Best financial strategy for strengthening the team?

Millsy · by **Millsy** » 23 Sep 2012 11:49

You take a team of unknowns quantities (perhaps unexpectedly) up to the Prem, knowing that last time this happened they finished 8th.

You have three options.

1- get it right form the start: you try to guess the weak areas in the team and spend big (several million on transfer and wages per player) to get the right players in and build the perfect team

2- you do nothing. Rely on last time's success and work with what you have to keep the team spirit and get them through it somehow

3- you don't go crazy but you do something. You largely keep the team as it is and the few areas you do improve in you do mainly with free transfers that don't break the bank. If it works it works, if not THEN you invest in January when you have a much better idea of what areas need strengthening

I go with 3 but would be interested in others' opinions/ other options

Royal Lady · by **Royal Lady** » 23 Sep 2012 12:36

As I said on another thread, if we're struggling and in the bottom 3 come January - it will be too late - who, of any calibre, will want to join a sinking ship?

I think we should have taken full stock of what we had, assessed who we thought would cut it in the Prem and try and ship out those that couldn't - sad to say that may have involved the likes of Leigertwood, Hunt, Harte were I involved with the team - I would then have kept some "fringe" players - McAnuff for e.g. and spent a bit more on good replacements - nor would I have increased wages exponentially - though, tbf, I have no idea how much higher wages are this season. I don't see why players like Church, Tabb etc should expect much higher wages if they're not going to be part of the first team - but, as I say, I have no idea how much they're paid and this is purely my own speculation.

We've seen that McD's loyalty to players counts for nothing (see Feds as an example) - and I think he needs to be much tougher in the future.

I love McD and even if we are relegated with a lower points tally than Derby had, you won't see me screaming for his head. I think his hands have still been tied to some extent. I don't think having a rich owner will have made any difference whatsoever. I also think you need to get the team right before you start spending millions on new training pitches etc - what good are they if you're a so-so club in the championship?

rhroyal · by **rhroyal** » 23 Sep 2012 12:39

Bloody transfer window system.

Millsy · by **Millsy** » 23 Sep 2012 13:06

Royal Lady As I said on another thread, if we're struggling and in the bottom 3 come January - it will be too late - who, of any calibre, will want to join a sinking ship?

Good post but just to comment on the above, we're little Reading. Who would want to join us anyway? I don't think there were people lining up to join us over the summer who'll now be put off if we're bottom three in January. . The benefit of waiting to reassess the situation in January rather than spend straight away far outweighs any possible people who would have come earlier but won't want to come in January. Pay enough wages and people will come.

surrounded by saints · by **surrounded by saints** » 23 Sep 2012 14:12

with the exception of (maybe) mcleary, i cant see that any of our signings have improved the team from the players we used last season.that, in MY OPINION,is why we are where we are at the moment. i worry that the january window will be way to late to halt our slide.

Rex · by **Rex** » 23 Sep 2012 14:12

I'm sure the softly softly gradual build is part of the masterplan. The issue being how much Zingarevich wants to stay in the Prem, how much this will break the mould and much vaunted ethics of the club and what would happen if we went boom and bust and still got relegated.

Divvy · by **Divvy** » 23 Sep 2012 14:19

Would usually agree with the softly softly gradual process, but there is so much deadwood in this squad that we needed twice the investment than what we've had. More than 60% of this side is Championship quality, and some of that were average players.

Rex · by **Rex** » 23 Sep 2012 14:36

It's a difficult choice really. Players being given a chance to prove themselves and have to play out of their skin with a nervous sheen, or rush in players of proven ability who would expect the same level of support around them. Anticipation and ability to second guess each other are about team, which the team haven't reached yet. (hopefully we all hope something will click). We have proven fortune when Roberts came in last season and seemed to gel the team and ensure we gained the confidence to somehow win the league by pulling the proverbial rabbit out of the hat. We need that player focus which hasn't happened yet. Will it happen when Roberts and Kebe come back into the team - hopefully, but unknown factors such as injury can also be a cruel mistress. Factor in high confidence from the opposition, the occasion and expectation and we have a hard task to link all the segments into a winning formula.

arreff · by **arreff** » 23 Sep 2012 15:23

It is all very well thinking that we can assess in January but we must remember that there will be about four other teams thinking the same and if we are far behind the pack we would likely be the last preferance to any suitable players

RoyalBlue · by **RoyalBlue** » 23 Sep 2012 15:30

The way the question is so loaded to encourage people to back the club's approach is hardly subtle is it?!

Blow it all at the start? Where is the option to spend a significant amount and then top up as required in January?

RoyalBlue · by **RoyalBlue** » 23 Sep 2012 15:32

rhroyal Bloody transfer window system.

Can work both ways. Given our poor start, we might have found other clubs tapping up our best players for a quick move.

Millsy · by **Millsy** » 23 Sep 2012 17:18

RoyalBlue The way the question is so loaded to encourage people to back the club's approach is hardly subtle is it?!

Blow it all at the start? Where is the option to spend a significant amount and then top up as required in January?

Remember Royalblue that I was just as fierce a critic of Madejski and his gutlessness and clubraping than you ever were but I'm not stupid. Things have changed.

