[Archived] Transfer Window - The Aftermath

[dazmaz]

Opps, corrected....

2006/2007

SUMMER WINDOW

INs

Francis Jeffers Charlton..........Free..........03/07/2006

Jason Roberts..........Wigan..........£3,000,000..........03/07/2006

Benni McCarthy..........Porto..........£2,500,000..........28/07/2006

Andre Ooijer..........PSV Eindhoven..........£2,000,000..........26/08/2006

Shabani Nonda..........Roma..........LOAN..........31/08/2006

OUTs

Gary Harkins..........Grimsby..........Free..........11/07/2006

Vratislav Gresko..........Nuremberg....................01/08/2006

Jerome Watt..........Northampton..........Free..........10/08/2006

Jemal Johnson..........Wolves..........Signed..........17/08/2006

Shefki Kuqi..........C Palace..........£2,500,000..........31/08/2006

Jonathon Douglas..........Leeds..........Signed..........31/08/2006

Keith Barker..........Rochdale..........LOAN..........31/08/2006

WINTER WINDOW

INs

David Dunn..........Birmingham..........£2,200,000..........17/01/2007

Stephen Warnock..........Liverpool..........£1,500,000..........22/01/2007

Christopher Samba..........Hertha Berlin..........Free..........25/01/2007

Bruno Berner..........Basle..........LOAN..........30/01/2007

OUTs

Dominic Matteo..........Stoke..........Free..........19/01/2007

JoeGarner..........Carlisle..........LOAN..........19/01/2007

Lucas Neill..........West Ham..........£1,500,000..........22/01/2007

James McEveley..........Derby..........£600,000..........29/01/2007

Andy Taylor..........Huddersfield..........LOAN..........31/01/2007

Tony Kane..........Cercle Bruges..........LOAN..........31/01/2007

OUT-OF-WINDOW DEALS

INs

Stephane Henchoz..........Wigan..........Free..........08/09/2006

OUTs

Andy Taylor..........Crewe..........LOAN..........20/10/2006

Tony Kane..........Stockport..........LOAN..........02/11/2006

Keith Treacy..........Stockport..........LOAN..........23/11/2006

Bryan Hodge..........Mansfield..........LOAN..........22/02/2007

Francis Jeffers..........Ipswich..........LOAN..........02/03/2007

Eddie Nolan..........Stockport..........LOAN..........19/03/2007

Michael Gray..........Leeds..........LOAN..........22/03/2007

2007/2008

SUMMER WINDOW

INs

Bruno Berner..........Basle..........Signed..........01/07/2007

Maceo Rigters..........NAC Breda..........Signed..........02/07/2007

Gunnar Nielsen..........Frem C'hagen..........Nominal..........02/07/2007

Roque Santa Cruz..........B Munich..........£3,800,000..........28/07/2007

OUTs

Keith Barker....................Released..........31/05/2007

Andy Todd..........Derby..........Free..........08/07/2007

Michael Gray..........Wolves..........Free..........25/07/2007

Francis Jeffers..........Sheff Wed..........Signed..........09/08/2007

Joe Garner..........Carlisle..........£140,000..........10/08/2007

Paul Gallagher..........Preston..........LOAN..........31/08/2007

WINTER WINDOW

INs

OUTs

Robbie Savage..........Derby..........£1,500,000..........09/01/2008

Peter Enckelman..........Cardiff..........LOAN..........10/01/2008

Mark King..........Accrington..........Free..........11/01/2008

Frank Fielding..........Wycombe..........LOAN..........11/01/2008

Andy Taylor..........Tranmere..........Signed..........18/01/2008

Rostyn Griffiths..........Gretna..........LOAN..........31/01/2008

Paul Gallagher..........Stoke..........LOAN..........31/01/2008

OUT-OF-WINDOW DEALS

INs

OUTs

Zak Jones..........Stockport..........LOAN..........14/09/2007

Frank Fielding..........Wycombe..........LOAN..........28/09/2007

Bryan Hodge..........Millwall..........LOAN..........02/11/2007

Andy Taylor..........Tranmere..........LOAN..........16/11/2007

Eddie Nolan..........Hartlepool..........LOAN..........22/11/2007

Bryan Hodge..........Darlington..........LOAN..........08/02/2008

