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Championship thread 25/26! (72 Viewers)

  • Thread starter shepardo01
  • Start date May 14, 2025
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shmmeee

Well-Known Member
  • Today at 11:52 AM
  • #16,556
clint van damme said:
I don't see us buying a whole new team.
Not just for the financial implications but also because of the upheaval it will cause in a club whose success has been built on stability.

I think we'll see 5 or 6 in in addition to maybe making a couple of the loans permanent.
Click to expand...

Just checking but I think that would be by far and away the lowest number of signings any promoted club has made including Luton. I think you’re wildly underestimating.
 

AOM

Well-Known Member
  • Today at 11:55 AM
  • #16,557
clint van damme said:
I don't see us buying a whole new team.
Not just for the financial implications but also because of the upheaval it will cause in a club whose success has been built on stability.

I think we'll see 5 or 6 in in addition to maybe making a couple of the loans permanent.
Click to expand...

Also can't see us completely revamping the team.
Think one of the reasons we started so well this season was due to having a fairly settled squad
 
Reactions: Lamps and clint van damme

Major Tom

Well-Known Member
  • Today at 12:01 PM
  • #16,558
A rebuild will be required. Do we honestly believe we could hold our own without bringing in new players across all positions with current key squad as back up. Our defence especially is really leaky and lacks pace against championship sides, i'm not sure apart from Rushworth that any would hold their own in a promoted side.
After 50 years of watching city I don't get emotionally attached to any players and I just don't want to be embarrassed if we go up.
 
Reactions: itsabuzzard, shmmeee and Sky Blue Pete

Sky Blue Pete

Well-Known Member
  • Today at 12:06 PM
  • #16,559
Major Tom said:
A rebuild will be required. Do we honestly believe we could hold our own without bringing in new players across all positions with current key squad as back up. Our defence especially is really leaky and lacks pace against championship sides, i'm not sure apart from Rushworth that any would hold their own in a promoted side.
After 50 years of watching city I don't get emotionally attached to any players and I just don't want to be embarrassed if we go up.
Click to expand...
We’ll need to be pragmatic
But yep lots of change will be required as the team would be nowhere near good enough to stay up without significant improvement individually
 
Reactions: stupot07 and Lamps

clint van damme

Well-Known Member
  • Today at 12:10 PM
  • #16,560
shmmeee said:
Just checking but I think that would be by far and away the lowest number of signings any promoted club has made including Luton. I think you’re wildly underestimating.
Click to expand...

Maybe. We'll see.
I'd imagine how many bodies we can off load will be a factor
 

Sky Blue Pete

Well-Known Member
  • Today at 12:17 PM
  • #16,561
clint van damme said:
Maybe. We'll see.
I'd imagine how many bodies we can off load will be a factor
Click to expand...
We’d need a robins season first time in championship

lots of teams have failed to stay up so we can see what works

not there yet though
 

Skybluefaz

Well-Known Member
  • Today at 12:20 PM
  • #16,562
shmmeee said:
I’m not saying we’re anti football. Just we do what’s needed to win games. We aren’t Burnley but we aren’t a Leeds. Were Lampards Coventry. I think the Mourinho comparison is a good one.
Click to expand...
We've scored 2 more goals than Leeds last season at the 36 game mark.

16 more than Boro.
 

shmmeee

Well-Known Member
  • Today at 12:36 PM
  • #16,563
Skybluefaz said:
We've scored 2 more goals than Leeds last season at the 36 game mark.

16 more than Boro.
Click to expand...

OK?
 

Sky Blue Goblin

Well-Known Member
  • Today at 12:38 PM
  • #16,564
One of the things I’ve thought we do well when playing well, is adaption. I genuinely think this season we have been the jack of all trades.

Press us high, we’ll go long. Low block we’ll play around you. We’ve given teams like Wednesday the ball just so we can press it of them in dangerous areas and we’ve thrown bodies behind the line like a Boro and countered very efficiently.

