I think this window confirms that we are no longer 'Little Wycombe, a tinpot club punching above their weight, and cheating their way to victory with shithousery and time-wasting tactics'.
We are now one of League One's big hitters.
Of course, supporters of other clubs will still cling to the outdated stereotype.
On the playing side other than Morley who was pretty unique we've kept everyone we wanted to and made some promising signings.
No question though that replacing the "Manager / Head Coach" and introducing a whole load of different players, several of whom aren't nearly match ready will bring it's own complications. He needs to get them up to speed, get to know them all and forge a new way, ideally before dropping out of the top two.
No easy task but the upside is massive if we can do it, and maybe not taking some bids for the king that would have been unthinkable to turn down in previous years is the biggest win of the month.
From that list it's probably Grimmer and the wide forwards most at risk when and if everyone is available. Sonny's red will give the others there a boost and rotation further forward very likely given the sheer number of arrivals. Agree Norris and Simon's likely to become regulars if they settle.
Do at least 8 of that list count as Under 21 players? If not, we've got more than 22 players who would have to be registered, so someone would have to miss out the second half of the season.
Jesus christ! We are giving Forest a run for their money with all the signings LOL
On a serious note; the owners have made a massive statement of intent with the business in this window. Simons could end up being a master-stroke as looks like he can fit into that defensive pivot in midfield. Has been noteable since Morley left how we've been more direct and I'd definately like to see us play out more (like pre XMas).
I know worrying about finances is not currently fashionable on this forum but have to say looking at that squad and the likely wage bill plus the investment in the academy that is unlikely to see any return for many years, the total investment into our club must be phenomenal. Exciting on one hand, worrying on another - a chance to climb to previously impossible heights on one hand, a nagging feeling that this isn't quite now the same club it once was and that I quite liked on the other. Anyway the die is cast and this will be our future for the next period. I guess all we can do is enjoy the ride.
Too true @DevC, I joined "for the ride" back in the day when we had a Morris Minor and two fine china tea cups and everyone could get a chance to see exactly where we were going.
Now it feels like I'm sitting in the back seat of a large coach that's on some incredible mystery journey. And I hardly know anyone who is sitting up front.
I think we are no longer in the period of how do the owners balance the books from running it as a normal business (money in the door being greater than money out = profit) to one that buys a company/club at a relatively low cost, pour investment into it, move it up the football pyramid, add assets like the academy and sell for more money than you put in = Profit.
The question is, can they get the club to mid/top end of championship (or even premier league) and inflate the clubs value that way to sell on for more than they need to invest.
This is ML’s money being spent, remember and not the club. The club can’t and won’t ever be able to afford this level of investment and spending so we need to look more at how the owner expects a return. Or just to break even.
Or, he really wants to turn a club from almost nothing to the top and doesn’t mind spending millions doing it.
I doubt a few million pounds (or tenge) means anything to Mikhail now, or that he's in it specifically to make more millions to add to his pile. Probably the equivalent of us investing £100 in the club.
50:50 match day draw, fan tiles outside the Vere, cardboard cut outs at Wembley, a match day programme from Torquay away, no hot water.
There is a future Wanderers fan born out there somewhere in Central Asia today for whom these ancient artefacts from the dark ages will be as whimsical as Datchet Webb and pals deciding that North Town was too limiting a name for the club in the back room of the Steam Engine appears to us.
As a nod to the new Dylan movie “for the times they are a changing”.
That has to be the main hope that we get a windfall or two via a promotion or sales via the academy. Selling Kone would have balanced a lot of this outlay already so that's a statement of intent in rejecting bids.
The other factor is that it is a very rich man playing with his change. Should he want out without us somehow being transferred into an attractive profitable outfit it's not likely that he could expect to be paid up what he is losing.
An upgraded stadium and nearing profitability would be goals for any handover or pass back, and aren't hideously unrealistic....and I don't mean this glibly but real difficulty or going bust in some manner has been on the cards for so long I am going to allow myself to enjoy the good times if they happen before whatever might come afterwards.
