Who stays who goes ?

[Swizzlestick]

I’m unsure who’d come in for Beyer - he had a shaky start to the PL season and he’s been crocked since. His injury record before that isn’t great either.

[Jamesy]

I have scrolled down the squad list and it is staggering the amount of “meh” players Kompany has signed.
It is one hell of a mess to sort out.
He can’t simply get rid of these players who will be under contract without making a significant loss on them. If he, or the club can afford to keep the bulk of them they may do well in the Championship. However,I cannot see them being up to Premier League standard if we manage to get promoted again.
Even though the majority of his signings have been poor, if he hadn’t have been so stubborn in keep picking Trafford, we still might have had a chance of staying up.
As for his 100 million pound player in there somewhere, that was a more ridiculous statement than when the late great Jimmy Adamson said we would be the team of the 70’s.

[Ric_C]

Might end up doing a fair few Weghorst type deals next season if we have no suitors for certain players

[NL Claret]

Might end up doing a fair few Weghorst type deals next season if we have no suitors for certain players

I think we'd have done better with Weghorst in the first team this season.

[daveisaclaret]

Thought I'd consider the list of players to put a bit of meat on the bones of my idea that thinning this squad down won't be particularly easy. Really don't see what sales we can hope to make and be pleased with beyond Koleosho, Odobert and Berge.

Squad
Trafford - nobody will pay close to what we paid
O’Shea - nobody will pay close to what we paid
Taylor - will leave on a free and probably be the best left back in the Championship next season
Cork - will leave on a free
Beyer - nobody will pay close to what we paid
JBG - no brainer to extend if the option is in the club's favour
Brownhill - often linked but can't imagine a Premier League club wanting him
Rodriguez - will leave on a free
Benson - have to assume we see a role for him and that's why VK didn't sell him in Jan
Redmond - will stay
Berge - the one player who has truly earned a move to another PL club, he would be a great signing for about 10 teams in this league
Foster - nobody will pay close to what we paid
Ekdal - will stay
Assignon - will go, you just cannot pay so much for a right back in the Championship
Ramsey - nobody will pay close to what we paid but by all accounts a great Championship player
Vitinho - will stay as nobody would want to sign him
Fofana - no chance
Cullen - will stay as nobody would want to sign him
Al-Dakhil - will stay as nobody would want to sign him
Amdouni - nobody will pay close to what we paid
Vigouroux - presumably stay although not sure we need a 3rd choice in the Champo
Koleosho - assuming everything ok medically we will sell for handsome profit
Tresor - fingers crossed we aren't signing this guy, if we are nobody would pay a fraction of what we paid
Esteve - will stay
JBL - go, too expensive to sign for Championship
Massengo - will stay
Delcroix - might go back to Belgium, might stay
Odobert - don't think anyone will pay close to what we paid but it's possible
Agyei - don't really know who he is
Muric - no chance of a move upwards

Out on loan

Egan-Riley - hopefully PSV bound
Twine - will sell at a loss
Weghorst - will loan out as nobody would ever want to sign him
Roberts - presumably done here
Zaroury - could stay, could sell for a small amount
McNally - will go for a small amount
Bastien - will loan out somewhere crap again
Churlinov - hopefully Schalke bound
Dodgson - don't know
Obafemi - will go for a loss
Costelloe - don't know

[claretspice]

Might end up doing a fair few Weghorst type deals next season if we have no suitors for certain players

I'm not sure we can afford that. We will need to liquidate some cash. So we will either sell the players we want go sell ideally for the money we ideally want or close to it, or will have to accept less money and/or sell other players.

[claretspice]

Thought I'd consider the list of players to put a bit of meat on the bones of my idea that thinning this squad down won't be particularly easy. Really don't see what sales we can hope to make and be pleased with beyond Koleosho, Odobert and Berge.

