Derby and Fulham bid for Dunk [+ Newcastle now interested]

[Guy Fawkes]

This is a question that has baffled me for ages. All the things a player should look for are in place, including a great area to live in, yet they don't sign for us. It could just be the money on the table but that can't be the only thing stopping them. Perhaps we should conduct an "exit poll" of potential signings as they leave for less pleasant and more northerly climes to find out what their thinking is........

But is the fact that your money doesn't go as far in terms of property in the area a contributing factor that puts off potential signings? You can have a 3 bedroom house in Yorkshire for the price of a 1 bedroom flat in Sussex. If the wage offers are the saem, which would you chose, surely the one that puts more money into your bank account after living costs.

But it could also be that they are joining a team with a history of success and recently been in the top flight so they think it's a) a bigger club which looks better on their cv, and b) seemingly more likely to go up again - we assume everyone knows a lot about us as a club and what we have and what we have done recently which may not be the case and our recent history is mainly in the bottom couple of divisions until the Amex (maybe they see us as reaching our true level / over achieving now so unlikely to progress much further up the football pyramid than we are now)

Or it could be that they think they will play more at the alternative club if they join them instead of us.

 

[Icy Gull]

But is the fact that your money doesn't go as far in terms of property in the area a contributing factor that puts off potential signings? You can have a 3 bedroom house in Yorkshire for the price of a 1 bedroom flat in Sussex. If the wage offers are the saem, which would you chose, surely the one that puts more money into your bank account after living costs.

But it could also be that they are joining a team with a history of success and recently been in the top flight so they think it's a) a bigger club which looks better on their cv, and b) seemingly more likely to go up again - we assume everyone knows a lot about us as a club and what we have and what we have done recently which may not be the case and our recent history is mainly in the bottom couple of divisions until the Amex (maybe they see us as reaching our true level / over achieving now so unlikely to progress much further up the football pyramid than we are now)

Or it could be that they think they will play more at the alternative club if they join them instead of us.

I'd love to know the true story behind the attempted signing of Clayton. Did he really chose not attend two Boro medicals as he waited for us to swoop? Was he ever going to choose us? Something very odd appears to have been going on throughout that whole saga. He is just the type of player that your post alludes to I believe.

 

[Guy Fawkes]

I'd love to know the true story behind the attempted signing of Clayton. Did he really chose not attend two Boro medicals as he waited for us to swoop? Was he ever going to choose us? Something very odd appears to have been going on throughout that whole saga. He is just the type of player that your post alludes to I believe.

With Clayton, it could have been something as simple as a delaying tactic to see what other offers (if any) may come in before deciding (only to find out a bigger club were interested and he signed up too early)

The players in demand hold the power, and they don't feel they have to be rushed into a decision as they will still get a club, but they may get a better offer by holding out for longer.

A lot of our recent targets that we were trying to sign but missed out on (like Clayton and Grabben) were probably trying to get the best deal or a club with the best prospects of promotion before committing, which is why we were strung along by them before they made their decision and unfortunately for us, joined someone else, thus disrupting our recruitment last season. - At least we were targeting the right type of players as our first choice targets but these players are likely to be the targets of our competitors in this division or elsewhere too (like the PL) and it's rare for them to have gone unnoticed so that we can easily bring them in without much competition (like we have done with Kayal)

 

[spanish flair]

But is the fact that your money doesn't go as far in terms of property in the area a contributing factor that puts off potential signings? You can have a 3 bedroom house in Yorkshire for the price of a 1 bedroom flat in Sussex. If the wage offers are the saem, which would you chose, surely the one that puts more money into your bank account after living costs.

But it could also be that they are joining a team with a history of success and recently been in the top flight so they think it's a) a bigger club which looks better on their cv, and b) seemingly more likely to go up again - we assume everyone knows a lot about us as a club and what we have and what we have done recently which may not be the case and our recent history is mainly in the bottom couple of divisions until the Amex (maybe they see us as reaching our true level / over achieving now so unlikely to progress much further up the football pyramid than we are now)

Or it could be that they think they will play more at the alternative club if they join them instead of us.

Maybe they don't/didn't like the management set up/team of the past couple of seasons, as you can hardly say good players didn't want to sign for us when Gus was here. People like Upson, Bridges, Ulloa, Vicente, Kuszczak, Harper, Orlandi and Mackial Smith (hot property and wanted by other clubs at the time) come to mind. So what has happened since?

 

[jay d]

Think fulhum and derby trying for one of our best players says a lot about where other teams in this division se us ont the football pyramid.
A smaller club trying to survive in the Championship.

 

[GT49er]

Maybe they don't/didn't like the management set up/team of the past couple of seasons, as you can hardly say good players didn't want to sign for us when Gus was here. People like Upson, Bridges, Ulloa, Vicente, Kuszczak, Harper, Orlandi and Mackial Smith (hot property and wanted by other clubs at the time) come to mind. So what has happened since?

We've lost Upson, Bridges, Ulloa, Vicente, Kuszczak, Harper, Orlandi and Mackial Smith?

 

[spanish flair]

We've lost Upson, Bridges, Ulloa, Vicente, Kuszczak, Harper, Orlandi and Mackial Smith?

True, but players seem reluctant to sign for us or stay anymore. I can't believe house prices or cost of living down here has anything to do with it at all.

