‘The budget’ is this summers weird informed obsession for some
It was in January too. I remember a few posters asking people to find examples of teams who had been promoted from L1 not spending much, we can be added to those examples now
I can’t believe this thread is still going as strong as it is.
I can. Given the way threads tend to go in the close season I'm more surprised it's only veered slightly off topic rather than into entirely non-football related areas.
I'm concerned we don't yet know which School Thierry went to!
I use another website called RMWEB, which is about Railways and Model Railways, and I'm sure its based upon the same software platform as this one (common features, and some are almost exactly the same, eg screen top right sign in), it has hundreds and hundreds of threads and a common problem there is "thread drift".
I can’t believe this thread is still going as strong as it is.
I can. Given the way threads tend to go in the close season I'm more surprised it's only veered slightly off topic rather than into entirely non-football related areas.
It’s the new “us” Ali, you mods will have it easy now as we have become Championship forum posters 😁
I can’t believe this thread is still going as strong as it is.
I can. Given the way threads tend to go in the close season I'm more surprised it's only veered slightly off topic rather than into entirely non-football related areas.
I use another website called RMWEB, which is about Railways and Model Railways, and I'm sure its based upon the same software platform as this one (common features, and some are almost exactly the same, eg screen top right sign in), it has hundreds and hundreds of threads and a common problem there is "thread drift".
‘The budget’ is this summers weird informed obsession for some
It's not an obsession, it's a talking point. If people don't want to discuss it, that's that, they don't have to.
This is a thread about Thierry Small, we lost out on him cause of wages, so it becomes a discussion.
As a result a load of offspring conversations start. Just like every other thread ever on this forum. Surprised you feel the need to post this when you've used the forum as much as you have.
‘The budget’ is this summers weird informed obsession for some
It's not an obsession, it's a talking point. If people don't want to discuss it, that's that, they don't have to.
This is a thread about Thierry Small, we lost out on him cause of wages, so it becomes a discussion.
As a result a load of offspring conversations start. Just like every other thread ever on this forum. Surprised you feel the need to post this when you've used the forum as much as you have.
If there was a graph of usage it's on the decline in the last 5 years let's put it that way.
The budget has become a rhetorical tool for some to catastrophize the summer before it's even begun, and not matching whatever Preston was willing to pay is a useful way to get to it.
‘The budget’ is this summers weird informed obsession for some
It's not an obsession, it's a talking point. If people don't want to discuss it, that's that, they don't have to.
This is a thread about Thierry Small, we lost out on him cause of wages, so it becomes a discussion.
As a result a load of offspring conversations start. Just like every other thread ever on this forum. Surprised you feel the need to post this when you've used the forum as much as you have.
Many people assume it was money, but no one is sure, what about contract length? Or playing time? Or any other reason?
‘The budget’ is this summers weird informed obsession for some
It's not an obsession, it's a talking point. If people don't want to discuss it, that's that, they don't have to.
This is a thread about Thierry Small, we lost out on him cause of wages, so it becomes a discussion.
As a result a load of offspring conversations start. Just like every other thread ever on this forum. Surprised you feel the need to post this when you've used the forum as much as you have.
If there was a graph of usage it's on the decline in the last 5 years let's put it that way.
The budget has become a rhetorical tool for some to catastrophize the summer before it's even begun, and not matching whatever Preston was willing to pay is a useful way to get to it.
I'm not trying to catastrophize the summer, I'm just being realistic about the task ahead.
In League1 I always expected promotion, now in the Championship I hope we can stay up. Just highlighting the patterns from previous seasons on how that's usually achieved.
The figures pop up because of transfers like this happen.
‘The budget’ is this summers weird informed obsession for some
It's not an obsession, it's a talking point. If people don't want to discuss it, that's that, they don't have to.
This is a thread about Thierry Small, we lost out on him cause of wages, so it becomes a discussion.
As a result a load of offspring conversations start. Just like every other thread ever on this forum. Surprised you feel the need to post this when you've used the forum as much as you have.
Many people assume it was money, but no one is sure, what about contract length? Or playing time? Or any other reason?
Jones just wasn't going to make him promises and has better options elsewhere is my guess.
I can’t believe this thread is still going as strong as it is.
I can. Given the way threads tend to go in the close season I'm more surprised it's only veered slightly off topic rather than into entirely non-football related areas.
There's not much point in trying to work out clubs' budgets from the sources people have been chucking around on here. Even poring over club financial accounts isn't the zinger @Woodwork thinks it is, because, as the Price of Football often points out, different clubs report wages, and amortisation of transfer fees in different ways, making direct comparisons tricky. And of course they are out of date anyway.
We do know that clubs have the benefit of an internal EFL syndication of player wage budgets, and they use that to set their budgets for the coming season. That's how Methven was able to confidently assert that we had the 5th biggest budget in League One last season. (One club refused to take part last year in an act of massive dickheadery, but it was widely assumed to be Birmingham, so it didn't matter). With Methven gone we probably won't get anyone talking about where we set ourselves in the budget league table; but I wouldn't be surprised if we do something like AFC Wimbledon did, budget for 21st and give Nathan Jones a big performance bonus for finishing 20th. Poor old Bow would have been very happy with that package at the start of the 2019-20 season.