Squad
Trafford - nobody will pay close to what we paid
O’Shea - nobody will pay close to what we paid
Taylor - will leave on a free and probably be the best left back in the Championship next season
Cork - will leave on a free
Beyer - nobody will pay close to what we paid
JBG - no brainer to extend if the option is in the club's favour
Brownhill - often linked but can't imagine a Premier League club wanting him
Rodriguez - will leave on a free
Benson - have to assume we see a role for him and that's why VK didn't sell him in Jan
Redmond - will stay
Berge - the one player who has truly earned a move to another PL club, he would be a great signing for about 10 teams in this league
Foster - nobody will pay close to what we paid
Ekdal - will stay
Assignon - will go, you just cannot pay so much for a right back in the Championship
Ramsey - nobody will pay close to what we paid but by all accounts a great Championship player
Vitinho - will stay as nobody would want to sign him
Fofana - no chance
Cullen - will stay as nobody would want to sign him
Al-Dakhil - will stay as nobody would want to sign him
Amdouni - nobody will pay close to what we paid
Vigouroux - presumably stay although not sure we need a 3rd choice in the Champo
Koleosho - assuming everything ok medically we will sell for handsome profit
Tresor - fingers crossed we aren't signing this guy, if we are nobody would pay a fraction of what we paid
Esteve - will stay
JBL - go, too expensive to sign for Championship
Massengo - will stay
Delcroix - might go back to Belgium, might stay
Odobert - don't think anyone will pay close to what we paid but it's possible
Agyei - don't really know who he is
Muric - no chance of a move upwards

Out on loan

Egan-Riley - hopefully PSV bound
Twine - will sell at a loss
Weghorst - will loan out as nobody would ever want to sign him
Roberts - presumably done here
Zaroury - could stay, could sell for a small amount
McNally - will go for a small amount
Bastien - will loan out somewhere crap again
Churlinov - hopefully Schalke bound
Dodgson - don't know
Obafemi - will go for a loss
Costelloe - don't know

I think this is probably on the pessimistic side in relation to our saleable assets, and I also think it slightly overvalues Taylor IMO. We shall see but I think the likes of Odobert are saleable and I'm optimistic we'll raise the necessary funds whilst retaining a core which will be well set for the Championship next season. We signed plenty of players with evident talent and potential but who just weren't ready, en masse, for the Premier League.

[daveisaclaret]

I think this is probably on the pessimistic side in relation to our saleable assets, and I also think it slightly overvalues Taylor IMO. We shall see but I think the likes of Odobert are saleable and I'm optimistic we'll raise the necessary funds whilst retaining a core which will be well set for the Championship next season. We signed plenty of players with evident talent and potential but who just weren't ready, en masse, for the Premier League.

For me there's no doubt we'll have a great squad for the Championship, just not clear if we'll really be able to afford it.

[Newcastleclaret93]

Thought I'd consider the list of players to put a bit of meat on the bones of my idea that thinning this squad down won't be particularly easy. Really don't see what sales we can hope to make and be pleased with beyond Koleosho, Odobert and Berge.

Squad
Trafford - nobody will pay close to what we paid
O’Shea - nobody will pay close to what we paid
Taylor - will leave on a free and probably be the best left back in the Championship next season
Cork - will leave on a free
Beyer - nobody will pay close to what we paid
JBG - no brainer to extend if the option is in the club's favour
Brownhill - often linked but can't imagine a Premier League club wanting him
Rodriguez - will leave on a free
Benson - have to assume we see a role for him and that's why VK didn't sell him in Jan
Redmond - will stay
Berge - the one player who has truly earned a move to another PL club, he would be a great signing for about 10 teams in this league
Foster - nobody will pay close to what we paid
Ekdal - will stay
Assignon - will go, you just cannot pay so much for a right back in the Championship
Ramsey - nobody will pay close to what we paid but by all accounts a great Championship player
Vitinho - will stay as nobody would want to sign him
Fofana - no chance
Cullen - will stay as nobody would want to sign him
Al-Dakhil - will stay as nobody would want to sign him
Amdouni - nobody will pay close to what we paid
Vigouroux - presumably stay although not sure we need a 3rd choice in the Champo
Koleosho - assuming everything ok medically we will sell for handsome profit
Tresor - fingers crossed we aren't signing this guy, if we are nobody would pay a fraction of what we paid
Esteve - will stay
JBL - go, too expensive to sign for Championship
Massengo - will stay
Delcroix - might go back to Belgium, might stay
Odobert - don't think anyone will pay close to what we paid but it's possible
Agyei - don't really know who he is
Muric - no chance of a move upwards

Out on loan

Egan-Riley - hopefully PSV bound
Twine - will sell at a loss
Weghorst - will loan out as nobody would ever want to sign him
Roberts - presumably done here
Zaroury - could stay, could sell for a small amount
McNally - will go for a small amount
Bastien - will loan out somewhere crap again
Churlinov - hopefully Schalke bound
Dodgson - don't know
Obafemi - will go for a loss
Costelloe - don't know

As good as Berge has been this season for us, what starting elevens does he get in? Really struggling to see who’s going to pay the 20-25m we will want for him.

