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Do we REALLY need to sell this summer?


A big part of our 'model' is showing players that if they come here and play well, we'll not stop them moving on to bigger and better things.

So whilst I really hope Sadik/Roefs/Diarra etc all love this place and now want to stay, especially if we win on Sunday, but if they do want to go and the deal works for us, we can't now be seen to be blocking too many realistic moves, as it may have an impact on new signings as well as players already here.

There's a balance to be had to it though. We can't allow to become too weak as that could easily turn into relegation.

We can't just sell because there's genuine interest - if we sold Roefs and Sadiki this summer, we'd be in trouble as you're then expecting the recruitment team to constantly pull rabbits out of hats and that's not how this can ever work long term. There's a difference between succession planning and constantly having to bolster the squad with numbers.

You can't also sell a key player each season - long term that's no longer sustainable. But yes we still likely have to make the odd sale, but some players will have to wait.
 
There's a balance to be had to it though. We can't allow to become too weak as that could easily turn into relegation.

We can't just sell because there's genuine interest - if we sold Roefs and Sadiki this summer, we'd be in trouble as you're then expecting the recruitment team to constantly pull rabbits out of hats and that's not how this can ever work long term. There's a difference between succession planning and constantly having to bolster the squad with numbers.

You can't also sell a key player each season - long term that's no longer sustainable. But yes we still likely have to make the odd sale, but some players will have to wait.
I get what you’re saying — increasing revenue is important for the long term. The more money that comes in, the stronger the squad can become, and it also helps cover rising wages, which go up every season.
I’m not completely sure how strong our current revenue is, but stability is the key. As long as the club is financially stable and building steadily, that’s what really matters.
 
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We punch above our weight when it comes you young talent because we can offer game time and a chance to put yourself in the shop window. If we play silly buggers with players who get the chance of a big move then it could hurt us in the long term.

It won't be a fire sale, but I think it's very likely that we'll lose 2 first teamers - Roefs and Sadiki most likely.
 
There's a balance to be had to it though. We can't allow to become too weak as that could easily turn into relegation.

We can't just sell because there's genuine interest - if we sold Roefs and Sadiki this summer, we'd be in trouble as you're then expecting the recruitment team to constantly pull rabbits out of hats and that's not how this can ever work long term. There's a difference between succession planning and constantly having to bolster the squad with numbers.

You can't also sell a key player each season - long term that's no longer sustainable. But yes we still likely have to make the odd sale, but some players will have to wait.
I think when we recruit these players and especially the younger lads, there’s an expectation that they do two seasons with us, and after that we don’t stand in their way if something comes up that suits all parties.

Smash it in the PL for two seasons and their value is sky high and it also puts them in a gold position salary wise.
 
We punch above our weight when it comes you young talent because we can offer game time and a chance to put yourself in the shop window. If we play silly buggers with players who get the chance of a big move then it could hurt us in the long term.

Giving players games like Roefs who was wanted by West Ham and others, but as back up at the start got us him. We made him number 1. Similar with Sadiki- lots of interest, but higher up the chain they wanted to see how he done.

Players aren't daft - if they're good enough then clubs will come in and pay the money. But you can't also let clubs and players walk allover you.
 
“Need to” no we’re on the premier league gravy train now and ran well so we don’t need to sell anyone. Will we find an offer too tempting for one of the “main eleven” maybe. I hope not we’ve got such a good base to build from now.
 
A big part of our 'model' is showing players that if they come here and play well, we'll not stop them moving on to bigger and better things.

So whilst I really hope Sadik/Roefs/Diarra etc all love this place and now want to stay, especially if we win on Sunday, but if they do want to go and the deal works for us, we can't now be seen to be blocking too many realistic moves, as it may have an impact on new signings as well as players already here.
Unless the "bigger and better things" are us. Who'd bet against KLD at this point?
 
I think there’s been a general acceptance that every summer we’ll sell one, maybe two of our best players to CL clubs and that probably will be the case but..

These lads have only been together for 1 year, the potential of this group is frightening with the addition of 2-3 players and maybe we should be thinking about a real push for Europe and targeting the cups next season.

Keep the squad together for a second season I say. Protect the crown jules. 🇫🇷 🇳🇱 🇵🇾 🇨🇩 🇨🇭 🇲🇿
is he related to judge Jules?
 
Giving players games like Roefs who was wanted by West Ham and others, but as back up at the start got us him. We made him number 1. Similar with Sadiki- lots of interest, but higher up the chain they wanted to see how he done.

