Thetownend.com

Couldn't see a thread (but I fully expect the next post to be the thread) but I have some pretty interesting info about Ritchie and Bournemouth.

Bournemouth have been tapping him up since the start of the season, I don't know where Paolo's getting £2million from as Wray was wanting £500,000 but Bournemouth would only stump up £400,000, Ritchie does want to go as Bournemouth have sold the club to him and the Russian guy being involved with his deep pockets has pushed it along even more, if we're not in the automatics by the end of Janaury he's pretty likely to go. Don't want to be 'that guy' but choose to believe it or not it's up to you, but I don't really have any reason to make it up.

Sauce please?

Don't wanna get people in trouble, Like I said you can choose to believe it or not but I really have no reason to make it up.

Ok i'll choose not to. Thanks

Do you write the football rumours website (or whatever its called)?

I have nothing to do with that site, it's absolute garbage! fine, choose not to believe but I know people (in real life and everything) off this site, who know I have no reason to make it up and why would I? I don't want Matt to leave he's our best player!

i believe you, which is a shame. However with us still being unbeaten we could deffo be in third place by christmas. £500k seems a little low, i would be looking for more like £750 as there are bound to be add ons from pompy

I'm beginning to dread the window opening. I hope I've got rose tinted glasses on and that some of our players aren't as good as I think.

Its been said before, I reckon Caddis, Ferry and Ritchie will attract some interest.

I don't think there was anything in the Ferry/Bournemouth rumours at the start of the season, but I would expect there to be people sniffing around him as well.

The Daily Echo in Bournemouth is hilarious, they have a real problem with Lee Bradbury there are about 10 negative stories to every 1 positive story and they had a media blackout a couple months back as the Echo journalists were saying things they shouldn't have been, we have it quite lucky in that Gary Rose is quite friendly with the club.

Any team in any league that is doing well is bound to attract interest in their players. Every player has their price at the end of the day.

If you're a team near the top of your league (whichever division) there will always be scouts looking at your players. We know we have some half decent players here, the good thing now is at least we won't be letting them go as cheaply as perhaps we used to.

Hopefully as Paolo said about Richie and Bournemouth we'll just tell interested parties to "go away".

I was disappointed that we'd take £500k to be honest, I'd want £750,000 or at least £500k maybe even going up to £750k or £1m with Add-Ons and a decent Sell-On, though I can't think of a situation we've had where a sell-on has ever done us any good.

At least if it does happen in jan we'd have the money and hopefully the time to get a decent replacement.

Expect to be dissappointed.  To get more anywhere near £750k for a league 2 player they have to be tearing the arse of the opposition every single game and he hasn't been in the last few weeks.

I can totally believe that Ritchie wants to go to Bournemouth, but it's a bit short sighted to say the least.

Bournemouth are a smaller club and more likely to be facing a relegation battle than anything else this season. We should be in the playoffs at minimum and hopefully an automatic promotion, maybe with another visit to Wembley via the tin pot cup or the playoffs.

So why he'd think Bournemouth is a good move is beyond me - we'll most likely be in the same division as them next season and in a far better position to challenge for promotion again.

Hopefully Bradbury will get the boot before the window if the new owner gets his feet under the table and wants a new man in place.

Very short sighted by Ritchie if he does go. I wouldn't have a problem with him going to a solid Championship club, or a Huddersfield or a Sheff Utd. But Bournemouth - he'd be selling himsefl very short indeed. Not a good career move. If I was him (i.e., not a Town fan) I'd be getting a promotion under my belt and looking at the wider array of options in the summer.

I'd be glad if he stayed and would be pleased at any fee over £250k.

I don't care whether Parkin09 is lying or not, but not having a reason to make it up is contradicted by starting a thread. (Just playing devil's advocate, I truly take no issue with Richie leaving, the circumstances it's done under or when, just as long as it's not at a loss.) ;)

How so?

I think with a squad our size, losing one or two players in January wouldn't be a problem as I would wager we have decent cover in all positions.  Richie has been fantastic and I don't understand the haters, but Esajas hasn't had his chance yet and I think he has plenty of promise.  Coupled with the fact de Vita can play on the wing and Caddis can be pushed forward, plus we'd have plenty of cash for a replacement, I won't lose any sleep if Richie leaves.

Mind you, maybe we should have kept Atiku...

Don't worry, I was jesting, not being a cunt. I was implying that starting a thread is a good reason for making something up. :D

Players don't look at the size of the club when deciding to leave or not. They look at what division the club is in and how much they can earn.

Look at Sheehan, Rose, Douglas, Cuthbert etc.

