Albion reject "final" Leicester bid for Ulloa

[Spadge]

Once again I'd also like to point out that we have indeed made the playoffs two seasons in row using our current business practice and I see no reason to think we cannot give it another shot this year too.

And i would like to point out that on both occasions we were deeply embarrassed by 2 far superior teams.

Last season we never looked capable of being a side capable of challenging, I think we are even worse of this season.

Get set for mid table/ lower half if we don't pull of some shrewd signings in the next couple of weeks.

 

[Notters]

For the 25th time, any money we received last year has gone. Finished. Kaput. Whilst we may have the money in the bank, as far as FFP is concerned, that reduced our losses last year. You don't get a lottery style rollover and are allowed to spend last year's money this year. Last year we were allowed to break even with the owner subsidising £8m losses. This year it is just £5m. So we can spend less this year, not more. The only bit I'm not sure about is future payments we are due from these transfers - if indeed there were any. But anything we have received in the last financial year has gone as far as FFP is concerned.

I expect it to be about the same due to increased revenue, sponsorship, etc. but otherwise you're spot on.

 

[algie]

The vastly increased wage bill would suggest that we ARE investing the team. What part of things are tight and you have to get the best deal you can do you not understand. The non-playing side of the club is being cutback as far it can to free up money for the playing budget. I'd suspect (but do not know for sure) that we will be looking to sound the majority of that budget on wages rather than fees. In the last few seasons we have done most of our deals late on and sadly for us information starved fans this year is unlikely to be too different.

The squad is shaping up, quite nicely with the addition of Hughes and Toko, the renewed CMS and the emergence of Fenelon as potential gatecrasher to the first team squad. The only major position I can see us filling early is a first-choice goalkeeper which seems to be the priority. As long as we keep Ulloa we are ok for now up front, although a further addition is needed it is not currently urgent.

Once again I'd also like to point out that we have indeed made the playoffs two seasons in row using our current business practice and I see no reason to think we cannot give it another shot this year too.

How can you say the squad is shaping up nicely with the players you have mentioned? Hughes is aging and despite what many think on here i'm worried about our combined age of our two main center backs. Greer and Hughes combined age of 77. I was hoping for someone a bit younger if i'm honest. We have all seen enough of CMS to know he will struggle to hit double figures but should do if he stays fit. Fenelon is raw and so playing teams like Partick and Lewes are hardly a proper benchmark but things look promising i agree. You might see him a bit more of him on the bench like Solly did last season. Toko is really another gamble and lets be honest here. Foreign players tend to be.

Up until now i've been disappointed with our transfer activity. Yes we made the play offs two seasons running but the last time out we were embarrassed.

 

[Simster]

How can you say the squad is shaping up nicely with the players you have mentioned? Hughes is aging and despite what many think on here i'm worried about our combined age of our two main center backs. Greer and Hughes combined age of 77. I was hoping for someone a bit younger if i'm honest. We have all seen enough of CMS to know he will struggle to hit double figures but should do if he stays fit. Fenelon is raw and so playing teams like Partick and Lewes are hardly a proper benchmark but things look promising i agree. You might see him a bit more of him on the bench like Solly did last season. Toko is really another gamble and lets be honest here. Foreign players tend to be.

Up until now i've been disappointment with our transfer activity. Yes we made the play offs two seasons running but the last time out we were embarrassed.

This is basic maths. 77 FFS? Hughes is 34. Who knew Gordon Greer was 43?

Actually, I too was a bit concerned but remember that player of the season Matthew Upson was quality and is now back in the top flight - and he's actually 6 months older than Hughes.

In truth I'm hoping that Hughes was relatively cheap, because history has shown us that older centre backs have done OK for us. We also have decent cover there at this level. I'd rather we splashed out on other areas of the pitch and that might yet happen.

 

[Betfair Bozo]

Seriously cannot believe that anyone can be unhappy with the signing of Aaron Hughes on a 1 year deal!

 

[Uncle C]

Seriously cannot believe that anyone can be unhappy with the signing of Aaron Hughes on a 1 year deal!

Some on here would be unhappy with Messi. This is NSC remember where we have our fair smattering of spoilt kids and idiots.

 

[pornomagboy]

Ha d a dream last night that QPR put a bid in for him

 

[Albion Dan]

And i would like to point out that on both occasions we were deeply embarrassed by 2 far superior teams.

.

What a crock of ****. We were pretty much neck and neck with Palace in the play offs (actually we were the better team first game) until mid way through the second half when Barnes hit the post, then Zaha showed his quality and stuck two away from brief and very rare mistakes from Wayne Bridge. Far superior? Man for Man we were a much better side and squad than Palace.

 

[algie]

Some on here would be unhappy with Messi. This is NSC remember where we have our fair smattering of spoilt kids and idiots.

And a fair share of utter idiots who post ridiculous comparisons for voicing there opinions. I find posts like yours more embarrassing than people moaning about signings or lack off.

 

[Hotchilidog]

How can you say the squad is shaping up nicely with the players you have mentioned? Hughes is aging and despite what many think on here i'm worried about our combined age of our two main center backs. Greer and Hughes combined age of 77. I was hoping for someone a bit younger if i'm honest. We have all seen enough of CMS to know he will struggle to hit double figures but should do if he stays fit. Fenelon is raw and so playing teams like Partick and Lewes are hardly a proper benchmark but things look promising i agree. You might see him a bit more of him on the bench like Solly did last season. Toko is really another gamble and lets be honest here. Foreign players tend to be.