Players aren't daft - if they're good enough then clubs will come in and pay the money. But you can't also let clubs and players walk allover you.
Given we could finish as high as the europa league now there’s not many teams “above us” granted when a team like Man Utd or Arsenal or Chelsea offer to treble your wage then that’s a decision they’d have to make. Do you take the money on the short term or if we do pull it out and finish in Europe do you stay another season and maybe even a bigger club comes in. There’s not many top goalkeepers out there now and if roefs stayed and played Europa league and we had another season he really could end up at one of the big boys. Bayern will be looking in 12 months time you’d think, the Belgium lad at Madrid isnt getting any younger. If roefs continues as he has you could see a club like that looking at him. Or jump in the summer to Chelsea who we have every chance of finishing above and they may not even have Europe.
 
Giving players games like Roefs who was wanted by West Ham and others, but as back up at the start got us him. We made him number 1. Similar with Sadiki- lots of interest, but higher up the chain they wanted to see how he done.

Players aren't daft - if they're good enough then clubs will come in and pay the money. But you can't also let clubs and players walk allover you.

That's true, but at the same time it suits us to get any outgoings sorted nice and early in the window.

I think we probably have a decent reputation amongst other clubs - always looked after loan players etc. If the likes of United and Chelsea are interested in Sadiki / Roefs then there's no reason why we couldn't get a fair deal sorted quickly. Brighton are a good model - able to command decent fees, but also willing to keep hold of players like Baleba if their asking price isn't met.
 
The PL is a beast and it wouldnt shock me if a few of our players want the money the bigger clubs can offer. If they kick up a fuss then theres not much we can do is there.

Its only the last few seasons weve had Ross Stewart, Clarke, Dan Neil itching for moves/pissing about with their contracts.

Dream scenario is they all buy into the club and we can focus on moving the fringe players on and improving the first 11.

But the sales will come at some point. We simply dont have the revenue levels to keep top 8 players here long term.
 
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The PL is a beast and it wouldnt shock me if a few of our players want the money the bigger clubs can offer.
Also, we don't know what release clauses we have in our contracts, and also whether there are non disclosure clauses for those too, so we might never hear about them?
I'm just guessing wildly here of course.
 
There's a balance to be had to it though. We can't allow to become too weak as that could easily turn into relegation.

We can't just sell because there's genuine interest - if we sold Roefs and Sadiki this summer, we'd be in trouble as you're then expecting the recruitment team to constantly pull rabbits out of hats and that's not how this can ever work long term. There's a difference between succession planning and constantly having to bolster the squad with numbers.

You can't also sell a key player each season - long term that's no longer sustainable. But yes we still likely have to make the odd sale, but some players will have to wait.
I understand the commentary around “the model” but it really only works if you already have the replacement integrated into the squad and ready to step up.

No point trying to sell Sadiki and replace him in the same window. Really you want to be bringing in young players to work with the first team for 12 months before letting prized assets go

One more year with the current squad and a few new additions and we will be a force to be reckoned with
 
I understand the attraction of high wages, everyone in any job wants better pay, but I'm hoping that the desire to achieve something extraordinary, a cup win or European run where they're playing week in, week out, has huge appeal too.

It must be great to turn out for a ManU, Real or Barca but as a pro being an unused sub must sting especially when if you'd stayed put you were (almost) a first choice on the team sheet.

Surely another successful season working to build the projekt only adds to their exposure and experience of this level? Most of our lads are in their first PL season and young. I can't see, nor do I believe, that any of them weren't carefully selected as much for their attitudes as well as their talents.

They will have been told that IF the right offer arrives we, as a club, will wish them well in their next adventure. But also I really hope that most of them might actually choose to show loyalty even just for another season or two to increase their own standing, experience and value.
Your forgetting Masuaku
There's certainly a few more who we will be working to find new clubs imho. Think trying to shift most of them may becoming as important as retaining the services of our stars.

While we could, depending on results next Sunday, need to have a larger squad, it will necessitate players of 1st XI quality (or there abouts) coming in, not trying to improve players who've struggled for game time this season or featured only in cup games.
 
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I understand the commentary around “the model” but it really only works if you already have the replacement integrated into the squad and ready to step up.
No point trying to sell Sadiki and replace him in the same window. Really you want to be bringing in young players to work with the first team for 12 months before letting prized assets go
One more year with the current squad and a few new additions and we will be a force to be reckoned with
tbf, we have Diarra and Rigg who both fulfil that criteria.
 
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