I don’t think Lampard is wed to any tactical philosophy apart from hard work and “forward”.
 
Reactions: Briles
K

KenilworthSkyBlue

Well-Known Member
  • Today at 12:41 PM
  • #16,565
AOM said:
Also can't see us completely revamping the team.
Think one of the reasons we started so well this season was due to having a fairly settled squad
Click to expand...

The PL is a different animal to the Championship though. I do think in many ways those that get promoted do have to work from a blank canvas and for the most part start afresh.

The majority of our squad isn't PL standard so if we're to be promoted a significant amount of investment is going to be required for us to stay up.

I wouldn't want to compromise on improving the squad simply to preserve continuity when it's highly questionable how much weight that would actually have on our survival prospects in all honesty.

If the money is there we have to be ruthless.
 
Reactions: itsabuzzard

shmmeee

Well-Known Member
  • Today at 12:45 PM
  • #16,566
clint van damme said:
Maybe. We'll see.
I'd imagine how many bodies we can off load will be a factor
Click to expand...

Yeah just checked and only two teams in the last five years have made fewer than ten summer signings: Bournemouth in 2022 - 8 (who still spent close to £100m) and Leicester in 2024 - 9 (who had been a PL team for a decade prior to relegation).

So five plus Onyeka would be by far the lowest.

The average over the last 5 years is 13.9.

I’d expect around 10.

Allen and Collins will be OOC. Lats, Bidwell, Wilson will have a year left and be told they can go, maybe Simms as well. BTA, Woolfenden, Brau probably also told they can go. Leaves us with 15 including Onyeka, 10 short of a squad. Maybe 8/9 if not all of those named leave.
 

Grendel

Well-Known Member
  • Today at 12:47 PM
  • #16,567
Ipad Boro said:
It doesn't discredit you in the slightest. It won Chelsea numerous titles, Mourinho was hailed as a master tactician and their attacking players regularly and rightfully got plaudits.

Not my fault you can't take a bloody compliment!

As for the Hoodoo that doesn't detract from your performance either, there are different ways of a Hoodoo being borne out. We have the exact same Hoodoo over Brum, but likewise it shouldn't detract from our performance on that day, like yourselves against us, we found another way to win, thereby fulfilling the Hoodoo.

Personally I don't know what fans of other clubs have said on here in the past, but I suspect you're tarring me with the same brush and assuming that almost everything I say is some kind of dig for whatever reason. It's not. I don't mind a bit of craic, that's all good fun, but persistently making digs isn't my style at all.

There's similarities between Carrick and Hellberg, but there's also major differences in their setup. What we have now is more fluid, with each player having less nailed down positions. Subs will also be made as soon as they're needed, rather than waiting until 75 minutes to get "even fresher legs" which Carrick would not deviate from and above all else if we went off the boil for a few games, Hellberg mixes it up and does the unexpected. Carrick had little in the way of a Plan B.
Click to expand...

 
Reactions: Ipad Boro

Lamps

Well-Known Member
  • Today at 12:49 PM
  • #16,568
Major Tom said:
A rebuild will be required. Do we honestly believe we could hold our own without bringing in new players across all positions with current key squad as back up. Our defence especially is really leaky and lacks pace against championship sides, i'm not sure apart from Rushworth that any would hold their own in a promoted side.
After 50 years of watching city I don't get emotionally attached to any players and I just don't want to be embarrassed if we go up.
Click to expand...
If we can keep Rushworth it will mean we will have spent about 20m with Onyeka. How much money do you think we will have to spend in our first season up without risking our future?

What we do have is are squad of players that are close and would run through brick walls for each other. Spending money doesn't guarantee a chance of staying up. It will be a case of keeping our best players and adding quality to them.

We would need to look at the defence more than anywhere else. MVE deserves his chance and Thomas on the bench, but not leaking goals will be important. That's why Rushworth would be an important signing.