I just looked at the midfield of the four teams above the relegation zone and I seriously can’t envision him starting in any of there teams

[NL Claret]

Thought I'd consider the list of players to put a bit of meat on the bones of my idea that thinning this squad down won't be particularly easy. Really don't see what sales we can hope to make and be pleased with beyond Koleosho, Odobert and Berge.

Squad
Trafford - nobody will pay close to what we paid
O’Shea - nobody will pay close to what we paid
Taylor - will leave on a free and probably be the best left back in the Championship next season

Trafford, think you will be surprised.
O’Shea, another season at Burnley alongside an experienced CH, someone like Craig Dawson, he will be decent
Taylor, expect his path will follow Matt Lowton

[Dodobdobodobo]

Trafford - sell for decent money
O’Shea - stay
Taylor - leave
Cork - leave
Beyer - sell we need the money
JBG - leave
Brownhill - leave
Rodriguez - leave
Benson - stay
Redmond - leave hopefully
Berge - a must stay at all costs
Foster - stay
Ekdal - stay
Assignon - stay hopefully
Ramsey - stay
Vitinho - stay
Fofana - leave
Cullen- stay
Al-Dakhil - stay
Amdouni - stay
Vigouroux - stay
Koleosho - stay
Tresor - stay will be class in Championship
Esteve - stay
JBL - leave
Massengo - stay
Delcroix - leave
Odobert - leave for decent money
Agyei - stay
Muric - stay

Out on loan

Egan-Riley - leave
Twine - stay
Weghorst - leave
Roberts - leave
Zaroury - leave re-coup some money
McNally - leave
Bastien - leave
Churlinov - leave
Dodgson - stay
Obafemi - leave
Costelloe - leave
Peacock Farrell - leave

[Swizzlestick]

Could certainly see Berge at a Brentford or Fulham.

[Newcastleclaret93]

Could certainly see Berge at a Brentford or Fulham.

Potentially but in both of them sides who does he get in ahead of.

This is the problem with the premier league. Literally all the teams have got top talent

[123EasyasBFC]

Potentially but in both of them sides who does he get in ahead of.

This is the problem with the premier league. Literally all the teams have got top talent

As good as Berge has been for us the only teams he is a guaranteed starter is the teams in the bottom 3

[Swizzlestick]

Potentially but in both of them sides who does he get in ahead of.

This is the problem with the premier league. Literally all the teams have got top talent

I dunno, Damsgaard? Janelt? He’s better than them. They’ll be interest. Even Forest - he’s surely better than ‘Ryan Yates’

[Newcastleclaret93]

As good as Berge has been for us the only teams he is a guaranteed starter is the teams in the bottom 3

Yes I agree. I certainly can’t see him going for the type of money we would be after.

Could see him as a cheap back up option for somewhere like Palace. But I doubt they would pay more than 15

[Quickenthetempo]

Thought I'd consider the list of players to put a bit of meat on the bones of my idea that thinning this squad down won't be particularly easy. Really don't see what sales we can hope to make and be pleased with beyond Koleosho, Odobert and Berge.

Squad
Trafford - nobody will pay close to what we paid
O’Shea - nobody will pay close to what we paid
Taylor - will leave on a free and probably be the best left back in the Championship next season
Cork - will leave on a free
Beyer - nobody will pay close to what we paid
JBG - no brainer to extend if the option is in the club's favour
Brownhill - often linked but can't imagine a Premier League club wanting him
Rodriguez - will leave on a free
Benson - have to assume we see a role for him and that's why VK didn't sell him in Jan
Redmond - will stay
Berge - the one player who has truly earned a move to another PL club, he would be a great signing for about 10 teams in this league
Foster - nobody will pay close to what we paid
Ekdal - will stay
Assignon - will go, you just cannot pay so much for a right back in the Championship
Ramsey - nobody will pay close to what we paid but by all accounts a great Championship player
Vitinho - will stay as nobody would want to sign him
Fofana - no chance
Cullen - will stay as nobody would want to sign him
Al-Dakhil - will stay as nobody would want to sign him
Amdouni - nobody will pay close to what we paid
Vigouroux - presumably stay although not sure we need a 3rd choice in the Champo
Koleosho - assuming everything ok medically we will sell for handsome profit
Tresor - fingers crossed we aren't signing this guy, if we are nobody would pay a fraction of what we paid
Esteve - will stay
JBL - go, too expensive to sign for Championship
Massengo - will stay
Delcroix - might go back to Belgium, might stay
Odobert - don't think anyone will pay close to what we paid but it's possible
Agyei - don't really know who he is
Muric - no chance of a move upwards

