Rample

Don't know a lot about him, but has played for them a few times and has captained their U21s. Centre mid, originally on the attacking side but developed into more of a holding midfielder in the past year or so. Maybe a bit young to rely on all season but based on what I have seen would be a decent shout for one of 4-5 midfielders. Not into this growing trend of labelling midfielders as 6s, 8s and 10s.

The odds of the league finishing in alphabetical order 1 in 2,432,902,008,176,640,000 (roughly two and a half quintillion to one).

1 year deal, nothing lost really. There's definitely a championship player there if we can get and keep him fit. All I would say is be aware of his injury record and make sure that is factored in, he can't be recruited as first choice striker. I'd want 2 more strikers in aswell to ensdure we don't get caught short again.

Lol. Same difference. Welsh side,who ended up in the prem, overspent on rubbish players, came back down and are now in championship medioctory. Should both be kicked out to the Welsh league with Wrexham for me, but that's another argument.

Only thing that will scupper this now is being priced out I think Either Swansea putting a stupid price tag on him or his wage demands being too high, Swans might have given him a silly deal when he joined. All stuff that could lead us to looking elsewhere, someone with no fee or lower wages might be preferable. That said I reckon that we have to know the difference he made last year and that any fee that isn't extortionate is worth it for a player that has shown the right attitude and assimilated so well. I also reckon we'll do it early because it will likely be the deal that has the most impact on our budget.

Just went back to see if it was as bad as I remember and it was, although in my head he ducked under it not watched it go past.

No, sorry if my post wasn't clear, I was simply saying that if Leicester could win the Premier league then it is possible, however improbable, that we could go straight up. The list of things afterwards is just what I think would need to fall into place for that to happen. And yes, as the above have presumably said, Leicester's 'success' was definitely built their on not getting punished for flirtations with admin, avoiding points deductions, and some questionable FFP accounting, not signings. Looks like they are about to get theirs though.

1. I was going to put this in finance, but its nowhere near that level of discussion and is specific to wages so I gave it its own thread. 2. Its only a bit of speculation/fun, and although the numbers are based on realistic sounding internet figures I haven't meticulously studied each clubs accounts/chatted with the owners, so the contrarian(s) who like to frequently tear posts apart need not bother. I've been looking at what clubs reportedly spend on wages compared to their attendances, and if these tell us anything about our likely wage bill increase for next season. Same stats used for those clubs put us at around £160k per week once departing players are removed (Sibley and Collins still included), meaning we can expect to spend another £120-220k per week on wages. That seems massive.

Long term, and it's lovely to use that phrase, I think it's going to be a case of slow evolution to get us back up the top end. A 3 year plan perhaps. It will be a mix of filling the squad out and Warne bringing in players for his style this summer - we know a whole new midfield is on the cards. I don't imagine it will be one that immediately bosses the league but I'd like to think we get one that is solid (maybe Adams), one that is decent and will develop further over the next couple of years (Kane), and a couple of moderate stopgaps. Then next year we bring in better players for those stopgaps and upgrade again 2 years from now. I think with even pretty average signings we can be tight enough defensively to stop up without having to really look over our shoulder, then top half and then to the edge of the play offs. To overachieve, and in a world where Leicester can win the Prem anything is possible, we need a combination of falling lucky in signing 5 players that gel and pretty much hit the ground running, one of which needs to be a free scoring. We need to also essential that CBT and NML are on it from early on. Also essential that we avoid injuries

So 17 pages give us Iverson Souttar (Loan) Lonwijk Dummett Burrows Adams Kane Konate Windass Skipp Sidibeh Pukki Bradley to Luton Cashin to Plymouth, Ipswich, Forest Sibley to Rotherham, Sheff Utd Collins to Birmingham

Late and very off topic but why have Jedward been picked as a goalkeeping option?

Burrows is on a free and presumably less wages than Lowe. Can't see him being beyond their reach. Also parachute payments. Sibley is a utility player, wouldn't assume just because they are signing a left back it in anyway precludes him from joining too.

It won't be a set amount - it will be a budget between that, loans, signing on fees and wages - and it will all depend what comes up and in what order. The important thing is stretching it far enough for a keeper, a couple of midfielders, a striker and whatever else we need to strengthen/replace. Bear in mind that Fornah and Washington add-ons and signing on fees for CBT will come out of it too. Despite the released players, I imagine some players wages will rise based on promotion, and like for like replacements will be on higher salaries due to hopefully being better players. Revenue will rise slightly through additional TV monies/sponsorship etc, so I don't think its unfeasable to guess we will have a higher wage budget and a little money to spend, but I'm not expecting any fees over £500k If Warne wants Clowes to find £1m for a striker then he probably will be able to but it would impact the other areas. Realistically I would guess we'll pay maybe £350k to bring Adams back, pick up a few frees and loans, and then at a push maybe another £500-600k on a striker and/or keeper if there's no-one suitable out of contract. If anybody is expecting expensive (by our standard) marquee signings I think you need to lower your expectations - the good thing though is there are a lot of decent players on frees this summer for our current level.

