Has anyone else noticed...

[rfc58]

Well, that's the point - we don't have the same wage structure, investment projection that other clubs have - therefore, a lot of players won't entertain the idea of playing for us - however good we may be on the pitch.

Royal Lady, nail and head spring to mind.

Whilst I don't expect us to raid Barca for their left back, I think the kind of signing we make spells out of real ambition of going straight back up as per our management.

I think we could and should aim higher than we do.

Its plainly obvious that our recent signings haven't worked, so is that down to the scouting system, or the pool of players we are prepared to to invest in.

A real shame, as i hoped that with the riches the club has enjoyed over the last few seasons, we'd have looked to move forward, but I am not so sure right now.

[Vision]

Well, that's the point - we don't have the same wage structure, investment projection that other clubs have - therefore, a lot of players won't entertain the idea of playing for us - however good we may be on the pitch.

'greed. We really should have gone ahead with the stadium expansion.

[rfc58]

I just think last summer the club was in possibly THE best position ever.

Our name was was talked about in high regard, by pundits who command respect, we played the style of football that everyone loved, yet we refused to sanction the "next step".

I know SC has stated he didn't sign when he said he should have, but i still feel the wages are the stumbling block.

I know some believe we pay the going rate, but i think thats not the case, and evidence is provided when I say we have never signed a player from another Premiership club.

The club 12 months ago had the perfect platform to move on, it wasn't taken, but we can't change history.

[WestCoast Life]

I know some believe we pay the going rate, but i think thats not the case, and evidence is provided when I say we have never signed a player from another Premiership club.

Liam Rosenior

[rfc58]

I know some believe we pay the going rate, but i think thats not the case, and evidence is provided when I say we have never signed a player from another Premiership club.

Liam Rosenior

I have stated on other threads that his capture was slightly different, as he formed part of a swap deal.

I think you can see where I am going with this.

I am on about signing players in their own right, not as part of swaps.

[Vision]

I just think last summer the club was in possibly THE best position ever.

Our name was was talked about in high regard, by pundits who command respect, we played the style of football that everyone loved, yet we refused to sanction the "next step".

I know SC has stated he didn't sign when he said he should have, but i still feel the wages are the stumbling block.

I know some believe we pay the going rate, but i think thats not the case, and evidence is provided when I say we have never signed a player from another Premiership club.

The club 12 months ago had the perfect platform to move on, it wasn't taken, but we can't change history.

Possibly. Its equally possible that other targets shared the views of Scott Brown who wouldn't even talk to us as he considered (rightly as it turned out) that despite finishing 8th the previous seaon we would be involved in a relegation scrap.

How far do we go on the wages front to convince players of that mindset that we're worth coming too.?
How far do we go towards taking that "next step" ?

I'm not saying you're wrong by the way but it does make me smile when we all talk (and i'm as guilty as anyone) about wage structure and moving to the "next level" yet have no real idea of the actual figures we're talking about or the consequences if that investment doesn't herald the results we hope.

[Bill Oddie's Beard]

I just think last summer the club was in possibly THE best position ever.

Our name was was talked about in high regard, by pundits who command respect, we played the style of football that everyone loved, yet we refused to sanction the "next step".

I know SC has stated he didn't sign when he said he should have, but i still feel the wages are the stumbling block.

I know some believe we pay the going rate, but i think thats not the case, and evidence is provided when I say we have never signed a player from another Premiership club.

The club 12 months ago had the perfect platform to move on, it wasn't taken, but we can't change history.

Possibly. Its equally possible that other targets shared the views of Scott Brown who wouldn't even talk to us as he considered (rightly as it turned out) that despite finishing 8th the previous seaon we would be involved in a relegation scrap.

The same thing happened to Wigan with Scott Parker when they first went up.

[Big Ern]

Well, that's the point - we don't have the same wage structure, investment projection that other clubs have - therefore, a lot of players won't entertain the idea of playing for us - however good we may be on the pitch.

'greed. We really should have gone ahead with the stadium expansion.

I actually think not going ahead with the Stadium expansion sent out negatives vibes to the players and to potential new ones. It was by no means the reason we went down, far from it, but it might have helped us attract better players as it would have been a statement of our intent.

[rfc58]

I just think last summer the club was in possibly THE best position ever.

Our name was was talked about in high regard, by pundits who command respect, we played the style of football that everyone loved, yet we refused to sanction the "next step".

I know SC has stated he didn't sign when he said he should have, but i still feel the wages are the stumbling block.

I know some believe we pay the going rate, but i think thats not the case, and evidence is provided when I say we have never signed a player from another Premiership club.

The club 12 months ago had the perfect platform to move on, it wasn't taken, but we can't change history.

Possibly. Its equally possible that other targets shared the views of Scott Brown who wouldn't even talk to us as he considered (rightly as it turned out) that despite finishing 8th the previous seaon we would be involved in a relegation scrap.

How far do we go on the wages front to convince players of that mindset that we're worth coming too.?
How far do we go towards taking that "next step" ?

I'm not saying you're wrong by the way but it does make me smile when we all talk (and i'm as guilty as anyone) about wage structure and moving to the "next level" yet have no real idea of the actual figures we're talking about or the consequences if that investment doesn't herald the results we hope.

Vision, I agree, we will never know what the "going rate" is, and what our "going rate" is.