Out on loan

Egan-Riley - hopefully PSV bound
Twine - will sell at a loss
Weghorst - will loan out as nobody would ever want to sign him
Roberts - presumably done here
Zaroury - could stay, could sell for a small amount
McNally - will go for a small amount
Bastien - will loan out somewhere crap again
Churlinov - hopefully Schalke bound
Dodgson - don't know
Obafemi - will go for a loss
Costelloe - don't know

I know it's only your opinion and everyone is entitled to it, but that's the most negative post I have seen on here.

All the data that led us to sign these players, will lead other clubs to want them. Most clubs are using the same data.
They have all just added a seasons Premier league experience in.

As for O Shea, was it 6m-9m? He's got a few goals and assists for a pacy Centre half who is good in the air.

[Newcastleclaret93]

I know it's only your opinion and everyone is entitled to it, but that's the most negative post I have seen on here.

All the data that led us to sign these players, will lead other clubs to want them. Most clubs are using the same data.
They have all just added a seasons Premier league experience in.

As for O Shea, was it 6m-9m? He's got a few goals and assists for a pacy Centre half who is good in the air.

I think he’s fairly accurate.

It’s not the players have been bad (although some have). It’s the fact that very few of them have been consistently good.

Similar to the point I was making about Berge. Which club can you see going for O’Shea and paying what we would be after (which I can only assume would be 15m plus). I would argue potentially Leicester or maybe Everton but not sure he starts for either of them

[daveisaclaret]

I know it's only your opinion and everyone is entitled to it, but that's the most negative post I have seen on here.

All the data that led us to sign these players, will lead other clubs to want them. Most clubs are using the same data.
They have all just added a seasons Premier league experience in.

As for O Shea, was it 6m-9m? He's got a few goals and assists for a pacy Centre half who is good in the air.

Don't think your point about data makes much sense to be honest. Most clubs are using the same data, does that data make our players look like better signings now than they did a year ago? Think the answer to that is mostly no.

[123EasyasBFC]

Yes I agree. I certainly can’t see him going for the type of money we would be after.

Could see him as a cheap back up option for somewhere like Palace. But I doubt they would pay more than 15

Can’t see any of our sales being to English clubs

[Ric_C]

I guess with some of these players, has their value increased by going from being relative unknowns, to being part of a championship campaign which only saw us lose 3 times, and have since added Premier league experience ?

Conversely we have quite a few who have flopped after paying a big fee. This is the rub with our model. We could make a decent profit on some, but will have to take a hit with others.

[Spike]

Yep. The nonsense that Alan Pace was spouting over the summer about doing everything possible to keep hold of the most beautiful girl in town just seemed like a cringey soundbite at the time, but it was clearly factored in to the summer activities.

Pace held onto the most beautiful thing and that is Burnley FC
He has broken lots of people’s hearts with recruitment solely based on potential future profits rather than creating a balanced team.
As a result players were bought who we didn’t need and were rarely used.
By using too few of the promoted players at the start of the season we lost the points always associated with the spirit a promoted team brings with it
The fact that tickets continue to be sold to anyone regardless of team loyalty and that elder peoples loyalty doesn’t count says a lot about their mindset
Two main things will affect the squad we have next season. Who ALK can flog because of the debts and who wants to play in the Championship for Championships wages
We need a cutting edge and that clearly never comes from playing players out of position .
There will be a lot of comings and goings. Hopefully the method used for this season recruitment isn’t used again

[CoolClaret]

From the (semi) regular starters this year, I'm only bothered about keeping:

Muric, O'Shea, Esteve, Berge, Cullen - spine of the team, priority.

Odobert, Koleosho, Foster, Brunn Larsen - talented, two youngsters with huge potential and JBL who I believe has been a good player for us this year. Foster I do believe if he fully shake his issues and hit the ground running will be a great striker.

