[Albion] Dan Ashworth’s thoughts on our transfer window

[chaileyjem]

I was splitting the difference with £23M for Brewster for ease. Maupay was a very good deal for sure. But if we want a quick, striker with some presence who finds the onion bag regularly and can link up play, I suspect it’s going to cost us around £25M

Connolly cost us nothing.

 

[lost in london]

Whatever side you fall on, surely we can all agree that the club have a unified, definite strategy with transfers, and they will not buckle due to media or fan pressure, or whatever the latest trends are on Sky.

I find that admirable. Certainly in comparison to other clubs who throw a lot of money around and hope something works.

Agreed. It's a shame that a number of people on here can't recognise that as a sensible strategy for this club in its current circumstances. Too many people seem to see that we have not spent £20m+ on a player they have heard and consider that a failure.

Maybe one day we will be even more established and be able to attract and afford bigger names, we're not there yet.

 

[spence]

Maupay was reportedly c £16m - Watkins was £28m and wages are reported to be well out of Albion's orbit - hence how Villa got the player.
Villa are owned by two billionaires.

Maybe Brentford felt they undervalued Maupay after seeing what he is doing now. and wasn't going to get burnt twice with Watkins

 

[Weststander]

I was splitting the difference with £23M for Brewster for ease. Maupay was a very good deal for sure. But if we want a quick, striker with some presence who finds the onion bag regularly and can link up play, I suspect it’s going to cost us around £25M

Six clubs were after Brewster, I think he stated that after he signed for Sheffield United.

So it was a bit of a long shot and perhaps he wanted to stay not too far from a the neighbouring region he'd settled in?

 

[Couldn't Be Hyypia]

I wouldn't want to quantify it, but I have no doubt that if some ultra-rich overseas investor with no Albion history came forward, expressing the desire to buy the club, spend £2bn on players and get the Albion into the Champions League within three years then there would be some amongst the Albion fanbase who would fancy some of that action.

"Thanks for all you've done Tony, but it's time to kick on to the next level..."

Is that my view? No.
Would be the view of most of those who have been on the Goldstone->Priestfield->Withdean->Amex journey? No.

But there would be some.

Poll?

 

[DJ NOBO]

Taking into account Molumby and White coming into the fold, and the two early signings, it is one signing away from being an excellent window.
We may still get that forward we obviously (despite what Dan says) need.

 

[Couldn't Be Hyypia]

I was splitting the difference with £23M for Brewster for ease. Maupay was a very good deal for sure. But if we want a quick, striker with some presence who finds the onion bag regularly and can link up play, I suspect it’s going to cost us around £25M

It seems to me that it's not the £25m that's the issue. It's the inevitable £100k+ a week that strikers of this ilk expect to be paid. Not only would that add a further £25m on a five year deal, it would also probably blow our wage structure and generate a short but not insignificant queue of players wanting to talk about their package.

Again and again NSC folks post about headline purchase costs and disregard the bigger implication of agent, add ons, salaries and the impact on the rest of the squad.

 

[vagabond]

I can no longer update the OP, but there’s now a full length interview with Ashworth (13mins, as opposed to 4).

He also covers:
- outgoing players
- signing criteria at the club
- Andone and Jose
- we have the money to spend in January if the right player is available(!)

With the above he addresses the criticisms raised earlier in the thread. Worth a look:

https://www.brightonandhovealbion.c...6/ashworth-reflects-on-unique-transfer-window

 

[chaileyjem]

Agreed. It's a shame that a number of people on here can't recognise that as a sensible strategy for this club in its current circumstances. Too many people seem to see that we have not spent £20m+ on a player they have heard and consider that a failure.

Exactly. Other clubs have spent £m on additions and some admire their spending for some reason because they don't have the development/academy we have.
How much better would our window "look" if we'd *paid* £10-20m each for Alzate, Connolly, White, Lamptey and Molumby who effectively cost us virtually nothing.
But we didn't have to ...

 

[Goldstone1976]

...But if this illusive mega money man were to come, promising CL within 3 years, as an investor only and Bloom could still retain both overall control and leadership...

Why on Earth would anyone invest a great deal of money in anything without getting commensurate levels of control? You only have to look at what happened to control of the Albion when Tony upped his long-standing financial help in order to pay for the stadium. Is Dick Knight still Chairman? Does he still have control? Is he providing leadership?

If a company wishes to raise substantial sums of money, control (whether through the issue of shares or through the terms of any debt that is provided) is always changed. Take enough money and control changes.

Looking at the reality we have the same squad as last season...

