Have lost a considerable chunk of my ITK avenues / sources over the last year so don't think i'll be featuring much in this window on the ITKometer. However, a lot of these sources tend to come and go - i was probably never more connected with the first team going ons than in the early Curbs days and then when Chris Powell was in charge. What i've never claimed to know is what these players we're linked with or sign are actually like and ever since we signed Reeves (who was descirbed as an absolute balder / magician on here), i tend to ignore most opinions until i've seen them play. I'm reasonably optimistic about what i've seen so far this window but still a lot to be done with the squad to be serious about promotion i reckon. If we secure Cat 1 academy status this year, it will be a significant step forward for the club - probably more so than promotion even in the long run and will also be key to what happens after this season if we don't go up - personally, i think TS would then be serious about trying to recoup his money and may even get it if we get the CAT 1 or A or whatever it is. I think you add that to the reputation our academy already has, the location its in and thats bordering on a unique selling point. It doesn't surprise me at all that TS has invested so much into it.
This idea that we have to pay transfer fees for players to be any good is ludicrous & shows how little some people know about the game
Some corners of the fan bases reaction would be totally different if we signed say McGrandles for 600k with two years left on his contract than if we signed McGrandles for nothing because his contract has expired.
Money has been spent not only on fees such as Fraser the most recent, but on decent contracts for Conor McGrandles (who has at least one offer from a championship club, fact) but also Eoghan O'Connell. That's before we talk about the training group investment.
And if you are spending £8-10 million a year you don't need a MBA to know that saving a grand here or there on an admin or entry level job isn't going to suddenly make you break even.
I'll put my trust in the multi million dollar businessman vs yourself.
I think you’ve slightly misunderstood there!
Got no issue with Sandgaard looking at staff and trimming down. This season has to be all about the playing staff, we need to go up. I’m not demanding he spends money but League 1 isn’t sustainable for him and I do think he’ll look to sell if we’re unsuccessful this year
I don’t see it that way, why would he pump funds into the infrastructure if he was only hanging around for 3 years, his money men would’ve made provisions for us not being an instant success, also didn’t he secure a 15 year lease on the ground? I wouldn’t listen to the 5 year plan line too much, that’s press talk to get us rallied and give the place a lift (season ticket boost).
Although i think TS is a good guy and is / was in this for the right reasons, i've no doubt that part of his strategy is also to increase the value of the business by getting Cat A. Who was his first appointment ? Roddy - cat A guru. Similar to buying some land, securing planning permission for a development and selling it on at a higher value.
Money has been spent not only on fees such as Fraser the most recent, but on decent contracts for Conor McGrandles (who has at least one offer from a championship club, fact) but also Eoghan O'Connell. That's before we talk about the training group investment.
And if you are spending £8-10 million a year you don't need a MBA to know that saving a grand here or there on an admin or entry level job isn't going to suddenly make you break even.
I'll put my trust in the multi million dollar businessman vs yourself.
I think you’ve slightly misunderstood there!
Got no issue with Sandgaard looking at staff and trimming down. This season has to be all about the playing staff, we need to go up. I’m not demanding he spends money but League 1 isn’t sustainable for him and I do think he’ll look to sell if we’re unsuccessful this year
I don’t see it that way, why would he pump funds into the infrastructure if he was only hanging around for 3 years, his money men would’ve made provisions for us not being an instant success, also didn’t he secure a 15 year lease on the ground? I wouldn’t listen to the 5 year plan line too much, that’s press talk to get us rallied and give the place a lift (season ticket boost).
He hasn’t got the funds for us to be a League 1 for 5-7 years. His money men may have made provisions but his business was in a better place then. The infrastructure I agree, but you could also argue it makes it easier to sell.
Of course, he’s not planning to be unsuccessful so makes sense to do things to improve anyway.
Before anyone jumps on me, I’m not in the skint Sandgaard camp. I just don’t think he’s got enough money to continually lose funds in a third division side. That’s why he’s talking break even, impossible as that is.
#cafc hopeful of concluding loan deal for Fulham full-back Steven Sessegnon. Attacked-minded and equally comfortable playing left or right side of defence.
From Cawley on twitter, another one completely under the radar and is a left back!!
Edit, I suspect it's cost us more than 20 odd k as well!
I genuinely don't see having Category 1 Academy as being a major benefit, when compared to being promoted AND established in the Championship
Even if we got Cat 1, Millwall at the moment would be worth far more to an investor as they're an established Championship club with a genuine chance of getting into the playoffs and reaching the pot of gold.
I got really excited for a second then when I reed 22 year old left back Sessegnon, then reailised its not the same one, but still seems decent, I wonder what Plymouth fans made of him, didn't seem to get much game time there?
Seems to be predominately a Right Back but comfortable with both feet so can play left back too. Probably will brought in to compete with Egbo but also provide cover at left back I'm assuming.
Position-wise, makes sense, more depth at RB with him & Egbo given Matthews and Gunter thankfully both left, and also at LB if him & one other come in.
Sounds a sensible signing in the sense that he can cover both Full-Back roles, whilst we also have Sean Clare to support the right-back slot as well - Would hope for an actual Left-Back still though who can challenge Sessegnon
#cafc hopeful of concluding loan deal for Fulham full-back Steven Sessegnon. Attacked-minded and equally comfortable playing left or right side of defence.
From Cawley on twitter, another one completely under the radar and is a left back!!
Edit, I suspect it's cost us more than 20 odd k as well!
That would be an absolute class signing at this level
Seems to be predominately a Right Back but comfortable with both feet so can play left back too. Probably will brought in to compete with Egbo but also provide cover at left back I'm assuming.
Cover at LB would be fine, though not ideal as I assume as an attacking threat he'd be less good going forward on the wrong side?
#cafc hopeful of concluding loan deal for Fulham full-back Steven Sessegnon. Attacked-minded and equally comfortable playing left or right side of defence.
From Cawley on twitter, another one completely under the radar and is a left back!!
Edit, I suspect it's cost us more than 20 odd k as well!
That would be an absolute class signing at this level
Didn't seem to make much of an impression at Plymouth though, which is slightly concerning.
Comments
Hoping its a LB if im honest as thats the much needed signing.
From Cawley on twitter, another one completely under the radar and is a left back!!
Edit, I suspect it's cost us more than 20 odd k as well!
Even if we got Cat 1, Millwall at the moment would be worth far more to an investor as they're an established Championship club with a genuine chance of getting into the playoffs and reaching the pot of gold.
No idea how he did for Plymouth on loan, anyone?
Position-wise, makes sense, more depth at RB with him & Egbo given Matthews and Gunter thankfully both left, and also at LB if him & one other come in.
With those two that’s much more like the profile of a full back I was hoping to see, young attacking players with pace.
Good to get a loan in early rather than what could have been five all having to settle in around the same time.
Also means he can play LWB in the friendly games if we have to wait a bit longer for a first choice target.
Really intrigued by how this is all going to fit together.
https://www.pafc.co.uk/news/sessegnon-signs