With Keane gone, and Gray going, Mike Garlick's interview with Pete Oliver earlier in the summer reads so hollow, and could even be construed as a downright pack of lies.

In relation to Keane he said:

Garlick is adamant there's no need to sell, however, and maintains it would be more valuable to allow his contract to run down for the riches it might bring elsewhere.

He said: "Let's roll it forward a year - what's the prize for staying up again? Another £120-130m. So if we miss out on one or two fees and get that, I know what I'd take.

"The most important thing for the fans to know is that we don't actually have to sell any player. Going forward it's got to be on our terms and terms that are right for us. Do we need to sell anyone? No.

With their total spend of £32m being enough to keep them in the Premier League, Garlick is preparing for increased expenditure over the next few weeks.

He added: "I think it's fair to say going forward we will spend more on transfer fees in the coming season than we did last.

How's that one going Mike?

and last but not least

"Our major objective is that when that window closes we've got to be stronger than we are sat here today. Will that be hard work? Yes. Will we able to achieve it? I believe we can.

"In terms of transfer fees, there's probably more money available for next season than there was last. You would hope because there's more money available we could improve slightly on where we are."

Are we stronger than we were when Keane, Gray etc were at the club? Are we thump.

He even says that "we could improve slightly on where we are". So how have we improved from where we were? We've signed Jack Cork, a reserve left back (who Dyche is making a centre back), a grandpa to replace Boyd (or is he Gray's replacement), a third choice keeper who's out of his depth in the Championship, and a reserve right back here for one last payday

How the hell is that an improvement on where we were?

We haven't spent anywhere near last season, and have brought in over £50m in transfer fees on top. So are we looking at an £85m+ spend? because that's what we'll have to spend to adequately replace the players we're losing.

Strong words when it's season ticket renewal time, weak as a trainspotter's lemon drink when it comes to actually acting upon it.

If only there was another three weeks of the transfer window to bring players in...

Look, without reiterating the same point that keeps being said, the only correct way to view the transfer window is on 1st September. If by then we haven't replaced Keane or Gray or spent more money on transfers than last summer then fair enough, I will bet he first to criticise the club, but all this whinging and crying about things is utterly pointless.

UpTheBeehole wrote:We haven't spent anywhere near last season, and have brought in over £50m in transfer fees on top. So are we looking at an £85m+ spend? because that's what we'll have to spend to adequately replace the players we're losing.

Hadn't realised we got £50 million for Keane & Darikwa

Let's remember guys that we bought Defour, Hendrick and Brady (three players in a row each breaking our transfer record) either later in the summer window or January.

Give it a week or two, I have confidence three 'biggies' are to come if the Gray move has been sanctioned - they just have to be.

We haven't sold Gray and the window hasn't shut!

Bore off!

Braindead wrote:Look, without reiterating the same point that keeps being said, the only correct way to view the transfer window is on 1st September. If by then we haven't replaced Keane or Gray or spent more money on transfers than last summer then fair enough, I will bet he first to criticise the club, but all this whinging and crying about things is utterly pointless.

And utterly boring, which is what the OP has become on here in just a few months.

How many staff at the club are involved in recruiting players these days?

ClaretTony wrote:Hadn't realised we got £50 million for Keane & Darikwa

You're going to look very, very silly in a couple of hours when Gray passes his medical.

Please can we concentrate on Mike Garlick's words, which I watched come out of his mouth?

We're going to spend more on transfer fees than we did last summer.

We don't need to sell.

If we miss out on incoming transfer fees and secure Prem money for another year then it's worth it.

Major objective is that we're stronger than we were in May. We're patently not.

UpTheBeehole wrote:Please can we concentrate on Mike Garlick's words, which I watched come out of his mouth?

We're going to spend more on transfer fees than we did last summer.

We don't need to sell.

If we miss out on incoming transfer fees and secure Prem money for another year then it's worth it.

Major objective is that we're stronger than we were in May. We're patently not.

IS the Summer over?

We need to sell if a player wants out - do you agree?

Is the correct time to judge when the transfer window is closed - do you agree?

If SD believes that he can gather a squad by the end of the transfer window that is capable competing and maintaining a place in the premier league, then I'm sure that the club will only act with his consultation in letting go players.
The viability of retaining players against their transfer value I'm sure will be carefully evaluated. I have every faith in Mike Garlic and Sean Dyche's ability to deal with whatever cards they're dealt.

