13 Jul 2021 22:02:47
If the rumours are true, why are we signing a right back from Hungary. Havent we got enough?


1.) 13 Jul 2021
13 Jul 2021 22:06:32
He's going straight out on loan for the season.


2.) 13 Jul 2021
13 Jul 2021 22:19:42
Ragingbull

It's a done deal, going straight to grasshoppers on loan. Transfer fee is currently unknown, and it could be just a financial move. These type of signings need to happen to increase first team money. This RB could either blow up and teams require of his services, or could be added to the wolves in the future.


3.) 14 Jul 2021
14 Jul 2021 13:22:42
Do fans not understand how the club works?
Imagine you are an owner of a football club you are a billionaire and you have plans to make your investment successful.
The club has achieved highest positions in over 40 years 3 years in a row.
Would you buy 4 experienced players on over 100k a week for 50m each and risk upsetting the team culture? Do all players want to come to Wolves?
The answer is some may but there character as a mercenary is bad for the club and team.
Then we have the 'experienced'player every Wolves fan wants at the moment. Its simple who? Who is good enough? Lingard played well for 10 games then dropped off. Zinchenko didn't want to come.
Going bavk to the hungarian rb. This is a series of signings that are designed to overlap between academy and first team. They give the young player a chance to start there career at a big premiership club. But in the case of Vitinha, Silva, Dhabani, Jordao and Neto they are designed to bring a set of strong technically able players to the club to minimise the gap between u18, u21 and u23 (reserve football) . Players like Kilman, Otawosie, Morgan gibbs white, Giles, Sanderson, Burr and Marques have benefitted from this system as it has raosed standards throughout the club.


4.) 14 Jul 2021
14 Jul 2021 14:14:03
Madman it is all about balance.
In a previous note you talked about investment for the future as independent of investment for the present.
However there is no seperate pot of gold to do this.
If you spend on the future it is at the cost of investment for the present.
Whilst I totally understand what you are saying about finding the right player and a player who will come ( we have made it harder for ourselves by going backwards so sharply last year and not just not being able to offer European football this year but even in all reality the prospect of it in the near term ) but it doesn't mean you give up on the concept. Clearly you can't buy prima donnas or players who will upset the squad morale - Silva is a real risk there as he is one of the very highest paid but clearly not even close to justifying it - but players who fit both the culture and the teams requirements.
If we don't buy for the present (and v soon) we will get relegated sooner or later costing 100's of millions and no amount of clever youth development will compensate for that - plus no really talented kid will come to a championship side that isn't looking like it has a plan for the future.
Most billionaires will get this and will understand the need for balance
Indeed until last summer we had done this extremely well buying youngsters like Neto and Neves alongside experienced player like Boly and Moutinho.
However due to the passage of time (old age) and injurys the balance after a year of misjudged inactivity is now dangerously close to wrong and we need to redress this during the current window.
Nothing wrong with sensibly structured buys for the future (and a career path as you decribe) as long as it is balanced by buys for the current so that we have a premier league future.
Jeff got it badly wrong last summer let's not make the same mistakes again.


5.) 14 Jul 2021
14 Jul 2021 14:38:43
TFIOG, you keep mentioning Fabio Silva and how wrong Wolves have got it by signing him. Whilst I agree that he isn't the finished article, you lambast him as he's 'one of the highest earning'. How do you know this? The internet should not always be trusted, especially when different 'trusted' sites have varying amounts from £15k to £80k.


6.) 14 Jul 2021
14 Jul 2021 15:42:23
We paid £35m for him - over 25% of our annual turnover, yet even his biggest fans acknowledge he wasn't ready last year and many acknowledge he won't be ready this year either. Consequently what he is paid is almost irrelevant as for Wolves that alone it is a bad deal full stop.
We simply can't afford to carry players who don't contribute for that sort of money as we discovered last year when we didn't have a deep enough squad of ready to play Prem quality players once the injury's kicked in.
If Madman was right when his post intimated that this money came out of some sort of different pot it would be fine but it doesn't it came out of the pot from which we should have bought ready to play players but couldn't because it was empty and seemingly (if you believe all the noise) still isn't flush.
However re his wages whilst I agree the internet is not a reliable source of data and I haven't seen his pay packet do you think Wolves pay £35m for a player and put him on youth team wages?
He has been bought, in Wolves terms, as a super star, or for, in Wolves terms, super star money at least. It is therefore reasonable to assume is it not that the internet, where yes some sites have him lower paid, is probably correct when, as most sites do, it states he is one of our highest paid players. With Patrico leaving he may in fact be number 3 behind Moutinho and Semedo or possibly 4 behind Jimenez as well - whose wage is also quoted wildly differently on ifferent sites.
ps we haven't go it wrong signing him - he may turn out to be a great player as he has got that magic ability to be in the right place at the right time, - but we did structure the transfer v badly. A lesson we seem to have learnt with the RAN deal being more rational and the Sa/ Patricio deal being on the face it a good one.
Pps I have seen sites quoting 90k pw so you are correct the internet is not reliable.


