Excellent business

[KingCharlieGeorge]

"Just a different perspective to R&R...the 2 Mods.
Appreciate your take on money spoiling the game etc, but times have changed and the days of a team of local lads with a couple of 'exotic' Scottish imports being competitive have sadly gone.

Given all that has happened, i.e. we'd already spent £10m only to see Hughes immediately out for the best part of the season and questions arise about Thorne's fitness - personally I think the guys done well to start five matches in August seeing as he's only played about a dozen in the last two seasons - then what are the owners supposed to do?

They could do nothing and think, well this side isn't going up without Hughes and a fit Thorne...what a waste of £10m...or they could think, we've already invested £10m but the job stands little chance of completion without further investment and do something about it.

Thankfully, I hope, they've chosen the latter option and we're now in with a very good shout, and to put it in further perspective

[vanderlaans_header]

Have to smile at those who claim they don't like the idea of buying success. I guess those fans were not happy at Brian Clough & Dave Mackay acquisitions that put the club on the footballing map. Roy McFarland, Alan Hinton, Colin Todd, Dave Nish, Charlie George Francis Lee to a few. Some of these were record signings at the time. Jimmy Smith one of footballs wheeler dealers had to buy to sustain a few years of success in the Premier League. Most fans seemed to enjoy that. Obviously it doesn't always work out but if the clubs owners are willing to spend, the supporters should at least get behind the project.

[ManxRam]

There is huge apprehension among fans at the minute as we are yet to win a game. Had we got 10+ points on the board these would have been viewed by most as inspirational signings that further boosted our automatic chances but that's not the case so doubt creeps in and peoples glass is half empty rather than half full. If we were to win the next 3 on the spin opinions would no doubt change for some on whether or not this was excellent business. Football fans are fickle in a fickle world!

[Anywho]

roger_ramjet: "I like a good BJ myself"

You didn't say if you meant giving or receiving...

[Anywho]

rattea: "I think this thread shows just how the true supporter has gone..."

So you've appointed yourself responsible for deciding what does or does not constitute a 'true supporter'?

How very humble you are.

[roger_ramjet]

ANYWHO "roger_ramjet: "I like a good BJ myself"

You didn't say I you meant giving or receiving..."

When you get to my age you can neither remember which you prefer, nor care!

[Ramondo]

Thats a bit like comparing apples and oranges though.

Clough did spend high, for those days, you're absolutely right. However, spending then was different - the biggest outlay was the transfer fee, whilst wages were relatively low. Also, and probably more significantly, once you signed a player he was yours to keep unless he either retired or got sold. There was none of this risk of players walking away for nothing.

Nowadays, if a player decides after a couple of years that he wants to go to another club a year later then the parent club can do nothing about it. They lose whatever they paid for him. And the wages are enormous, the bigger the player (which 'can' be represented by the size of the deal to bring him in - where there is one) then the bigger the wages that normally follow said player (roughly speaking, on average).

So I don't think it's quite the same.

[AnagRam]

Ramondo, this is why we need the quote button back...think you're replying to VdLH but not entirely sure.
Anyway, as you say, the rules as regards players contracts have changed, but money has talked in football for years. I'm completely with you as regards the fact that the amount spent on buying and paying footballers nowadays is both absurd and obscene, but if Derby want to compete I really can't see what the alternative is other than to flex their new found financial muscle.

[Ramondo]

Yes, I think that was the post I was replying to, although the point had also been made in a previous comment by someone else too. This lack of quote button is bloody annoying!

Okay look, I know the whole financial landscape has shifted in football with the Sky money and the free transfer thing affecting wages etc. And yes, football has always had clubs with financial clout buying the best players and I guess that will always be the case one way or another.

And yes, I also accept that the lure of £100 million (or whatever it is) for promotion is quite attractive. But this is really my problem - we don't have that money. If they had got promoted and then said they were going all out to spend in order to stay in the Prem league after getting there then they are spending against a significant increased revenue that is already secured. But what we're doing now is spending a small fortune in the HOPE that we will go up. And if we DO then that worked. Great, hunky dory - people

[vanderlaans_header]

Things have changed but when the Rams were spending big in the 70's it was still a massive gamble with money put up or underwritten by local businessmen. The main revenue stream being ticket sales.

Some times you just have to roll with it Ramondo. The club may well get in the PL some time soon, but they will also probably drop out again at some point. I am looking forward to enjoying the up side of things and will, like the football club, deal with the downside when it arrives.... 'twas ever thus.