More Loans than Barclays

[EastDerehamO]

It’s been said above and it feels like we’re having to pull out all the stops in the loans and free transfers market to stay a L1 club, and we have an excellent manager. Average home attendances have us firmly in L1, and think last season’s average was our highest for about thirty years.

I guess it shows how football has moved on when we are struggling to compete with the likes of Bristol Rovers and Wycombe, which I presume as why Nigel Travis is seeking new investment. Can’t really criticise our ownership based on that, their pockets are only so deep, especially given where we are now to where we were when they bought us.

[B.whitehouse+10more]

All this is conjecture, at the end of the season we will see who was right and who was wrong, I’ll just give my club all the support I can until we play the last game. No doubt during the next 43 games our emotions will be like a roller coaster, but I believe in the experience of the board ML and RW to get us where they want us to be. If you want to call me a “Happy Clapper” then that’s ok, I’ve been a happy clapper since we payed Ipswich Town at home in 1962. Up the O’s

[Rich Tea Wellin]

Tbf though how much is it actually like that Jackett Jan window? Obviously hindsight is difficult to judge without bias but:

The overall theme of "play the youth and a few journeymen as we can't afford to give you anything else". Comparing a January with a summer window isn't a like for like, as Ling was at lengths to tell us after the recent January failure that there were plenty more options in summer. Seemingly not the case this year as we've just been told.

We've seen a lot of pros go out the door and only youths arrive in their place. Even Jackett didn't have to deal with two loanee GKs which still seems more ridiculous each time it's written.

Richie has his work cut out to make something of this group, he's got more ability and drive to make it work than Jackett did but let's not pretend he's been given a good hand to work with here.

I think we have a much better squad now than under Jackett. And I think we’ve got an adequate squad for what the board is realistically looking to achieve this year.

The disconnect is between fans expectations and the clubs. Although Richie obviously wants to win every week he’s already come out and said that considering the strength of the league it’s probably not the right year to make a promotion push.

With that in mind would you rather:
Scenario A: our current scenario whereby we save a bit of money on youngsters and loans with a manager good enough to get a mid table finish in a very competitive league. Albeit with a risk that a few key injuries puts us in trouble. Gives us a fresh slate to build a promotion team next season.

Scenario B: we splash out on experienced pros and more depth. Being experienced pros they will want potentially 50% more wages if not more and guaranteed 2-3 year contracts. So we do a bit better, maybe push playoffs but are on the hook for the wages next season after a few flop or get injured.

It’s depressing as a fan but it’s practical and a long term vision. I think the current regime are making a few bad commercial decisions and are taking some risks with the budget and losing Richie but they’ve got a track record of success and I think they deserve our reserved judgement until the end of next season at least

[PKM]

O’s transfer policy

1. Has he got two functioning legs?
2. Is he ‘well thought of’ by a Premier team and under 21 so will be cheap
3. Will the Prem team pay all/most of his wages whilst on loan here?
4. Has he had a serious injury in last few years and so will be ‘cheap’
5. Has he ‘blotted his copy book’ so will be cheap?

Honestly, Ritchie has to work miracles with a bunch of kids/loans/cast offs/misfits.
Then he has to repeat the exercise every year!
What an effin’ job!

[Rich Tea Wellin]

O’s transfer policy

1. Has he got two functioning legs?

You’ve managed to get it wrong on point 1

[wigwam o's]

If my understanding is correct, we can only name 5 loanees in a match day squad. If the 2 goalkeepers are named, this will allow only 3 outfield players. Could be restrictive.

[George M]

O’s transfer policy

1. Has he got two functioning legs?
2. Is he ‘well thought of’ by a Premier team and under 21 so will be cheap
3. Will the Prem team pay all/most of his wages whilst on loan here?
4. Has he had a serious injury in last few years and so will be ‘cheap’
5. Has he ‘blotted his copy book’ so will be cheap?

Honestly, Ritchie has to work miracles with a bunch of kids/loans/cast offs/misfits.
Then he has to repeat the exercise every year!
What an effin’ job!

You have highlighted a brilliant and sensible business plan that will eventually bring us success and protect the long term future of the club.

[gshaw]

Tbf though how much is it actually like that Jackett Jan window? Obviously hindsight is difficult to judge without bias but:

The overall theme of "play the youth and a few journeymen as we can't afford to give you anything else". Comparing a January with a summer window isn't a like for like, as Ling was at lengths to tell us after the recent January failure that there were plenty more options in summer. Seemingly not the case this year as we've just been told.

We've seen a lot of pros go out the door and only youths arrive in their place. Even Jackett didn't have to deal with two loanee GKs which still seems more ridiculous each time it's written.

Richie has his work cut out to make something of this group, he's got more ability and drive to make it work than Jackett did but let's not pretend he's been given a good hand to work with here.

I think we have a much better squad now than under Jackett. And I think we’ve got an adequate squad for what the board is realistically looking to achieve this year.

The disconnect is between fans expectations and the clubs. Although Richie obviously wants to win every week he’s already come out and said that considering the strength of the league it’s probably not the right year to make a promotion push.

With that in mind would you rather:
Scenario A: our current scenario whereby we save a bit of money on youngsters and loans with a manager good enough to get a mid table finish in a very competitive league. Albeit with a risk that a few key injuries puts us in trouble. Gives us a fresh slate to build a promotion team next season.

Scenario B: we splash out on experienced pros and more depth. Being experienced pros they will want potentially 50% more wages if not more and guaranteed 2-3 year contracts. So we do a bit better, maybe push playoffs but are on the hook for the wages next season after a few flop or get injured.

