I didn’t say that at all, I said he’d played in the champions league. He also played for Schalke the year they won the Bundesliga, won titles with Celtic and has played international football..I noticed you didn’t include those aspects when laboring one point, one tiny aspect of a post with many different aspects. So, *Wrong answer klaxon from family fortunes* try again, you’ve not even come close to budging me from the view; I don’t think Brereton can be fully judged yet, and I’m not convinced he cost as much as reported or earns a “commensurate” wage.

I never said he was a champions league level player, I said said he came with that and international pedigree. Therefore his wages would represent that.. is it that confusing to you? Ill simplify; A wage is a continuous running cost. A fee is a one off or paid in instalments. I still think that this signing has potential to come good, and isn’t as expensive (or a reason to ramp up expectation) as some say - so you’ll have to try harder mate. Sarcastic, flippant replies to one sentence in a post isn’t going to change my mind.

You just selectively quoted me in relation to how I felt when the August window closed! Precisely the point. Not relevant to now is it? And the laugh was the first line by the way. You can continue to “Labor the point” if you wish though.

Not pellets, just disagreed with. The fact we are arguing about transfers, promotion to the prem expectations, being in a “slide” but still safe says it all. 20 months ago the arguments are about direction of club, agents, ownership, Senior, league one. Promotion was the minimum expectation, and whilst you may prefer to watch Damien Johnson’s reserves go all out to win - the pressure and expectation on both positions is incomparable.

I never had you down as the type of poster to take a line out of context and continue to make the same laboured point. To answer you; I never said it was cheap. To try and put it simply; I’m not convinced it’s as expensive as people are making out. I’m also not convinced alternatives mentioned would’ve been better investments without hindsight. Now, unless you’ve anything to discuss on that - I’ll crack on with this wrapping.

@roversfan99 Theres nothing to downplay, it’s merely perspective; Say we’ve agreed to pay 7m over 4 years. 650k a year salary (8/10k per week + tax). How much does that cost the club this year? Is that more or less than paying 2m upfront for someone on 30k a week for the year? Remember high earners 40% tax + NI I see it as trying to find a player that fits into the figure we’ve allowed for that budget period, who has; A. The ability to make an impact B. The personality to suit the group. C. Is there potential for a return on the cost? Finance/commercial will prefer the prospect he could be worth double or treble after a couple of years with 40/50 appearances in this league. Hence this discussion and the more weighting on C (one of the main “necessary” problems in football) They’ll also see less risk in a younger and lower wage - time to take step back if necessary, not a continuous weekly drain of that wage budget. For a team in so much debt to the owners. It almost seems silly to take things slow when the only real debt leveller is the premier league. The obvious problem with that though, we signed “established” players in this division and ended up paying them off because they bombed and ended up costing us a fortune. That burn won’t be forgotten. One of the alternatives that people have mentioned; Pukki is a Finnish international, played for 3 champions league teams before Norwich - Schalke, Celtic and Brøndby - He is an example of what you can do in this league with good scouting and a large budget for wages. It also helped having Farke - his knowledge of that league has helped them so far. That doesn’t take away the risk though - and Norwich are in a position to have another 2m a season striker on the bench in Rhodes, should Pukki not work. Thus Roversfan, it’s not defence of the club, or downplaying a mistake, it’s a response to a scenario. I can take criticism of my views, but nobody has yet come close to changing my mind that this Brereton deal is a “clanger” or confusing. He’s not working out right now, but he has lots more time to turn it round.

Ofcourse it matters. Wages aren’t “instalments”. Those three ex Rovers on Norwich bench, aren’t getting paid 4 years down the line. Thats only half the issue. If refraining from making the assumption “what we see is what we get” with Brereton is “making me look silly”.... So be it! Merry Christmas

Why do you constantly only focus on parts of the content you can’t understand? If you had even one micro gram of gravitas- you’d have worked out that whilst transfer fees can be paid in instalments; Wages can’t. As I’ve said again and again, and all the slight insults in the world from you won’t change it; Brereton would’ve been far cheaper than others I’ve linked, and listed. The simple reason why? How does a team with a <10m revenue then start spending that on one player? Just admit that this is the perfect excuse you’ve been waiting for? 18 months without much to complain about... cold turkey! Hah

I agree, it’s just that I also think Grabban, Celina, Bamford etc would’ve been much more expensive over the same time due to wages.