‘The budget’ is this summers weird informed obsession for some
It's not an obsession, it's a talking point. If people don't want to discuss it, that's that, they don't have to.
This is a thread about Thierry Small, we lost out on him cause of wages, so it becomes a discussion.
As a result a load of offspring conversations start. Just like every other thread ever on this forum. Surprised you feel the need to post this when you've used the forum as much as you have.
Many people assume it was money, but no one is sure, what about contract length? Or playing time? Or any other reason?
Jones just wasn't going to make him promises and has better options elsewhere is my guess.
‘The budget’ is this summers weird informed obsession for some
It's not an obsession, it's a talking point. If people don't want to discuss it, that's that, they don't have to.
This is a thread about Thierry Small, we lost out on him cause of wages, so it becomes a discussion.
As a result a load of offspring conversations start. Just like every other thread ever on this forum. Surprised you feel the need to post this when you've used the forum as much as you have.
Many people assume it was money, but no one is sure, what about contract length? Or playing time? Or any other reason?
Jones just wasn't going to make him promises and has better options elsewhere is my guess.
Its very unlikely to be any one thing really. Its entirely possible that he genuinely does see moving as a way to progress himself and making a higher wage in the process is just a bonus.
I certainly don't think that Preston offered him wages that are blowing us completely out of the water - higher maybe but double or triple or whatever the theory was would have been based on his old contract if true, not the improved terms.
It's a shame to see him go but Jones might see it as a chance to show that no one player is too big/too good and that he will call any bluff.
What was the bluff ? Going somwhere else for more money.
Basically exactly that. If they want to leverage another club offering them a longer contract/more money than we (Jones) feels they merit then off they go, we're not going to be drawn into a bidding war.
What was the bluff ? Going somwhere else for more money.
Basically exactly that. If they want to leverage another club offering them a longer contract/more money than we (Jones) feels they merit then off they go, we're not going to be drawn into a bidding war.
Fair enough I always thought bluffing was not having something good like a decent hand and trying your luck but small had an offer, In effect a reverse bluff : ))
What was the bluff ? Going somwhere else for more money.
Basically exactly that. If they want to leverage another club offering them a longer contract/more money than we (Jones) feels they merit then off they go, we're not going to be drawn into a bidding war.
Fair enough I always thought bluffing was not having something good like a decent hand and trying your luck but small had an offer, In effect a reverse bluff : ))
The bluff being that Small wanted us to match the offer he had but we refused.
Or alternatively I'm completely wrong, which I grant you is highly plausible.
There's not much point in trying to work out clubs' budgets from the sources people have been chucking around on here. Even poring over club financial accounts isn't the zinger @Woodwork thinks it is, because, as the Price of Football often points out, different clubs report wages, and amortisation of transfer fees in different ways, making direct comparisons tricky. And of course they are out of date anyway.
We do know that clubs have the benefit of an internal EFL syndication of player wage budgets, and they use that to set their budgets for the coming season. That's how Methven was able to confidently assert that we had the 5th biggest budget in League One last season. (One club refused to take part last year in an act of massive dickheadery, but it was widely assumed to be Birmingham, so it didn't matter). With Methven gone we probably won't get anyone talking about where we set ourselves in the budget league table; but I wouldn't be surprised if we do something like AFC Wimbledon did, budget for 21st and give Nathan Jones a big performance bonus for finishing 20th. Poor old Bow would have been very happy with that package at the start of the 2019-20 season.
I don’t think it is a ‘zinger’, you pompous arse. Just it is the only thing you can work from. Hence why I always put c£.
Back on Small. Yes he was crucial for us in the second half of the season, but that's also a reflection on the weird lack of depth we had in wide areas, and the failure to bring someone in during January.
With TS missing the last few games, I can't help my glass-half-empty head probably reading far too much into this, but here's my headspace conspirosy theory:
With his contract coming to an end, he's already told NJ he'll be leaving in the summer. NJ naturally wants players out there that will give 100% and prepared to go over the top, (Blackadder style) but fears that Small will hold back, in fear of getting injured. Let's also remember that before his "injury" he was hardly pulling up any trees for the last few matches he played in.
I'm sure I'm just bing a nervous ninny and seeing things that simply are not there, but I can't shake that small crumb that could be right.
Saying that, I still thing a half-hearted TS is better than no TS.
Just where are people getting these numbers from? I am sorry you really have to exercise some caution on these salary figures. Where and how are these people sourcing their data?
Our Executive sought at different points through the season to position us as operating to the 4th - 6th largest budget in League 1 yet I stumbled across this random article assessing wages £ spent to points secured positioning our overall salary spend as very different.
