I tend to just think of opinions I don’t agree with as “wrong” but you can continue to weaken your own arguments by having personal swipes, Boris... Theres a good chap.

Under estimation of Bests cost Boris, to suit your opinion, perspective, opinion, etc.

There’s a huge difference between a rumour that we’re owned by Glasgow mafia, and the suggestion that Tony isn’t solely responsible for all transfers...! I’m sure you buddy’s both get that.

From your own perceived “under estimations” eh Boris!

If you think Best cost less than that, your out of your own adled mind. I’d stop with the illness insults though, that’ll get us both banned.

Irony is, you won’t even accept that their might be a dodgy aspect to the transfer - because you literally won’t accept a view that takes partial responsibility from TM. Biased much? Almost a parody of Stuart these days.

So you are “underestimating” but I am making things up. Sure Boris.

But but but you said 13/15m... will you be down to 8 million if you find out we’ve only paid half upfront? What story are you telling today Boris?

I suggest you can only seemingly read what suits your own stilted perspective. To repeat myself - Norwich probably had 100k+ a week sat on the bench, yet 7m is an unacceptable amount to put into a player we hope will fulfil his potential... I thought you said his fee and wages would amount to 13/15m? We’ve stepped that back haven’t we? Back to your same level of nonsense thinking the “Portuguese experiment” was a cheap one. Id say keep up, but I’m starting to think it’s beyond you. In my opinion of football in 2018, calling 7m a huge sum is delusional. Thinking we’ve paid it all upfront is delusional. Suggesting he’s not good enough after 4 months and 0 starts for a player is delusional.

That would be a surprise if Sam Gallagher is on 24k. Do you not think those stats are after us giving them 50% for the loan? https://www.mirror.co.uk/sport/football/transfer-news/birmingham-eye-watering-striker-loan-11060633 Gallagher is listed as 40k P W on that website too

I simply disagree on wages. I know that you’d agree, free signings are often higher wages due to the lack of a fee. Especially highly coveted end of contract players. That isn’t the one of scenario that goes in the face of “wages commensurate with fee” point of view. I’m not arguing that isn’t often the case, it isn’t always the case. Comparing Mbappe - you’re talking about a player who is world class at 19. In our world - the gap in player ability and quality between lower Prem, and top championship clubs is narrower than the cost. When the likes of Burnley are earning 100m+ a year, agents ensure the contract renewals reflect that. The main director at Ewood - said himself that they had a certain budget for the year, and they could move between fee/wages. That’s better evidence or explanation to how this deal was possible than assumptions to the opposite. Reed has been in a club with those type of wages for some time. Much like Celina was, Bamford was, Grabban was etc.

Good post and there is definitely a chance that the big signing from last summer will be a flop - however the time to judge is different for every acquisition and any u21s should be given more of that. I’m not sure you could argue we are spending more than most clubs, but definitley more than the Millwalls and Preston’s - hence the expectation will move further. Those clubs with “restrictions” are in that position because of wage/ffp problems from putting far more “wage” on the pitch than we are currently, Imo. At this point TM hasn’t had to accept losing any players, but I wouldn’t call his luxuries a “war chest” compared to the money wasted by us the last time we had ambitions of getting out of this league. OK is a subjective take - I can accept that’s your view, I think the synonym/adjective to describe this season so far is “good”. Things can change quickly though!

I agree. Nyambe’s strength and pace is frightening and I can see him really becoming a monster in the next few years. He has improved so much from playing consistently. Also need that winger too for me. If we stick to this formation, need more depth out wide. Do think Armstrong is improving though. Few times yesterday he cut inside to create chances.

Well I must be wrong if your only argument is stop digging and “of course the fee was a massive amount of money for us to spend”... THATS ME TOLD HAHA

1. We’ve already signed him from what I gather, so the question doesn’t need answering. The question id ask on that, do you think the fact it’s “loan then buy” because of the early permenant window closing, is making fans think differently as if there is a way out (even if there isn’t)? 2. Ive said this a few times now - but I don’t think Ben is particularly draining on the resources because of fee/wage flex. Reed is probably too expensive at the minute, because he made his premier league debut 4 years ago. He’s also played a few times in the prem, had a full season in a first 11 in this tier. 2 years into a 4 and a half year deal too, probably above our highest earners! The stretch from mid champ to lower prem in wages is vast. The revenue drop is even wider! I’d obviously love to see Reed stay though- lad is a warrior.

Agree with the first part - but I don’t understand why 7m is such a “huge fee” or why that’s just fair cop to turn up the heat on manager and player. If we’d signed two or three more freebies instead, the wage cost might’ve been a similar outlay this season, yet no mystical extra expectations! Comparing him to Gladwin and Hart already is far worse than “putting a brace face on it” in my opinion. At least let the lad start a few games before you’re loaning him to Rochdale.

The net can always be wider, no argument on that one. I just feel 7m isnt enough to guarantee replacing any key player, at this level, in 2018. It’s a lot more useful than the 250k we spent on fees in 16/17 though! (signed Williams)

Agree - people have higher expectations at the moment purely down to the job he has done. It’s one thing to have a different opinion about the teams he picks or the subs he makes, but in my eyes; demanding “ruthless changes” makes you look and sound stupid when we’ve lost twice at home in 15 months. Thankfully I believe TM knows the subtle, slight changes to improve us by fine margins is the way forward long term. You can’t “drop like a stone” without being a good position to lose.

We are in a league that the more established players in his position are on 40/50+ grand a week. Look at Norwich. Rhodes, Hanley and Marshall would probably all get into our first 11 - but they sit on Norwich bench for how much a season? 100k a week? 5m a season without taxes? 7m is (apology for pun) Chicken feed. I can think of a few players we’ve signed on established wages and lesser fee, who’ve ended up costing us way more than 7m For example, Leon Best....

Not good enough final product or decision making. When he had that “shot” after busting through near the end, when rolling it across the box was the simple choice - sums up Nyambe, he isn’t the finished article at all though (also only 20). First reflective thought this morning is “didn’t evans play well?” Worked hard, was needlessly booked and at times showed real clever touches and passes, on top of breaking the game up and harrying the oppo. If we sign a right winger - Reed/Evans might be the pairing in the middle to see us take that next step up.

Precisely

I think there is always more than one reason to explain things in football. There is always a few things impacting good or bad form. Also, for me we should put to bed this idea that he was a “huge fee” He wasn’t cheap, but huge fee’s in 2018 aren’t 7 figures. What does that even mean? As far as I a aware - under these owners club has never put a chunk like 7m into a up and coming player? So what has this guy got previous for to warrant having “grubby prints” on it? (thought he was involved in Coyle/Senior? Not signing talented potential players to blend into the club) If this rumour that Ben and Davenport are more of a club decision than simply Mowbray - surely that’s a good thing? It’s only a week since it was suggested the problem with Mowbray is his immediate connection and responsibility with and to the owners. This suggests the club isn’t run like that at the moment. Is that a bad thing?

I haven’t seen anything particularly worth talking about above standard things - however the key part is thus far. Although I disagree with the idea the price comes with a big wage and added expectation, to me he hasn’t been used enough to really settle and we’ve not changed style to bring him in more. Not enough time.

Taking someone from the matchday squad is binning them off so to speak. My choice of team is dependent on paper, I personally would have KP on the bench from what I’ve seen but his reaction in training might be worthy of a start. I’d like to think that is what picks the first 18. Subjective opinion of the staff on the effort levels and form. Granted, form is poor for both mentioned players but it won’t improve off the pitch. Gladwin was a poor signing looking at his impact at this point after 16 months. Hopefully we won’t be saying the same about Ben.