If you had any, you’d probably not use that as a put down.

Every rumour or conspiracy deserves its own merit. The mafia and western union stuff to me was far fetched, the agent running the club whilst being paid for “advice” was obviously far more realistic. The idea that someone (not related to venkys as Kamy suggests) in the club like Waggott has suggested a deal on a scout/agent suggestion is nowhere near that level of conspiracy. It makes sense. Im not going into specifics but I’m mid 30s mate. Old and ugly enough to not get bothered by the suggestion I only post here for a reaction (throwing stones..!) As insults go, You aren’t well > Boris. I’m not complaining or reporting (or bothered) either but after the recent “cull” I’d suggest we should reign it in.

There is a big difference between a spiky reply with content related to discussion - and just simply saying “you’re a parody” Nicely cherry picked though.

I tend to just think of opinions I don’t agree with as “wrong” but you can continue to weaken your own arguments by having personal swipes, Boris... Theres a good chap.

Under estimation of Bests cost Boris, to suit your opinion, perspective, opinion, etc.

There’s a huge difference between a rumour that we’re owned by Glasgow mafia, and the suggestion that Tony isn’t solely responsible for all transfers...! I’m sure you buddy’s both get that.

From your own perceived “under estimations” eh Boris!

If you think Best cost less than that, your out of your own adled mind. I’d stop with the illness insults though, that’ll get us both banned.

Irony is, you won’t even accept that their might be a dodgy aspect to the transfer - because you literally won’t accept a view that takes partial responsibility from TM. Biased much? Almost a parody of Stuart these days.

So you are “underestimating” but I am making things up. Sure Boris.

But but but you said 13/15m... will you be down to 8 million if you find out we’ve only paid half upfront? What story are you telling today Boris?

I suggest you can only seemingly read what suits your own stilted perspective. To repeat myself - Norwich probably had 100k+ a week sat on the bench, yet 7m is an unacceptable amount to put into a player we hope will fulfil his potential... I thought you said his fee and wages would amount to 13/15m? We’ve stepped that back haven’t we? Back to your same level of nonsense thinking the “Portuguese experiment” was a cheap one. Id say keep up, but I’m starting to think it’s beyond you. In my opinion of football in 2018, calling 7m a huge sum is delusional. Thinking we’ve paid it all upfront is delusional. Suggesting he’s not good enough after 4 months and 0 starts for a player is delusional.

That would be a surprise if Sam Gallagher is on 24k. Do you not think those stats are after us giving them 50% for the loan? https://www.mirror.co.uk/sport/football/transfer-news/birmingham-eye-watering-striker-loan-11060633 Gallagher is listed as 40k P W on that website too

I simply disagree on wages. I know that you’d agree, free signings are often higher wages due to the lack of a fee. Especially highly coveted end of contract players. That isn’t the one of scenario that goes in the face of “wages commensurate with fee” point of view. I’m not arguing that isn’t often the case, it isn’t always the case. Comparing Mbappe - you’re talking about a player who is world class at 19. In our world - the gap in player ability and quality between lower Prem, and top championship clubs is narrower than the cost. When the likes of Burnley are earning 100m+ a year, agents ensure the contract renewals reflect that. The main director at Ewood - said himself that they had a certain budget for the year, and they could move between fee/wages. That’s better evidence or explanation to how this deal was possible than assumptions to the opposite. Reed has been in a club with those type of wages for some time. Much like Celina was, Bamford was, Grabban was etc.

Good post and there is definitely a chance that the big signing from last summer will be a flop - however the time to judge is different for every acquisition and any u21s should be given more of that. I’m not sure you could argue we are spending more than most clubs, but definitley more than the Millwalls and Preston’s - hence the expectation will move further. Those clubs with “restrictions” are in that position because of wage/ffp problems from putting far more “wage” on the pitch than we are currently, Imo. At this point TM hasn’t had to accept losing any players, but I wouldn’t call his luxuries a “war chest” compared to the money wasted by us the last time we had ambitions of getting out of this league. OK is a subjective take - I can accept that’s your view, I think the synonym/adjective to describe this season so far is “good”. Things can change quickly though!