Money talks
Sobering and illuminating to note that Blues are likely to be facing a side that cost in excess of £90 million in the St Andrew's derby.
Villa were the second biggest spenders of the last transfer window just gone, behind Manchester City.
Martin O'Neill has not been short of cash at all since taking over, to say the least.
Remember when it used to be a little different, when Blues persuaded Muzzy Izzet to join them instead of Villa and were happily prepared to splash out £5.5 million on David Dunn and £6.25 million on Emile Heskey?
That was then.
The money Villa agreed to commit for Stewart Downing - who is not included in that figure above by the way - alone covered Alex McLeish's outlay this summer on new players.
McLeish stated he wanted at least 10 players after promotion from the Championship.
Well, 11 have been signed, not all of them were his first choices however. And in one case, wasn't really on his list at all.
Based on transfer fees already paid out, the cost has been about £7 million (Christian Benitez has so far been £1.2 million, Roger Johnson £2 million and Scott Dann £1.5 million).
Two years ago, during the summer window, Steve Bruce brought in 12 players paying £9.95 million in transfer fees.
Sure, it's not always what you spend but the way that you spend it. But Blues have to get away from the loan and free transfer route.
Achille Emana, of Real Betis, has been tracked by McLeish for a while. Emana claimed offers of eight million euros were tabled for his services.
McLeish made an 'ambitious' attempt to strike a loan deal, which failed. He had more joy with Sunderland and Teemu Tainio, a decent acquisition considering the circumstances.
So what next? What happens in January, during the 2010 winter window?
Carson Yeung was prepared to commit at least £5 million last month on one player, plus wages, as a gift which fell foul of complex Stock Market regulations.
You would hope that once he takes charge at St Andrew's that and much more of the same should be forthcoming to suit the required needs.
McLeish plans to sit down with Yeung and his associates at the earliest opportunity to plot a clear and distinct transfer policy. Blues have to hit the ground running in January and not end up scratching around as the deadlines nears.
The Tuncay example, you would believe, suggests that Eck should be able to move away from the bargain bin end of the market.
The word from Yeung's camp is that they won't go mad and lavish untold riches, putting the club in jeopardy.
But they are well aware that the main requirement this season is to ensure the Premier League status. That was described thus by Grandtop International, in a document outlining the reason for buying Blues: 'The initial and primary aim will be supporting the cub to help it retain its Premier League status.'
I keep going back to this point, but it is one that resonates: would they really have offered £1-a-share, a staggering 240 per cent premium over the average share price in the last six months, if they weren't serious and in it for the long haul?
The current directors are already preparing for their 'farewell' game. Bolton Wanderers on September 26 has been identified by them as their final home match in power.
Older/Newer
11 Comments
Leave a comment
Profile
Colin Tattum - Mail man Colin Tattum’s view of what’s going on at Birmingham City FC.
Tatts, as always an interesting blog. Do you think that the Board would have coughed up more money if Carsen Yeung hadn't reappeared. I guess we'll never know. We're told by another Mail writer that the Board have budgeted for relegation and that's what it feels like when they only spend £7.5M. So was that the budget which we're supposed to have overspent on. What a joke they are. I am optimistic about this takeover as I don't believe that Carsen Yeung is coming in to fail. His approach seems much more organised when compared with last time round and he appears to have some heavyweight backers. Under the circumstances Big Eck is going a great job and if he is given some serious money to spend in January then I think we will be safe this season.
Tatts - interesting blog. In my view Yeung is overpaying for the club. Even if his plans for the future pay off I would still argue a good businessman would not overpay. After all Messrs Gold and Sullivan didn't exactly give the impression they were desperate to stay so why pay a willing seller over the odds and much more than you were prepared to 2 years ago when we are now in the midst of a worldwide downturn - money laundering or stupidity spring to mind as 2 reasons. I also think there is a serious chance that Yeung and his associates might not pass the FA/PL fit and proper test and not be able to go ahead. That would leave us in the worst of all positions with no MD, shareholder directors that don't want to be here and a vastly inflated share price meaning Yeung won't be bought out and no one else will want to buy either i.e. on the fast track to the Championship!!!