It’s depressing as a fan but it’s practical and a long term vision. I think the current regime are making a few bad commercial decisions and are taking some risks with the budget and losing Richie but they’ve got a track record of success and I think they deserve our reserved judgement until the end of next season at least

For the spine of the team B, there's a few positions you spend the money to get a strong spine

a) goalkeeper
b) ball-winning midfield player / captain
c) back line

We're pretty solid at the back, though it's taken to the last minute to get (hopefully) a decent quality LB so no quibbles there.

It's cheaping out on the first two that's a false economy imo. Ending up with two loanees in goal is just bizarre. Also doesn't say much for the quality of what the academy is producing if neither of those at the club are a viable reserve GK and we sign a Spurs academy player instead.

The thing with this approach is it's not going to generate any money as the bulk of the players aren't ours, which comes back to the question I submitted to the Q&A which wasn't even asked... how does the club fill the 3-4 million a year gap if there's not a big player sale each year?

[PKM]

O’s transfer policy

1. Has he got two functioning legs?

You’ve managed to get it wrong on point 1

Fair point!

[Rich Tea Wellin]

The overall theme of "play the youth and a few journeymen as we can't afford to give you anything else". Comparing a January with a summer window isn't a like for like, as Ling was at lengths to tell us after the recent January failure that there were plenty more options in summer. Seemingly not the case this year as we've just been told.

We've seen a lot of pros go out the door and only youths arrive in their place. Even Jackett didn't have to deal with two loanee GKs which still seems more ridiculous each time it's written.

Richie has his work cut out to make something of this group, he's got more ability and drive to make it work than Jackett did but let's not pretend he's been given a good hand to work with here.

I think we have a much better squad now than under Jackett. And I think we’ve got an adequate squad for what the board is realistically looking to achieve this year.

The disconnect is between fans expectations and the clubs. Although Richie obviously wants to win every week he’s already come out and said that considering the strength of the league it’s probably not the right year to make a promotion push.

With that in mind would you rather:
Scenario A: our current scenario whereby we save a bit of money on youngsters and loans with a manager good enough to get a mid table finish in a very competitive league. Albeit with a risk that a few key injuries puts us in trouble. Gives us a fresh slate to build a promotion team next season.

Scenario B: we splash out on experienced pros and more depth. Being experienced pros they will want potentially 50% more wages if not more and guaranteed 2-3 year contracts. So we do a bit better, maybe push playoffs but are on the hook for the wages next season after a few flop or get injured.

It’s depressing as a fan but it’s practical and a long term vision. I think the current regime are making a few bad commercial decisions and are taking some risks with the budget and losing Richie but they’ve got a track record of success and I think they deserve our reserved judgement until the end of next season at least

For the spine of the team B, there's a few positions you spend the money to get a strong spine

a) goalkeeper
b) ball-winning midfield player / captain
c) back line

We're pretty solid at the back, though it's taken to the last minute to get (hopefully) a decent quality LB so no quibbles there.

It's cheaping out on the first two that's a false economy imo. Ending up with two loanees in goal is just bizarre. Also doesn't say much for the quality of what the academy is producing if neither of those at the club are a viable reserve GK and we sign a Spurs academy player instead.

The thing with this approach is it's not going to generate any money as the bulk of the players aren't ours, which comes back to the question I submitted to the Q&A which wasn't even asked... how does the club fill the 3-4 million a year gap if there's not a big player sale each year?

Agree with most of that. There’s a balance to be had and it would have been good to nail down more of a foundation going into next season. The benefit of having young players is that they can easily develop into the core foundations. I think there’s a chance ( I know you disagree) that brown gets there as he’s improved a lot each season and is still young.

[LeighO]

Re: the thread title. Surely Barclays are well known for making loans, not recommending them.

[RedDwarf 1881]

The biggest impact of our transfer policy of signing loanee kids and freebies is that eventually Wellens will get fed up. As soon as a club who can actually offer him a reasonable transfer budget comes along he’ll leave. And I wouldn’t really blame him.

Losing Wellens will be a bigger blow than losing any of the current playing squad.

I agree . For one reason or another it's crystal clear we can't compete with other League One clubs for good players . I would advise the club to increase their new contract offers to Agyei and Galbraith . We can't keep losing our best players all the time and expect to stay in League One . I just thought , what would happen if the club somehow found itself in the Championship next season . The club would be all at sea.

[Chief crazy horse]

Yes, as monkey says, it appears we cannot compete with Bristol Rovers which is a big disappointment, and then compounded with Forde choosing to go there.

[gshaw]

Agree with most of that. There’s a balance to be had and it would have been good to nail down more of a foundation going into next season. The benefit of having young players is that they can easily develop into the core foundations. I think there’s a chance ( I know you disagree) that brown gets there as he’s improved a lot each season and is still young.

(cut the quote down for the sake of readability)

If they were all ours perhaps but barring Warrington what we've brought in will more likely go back or be sold at a fee to other sides as per Forde.

Brown is just too "nice" to boss a midfield, imo he was carried a lot by El Miz and now left exposed. Doesn't seem to have that extra bit of speed or physicality to impose himself on a game. Compare to Dawson or Vincelot and you'll see what I mean. Decent utility squad player but that's about it.

A bit strange that having played well on Tuesday the midfield got swapped out for one that's lost 3 (well now 4) league games on the spin.

[Eggski]

The bubble has burst