Enjoy the young uns

[Joe90]

We talk about Eze being the big star, but Birmingham are reportedly selling Jude Bellingham 30mil to Dortmund. If only we could make a sale like that!

[Stainrod]

We talk about Eze being the big star, but Birmingham are reportedly selling Jude Bellingham 30mil to Dortmund. If only we could make a sale like that!

Reportedly

[QCR]

Judging purely on what clubs our players move to, and how well they do there, we could probably say those we have sold "under value" aren't actually as good as we might think. Smithies, Freeman - great in our context, but bit part players at their new clubs, barring injury or cup games. Luongo I'd forgotten was still playing. Most (and I'm sure we can find an exception) tread water at best.

As for bad contract deals, well (a) we are a small club (at least in revenue terms) - so what we pay, and for how long is limited; (b) even if we wanted to, the only players who want to sign long term contracts are those who have no other real options or any future. Just like when selling, you need both parties to be interested in the deal. If the player won't sign an extension or new deal (like, say, Christian Eriksen or Aaron Ramsey) there's nothing the club can do. Perhaps the art is to offer extensions just after a player ruptures an ACL or has been dropped from the first team, and the future looks a bit bleak.

And, of course, agents thrive on churn, and unsettling the players they are supposed to represent, and will just go for the highest payers, regardless of where that leaves the player.

To achieve a good sale price, ideally you need (apart from length of contract) more than one buyer to be seriously interested, and in the end the price depends on what someone is willing to pay, regardless of what you ask for. And just like BoJo will find out with his Brexit deal, whatever you say you want to achieve at the outset, the actual deal might look nothing like it as reality sets in and both sides have to negotiate and compromise to actually get a deal done. Or you do no deal, which in both cases would be hopeless.

The advent of the Sky money is part blessing, part curse. It has enabled clubs to have brilliant facilities, and the best players in the world. The thing is most of the money coming into clubs dribbles straight back out to the players to p*** it away. While this is good for the local Lambo dealership, it's not good for lower league clubs who are then trying to hang on to their players. The irony of course is that most players would play for about 10% of what they currently get so long as you also gave them a tyre on a rope to play with. They only demand to be paid what they are because that's what their teammates rivals get. None of it makes financial sense.

[QPRDave]

So it's hopeless to negotiate?

[QCR]

How is that the conclusion? Of course you negotiate, but what you can do is dictated by reality. If either someone's unwilling to negotiate, or you can't match the money someone else is offering, then you're relying on player loyalty, or player involvement/importance to the team, or location, prestige, or prospects at the club. Which even if the player is interested, agents don't give a monkey's about, and so will advise they go for the money.

[Stainrod]

Selling players at a decent price is easier when the selling club is in a good financial state , we haven’t been for years , we are getting there .The sky money is kind of irrelevant because we are always going to lose our best players to bigger clubs anyway regardless of sky .

[QCR]

That's true, as the financially stable club doesn't need to sell, so can hold out for its valuation. Still doesn't mean it gets it, but then it can reassess. Equally, a club might be completely borassic, but if it has a player that is truly in demand, it will get a good price.

[Abseits]

Eze was signed after being rejected by numerous clubs, Manning was signed whilst playing a No 10 role from the Irish League and Samuel was a fast but raw player at Blackpool. So what at the time warranted them being given super duper long term contracts? What would have been said if the likes of Wheeler had been given long term contracts. The old case of hindsight is a wonderful thing.

Spot on. When I saw BOS come on as a sub at Barnsley (might have been his debut, if not his 2nd appearance) I thought he was awful, he played like Bambi on ice wearing two left boots. I would never have dreamt he'd turn out to be world-class like he has. When these players move on I'm sure we'll make a tidy profit.

[Shania]

I feel BOS would benefit from staying with us for another season. Reverse psycology.

[davieqpr]

I feel BOS would benefit from staying with us for another season. Reverse psycology.

Will not do Samuel or Eze any good in their development to do a Freeman and sit on somebodies bench all season. A lot depends on the quality of their agents. Are they for the player or the money?

[SheepRanger]

If we sold Eze and BOS as a pair for £30m, the coaches would need to find another 10 such pairs for the owner to get their investment back.

[Shania]

Will not do Samuel or Eze any good in their development to do a Freeman and sit on somebodies bench all season. A lot depends on the quality of their agents. Are they for the player or the money?

Spot on, but selling one of them will of course ease our burden financially.