7.) 14 Jul 2021
14 Jul 2021 15:52:55
Could well be a good move. Tote Gomes the guy we signed from Estoril last year helped Grasshoppers to promotion last season to the Premier. Looks decent and will spend another year there. We will make a profit when or if we sell. Impressed in games I've watched.


8.) 14 Jul 2021
14 Jul 2021 16:21:29
Fabio Silva was a gamble, wolves paid £35m for him and I would still consider that a bargain. Had the kid never left Porto and would had an impressive year there, he would be worth more double the fee. The kid is talented and we just have to give him time. Playing under Bruno Lage will help him improve!


9.) 14 Jul 2021
14 Jul 2021 16:34:34
The future is old gold.
I'll give you a few players I'd look at with experience.
Defence:Dunk, Tarkowski, Ben White, Zouma, Laporte (i know out there but he is supposed to be available) .
Midfield:Palhinha, Gedson Fernandes, flortino Luis, Ryan Gauld, ask for Renato Sanchez (again if a deal is possible) and Goncalves (depending on our deal with familcao and then sporting) Vitinha (if Neves Leaves)
Forwards: Guedes (if Traore goes), Carlos Vinicius and Leao. i'd also look at Seferovic from Benfica.
Not sure how that all adds up with home grown players etc etc.

My annoyance is fans that want experience and can't say who they want. Its to simple to say there's a problem but not give a solution.
Then blame young talent on the issues.

Note I also agree that the club are looking at strengthening Lwb with Robinson from Fulham.

The future is old gold your view on Fabio Silva is like investing in stocks in a new company and expecting returns with 12 months during a depression. Give the lad time and get behind them!


10.) 14 Jul 2021
14 Jul 2021 16:35:13
TFIOG, where can I get my hands on a copy of the Wolves finances. You say over 25% of our turnover was spent on Silva so just confirm what our turnover is.

I'm no financial guru but even I know that we have other streams of income other than the TV money. Also, are you aware that not many transfer fees are paid up in full. They're usually staggered over a period of at least 2 summers. Hence why we only had £4.5m paid up front for Jota last season.


11.) 14 Jul 2021
14 Jul 2021 17:06:29
How I go about my thinking is our club try everything in their power to get the right players they think (through a huge up to date state of the art process) will improve us.
Last summer we may of well had players coming in but didn't materialize through no fault of our club.
It been said since promotion the area of players we are looking for is a very narrow and small area.
I think the club has been looking for a quality c/ b for the the last 2 or 3 transfer windows this to me shows how difficult it is to bring in players.
Re Silva it may be a bad buy to certain fans but I imagine an excellent well thought out smart buy by fosun.
I don't know and I respect every fans opinion but since fosun all the players who we have seen playing for wolves has been something I have never witnessed so I trust fosun as I don't know or understand how it is behind the scenes for our 10 year plan.
I think the club is always looking for quality first team players and I personally think we need 1 or 2 but if we don't I will still have faith in the club that they are doing their upmost to make us better.
I think quality players available are all on the clubs list of targets.
I hope quality players will want to join us and our project.
We wait and see in eager inticiptation.


12.) 14 Jul 2021
14 Jul 2021 17:23:06
Jas just google Wolverhampton Wanderers football club beta and you’ll get some Companies House options and be able to view the most recent filed accounts (I think the turnover was £132m in the last filed accounts) .
No great issue on the Jota deal as I’m guessing aside from the initial payment we would have the transfer balance included in the balance sheet as a contractual debtor.
‘Pool are watching their pennies to their great credit and the whole amount in the P&L of the year in which the transfer took place.


13.) 14 Jul 2021
14 Jul 2021 22:59:44
Wolves Turnover was 190M in Financial year ending May 2020. Accounts have not been filed yet for year ending May 2021.


14.) 14 Jul 2021
14 Jul 2021 23:23:09
Thanks for clarification Shanghai, your figure includes the deferred broadcasting revenues and mine didn’t.
Certainly a weird year to 31.05.20 with the season overhang.


15.) 15 Jul 2021
15 Jul 2021 17:47:14
NES and Shanghai - if you read page 1 of the Wolves accounts it makes it very clear that Wolves turnover was £132m but on page 2 it states that it would have been £190m if the C.V. hadn't occured.
It also makes clear, as you say NES, that a large part although not all of the differnce will indeed be received in 20/ 21 however that will be part of the turnover for 20/ 21 not 19/ 20 which is the latest figures available.


