16 Apr 2020 08:24:58
I just think we need experience and Mertens would give us that with quality just like Moutinho has. Also I would of gone for Tahith Chong from Man Utd (Afro Man) he is or was out of contract whether they have tied him down or not last minute but this kid is pure if not world class and would be perfect for Wolves. Also I would love to see a player like David Brooks from Bournemouth in the centre for us. The lads been out nearly all season with injury but he's a like the forgotten man and again is class in my opinion. I personally am not a fan of Dendonkker he's a liability the lad can't mark to save his life as shown when played at the back, doesn't look around him and just wonders about in space like headless chicken. Vintage and Gibbs I think need to stop trying to over impress and just play as the quality is there but I know chances are limited. Finally Boly, well I say if this lad isn't worth £50m I'd be surprised as he is one of top 3 defenders in the league in my eyes.
16 Apr 2020 11:09:28
I'm afraid that I personally don't think there will be any huge investment now not with the current health situation. For one thing clubs are losing significant amounts of money plus we now have the spectre of Newcastle which players will view as a bigger fish.
16 Apr 2020 12:33:40
Problem is Greg your comparing apples and pairs. Moutinho was never a quick player his main attribute is his reading of the game, age doesn't massively effect that in fact from what we've seen he might even be getting better! Mertens on the other hand is a player that's always relied on pace and sadly this is reflected in his stats for the last 3 seasons where there's a very clear downward trend (just 6 goals so far this season) . Add to that he's been tied with HUGE wages in China and I just don't think he's worth the risk.
Chong signed a new contract with United on 9th March, they went big by all accounts because he was being tracked by Inter and Juve so I think the horse may have bolted on that one as I think most of Europe's aware of how special he is! I like Brooks but again they will want a fortune for a player who has a ropey injury record at besg so I just can't see us doing it to be honest. I've said it before, as SQ just said NO one will be spending big this summer, footy is currently going through its biggest wake up call in a generation! 😨.
16 Apr 2020 14:12:50
Agreed Bully boy. Although Newcastle might think they have their own rules.
16 Apr 2020 16:02:44
SQ- Man City had there own rules and are now facing expulsion from the Champs League for it with rumours PSG are next! UEFA have made it pretty clear that play time is over for over spending so I just can't see them getting away with it. I actually think they will go down our route with a top manager (Allegeri odds are already tumbling) and a big drive on recruitment. It could work but as Fosun lamented last year I think the days are gone of giving clubs blank cheques, time will tell ðŸ‘.
16 Apr 2020 17:31:32
Ps- where I do think you could be right is if Man City succeed with a CAS appeal. It happened before with Juve, then THAT could make it open season on mad investment. The other scenario that's a concern could be a relaxation of the FFP rules due to the current situation but who knows what the future holds there?! 🤔.
{Ed002's Note - The relaxation relates to those clubs in trouble. Clubs all have to stay within the rules.}
17 Apr 2020 16:57:25
I know Ed, but that's as things stand today and its also only as strong as they are willing to enforce it. Like all things at the moment, rules and how stringently they are enforced can change VERY quickly in the current climate! For the record I hope your right and it remains the case but with how gutless they have been at enforcing the rules previously, well let's just say I am a sceltic when it comes to UEFA.
{Ed002's Note - It is enforced and isn't just FIFA.}
17 Apr 2020 17:29:25
I mean you say its enforced yet PSG won there appeal to shut down the investigation into them? And are you honestly telling me you don't think Barcelona or Real shouldn't have been done on wages yet? It is enforced but very sporadically, not very bindingly (I suspect City will overturn it with a CAS) appeal and then there was Juve literally caught cheating and STILL overturned?! I suppose what I am really debating is how capable they are of seeing though their enforcement because there's been little to no proof of that yet?
{Ed002's Note - The UEFA case had been concluded yet they looked to re-open it without new evidence - hence the appeal was help up. Real Madrid and Barcelona are not in breach of rules about wages - which themselves changed a couple of years ago. Manchester City are claiming that the evidence presented (which was largely stolen) was incomplete and out of context. Ironically, evidence against FIFA and UEFA from the same source (thief) was claimed to be out of context, incomplete and obtained illegally by UEFA and FIFA. I am not sure what you are referring to with Juventus. I do understand all of the conspiracy stuff, but I also know exactly what happened with Chelsea and The FA, what sits in the file with Liverpool, Manchester United and Manchester United over the same issue - and how hard FIFA tried to make the matter go away after Chelsea had been charged and found to be guilty. There was a matter raised with Wolves over a certain player that Wolves had the opportunity to resolve. PL FFP issues are around teh encks of Aston Villa and Everton - who may just be able to resolve them during a period of relaxation. Not so good for the likes of Birmingham. Derby or Sheffield Wednesday. Across Europe UEFA have given out numerous punishments and bans.}
17 Apr 2020 22:31:05
But the appeal was only raised within UEFA about PSG because they had ALREADY been cleared by UEFA! At which point other members within the organisation started to query how it was possible that PSG had been cleared (considering the numbers)?!
Then they followed this by dropping their OWN appeal without so much as a fight! Resulting in one of the leading members of the FFP team to quit (quite pubically) because they pretty much intermitted that UEFA weren't backing them when it came to the crunch.
I mean when that comes from within the department in question then it's hard to have much faith in the system. You say there have been sanctions imposed by UEFA but other than fines (or nonsense like reduced squad numbers) where has this happened to a big club yet and been upheld cause I'm not aware of it happening yet?! Seems to me they seem scared of facing the legal teams at big clubs (the City lot were practically laughing when they announced their appeal) .
The Juve case was not FFP but was when they were caught VERY blatantly match fixing with refs involved through wire taps. They were supposed to be relegated with a 30 point fine before the season started this was downgraded to a 9 point fine (thus ensuring they could bounce straight back) .
What financial fine were they given for matches that many people around the club almost certainly made millions off in bets well that was £75k! Milan were also supposed to be banned from Europe for it, but guess what not only did the ban not stick they actually got to the final that year to add insult to injury!
Now I realise that's not FFP but it does show a pattern of an organisation that seems to struggle with genuinely following through with there punishments! Or scared of the financial clout at big clubs? 🤔ðŸ‘.