A question to our travelling fans.

[stripes39]

In all seriousness, should we be that surprised where we are?

Stoke, Villa, Forest, Derby, Middlesborough all spent more than us..

Swansea, Stoke and Villa have a larger wage bill than us..

There is an argument to say we have around the 4th largest budget in the league and that is where we are.

It is actually refreshing the teams above us haven't spent as much as others, because its about how you spend it and getting value.

I don't have a problem with Jenkins being tight with cash, because I don't want us to be in a position where we risk everything for promotion and then have financial issues in the future if it doesn't happen.

I do have a problem with him sacking a manager with no clear plan in place for the aftermath. This game-by-game position is creating uncertainty and every defeat will bring stinging and deserved criticism.

I don't think anyone wants to see us hocking the future of the club on getting up in the way Villa tried to but, I do think that the clubs day to day management and how we spend cash are intertwined. If it is to be believed, reports suggested the club did approach Jokanović after DM's sacking but it was the fiscal package that was the issue. If true, it comes across most definitely as pi** poor decision making by the board and either trying to get him on the cheap or total naivety in sacking DM first and not following through with their intention due to wanting a new hire on the cheap.

[WBA1955]

In all seriousness, should we be that surprised where we are?

Stoke, Villa, Forest, Derby, Middlesborough all spent more than us..

Swansea, Stoke and Villa have a larger wage bill than us..

There is an argument to say we have around the 4th largest budget in the league and that is where we are.

It is actually refreshing the teams above us haven't spent as much as others, because its about how you spend it and getting value.

I don't have a problem with Jenkins being tight with cash, because I don't want us to be in a position where we risk everything for promotion and then have financial issues in the future if it doesn't happen.

I do have a problem with him sacking a manager with no clear plan in place for the aftermath. This game-by-game position is creating uncertainty and every defeat will bring stinging and deserved criticism.

What has happened to 8 consecutive premiership seasons money considering we never spend on players or managers if we can help it. The ones we do sign are in the last chance saloon, or last pay day brigade.
The club has always been tight, but never this tight.
We win the championship in 2008 and i never saw the trophy, Peace refused to have a parade or bring it around the pitch, he stuck it in the club shop and charged fans a tenner to see it. Can you believe some fools actually paid that?
We sold a feckin turnstile to someone once.
But in those days we were on the up, now i can't see anything other than a downward spiral.
Lai makes Peace look like Abramovich.

[Leicesterbaggie]

123, if only you and I were of the same mind set regarding politics as we are regarding Albion. I am in total agreement with all that you have said and the most important point you make is not how much you spend, but how you spend it. I look at the opposition and often can hardly recognise a name on the team sheet but on the field of play they are youthful, energetic, pacy and inventive. Most opposition fans will recognise the names on ours but we are so often lethargic, one paced and predictable. Basically, too old! It's fine to have a few 'old heads' in the squad but not a team full of them.

It makes you wonder what our recruitment department are doing. It's all very well to say that we lack investment, which is fair comment, but as you have stated, the sides above us have all invested less than we have. We have to stop bringing in 'tried and tested' and use our own youngsters and bring in players with potential and youth on their side. This is the only way that a club like ours can move forward.

[mickd1961]

I’m just an average guy with an average life.......why do I always feel like I’m in the twilight zone!

At the end of last season I said on here we would need youth,pace and *****ity in this division.

Why is it that the so called “professionals” at our club can’t see this.

Too pedestrian,too one paced.

This is a symptom of our Premier League ethos.....the sit back behind the ball DNA.

Our lot are so used to sitting back in formation closing down space that it takes them 45 minutes to warm up.

Remember Mowbray’s Championship winning side?

“Chalk and cheese”.

That’s the style that get you out of this league.....energy,pace and exuberance....not this “mish mash” of a side we have now!

[Dubbag]