The rest? Grimes with Onyeka at CM. EMC, Rudoni, Torp and Sakamoto as players in front of them and Wright up front.

With already spending about 20m we would only have 10 players that I would be happy with either in the team or on the edge of it. We would have a few squad fillers like Eccles and BTA. We would bring in some money for the players sold but that won't bring much quality in.

There's a few clubs in financial difficulties so won't be as strong as normal. Our aim would be 17th place. If we came straight back down with an affordable wage bill with the parachute payments we would have a good chance of an immediate return. This would give us another 100m approx to spend on players. Somehow stay up? Time to strengthen again but with a guaranteed extra year's parachute payment.

There's going to be a lot of people expecting too much if we go up. Prem quality players are not cheap. We might get a free or so and a couple of cheaper players in. But it still won't stretch very far.
 

biggymania

Well-Known Member
  • Today at 1:11 PM
  • #16,569
If we are recruiting for the Premiership, assuming no ownership change or significant investment - Doug will be smart enough I think to plan for the season after in the Champ. I think that puts a lot of pressure on scouting - we'll be using the same approaches and network we have, but a level up. There's a lot of risk here because I doubt we'll sign many actual Premiership level players.

Doug will have to bid really high to get Rushworth, I imagine we will go for that - but it's not guaranteed. We should also be going back for a CB like Hughes. Which ever teams miss out of the playoffs, we might look there at a few who we think can step up.

I don't see us bankrolling the entire TV money on staying up, it's just not the way Doug is likely to work.
 

Brighton Sky Blue

Well-Known Member
  • Today at 1:12 PM
  • #16,570
Lamps said:
If we can keep Rushworth it will mean we will have spent about 20m with Onyeka. How much money do you think we will have to spend in our first season up without risking our future?

What we do have is are squad of players that are close and would run through brick walls for each other. Spending money doesn't guarantee a chance of staying up. It will be a case of keeping our best players and adding quality to them.

We would need to look at the defence more than anywhere else. MVE deserves his chance and Thomas on the bench, but not leaking goals will be important. That's why Rushworth would be an important signing.

The rest? Grimes with Onyeka at CM. EMC, Rudoni, Torp and Sakamoto as players in front of them and Wright up front.

With already spending about 20m we would only have 10 players that I would be happy with either in the team or on the edge of it. We would have a few squad fillers like Eccles and BTA. We would bring in some money for the players sold but that won't bring much quality in.

There's a few clubs in financial difficulties so won't be as strong as normal. Our aim would be 17th place. If we came straight back down with an affordable wage bill with the parachute payments we would have a good chance of an immediate return. This would give us another 100m approx to spend on players. Somehow stay up? Time to strengthen again but with a guaranteed extra year's parachute payment.

There's going to be a lot of people expecting too much if we go up. Prem quality players are not cheap. We might get a free or so and a couple of cheaper players in. But it still won't stretch very far.
Click to expand...
There’s two unknowns though: a) if the club’s owner sells up and b) if we get big offers in for any of this season’s regulars.
 

Sky Blue Goblin

Well-Known Member
  • Today at 1:21 PM
  • #16,571
Quick thought is it worth it to spend big on six players or spend the same amount on 10?
 

Brighton Sky Blue

Well-Known Member
  • Today at 1:29 PM
  • #16,572
Sky Blue Goblin said:
Quick thought is it worth it to spend big on six players or spend the same amount on 10?
Click to expand...
Quality over quantity imo
 
Reactions: Sky Blue Goblin

Offhegoes

Well-Known Member
  • 42 minutes ago
  • #16,573
Major Tom said:
A rebuild will be required. Do we honestly believe we could hold our own without bringing in new players across all positions with current key squad as back up. Our defence especially is really leaky and lacks pace against championship sides, i'm not sure apart from Rushworth that any would hold their own in a promoted side.
After 50 years of watching city I don't get emotionally attached to any players and I just don't want to be embarrassed if we go up.
Click to expand...
I remember Lampard saying he assessed our squad deeply before accepting the job.
King would have reiterated he wants promotion in 2 years, so Lampard would of factored that in.
He would have thought, Do Cov have a core of players that could make the step up, age-wise and technically.

