Kompany's Signings (Complete List)

[forzagranata]

I’m not going to pluck names out of the air or start looking through the squads of relegated teams etc. Some names have already been mentioned on here as examples. Of course there would absolutely be a number of players with experience playing at this level who would have been available and would have improved us. Why wouldn’t there be?

Its not just PL proven players - who obviously carry a premium price - but as our previous manager proved, you can get value in the PL out of relatively experienced top end Championship players or player who have been relegated from the PL. They have experience of top-end football in England.

We added to our overall inexperience by signing so many players without any kind of experience in English football.

[Vegas Claret]

But again, with a fully fit Foster and VAR not screwing us from a min 4 points we have earned through our performances, would you be making these same comments? We’d be within a point or two of the likes of Brentford/Palace/Forest. Would this ‘vibe’ and ‘disconnect’ still be an issue?

I made a post in July before a ball was kicked saying we were replicating the same mistakes Southampton made, you could see this season coming a mile off after the way we went about our transfers. The lack of experience and physicality in our recruitment was suicidal

[boyyanno]

But again, with a fully fit Foster and VAR not screwing us from a min 4 points we have earned through our performances, would you be making these same comments? We’d be within a point or two of the likes of Brentford/Palace/Forest. Would this ‘vibe’ and ‘disconnect’ still be an issue?

If we're now counting points that we didn't get then we've reached new levels of fantasy in my opinion.

The league table won't lie at the end of the season and the three relegated clubs will deserve to go down.

[Carlos the Great]

I don’t think we’d be far off making a profit of we sold everyone

We wouldn’t be able sell all our players ,, a large percentage would be of zero interest to other clubs

[RVclaret]

If we're now counting points that we didn't get then we've reached new levels of fantasy in my opinion.

The league table won't lie at the end of the season and the three relegated clubs will deserve to go down.

It is a bit fantasy, obviously. I posted further up ‘in an alternate universe’. But nevertheless I find it interesting as I believe a lot of this chatter is very outcome biased, and I do wonder what the ‘narrative’ around our business would be if we’d been on the right side of margins / luck more than we have.

[Goliath]

I said ‘credible’ back up. Obafemi isn’t a credible second choice centre forward and clearly neither is Rodriguez. I’m a fan of Amdouni’s but he’s also not a centre forward in a remotely similar mould. Going into the season with Jay as our number two centre forward was criminal, even more so since Foster’s issues have come to light.

So youre saying we need experience but the player in our squad with the most PL experience you are saying isn't credible?
He has 2 goals and an assist this season which is fine as a backup striker who hasnt exactly played a lot of football. Plus the very dubious offisde call against Bournemouth which was an excellent bit of play. I dont know how many genuine high quality Premier league strikers you think a club like ours should have sat on the bench. Whos Villas backup for Watkins? Or Bournemouths for Solanke? I could go on.

[Vegas Claret]

Again in a way that is correct.

Muric>Trafford yes

We didn't own Maatsen, Harwood-Bellis or Tella, three massive parts of our squad last season and Jay and Cork were never going to cut it as main players for us. That's five necessary changes.

As for Zaroury and Benson, that is a mystery. The Zaroury replacements have been excellent but the right hand side has been an issue all season.

Brownhill was poor in a midfield two the last time around in the Premier League, he was excellent in a more forward role in the Championship, him reverting to the 2021/22 role is to the detriment of the team imo.

We needed big changes unfortunately but haven't quite got it right, it's not as bad as it's made out but those gaping holes are costing us big time.

I disagree to an extent. When teams bring in foreign lads it's very rare they hit the ground running and we brought in loads of them. All good taking risks on young potential but you need a few more bankers than we got. Berge and O'Shea were always going to be decent given a bit of time to learn the system, we needed a few more of their ilk imho. Either way, Is still think the future looks bright for us, I have no problem with relegation as long as they learn from the mistakes. I'm sure we will come back stronger (fingers firmly crossed)

[aggi]

Accept that, and failing to sign another striker is, for this season, a main criticism for me - albeit clubs that are already in the league, like you say Forest, typically have that quality PL back up (Wood on 100k a week in this case). Whereas it hurts a newly promoted club that bit more.