Maceo Rigters..........Norwich....................LOAN..........19/03/2008

2008/2009

SUMMER WINDOW

INs

Paul Robinson..........Tottenham..........£3,500,000..........25/07/2008

Carlos Villanueva..........Audax Italiano..........LOAN..........02/08/2008

Danny Simpson..........Man Utd..........LOAN..........04/08/2008

Vince Grella..........Torino..........£4,000,000..........26/08/2008

Keith Andrews..........MK Dons..........£1,300,000..........28/08/2008

OUTs

Peter Enckelman..........Cardiff..........Free..........01/07/2008

Brad Friedel..........Aston Villa..........£2,000,000..........26/07/2008

David Bentley..........Tottenham..........£15,000,000..........30/07/2008

Gunnar Nielsen..........Motherwell..........Signed..........01/08/2008

Zak Jones....................Released..........31/05/2008

Stephane Henchoz....................Released..........10/06/2008

Bruno Berner....................Released..........10/06/2008

Jamie Clarke..........Accrington..........LOAN..........28/07/2008

Maceo Rigters..........Barnsley..........LOAN..........08/08/2008

Paul Gallagher..........Plymouth..........LOAN..........29/08/2008

WINTER WINDOW

INs

Gunnar Nielsen..........Motherwell..........Signed..........01/01/2009

Nick Blackman..........Macclesfield..........Signed..........12/01/2009

Gael Givet..........Marseille..........LOAN..........15/01/2009

El Hadji Diouf..........Sunderland..........£2,000,000..........30/01/2009

OUTs

Eddie Nolan..........Preston..........Signed..........02/01/2009

Sergio Peter..........Sparta Prague....................02/01/2009

Frank Fielding..........Rochdale..........LOAN..........06/01/2009

Matt Derbyshire..........Olympiakos..........LOAN..........29/01/2009

Alan Judge..........Plymouth..........LOAN..........29/01/2009

OUT-OF-WINDOW DEALS

INs

Mark Bunn..........Northampton..........Signed..........01/09/2008

OUTs

Rostyn Griffiths..........Accrington..........LOAN..........09/09/2008

Frank Fielding..........Northampton..........LOAN..........09/09/2008

Tony Kane..........Stockport..........LOAN..........08/10/2008

Robbie Fowler....................Released..........12/12/2008

Tony Kane..........Carlisle..........LOAN..........02/02/2009

Jamie Clarke..........Rotherham..........LOAN..........02/02/2009

Mark Bunn..........Leicester..........LOAN..........16/02/2009

Nick Blackman..........Blackpool..........LOAN..........03/03/2009

Gunnar Nielsen..........Wrexham..........LOAN..........26/03/2009

Johann Vogel....................Released..........07/04/2009

2009/2010

SUMMER WINDOW

INs

Lars Jacobsen..........Everton..........Free..........29/06/2009

Steven N'Zonzi..........Amiens..........Signed..........30/06/2009

Gael Givet..........Marseille..........£3,500,000..........01/07/2009

Elrio Van Heerden..........FC Bruges..........Free..........01/07/2009

Nikola Kalinic..........Hajduk Split..........£6,000,000..........03/08/2009

Franco Di Santo..........Chelsea..........LOAN..........04/08/2009

Pascal Chimbonda..........Tottenham..........£2,000,000..........27/08/2009

OUTs

Rostyn Griffiths....................Released..........31/05/2009

Julio Santa Cruz....................Released..........31/05/2009

Gunnar Nielsen....................Released..........31/05/2009

Tugay....................Released..........01/06/2009

Matt Derbyshire..........Olympiakos..........£3,000,000..........30/06/2009

Aaron Mokoena..........Portsmouth..........Free..........01/07/2009

Roque Santa Cruz..........Man City..........£17,500,000..........01/07/2009

Andreas Arestidou..........Shrewsbury..........Free..........01/07/2009

Dean Winnard..........Accrington..........Free..........01/07/2009

Jamie Clarke..........Lincoln..........Free..........01/07/2009