How is the question loaded? Just because it doesn't Include the option of having your cake and eating it it doesn't mean it's loaded. If you honestly think we could afford to splash out millions at the start and more millions in January if we got it wrong that's fine, and would be the obvious answer, but I think you'll find most will disagree it would be even possible let alone sane. Still I I did ask for other options and it adds to the discussion, so i cant throw my toys out the pram. Thanks for the post and keep going where I left the anti-club bandwagon - it helps keep good discussion going

melonhead · by **melonhead** » 23 Sep 2012 17:31

Royal Lady
I think we should have taken full stock of what we had, assessed who we thought would cut it in the Prem and try and ship out those that couldn't - sad to say that may have involved the likes of Leigertwood, Hunt, Harte were I involved with the team - I would then have kept some "fringe" players - McAnuff for e.g. and spent a bit more on good replacements - nor would I have increased wages exponentially - though, tbf, I have no idea how much higher wages are this season. I don't see why players like Church, Tabb etc should expect much higher wages if they're not going to be part of the first team - but, as I say, I have no idea how much they're paid and this is purely my own speculation.

We've seen that McD's loyalty to players counts for nothing (see Feds as an example) - and I think he needs to be much tougher in the future.

hes assessed our team, looked at the weak points and filled them in with better or as good as what we had.
he bought new players, and 4 of them walked straight into the eam without any loyalty at all.any more than that and you risk losing the unity and teamwork that was our strongpoint
weve kept 5 strikers cos roberts was suspended and injured, as soon as hes back id expect church to go on loan
hunts a decent enough 4th choice imo- in fact he looked handy when hes come on in the last two games.

melonhead · by **melonhead** » 23 Sep 2012 17:35

always going to be a struggle this year, and tbf theres still plenty of space to improve- theres no way the team, or individuals are anywhere near there best yet, and roberts and kebe still to come back.
easily possible we will be able to get our selves going before its too late.
but if that doesnt happen, are you really going to be that upset?
(i certainly wont be- think the championship is a great league, and certainly prefer many aspects of it)

look at west brom- took them years of yo yoing, taking the money, making gradual improvements and growing the club properly.
ill take that happily

blueroyals · by **blueroyals** » 23 Sep 2012 18:37

Not sure if it's been mentioned but buying players in January is stupid. Nobody wants to sell and you end up paying ridiculous prices for players. Historically we don't do major business during the Jan window for this reason.

If there is a need to buy players in Jan (i.e. if our current form continues) then SJM and Anton have not done their jobs properly in giving Brian a sufficient budget to strengthen the team for PL survival.

Once were Biscuitmen · by **Once were Biscuitmen** » 23 Sep 2012 19:13

Exactly, if we get relegated we will be in good financial shape to bounce back over the next few years.

Happily we are not going to risk the club on staying up this season. Those clubs that do either have more indulgent owners or are playing the debt game.

The best thing to hope for is that the financial fair play rules are extended and actually enforced. If they are we will be well placed to take advantage.

Although we may have to put up with the usual moaners more than usual for this season.....

themadstad · by **themadstad** » 23 Sep 2012 20:17

Going down will mean having to conform to the new rules. That is wage bill must not exceed 60% of revenue. I believe that the first season for relegated clubs this wouldn't apply. It would, however, by not instantly returning to the Premier League.

Our revenue for the year up to June 2011 was £17m before profit from player trading etc. I seem to recall the wages being £18m. Not the highest but we were one of the highest payers.

The amount of capital that can be injected by an owner will also be capped. We would benefit from parachute payments yes but there's no guarantee of promotion.

Staying up will be worth a fair bit in terms of the increased revenues from next season due to the new TV deal. This means teams getting relegated will benefit from higher parachute payments so failure to go back up first season may not be good.

chilipepper91 · by **chilipepper91** » 23 Sep 2012 20:21

2 world wars, 1 world cup You take a team of unknowns quantities (perhaps unexpectedly) up to the Prem, knowing that last time this happened they finished 8th

Difference being that last time we smashed the points record and looked unstoppable in every game, whereas I think most people will admit that last season we were bloody lucky to go up, let alone win the league. Was obvious we would need strengthening, massive gap in class when you're playing a defensive, counter-attacking system in the Champo and then try to translate that to the Prem.

Millsy · by **Millsy** » 23 Sep 2012 22:24

chilipepper91
2 world wars, 1 world cup You take a team of unknowns quantities (perhaps unexpectedly) up to the Prem, knowing that last time this happened they finished 8th

Difference being that last time we smashed the points record and looked unstoppable in every game, whereas I think most people will admit that last season we were bloody lucky to go up, let alone win the league. Was obvious we would need strengthening, massive gap in class when you're playing a defensive, counter-attacking system in the Champo and then try to translate that to the Prem.

This is true, good point thanks.

But then IIRC last time we didn't get many people so went pretty much for option 2, but this time we got quite a bunch. I may be wrong though, can anyone jog my memory please?

God knows I've started enou BS threads so im not blowing my own trumpet but this one is accidentally quite interesting as it seems to show up quite am even split so far! I have to say I'm quite surprised by it. I thought itd be quit e dull thread with most choosing option 3!

Good points being made especially the concept of us yo-yoing in and out for the next few years. My vision has been this season mainly but that puts a different twist on things. More comments welcome!

melonhead · by **melonhead** » 24 Sep 2012 10:04

chilipepper91
2 world wars, 1 world cup You take a team of unknowns quantities (perhaps unexpectedly) up to the Prem, knowing that last time this happened they finished 8th

Difference being that last time we smashed the points record and looked unstoppable in every game, whereas I think most people will admit that last season we were bloody lucky to go up, let alone win the league. Was obvious we would need strengthening, massive gap in class when you're playing a defensive, counter-attacking system in the Champo and then try to translate that to the Prem.

luck my arse- we went up because we were better at winning games than west ham and saints over the season.
t'aint luck

agree it was massively different to the 05/06 team though