 

[Machiavelli]

True, but players seem reluctant to sign for us or stay anymore. I can't believe house prices or cost of living down here has anything to do with it at all.

It's all the more likely that they'll have the opposite effect than the CommonsFlamer suggests. Firstly, Championship football players have a lot more money, so are less concerned at north/south property price discrepancies. And secondly, the value of southern houses have increased far more than those in the north over the past few decades.
The CommonsFlamer makes some other decent points though.

 

[Stat Brother]

But is the fact that your money doesn't go as far in terms of property in the area a contributing factor that puts off potential signings? You can have a 3 bedroom house in Yorkshire for the price of a 1 bedroom flat in Sussex. If the wage offers are the saem, which would you chose, surely the one that puts more money into your bank account after living costs.

For many reasons I don't believe the club should be shopping in England for replacement players, this being one.

I can see there being difficulties for a young player, perhaps with family, to relocate here.
But we're a completely different sell to a European.

A stones throw from Gatwick.
An hour from London.
A considerably better climate. (assuming you don't mention today)
All in a relatively (for England) cosmopolitan seaside city.
Playing for a club that has a recent proven track record of getting players into the Premier League.

 

[symyjym]

I'd love to know the true story behind the attempted signing of Clayton. Did he really chose not attend two Boro medicals as he waited for us to swoop? Was he ever going to choose us? Something very odd appears to have been going on throughout that whole saga. He is just the type of player that your post alludes to I believe.

I am sure that players take into consideration the clubs potential for the season which is also factor in their decisions. We were a shambles at the time, a thin squad, a new manager, and had just sold Ulloa, whilst Boro had stability. I would have chosen Boro myself with all things considered.

 

[Codner's Wallop]

True, but players seem reluctant to sign for us or stay anymore. I can't believe house prices or cost of living down here has anything to do with it at all.

It has nothing to do with location. Players will move anywhere if the deal is right for them.

We have to accept the Albion 'landscape' has changed. These marquee signings joined a club clearly 'going places' with a highly realistic chance of securing Premier League football. Bridge, Kuszczak, Upson, Vicente would all have been sold this ambition. Take one look at our crowds and the stadium, and it seemed a realistic target. Teams with a strong chance of gaining one of the three promotion slots are far more desirable; if players are kept on the books, their wages will often double or more. There's also the prestige of playing at the very highest level.

Sadly, Albion no longer command this special status. Players will be doubtful the club in its current state (and following its dismal 2014/15 season) can achieve promotion in the near future. And so their career chances are also limited.

 

[nwgull]

Almost certainly nothing to do with house prices. Not only do Championship players earn a very good wage, but houses are not a depreciating asset. A player could buy a £1m house when he signs and be reasonably confident that at the end of his 3-4 year contract that same house can be sold for £1.1m.

I doubt Clayton was ever serious about signing for us. He (his agent) was probably just using our interest to squeeze as good a deal out of Midds as possible.

 

[BensGrandad]

One of the major stumbling blocks is that unless the club sort out rented accomodation, which they do in many cases, the cost of property in our area is far greater for somebody coming from up north. Liam Brady apparently bought a house whenever he moved and changed clubs not sure how many other players do this.

 

[Marshy]

Ofcourse our Stadium, large crowds, Training facilities and location is a help when attracting players, very fine margins between success and failure in the championship.

These things only come into play though when the terms being offered by clubs are very similar.

After all if someone offers even 1k a week more over a 3 year deal its 150 grand in the players pocket....

 

[Marshy]

One of the major stumbling blocks is that unless the club sort out rented accomodation, which they do in many cases, the cost of property in our area is far greater for somebody coming from up north. Liam Brady apparently bought a house whenever he moved and changed clubs not sure how many other players do this.

He didnt even do that when he was with us, he lived at the Witch pub in Lindfield with Gerry Ryan...

 

[BensGrandad]

He wasnt with us long enough for the paint to dry on a contract but doesnt he now live or at least own a property in Hove.

 

[Guy Fawkes]

It's all the more likely that they'll have the opposite effect than the CommonsFlamer suggests. Firstly, Championship football players have a lot more money, so are less concerned at north/south property price discrepancies. And secondly, the value of southern houses have increased far more than those in the north over the past few decades.
The CommonsFlamer makes some other decent points though.

And if they rent rather than buy?

 

[hans kraay fan club]

One of the major stumbling blocks is that unless the club sort out rented accomodation, which they do in many cases, the cost of property in our area is far greater for somebody coming from up north. Liam Brady apparently bought a house whenever he moved and changed clubs not sure how many other players do this.

You are basing this on a 30 year old reality. Its daft to suggest this is a 'major stumbling block' in todays world.

Any player we are courting from elsewhere is going to be on an absolute minumum of £5,000 per WEEK. On the logistical side the Albion have two full time members of player liasion staff to deal with nitty gritty dullness like accomodation. On the financial side, a young man earning a minimum of £20,000 a month isn't going to base his decision on whether a flat costs £600 or £1200 a month to rent.

 

[seagullsovergrimsby]

He wasnt with us long enough for the paint to dry on a contract but doesnt he now live or at least own a property in Hove.

Was that a promo stunt for the shirt sponsors at the time #Sandtex

 

[Psychobilly freakout]

19 pages......

This one is gonna run a while I think.