Up until now i've been disappointment with our transfer activity. Yes we made the play offs two seasons running but the last time out we were embarrassed.

Well clearly my glass is half full. Yes we made the playoffs but........ We still made the playoffs, considering we did it with a shoestring squad playing without a fully fit striker, and in the second leg against derby only one regular defender, I think we did pretty well. Derby were better than us all season, I don't see the shame in losing to them. As for the previous year, well it transpires that were some mitigating circumstances there too.

Fact is, despite being a tight-fisted shambles we still managed to beat out the rest of the division to a playoff spot two years in a row. We lost both, but so what? What do you think the likes of Forest are saying? They spent loads of money and FAILED to do as well as we did. Look at how many times Cardiff got beaten in the playoffs before ether finally made it up to the PL. I do not expect or demand that we get this promotion this season. I would however like us to give it a good go and should we be successful then great.

As for the players, a lot of people seem very happy with Hughes, we needed an experienced head to replace Upson and we got one. I disagree re CMS, from what i've seen (if he stays fit) should score and provide able support to Ulloa who has had to carry the attack on his own for a year. Fenelon is raw and it way to early to judge, but he looks like capable bench fodder at the moment until we get in another striker. As for Toko it's not just foreign players who are a gamble, ALL players are a gamble, they could be terrible or get injured straight away, nationality has nothing to do with it.

In all fairness I expect that we will all be underwhelmed by our transfer activity as I do not see us being in the market for high-profile exciting signings. We'll just have to trust the club and their judgement, I do, even though that trust is not universally held by all supporters.

 

[Notters]

And i would like to point out that on both occasions we were deeply embarrassed by 2 far superior teams.

Last season we never looked capable of being a side capable of challenging, I think we are even worse of this season.

Get set for mid table/ lower half if we don't pull of some shrewd signings in the next couple of weeks.

Utter claptrap. We had a far better team than Palace but Poyet bottled it.

 

[Blue Valkyrie]

How can you say the squad is shaping up nicely with the players you have mentioned? Hughes is aging and despite what many think on here i'm worried about our combined age of our two main center backs. Greer and Hughes combined age of 77. I was hoping for someone a bit younger if i'm honest. We have all seen enough of CMS to know he will struggle to hit double figures but should do if he stays fit. Fenelon is raw and so playing teams like Partick and Lewes are hardly a proper benchmark but things look promising i agree. You might see him a bit more of him on the bench like Solly did last season. Toko is really another gamble and lets be honest here. Foreign players tend to be.

Up until now i've been disappointed with our transfer activity. Yes we made the play offs two seasons running but the last time out we were embarrassed.

A fair assessment, but I think it also depends on the quality of the main 4 additional signings we make this window. Assuming we make at least 4 more.

A decent keeper, Ward or better at left back, another 3rd pick striker, and an attacking midfielder and we will look very good for next year.

Assuming we replace Leo, Buckley or whoever with like-for-like or better quality if they leave.

All to play for still this transfer window.

 

[Triggaaar]

What a crock of ****.

Saved me typing it.

 

[Zebedee]

We all know that Ulloa is going to be sold so I just wish the club would get on with it. At this rate, I can see Ulloa leaving just before the season starts and our not having enough time to sign any suitable replacements. You couldn't make it up.

 

[Blue Valkyrie]

We all know that Ulloa is going to be sold so I just wish the club would get on with it. At this rate, I can see Ulloa leaving just before the season starts and our not having enough time to sign any suitable replacements. You couldn't make it up.

I'd rather we totally point blank refused to sell Leo until we had an excellent replacement signed, and so both transfers are announced at once.

 

[Zebedee]

I'd rather we totally point blank refused to sell Leo until we had an excellent replacement signed, and so both transfers are announced at once.

I could live with that but I think we would need a minimum of two more strikers if Leo left. One is not enough.

 

[Mackenzie]

What's not right is that we are making unacceptable losses as is the whole of football. It appears that our club's owner and directors are trying to do something about it by slashing operating costs while trying to keep a 'competitive' squad on the pitch, and investing really heavily in long-term player development via a state of the art academy.

I get the feeling that we're really going to give some of our young players a go this season and build a Southampton type (production line of talent) reputation. A way to accelerate that is to have young & talented players in your team let alone squad. More young players with a pathway to the first team (and beyond to the PL) will attract/produce more talented players. It's self-sustaining if done properly.

Spot on.

Its a difficult juggling act for Bloom and Barber though. They have got to keep the fans happy by keeping us competitive whilst introducing these younger players. I hope we've got the patience to see this through, its not going to happen overnight.

 

[Napper]

Ulloas silence is good although I'm sure we've spoken to him and assured him he can go at a respectable price which we will get unless Ulloa gets impatient and throws toys out of the pram.

 

[Notters]

We all know that Ulloa is going to be sold so I just wish the club would get on with it. At this rate, I can see Ulloa leaving just before the season starts and our not having enough time to sign any suitable replacements. You couldn't make it up.

Couldn't make what up? The two options are sell him quickly for less than his value or wait till Leicester offer us the asking price. I know which I would prefer.

 

[Westdene Seagull]

Are we saying that 23000 season tickets at an average price of £50 per month gives a revenue just short of £14 million per year then the extra match day revenue, sponsorship does not cover the costs of the club? Plus the fact we have reduced the wage cost of the playing staff by releasing/selling the following over the last 16 months.

Was this a serious comment ? I ask as your maths is rather simple given you've failed to account for VAT in the £14m, or any operating costs outside players wages or indeed to take any notice of the massive loses we've registered in OFFICIAL accounts for previous financial years.