The article specifies the data collation but are we any the wiser as to the source? These numbers appear to position our 2024/25 no where near the numbers being quoted for 2025/26 and our last seasons spend behind Stockport, Wycombe, Bolton, Wrexham, Rotherham, Wigan, Birmingham, Bristol Rovers, Cambridge and Huddersfield - err it makes us 11th.
If we dare add in regional cost of living comparison we could even rank on a par with Lincoln, Blackpool, Barnsley, Exeter, Northampton, Mansfield etc.,
I have no idea as to veracity of this analysis.
You don't need to throw caution at the figures posting. They're officially documented.
A league1 article on points per pound still wouldn't matter in this discussion about championship wages.
The average championship wage is between £10,000 to £30,000 per player. It's hard to know an exact number because of loans, lower paid players, parachute payments etc, that is why the range is so wide.
This ain't the 1980s, football has moved at a staggering pace the last 10 years with salaries. Even in 2015 or so Nottingam Forest as an example were paying some of their top players between 20-30k a week.
Source: myself. Lived in the area, interviewed for a job at the City Ground and was told by staff there how much their top earners were on. Unless of course they were all lying as well on top of all the publicised season budgets.
Must be a significantly lower average Championship wage among the clubs not receiving any Premiership parachute money?
The Championship average is massively skewed by the teams who have parachute payments, if you're Southampton or Leicester you're carrying some massive wages down with you, and the average gets chewed up on that
Thierry Small (LWB/RWB/RW) - [Charlton - Preston] - Compensation
Thierry Small has long been well-regarded. A presence in England's youth setups from U17-U20, he came through as a left-back with real pedigree, and every transfer he’s made has arrived with a sense of potential. But until Nathan Jones pushed him into that role as a right wing-back-cum-right-winger, his career had followed a frustrating pattern: Go, Stop, Stall. Go again, Stop again, Stall again.
Did Jones unlock Small’s potential by design? Or did he stumble upon the solution? Is the right flank really where Small belongs? His final action and decision-making in the final third remain uncertain. Is Preston the right fit? It’s easy to see why they’re interested: the pace, the age, the price – all appealing. It’s a sensible gamble for North End. But can they consistently get him on the ball high and wide, where he can make an impact? Or will they shift him back to the left? There’s a lot to consider with this move, and no guarantee it will work out.
Comments
Thierry left, wish he hadn’t, but that’s life. I’m positive NJ isn’t losing any sleep over it, we shouldn’t either.
Trump, Farage, Starmer, immigration, woke.
That should do it nicely.
This is a thread about Thierry Small, we lost out on him cause of wages, so it becomes a discussion.
As a result a load of offspring conversations start. Just like every other thread ever on this forum. Surprised you feel the need to post this when you've used the forum as much as you have.
The budget has become a rhetorical tool for some to catastrophize the summer before it's even begun, and not matching whatever Preston was willing to pay is a useful way to get to it.
In League1 I always expected promotion, now in the Championship I hope we can stay up. Just highlighting the patterns from previous seasons on how that's usually achieved.
The figures pop up because of transfers like this happen.
We do know that clubs have the benefit of an internal EFL syndication of player wage budgets, and they use that to set their budgets for the coming season. That's how Methven was able to confidently assert that we had the 5th biggest budget in League One last season. (One club refused to take part last year in an act of massive dickheadery, but it was widely assumed to be Birmingham, so it didn't matter). With Methven gone we probably won't get anyone talking about where we set ourselves in the budget league table; but I wouldn't be surprised if we do something like AFC Wimbledon did, budget for 21st and give Nathan Jones a big performance bonus for finishing 20th. Poor old Bow would have been very happy with that package at the start of the 2019-20 season.
But before that, more money.
I certainly don't think that Preston offered him wages that are blowing us completely out of the water - higher maybe but double or triple or whatever the theory was would have been based on his old contract if true, not the improved terms.
It's a shame to see him go but Jones might see it as a chance to show that no one player is too big/too good and that he will call any bluff.
Or alternatively I'm completely wrong, which I grant you is highly plausible.
Must be a significantly lower average Championship wage among the clubs not receiving any Premiership parachute money?
Thierry Small (LWB/RWB/RW) - [Charlton - Preston] - Compensation
Thierry Small has long been well-regarded. A presence in England's youth setups from U17-U20, he came through as a left-back with real pedigree, and every transfer he’s made has arrived with a sense of potential. But until Nathan Jones pushed him into that role as a right wing-back-cum-right-winger, his career had followed a frustrating pattern: Go, Stop, Stall. Go again, Stop again, Stall again.
Did Jones unlock Small’s potential by design? Or did he stumble upon the solution? Is the right flank really where Small belongs? His final action and decision-making in the final third remain uncertain. Is Preston the right fit? It’s easy to see why they’re interested: the pace, the age, the price – all appealing. It’s a sensible gamble for North End. But can they consistently get him on the ball high and wide, where he can make an impact? Or will they shift him back to the left? There’s a lot to consider with this move, and no guarantee it will work out.