thejoker

Disappointing, but considering we thought we might not have a club a month ago I can’t say I’m too bothered. Onto the next one. We’ve still got until the end of the month to get someone on loan too.

Kenyan would certainly show that the new owners mean business. 

That’s the FFP precident set now then. They can’t just fine (and transfer embargo) QPR and then start deducting points from other teams that break the rules. I guess it’s up to our owners whether they do things sensibly (which I think they will) or just say ‘f*** it’ and pay the fine.

4 minutes ago, Stevo985 said:

Few people have said this and I don't really get it.

Firstly because no manager has free reign on transfers these days. It's all done using a team of people. Obviously I'm sure Bruce gets a big say in things, but it's not like he spends whatever he wants on whomever he wants.

Secondly, why would the owners give the manager the opportunity to prove himself, but not let him sign players (assuming there is money to spend)?

That's like choosing someone to fight for you and then tying their arms behind their back. I don't really see the logic. If you're giving the guy a chance, then give him a chance. Don't make it harder for him.

Who else is left at the club to make decisions on transfers? No one that I could name.

I can’t see Bruce being a long term option (he never was). He was brought in as a quick fix to get us promoted fast. I don’t see the point in letting him sign more 30 somethings who we won’t be able to shift when he eventually leaves.

It would have been nice to hear about the target for this season, whether they will be appointing a CEO, new scouting structure, do we have to sell players, etc. We still don’t really know anything yet.

I wouldn't bring Snodgrass back personally. He was generally good for us, but he's far too slow for a winger. I guess we'll be bringing in some younger players now.

I just hope people don’t get on his back if we’re not in the top 6 after 10 games. If he does come in, he’s got less than 2 weeks to assess the squad, make signings and put over some of his ideas to the team. It’s not going to be easy for him.

Having said that, I’m all for getting rid of Bruce from a football perspective. He was never going to be a long term option for us. He was brought in to get us up quickly. He didn’t. It’s time for us to move on.

3 minutes ago, TRO said:

I will be amazed if these new investors, soon to be owners turn to Dean Smith.

correct me if I am wrong, but I think many Walsall fans were glad when he went.

I doubt it very much, Walsall we’re second when left and would almost certainly have been promoted had he stayed. 

The only scenario for me wanting Bruce to stay would be if it meant Grealish staying. If Grealish leaves anyway (he might according to John Percy) then I see absolutely no reason for Bruce to stay. Keeping Grealish happy is the only thing Bruce offers right now imo.

5 hours ago, PieFacE said:

Does Neil Moxley have a good track record?

He is definitely close to Steve Bruce. But then Bruce could have told Moxley this to put pressure on the new owners. It’s a ready made excuse for Bruce “we had to sell our best player, he wanted to stay , not my fault, etc”

On 31/05/2018 at 12:31, BOF said:

I know how much some of you just love to lose your shit over promotion odds, so here are the current early ones for next season.

6/1 - Aston Villa
7/1 - Swansea, WBA
8/1 - Stoke City
9/1 - Middlesbrough
14/1 - Brentford, Derby County
16/1 - Leeds Utd, Norwich
20/1 - Bristol City, Sheff Wed
25/1 - Hull City, Sheff Utd
33/1 - Blackburn, sha, Forest, Wigan
40/1 - Millwall, Preston, Reading
50/1 - Ipswich, QPR
66-1 - Bolton, Rotherrham

We were favourites before the start of last season too...

6 minutes ago, Didiersix said:

Agree with that. I don't think it is anywhere near clear cut. 

That’s why I think we need a better ‘coach’ than Steve Bruce.

Still hurting. Felt even more when you realize how much all ppl love the club, gaffer, the whole squad, including myself, have given everything but still didn’t achieve our target. Also very difficult to verify ppl showing their real personality and humanity at this tough moment.

Dr Tony’s latest tweet, still referring to Bruce as gaffer, sounds like Bruce is staying to me. Unless I’m reading too much into it.

6 minutes ago, Dick said:

I think, correct me if I am wrong, but that contract means there is always a year remaining. We would have to pay him one year of his salary, I'd guess.

Yes, this is correct. 

If Bruce ‘resigned’, we could save his payoff money from FFP and maybe Dr Tony could pay him off through one of his other companies possibly.

I see Allardyce as a better version of Bruce. But I doubt he’d come with us making big cutbacks this summer. He’ll get another Premier League job at Christmas when someone panics.

I think he will give it one more season, but will definitely be off next summer if we don’t get promoted

Hourihane possibly. Brighton were linked with him a while ago. We could probably get £8m-£10m for him with current prices

Although he has been good for us overall, I would want someone with some pace in his role next season

This time next week we’ll either be linked with £30m players or loans and free transfers, all based on the results of one match. Crazy really.

13 minutes ago, terrytini said:

But You are saying 

“ I think the wages we pay = promotion or the sack”.........

....whilst it’s fair enough for you to have whatever opinion you like I dearly hope, and am quite certain, that our owner will think it’s a little more complicated and involved than that.

Of course we should expect promotion with the biggest wage bill. If we didn’t expect promotion then we wouldn’t be paying the big wages. 

It’s not really a complicated decision in my opinion. No promotion = failure.

8 hours ago, DCJonah said:

My opinion continues to change. I'm currently more on the side of sticking with him even if we fail in the playoffs. 

If we don’t get promoted with, by far, the biggest wage bill in the division, then he should not continue. It’s as simple as that to me.