Mattster wrote: ↑

Mon Sep 21, 2020 12:20 pm

My concern is that ~£30K a week takes money out of the pot to sign a proper right winger.

And it's money we'll never recoup. So in two season's time we'll be in exactly the same place, needing more bodies but barely any money to do that with so we sign another ageing stopgap for a not insignificant chunk of our budget meaning less money to spend on improving the team and on and on it goes. Need to be thinking more long term.

Yeah, but in two season's time, if we are still in the Premier League, hopefully the revenue streams will be back to what they were pre covid. So needs must for the time being.

jedi_master wrote: ↑

Mon Sep 21, 2020 12:20 pm

I don’t really get the negativity on this.

He’s a proven Premier League player who Dyche clearly rates and who can make an immediate contribution to our team, at what amounts to a very limited cost (when we’re clearly low on funds).

I’d far rather this than a youngster from the league below who wouldn’t get a game, or a loan like Chalobah who won’t get a game. Sensible business in our circumstances. With our squad problems this season is about staying up, he will help us do that.

Four years ago maybe but it adds to the over 30's crew and we have far too many - looks like a quick fix for Dyche for this season before he leaves next summer

ClaretTony wrote: ↑

Mon Sep 21, 2020 12:21 pm

On the Stephens story, it has come from Andy Naylor and he knows what’s going on at Brighton as well as anyone. I would take it as read virtually if he says it’s happening.

Good. Now let's do the same with Dawson. We can then think about getting in that right- footed winger, or even a right wing back. Maybe then sell Lowton.

A decent player who can play for us in the shorter term (heard he was injured but nothing serious?) and then when players start coming back can challenge for a first team place.

It's a decent bit of business, but we'll still need to sort the defence. It'll be step 1 of 3-4 steps needed.

Replacing Tarkowski with Dawson is an enormous downgrade. We’ve gone from mid table to relegation battling with just that move.

Honestly think Dyche only knows a certain amount of players. Always linked with the same people

KefkaClaret wrote: ↑

Mon Sep 21, 2020 12:32 pm

Replacing Tarkowski with Dawson is an enormous downgrade. We’ve gone from mid table to relegation battling with just that move.

No it's not.

Stephens for that money would be a decent short term signing, we need players for the here and now, and if it's only a 2 year contract, he won't be a millstone round our neck, should we get relegated, and crucially we need a CM, Cork might not be seen this side of Xmas, and relying on Brownhill & Westy to play every game is asking a lot of them.

The club can't win with some of you, they bring in a smattering of youth players, and people moan they're not ready for the 1st team, then we're linked with a experienced PL midfielder who knows what's required at this level, and people still moan, who exactly do folks expect us to be signing?

Nipples wrote: ↑

Mon Sep 21, 2020 12:34 pm

Honestly think Dyche only knows a certain amount of players. Always linked with the same people

Similar to Chris Wilder at Sheff United it's that approach which means you know what you are getting when signing players.

Spijed wrote: ↑

Mon Sep 21, 2020 12:34 pm

No it's not.

Either you think Dawson is an incredible defender who has been relegated twice or you think very little of Tarkowski.

This is why we have no money in the club, signing over 30s with no sell on value for back up.

Selling Tark for the WH 35+5 only makes sense as a club wanting to move forward, if we have a gentleman's agreement in place for a solid replacement who SD believes is as good but for a lot less than 40. Especially if selling to a club on our level.

Or he wants to leave and SD feels it could affect team morale making him stay. Even then I would tell him he can leave but only if 50 mil is reached.

KefkaClaret wrote: ↑

Mon Sep 21, 2020 12:36 pm

Either you think Dawson is an incredible defender who has been relegated twice or you think very little of Tarkowski.

Dyche has what it takes to make Dawson a very decent centre half. The only question is, if Tarkowski goes, can he do it in time to not put us in a relegation battle.

tiger76 wrote: ↑

Mon Sep 21, 2020 12:34 pm

Stephens for that money would be a decent short term signing, we need players for the here and now, and if it's only a 2 year contract, he won't be a millstone round our neck, should we get relegated, and crucially we need a CM, Cork might not be seen this side of Xmas, and relying on Brownhill & Westy to play every game is asking a lot of them.

The club can't win with some of you, they bring in a smattering of youth players, and people moan they're not ready for the 1st team, then we're linked with a experienced PL midfielder who knows what's required at this level, and people still moan, who exactly do folks expect us to be signing?