Okay even with 16 from 21 (already conservative as ref missed a clear handball at Bournemouth and Duran dived for Villa’s pen), with the clear improvement in the team in recent weeks, you might say that extrapolation is a bit on the conservative side.

Basically in my view, there would be far less ‘we’ve bought a load of trash, owners just want to make money on sales, last seasons squad is better than this’, which seems quite ‘outcome biased’.

It's obviously "outcome biased" because, ultimately, the outcomes are dependent on the players we've signed.

[Rileybobs]

So youre saying we need experience but the player in our squad with the most PL experience you are saying isn't credible?
He has 2 goals and an assist this season which is fine as a backup striker who hasnt exactly played a lot of football. Plus the very dubious offisde call against Bournemouth which was an excellent bit of play. I dont know how many genuine high quality Premier league strikers you think a club like ours should have sat on the bench. Whos Villas backup for Watkins? Or Bournemouths for Solanke? I could go on.

Yes, the premier league experience we have in the squad is in players like Rodriguez and JBG who weren’t good enough two seasons ago. I believe one of Rodriguez’s goals was a penalty so excuse me for not gushing over his record this season - his other I think was the opener against the worst side in the league.

I don’t think that Rodriguez is a credible second choice centre forward for a team who has ambitions to stay in the Premier League, and I don’t think that’s a controversial opinion.

I’m not sure what relevance Aston Villa and Bournemouth are as they clearly have better squads than ours, although we dispatched Bournemouth comfortably with our Championship squad last season which is telling in itself.

[Goliath]

Yes, the premier league experience we have in the squad is in players like Rodriguez and JBG who weren’t good enough two seasons ago. I believe one of Rodriguez’s goals was a penalty so excuse me for not gushing over his record this season - his other I think was the opener against the worst side in the league.

I don’t think that Rodriguez is a credible second choice centre forward for a team who has ambitions to stay in the Premier League, and I don’t think that’s a controversial opinion.

I’m not sure what relevance Aston Villa and Bournemouth are as they clearly have better squads than ours, although we dispatched Bournemouth comfortably with our Championship squad last season which is telling in itself.

He isnt second choice. We have 4 strikers, hes probably 3rd choice but offers something totally different to the others. We look a better side with him in it imo but even if hes on the bench its unfair and wrong to say he isnt a credible option.

You know exactly what the relevance is, even teams that are way more established than us haven't got a load of quality strikers to come in when their main man is injured. Everton have DCL and Beto, Luton have Adebajo, Morris and Woodrow.

Its unrealistic to think we could have much more depth than we have. We basically dont have a right back and we have 1 left back, if youre looking anywhere maybe thats the best place to start.

[Rileybobs]

He isnt second choice. We have 4 strikers, hes probably 3rd choice but offers something totally different to the others. We look a better side with him in it imo but even if hes on the bench its unfair and wrong to say he isnt a credible option.

You know exactly what the relevance is, even teams that are way more established than us haven't got a load of quality strikers to come in when their main man is injured. Everton have DCL and Beto, Luton have Adebajo, Morris and Woodrow.

Its unrealistic to think we could have much more depth than we have. We basically dont have a right back and we have 1 left back, if youre looking anywhere maybe thats the best place to start.

I think the fact that VK has chosen to replace Foster with JBL at times proves my point. We’re ill-equipped in both full back positions too as you point out but this doesn’t detract from my point.

There’s too much ‘padding’ across the squad, to use a Dyche phrase. Too many like for like players but not enough quality.

[Goliath]

I think the fact that VK has chosen to replace Foster with JBL at times proves my point. We’re ill-equipped in both full back positions too as you point out but this doesn’t detract from my point.

There’s too much ‘padding’ across the squad, to use a Dyche phrase. Too many like for like players but not enough quality.

It doesn't prove anything. He did that against Liverpool and Spurs because he wanted pace against a high line. It nearly worked against Liverpool but was an absolute failure against Spurs. If anything youve just accidentally showed th the range of options VK has at his disposal. Im guessing thats why he signed Fofana so he has a pacey more penetrative option off the bench.