You may want to have a look at this chart first posted by [MENTION=435]Stat Brother[/MENTION]



You may very well not much like the business we did in the transfer market, but to say we have the same squad as last season (on average) is simply wrong

 

[peterward]

I think you're being a bit harsh. If this transfer window has shown us anything it's that there is a vocal minority of fans who just want to see money being spent and can't think much deeper or wider than that. I would have thought there is a big slice of those fans who would welcome Tony selling 50% to the Iranians or whoever if it meant we could splash money around like Everton.

For what it's worth (and this isn't directed at you), I think the club only has a strategy of long term planning, sensible financial management and doing their homework. They're not in it for marquee signings, headline grabbing or d**k swinging like some owners. And I for one love that, even if it means we don't sign a Championship striker for £25m or an ageing big name on £200k a week.

I agree with the bottom half of your post, Sorry this is a bit long! but I think your top half, ironically, is a bit harsh and another that tries to simplify some genuine concerns into a one size fits all, that those with concerns just want to spend without thinking deeper or wider. It’s simply not true and a bit simplistic.

I take it we all understand the difficulties in the world and we all want to stay in this league? On that much I’d assume is universal agreement.

So here’s the thing, last season, we were staring relegation in the face, on a terrible run, the only club not to have won in 2020 before lockdown, we’ll never know what may have happened without it, but maybe it was a blessing in disguise for our fortunes. We were pretty awful before it and staring down the barrel. Yes we did better after the enforced break, but we still just trundled over the line to safety. Our season was again based on hoping they’d be at least 3 worse teams than us.

Now this summer (for all the obvious financial reasons we all understand) we’ve lost Mooy and his goals, we hope Lallana will replace him and stay injury free, it’s not certain yet, but at least that is like for like.

We’ve lost our second highest ever scorer, who still scored goals last season even though his chances were severely limited, who defended corners well, is the best offensive header of the ball, a great focal point to hold up the ball, we lost our vice captain and a physical midfielder, we’ve lost one of the two best actual defenders in the club on loan.

Now I’d take Biss over Stephens, but I wouldn’t personally think there was anyone better if Biss got injured than Stephens. Defenders is not so bad, but LB/LWB is, Burn is an average LB, he is not a LWB at all, Bernardo is not good enough period (or for arguments sake much worse than March) March a LW is doing very well converted at LWB, but if he gets injured or suspended, there is no like for like decent cover, it’s a weaker player not comfortable as a LWB or a change of system.

Now the obvious, goals.....what wins games and will make or break you. We’ve lost Murray’s defensive and offensive ability, plus his different option in hold up play, we’ve lost a genuine instinctive striker and simply haven’t replaced him with anybody. Zeqiri may be sensational, but it’s also true he may never make it, you simply cannot rely on a former swisss second tier striker being good enough to jump in and hit the ground running. Even good players like Tross and Izzy took months easing into the team. So we are a decent like for like, English league experienced forward down end of.

For Ashworth to say we’re happy with that, and to assume so with just one credible LWB and being a real CF down on last year, I just don’t get? To expect us to fare better when all the others around us last season have strengthened in those keys areas of putting ball in and keeping ball out, is a massive gamble,, nothing less. We have spent good Money this window for future seasons, but not on key areas where we lack depth for this season.

Oh but we have Tross and Ali J? If you bank on what they’ve done before, Tross is reasonable with a few goals, Ali J barely starts a game and seems to be in a Knockaert level somewhere just not quite at PL consistently. You really can’t be banking on those 2 wingers doing what they haven’t yet thus far as credible if Maupay, a number 9 gets injured, or even a rookie like Connolly. They’re just not strikers, and neither have shown they are able yet to that goal scoring degree.

I’m more than happy with our current full strength first team, as I guess most are? I don’t like it that we have no genuine striker option off the bench when NM and AC play, but we are just one or two injuries away from all this PR fluff being shown up for what it is. We have threadbare or no real cover in key areas and it concerns. Lack of goals has relegated many decent teams.

To think if the injuries do come in those areas, Zeqiri will dig us out, or Tross or Ali J will suddenly become CF and do what they haven’t to date and we’ll be just fine, as all around have added quality and depth, is just magical thinking imho.

It really has nothing to do with spending mega millions or dick waving, we all want to be here in 21/22 and it’s a massive gamble as we don’t have like for like player depth. Even Deeney on loan or Welbeck on a free would be welcome as would any player able to actual play LWB well.

