Brendan Rodgers wants Leicester City to end annual summer transfer tradition

[HighPeakFox]

I like it that the new confident orthodoxy is that cags could well be sold - this is just imagination.

[Nalis]

We should only really sell a first team player if that player is trying to force their way out and wants to move. On the surface at least it looks like the players are happy so what Brendan is saying makes sense.

[Raw Dykes]

35 minutes ago, Buce said:

 

We already did...

 

I think that's what they were referring to.

[MarriedaLeicesterGirl]

42 minutes ago, Grebfromgrebland said:

Need champions League and a better sponsorship deal. Surely Thailand can afford a bit more cash?

Especially given international travel will be back on next year, you would think it would actually be worth the cash. Not saying Thai/King Power politics were the driving force behind this year's deal...

[sacreblueits442]

2 hours ago, leicesterseddon said:

Yes I’ve been wondering about this too. 
 

Obviously the pandemic has worsened our finances, like other clubs. 
 

But it might also check the previous rampant inflation in the transfer market that saw clubs bigger than us hoover up talent with £50m+ bids.

 

I think a lot more clubs will be swimming in the same financial pool, so to speak, when it comes to transfer fees this summer.

 

But a big difference of course remains with regard to salaries. 
 

At the moment we’re managing to punch above our weight by maxxing out wage spending relative to turnover. I’m a little concerned about it tbh, it’s been very high for a few years now.
 

The only way I can see it becoming sustainable is through a big increase in commercial revenue - the area where we really still are miles behind the Big/Rich Six

...it is the investment in infrastructure that has us in this situation!!!

  The pandemic is an issue but there will be a resolution soon in order to increase our turnover, where the money has gone is in setting us up for a club who will have the platform for a sustainable push for future success.

  So long as we are finishing in the top six, we will be generating a million pounds from our part of the FA deal, we do not build extensions to stadium's every year.

 

 

[Ric Flair]

1 hour ago, Costock_Fox said:

I would say that the wages are spread quite evenly over the squad now rather than 3 or 4 high earners and the rest being lower.

 

Kasper, Evans, Soyuncu, Fofana, Vardy, Youri, Madders, Perez, Kelechi etc are all on well over £60k a week I suspect but before Okazaki and Simpson wouldn’t have been on much more than £40k I bet.

 

1 hour ago, coolhandfox said:

This year wages were roughly 157m on a turnover of 150m down 28m on last year. 

 

Without that turnover drop our wages % would be about 88%

 

We lose Silva and Slimini wages next year which will help and Fuch and Morgan if they retire.

 

1 hour ago, Corky said:

Quite a few fringe players are off this summer, that will drag it down. I imagine we won't be so generous with the squad players in terms of wages and will boost the earnings of the key players instead.

 

With transfers, there may be some frees available and also taking players at a reduced rate with contracts running down. We also look to the Football League for signings and value could be found there.

I'll get hold of the published accounts and see what I can fathom out. I just don't see where the increases came from. Evans, Maddison, Soyuncu were all signed the year before with no pay rises until 20/21. Fofana hadn't signed yet.

 

We sold Maguire who was on over 100k a week, lost Okazaki and Simpson who had signed new deals post title win, Morgan and Fuchs keep signing new 1 year deals on less than their previous deals.

 

Kasper, Vardy, Ndidi, Barnes all got new deals I think. Plus Tielemans, Perez, Praet signing and then Rodgers pay rise. Still don't think it should equate to the reported increases though. We now have an average wage of 75k a week which is bonkers.

 

[Cincinnati Fox]

2 hours ago, Jobyfox said:

I've been thinking for a while that a small, very targeted, summer transfer window might be the way forward in 2021. The caveat being that we keep those we already have at the club, which of course is made easier if we qualify for the Champions League. A striker, attacking midfielder, winger with maybe one of those on loan would be a good window for me IF we keep what we've got. 