We would obviously need signings in key positions, with defence being top priority.

Secure Rushworth on a perm deal
Spend big on a CB & LB
Spend big on a LW to challenge EMC
Sign James Maddison from Spurs
High potenital pacey young European striker (CF) - Although I'd keep Simms and Haji

Elsewhere
High Potential young CB
 

shmmeee

Well-Known Member
  • 42 minutes ago
  • #16,574
biggymania said:
If we are recruiting for the Premiership, assuming no ownership change or significant investment - Doug will be smart enough I think to plan for the season after in the Champ. I think that puts a lot of pressure on scouting - we'll be using the same approaches and network we have, but a level up. There's a lot of risk here because I doubt we'll sign many actual Premiership level players.

Doug will have to bid really high to get Rushworth, I imagine we will go for that - but it's not guaranteed. We should also be going back for a CB like Hughes. Which ever teams miss out of the playoffs, we might look there at a few who we think can step up.

I don't see us bankrolling the entire TV money on staying up, it's just not the way Doug is likely to work.
Click to expand...

What makes you say that? He spent all the Vik and Gus money and then some on getting up. Were more likely to skimp on wages if anything.
 
S

SafeAsMilk

Well-Known Member
  • 39 minutes ago
  • #16,575
We are better than Boro… and the Sky cameras showing their manger on the touch line at the CBS looking confused and his wig twitching was another great moment from this season ..
 
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Brighton Sky Blue

Well-Known Member
  • 39 minutes ago
  • #16,576
shmmeee said:
What makes you say that? He spent all the Vik and Gus money and then some on getting up. Were more likely to skimp on wages if anything.
Click to expand...
I think he’s more likely yet to sell the club.
 
Reactions: shmmeee

SBAndy

Well-Known Member
  • 39 minutes ago
  • #16,577
Lamps said:
If we can keep Rushworth it will mean we will have spent about 20m with Onyeka. How much money do you think we will have to spend in our first season up without risking our future?

What we do have is are squad of players that are close and would run through brick walls for each other. Spending money doesn't guarantee a chance of staying up. It will be a case of keeping our best players and adding quality to them.

We would need to look at the defence more than anywhere else. MVE deserves his chance and Thomas on the bench, but not leaking goals will be important. That's why Rushworth would be an important signing.

The rest? Grimes with Onyeka at CM. EMC, Rudoni, Torp and Sakamoto as players in front of them and Wright up front.

With already spending about 20m we would only have 10 players that I would be happy with either in the team or on the edge of it. We would have a few squad fillers like Eccles and BTA. We would bring in some money for the players sold but that won't bring much quality in.

There's a few clubs in financial difficulties so won't be as strong as normal. Our aim would be 17th place. If we came straight back down with an affordable wage bill with the parachute payments we would have a good chance of an immediate return. This would give us another 100m approx to spend on players. Somehow stay up? Time to strengthen again but with a guaranteed extra year's parachute payment.

There's going to be a lot of people expecting too much if we go up. Prem quality players are not cheap. We might get a free or so and a couple of cheaper players in. But it still won't stretch very far.
Click to expand...

The whole “putting our future at risk” angle doesn’t really stand up to scrutiny unless we literally signed no good players. Most of the time, if you’re relegated you can sell 2-3 players and recoup over 50% of your spend.
 
Reactions: robbiethemole, skybluecam and fernandopartridge

biggymania

Well-Known Member
  • 33 minutes ago
  • #16,578
shmmeee said:
What makes you say that? He spent all the Vik and Gus money and then some on getting up. Were more likely to skimp on wages if anything.
Click to expand...
I can see him continuing to look at players as assets whose values should be going up, so he'll be pressuring recruiting along those lines. I think he'll balance the likelihood of survival Vs relegation and will want to primarily make sure if we come straight back down we're in a position that allows us to come right back up. There's also the 50-100m of debt the club has from his loans and the mortgage on the arena to consider. It would be unwise to spend all of your revenue on transfers given that.