Thats 5 strikers plus Weghorst on our books, with Redmond and JBL as backup options. How many more do you want??

[Rileybobs]

It doesn't prove anything. He did that against Liverpool and Spurs because he wanted pace against a high line. It nearly worked against Liverpool but was an absolute failure against Spurs. If anything youve just accidentally showed th the range of options VK has at his disposal. Im guessing thats why he signed Fofana so he has a pacey more penetrative option off the bench.

Thats 5 strikers plus Weghorst on our books, with Redmond and JBL as backup options. How many more do you want??

He’s obviously signed Fofana to give us a better option up front than what we started the season with. Redmond isn’t a striker, JBL isn’t a striker, Amdouni isn’t a striker. I don’t want more players, I want better players. I thought I’d made that pretty clear. We went into the season knowing that if Foster was unavailable (which considering the issues with his health was always a possibility) we would be relying on Rodriguez. If you’re happy with that, that’s fine. I think it was negligent considering the money we spent elsewhere. And our league position and subsequent signing of Fofana would suggest I’m right.

[NewClaret]

I mean, Sander Berge one for a start, i'm sure he'd have had other suitors.

Any team offering PL football is a pretty attractive destination. Maxwel Cornet was a massive signing for us coming from Lyon - I appreciate now we're back in the league as first timers, but the draw is certainly there.

There’s obviously a draw, but Weghorst and Cornet did sign when we were established and experience in other leagues doesn’t necessarily translate to quality in the Premier League.

Cornet did his bit but missed key chances in our relegation season. Weghorst scored 2, leaving Foster (who has been out for a good chunk of this half of the season) scoring twice as many.

My points being:

1. We’ve never really signed players experienced in the PL. Or very few.

2. Signing players with experience of other European leagues is not a guarantee of success either.

I’m not arguing that we didn’t need more experience in this side. I think this whole board is in complete agreement on that. Just that it’s not exactly easy to come by.

[NewClaret]

I’m not going to pluck names out of the air or start looking through the squads of relegated teams etc. Some names have already been mentioned on here as examples. Of course there would absolutely be a number of players with experience playing at this level who would have been available and would have improved us. Why wouldn’t there be?

Well honestly, I haven’t heard anyone suggest players they’d have preferred. In the main, everyone on here confidently diagnoses the problem without ever actually offering up and solutions.

So happy for you to pick names out of the air because for me it would be a more interesting debate than the circular discussions that we’d be faring better had we bought more experience (on which I think there’s pretty much unanimous agreement)

[Goliath]

He’s obviously signed Fofana to give us a better option up front than what we started the season with. Redmond isn’t a striker, JBL isn’t a striker, Amdouni isn’t a striker. I don’t want more players, I want better players. I thought I’d made that pretty clear. We went into the season knowing that if Foster was unavailable (which considering the issues with his health was always a possibility) we would be relying on Rodriguez. If you’re happy with that, that’s fine. I think it was negligent considering the money we spent elsewhere. And our league position and subsequent signing of Fofana would suggest I’m right.

So we are where we are because we have Rodriguez as a possible alternative to Foster or Amdouni? Thats a unique view of events so far this season

[Rileybobs]

So we are where we are because we have Rodriguez as a possible alternative to Foster or Amdouni? Thats a unique view of events so far this season

I think you’re trying to misrepresent what I’m saying so there’s no point in engaging further.

[CoolClaret]

There’s obviously a draw, but Weghorst and Cornet did sign when we were established and experience in other leagues doesn’t necessarily translate to quality in the Premier League.

Cornet did his bit but missed key chances in our relegation season. Weghorst scored 2, leaving Foster (who has been out for a good chunk of this half of the season) scoring twice as many.

My points being:

1. We’ve never really signed players experienced in the PL. Or very few.

2. Signing players with experience of other European leagues is not a guarantee of success either.

I’m not arguing that we didn’t need more experience in this side. I think this whole board is in complete agreement on that. Just that it’s not exactly easy to come by.