Andre Ooijer..........PSV Eindhoven..........Signed..........01/07/2009

Nick Blackman..........Oldham..........LOAN..........01/07/2009

Bryan Hodge..........Partick..........Free..........20/07/2009

Tony Kane..........Carlisle..........Free..........21/07/2009

Keith Treacy..........Sheff Utd..........LOAN..........24/07/2009

Mark Bunn..........Sheff Utd..........LOAN..........31/07/2009

Alan Judge..........Plymouth..........LOAN..........04/08/2009

Alex Marrow..........Oldham..........LOAN..........06/08/2009

Gavin Gunning..........Tranmere..........LOAN..........06/08/2009

Zurab Khizanishvili..........Newcastle..........LOAN..........17/08/2009

Paul Gallagher..........Leicester..........Signed..........21/08/2009

Stephen Warnock..........Aston Villa..........Signed..........27/08/2009

WINTER WINDOW

INs

Yildiray Basturk..........Stuttgart..........LOAN..........27/01/2010

Amine Linganzi..........St Etienne..........Free..........28/01/2010

OUTs

Andrew Haworth..........Rochdale..........LOAN..........21/01/2010

Gavin Gunning..........Rotherham..........LOAN..........22/01/2010

Marcus Marshall..........Rotherham..........LOAN..........22/01/2010

Zurab Khizanishvili..........Reading..........LOAN..........25/01/2010

OUT-OF-WINDOW DEALS

INs

OUTs

Frank Fielding..........Leeds..........LOAN..........28/09/2009

Aaron Doran..........MK Dons..........LOAN..........05/10/2009

Andrew Haworth..........Gateshead..........LOAN..........13/11/2009

Steven Reid..........QPR..........LOAN..........19/11/2009

Benni McCarthy..........West Ham..........Signed..........01/02/2010

Keith Treacy..........Preston..........Signed..........01/02/2010

Frank Fielding..........Rochdale..........LOAN..........01/02/2010

Elrio Van Heerden....................Released..........10/02/2010

Aaron Doran..........Leyton Orient..........LOAN..........23/02/2010

Steven Reid..........West Brom..........LOAN..........05/03/2010

2010/2011

SUMMER WINDOW

INs

Mame Biram Diouf..........Man Utd..........LOAN..........09/08/2010

OUTs

Steven Reid..........West Brom..........Free..........02/06/2010

Marcus Marshall..........Rotherham..........Free..........09/06/2010

Andrew Haworth....................Released..........30/06/2010

Michael Hall..........Accrington..........Free..........29/07/2010

AlexMarrow..........C Palace..........LOAN..........20/08/2010

Lars Jacobsen..........West Ham..........Signed..........31/08/2010

Zurab Khizanishvili..........Reading..........LOAN..........31/08/2010

Maceo Rigters..........Willem II..........LOAN..........31/08/2010

Alan Judge..........Notts Co..........LOAN..........31/08/2010

WINTER WINDOW

INs

Roque Santa Cruz..........Man City..........LOAN..........14/01/2011

Jermaine Jones..........Schalke..........LOAN..........18/01/2011

Mauro Formica..........Newell's OB..........Signed..........31/01/2011

Ruben Rochina..........Barcelona B..........Signed..........31/01/2011

OUTs

Alex Marrow..........C Palace..........Signed..........06/01/2011

Amine Linganzi..........Preston..........LOAN..........13/01/2011

Alan Judge..........Notts Co..........Signed..........14/01/2011

Aaron Doran..........Inverness CT..........LOAN..........26/01/2011

Pascal Chimbonda..........QPR..........Free..........27/01/2011

Gavin Gunning..........Motherwell..........LOAN..........29/01/2011

El Hadji Diouf..........Rangers..........LOAN..........31/01/2011

OUT-OF-WINDOW DEALS

INs

Herold Goulon..........Le Mans..........Free..........22/10/2010

OUTs

Jason Brown..........Leeds..........LOAN..........09/09/2010

Frank Fielding..........Derby..........LOAN..........15/10/2010

Gavin Gunning..........Bury..........LOAN..........12/11/2010

Jason Brown..........Leyton Orient..........LOAN..........19/11/2010

Benjani???

