Brendan's press-conference

[Best Believe It]

What grinds my gears about the financial prudence FSG are trying to show, is that they're making the current manager deal with problems partly of their own making. Yes we've been spunking cash for a number of years, going back well before Kenny and Comolli, but FSG sanctioned the overspends on Carroll et al. It's not Rodgers fault we wasted that money, yet he's the one having to suffer, despite the fact that the players we're after now are (seemingly, I'm no scout) of a much higher quality and fit for the side.

 

[FoxForceFive]

That's true, but paying 15% on top of the transfer fee to an agent is fucking insane. If that's true I'm not surprised we pulled out.

Fsg have said before they won't pay exorbitant agent fees.

 

[Rosco]

What grinds my gears about the financial prudence FSG are trying to show, is that they're making the current manager deal with problems partly of their own making. Yes we've been spunking cash for a number of years, going back well before Kenny and Comolli, but FSG sanctioned the overspends on Carroll et al. It's not Rodgers fault we wasted that money, yet he's the one having to suffer, despite the fact that the players we're after now are (seemingly, I'm no scout) of a much higher quality and fit for the side.

He knew the situation when he took over.

What's the alternative here?

 

[Mors]

That's true, but paying 15% on top of the transfer fee to an agent is fucking insane. If that's true I'm not surprised we pulled out.

Fsg have said before they won't pay exorbitant agent fees.

I thought those sort of figures are commonplace? It's not unusual for a 20mill player for the player to get a couple of million signing on fee and his agent the same.

 

[Best Believe It]

He knew the situation when he took over.

What's the alternative here?

Did he? And anyway, I'm the one complaining about it here, not the manager.

I don't know what the alternative is. But I don't know how we get into the top four without spending big because that's what all our competitors for that position (bar Arsenal) have done. And it's difficult to buy the sort of quality players we need without being fleeced a little.

 

[Best Believe It]

That's true, but paying 15% on top of the transfer fee to an agent is fucking insane. If that's true I'm not surprised we pulled out.

Fsg have said before they won't pay exorbitant agent fees.

Indeed, and I don't disagree with the stance. But I find it a little hypocritical considering they wasted all that money early on. It chafes a little. But I agree with the policy of financial prudence in principle; especially if it means we're no longer perceived as a soft-touch.

 

[Rosco]

Did he? And anyway, I'm the one complaining about it here, not the manager.

I don't know what the alternative is. But I don't know how we get into the top four without spending big because that's what all our competitors for that position (bar Arsenal) have done. And it's difficult to buy the sort of quality players we need without being fleeced a little.

I agree, we do probably need to spend big to get into the top four.

But the problem is what we need to do to enable us to spend big.

 

[FoxForceFive]

I thought those sort of figures are commonplace? It's not unusual for a 20mill player for the player to get a couple of million signing on fee and his agent the same.

They're at the top end of the scale, & far from commonplace.
5% is the most bandied about figure.

If we're making a stand against the agents charging ridiculous figures it may well mean them trying it on for less in future.

We paid highest in agents fees for fucking years cos they thought we were a soft touch, the only way to combat that is to tell them to fuck off at the expense of a player or two.

 

[Mors]

They're at the top end of the scale, & far from commonplace.
5% is the most bandied about figure.

If we're making a stand against the agents charging ridiculous figures it may well mean them trying it on for less in future.

We paid highest in agents fees for fucking years cos they thought we were a soft touch, the only way to combat that is to tell them to fuck off at the expense of a player or two.

I think his agent is that crooked cunt joorabchian aswell.

 

[rurikbird]

They're at the top end of the scale, & far from commonplace.
5% is the most bandied about figure.

If we're making a stand against the agents charging ridiculous figures it may well mean them trying it on for less in future.

We paid highest in agents fees for fucking years cos they thought we were a soft touch, the only way to combat that is to tell them to fuck off at the expense of a player or two.

Interesting info, thanks. If that's the case, then both FSG and Rodgers are right - them for being prudent and him for being disappointed at not getting his player. That's how the system is supposed to work; without checks and balances you'll get the kind of wasteful spending we saw in last years of Rafa and under Kenny.

 

[StevieM]

I really really like how Rodgers handles these things.

Maybe he'll get fed up over time and show it, but for now he's the utmost professional. Speaks well, isn't controversial, is always complimentary, and focuses on the positives.