Notts County, Orient, Brentford and Colchester are all smaller clubs than us.

Mr Wray said Boremuffs offer was less than £200k, if they are such a rich club and truly want their man then surely they would have offered us a lot more than they did.

I am sure there is no truth in the rumour that hes been tapped up. I am sure as that would be an illegal approach to a contracted player and hence they would be in line for a fine from the FA surely.

If they came back with £500k then maybe we would start talking, and anyway Boremuff are in no way a bigger club than us and have had a lot of financial problems so I cant see they would offer him much more than we can TBH.

Orient at a push, i'd say we're near enough identical in stature to brentford and notts county are far bigger than we are

I would say that Notts County are a bigger club than we are in all honesty, but we are a bigger than Brentford, Col U and Orient IMO.

You're having a laugh. I'll give you Notts County. Probably about the same size but we're a bigger club than Colchester, Orient and Brentford easily.

I hear a few titbits as well, and one of them was the new joint owner doesn't want to be spending any dosh

We have a similar sized ground to brentford, get similar attendances and both have spent most of their time in the bottom two divisions, with the odd flourish up to the second level. Only difference being our 'glory' days were more recent than theirs. In what way are they bigger?

Brentford's ground may hold about 12k but it's mainly due to having alot of terraces. Their average gate is 5360 this season. Ask any football fan which is the bigger club and most will say us.

Fair enough. Obvious we disagree about our stature in relation to the wider football world.

Matters of size are of trivial importance really when it comes to a footballers motives - they'll tend to opt for a higher division/salary in most instances. Barring the odd exception, it's largely been that way since football began hasn't it?

That was my original point. Brentford, Orient and Colchester may be smaller clubs but they're playing at a higher level and can offer higher wages. Well some of them can, not sure about Orient ?

Who says they can offer higher wages? Unless they've got the same or higher attendances it's unlikely as the extra income from the League isn't that much more in League One than League Two. I'd imagine we get a lot more income from other sources as well and are run a lot better than a lot of other clubs.

Well for a start there is a wage cap in League 2.

It's very naive to think this doesn't happen all the time, Football is one of the most underhand businesses in the world!

500k cash rising to 750k and I'd sell him. Bournemouth wouldn't pay that though I don't think.

Anythnig north of £300k and I'd take it. He's playing like a player who's off anyway - no point on keeping him unless he decides he  wants to be here. 

Just curious -

We payed around £250k for Ritchie is that right?

He then played in a team that finished rock bottom of League 1 (not his fault, but he was part of that side) and has given a dozen or so good to very good - but by no means mind-blowing or incredibly consistent performances is League 2, yet we now think he should be worth twice or 3 times what we paid for him. Just think we may be overvaluing what we think he's worth. You can't put a price on what he means to our promotion hopes of course, but from any interested clubs' point of view, why would they think they should pay that much for him?

Pompey probably have a sell-on-clause aswell.

If they come in in January with what the club decide is a big enough offer then he'll be gone. Though this time I would think that PDC would have a nailed on replacement before he goes anywhere. I have been told that MR is on £6.6k per week, seems an awful lot to me but what do I know about fourth division wages?

Where do people get these "I was told he's on £Xk per week" comments from?

There's no way he's on that amount of money.

I was told the wage cap this season was 2.5k by an agent who has a few players on the books of STFC.

Could still be bollocks - as we've had two people that have claimed two of our  players on on 6k+ a week.

If we couldnt afford to pay Douglas the 4.5k he was earning last season then why the fuck would we have players on more?

I dont think Di Canio will suffer fools, if Ritchie wants to go to Bournemouth then Di Canio will get rid of him quicker than you can say Leon spatula.

OK I'm thick, someone explain the Leon C name substitution to me. Why spatula?

edit: FFS I think I just got it.  :doh:

Why is it?

drop the s.

If Richie's on over 6k a week and wants to go to Bournemouth (which I'm not convinced he does) then they must be offering over £7k. Do me favour!

Nope, still have no idea. I know I'm gonna kick myself, but throw me a [edit]friggin[/edit] bone please. :-[

Edit: There you go batch. ;)

Friggin before bone always makes me chuckle Barry....for future reference.

'Why i it?' That makes no sense...


I'll get my coat and for reference I don't have a clue either.

Doesn't work here either.

Well I assumed it was sPatula Clark. Then I realised I'm also illiterate and well as thick, since it is spelt Petula not Patula.

So anyway back to kitchen utensils, why spatula?

Penny drops.  Thanks Batch.  I think you've got it there.  (Was far too cryptic for me.)

Erm, no I didn't.