Season starts at 3pm on Saturday. 75 hours away. Need to have signings in by midday the day before.

As a perennial relegation favourite we cannot afford to be understrength for even one game, not a potential 3 or 4 games before the window closes.

We haven't replaced Keane, we've nothing like Gray.

Season starts on Saturday.

Sometimes I get the feeling that the transfer window could close in March and we'd still have people waiting that long for us to get our season started.

UpTheBeehole wrote:You're going to look very, very silly in a couple of hours when Gray passes his medical.

No I'm not - I am fully aware that there is a possibility of him leaving.

UpTheBeehole wrote:As a perennial relegation favourite we cannot afford to be under strength for even one game, not a potential 3 or 4 games before the window closes.

I'm pretty sure we can afford to be under strength for Chelski away. Is a free hit for us, as a 'perennial relegation favourite'.

Where's Gray off too and has a bid been made?

Plenty of people will be happy if he goes, they don't rate him.

Darthlaw wrote:I'm pretty sure we can afford to be under strength for Chelski away. Is a free hit for us, as a 'perennial relegation favourite'.

Sacrilege. All this talk about a free"hit".

I should tie you to the back of my Jag and take you for a drive around the estate!!

Darthlaw wrote:I'm pretty sure we can afford to be under strength for Chelski away. Is a free hit for us, as a 'perennial relegation favourite'.

I'm not.

We need to avoid getting hammered.

ClaretTony wrote:No I'm not - I am fully aware that there is a possibility of him leaving.

Quit with the fly comments about getting £50m for Keane and Darikwa then. That's what I took issue with. Just take a step back and have a look at what is happening to the first team squad.

Keane gone, and you've already said you have concerns over Tarkowski. We're an excellent player down there.

Gray going. We've nothing like him, and no prospects of replacing him based on past form.

Tony expresses his concerns, what he doesn't do is keep trying to batter the club with his concerns like you and several other people do.

Gray going. We've nothing like him, and no prospects of replacing him based on past form

Yep, we never replaced Jay Rod with Charlie Austin or Austin with Ings, or Ings with Gray....?

UpTheBeehole wrote:Quit with the fly comments about getting £50m for Keane and Darikwa then. That's what I took issue with. Just take a step back and have a look at what is happening to the first team squad.

Keane gone, and you've already said you have concerns over Tarkowski. We're an excellent player down there.

Gray going. We've nothing like him, and no prospects of replacing him based on past form.

Whilst I think this transfer window has so far been underwhelming the fact you are getting annoyed about a good player leaving doesn't really line up with your "based on past form" argument.

boatshed bill wrote:I'm not.

We need to avoid getting hammered.

We've been hammered before usually at places like West Brom, Leicester or Southampton. Luckily our manager instills a one game at a time attitude in the players and it shows in our ability to bounce back.

If you're genuinely counting on the points from Arsenal, Chelsea, Man U, Liverpool, Spurs away to keep us up, you may be disappointed. Wins against those around us will see us safe. Anything from the above away games is just a bonus.

Sidney1st wrote:Tony expresses his concerns, what he doesn't do is keep trying to batter the club with his concerns like you and several other people do.

Great words from Mr Garlick, and there is no reason to doubt that he was honestly expressing his intentions.

Keane says "I really want to leave" you can't stop him. The same would apply to Gray.

In truth, when it comes to recruitment, we are still fishing in a very small pond.

We haven't beaten Chelsea in a league game since 1983...

We hadn't stayed up in the top division for even longer.

You can't approach things thinking you don't stand a chance.

I didn't say we don't have a chance, just pointing out a fact

Darthlaw wrote:We've been hammered before usually at places like West Brom, Leicester or Southampton. Luckily our manager instills a one game at a time attitude in the players and it shows in our ability to bounce back.

If you're genuinely counting on the points from Arsenal, Chelsea, Man U, Liverpool, Spurs away to keep us up, you may be disappointed. Wins against those around us will see us safe. Anything from the above away games is just a bonus.

I'm not expecting even one point. But I do think it would be bad for morale to get absolutely battered on day 1.

They're missing Hazard, Bakayoko, Moses and some more.

Andre Gray or not, I can't see us getting battered.