No bed wetting, whoever is in the shirt on the TV in this weird season will get 100% support, but squad depth in some areas and relying on luck without insurance is nothing short of a big gamble. Nothing we do or say will change anything, so no point getting upset about it, but my hunch is many of those you think just want to splash the cash without a wider view, they just don’t want to be relegated and see risks beyond wishful thinking. That is different to simplistic thinking of just wanting to buy for the sake of it.

UTA

 

[peterward]

Why on Earth would anyone invest a great deal of money in anything without getting commensurate levels of control? You only have to look at what happened to control of the Albion when Tony upped his long-standing financial help in order to pay for the stadium. Is Dick Knight still Chairman? Does he still have control? Is he providing leadership?

If a company wishes to raise substantial sums of money, control (whether through the issue of shares or through the terms of any debt that is provided) is always changed. Take enough money and control changes.



You may want to have a look at this chart first posted by [MENTION=435]Stat Brother[/MENTION]

View attachment 129205

You may very well not much like the business we did in the transfer market, but to say we have the same squad as last season (on average) is simply wrong

ofc I get that. Alisher Usmanov at Arsenal is a prime example of a wealthy minority shareholder. Before he sold.

Like I said very clearly, I’m not advocating that or calling for that, I said I trust bloom to make the right calls in the clubs long term interest ......, but maybe if the right person whom he knows came with the right offer to Bloom, and he with a full 360 degree picture of the club and his own finances.....maybe he might see that as advantageous? You can still retain absolute control and have minority investment (if it were ever deemed as appropriate by TB)

 

[Goldstone1976]

ofc I get that. Alisher Usmanov at Arsenal is a prime example of a wealthy minority shareholder. Before he sold.

Like I said very clearly, I’m not advocating that or calling for that, I said I trust bloom to make the right calls in the clubs long term interest ......, but maybe if the right person whom he knows came with the right offer to Bloom, and he with a full 360 degree picture of the club and his own finances.....maybe he might see that as advantageous? You can still retain absolute control and have minority investment (if it were ever deemed as appropriate by TB)

Yep, minority investors exist of course. To be a minority shareholder, you have to have <50% holding. If the Albion is worth c£250m, then in order to have a <50% stake, the incoming investor would be investing £150m to £250m (depending on negotiation). Is that enough to "guarantee CL football in 3 years"? I doubt it. There are countless examples of people investing a great deal more than £200m and not making CL football at all, let alone within 3 years.

If the aim is CL football within 3 years, then you're probably talking closer to £1Bn - which, of course, means that the investor would have control.

I honestly don't think your premise stacks up.

 

[um bongo molongo]

Connolly cost us nothing.

But he’s also at the stage of his career where he should be coming on off the bench. Not playing 38 games from the start trying to keep us up. All squads need a balance of young guns and players more at their peak.

 

[um bongo molongo]

It’s not that simple though - price (even if that fit our criteria) isn’t the only factor....

-wages within our structure
-wages at least match what others are offering
-any other contractual differences that might impact a decision (image rights ? Release/relegation clauses we might insist on that others don’t, sell on clauses, buy back etc etc ?)
-does the player fit our value criteria (age, resell value etc) ?
-does the player want to come to us vs the competition ?
-does he pass the no dickheads test ?

Suspect we strictly stick to our guns on all of the above most of the time, hence finding the right player is pretty tricky.

I don’t deny all that is true. However, we’ve had all year (and beyond) to identify a shortlist. What happened to ‘we always have a list of options and go down the list’? Seems like this year’s started and ended with Nunez.

 

[um bongo molongo]

It seems to me that it's not the £25m that's the issue. It's the inevitable £100k+ a week that strikers of this ilk expect to be paid. Not only would that add a further £25m on a five year deal, it would also probably blow our wage structure and generate a short but not insignificant queue of players wanting to talk about their package.

Again and again NSC folks post about headline purchase costs and disregard the bigger implication of agent, add ons, salaries and the impact on the rest of the squad.

I’m usually a very vocal reminder-er of that very point. However, I suspect Brewster isn’t on undoable wages for one (Sheff Utd aren’t big payers). Though we may have been in for him and he preferred them, or we didn’t like the buyback clause. The point is not that it isn’t hard, it’s that the recruitment team had, in my opinion, one important job to do this window and they didn’t manage it. That’s understandable, but disappointing, and I think will bite us.

 

[peterward]

I don’t deny all that is true. However, we’ve had all year (and beyond) to identify a shortlist. What happened to ‘we always have a list of options and go down the list’? Seems like this year’s started and ended with Nunez.

Cluster f***ed!!