Then again (turn down your speakers)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t1yOUhNnoPQ

http://en-gb.facebook.com/people/Spatula-Clark/1004118081

It was the first word I could think of.

Surely Petulant would be more fitting

The bloke sat in front of me.....

I didn't realise it changed it automatically, I just thought there was a joke I'd missed somewhere and that's why everyone was calling him spatula. :D

soapy tit wank

With regards to him at Chesterfield, I was told he was on 6 grand a week, and was the player Di canio stretched the budget to get. Richie, i'm sure is one of the top earners but i've not heard how much.
Was also told that Douglas was the top earner here last season,again 6k was the figure but that was from a different source. The same person said Billy Paynter was offered 8k a week to stay here but gets 10k at Leeds.

Notts county might be the oldest club in the league but that does not make them a big club, I would base club size on current fan base & potential fan base in which case I would say we are defiantly a bigger club than notts

This which club is bigger argument comes up all the time. We should have a thread to settle once and for all which clubs are bigger than us and which clubs we are bigger than. Then we can just refer to the list when we need it.

What we need is for one of our statistically minded members (and there seem to be plenty) to come up with a graph listing all clubs and assessing their size, with appropriate weighting given to stats such as average gate, wage bill, what league they are in and the state of their finances.

None of that really matters. It's what the fans think that counts. The only way to settle it is to do an opinion poll of all fans asking them to grade each team.

Reading, for example, will always be smaller than Swindon. Makes no difference whether they happen to be in a higher league, have bigger gates, etc.... At some point in the, not to distant, future Swindon will be above them again.

Same goes for Oxford - even when they were in the (old) 1st division they were still a smaller club than Swindon.

I'd say the only clubs bigger than us in League 1 and 2 are Sheff Wed, Sheff Utd, Charlton, Preston, Huddersfield and Bradford.

I did a bit of analysis a while back, after a discussion with a Swansea supporting chum of mine, where I suggested a three category separation of clubs into large, medium and small....the analysis was based on looking back at random year league tables and seeing how relatively little has changed. Of course there are changes around the edges and these categories aren't set in stone, but I think the argument holds up.

So essentially STFC are a small club like any number of others we currently compete with and have competed with down the years...occasionally small clubs can gain a bit of forward momentum, maybe make the Championship or above, but always resort to small club status. It's very difficult to go from small to medium....I would offer Reading as a club that has achieved it.

 Brighton and Swansea may achieve it, but it is too early to tell, they may be just in a small club blip.

The Championship and lower end of the Prem are stacked with medium sized clubs....it's very difficult to go from medium to large, but not impossible, but it needs millions of £'s to be pissed up against the wall for it to happen.  As to rankings within the small club category it is largely futile as the rankings tend to be sorted by league table and seasonal fluctuations within....but essentially we haven't ended up in Div 4 because we're a big club.

Bradford? Really?

http://www.aboutaball.co.uk/aboutaball-historical-football-rankings/historical-ranking-of-english-football-clubs

if he wants to leave then let him, he will probably be back in league 2 before too long

I think he's looked at attendance on that one. They charge 2 and 6 for their season tickets though.

They are pretty similar in that they lived the Prem dream and are now paying for it. The difference I see between us and them is we currently have the resources to challenge for promotion, I'm not sure they do.

Complete bollocks. Bury bigger than us? Notts County bigger than Southampton? Oxford bigger than Cheltenham?

Talking of small clubs in medium ponds, Bristol City lost £11 million last year and £30 million over the last 3 years.

We'll face similar challenges when we get to the championship.

That's based on past success not "size"

Oxford bigger (but only just) than the wanderers and bradford park avenue, its a disgrace.

Oxford were non league when this was compiled. If you look, they score 32 points, 7 more than us. So they'd be ranked higher if they were a league club. Luton scored 75 points.

It's based on all time point totals, seasons in higher divisions etc. Basically success, not attendances.

Which is kind of how football works.

Points awarded as follows:
Champions Cup Win    +15
Other European Trophy Win    +10
League Championship    +10
FA Cup Win    +6
League Cup Win    +3
Second Level Division Win    +3
Lower Division Win    +1
Season in top division    +2
Season in 2nd division    +1
Bonuses: Super Cup; Club Cup; Double    +1

How completely arbitrary.

Not sure that success on the pitch is a factor in how big a club is. I'd base it on attendances and income, basically the number of people that want to watch them and how much they'll pay. Though I think you'd also need some level of correction for the division a club is currently in as that affects the above.