Darthlaw wrote:They're missing Hazard, Bakayoko, Moses and some more.

Andre Gray or not, I can't see us getting battered.

I have to agree, it's the best time to play there. Still worried for us, though.

Its amazing how many people jump to crisis management and the world is ending.

I wonder how they cope when they discover they have run out of milk..

Braindead wrote:Yep, we never replaced Jay Rod with Charlie Austin or Austin with Ings, or Ings with Gray....?

The replacements were already at the club in those instances

I genuinely despair of this board recently. There are some posters who I believe will not rest until they have sucked the lifeblood out of the club...

I despair at the board too.

I believe they will not rest until they've sold our best players and not replace them. Sucking the lifeblood out of the club.

So far we've spent more in transfer fees than we had this time last year. You need to be looking a bit sideways to think that proves Garlick was wrong about spending.

UpTheBeehole wrote:I despair at the board too.

I believe they will not rest until they've sold our best players and not replace them. Sucking the lifeblood out of the club.

So where would we have been if Kilby hadn't taken over, and we'd had a more reasonable board of directors?

We're not stronger (his word) and we haven't improved (his word).

As a custodian of the club he has 2 days to strengthen and improve the team before the season starts.

If he fails, he's failed in his role, he's failed the club he's custodian of and he ultimately he's failed the town.

If we get relegated having not replaced Keane and Gray then all hell will break loose.

Best batten down the hatches then !

dsr wrote:So where would we have been if Kilby hadn't taken over, and we'd had a more reasonable board of directors?

Kilby replaced a chairman and board who were happy to sell our best players and replace them with lower and lower quality replacements.

It's coming full circle.

UpTheBeehole wrote:We're not stronger (his word) and we haven't improved (his word).

We've got 40 fewer points than we had last season, if that's what you mean.

UpTheBeehole wrote:We're not stronger (his word) and we haven't improved (his word).

As a custodian of the club he has 2 days to strengthen and improve the team before the season starts.

If he fails, he's failed in his role, he's failed the club he's custodian of and he ultimately he's failed the town.

If we get relegated having not replaced Keane and Gray then all hell will break loose.

He said by the close of the window not the start of the season

We've got fewer saleable assets than we had in May, and a much weaker first XI to boot.

We'll be paying a whole lot of tax on those profits.

Reecey1987 wrote:He said by the close of the window not the start of the season

As I've said earlier, some fans would wheel out that excuse if the window closed in March.

The season is what counts.

Goalposts wrote:Its amazing how many people jump to crisis management and the world is ending.

I wonder how they cope when they discover they have run out of milk..

I notice that the milk needs replacing, and buy some more before it runs out.

It's also how other clubs sell their players, as we;ve found out to our detriment.

It's not the way BFC do things. Their 2 litre bottle of milk runs out, then they leave it and do without milk for weeks and months before they then buy a pint of it.

UpTheBeehole wrote:As I've said earlier, some fans would wheel out that excuse if the window closed in March.

The season is what counts.

But if you're going to slate him for not doing something he said he was going to do, you should at least give him until the deadline he set for himself.

UpTheBeehole wrote:Please can we concentrate on Mike Garlick's words, which I watched come out of his mouth?

We're going to spend more on transfer fees than we did last summer.

We don't need to sell.

If we miss out on incoming transfer fees and secure Prem money for another year then it's worth it.

Major objective is that we're stronger than we were in May. We're patently not.

He actually said than last season not last summer.There are 2 transfer windows in a season.Better read your op again.

The season doesn't start when the window closes. We play massive games before then. We could be bottom of the league having conceded a load from our Keane-shaped hole and scored none because of our Gray-sized hole.

We can't afford to be giving our rivals a head start

UpTheBeehole wrote:I notice that the milk needs replacing, and buy some more before it runs out.

It's also how other clubs sell their players, as we;ve found out to our detriment.

It's not the way BFC do things. Their 2 litre bottle of milk runs out, then they leave it and do without milk for weeks and months before they then buy a pint of it.

Can't be doing too badly though as we are now going to embark on our 3rd season in the Prem in the last four years.

How many of the clubs who have got relegated in recent years can say the same?

We've sold Jay-Rod, Ings, Austin & now Gray and non of the previous strikers had a detrimental effect on our efforts to get promoted.