[chris]

The sale of Andy Carroll could actually be of benefit to us, when we come to cash in on Phil Jones.

If an average gangly English forward can go for £35m, then how much for someone who's already shown more in the Premiership, over a (slightly) longer timescale and with immeasureably more potential?

Less becauses strikers or attacking players are much more expensive generally.

Jones will never be worth anywhere near that based on the fact he is a defender.

[True Blue & White]

Benjani???

Oh sod it just use this..

http://www.soccerbase.com/transfers_by_team.sd?teamid=308

My copying an pasting skills have obviously failed

Less becauses strikers or attacking players are much more expensive generally.

Jones will never be worth anywhere near that based on the fact he is a defender.

Nor is it certain Jones will get bought with one day of the tranfer window to go after Chelsea have just given the buyers £50m for their star defender.

[Pete1981]

Less becauses strikers or attacking players are much more expensive generally.

Jones will never be worth anywhere near that based on the fact he is a defender.

What about Ferdinand how much did united pay again?

[modes98]

Anderon's son has been a Rovers player for MONTHS - since before the takeover - and not one person around here mentioned it.

I assume his name isn't Anderson then, as I can't see him anywhere!

Is it Linganzi?

[True Blue & White]

What about Ferdinand how much did united pay again?

You seem to have missed the word 'generally' in Chris' post.

[BuckyRover]

What about Ferdinand how much did united pay again?

30m

That's the benchmark

[Valois]

I assume his name isn't Anderson then, as I can't see him anywhere!

Is it Linganzi?

It was Miles Anderson. From what I can gather he only played in trial matches pre season. Looks like he is at Aberdeen now.

http://www.rovers.co.uk/page/NewsDetail/0,,10303~2094875,00.html

Just checked and he was on the bench for Aberdeen last night

[bigbrandjohn]

The sale of Andy Carroll could actually be of benefit to us, when we come to cash in on Phil Jones.

If an average gangly English forward can go for £35m, then how much for someone who's already shown more in the Premiership, over a (slightly) longer timescale and with immeasureably more potential?

The Andy Carroll fee is a blip at a moment in time. The effect of being given 50 million and one day to spend it.

[unclejack28]

Anyone know what happened to the Brazilian striker who was on loan.. sorry if iv missed the news been in cairo for work and deprived of the internet just trying to catch up.

[rebelmswar]

Didn't think you would be one to add wages and future wages to our transfer budget but I guess saying we spent £7 million is better than the £4 million we actually spent on transfers (despite the fact if they are as good as everyone here expects it may be a very good £4m spent).

How much did we spend in the summer? Most on here, and I suspect you, would say nothing but under the same rules as above you should be including Benjani's wages, Mame Diouf's loan fee and wages and credit the Trust with giving Pedersen, N'Zonzi, Phil Jones, Hanley and Olsson new long-term contracts and adding their wages in as well.

So if, we're going to be fair and say the Trust spent nothing, we have to apply the same rules to Venky's in which case they spent £4m (as they said they would).

I don't see any evidence yet that they have 'cash' and I guess we'll have to wait until the summer to see if this 'marque' signing ever happens because i for one am not convinced they were truly hopeful of getting Ronaldinho.

One should also take into account that to do all of that you stated, the trust absorbed pretty much all of the transfer money for Santa, Stevie W, etc. etc. infinitum.

Our new owners came in, splashed some cash on some very shrewed moves for players. Gave lots of people a new contracts, increased wages, brought in one very expensive loan player and another loan player that is probably earning the price of a top range car a week. They did all of this without selling a prize asset nor having a fat cheque from Sky.