I did some quick number crunching comparing our attendances against the league averages. Over the past 10 seasons in the 3rd tier our attendances average about 8.5% below the league average. Whilst during our one season in the 4th tier we were 80% above the league average. Not sure what this proves though, plus our last two seasons attendances were very high in comparison to the previous seasons.

Why the fuck are Franchise above us? Surely they mean Wimbledon.

Once a club stealer, always a club stealer I guess. Franchise shouldn't even be on there at all.

As much as I dislike the old cunt, he's pretty damn accurat when it comes to this sort of shit. We are, traditionally, a reasonably sized trout in a relatively small sized pond.

That's a joke, to suggest that we're not bigger than Cheltenham, right?

Oh O_F, I expected better from you.

O_F looks like the face he may have pulled when he read it.

:fishing:

I took a nibble on that bait, that's all.

Cheltenham are one of the most non-league clubs I can think of.

Along with yourselves of course?

Crawley, Burton, Accrington, Stevenage, Yeovil, Wycombe, Morecambe, Dagenham, Barnet, Accrington, Macclesfield, would be on my list.

I would add Hereford, probably.

Doncaster, weren't they non league for a while?

All got 4 sides to their ground.

Colchester.

Some clubs have a bigger fan base and history than others but we need to give these clubs and their fans the respect they deserve because they did it where it matters - on the pitch. At the moment Stevenage are a bigger club than us because of their position, we are in danger of adapting the very attitude that we accused Leeds fans of when they were in Div1 with us.

You're having a laugh aren't you?

Because for one season they are above us they are bigger than us? I get you're point that it's all relative but, seriously, Stevenage will never ever be a bigger club than Swindon. And by the same token Swindon will never ever be bigger than Leeds. Anyone who really believed that we were bigger than them because we were, briefly, above them in the league is deluded. I think what you mean is that Leeds fans were arrogant - and they were justified in being arrogant because of their past glories (I'm old enough to remember them when they were the best team in England).........and we can, understandably, be arrogant in this league as well. And justifiably so as well.

At the end of the day whether a club is classed as "big" or not depends on the average fan's perception of that team based on their history. Leeds in League 1 were a big big club. Swindon in League 2 are a big club.

Oxford  :gay:, on the other hand, will always be minnows and rightly so. :girlgiggle:

My Boxing Day visit to Rushden & Diamonds a few years back was ruined not just by the result and the weather, but also by a prize fool in the row in front who spend the whole game making the point that R&D had a set up and infrastructure that we could only dream of and that they were going to leave us standing.  A bit of perspective is needed.  Exiled Bob is absolutely right.

Think what FAT was saying was that we have no right to be arrogant,and i agree with him,wasnt that long ago we were bigger than Reading if i remember.
I agree with Bob that we are a big fish in lge 2 but am not in agreement with him on us being justified in being arrogant about it.

We can be arrogant because we know we are bigger than the rest. It's why the other teams want to win so much against us. Just like Leeds fans knew they were bigger than us and why we wanted to beat them so much.

We are justified because our history tells us that we are right. It doesn't necessarily mean that we are better than the rest though. That's where it all falls down..........and where others get so much joy in beating us.

I get your point Bob but i despise the attitude of SOME Leeds fans....and i really wouldn't us to get a reputation like that to be honest.

Agree leefer, talk about big egos !

Of course it's all about opinions...and sometimes, as in this case, there's nothing to back them up.

Except for the history of the club...........and each fan's perception of a club based on that history.

So what you're saying is that, if fan x thinks, say Bury are bigger than Swindon he must be right, because that's his perception, even though fan y, may think Swindon are bigger than Bury....surely they can't both be right.

They can both be right as far as each one is concerned because it's their opinion, based on their perception of their club.

In reality, of course, they both can't be right........

The Bury v Swindon one is interesting because Bury are, historically, a bigger club than Swindon if you are going on cup wins, league positions, etc.... However, you ask any current Swindon fan who is the biggest and the overwhelming majority will say Swindon. And over the last 20 -30 years or so they would be right.

But over how long a period can you class it before in your example Swindon are classed as a bigger club then Bury?

If Bury are in decline and we spend another 20-30 seasons above them does that make us bigger?

Well obviously - if we spend the next 20-30 years in the top flight, win the league a couple of times, throw in tha FA cup and the odd European trophy..........

 :fishing:

It's a pretty pointless argument. What does it matter who is the bigger club ?  If it's so the fans have bragging rights, go and support a Premier League giant.

No one-eyed lower division club supporter is ever going to change their opinion, and as Reg points out not everyone can be right.

The Diamond burger was nice though.  And I got some DMs cheap.

Ah yes, i remember the diamond burger