New Signings ?

[Smoking Kills Dancing Doe]

Priority for us is a couple of strikers and a central defender.

Are you kidding?
Of course our major priority SHOULD be getting the defensive midfielder we HAVE NOT HAD ever since Sidwell left. That is our major concern. Everything else has to wait.
And then we can start thinking about replacing Kebé, Hunt, as one just isn't good enough and the other will be sold. (You pick which is which.)
I'd say we are pretty well off with strikers, Mooney, Long, the other Hunt, Doyle.

Our major malfunction is central midfield. Some people don't understand this, but if your midfield is getting run over all the time, then your defence will leak goals. And if your midfield can't create half a chance on a good day, your strikers will have nothing to work with.

When Doyle goes we look very short on quality up front, no intrest in playing Mooney last season, Long and Hunt both lack quality, I'd say a striker was high up the priority list.

Along with a midfielder who can tackle, two winger that can cross, a centre half who can pass and a right back who can play football.

And a left back, another midfieder and a goalkeeper and one more striker....

[Snowball]

But if we get Tommy Smith and he reproduces this season's
form we have a winger who can score 18 goals

[brendywendy]

Along with a midfielder who can tackle

see jay tabb

[Ian Royal]

But if we get Tommy Smith and he reproduces this season's
form we have a winger who can score 18 goals

That's a lot of ifs.

[Smoking Kills Dancing Doe]

Along with a midfielder who can tackle

see jay tabb

I like Tabb, but we do start to look a very small team with him and Marek in the middle. Maybe Rodgers can play some more football next season and we won't need any height.

[Franchise FC]

but does a profit in one year offset years of lossmaking?

is it right to spend all the money when we still have debts?

is it right to spend the last years parachute money all on players and wages, or is it sensible save it, setting yourself up so you are not affected when the parachutes stop?

In order;

No, not necessarily, it depends on which profit we are discussing. An operating profit might result in a nett loss after interest and tax payments etc.

Yes, no successful business would expect to live without borrowing money against its assets and/or goodwill.
.. and that is part of what I meant above. They don't (or shouldn't) look at each lump of income as a separate asset, the whole finacial budget is done based on all income and all outgoings, not matching parachute payments to players, and ST sales to stadium rebuilds etc.

Can you let me know which financial institution would lend against the goodwill in a business ? Not even in the days of reckless bank lending.

[West Stand Man]

but does a profit in one year offset years of lossmaking?

is it right to spend all the money when we still have debts?

is it right to spend the last years parachute money all on players and wages, or is it sensible save it, setting yourself up so you are not affected when the parachutes stop?

In order;

No, not necessarily, it depends on which profit we are discussing. An operating profit might result in a nett loss after interest and tax payments etc.

Yes, no successful business would expect to live without borrowing money against its assets and/or goodwill.
.. and that is part of what I meant above. They don't (or shouldn't) look at each lump of income as a separate asset, the whole finacial budget is done based on all income and all outgoings, not matching parachute payments to players, and ST sales to stadium rebuilds etc.

Can you let me know which financial institution would lend against the goodwill in a business ? Not even in the days of reckless bank lending.

We'll just agree to disagree shall we.

[Franchise FC]

Can you let me know which financial institution would lend against the goodwill in a business ? Not even in the days of reckless bank lending.

We'll just agree to disagree shall we.

[leww_rfc]

maybe we should loan in someone like macheda for the season...

yeah! or maybe someone like Di Santo or Scott Sinclair, could be possible if Rodgers' still has contacts at Chelsea!

[Bath Hoops]

but does a profit in one year offset years of lossmaking?

is it right to spend all the money when we still have debts?

is it right to spend the last years parachute money all on players and wages, or is it sensible save it, setting yourself up so you are not affected when the parachutes stop?

I guess you have to ask Mr Mad what his view is on that, some people make a football decision on their own pockets i.e Dave Whelan at Wigan and others make the decision on the club running itself i.e Mr Mad. Maybe in the long term that will be justified and we are happy to remain a championship side or lucky enough to get promotion through using academy players. This season its going to have to be done probably on the latter case and if we are to believe the skills of Mr Rodgers, only way to really judge it will be at the end of the season.

[brendywendy]

But if we get Tommy Smith and he reproduces this season's
form we have a winger who can score 18 goals

That's a lot of ifs.

its only one


two if you count the implied if in "and he reproduces this seasons form.