Weghorst was January desperation after Newcastle signed Wood - I think given the context it was the right signing to make and I still believe we could have utilised him more effectively than we did (on Dyche that).

Cornet won points for us single-handedly, all players miss chances and he bagged 9 top class, point winning goals in just 26 apps, the sole bright spark in what was a shite campaign.

For sure, experience isn't that easy to come by - I agree there.

I'm so cheesed off with it, I really just feel like we had the perfect scenario in coming up which doesn't happen with many clubs.

I'll echo Vegas' earlier points ITT - it really was so obvious what was going to happen with this approach, which is why it's been so hard to take as a fan.
We knew we were in the Prem like absolutely nailed on in March - that time to prep and the money spent, man it's so underwhelming.

Unbelievable alignment and feel good factor across the town/surrounding area and amongst all Clarets worldwide, really ready to come together and back the lads that gave us that unbelievable season in the big time... Then match day one happens and the side is bordering unrecognisable.

Pre Villa game in The Boot when the team for City/Villa broke there were countless blokes genuinely wondering who and why were playing, it was proper head scratch stuff.

I'm generally pretty positive about BFC though pointing out the bleeding obvious as had some posters start throwing shade at anything I post/misrepresent my points

It really hasn't been enjoyable one jot. I really hope there's more of the Villa/Spurs away attitudes and fight coming up soon and a team that gives us something to cheer about.

[Westleigh]

So we are where we are because we have Rodriguez as a possible alternative to Foster or Amdouni? Thats a unique view of events so far this season

Think its a big contributory factor us only having one decent striker at the club.VK was praising Jay Rod last season,last week he didn’t even get on,we’ve filled the team with wingers ,some of them not very good ,strikers weve relied on Lyle ,fullbacks we’ve put a sticking plaster over the problem ,I can’t believe how the likes of VK and Bellamy having played at the top level couldn’t see from day 1 what a cock up this seasons recruiting had been ,and the bottom line is that the Championship looks like it’s going to be the level they are capable of managing at .

[Westleigh]

Weghorst was January desperation after Newcastle signed Wood - I think given the context it was the right signing to make and I still believe we could have utilised him more effectively than we did (on Dyche that).

Cornet won points for us single-handedly, all players miss chances and he bagged 9 top class, point winning goals in just 26 apps, the sole bright spark in what was a shite campaign.

For sure, experience isn't that easy to come by - I agree there.

I'm so cheesed off with it, I really just feel like we had the perfect scenario in coming up which doesn't happen with many clubs.

I'll echo Vegas' earlier points ITT - it really was so obvious what was going to happen with this approach, which is why it's been so hard to take as a fan.
We knew we were in the Prem like absolutely nailed on in March - that time to prep and the money spent, man it's so underwhelming.

Unbelievable alignment and feel good factor across the town/surrounding area and amongst all Clarets worldwide, really ready to come together and back the lads that gave us that unbelievable season in the big time... Then match day one happens and the side is bordering unrecognisable.

Pre Villa game in The Boot when the team for City/Villa broke there were countless blokes genuinely wondering who and why were playing, it was proper head scratch stuff.

I'm generally pretty positive about BFC though pointing out the bleeding obvious as had some posters start throwing shade at anything I post/misrepresent my points

It really hasn't been enjoyable one jot. I really hope there's more of the Villa/Spurs away attitudes and fight coming up soon and a team that gives us something to cheer about.

I’m pretty sure VK was saying last spring that we were so lucky because we could plan for The Premier League well in advance ,unlike Luton who probably had about 2 months ,so that part of the project went well then,

[Goliath]

Think its a big contributory factor us only having one decent striker at the club.VK was praising Jay Rod last season,last week he didn’t even get on,we’ve filled the team with wingers ,some of them not very good ,strikers weve relied on Lyle ,fullbacks we’ve put a sticking plaster over the problem ,I can’t believe how the likes of VK and Bellamy having played at the top level couldn’t see from day 1 what a cock up this seasons recruiting had been ,and the bottom line is that the Championship looks like it’s going to be the level they are capable of managing at .