Venky's have shown more desire to spend money than a trust that was set up to assure our survival. I can not understand for a moment what your grievances are. Did you get some bad chicken at KFC or something and hold everyone responsible?

While borowing brushes to paint make sure your brushes do not have the previous owners paint on them.

[deftangel]

Kean needs to deny in the strongest possible terms and in his loudest voice that we rolled over and went belly up simply because Neil Warnock told us to. I'm afraid thats how it will appear in many people's eyes..... including those of our own players. All manager's should protect and be seen to protect their players in public at all times if they want to get the best out of them.

He needs to do no such thing. I've only ever seen it mentioned as a footnote in the stories about Diouf's loan move. I don't get the impression it appears "that way" to people at all. Moreover, most of football know Warnock is full of blather.

Hoillet deserves an extended run in the team. This is at the expense of Diouf who may or may not be, a good bench player. In the summer, Larsson will arive sending him even further down the pecking order. Perfectly logical to send him on loan with a view to a move.

Public knowledge to alot of fans but a revelation to a member of the press apparently.

The point was clearly a) that it was not touted by conspiracy theorists despite being more obviously plausible than the one about Maradona replacing Steve Kean as manager next week and he had known this for a while but didn't mention it because it would likely be leapt on by struggling to adopt a rational view on our new owners.

Didn't think you would be one to add wages and future wages to our transfer budget but I guess saying we spent £7 million is better than the £4 million we actually spent on transfers (despite the fact if they are as good as everyone here expects it may be a very good £4m spent).

The only explicit statement from Mrs Desai I remember was that they would invest at least £5m in the squad, which they've done. Budgets have been referred to in terms of fees+wages for several windows. Unless you can link me to a contradictory statement where they talk about fees explicitly it's perfectly consistent.

I think it's reasonable to assume wages for Santa Cruz & Jones are a more significant investment in terms of additional wages in comparison to a pay as you play deal and whatever Allardyce wangeld with his mate Ferguson.

And yes, I would absolutely credit the trust with giving those players you mentioned new deals in the summer but it's painfully obvious that level investment was not enough, frustrated the manager and unlikely to sustain our Premiership status indefinitely.

I've said this before. Venky's are not sugar daddy type owners. They are not going to throw money at the club unless there is something in it for them and to that end, nobody should be expecting us throw mega millions at players unless it satisfied some ulterior motive ala Ronaldiniho. What they have said they'll do is make modest investments in the playing squad every window.

If they keep to their word, that is a lot better than "having to sell to buy" trading status from this year or the plain just having to sell of the previous couple of years before that.

Eventually, it would appear the plan is to be a trading club and sell on players that were investments in prior years. There's a subtle difference between buying a player with "resale" value and having to hawk round the likes of McCarthy to make ends meet in the twilight of their careers.

The sooner we stop the apples to oranges type comparisons of football club owners, the more balanced view we can have of how things are going. Unlike the Lerner's, Ambramovich's or Porn brothers of this world, Venky's did not buy Rovers just for the sake of having a football club. After three years *nobody* bought Rovers just for the sake of owning Rovers and I'm afraid that's just something we have to get used to.

[True Blue & White]

One should also take into account that to do all of that you stated, the trust absorbed pretty much all of the transfer money for Santa, Stevie W, etc. etc. infinitum.

Our new owners came in, splashed some cash on some very shrewed moves for players. Gave lots of people a new contracts, increased wages, brought in one very expensive loan player and another loan player that is probably earning the price of a top range car a week. They did all of this without selling a prize asset nor having a fat cheque from Sky.

Venky's have shown more desire to spend money than a trust that was set up to assure our survival.

Fair points but what about taking Diouf's wages off then to counter balance RSC's coming in? They'd also let quite a few players leave.

My point was it's easier to judge what they spent on transfers rather taking wages/fees etc into account. In that case we wpent £4m which is more than the nothing we spent in the summer.