 

The 105% on player wages is a worry as it simply isn't sustainable in the long term. That's the biggest gap between where we are and consistently competing against the rich six and why they can afford to cherry pick our best players. Closing that turnover gap will take time and patience. 

Big worry. You just can’t spend more than you make, recipe for disaster 

[coolhandfox]

9 minutes ago, Ric Flair said:

 

 

I'll get hold of the published accounts and see what I can fathom out. I just don't see where the increases came from. Evans, Maddison, Soyuncu were all signed the year before with no pay rises until 20/21. Fofana hadn't signed yet.

 

We sold Maguire who was on over 100k a week, lost Okazaki and Simpson who had signed new deals post title win, Morgan and Fuchs keep signing new 1 year deals on less than their previous deals.

 

Kasper, Vardy, Ndidi, Barnes all got new deals I think. Plus Tielemans, Perez, Praet signing and then Rodgers pay rise. Still don't think it should equate to the reported increases though. We now have an average wage of 75k a week which is bonkers.

 

I'd imagine Rodgers backroom staff is a little more top heavy then Puel's, combined with probably lots of extra staff at the new Training Centre, plus good chance we are still paying off Puel. 

 

As the calibre of player we recruit increase so do the wages. 

 

Do you know the actual figure for wages for 2018/19 and 2019/20 as % of turnover means little due to COVID.

 

Also more then likely includes squad bonuses for European qualification.

Edited 20 March 2021 by coolhandfox

[Bryn]

Yep think we keep them all this summer. Combination of COVID, the clear progress we're making +/- CL football should make it happen.

 

Just trying to map out our squad for next season.

 

Likely to leave
New addition

 

GK: Schmeichel
GK: Ward

GK: Jakupovic

?Iversen

 

FB: Justin
FB: Pereira
FB: Castagne
FB: Thomas
FB: Daley-Campbell
FB: Fuchs

 

CB: Fofana
CB: Soyuncu
CB: Evans
CB/FB: Amartey

CB: Morgan

New signing/Youth step-up

 

CM: Tielemans
CM: Ndidi
CM: Mendy
CM: Praet
CM: Choudhury

?Dewsbury-Hall

 

AM: Maddison
AM: Perez
AM: Tavares

 

WM: Barnes
WM: Albrighton
WM: Leshabela
WM: Under

New signing

 

ST: Vardy
ST: Iheanacho
?Edouard

 

That's how I see it playing out. I've lost track of which players wouldn't need to be named in the 25 - Thomas, Fofana, Tavares, maybe Leshabela? - so that is likely to be the 25 man squad, plus or minus a few going out on loan. We will probably need a CB to cover Morgan leaving but think we're fine at FB if Fuchs goes. So yeah, probably not a super busy summer.

 

 

Edited 20 March 2021 by Bryn

[Guest SO1]

Just keep on doing what we're doing. No complaints considering our finances. This is a very well run club.

[Ric Flair]

41 minutes ago, coolhandfox said:

I'd imagine Rodgers backroom staff is a little more top heavy then Puel's, combined with probably lots of extra staff at the new Training Centre, plus good chance we are still paying off Puel. 

 

As the calibre of player we recruit increase so do the wages. 

 

Do you know the actual figure for wages for 2018/19 and 2019/20 as % of turnover means little due to COVID.

 

Also more then likely includes squad bonuses for European qualification.

Training ground staff wouldn't effect 2019/20 accounts. And sacking Puel will have hit 2018/19 accounts anyway.

[VLC86]

40 minutes ago, Bryn said:

Yep think we keep them all this summer. Combination of COVID, the clear progress we're making +/- CL football should make it happen.

 

Just trying to map out our squad for next season.