Goals arent really the big issue. Throwing away points is.
West ham, Villa, Luton to name a few.

[Swizzlestick]

Weghorst was January desperation after Newcastle signed Wood - I think given the context it was the right signing to make and I still believe we could have utilised him more effectively than we did (on Dyche that).

Cornet won points for us single-handedly, all players miss chances and he bagged 9 top class, point winning goals in just 26 apps, the sole bright spark in what was a shite campaign.

For sure, experience isn't that easy to come by - I agree there.

I'm so cheesed off with it, I really just feel like we had the perfect scenario in coming up which doesn't happen with many clubs.

I'll echo Vegas' earlier points ITT - it really was so obvious what was going to happen with this approach, which is why it's been so hard to take as a fan.
We knew we were in the Prem like absolutely nailed on in March - that time to prep and the money spent, man it's so underwhelming.

Unbelievable alignment and feel good factor across the town/surrounding area and amongst all Clarets worldwide, really ready to come together and back the lads that gave us that unbelievable season in the big time... Then match day one happens and the side is bordering unrecognisable.

Pre Villa game in The Boot when the team for City/Villa broke there were countless blokes genuinely wondering who and why were playing, it was proper head scratch stuff.

I'm generally pretty positive about BFC though pointing out the bleeding obvious as had some posters start throwing shade at anything I post/misrepresent my points

It really hasn't been enjoyable one jot. I really hope there's more of the Villa/Spurs away attitudes and fight coming up soon and a team that gives us something to cheer about.

Why was the Villa line up head scratching? Even Benson started that game.

[aggi]

Goals arent really the big issue. Throwing away points is.
West ham, Villa, Luton to name a few.

We've scored the second fewest in the division. The only team who are worse are the team in bottom.

[Rileybobs]

We've scored the second fewest in the division. The only team who are worse are the team in bottom.

21 goals scored, and 5 of those in a single game against the bottom side. 3 against the other side in the bottom 3.

[CharlieinNewMexico]

Goals arent really the big issue. Throwing away points is.
West ham, Villa, Luton to name a few.

We’ve had multiple games where we started brightly, created a really good chance, literally a 1 on 1, didn’t put it in, and then lost. Just like Johann against Luton. Straight at the keeper. If we had any “fox in the box” we’d be higher up the table.

[ClaretPete001]

I would put them in these categories:

Absolute Premier League success:
Definite Promise: Amdouni, Beyer, Berge, Odabert, Koleosho, Foster,
Jury Still Out: Trafford, Ramsey, O’Shea, Obafemi, Delcroix, Tresor, Larsen, Al-Daklhil, Vitinho.
Who knows? Massengo, Vigourox, Fofana,Churlinov, Franchi,
Championship successes – Zaroury, Benson, Edkdal, Culllen, Muric
Didn’t work out (yet): Bastien, Egan-Riley, Twine, McNally

I think this is pretty fair to be honest.

[Vegas Claret]

We’ve had multiple games where we started brightly, created a really good chance, literally a 1 on 1, didn’t put it in, and then lost. Just like Johann against Luton. Straight at the keeper. If we had any “fox in the box” we’d be higher up the table.

Amdouni has been the biggest culprit, he's missed multiple guilt edged chances at 0-0 in games

[Vegas Claret]

Its not just PL proven players - who obviously carry a premium price - but as our previous manager proved, you can get value in the PL out of relatively experienced top end Championship players or player who have been relegated from the PL. They have experience of top-end football in England.

We added to our overall inexperience by signing so many players without any kind of experience in English football.

^^^^^^^^this

[Goliath]

We've scored the second fewest in the division. The only team who are worse are the team in bottom.

I didnt say it wasnt an issue at all, just not our biggest issue. Weve scored 3 less than Utd/Everton and only 1 less than Palace. I think its reasonable to suggest we would have scored at least 1 or 2 more if Foster had been fit.
So if we run that forward over the rest of the season then theres enough goals there so again it comes down to if we can keep the ball out of our own net enough. Unless we sign a right back its basically an impossible task IMO. Im surprised weve not had 1 through the door yet tbh.