However, and I suspect nicko will pretend he didn't say this now, but he said before we were bought that we had £5m to spend in this window if the Venky's sale failed. He said we'd get our summer budget then as they would have to ensure we stayed in the league.

So we've spent what I expects us to spend anyway, either under Venky's or the Trust so I disgaree with your last statement.

I can not understand for a moment what your grievances are. Did you get some bad chicken at KFC or something and hold everyone responsible?

While borowing brushes to paint make sure your brushes do not have the previous owners paint on them.

I don't have any "grievences" as you imply I'm simply pointing out a lot of shifting of goal posts and expectations have a occured over the last month and a half. I was given absolute pelters for saying our owners simply didn't have the moeny to be investing for the likes of Adam, Krancjar and other multi-million pounds shopping lists that were being drawn up and that turns out to be right, but those same people are now saying I should be eating humble pie...for being right.

[Torgeir]

Anyone know what happened to the Brazilian striker who was on loan.. sorry if iv missed the news been in cairo for work and deprived of the internet just trying to catch up.

Jury still out on Ronieli according to nicko yesterday.

[rebelmswar]

Fair points but what about taking Diouf's wages off then to counter balance RSC's coming in? They'd also let quite a few players leave.

My point was it's easier to judge what they spent on transfers rather taking wages/fees etc into account. In that case we wpent £4m which is more than the nothing we spent in the summer.

However, and I suspect nicko will pretend he didn't say this now, but he said before we were bought that we had £5m to spend in this window if the Venky's sale failed. He said we'd get our summer budget then as they would have to ensure we stayed in the league.

So we've spent what I expects us to spend anyway, either under Venky's or the Trust so I disgaree with your last statement.

I think Mr. Dioufs reasons for buggering off were pretty well addressed by the man himself. If you think that this window is on par with the others then it is a long road of disappointment for you I fear. I can not wait to see what happens when we get that T.V. money next time.

Nicko is a journalist, one whom I have argued with from time to time, he can not be held responsible for shifting conditions within a company that he is not part of.

You know this I am sure.

I don't have any "grievences" as you imply I'm simply pointing out a lot of shifting of goal posts and expectations have a occured over the last month and a half. I was given absolute pelters for saying our owners simply didn't have the moeny to be investing for the likes of Adam, Krancjar and other multi-million pounds shopping lists that were being drawn up and that turns out to be right, but those same people are now saying I should be eating humble pie...for being right.

I didn't "imply" I categorically stated that you have them, in my opinion of course. By your rational if we were owned by the trust and they had completed this transfer window in such a fashion - Would you be happy? You don't have to eat any humble pie, it is bitter and hard to swallow. You should just go with the flow like a stick on the back of a mighty stream.

[deftangel]

However, and I suspect nicko will pretend he didn't say this now, but he said before we were bought that we had £5m to spend in this window if the Venky's sale failed. He said we'd get our summer budget then as they would have to ensure we stayed in the league.

So what happened to our budget last summer then? If our alleged budget for the window just gone under the trust was to come from this summer?

Based on the last three years under the trust, I see very little basis on which we can assume they would have sanctioned a £3m purchase of Formica, without selling another player, had they still been in charge.

I agree, it remains to be seen whether Venky's continue to invest in the squad but I don't see how this can be anything other than an improvement on the last couple of years. We have definitely spent more than we've recouped. When was the last time that happened?

[rebelmswar]

I agree, it remains to be seen whether Venky's continue to invest in the squad but I don't see how this can be anything other than an improvement on the last couple of years. We have definitely spent more than we've recouped. When was the last time that happened?

I personally can not remember. Perhaps the season before we sold Shearer?

I may be wrong, but if one calculates T.V. Revenue then I bet it was that far back.

[FourLaneBlue]

I noticed that too. Nor Robinson arriving.

I assumed FLB and True Blue had blotted P*** I*** from their memories.

Not at all. I wish I could blot out Incey wincey.

However, Bentley and Brad leaving, and Robinson arriving, all happened in the summer. None in the January transfer window.

[deftangel]

I personally can not remember. Perhaps the season before we sold Shearer?

