Apparently there is a 1.5 million bid in for smith,
I believe stewart will take it. And the standard of replacment will speak louder than the soundbites from the club
Given that Michael Smith could leave for nothing at the end of the season, it would be daft not to accept a bid of that magnitude. Of course fans would expect to see it reinvested. As well as Snith has done for us, it might not be the worst thing that could happen. From his point of view, the sort of wage that transfer fee brings with it would be a great reward for all the honest hard work he has put in over a number of years.
This will make or break our season. If Smith goes without replacement, we will struggle. You just have to hope the recruitment team have a contingency plan for a replacement should he leave. Time is short - squeaky bum time!
That sort of money we have to take it and i will wish Smith all the best and thanks for his service. If we don't use that money to strengthen the squad with 2 to 3 players then we know where we are as a club, there can be no excuse for not having a list ready that list should include first, second, third and fourth level choices in all positions afterall we have a full time recruitment team (unless they are just recruiting people for the pie standards). I think with Tilt and MacDonald out for they next couple of months we need a CB as well we cannot expect magic hat to play these number of games. So if the club are serious about a challenge for top 6 then it is 3 players for me (happy for the experienced CB to be a loan player) 2 forwards as the loss of Smith makes us 2 down. If we don't see that then the club is setting it's sights on a mid-table finish and a consolidation year, that is fine but I would hope we would get some honesty and transparancey about that.
Half time gossip with a guy who usually talks sense but not prepared to elaborate. Wouldn't be surprised if someone who was previously involved is renewing interest.
A shortage of strikers in the squad will reap very little re goals tally. That's something that should be addressed by the club once one or two players are moved on for reasonable amounts of money. Otherwise we'll be languishing in the bottom half of the league table by Christmas and beyond. We need a large injection of money to be able to compete even at League 1 level. Is there a consortium out there prepared to invest in RUFC? Probably not this week. Maybe slightly off the wall comment. However, stranger things have happened.
I don't think we need a large input of cash to be an entertaining League 1 side that plays around the top ten and gets a few cup results, we do need different ideas in the coaching and we do need a a loan experienced CB to cover us at the back (we currently use a right fullback as left centre back and a 36 year old as our main CB) and 2 forwards that ideally are our own, one could be a gamble from the non-leagues or abroad but one must be a decent replacement for Smith if he leaves. excuses about no time to find anyone, won't wash, we have full time employees whose only job is to identify and pursue playing staff, 365 days of the year.
-- Edited by derbymiller on Thursday 26th of August 2021 10:43:47 AM
If and when Tony decides to call it a day I just hope we get owners who have the club at heart (as I believe he does) as opposed to faceless investors looking only for somewhere to stash their cash and maybe get a return on it, and having to ask what colour scarf to buy to show their allegiance when they are introduced to the crowd.
-- Edited by smiler on Thursday 26th of August 2021 01:50:52 PM
-- Edited by smiler on Thursday 26th of August 2021 01:51:44 PM
-- Edited by smiler on Thursday 26th of August 2021 03:49:31 PM
Its all a little speculative, but why not, the window closes soon and Autumn is on its way.
As for a takeover...Well, isn't son of Tony as invested emotionally as Obi-Wan Kenobi...sorry about the genealogy- couldn't go for Vader fir obvious reasons. I'd always imagined he might be interested and take a little more risk. Wishful and dangerous perhaps.
A new owner . Hmmmm. Well, we continue to have good examples in chelski (quite amazing how far and for how long they have come and prospered-another one landed ?) But, for every success ,I imagine there are 2 or more total disaster s if my recall is correct...hmmm?
Yes we have a recruitment team but we dont know what criteria they have to follow. It could be like the woman looking for a man in man superstore . Goes up floor by floor eventually see a signs the man u r looking doesnt exist lower ur expectations