He's got some faults Rogers, but the way he's handled this (difficult) summer has been extremely impressive.

If you grew up in carnlough - everything is a positive.

 

[StevieM]

I agree, we do probably need to spend big to get into the top four.

But the problem is what we need to do to enable us to spend big.

I think we need to spend smart - which isn't necessarily the same as big.

There are good, affordable players out there that fit our requirements (fast, technical, flexible) and would improve us.

We just need to fucking sign them.

 

[Gerry_A_Trick]

"there's a fine line between overspending and being overly cautious'

No there isn't

 

[Y1]

Just look for more couthino and sturidge!

 

[gkmacca]

The prudence aspect is perfectly sensible and responsible. What is also crucial is the effectiveness of our network of communication. I read about how the Arsenal process works - requests go to New York, get debated, suggestions go back to North London, then revised requests go back to New York, then approvals get sent back to North London, then Wenger changes his mind and the whole thing starts all over again. There's no Wenger-style problem with Rodgers but something is going awry somewhere else in the system. If we pass on a target we have to go straight on to the next on the list and we HAVE to get SOMEONE. The manager must be backed.

 

[barrymac20]

Obviously no one knows what exactly is going on but i think the manager is being backed. It looks like we were in for willian at the 30 million mark and something happened to scupper that. Agents demands or a sudden increase in transfer price. If that's the case we were 100% right to pull out. If the player really wanted here it would have happened. So he can fuck off and we'll get someone who does.

 

[Rosco]

I think we need to spend smart - which isn't necessarily the same as big.

There are good, affordable players out there that fit our requirements (fast, technical, flexible) and would improve us.

We just need to fucking sign them.

I think we're at a point in the transfer window where smart deals just aren't available.

The shrewder deals tend to get done early. I can't think of any obvious deals we won't get bummed on now

 

[OLD_Lewy]

we're a buisness like united, we arn't a plaything like city or chelsea, the only way we can compete is to become a good buisness so this seems to be the way to do it, united dont often get fucked over in the market, well, too much anyways

 

[Whirly]

we're a buisness like united, we arn't a plaything like city or chelsea, the only way we can compete is to become a good buisness so this seems to be the way to do it, united dont often get fucked over in the market, well, too much anyways

Outside of RVP, we have yet to see how their last few years of transfers will impact their future. It's primarily been young players who have yet to make a huge impact, and mediocre signings otherwise, think Ashley Young.

 

[Red Mullet]

I really hate this defeatist attitude where people think that because Spurs have spent a lot then they are virtually guaranteed a Top 4 CL slot. Spending big does not guarantee anything ..... as we have found out in the few seasons under Hodge & Kenny. They could be great they could be absolute shite (as they were against Palace), they could gel immediately or they might never gel - and they will have to sideline some of their best performers from last season (inc. the sale of Bale) to include the better players they have bought, with no guarantee they will be an improvement, in fact in Bale's case it's almost guaranteed to be a big loss.

You talk about Arsenal as a yardstick - when they have spent fuck all ! Yes they probably will but you have no idea if they will, or who they will buy so it's pretty pathetic to start using them as something we should aspire to in the transfer market 🙄

As for us not competing, last season we were one of the top teams over the second half of the season, if we had not started the season with 2 / 15 points then we would have been in the mix, even 10/15 would have seen us just 3 points behind Spurs and a maximum of 4 behind Arsenal (since one of those defeats was at home to Arsenal then we could even possibly have reversed those positions). We are a far better side than last season, improvement doesn't just come from spending huge sums of money, as you seem to surmise, it comes from better coaching, better teamwork and understanding, and that takes time to build. On that score though it looks like (judging from the end of last season and the start to this) that we are the team that has improved the most out of the top seven.

Then there is your comment on FSG putting their money where they mouth is .... I think you need to take a look at the average spend over the past few years, only City & Chelsea are above us and there is no doubt we have been trying to spend this year (we have indeed already got 4 very good players already in, or do they not count because they didn't cost 20-30m each) ? You can't blame FSG for not paying insane money just because Spurs/Chelsea/City are willing to pay well above what a player is worth.

Stadium - yes there is talk, it seems to be progressing slowly but surely.

From your post one would wonder if you have actually been in hibernation the past 2-3 years.

I swear this is a longer version of what I posted. :grumbles