 

Likely to leave
New addition

 

GK: Schmeichel
GK: Ward

GK: Jakupovic

?Iversen

 

FB: Justin
FB: Pereira
FB: Castagne
FB: Thomas
FB: Daley-Campbell
FB: Fuchs

 

CB: Fofana
CB: Soyuncu
CB: Evans
CB/FB: Amartey

CB: Morgan

New signing/Youth step-up

 

CM: Tielemans
CM: Ndidi
CM: Mendy
CM: Praet
CM: Choudhury

?Dewsbury-Hall

 

AM: Maddison
AM: Perez
AM: Tavares

 

WM: Barnes
WM: Albrighton
WM: Leshabela
WM: Under

New signing

 

ST: Vardy
ST: Iheanacho
?Edouard

 

That's how I see it playing out. I've lost track of which players wouldn't need to be named in the 25 - Thomas, Fofana, Tavares, maybe Leshabela? - so that is likely to be the 25 man squad, plus or minus a few going out on loan. We will probably need a CB to cover Morgan leaving but think we're fine at FB if Fuchs goes. So yeah, probably not a super busy summer.

 

 

Not a chance we keep Under.

[StriderHiryu]

If we qualify for the Champions League, all our important players will stay. Perhaps there could be one or two sales, but they would be for squad players rather than first teamers. Under probably won't be kept on, Hamza I think goes and perhaps Amartey might leave too, even though I think he's proved to be a good squad player who has value. But if we have Champions League football IMO we will keep everyone, even Ricardo, Soyuncu, etc.

 

I was really worried this season that with European football our league position would suffer, so our league position has been a pleasant surprise. Going out to Prague was a disappointment, but I feel like the sheer amount of injuries cost us there on top of bad performances in both legs.

 

If we keep our current squad and add 2/3 players of the level of this summer's signings and we will be in great shape again!

[Alan Frost]

Well good for BR. I hope that he might have the potential to become our first Great manager. We've had a few good ones, Claudio came close, for a season. Many have suggested me:-) but like Claudio I can't guarantee enough years anyway. We are overdue one and at least we are a suitable club to have a Great manager. There are n't many clubs as well qualified for one as LCFC imo.I only hope Brendan Rogers is smart enough to realise that he might be at a club where he could become a Great manager. If he aimed for LCFC he's probably a genius.I hope BR realises he could n't do this by joining either of the Manchesters, Liverpool,Chelsea or Arsenal, and that achieving it at Spurs would probably not count.

Recently I'd become less hopeful. There had been a few bad signs. I think becoming a Great manager is probably harder , maybe impossible these days.

I've posted my idea of a Great manager before but to recap  he goes to a run of the mill club , recruits over a period a great team , stays long enough at the club to win several major trophies preferably winning at least one ECL (this whole procedure might well take ten years plus), becomes almost universally admired throughout  football, and finally leaves an infrastructure and team that continues to succeed (including a successor) after he is no longer with the club. It seems to me that he would probably be English , but British would do.

We are in one sense not a run of the mill club. My experiences with LCFC suggest we are in many ways a rather special club. We have had recently and hopefully still have exceptional owners.

These days the manager probably needs an exceptional chief executive and an exceptional team around him which he might have to build to some extent. There are a few signs imo our coaching staff need improving. It might also be necessary to sell a playing asset depending on post covid finances but I hope not as that might extend the period  of achieving this beyond my lifetime. 

I wonder if ,bearing in mind my age we could begin this Sunday.

Edited 20 March 2021 by Alan Frost

[Out Foxed]

you can't keep giving people new contract extensions and increases every few years and not sell. it's not sustainable. 

[Ric Flair]

10 minutes ago, Out Foxed said:

you can't keep giving people new contract extensions and increases every few years and not sell. it's not sustainable. 

Yeah, the only way you can is by regular CL football and/or increase commercial revenue significantly.

[Alan Frost]

21 minutes ago, Out Foxed said:

you can't keep giving people new contract extensions and increases every few years and not sell. it's not sustainable. 

I think it is. You just pick the right people. IMO we already have many of the right people. One thing you don't do is buy a striker as a knee jerk reaction as soon as your supposedly lone scorer is injured.That way you spend at least £30m which is probably wasted and leaves you with yet more dead wood. Its hard enough to buy the right replacement car quickly. People are infinitely more complicated. There are n't any robot players yet altho the being known as Crouch looked like one for a while after scoring.