I don’t completely disagree with the sentiment that a very rich man is just playing with his pocket change.
But the concern is that if he doesn’t see a monetary value in what he is doing, it makes cutting and running very easy because there’s no sentiment there.
If anything, I hope he is seeing the millions he is spending as a financial risk, because that will sharpen his mind in making sure there’s a pay off and not an easy write off and just walk away
FWIW I still expect us to sell Kone in the summer for the same kind of fee we've been discussing recently, if not more. That will offset any spending so far, and then some.
I expect Kone to be sold in the summer too, but don't forget that even if RK goes for a hefty fee, we are presumably going to have to replace him with someone else.
Sure, we might get lucky with a free transfer.
But (especially if we get promoted, which is obviously still a big if) I suspect proven Championship goalscorers on a free are pretty hard to find, and particularly ones who would be willing to chance their career on a team that could be instant favourites for relegation.
Then you'd probably be talking about spending over the odds on wages to entice such a player - which means more money gone up the wall.
If we're doing it right, we sell Kone for £10m (for argument's sake) then buy a replacement for a similar amount who we identify as having potential to sell for considerably more down the line. I've oversimplified it, but that's the Brentford way.
Comments
Shame there is a Derby shirt on it
He’s certainly received some over Bloomfield’s departure.
I think this window confirms that we are no longer 'Little Wycombe, a tinpot club punching above their weight, and cheating their way to victory with shithousery and time-wasting tactics'.
We are now one of League One's big hitters.
Of course, supporters of other clubs will still cling to the outdated stereotype.
At a quick head count our squad includes eleven non-white players so I see no reason for concern.
Simons, like Westergaard, calls himself box-to-box. Really interested to see our MF structure under MD.
Having said that, he's played at the back too. Here's hoping we've got ourselves a tempo-setting utility man.
Just catching up. Some madness.
Good luck to the new coach working the best team out.
Though he's bought some time by seemingly a lot of them having not played for a while.
All I’ll say after that late business last night concluded activity is that we’ve had worse transfer windows.
This is now the squad strength…
NORRIS (Ravizolli, George)
GRIMMER (Back, Pattenden), LOW (Skura), TAYLOR (Bradley, Hagelskjaer), HARVIE (Reach)
SIMONS (Bakinson), SCOWEN (Westergaard, Leahy), HUMPHREYS (Lowry)
ONYEDINMA (McCleary, Kodua, Wheeler), KONE (Vokes), UDOH (Lubala, Berry, Sadlier).
Apologies to any I’ve missed!
On the playing side other than Morley who was pretty unique we've kept everyone we wanted to and made some promising signings.
No question though that replacing the "Manager / Head Coach" and introducing a whole load of different players, several of whom aren't nearly match ready will bring it's own complications. He needs to get them up to speed, get to know them all and forge a new way, ideally before dropping out of the top two.
No easy task but the upside is massive if we can do it, and maybe not taking some bids for the king that would have been unthinkable to turn down in previous years is the biggest win of the month.
From that list it's probably Grimmer and the wide forwards most at risk when and if everyone is available. Sonny's red will give the others there a boost and rotation further forward very likely given the sheer number of arrivals. Agree Norris and Simon's likely to become regulars if they settle.
Five weeks to get them fit and working together for the Wrexham game. Come on gaffer, work your magic.
January 2025. The month that changed everything.
Do at least 8 of that list count as Under 21 players? If not, we've got more than 22 players who would have to be registered, so someone would have to miss out the second half of the season.
Yep...3 goalkeepers not included in total; Kone, Lowry, Simons, Kodua, Humphreys and Taylor I think, so we're one under...
...but we do seem to have 6 loan players there.
...scrub that, Back is permanent, not a loan as stated in BBC Sport report.
Is it true that we will come under different financial constraints next season so some of these signings might with a nod to that too?
Jesus christ! We are giving Forest a run for their money with all the signings LOL
On a serious note; the owners have made a massive statement of intent with the business in this window. Simons could end up being a master-stroke as looks like he can fit into that defensive pivot in midfield. Has been noteable since Morley left how we've been more direct and I'd definately like to see us play out more (like pre XMas).