I may be wrong, but if one calculates T.V. Revenue then I bet it was that far back.

Outside of TV revenue it was probably when we signed Diouf in January when threatened by relegation, if the table on page 9 is accurate. We didn't seem to have too many outgoings at that time.

Other windows were funded by sales of Roque and Bentley, Derbyshire etc.

The next one back I think you have to go as far back as when we originally got Savage.

[rebelmswar]

Other windows were funded by sales of Roque and Bentley, Derbyshire etc.

We can not forget the sale of Bellamy either that funded the cheaper, and then considerably slimmer, BigMac etc.

[BuckyRover]

Didn't we sign Diouf with the Bentley money though?

We didn't spend it all.

Don't forger these guys have cleared our debts as well, so we won't be paying any interest. (is this true?)

[True Blue & White]

I think Mr. Dioufs reasons for buggering off were pretty well addressed by the man himself.

You gone off point, we were talking about wages not reasons for moving. If you're going to credit the new owners for paying Santa's 90k wages (if you believe that of course) you can't do it without taking away Diouf's wages that will now be paid by Rangers. Ergo, we've effectively swapped one big earner for another and it's not as clear cut as saying RSC's loan shows the owners are happy to pay an 'extra' £90k as it isn't strictly 'extra'.

If you think that this window is on par with the others then it is a long road of disappointment for you I fear. I can not wait to see what happens when we get that T.V. money next time.

I don't think that but thanks for putting words in my mouth. I'm not saying this window has been worse/the same as recent windows and I'm not here to stick up for the Trust and slag off Venky's, I'm just putting a realitic spin on some of the OTT postive spins people are putting on this.

And I'm still waiting for someone to refute the fact that when BPF said the £5m would include wages/fees most people went crazy and that in November they expected a bigger spend. See that is my point, the shifting of goal posts but no one quotes me on that or replies to it, they just come back acting as if I'm p'ssed off at Venky's and want them out or something.

Nicko is a journalist, one whom I have argued with from time to time, he can not be held responsible for shifting conditions within a company that he is not part of.

You know this I am sure.

Are you refering to the £5m the Trust would have given had they stayed? That was his statement, not theirs and as they didn't stay we don't know if it would have turned out to be contradictory or not.

I didn't "imply" I categorically stated that you have them, in my opinion of course.

I will say it again, the only grevience I have is with the general shift of expectations of many people on this board and their reluctance to admit it. Not with the owners.

By your rational if we were owned by the trust and they had completed this transfer window in such a fashion - Would you be happy? You don't have to eat any humble pie, it is bitter and hard to swallow. You should just go with the flow like a stick on the back of a mighty stream.

I am following the flow my friend, but in the summer when people are drawing up £20m plus shopping lists and I tell them they are being unrealitic I suspect I'll be portrayed as "negative" again.

[chris]

I would like to know much profit we got just from Mark Hughes signing alone, surely that guy deserves a key to the errrr Town.

wonder how good we would have been with some backing back then.

[True Blue & White]

Didn't we sign Diouf with the Bentley money though?

We didn't spend it all.

Don't forger these guys have cleared our debts as well, so we won't be paying any interest. (is this true?)

No they haven't they have "taken them on" which means we still have them but they are liaible, if they were to sell tomorrow the new owners would be responsible for them.

[nicko]

Some people are rather wearying...

There was 'spare' money in the summer that was kept away from Sam Allardyce because the club was being sold by the Trustees. Sam got the team so high up the table last season that there should have been a surplus of money to spend.

Instead he got wages for Benjani and Diouf on loan. I would imagine - between them - that is about £25,000-a-week.

So the Trustees had a pot they could dip into - and some more money to find - if the protracted sale to the jokers they wasted their time on proved to be a waste of time and they needed to buy to make up for the previous window's disasters.

So, yes, there COULD have been money in January under the old regime. That would have gone on fees and salaries. I could be hypothetical and say that would have made the current captures very unlikely. But why bother?

Venkys have come in and ACTUALLY spent the cash.