What is the contract situation of our better youths - Bardell, Cox, Moloney, Radcliffe, Richards etc. We're exactly as you'd think - very lopsided.Great at right wing back, but pretty sparse throughout the spine. Some sort of line up using contracted players. :- Vickers Nyambe Nelson Cashin Rooney Ward, Fornah, Radcliffe, Wilson Mendez-Laing Collins Bench Evans, Bradley, Elder, Robinson, Fapetu, Weston, Blackett-Taylor, Brown, Washington. Bardell just nudged off the bench for balance

Warne is obviously a long time fan, but do kind of think it was one of those signings we had to resort to last summer. A bit of a gamble but on a known quantity, on appropriate terms, and with the hope he could maybe reignite his career and make an impact, or at least provide options. Bearing in mind we get 9 subs next year that may or may not help his case. I can see Warne using him off the bench quite regularly, but we'll likely have enough forwards for there to be an orthodox player for each position and a plan b on there. Be nice if we could squeeze 1 or 2 kids on rather than filling it with older players. Kind of feels like it's him v Barkz or Gayle for a squad spot and at least those 2 are able to be released which might make the difference. If not I wouldn't be surprised if a top half league one side loaned him, they wouldn't have the same obligations and could simh terminate the deal if he was injured.

Can see why any biggish sides from League 1 would think moving for him would be a good idea. If he could reproduce his numbers from this season it would help their promotion chances no end. Can't see him stepping back down though regardless if someone could stump up enough cash. Even Championship, I reckon only the relegated teams who look like they could go straight back would tempt him away. Can't blame anyone for fancying a crack in the top flight somewhere, or a last payday, but definitely sounds like this is where he wants to be playing. It's a good fit for him, the manager and the club too.

29 is no age really. 2 year deal and you still aren't stuck with a player in the years where they quickly decline. People more in the know than I say he is quite an individual rather than team player and despite being relatively effective he is prone to going missing in games. Linked to Boro and Norwich among others, so let them pay increased wages as we have CBT anyway.

Didn't even hear talk about taking less in admin or see anything in talk about the accounts, the article I read earlier which I think was in the Sheffield local paper said it was reported at £15m at the time but ended up about £4m. Maybe there is actually a killer sell on percentage? I remember the Blades knocking back £5m from Forest for Lowe, which would make more sense if they were only going to pocket say £2.5m. Maybe there's still hope of Bogle getting a big transfer and us pulling another million or so. Anyway, hopefully we're never in that position (or do deals like the Huddlestone one) again, and every time I think we've been ripped off. I'll cling to the fees we got for the likes of Hendrick that were massively over-inflated.

We've always had a thing of multiple players with the same name turning up. I guess it's a common academy thing with names being popular at certain times. I imagine nicknames like Birdy and probably avoid the need for Big Max and Little Max or however they used to separate kids with the same name at school. A few recent namesake. Max - Lowe, Hunt, Bird, Bardell Louis/Lewis - Sibley, Watson, Dobbin Jack - Marriott, Stretton Jordan - Brown, Ibe George - Edmundson, Evans Jayden - Bogle, Mitchell-Lawson.

Tyrese Campbell released by Stoke. Good age, plenty or experience already and has it in his locker to have good seasons. Plus extend John-Jules' loan, keep Fornah and have monopoly on all the Tyre(e)c/ses in the league! Or think what have Tyre(e)c/ses ever done for us and try a different name.

Birmingham City logic or what Chairman said he wanted top 10 at the start of the season, and was so happy with how things were going he then gave him a new 3 year contract in December. Now this, just 5 months later. Don't think 7th place finish is the problem. Sounds to me like either the owner wants automatic next season and LR thinks it's unreasonable, or they've clashed over how much of the inevitable Greaves fee he will get to meet his objectives.

The Derby connections with relegations (or at least Birmingham's season) is crazy, Eustace starts the season as Birmingham boss. They make the awful decision to sack him and appoint Rooney. Breaking from ex Derby they appoint Mowbray who lasts about a fortnight, and then they re-appoint Rowett. Hard to believe any side has had 4 (or 6 including caretakers) managers in a season - including 2 ex Derby bosses and 1 ex Derby player. Eustace's involvement of course doesn't stop there, he gets appointed at Blackburn who survive on the final day at Birmingham's expense. Morgan Whittaker's 19 goals are one of the main reasons Plymouth survive. Rotherham of course down, have been through 4 managers this season and that is somewhat related to us poaching Warne. Birmingham have of course been totally mismanaged. They're probably lucky they aren't in a worse situation.

Somewhat doubt Hourihane will be here next season either.

Not to mention Pride P'Arkham Asylum - full of lesser known villains such as the Poison Dwarf, the Snake, the Ostrich, the Slug and their many henchmen.

I don't think we're looking at quite a George Thorne scenario but I imagine we'll make series of bids, slowly rising, until one is finally accepted. I'd say absolute max £400-500k plus add ons. For a player they weren't using, who didn't cost them a fee, and is in the last 13 months of his contract; I don't imagine there will be too much resistance. Cardiff, currently 10 points off playoffs are far more likely to be looking at tailoring their squad to a (unlikely) top 6 finish than looking to recall a grafter. Ebou seems like a good guy who appreciates the simple things - what he has seen today, the key role he has played in recent months, and the affection the fans already have for him makes me think he will want the move. Win for both teams and the player. Also to just say the way he celebrates making tackles or winning fouls at times is one of the big moments of the season for me. I love the guys passion.