Missing out on Milner was a huge blow to our prospects also. He could have filled in at right back, centre mid and Left back and done a good job in any of them.

[Carlos the Great]

Is this a good thread to point out how disappointed I am we didn’t sign Tella but gave 16 million for Ramsey and entered into an loan agreement where we have to pay 18 million for Tresor … Wow

[Vegas Claret]

Is this a good thread to point out how disappointed I am we didn’t sign Tella but gave 16 million for Ramsey and entered into an loan agreement where we have to pay 18 million for Tresor … Wow

not sure where you've got 18 million for Tresor from ?

[Big Vinny K]

Why was the Villa line up head scratching? Even Benson started that game.

I think he means that Muric was not picked !!

Just checked the line ups for both games and guess the only thing with hindsight was leaving Brownhill on bench. But playing Berge alongside the player of the season Cullen hardly led to lots of people scratching their heads.

We actually played ok in both games - especially given the opposition.

[dandeclaret]

They look at the highest quoted price in the media

Trafford example marks this assumption out as unlikely to be the case.

[KRBFC]

Mistakes were made if staying up this season was priority number 1, if this squad mainly sticks together you can certainly see the potential in this group long term though.

I hope 2 years down the line we’ve got Odobert and Koleosho on the wings.

In general VK has signed some top players, very few wrongs in that list.

It’s a shame we weren’t able to keep hold of the loan players and haven’t been able to keep the core of last season together but what other choice did VK have? Keep playing the likes of Roberts and Al Dakhil who have underperformed just for the sake of playing last years lot?

[KRBFC]

We've scored the second fewest in the division. The only team who are worse are the team in bottom.

I mean we’ve also been without our best player and main goal threat (Foster) for 2 months then our next best attacking threat gets a season ender (Koleosho).

[CrosspoolClarets]

I mean we’ve also been without our best player and main goal threat (Foster) for 2 months then our next best attacking threat gets a season ender (Koleosho).

Worth adding to this that 3 of Amdouni’s 4 league goals have been with Foster playing. Those guys out affect the ones around them as well. We’d have won 2 of those games at least (Forest and Luton) if VAR had done its job, arguably Villa too.

Saying that though, we have had a problem with creativity, there is no hiding from it. That has to improve if we are to stay up, I don’t see it as a new signing though, it has to come from who we have because they have all the tools.

[CoolClaret]

I mean we’ve also been without our best player and main goal threat (Foster) for 2 months then our next best attacking threat gets a season ender (Koleosho).

Hmm not so sure about Koleosho as our greatest attacking threat.

Look more dangerous with Odobert playing in the left

[KRBFC]

Hmm not so sure about Koleosho as our greatest attacking threat.

Look more dangerous with Odobert playing in the left

Odobert wasn’t really starting when Koleosho was fit. I’m talking about at the time Luca got injured, he was our brightest most consistent threat going forward.

[Chester Perry]

Departures (for fees in Euros - as cited by Transfermarkt)

23/24: Bobby Thomas 2.3

22/23: Nathan Collins 24.3 million
Maxwel Cornet - WHU 20.7 million
Dwight McNeil - Everton 17 million
Nick Pope - Newcastle 11.5 million

Total incomings 75.8 million euros (65 million quid)

Doesn't include two loan fees for Weghorst.

or discount outstanding fee payments sell on agreements, or in the case of Pope and Collins the cost of factoring their deals or even the fact that the McNeil deal is likely paid over a few seasons, with reportedly little up front, so inflation devalues the cash received. Cornet was reportedly paid in full

The real number is likely to be around £40m - £45m, and this is before you take the enforced £20m repayment to MSD which is what we were told the sales also contributed to. Then there was another £12.2 m repaid to MSD in August 2022 probably with a penalty payment attached that we currently believe the club also made.