 

[Springal]

I guess the problem with Brewster is he is the same age as Connolly (actually 3 months younger) - so do we need 2 , inexperienced 20 year old strikers? Or do we focus on developing one

 

[Swansman]

Did Almeria officially communicate that Brighton made a £25m bid on Nunez or is this just some rumour people decided to be true?

 

[dazzer6666]

I agree with the bottom half of your post, Sorry this is a bit long! but I think your top half, ironically, is a bit harsh and another that tries to simplify some genuine concerns into a one size fits all, that those with concerns just want to spend without thinking deeper or wider. It’s simply not true and a bit simplistic.

I take it we all understand the difficulties in the world and we all want to stay in this league? On that much I’d assume is universal agreement.

So here’s the thing, last season, we were staring relegation in the face, on a terrible run, the only club not to have won in 2020 before lockdown, we’ll never know what may have happened without it, but maybe it was a blessing in disguise for our fortunes. We were pretty awful before it and staring down the barrel. Yes we did better after the enforced break, but we still just trundled over the line to safety. Our season was again based on hoping they’d be at least 3 worse teams than us.

Now this summer (for all the obvious financial reasons we all understand) we’ve lost Mooy and his goals, we hope Lallana will replace him and stay injury free, it’s not certain yet, but at least that is like for like.

We’ve lost our second highest ever scorer, who still scored goals last season even though his chances were severely limited, who defended corners well, is the best offensive header of the ball, a great focal point to hold up the ball, we lost our vice captain and a physical midfielder, we’ve lost one of the two best actual defenders in the club on loan.

Now I’d take Biss over Stephens, but I wouldn’t personally think there was anyone better if Biss got injured than Stephens. Defenders is not so bad, but LB/LWB is, Burn is an average LB, he is not a LWB at all, Bernardo is not good enough period (or for arguments sake much worse than March) March a LW is doing very well converted at LWB, but if he gets injured or suspended, there is no like for like decent cover, it’s a weaker player not comfortable as a LWB or a change of system.

Now the obvious, goals.....what wins games and will make or break you. We’ve lost Murray’s defensive and offensive ability, plus his different option in hold up play, we’ve lost a genuine instinctive striker and simply haven’t replaced him with anybody. Zeqiri may be sensational, but it’s also true he may never make it, you simply cannot rely on a former swisss second tier striker being good enough to jump in and hit the ground running. Even good players like Tross and Izzy took months easing into the team. So we are a decent like for like, English league experienced forward down end of.

For Ashworth to say we’re happy with that, and to assume so with just one credible LWB and being a real CF down on last year, I just don’t get? To expect us to fare better when all the others around us last season have strengthened in those keys areas of putting ball in and keeping ball out, is a massive gamble,, nothing less. We have spent good Money this window for future seasons, but not on key areas where we lack depth for this season.

Oh but we have Tross and Ali J? If you bank on what they’ve done before, Tross is reasonable with a few goals, Ali J barely starts a game and seems to be in a Knockaert level somewhere just not quite at PL consistently. You really can’t be banking on those 2 wingers doing what they haven’t yet thus far as credible if Maupay, a number 9 gets injured, or even a rookie like Connolly. They’re just not strikers, and neither have shown they are able yet to that goal scoring degree.

I’m more than happy with our current full strength first team, as I guess most are? I don’t like it that we have no genuine striker option off the bench when NM and AC play, but we are just one or two injuries away from all this PR fluff being shown up for what it is. We have threadbare or no real cover in key areas and it concerns. Lack of goals has relegated many decent teams.

To think if the injuries do come in those areas, Zeqiri will dig us out, or Tross or Ali J will suddenly become CF and do what they haven’t to date and we’ll be just fine, as all around have added quality and depth, is just magical thinking imho.

It really has nothing to do with spending mega millions or dick waving, we all want to be here in 21/22 and it’s a massive gamble as we don’t have like for like player depth. Even Deeney on loan or Welbeck on a free would be welcome as would any player able to actual play LWB well.

No bed wetting, whoever is in the shirt on the TV in this weird season will get 100% support, but squad depth in some areas and relying on luck without insurance is nothing short of a big gamble. Nothing we do or say will change anything, so no point getting upset about it, but my hunch is many of those you think just want to splash the cash without a wider view, they just don’t want to be relegated and see risks beyond wishful thinking. That is different to simplistic thinking of just wanting to buy for the sake of it.

UTA

Murray scored ONE goal last season didn't he, and Mooy 2 (and about the same number of assists I think) ?? We haven't lost many goals with their departures. I expect all of our strikers and midfielders (and probably our wingbacks) to beat that this season.