16.) 15 Jul 2021
15 Jul 2021 18:13:12
Jas M the transfer, (In this case Fabio's but in reality all buys and sales) ares reported in different ways depending on which of the 3 accounts you are looking at.
In the B/ S Fabio will be recorded as an asset at £28m now (would have been £35m originally) offset by either a £35m increase in net debt if we have paid for him less a £7m reduction in Profits (his depreciation to date ) or a combination of above for the bit we have paid and as a Creditor - someone we owe money to - for the bit we haven't.
In the cahflow in the first year it would be Fixed assets up £35m and either debt up or working capital down depending on if we paid or not.
In later years if we paid up front the only difference will be depreciation up £7m profit down £7m and no movement in debt
But if we are paying in stages net debt will rise by the amount we paid working capital will increase by the same amount and the 2 depreciation and profit movements will be repeated
Finally and probably most importantly in the p and l (as it forms the starting point for FFP) he is charged/ is a deduction from profits to the club at £7m pa plus his wage regardless of if we paid up front on in stages or indeed whatever those stage payments are
All v boring and not that relevant - the big q is can a club afford the tranfer or not.
That is by far a more complex q and the accounts are merely one factor - how good he is and how good the rest of the squad is are clearly others and your view is obviously different to mine but that is what makes football and this site interesting.


17.) 15 Jul 2021
15 Jul 2021 18:28:46
Madman - great analogy. Silva is the stock and Wolves the investor.
Odd though for you to do so as even ignoring the depression bit investing in start ups is a v high risk strategy and for every Apple (Ronaldo? ) there are 100s no 1000s of companies that give no return at all indeed go bust ( zele ismael, josh Mccrachan etc etc etc) .
To be clear as an aside for the vast majority of people/ investors direct investment in stocks - even old privatisation favs or FTSE stalwarts - is not a sensible idea.
Depending on your tax posistion your pension or unit/ investment trusts are a far better way to go. Cheaper, safer and far more diversified.
But back to your analogy only the very very rich, (Man U) or the very foolish (hopefully not Wolves) should be investing in start ups in a depression.
Making sure you can feed your family and keep a roof over there head is far more important - ie we don't get relegated
Chasing the dream but losing your footing is not a smart thing to do
But as I said before it is all about balance and where that lies is different in everyones eyes and will depend amongst other things on how strong you think the existing squad is and how good you think Fabio is / will become and when - Note a share is yours for ever and a back ended return over the v long term is possible but Fabio now only has 4 years left on his contract and in reality in the final year you have to make a decision reasonbly early.
If as you postualte he doesn't contribute next year either we actually will only have 2 years to reap a reward before we are faced with the sell or offer new contract call
Appreciate your list will send one back later on with comments as this post is already v long - sorry.


18.) 15 Jul 2021
15 Jul 2021 20:27:38
The future is old gold.
I understand your reasoning.
To compare Josh MacEachren and Zele Ismail to Fabio Silva is rather fool hardy. I understand your scepticism however we are talking about a Mendes player, a mendes club, a mendes investor in Fosun and a Mendes agency in gestifute tending to Fabio Silva's development. Its like a new stock with millions already backing the idea. Zele Ismail had one coach say he was worth £100m aged 15.
If Fabio scores 10 goals next season and brings more assists to his game the fee will be irrelevant. He will have already reached Lukaku hights whilst he was at Sandwell Town.


19.) 15 Jul 2021
15 Jul 2021 20:43:48
Agreed TFIOG, how much more useful would the Strategic Report be if they split out the revenue deferred to the next financial year from the lost revenue? But anyway they’re painting a financial picture of what could have been and it will be useful to do some benchmarking versus our peers and closest competitors (a treat for another day) .
Well-explained analysis of the likely accounting treatment of Fabio and his contract. Regardless of whether we classify Fabio as a fixed asset or an intangible let’s hope he provides us with some fair value on the pitch this season 👍.


20.) 15 Jul 2021
15 Jul 2021 22:54:28
Madman - good post.
However I could have named half a dozen of England's world cup winning under 17 side who have not trained on or countless others But choose zele as he was the golden boy for Wolves and Josh as he had such a great (but rude) chant attached to him.
BUT you are correct there are a lot of people with a vested interest in it working and Fabio had a stellar youth career so maybe he will work out.
If he gets the goals and assists you are def right the fee will be irrelevant - i'd want more than 10 and a few assists though - but i'm v greedy!


21.) 15 Jul 2021
15 Jul 2021 23:02:50
NES of the £58m of lost revenue I believe that only just over £2m won't be recovered in the future. This is the match day money for games played behind closed doors.
However just because we are getting a £56m boost don't think it will be all sweetness and light in 20/ 21 as there is no European football and we ended the year 6 places lower - losing a fair chunk of revenue accordingly.
Plus I strongly suspect our wage bill will be heavily up with Semedo and Silva joining and our contract amortisation would have almost certainly increased a well due to the 2 new guys - offsetting this though we did make huge profits on Jota and Doherty.