But I'd guess that whatever it is, its too low, simply from the players we sign etc, and the ones we lose out on.

Whilst its hard to attract players, I think, and I have always heard it said, convince the first "star player" to come, and the rest will sit up and take notice.

I know that makes it sound oh so easy, but I feel for whatever reason, we are not selling RFC very well.

Is it no coincidence that Hull, West Brom have already mananged to sign players from other Prem clubs ? kind of dispels the theory that players won't come to clubs like us.

[rfc58]

Well, that's the point - we don't have the same wage structure, investment projection that other clubs have - therefore, a lot of players won't entertain the idea of playing for us - however good we may be on the pitch.

'greed. We really should have gone ahead with the stadium expansion.

I actually think not going ahead with the Stadium expansion sent out negatives vibes to the players and to potential new ones. It was by no means the reason we went down, far from it, but it might have helped us attract better players as it would have been a statement of our intent.

I agree with that, as i stated, when you are selling something, its all about how you sell yourself etc.

The plans we had etc, were first class, and it showed likkle ol RFC was moving forward, and aiming high.

[Royal Lady]

Unless we'd stayed up last season, it wouldn't have gone ahead and I really really don't think any of our bad performances were because the players were pissed off that we weren't going to be expanding at the end of this season.

[Vision]

Unless we'd stayed up last season, it wouldn't have gone ahead and I really really don't think any of our bad performances were because the players were pissed off that we weren't going to be expanding at the end of this season.

[rfc58]

Unless we'd stayed up last season, it wouldn't have gone ahead and I really really don't think any of our bad performances were because the players were pissed off that we weren't going to be expanding at the end of this season.

Thats not the point I am making.

My point is how RFC sold themselves to players etc.

[Royal Lady]

Ooh Vis - you are a cheeky monkey!

[papereyes]

Well, that's the point - we don't have the same wage structure, investment projection that other clubs have - therefore, a lot of players won't entertain the idea of playing for us - however good we may be on the pitch.

'greed. We really should have gone ahead with the stadium expansion.

I actually think not going ahead with the Stadium expansion sent out negatives vibes to the players and to potential new ones. It was by no means the reason we went down, far from it, but it might have helped us attract better players as it would have been a statement of our intent.

I also think it may have had some effect on the mentality of some of the players already here.

As statements of intent go, doubling back on yourself when its starting to get a bit wobbly is a pretty definitive one. IMO.

[Platypuss]

In case you've forgotten:

"Players want to come to clubs with ambition, and we like to think we've got ambition
"If you look at the summer, Man Utd and Liverpool spent 40million, 50million each, we spent hardly anything. So by definition we're losing ground.
"So, for this club to be ambitious we've got be be acquiring three substantial signings every year.
"To be honest, it's a minimum of three.
"As time goes by, those signings will become more expensive.
"For us to make those signings, they've got to want to come here.
"They've got to see the ambition, it's got to be tangible in the form of expensive signings, a bigger stadium.
"Everything about the Club has got to meet the demands of the modern Premier League player."

[Southbank Old Boy]

Liam Rosenior

I have stated on other threads that his capture was slightly different, as he formed part of a swap deal.

I think you can see where I am going with this.

I am on about signing players in their own right, not as part of swaps.

That makes no sense. The player still has to want and agree to coming to the club.

The fact that one of ours went the other way has no bearing on how Rosenoir perceives the club.

And for the record, it wasn't a swap deal, they were two seperate transfers between the same two clubs. The only thing that makes it anything near a swap is that Coppell said we wouldn't have bothered to sign Rosenoir if Seol wasn't going to go the other way.

[Southbank Old Boy]

Whilst its hard to attract players, I think, and I have always heard it said, convince the first "star player" to come, and the rest will sit up and take notice.

That's a good point. The same thing happened at Chelsea. In the years leading up to Hoddle taking over they didn't sign any really decent players/names, or any I can think of at least. Once Hoddle came in and talked Guillet into signing the whole club was turned on it's head.

RFC will not make that kind of bold step with the current set up. We have to accept that.

I know that makes it sound oh so easy, but I feel for whatever reason, we are not selling RFC very well.

Is it no coincidence that Hull, West Brom have already mananged to sign players from other Prem clubs ? kind of dispels the theory that players won't come to clubs like us.

Our current manager and his staff either can't or don't want to sell the club to players enough to cover up for any short fall in cash we're willing to pay.

[Uke]

Well, that's the point - we don't have the same wage structure, investment projection that other clubs have - therefore, a lot of players won't entertain the idea of playing for us - however good we may be on the pitch.

I think the club actually does - only your average player does not grasp it as they want quick returns and cash in their hand now (or their agent does)

The easiest way for Kits, Shorey, et al to get a big signing on fee cheque in their pocket was to be relegated and then to leave

That's quick cash without having to hang around until their form dropped or was shown to be Championship level again

[floyd__streete]

In case you've forgotten:

"So, for this club to be ambitious we've got be be acquiring three substantial signings every year.
"To be honest, it's a minimum of three."

"Unless it's one. I can't remember. And we will only sign people who have played for Brentford. Or the siblings of current players. Anyway, we don't want to keep anyone at this club who doesn't want to be here. Although I don't necessarily want people who don't want to be here to leave. If they want to leave they can leave unless we don't want them to leave in which case they won't leave. I was too loyal to certain players in the team last season wasn't I, Dave.....Dave?"