 

Generally any thing done in haste is repented at leisure unless you're lucky, altho I'll grant that occasionally one has to move as quickly as possible. Not very often if one keepscool and knows one's business. Anyway players are like buses ,if you miss one........

Edited 20 March 2021 by Alan Frost

[Alan Frost]

16 minutes ago, Ric Flair said:

Yeah, the only way you can is by regular CL football and/or increase commercial revenue significantly.

Also unless we get a genius mistakes will be made and we'll occasionally want to sell and will benefit.

[Bryn]

1 hour ago, Costock_Fox said:

Not a chance we keep Under.

 

That's why he's listed as likely to leave...

Edited 20 March 2021 by Bryn

[Alan Frost]

3 minutes ago, Bryn said:

 

That's why his listed as likely to leave...

That 's one of the bad signs I mentioned but any good manager will make mistakes in selection and man management occasionally. That's OK as long as everyday remains a schoolday and he tries as hard as possible to correct them.. 

Edited 20 March 2021 by Alan Frost

[Alan Frost]

1 hour ago, StriderHiryu said:

If we qualify for the Champions League, all our important players will stay. Perhaps there could be one or two sales, but they would be for squad players rather than first teamers. Under probably won't be kept on, Hamza I think goes and perhaps Amartey might leave too, even though I think he's proved to be a good squad player who has value. But if we have Champions League football IMO we will keep everyone, even Ricardo, Soyuncu, etc.

 

I was really worried this season that with European football our league position would suffer, so our league position has been a pleasant surprise. Going out to Prague was a disappointment, but I feel like the sheer amount of injuries cost us there on top of bad performances in both legs.

 

If we keep our current squad and add 2/3 players of the level of this summer's signings and we will be in great shape again!

Personally I doubt we can afford 2/3 players of the required quality and we have at least one we have to sell imo (i hope not so and he comes good, I think I was very wrong about Iheanacho too) .We are n't going to win the ECL next year so I'm not sure we need 2/3 players next season anyway. Just a nice sensible amount of progress. IF we do win the ECL it will almost certainly be a sign that the almighty has been overwhelmed by the surprise of me praying for something. I must admit I don't know who was responsible for 2015/6 but the bastard never tipped me off.

 

I also hope that BR realises he might have to be smart and consider the effect of player's agents. Hopefully our key players know their agents work for them and not vice versa. Even our well grounded players might have agents who are almost certainly not bothered about LCFC and probably not much except their wallets.

Edited 20 March 2021 by Alan Frost

[ARM1968]

Surely the thing affecting these accounts is that Premier League prize money was not paid out until after the conclusion of the season in July last year? Although maybe not as it’s usually paid out in June anyway. 
 

Bah, fuch it, I need a kip. We need some new players to strengthen the squad and we need to find some money from somewhere. 
 

In the words of Ian Brown, ‘Keep what you’ve got by giving it all away’.

[Jobyfox]

We’ve done well in the last two seasons by getting rid of overrated assets and shrewdly replacing them with better players. Maguire - Soyuncu and Fofana, Chilwell - Justin and Castagne.

 

I don’t see that happening with the current crop: Ricardo, Soyuncu, Fofana, Tielemans, Maddison, Ndidi and Barnes could all be sold for big money. The difference this time is that they’re all probably worth it and would be hard to replace (ala Kante and Mahrez) 

[HybridFox]

2 hours ago, SO1 said:

Just keep on doing what we're doing. No complaints considering our finances. This is a very well run club.

Tell that to Sean Dyche 

[coolhandfox]

2 hours ago, Ric Flair said:

Training ground staff wouldn't effect 2019/20 accounts. And sacking Puel will have hit 2018/19 accounts anyway.

Sometimes they just carry on playing wages as normal for the length of the contract.

 

Newcastle paid AP for 5 odd years.