[Ian Royal]

But if we get Tommy Smith and he reproduces this season's
form we have a winger who can score 18 goals

That's a lot of ifs.

its only one


two if you count the implied if in "and he reproduces this seasons form.

That's a lot of uncertainty. Better?

If, implied if and can.

If we sign Brayson and he can improve 7000%, we have a striker who can score 30 goals.

[brendywendy]

much better

[Friday's Child]

Posted on another forum:

If I were Rodgers, clearly with the desire and skill to develop players, I would:

Get Cox back from Swindon, given that Rodgers could continue the good work that he started and take him to being a Premiership player - not only that, but we would get a decent deal as we could wipe out the 20-40% (whoever you believe) clause in place.

I would then get Rodgers on the phone to his best mates, Jose Mourinho at Inter Milan and the Chelsea management team - get in some players on loan and take their judgements on the market-wide buys suitable for this level. There's the scouting network. So Jack Cork, Michael Machienne, Scott Sinclair et al, then one or two Italian prodigies. Who knows.

Then an experienced centre-forward with leadership qualities, whether or not we keep Doyle (I expect not). If we lose Doyle then a young and hungry player would do well enough alongside Long and N Hunt. Cox would probably do this job fully. Plus I want to see "Long Cox" on the team sheet.

We have been linked with Lee Bowyer who has even spoken out on a move to Reading - for all his hatable attributes - would be a fantastic addition to the midfield and the sort of player that would thrive in our centre as finally a replacement for Sidwell after 2 years.

Oh, and Tommy Smith, given that it seems likely and has plenty of quality to add. Other than I would focus our energies on trimming down the squad and bringing through the youth players who all look capable of making the step up, if not to Premiership level then as fine performers at this level. We don't need a big squad of players, as evidenced by the 106 season, Chelsea's philosophy under Mourinho, and Burnley's promotion this year.

[roll over boltonhoven]

quality post by Friday's Child - can't quibble with any of the suggested targets and ways to try to get them.

I would just add going for Jason Scotland as well as Simon Cox - a year ago I said he was well worth a look after having seen him a fair bit in League 1 and he certainly proved it last season. He may be 30 but he has the knack of scoring and after the second half of each of the last 2 seasons we certainly need that.
Rickie Lambert also has that knack and - like Scotland - has really good control for a big fella, but he does lack a bit of mobility. Could do a lot worse though.

Mind you, a fit Noel Hunt for the whole of last season would have seen us over the auto promotion line methinks...Doyle went off the boil without him.

[Doyler]

quality post by Friday's Child - can't quibble with any of the suggested targets and ways to try to get them.

I would just add going for Jason Scotland as well as Simon Cox - a year ago I said he was well worth a look after having seen him a fair bit in League 1 and he certainly proved it last season. He may be 30 but he has the knack of scoring and after the second half of each of the last 2 seasons we certainly need that.
Rickie Lambert also has that knack and - like Scotland - has really good control for a big fella, but he does lack a bit of mobility. Could do a lot worse though.

Mind you, a fit Noel Hunt for the whole of last season would have seen us over the auto promotion line methinks...Doyle went off the boil without him.

Agreed and Ross Wallace or Victor Moses to replace S.Hunt.

[Dave Gale]

Not sure if it's posted anywhere else but the Express today says a double signing of Tommy Smith and Jack Cork is imminent. Cork being from Chelsea, 20 year old, played on loan at Watford and S'hampton last season - plays anywhere in defense or as a holding midfield player. We want a season long loan apparently....

[Ian Royal]

Cork sounds like a good bet. Probably better than Rosenior, emergency centreback cover, cover for Armstrong should we not pick up Harding. And possibly that talented but decent tackling midfielder we've been looking for.

[Franchise FC]

Cork sounds like a good bet. Probably better than Rosenior, emergency centreback cover, cover for Armstrong should we not pick up Harding. And possibly that talented but decent tackling midfielder we've been looking for.

Apparently Cork is only one human being - he can't play in all those positions at once.

Having said that - it appears from reading some Manure threads they are expecting the purchase of three or four players to replace CR will strengthen the side. Surely, they're still going to be restricted to 11 players on the field at once. (Or maybe they'll use some of the £80m to bribe the PL to allow them to field more)

[Alan Partridge]

With the likes of Sigurdsson, Karacan and davies comig through I would like to see BRyn turn the contract down and move on as well as Harper. Hunt to go and sadly Doyle as well will depart.

Rodgers should definitely look at Harding, then a couple of new wingers and a centre forward. Maybe a keeper, depends how he sees that situation.