Abdoulaye's going t'Souk transfer thread

[BWFC_Insane]

The punch above our weight bit is bollocks. This division is absolutely our weight.

Think he means in terms of final position based on money spent.

[Abdoulaye's Twin]

The punch above our weight bit is bollocks. This division is absolutely our weight.

Think he means in terms of final position based on money spent.

However it is meant it's bollocks to me. How many teams in this division, last or this season could have signed Spearing. How many were willing to pay the wages of Baptiste, Beckford et al. I know we're spending toy money this season, but Dougie and Coyle have spent a lot compared to a large number of teams in this division. We might not be able to compete financially with a handful of teams right now, but we're still outspent most in the last 2 years. Poor little skint act doesn't wash.

[Riviman]

Thought you'd misspelled Bogdan. Never heard o tother fella but he's got a shit beard

Pity you don't or can't go to the U21's , he's been their captain for the last couple of years and is a decent enough centre half that DF has never given a chance to at first tem level

[BWFC_Insane]

The punch above our weight bit is bollocks. This division is absolutely our weight.

Think he means in terms of final position based on money spent.

However it is meant it's bollocks to me. How many teams in this division, last or this season could have signed Spearing. How many were willing to pay the wages of Baptiste, Beckford et al. I know we're spending toy money this season, but Dougie and Coyle have spent a lot compared to a large number of teams in this division. We might not be able to compete financially with a handful of teams right now, but we're still outspent most in the last 2 years. Poor little skint act doesn't wash.

We can't sign players of the value, Blackpool, Huddersfield and Brighton are signing. Let alone the 4 or 5 real big spenders at the top end.

So it swings both ways. Leicester for example were already paying Beckford more than we are. And they were a championship side.

We're slashing costs and not spending anything. Other clubs are. I don't care who we have managing us. If they aren't able to bring in strikers the end result will be the same whether it is Lennie Lawrence or Jose Mourinho!

[Abdoulaye's Twin]

The punch above our weight bit is bollocks. This division is absolutely our weight.

Think he means in terms of final position based on money spent.

However it is meant it's bollocks to me. How many teams in this division, last or this season could have signed Spearing. How many were willing to pay the wages of Baptiste, Beckford et al. I know we're spending toy money this season, but Dougie and Coyle have spent a lot compared to a large number of teams in this division. We might not be able to compete financially with a handful of teams right now, but we're still outspent most in the last 2 years. Poor little skint act doesn't wash.

We can't sign players of the value, Blackpool, Huddersfield and Brighton are signing. Let alone the 4 or 5 real big spenders at the top end.

So it swings both ways. Leicester for example were already paying Beckford more than we are. And they were a championship side.

We're slashing costs and not spending anything. Other clubs are. I don't care who we have managing us. If they aren't able to bring in strikers the end result will be the same whether it is Lennie Lawrence or Jose Mourinho!

Well if successive managers hadn't pissed away the money on over priced shite, of which Dougie is guilty, albeit less so. Last season we spent more than most Championship teams on salary and fees, never mind the season before. You can't discount the last 2 seasons you know.

[Armchair Wanderer]

The punch above our weight bit is bollocks. This division is absolutely our weight.

Think he means in terms of final position based on money spent.

However it is meant it's bollocks to me. How many teams in this division, last or this season could have signed Spearing. How many were willing to pay the wages of Baptiste, Beckford et al. I know we're spending toy money this season, but Dougie and Coyle have spent a lot compared to a large number of teams in this division. We might not be able to compete financially with a handful of teams right now, but we're still outspent most in the last 2 years. Poor little skint act doesn't wash.

On paper the ones we let go this summer look/sound better than the ones we brought in but most of them are the same ones who got Coyle sacked and gave us the worst start in 100+ years.

[BWFC_Insane]

Well if successive managers hadn't pissed away the money on over priced shite, of which Dougie is guilty, albeit less so. Last season we spent more than most Championship teams on salary and fees, never mind the season before. You can't discount the last 2 seasons you know.

Firstly I think describing Dougie's dealings in the main as "pissed away" is inaccurate. He's spent actual money on 4 players. Spearing, Medo, Craig Davies and Beckford. Beckford wasn't a great acquisition but was not expensive. Spearing probably was expensive but he is our captain now. Medo and Craig Davies were less than £1M between them and at that sort of money I don't think are bad value.

The frees have been mixed but I think some errors when you're spending low amounts or signing frees are inevitable and unavoidable.

As for discounting the last 2 seasons, why not? Only season that matters is the next one now.

[Prufrock]

Only season that matters in terms of results, yes, but clearly not in terms of addressing how much money we have. If City hadn't spent anything this summer, they couldn't complain other teams were trying to 'buy' the league! I'm not saying I necessarily agree he's pissed money away, or had more money than everyone else, but you have to take the last couple of years into account.

I don't think he's had more than everyone else, but he's had more than a lot, and given the starting point, that should be enough for a top half finish at least.