Ekdal, Vitinho, Benson, JBL, Taylor - Experience/rotational options.

The rest I'm not really bothered about.

[NL Claret]

I know it's only your opinion and everyone is entitled to it, but that's the most negative post I have seen on here.

All the data that led us to sign these players, will lead other clubs to want them. Most clubs are using the same data.
They have all just added a seasons Premier league experience in.

As for O Shea, was it 6m-9m? He's got a few goals and assists for a pacy Centre half who is good in the air.

And daveisaclaret is the poster who called me pathetic on Saturday morning for criticising results during our “recent good spell” . Perhaps his optimism disappeared after the Newcastle game and the reality hit home that it wasn’t the Muric effect that had changed everything?

[Quickenthetempo]

Don't think your point about data makes much sense to be honest. Most clubs are using the same data, does that data make our players look like better signings now than they did a year ago? Think the answer to that is mostly no.

They will type in the data they all want in a player and it's highly likely our players will be near the top of the list, as they were a year ago.
Then they will check their age and if they can improve. Two more plusses.

Most managers/clubs think they can improve most footballers. That's why they take so many chances on players.

[jedi_master]

I am not confident in Berge being sold. We know how good he’s been but he’s not a headline grabber and picked up no interest the last time he got relegated either. Hes no longer the young prospect and is, just maybe, at about the right level (relegation battling PL player). There may be interest but I reckon we will hold on to him as he will cost clubs more than they’d be willing to pay. I think Odobert, Trafford and Amdouni will be sold though. Probably a decent profit on Odobert and roughly break even on the other two (or loan fees with Amdouni, unsure). If the rumours are true on Beyer I’d be sad to see him go but he’s so injury prone that I’d accept what we paid to get rid. Esteve has filled that void already.

Of the players out on loan I’d keep Mellon and Twine as a bench filler/option but sell all of the rest.

On that basis:

Sell:
Trafford £12-15m
Odobert £20-25m
Amdouni £12-15m
Beyer £12-15m
Obafemi £1.5m-2m
McNally £2.5-3m
Weghorst - Direct swap with Hoffenheim for JBL
Costelloe/Dodgson release
Cork release
Rodriguez release

Taylor 2 year renewal so that we don’t need two left backs
JBG 1 year renewal

If we kick off with this team, and I see no reason why we shouldn’t - we will be there or thereabouts for automatics in my opinion (and yes, I would absolutely keep Brownhill around for 12 months in that league because he’s great in it):

—————————-Muric
Vitinho——O’Shea—-Esteve——NEW
———————-Cullen-Berge
—JBL——————Brownhill——-Koleosho
——————————Foster

Bench: Vigoroux, Sambo, Ekdal, Taylor, Massengo, Twine, Benson, Zaroury, New Striker

At least one New striker is key to me as I’m still on the fence on Foster and even if his head is right I’m not confident on 15-20 goals. We need a goalscorer to guarantee that level. It’s also vital that Kompany mends any issues with Zaroury and Benson or we have another massive rebuild in positions where it’s not required.

[Quickenthetempo]

I think he’s fairly accurate.

It’s not the players have been bad (although some have). It’s the fact that very few of them have been consistently good.

Similar to the point I was making about Berge. Which club can you see going for O’Shea and paying what we would be after (which I can only assume would be 15m plus). I would argue potentially Leicester or maybe Everton but not sure he starts for either of them

It's hard to speak on behalf of any club, as I never seen Wolves and Brentford signing Collins to be honest.

O Shea seems a lot better player to me in a very open team.

[AGENT_CLARET]

Trafford - Stay unless stupid money if offered
O’Shea - stay
Taylor - leave
Cork - leave
Beyer - Stay
JBG - Stay
Brownhill - Stay
Rodriguez - leave
Benson - stay
Redmond - stay
Berge - stay
Foster - stay
Ekdal - stay
Assignon - leave
Ramsey - stay
Vitinho - stay
Fofana - leave
Cullen- stay
Al-Dakhil - stay
Amdouni - stay
Vigouroux - stay
Koleosho - stay
Tresor - stay
Esteve - stay
JBL - stay
Massengo - stay
Delcroix - leave
Odobert - Stay
Agyei - stay
Muric - stay