I think everyone is expecting that the Weghorst deal is likely to see little of his fee recovered in any way/

I seem to remember some very extensive discussion and investigation into at the time, including the fact that in domestic transfers all outstanding fees relating to the incoming of the player in question having to be settled at the point of transfer, not so on the international ones where the structure of the incoming deal prevails

The final question on today's 'price of football' pod also raised the issue of Capital gains tax on outward transfers - it gets quite complex on balancing it off with Capital losses and even amortisation for us non accountants but it does apply to transfers.

[Ric_C]

As Eric Morecambe would say

"We are playing all the right notes, but not necessarily in the right order"

[ClaretTony]

As Eric Morecambe would say

"We are playing all the right notes, but not necessarily in the right order"

Definitely not in the right order but I’m not even sure we are playing the right notes now.

[It Is What It Is]

£16.45 million quid for Aaron Ramsey!!!!
Streuth!!
Pace must be have been on the sauce to ok that one.

[daveisaclaret]

Think it's fingers and toes crossed that the deal to sign Ramsey includes an automatic buyback upon relegation, as is reported Cameron Archer's move from Villa to Sheff United does.

Sounds like he's a good player at Championship level but it's an unfathomable amount of money to spend on someone who requires that caveat.

[RVclaret]

We paid £12m for Ramsey. A fair price for one of the Championship’s best attacking players last season, while factoring in being 19/20 years old and English. There is (thankfully) no automatic buyback upon relegation.

[alwaysaclaret]

Worth remembering that those fees will be the maximum we pay, depending on various clauses being met.

I'd be surprised if the total of the "base" fees is much more than half of the total shown there.

Worth remembering also that the "base" fees criteria and dates etc will have been passed in quite a few cases.

[CoolClaret]

We paid £12m for Ramsey. A fair price for one of the Championship’s best attacking players last season, while factoring in being 19/20 years old and English. There is (thankfully) no automatic buyback upon relegation.

No one knows what we precisely paid.

Did you really notice him in the two/three games we played against Boro/Norwich last year?

[CoolClaret]

Odobert wasn’t really starting when Koleosho was fit. I’m talking about at the time Luca got injured, he was our brightest most consistent threat going forward.

Yeah I'm not sure about that. He certaily had good moments in games and has a lot more to come. Just think we've been significantly better with Odobert now in the side

[NewClaret]

We paid £12m for Ramsey. A fair price for one of the Championship’s best attacking players last season, while factoring in being 19/20 years old and English. There is (thankfully) no automatic buyback upon relegation.

Yes, £12m for one of the best attacking midfielders in the Championship last season is peanuts. I did t watch a lot of anyone else but apparently his injury was the key reason behind Boro’s slump towards the end of the season.

Assuming we’re down next year, he’ll be a key player for us.

Talking of Archer, Sheffield United allegedly paid £18m for him. £6m less. He’s scored 3 in 19 games. Foster has 4 goals and 3 assists in 13, who cost £8m, which really sums up what brilliant business VK and the club did there.

[Goliath]

Yes, £12m for one of the best attacking midfielders in the Championship last season is peanuts. I did t watch a lot of anyone else but apparently his injury was the key reason behind Boro’s slump towards the end of the season.

Assuming we’re down next year, he’ll be a key player for us.

Talking of Archer, Sheffield United allegedly paid £18m for him. £6m less. He’s scored 3 in 19 games. Foster has 4 goals and 3 assists in 13, who cost £8m, which really sums up what brilliant business VK and the club did there.

Also shows the difficulty of signing Premier league strikers for reasonable money. Even Foster cost 8 mill as a basically unheard of striker with an average goal record in Belgium.
Amdouni another 15 mil or so on top of that.
I really dont see where people think we could sign another striker who would be happy to sit on thr bench for a cheap fee that would contribute much more than what we have already. Weve spent about 25 million on strikers in the last 12 months.

[CoolClaret]

The point over-riding point with a lot of the signings is that for the price they haven't provided immediate value to significantly improve the team and therefore are a poor allocation of funds for this season.

We can sign only young players every season and sign any that become available if we really wished to and point to the future... but it's not a game of monopoly, it's about building a cohesive, well-structured/balanced outfit - do that and the rest will fall into place.

Having a ton of left sided wingers/attacking midfielders is just daft.