had previously under Wilder so it could well be that type of figure. I certainly don't see us smashing the transfer budget this summer or spending more than £10m on a player and I doubt they'll be more than 1/2 permanent players coming. This could all change though if we get taken over or the Prince does indeed get the extra investment he desires from the Middle East which seems to be the latest update rather than takeover.

The last bit of your post is completely relevant. He's gambled everything on Red and won. He's also been tidying everything up ready for sale, to push the EBITDA up. I think he thought Dozy would come through with the deal, but he didn't, hence the Embargo. He's now cleared that in readiness for selling the club.

If he's on charge then spending will be modest, and thats why he's managing expectations. My guess is that he won't be in charge, and whoever comes in is likely to splash the cash.

So I think this summer could be really exciting.

If he can't sell the club, then we will be doing a Norwich, but it'll be better than Norwich as we will definitely be spending something.

He's not daft though, so he's got both options covered, and "innocent" Hecky playing the straight man role.

 

[Steelcitysenior]

I know most on here think a Cat 1 academy is what's needed, but if it's going to cost 100 million how much benefit can it be.
Christ knows how a team relegated to the championship or worse can fund Cat 1.
We have produced some good players over the years from our current academy and any improvements to facilities would be welcome.
Still remember the south stand development, cocked us up for years. UTB.

 

[Sharrow Snuff Mill]

Assuming Ndiaye and Berger won`t sign new deals, it may be best to sell in January in order to receive a modest transfer fee, but, perhaps more importantly long term, put a decent sell on percentage in the deals.

 

[wavy-blade]

Majority of Premier League clubs jack up season ticket costs

Despite the Premier League being awash with sponsorship and television revenues, several clubs claimed the raised costs of putting on matches left them with no choice.

www.dailymail.co.uk