[Abdoulaye's Twin]

The punch above our weight bit is bollocks. This division is absolutely our weight.

Think he means in terms of final position based on money spent.

However it is meant it's bollocks to me. How many teams in this division, last or this season could have signed Spearing. How many were willing to pay the wages of Baptiste, Beckford et al. I know we're spending toy money this season, but Dougie and Coyle have spent a lot compared to a large number of teams in this division. We might not be able to compete financially with a handful of teams right now, but we're still outspent most in the last 2 years. Poor little skint act doesn't wash.

On paper the ones we let go this summer look/sound better than the ones we brought in but most of them are the same ones who got Coyle sacked and gave us the worst start in 100+ years.

Which has nothing to do with what I'm saying.

I am saying that Dougie making out we are going to have to punch above our weight to get out of this division is bollocks. We are at our weight. Successive managers, Dougie included have pissed away larger amounts of money than a large number of teams in the same division we are in have in the same time period. I'm not talking about the Premiership. Dougie is somewhat less guilty than Coyle, but he has chosen to spend his money (more than many have had) on expensive players (wages) and on lots of midfielders. He could have signed fewer midfielders and signed more strikers. We don't need all the midfielders we have.

To summarise. We've had more money to spend than more clubs in the Championship than have had more to spend than us. Dougie has chosen how to spend a decent chunk of that money (some well, some badly). We are punching at our weight. If we are punching above our weight then the majority of teams in the Championship will have outspent us since our demotion.

[BWFC_Insane]

Which has nothing to do with what I'm saying.

I am saying that Dougie making out we are going to have to punch above our weight to get out of this division is bollocks. We are at our weight. Successive managers, Dougie included have pissed away larger amounts of money than a large number of teams in the same division we are in have in the same time period. I'm not talking about the Premiership. Dougie is somewhat less guilty than Coyle, but he has chosen to spend his money (more than many have had) on expensive players (wages) and on lots of midfielders. He could have signed fewer midfielders and signed more strikers. We don't need all the midfielders we have.

To summarise. We've had more money to spend than more clubs in the Championship than have had more to spend than us. Dougie has chosen how to spend a decent chunk of that money (some well, some badly). We are punching at our weight. If we are punching above our weight then the majority of teams in the Championship will have outspent us since our demotion.

IMO the problem with this is twofold. 1) The vast majority of our budget has not been available to Dougie. Around 30M has been spent on existing wages. Which pretty much accounts for our higher budget. In terms of fees spent since Dougie has been here we aren't in the top 6, not even close.

2) If currently other teams are able to spend more than us on fees, teams like Brighton, Huddersfield, Blackpool etc it does suggest that to perform we will be "punching above our weight" somewhat.

Now lets separate two things out.

We have clearly a manager who is unhappy with the resources he's been given. He's said that in as clear a way as you can without being in open dissent against your employers. He's very bluntly said we won't be troubling the top 6 without 3 attacking signings.

Now the club, his employer have a choice. They could:

1) Disagree with him and remove him on the basis they do feel what we have is strong enough and get a manager in who agrees with them
2) Agree with him but not have the resource to do anything about it.
3) Agree and provide the resources.

Of course that is an oversimplification, but I put it that the club aren't committing to promotion in any way at all and that the most likely scenario is 2. Whatever unless they do provide the resources or sack him for whatever manager will promote us as it stands, I don't really see any success. My fear is that Bolton Wanderers are simply in this division to make up the numbers and Eddie, Phil and those running the club are accepting of that. Given evidence thus far this summer I've seen nothing to change my mind.

[Abdoulaye's Twin]

I'm not disputing that Dougie is spending less than many this summer. He has outspent many in the time he has been here and we definitely outspent many with Coyle after relegation. In terms of what we have now it is totally relevant what has happened the last 2 years in terms of expenditure, some of which has been directly attributable to Dougie. Whether he has spent well or not is another conversation. But he has had (and Coyle) more overall in the last 2 years to spend in the Championship, than many of the teams in the Championship. By any reasonable definition that is not having to punch above your weight.

[BWFC_Insane]

I'm not disputing that Dougie is spending less than many this summer. He has outspent many in the time he has been here and we definitely outspent many with Coyle after relegation. In terms of what we have now it is totally relevant what has happened the last 2 years in terms of expenditure, some of which has been directly attributable to Dougie. Whether he has spent well or not is another conversation. But he has had (and Coyle) more overall in the last 2 years to spend in the Championship, than many of the teams in the Championship. By any reasonable definition that is not having to punch above your weight.

Ultimately though what matters is where we are. And we are in a situation of being outspent by a lot of clubs and not having enough quality in the squad to mount a promotion campaign, in the eyes of the manager.

I think it is somewhat misleading to say that "he's spent it all on midfielders". Frankly where are the strikers he should be signing on frees? Blackburn spent more than twice the money on their one striker than Freedman has seen in his entire time here. As have Fulham to an even greater extent.