Out on loan

Egan-Riley - leave
Twine - leave
Weghorst - leave
Roberts - leave
Zaroury - stay
McNally - leave
Bastien - leave
Churlinov - leave
Dodgson - stay
Obafemi - stay
Costelloe - stay
Peacock Farrell - leave

[bumba]

Trafford SELL
O’Shea STAY
Taylor STAY
Cork GO
Beyer SELL
JBG STAY
Brownhill SELL
Rodriguez GO
Benson SELL
Redmond STAY
Berge STAY
Foster STAY
Ekdal SELL
Assignon STAY
Ramsey LOAN OUT
Vitinho STAY
Fofana GO
Cullen STAY
Al-Dakhil STAY
Amdouni STAY
Vigouroux STAY
Koleosho STAY
Tresor STAY if already paid for
Esteve STAY
JBL STAY
Massengo STAY
Delcroix SELL
Odobert SELL
Agyei STAY
Muric STAY

Out on loan

Egan-Riley SELL
Twine SELL
Weghorst SELL
Roberts SELL
Zaroury STAY
McNally SELL
Bastien SELL
Churlinov SELL
Dodgson KEEP
Obafemi KEEP
Costelloe SELL

[NewClaret]

I think we'd have done better with Weghorst in the first team this season.

That sort of assumes his attitude would’ve been right.

If he didn’t want to be here I imagine it could’ve been very disruptive.

I tend to agree though that a motivated Weghorst in the Amdouni 10 role would’ve been interesting to see. I imagine he’d have kept than Amdouni who seems to lose possession under any form of challenge.

[NewClaret]

I think he’s fairly accurate.

It’s not the players have been bad (although some have). It’s the fact that very few of them have been consistently good.

Similar to the point I was making about Berge. Which club can you see going for O’Shea and paying what we would be after (which I can only assume would be 15m plus). I would argue potentially Leicester or maybe Everton but not sure he starts for either of them

Re: O’Shea, I want him to stay so I hope nobody comes in for him. I agree with your view that we’d want at least £15m, although I think he’s worth more especially with his goal contributions.

Everton will be selling Branthwaite in which case he may well start, Leicester I think he’d start. Ipswich will presumably be looking for some experience at the back. Southampton are committed to THB if they go up but I would argue would be far better off with O’Shea at £15m than the £20m they’ve agreed to pay for THB. Leeds another shout if promoted.

That newly promoted/lower table group would hold an interest at the kind of money you’re suggesting, I think, in the same way Collins did after half a pretty terrible season for us last time we were relegated.

[NewClaret]

For those who haven’t read the ALK thread I think this link is relevant to this thread:

https://www.facebook.com/p/GPS-Capital- ... 698045959/

In it Stuart Hunt says, paraphrasing, we’re looking at buying high level clubs globally and transferring our players to them so that our players can get game time in leagues around the world.

My point being that this whole thread appears to be focussed on who we think we have an immediate need for next season, whereas I think our ownership are thinking with a much bigger picture and strategic plan in mind.

[Goliath]

For those who haven’t read the ALK thread I think this link is relevant to this thread:

https://www.facebook.com/p/GPS-Capital- ... 698045959/

In it Stuart Hunt says, paraphrasing, we’re looking at buying high level clubs globally and transferring our players to them so that our players can get game time in leagues around the world.

My point being that this whole thread appears to be focussed on who we think we have an immediate need for next season, whereas I think our ownership are thinking with a much bigger picture and strategic plan in mind.

Sounds like an expensive plan. Can we afford to be buying players just to be sent out on loan until they are ready? Surely the priority needs to be using most of our budget signing players that can contribute to the first team.

[NewClaret]

Sounds like an expensive plan. Can we afford to be buying players just to be sent out on loan until they are ready? Surely the priority needs to be using most of our budget signing players that can contribute to the first team.

Buying top level football clubs sounds like an expensive plan.

I don’t think anyone knows what we can and can’t afford. I think our strategy/ambitions are much greater than we appreciate though… and in the context of this thread I expect our plans for some players are very different to our fans expectations.

[Goliath]

Buying top level football clubs sounds like an expensive plan.

I don’t think anyone knows what we can and can’t afford. I think our strategy/ambitions are much greater than we appreciate though… and in the context of this thread I expect our plans for some players are very different to our fans expectations.

It seems like a plan which is only doable if we have regular Premier league income. Just like every other plan our owners seem to have.
I dread to think what happens if we get stuck in the Champ without parachute payments.