I think that's a little unfair tbh, the middle ground of someone like a Josh Brownhill would seem the logical way forward for the club in terms of age and potential sell on value but I understand why we would go for Stephens at this point

Ric_C wrote: ↑

Mon Sep 21, 2020 12:24 pm

Yeah, but in two season's time, if we are still in the Premier League, hopefully the revenue streams will be back to what they were pre covid. So needs must for the time being.

If they are back to pre covid then everyone will cost more because of it. Only we'll have less money because we spent what little we had on players that only took money out of the club.

It is a capital mistake to theorise before one has data. One begins to twist facts to suit theories, instead of theories to suit facts
(Conan Doyle)

Nipples wrote: ↑

Mon Sep 21, 2020 12:34 pm

Honestly think Dyche only knows a certain amount of players. Always linked with the same people

Isnt that why Mr Rigg and team are employed ?

summitclaret wrote: ↑

Mon Sep 21, 2020 12:15 pm

Sorry disagree. If he is 4th choice behind Cork, Westy and Josh, £30k a week for a 2 year deal with a relegation clause is fine. Provided we sign a proper right winger that can get us excited a bit etc.

Brighton fans say he's on 40-50k a week, he isn't going to take a cut.

Cubanclaret wrote: ↑

Mon Sep 21, 2020 7:51 am

until Covid passes and the club has more assurance of how budgets might be restored to previous highs.

Spot on. I wish many on here would consider MG’s dilemma.

claretandy wrote: ↑

Mon Sep 21, 2020 11:42 am

So we've missed out on targets A,B,C,D,E and F, what letter is Stephens ?

‘S’

Vegas Claret wrote: ↑

Mon Sep 21, 2020 12:40 pm

I think that's a little unfair tbh, the middle ground of someone like a Josh Brownhill would seem the logical way forward for the club in terms of age and potential sell on value but I understand why we would go for Stephens at this point

Look in an ideal world, I'd like us to bring in another player of a similar age to Brownhill, but if we can pick up Stephens in for a nominal fee, then we'd be daft to pass that chance up, especially with our lack of numbers.

In terms of sell on value, we've already got McNeil, Pope, Tarks, Taylor, and possibly Brownhill that if we needed to recoup funds we could sell one or more of.

We also need that blend of youth and experience, and for the most part we've got the balance right, if we can get Stephens through the door, and possibly a young right winger (BOS, Eliasson) and we keep hold of Tarks, although the latter is looking unlikely, I'd hope we've got a back up plan in place should Tarky go,(Dawson) then it's not been a bad window, and we should have enough to keep our heads above water, with the added benefit of bringing the wage bill down to sustainable levels.

We have left it very late-hence the scrambling around. In view of the silence and total lack of transparency this is somewhat of a positive.Lets get him on board and move on to a centre half.I guess we will need two if Tarks goes

kaptin1 wrote: ↑

Mon Sep 21, 2020 12:49 pm

‘S’

Sounds about right...

claretandy wrote: ↑

Mon Sep 21, 2020 12:43 pm

Brighton fans say he's on 40-50k a week, he isn't going to take a cut.

He has one year left on that money, then he's on nothing

Stephens would be a good signing but not at the expense of a right-winger. If the plan is to sign Stephens and shove Brownhill out wide that's not very encouraging. If he's being signed to compete with Brownhill in the centre that's great news.

Beggars can’t be choosers and it seems we’re at that stage with regards to the man with the chequebook. These short term solutions can’t just go on forever though.

Well, I for one will not be welcoming Stephen's with open arms.
I find it sad that the club would even consider signing a player who was on videos singing derogatory songs about the town a couple of years back.

I think this is a good signing.

A genuine tackler in midfield. We haven’t had a player like this since Barton. At that price even if we only get 18 months out of him it is a top signing

Barry_Chuckle wrote: ↑

Mon Sep 21, 2020 1:12 pm

Well, I for one will not be welcoming Stephen's with open arms.
I find it sad that the club would even consider signing a player who was on videos singing derogatory songs about the town a couple of years back.

Oh dear. Someone’s upset.

Barry_Chuckle wrote: ↑

Mon Sep 21, 2020 1:12 pm

Well, I for one will not be welcoming Stephen's with open arms.
I find it sad that the club would even consider signing a player who was on videos singing derogatory songs about the town a couple of years back.

Barton had plenty to say about us when he was at QPR...

It’s totally irrelevant. All that matters is how he conducts himself when he’s actually here.

