You can call it “waking up” all you want, but that’s just baiting and patronising anyone who isn’t convinced that we’re the worst run club in the world. It’s such a shame that there is no middle ground anymore according to your posts, and I just don’t understand the need to constantly seek out a rationale that supports “pointing the finger”. Perhaps “waking up” to the FACT that the club CANNOT compete with anyone in the league above for wages OR with parachute payments… You may realise why individuals considering their families, futures and bank balances - might not want to sign for a team (they don’t support like you or I)

I get the feeling this is more of a national / global trend because of clubs cutting back from March 2020 due to income streams falling off a cliff. Certainly looks that way if you put contracts ending 2022 into transfer market. Arguably the most valuable player in the world still hasn’t committed to arguably the richest club in the world…! https://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/statistik/endendevertraege

My opinion of his individual attributes, I’d say his pace / jump / ability to head is good but he lacks reactions and aggression at crosses. Compare his ability to dominate defenders to Rudy Justhead (Gestede)… chalk and cheese. That said, I can’t remember another player puncturing a lung so I probably know fuck all. He hasn’t been played in the position or team to benefit from consistent quality delivery either.

Perhaps this is more down to position, tactics and delivery? Playing wide forward and tracking back. When in the centre, generally the lone striker, hence occupied by two centre backs. A team that hasn’t scored many set pieces, tried to pass it to death for 12 months… I know it’s a different thing, but the amount of defensive headers he won vs Sheff U, surely illustrates Sam G can head a ball? Perhaps in a two upfront, central, in a team that’s geared for percentages and set pieces, would work more to his strengths?

I was under the impression they’d been offered deals but rejected.

All of this ignores a couple of key caveats that neither of us know; 1. Does he even want to stay? 2. Are his demands acceptable? I share the concern, but we also shared concerns, when certain players were given ridiculous contracts - some of those academy grads too (Lowe, Shakey Jake Kean et al). Its a difficult balancing act, especially when our main competitors have 30m + in parachute payments per season before we even take turnover into account!

Some good points on what we’re actually trying wage wise. I would add to that, there always has to be a wage bill limit, and thus whilst I don’t want see this sort of scenario every season, (players leaving or 1 year remaining) I also don’t want to see the club making loads of players top wage earners just for the sake of keeping hold. That inhibits our ability to be competitive with potential signings. Out of the three players - I think it’s obvious that Lenihan leaving would be an absolute disaster. The other two, Id probably put on a similar “very disappointing” scale. Zeefuik signed and sorted before July 1st though, would make me feel a bit better about the scenario.

@Madon

And that would be 10/11k if the team was in 12th-17th. This isn’t aimed at you MB, I don’t understand the obsession with having everything on sale months before - I mean I can’t empathise because I’ve had an ST for nearly 30 years, but why is 9 days not enough time before a game to buy a ticket?

He’s not clever. The people behind him, the lobbyists, the money, the “super advisors” and the people who truly don’t give a shit about anyone but their own pocket, they’re the savvy ones. Without that, he’s a blithering idiot, a privileged and pompous twat and a complete let down as PM. This country’s governance gets more “trumpian” every sodding day.

Thing is JHR - you must realise the power that agents have, especially when you consider the gulf in revenue between a team recently relegated and one not? Bournemouth are obviously intent (on what we do, may I add) on maximising the amount they can spend within the rules - but the rules applied to us don’t include 90m over 3 years for parachute payments, not including what their owners can invest + safe losses. I’m no mathematician or accountant but I know that is a huge advantage. Why is it so easy for you to ignore? You can easily assume that Rothwell wasn’t tapped up, or that his demands are reasonable. If you’ve an agent and player, or 3, asking for top wage when you’re skirting rules, need to regularly sell players and had to pawn the training ground to bring the revenue up to the value that allows us to sign contracts, loan players and / or sign even frees…. Why assume it’s such a simple thing to not “allow players contracts to expire”? Why is this a prevalent thing across football, if we’re the only teams in this position? This is a separate issue that’s been prevalent since they took over the club, there’s no autonomy in Ewood, it’s always rubber stamped in India. Who? Again this comes back to simply ignoring the different financial scenarios of the two clubs. Why do you think Fulham look like they do?

You’re wasting your time MMLP FFP is an excuse. Low turnover is an excuse. The pandemic is an excuse. Parachute payments are an excuse. If it is any solace, I agree with your view on the inequality caused, due to financial power of relegated teams compared to other championship teams. That’s not to say, if the owners truly wanted it, they could find a way. I’m sure we all get that. The rules are stupid though, and the last time we fell foul of them they caused untold issues, see “chapter 132, Coyle and Co” Lumping Mowbray in as a current issue, alongside the long term damage caused by bad decisions in their initial ownership, winds me up though. Rothwell caused this by asking to join a team we have a chance to usurp, and if his form dips - I won’t be pointing fingers at his salary as an excuse. Anyone with foresight knows that the club and the players would benefit massively from beating them, yet he still asked the question. Will take a lot to forget.

It doesn’t explain everything. Take your lens and look at FFP, speak to people who understand turnover and the damage the covid pandemic has caused. Even the most expensive assembled side in this division almost lost their best young player (carvalho) for peanuts yesterday and will likely lose him for nothing should they fail to be promoted.

https://youtu.be/Zylxybs4m3E Got a Cross on him All assists in a struggling team, certainly think he may make a big impact.

Smells like a YouTuber trying to get hits.

Surely the BBD Barcelona stuff is BS…! Wouldnt begrudge the lad that kind of opportunity but fucking hell…!

It’s now confirmed that he’s training with the team today. Now, I believe that he wanted to speak to Bournemouth as TM is probably too honest for his own good at times. I feel stupid for believing they accepted the fee and he was on the way down though? Overall, this is another good example of why ITKs like Peter Rourke and other journalists should be taken with a pinch of salt. Still think the guy is a bellend for wanting to speak to Bournemouth but it’s surely indicative that it was never going to be accepted, or he would’ve been on the south coast hours ago.

Love the part where you completely ignore that Rothwell actively asked to speak to another club, a direct rival in the current league positions.

Wasting your breath, to a few of these posters, relegation to league 1, ffp, turnover, attendance, covid and previous debt means nothing and is simply an excuse.

Can’t be Rothwells replacement because Hedges actually has a left foot! That’s the one thing that’s stood out in the clips, he seems to have a real cracking left peg, freekicks and corners too.

Yea, shit man management turned a league one signing into a hot property, Do you ever think before speaking?

We lose someone for 5 months and have no funds to replace? Id say it would take someone with “no brain” to suggest it’s an easy decision.

Tony did say he wouldn’t be going unless the replacements are agreed. Fingers crossed there’s something in the pipeline

You’d stick 3m in a blender and a player in the u23s then I guess! It’s no easy scenario or solution. The cause is Super Snake Rothwell though, and nobody else

So he’d deliberately screw the season to save his job? Conspiracy nonsense IMO