There is absoloutely no certaintity that Carson Yeung will become the new owner. The idea that the current owners have identified a 'farewell game' is both ludicrous and ridiculous. Not to mention that in any circumstance David Gold would still hold his position. Do a bit of research!!
G, I have done some research. Wait until you see the farewell message in the Bolton programme. The current directors believe it is their last home game. On the contrary, David Gold would not hold his position in any circumstance. He would be happy to stay on but not in an honorary position that has been touted by the Carson Yeung camp.
G - you may not like it but I am convinced that the takeover will happen and given the performance of the Board over the last few weeks it will be good thing for the Club. The current owners have grown tired and bored and want out. In some ways I'll be sad to see David Gold go but less so with David Sullivan. They've got a good deal for their 16 years and I don't begrudge them that. But it's time to move on and embrace the new owners. I'm optimistic that we are entering a new and exciting chapter in the history of the Blues.
I agree with worcsblue. pay to mutch in a financial downturn for a football club, using borrowed money sonds daft. So where do big january signings come from ? I cannot see them happening at all as Gold and Sullivan will have waltzed off with the cash and egg foo yeung will be in debt. What gives me such foreboding ? Will we have the thoughts of cahairman mao printed in the programme ?
"Remember when it used to be a little different, when Blues persuaded Muzzy Izzet to join them instead of Villa and were happily prepared to splash out £5.5 million on David Dunn and £6.25 million on Emile Heskey?"
I believe that period was the death knell regarding the Board's trust in a Manager - any Manager....
Their approach changed fundamentally....
Muzzy Izzet played how many games for us?
David Dunn spent more time on the treatment table than he did on the pitch....
And Heskey barely got into double figures as far as goals were concerned!
Since then due diligence and caution have prevailed and I cannot blame the Board one bit!
Tatts, Tainio may have been a good aquisition but not one that I think we needed. We have enough solid midfielders in Ferguson, Carsley, Bowyer and DJ. Surely Traore or BAle were more of a necessity as they can play at left back and left mid two positions where we are desperately short, they also have pace. I'm sorry but I think this was a shocking oversight by Eck. And with Emana why did he wait til the last minute again? He was never going to pull it off in time.
Also Tatts did we not get close to shifting anyone out?
Tainio is a better footballer than Johnson, Carsley. That's why he got him I guess. Vignal, Murphy, Franck can cover left back and McSheffrey, Fahey, McFadden left wing so was it really necessary for Bale or Traore? I think we still need better footballers creative players in the centre of the park. Let's not forget Eck can only sign cast offs and the bargain bins as Tatts says because the board won't let him go for quality top choices. If this board was in any way interested they would have paid the £5 million for Emana in the summer, the £2 million for Michel etc etc He had to wait to the last minute on the off chance because of the way the board run the club. What is he supposed to do, sit there twiddling his thumbs? Eck has faced exactly the same problem Bruce did since the 2006 windows the board not bothered and not willing to spend. I see Karren's left to stay at Chelsea to film the Apprentice as she says in that awful Sun column. But isn't she actually paid to work at St Andrew's and run the club? Just a thought. Sums them up doesnt it
Traore who made it plain he did not wish to come ? Bale who wears Hairgrips ? Eck has done great on very little funds. 3 cheers eck !
Tatts i think it was a decent summary and i would further speculate where the needed revenue may come from:
The Chinese seem to do things in unison. If i'm to believe what i have read about their boycott on pay for football TV (lesson to be learnt there)I guess there could be an almost national adoption of BCFC as the Chinese team in the Prem, depending on how Carson Yeung presented it? We may even take shirt sales away from the top flighter's.
Considering the size of their market and the opportunities for Grandtop et al to make sales on the back of the Prem and BCfC, then reinvestment into the stature of the team would have to follow to maintain that revenue.
Who knows they may have a left footed player that we could draft in and make a difference
Finally, whilst thanks to our board is in order, we now need to move forward with the resources that match our competitors if we are going to compete.
I look forward to the next hundred years and as my son said - it's gotta change one day, why not today.
I believe Carson Yeung will take us to the next level - i have to - i'm a Blues fan therefore a serial optimist