Barry_Chuckle wrote: ↑

Mon Sep 21, 2020 1:12 pm

Well, I for one will not be welcoming Stephen's with open arms.
I find it sad that the club would even consider signing a player who was on videos singing derogatory songs about the town a couple of years back.

Mike probably didn’t know. Probably on the phone cancelling his bid right now!!

Almost had a signing then for a minute!

Good day then if he/she is the only one. And to think Dale could play his 100th Prem game for us soon

ClaretTony wrote: ↑

Mon Sep 21, 2020 1:18 pm

Oh dear. Someone’s upset.

To you to him

Barry_Chuckle wrote: ↑

Mon Sep 21, 2020 1:12 pm

Well, I for one will not be welcoming Stephen's with open arms.
I find it sad that the club would even consider signing a player who was on videos singing derogatory songs about the town a couple of years back.

thank God Joey Barton didn't take your approach when someone lobbed a bottle at him

claretandy wrote: ↑

Mon Sep 21, 2020 12:43 pm

Brighton fans say he's on 40-50k a week, he isn't going to take a cut.

After a 5 min Google search all 6 sites I found all say 30k a week

northernpowerhouse wrote: ↑

Mon Sep 21, 2020 12:57 pm

Stephens would be a good signing but not at the expense of a right-winger. If the plan is to sign Stephens and shove Brownhill out wide that's not very encouraging. If he's being signed to compete with Brownhill in the centre that's great news.

I would doubt it’s at the expense of a right winger. Fact is we might not have got either despite needing both. In a perfect world we would sign a centre half, a wide player and a central midfield player just to replace Gibson, Lennon & Hendrick.

Strangely enough we turned to Hendrick when we failed to get Stephens who I think will be a useful addition. He’s played 99 Premier League games in the last three seasons which includes 93 starts.

ClaretTony wrote: ↑

Mon Sep 21, 2020 1:18 pm

Oh dear. Someone’s upset.

Upset, no........ disapointed, yes.

I take it you don't mind his comments then?

WHU fans seem to think us signing Stephens is a sure fire sign that they are getting Tarky

Not sure in normal circumstances a CM would replace a CD, but you never know with us tbh

Kevin McDonald being allowed to leave Fulham on a free

Got to be worth a punt

Or pint, not sure which

wilks_bfc wrote: ↑

Mon Sep 21, 2020 1:25 pm

WHU fans seem to think us signing Stephens is a sure fire sign that they are getting Tarky

They are going to be disappointed at being used as a bargaining tool when he goes to Leicester then.

wilks_bfc wrote: ↑

Mon Sep 21, 2020 1:25 pm

WHU fans seem to think us signing Stephens is a sure fire sign that they are getting Tarky

Not sure in normal circumstances a CM would replace a CD, but you never know with us tbh

They're a special breed.

We are needing numbers who can play. He played 33 times last season and Brighton stayed up. If he came with a minimal fee that would be good for us as assuming we had reserves of £40million no one can know what will be left after this Covid pandemic is over/or what has already been spent. SD may have a football brain but he is no epidemiologist to assess how long this curse will be with us before we get back to normal.

jojomk1 wrote: ↑

Mon Sep 21, 2020 1:26 pm

Kevin McDonald being allowed to leave Fulham on a free

Got to be worth a punt

At 32 shortly even he may be too old for us

mdd2 wrote: ↑

Mon Sep 21, 2020 1:30 pm

At 32 shortly even he may be too old for us

Remember Crouchy

I still have nightmares

mdd2 wrote: ↑

Mon Sep 21, 2020 1:27 pm

We are needing numbers who can play. He played 33 times last season and Brighton stayed up. If he came with a minimal fee that would be good for us as assuming we had reserves of £40million no one can know what will be left after this Covid pandemic is over/or what has already been spent. SD may have a football brain but he is no epidemiologist to assess how long this curse will be with us before we get back to normal.

One thing for sure, we will suffer in the Championship should we return!

If DS is only coming for a £750k fee that is almost a free transfer these days even for us

DS would free up Brownhill to play on the right

Signing Stephens so such a small fee could possibly allow us to go bigger on quaison

I think Stephens, if he signs, will be a popular acquisition and the fans will like him.
How about Harry Wilson from Liverpool on loan to solve the right wing berth. He ain’t going to get any action at Anfield. Decent local loan and a guarantee of first team football, at least for the time being.

I’m not against Stephens as a filler but all it’s doing is storing up exactly the same issue for future windows.