I know worrying about finances is not currently fashionable on this forum but have to say looking at that squad and the likely wage bill plus the investment in the academy that is unlikely to see any return for many years, the total investment into our club must be phenomenal. Exciting on one hand, worrying on another - a chance to climb to previously impossible heights on one hand, a nagging feeling that this isn't quite now the same club it once was and that I quite liked on the other. Anyway the die is cast and this will be our future for the next period. I guess all we can do is enjoy the ride.
Too true @DevC, I joined "for the ride" back in the day when we had a Morris Minor and two fine china tea cups and everyone could get a chance to see exactly where we were going.
Now it feels like I'm sitting in the back seat of a large coach that's on some incredible mystery journey. And I hardly know anyone who is sitting up front.
looking forward to seeing Origin Lowry in action
I think we are no longer in the period of how do the owners balance the books from running it as a normal business (money in the door being greater than money out = profit) to one that buys a company/club at a relatively low cost, pour investment into it, move it up the football pyramid, add assets like the academy and sell for more money than you put in = Profit.
The question is, can they get the club to mid/top end of championship (or even premier league) and inflate the clubs value that way to sell on for more than they need to invest.
This is ML’s money being spent, remember and not the club. The club can’t and won’t ever be able to afford this level of investment and spending so we need to look more at how the owner expects a return. Or just to break even.
Or, he really wants to turn a club from almost nothing to the top and doesn’t mind spending millions doing it.
I doubt a few million pounds (or tenge) means anything to Mikhail now, or that he's in it specifically to make more millions to add to his pile. Probably the equivalent of us investing £100 in the club.
50:50 match day draw, fan tiles outside the Vere, cardboard cut outs at Wembley, a match day programme from Torquay away, no hot water.
There is a future Wanderers fan born out there somewhere in Central Asia today for whom these ancient artefacts from the dark ages will be as whimsical as Datchet Webb and pals deciding that North Town was too limiting a name for the club in the back room of the Steam Engine appears to us.
As a nod to the new Dylan movie “for the times they are a changing”.
That has to be the main hope that we get a windfall or two via a promotion or sales via the academy. Selling Kone would have balanced a lot of this outlay already so that's a statement of intent in rejecting bids.
The other factor is that it is a very rich man playing with his change. Should he want out without us somehow being transferred into an attractive profitable outfit it's not likely that he could expect to be paid up what he is losing.
An upgraded stadium and nearing profitability would be goals for any handover or pass back, and aren't hideously unrealistic....and I don't mean this glibly but real difficulty or going bust in some manner has been on the cards for so long I am going to allow myself to enjoy the good times if they happen before whatever might come afterwards.
I don’t completely disagree with the sentiment that a very rich man is just playing with his pocket change.
But the concern is that if he doesn’t see a monetary value in what he is doing, it makes cutting and running very easy because there’s no sentiment there.
If anything, I hope he is seeing the millions he is spending as a financial risk, because that will sharpen his mind in making sure there’s a pay off and not an easy write off and just walk away
FWIW I still expect us to sell Kone in the summer for the same kind of fee we've been discussing recently, if not more. That will offset any spending so far, and then some.
I'll include watching the first home game under floodlights.
I expect Kone to be sold in the summer too, but don't forget that even if RK goes for a hefty fee, we are presumably going to have to replace him with someone else.
Sure, we might get lucky with a free transfer.
But (especially if we get promoted, which is obviously still a big if) I suspect proven Championship goalscorers on a free are pretty hard to find, and particularly ones who would be willing to chance their career on a team that could be instant favourites for relegation.
Then you'd probably be talking about spending over the odds on wages to entice such a player - which means more money gone up the wall.
If we're doing it right, we sell Kone for £10m (for argument's sake) then buy a replacement for a similar amount who we identify as having potential to sell for considerably more down the line. I've oversimplified it, but that's the Brentford way.
So I don't think we would sign a proven Championship goalscorer but rather a hot young prospect from elsewhere in the EFL or abroad.