Agree with you on wages. I also imagine there's other projects he might want to consider as well - heavy investment in the training facilities, potentially pursuing tier 1 academy status.
 
Reactions: skybluecam

skybluecam

Well-Known Member
  • 30 minutes ago
  • #16,579
Offhegoes said:
Sign James Maddison from Spurs
Click to expand...
 

shmmeee

Well-Known Member
  • 29 minutes ago
  • #16,580
biggymania said:
I can see him continuing to look at players as assets whose values should be going up, so he'll be pressuring recruiting along those lines. I think he'll balance the likelihood of survival Vs relegation and will want to primarily make sure if we come straight back down we're in a position that allows us to come right back up. There's also the 50-100m of debt the club has from his loans and the mortgage on the arena to consider. It would be unwise to spend all of your revenue on transfers given that.

Agree with you on wages. I also imagine there's other projects he might want to consider as well - heavy investment in the training facilities, potentially pursuing tier 1 academy status.
Click to expand...

I think he’ll want to sell it or keep us up. I can’t see why you’d spend £70m getting here then not try and stay personally and I think it’s cope from fans who want an excuse when we’re relegated.

The irony of the “come straight back up” proponents like yourself is the one club to do what you propose went down to L1 after their relegation.
 

fernandopartridge

Well-Known Member
  • 28 minutes ago
  • #16,581
biggymania said:
I can see him continuing to look at players as assets whose values should be going up, so he'll be pressuring recruiting along those lines. I think he'll balance the likelihood of survival Vs relegation and will want to primarily make sure if we come straight back down we're in a position that allows us to come right back up. There's also the 50-100m of debt the club has from his loans and the mortgage on the arena to consider. It would be unwise to spend all of your revenue on transfers given that.

Agree with you on wages. I also imagine there's other projects he might want to consider as well - heavy investment in the training facilities, potentially pursuing tier 1 academy status.
Click to expand...
I'm not sure if Category 1 academy status is something he's likely to pursue if he's looking to flip the club.
 
Reactions: Mucca Mad Boys and shmmeee

skybluecam

Well-Known Member
  • 24 minutes ago
  • #16,582
I think Doug will do broadly what he's done already, just on a larger scale:

- Focus transfer spending on younger players that are likely to appreciate in value if they perform
- Keep tight control of the wage budget so our hands aren't tied in the event of relegation
- To that end, not being afraid of relatively healthy transfer spends if they meet the above two criteria
- Continue development of the commercial aspects of the club to increase revenues and make us more sustainable to operate.
 
Reactions: Marty and TomRad85

TomRad85

Well-Known Member
  • 23 minutes ago
  • #16,583
skybluecam said:
I think Doug will do broadly what he's done already, just on a larger scale:

- Focus transfer spending on younger players that are likely to appreciate in value if they perform
- Keep tight control of the wage budget so our hands aren't tied in the event of relegation
- To that end, not being afraid of relatively healthy transfer spends if they meet the above two criteria
- Continue development of the commercial aspects of the club to increase revenues and make us more sustainable to operate.
Click to expand...
I agree. Business as usual but with more money, basically.
 

Gynnsthetonic

Well-Known Member
  • 16 minutes ago
  • #16,584
I think Doug enjoys the limelight to much and will stay so can't see him selling up. He'll improve the infrastructure ofvl club even more i think, Ryton upgrade and buy the Connexion back, develop the accedmy. He'll want his face and shiny haircut on the Sky cameras more than ever
 

AFCCOVENTRY

Well-Known Member
  • 11 minutes ago
  • #16,585
Doug has spoken in the past that if you get to the Prem and become established you have to look at investors. I suspect there could be some minority shareholdings on offer for investment.
 
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