[Albion] Bloom at Seagulls over London tonight

[The Andy Naylor Fan Club]

Not saying I agree with what TB said but just thanks for the man who reported it and for doing so. I would agree we are headed for Div 1 unless there are major changes very soon

Great to see a bit of positivity from you BG but it's not been called Div 1 for a while, it's called The Premier League.

 

[Tony Meolas Loan Spell]

Whilst it is water under the bridge, and should remain that way, it's worth knowing that apparently GM made clear his demands - wage level, contract length etc - TB was willing to pay/match it but on the proviso that Gus confirmed it was the right thing to do, and apparently Gus said that he could get better value elsewhere and that Murray wouldn't make it in the Championship. All of this was before he even entered into discussions with that lot up the road.

Is the RIGHT answer. And then when it was known he was going on loan we should have been at the front of the queue.

 

[Easy 10]

Not sure why this statement was so shocking. Doubt if few clubs in Prem and Champ, don't currently have a squad that is the most highly paid in their history given exponential increase in players wages YOY, increased TV deals, rich chairman like TB, and so on. Still stark differences between club wages in both divisions but all overall bills are on the increase.

But given the clubs concerted and exhaustive efforts to drive down costs to get in line with FFP, yes, I WAS shocked to hear that this squad is now the highest paid group of players in the clubs history. Quite honestly, I just don't see how that stacks up, given the calibre of players who have gone and what we have replaced them with.

If its correct (and if TB says it is then why should we doubt it ?), then its thoroughly depressing.

 

[chaileyjem]

But given the clubs concerted and exhaustive efforts to drive down costs to get in line with FFP.

Yep but hard to reduce wage costs. Outside Albion control to be honest. . FFP costs reduction activity has been about reducing overheads , bringing in sponsorship ( Nike, Amex), and selling players has obviously pushed costs down over the last 18 months.

 

[spanish flair]

Yep but hard to reduce wage costs. Outside Albion control to be honest. . FFP costs reduction activity has been about reducing overheads , bringing in sponsorship ( Nike, Amex), and selling players has obviously pushed costs down over the last 18 months.

Am I reading this wrong tho, have we actually sold players who were on lower wages than some of the poor signings we have brought in to replace them?

For example is O'Grady earning more than we were paying Barnes?

 

[Easy 10]

Yep but hard to reduce wage costs. Outside Albion control to be honest. . FFP costs reduction activity has been about reducing overheads , bringing in sponsorship ( Nike, Amex), and selling players has obviously pushed costs down over the last 18 months.

Players wages are the single biggest driving factor on a clubs balance sheet - transfer fees aside, everything else is a drop in the ocean compared with that. I'm sure I read somewhere that our wages are at 90% of turnover. Thats not uncommon, and its certainly no worse than at many other clubs (I believe Bristol City were at something like 130% when they were relegated). But its still a frighteningly high percentage, and will always define where we are in terms of FFP far more than pie and tat sales ever will.

So to hear that the figure has gone up, not down, since the squad was dismantled....worrying.

 

[Pondicherry]

Not sure why this statement was so shocking. Doubt if few clubs in Prem and Champ, don't currently have a squad that is the most highly paid in their history given exponential increase in players wages YOY, increased TV deals, rich chairman like TB, and so on. Still stark differences between club wages in both divisions but all overall bills are on the increase.

We can control the number of players we have contracted on high wages though. For example Ankergran looks a waste of wages to me (given the Al-Habsi situation). I would also argue that its a waste of wages having a player like McCourt unless he is a regular starter. In summary - more quality - less quantity. What are the reserves / u21s there for?

 

[Publius Ovidius]

I take it that you'd be happy for your boss to publicly criticise you in a pub with 30 strangers, knowing full well that that criticism would then be published on a social media website read by hundreds of other strangers then?

You may wish that PB had never used the word "customer" but to expect TB to contradict PB is unrealistic, imo. Personally, I'd have been horrified if he had. If he did have a problem with it, I would hope he had had a word in PB's shell-like, saying "Not cool - don't say it again please"...

Absolutely I would. That was a major gaffe and not one that I have ever seen Mr Barber apologise for, for all his huge mails he does that are replicated on here.

DKM, I am sure it was intended for the the new customers we have, who we are now seeing drifting away as the novelty wears off, but that doesn't make it any more palatable.

But hey, it's only words isn't it

 

[Dick Knights Mumm]

So to hear that the figure has gone up, not down, since the squad was dismantled....worrying.

I agree with this. We seem to have more younger players - and fewer potential stars so I am surprised our player wage levels have increased.

 

[TWOCHOICEStom]

Whilst it is water under the bridge, and should remain that way, it's worth knowing that apparently GM made clear his demands - wage level, contract length etc - TB was willing to pay/match it but on the proviso that Gus confirmed it was the right thing to do, and apparently Gus said that he could get better value elsewhere and that Murray wouldn't make it in the Championship. All of this was before he even entered into discussions with that lot up the road.

Is the RIGHT answer. And then when it was known he was going on loan we should have been at the front of the queue.

Ah I didn't realise that. All I know for sure is that Palace were offering at least double and we couldn't (or wouldn't as it appears now) match it.

 

[Dick Knights Mumm]

DKM, I am sure it was intended for the the new customers we have, who we are now seeing drifting away as the novelty wears off, but that doesn't make it any more palatable.

But hey, it's only words isn't it

It is how the modern game is. If we are competing in the higher divisions how can the Club be more commercial and keep its more intimate relationship with the fans ? Is it possible I wonder.

Having said that - does Barber still use that term. Maybe TB has had a word in his shell-like.

 

[Norman Baker suck my lozenge]

Did any one ask if He is concerned the clubs losses have doubled in the last two years?

 

[Tony Meolas Loan Spell]

Am I reading this wrong tho, have we actually sold players who were on lower wages than some of the poor signings we have brought in to replace them?

For example is O'Grady earning more than we were paying Barnes?

At a guess I would say yes. Although he did score 15 goals so ON PAPER he was probably worth it.

 

[spanish flair]

At a guess I would say yes. Although he did score 15 goals so ON PAPER he was probably worth it.

Never mind on paper, I would love to know how they compared on the famous database.

 

[Dick Knights Mumm]

At a guess I would say yes. Although he did score 15 goals so ON PAPER he was probably worth it.

But on the bright side, at least O'Grady when selected has managed to stay on the pitch in a period when we are short of strikers.

 

[spanish flair]

But on the bright side, at least O'Grady when selected has managed to stay on the pitch in a period when we are short of strikers.

He may have stayed on the pitch but he still couldn't beat Barnes in the career goals to games stakes. Bottom line strikers are judged on goals scored no?

 

[Lifelong Supporter]

We undervalued Barnes and that is now very apparent.

 

[Marshy]

He may have stayed on the pitch but he still couldn't beat Barnes in the career goals to games stakes. Bottom line strikers are judged on goals scored no?

Not entirely no, Look at Zamora at QPR, they look a totally different side now hes playing... how many goals ?.... 0

 

[Marshy]

We undervalued Barnes and that is now very apparent.

Abscence has not made my heart grow fonder where Mr Barnes is concerned.

 

[spanish flair]

Not entirely no, Look at Zamora at QPR, they look a totally different side now hes playing... how many goals ?.... 0

I do accept this when a striker has the ability to hold the ball up to bring in other players to the game, as Zamora does, as well as score goals this is an added bonus .
Which of our summer striker signings falls into this category?