We're shopping in the bargain basement and are having to take the scraps on offer. When we signed Spearing we needed him and as Freedman said at the time our "striker money" was tied up in NGog and Sordell. So I'm sure he would rather have that money now but it doesn't work like that.

[LeverEnd]

He appears to be getting his excuses in early. He might call it managing expectations. If he's not a happy bunny then he can feck off basically. I'm tired of him and his bullshit.
Just get on with it and start being positive instead of constantly insinuating that players he brought in are not good enough but it's not his fault.

[Abdoulaye's Twin]

I'll add that the striking options we have were signed by Dougie. If he's not happy with them...

[irie Cee Bee]

The bottom line is that we will fail to exist as a club if we dont reduce our debts and spend within our means.

Its the reality we face now, regardless of what existed in the past where we spent above our means starting with Big Sam.

We enjoyed it while it lasted. Lets now tighten our belts and pray that our scouting organization pull some other "no name surprises" like Danns, Feeney and Juke out of the hat.

We still have time..."fingers crossed"

[BWFC_Insane]

He appears to be getting his excuses in early. He might call it managing expectations. If he's not a happy bunny then he can feck off basically. I'm tired of him and his bullshit.
Just get on with it and start being positive instead of constantly insinuating that players he brought in are not good enough but it's not his fault.

What he says is correct. No manager will promote this side. We need the quality going forwards. And if he isn't given the money to buy the players we need then it isn't happening and the club are seemingly happy to drift along. Like I say they are free to sack him if they disagree with his assessment of the situation.

[Peter Thompson]

He appears to be getting his excuses in early. He might call it managing expectations. If he's not a happy bunny then he can feck off basically. I'm tired of him and his bullshit.
Just get on with it and start being positive instead of constantly insinuating that players he brought in are not good enough but it's not his fault.

This is Freedman in a nutshell....

He may well personally believe this but is this a message to get the players fired up and raring to go - he should concentrate on motivating the team to start well - after all this is now his team with the majority of players that he has signed - its no wonder we struggle when he's making excuses before the season even starts, he's had long enough now and he's been allowed to sign more than enough players to get us out of this division.

If the existing players aren't good enough - why did Freedman sign them in the 1st place.

[Puskas]

He appears to be getting his excuses in early. He might call it managing expectations. If he's not a happy bunny then he can feck off basically. I'm tired of him and his bullshit.
Just get on with it and start being positive instead of constantly insinuating that players he brought in are not good enough but it's not his fault.

What he says is correct. No manager will promote this side.

A good manager could promote this side - just get Beckford scoring as he has in the past.

My statement is no more - or less - provable than yours

We need the quality going forwards. And if he isn't given the money to buy the players we need then it isn't happening and the club are seemingly happy to drift along. Like I say they are free to sack him if they disagree with his assessment of the situation.

Or he's free to walk out and go to a club that will give him a budget.

However, Wanderers can't afford to sack him and he knows he'll never get another job as well paid as this one.

So we wait until the end of the season, and he doesn't get his contract renewed. He drifts off into obscurity, we get in John Beck as manager. Everyone loses.

Good, isn't it?

[BWFC_Insane]

He appears to be getting his excuses in early. He might call it managing expectations. If he's not a happy bunny then he can feck off basically. I'm tired of him and his bullshit.
Just get on with it and start being positive instead of constantly insinuating that players he brought in are not good enough but it's not his fault.

What he says is correct. No manager will promote this side.

A good manager could promote this side - just get Beckford scoring as he has in the past.

My statement is no more - or less - provable than yours

We need the quality going forwards. And if he isn't given the money to buy the players we need then it isn't happening and the club are seemingly happy to drift along. Like I say they are free to sack him if they disagree with his assessment of the situation.

Or he's free to walk out and go to a club that will give him a budget.

However, Wanderers can't afford to sack him and he knows he'll never get another job as well paid as this one.

So we wait until the end of the season, and he doesn't get his contract renewed. He drifts off into obscurity, we get in John Beck as manager. Everyone loses.

Good, isn't it?

By dropping down a league?

[BWFC_Insane]

He appears to be getting his excuses in early. He might call it managing expectations. If he's not a happy bunny then he can feck off basically. I'm tired of him and his bullshit.
Just get on with it and start being positive instead of constantly insinuating that players he brought in are not good enough but it's not his fault.

This is Freedman in a nutshell....

He may well personally believe this but is this a message to get the players fired up and raring to go - he should concentrate on motivating the team to start well - after all this is now his team with the majority of players that he has signed - its no wonder we struggle when he's making excuses before the season even starts, he's had long enough now and he's been allowed to sign more than enough players to get us out of this division.

If the existing players aren't good enough - why did Freedman sign them in the 1st place.

So any manager that states publically the need for better players and spending more money on transfers is wrong to do that then?