How many points required this season to stay up?

[KIO]

Before a ball had been kicked in anger this season I genuinely believed we had enough to stay up although I was a little bit concerned about us not investing in a decent CB. As we enter December I have to admit that I'm no longer confident at all and I will be surprised, albeit pleasantly, if we retain our EPL status next term. If we are 4 - 5 points clear of 18th spot come the January transfer window perhaps I'll change my mind, but having followed City for nigh on 45 years I can tell you now not to expect any major investment in the playing squad this winter, City don't do 'ambition' whatever the circumstances.

I'm old enough to remember when we had a real chance of the league and cup double back in the 80s under Dave Stringer's stewardship, we were crying out for a centre forward at the time but poor old Dave had to persist with Robert Rosario because a certain Mr Chase refused to release the purse strings and the rest as they say is history. 

 

[eatonparkboy]

Before a ball had been kicked in anger this season I genuinely believed we had enough to stay up although I was a little bit concerned about us not investing in a decent CB. As we enter December I have to admit that I'm no longer confident at all and I will be surprised, albeit pleasantly, if we retain our EPL status next term. If we are 4 - 5 points clear of 18th spot come the January transfer window perhaps I'll change my mind, but having followed City for nigh on 45 years I can tell you now not to expect any major investment in the playing squad this winter, City don't do 'ambition' whatever the circumstances.

I'm old enough to remember when we had a real chance of the league and cup double back in the 80s under Dave Stringer's stewardship, we were crying out for a centre forward at the time but poor old Dave had to persist with Robert Rosario because a certain Mr Chase refused to release the purse strings and the rest as they say is history. 

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It did worry me when it was revealed at the AGM that expenditure would exceed income by £7M this season. Does this include January spending money? Or will spending be dependent on outgoing players bringing in revenue?

The club have been reliant on a policy of "Price-lowest to high" in their searches and I wonder if they could for once start looking at a bigger picture that includes bringing in one or two really top players and speculating to accumulate.

Of course we don't want to go into serious debt again but sometimes everything is in place for the club to progress and there have been as many pluses this season as minuses and I would hate for that to be spoilt by what is tantamount to ignorance of their own prospects.

 

[Canaryboy]

How are they going to manage to spend £7m more than we generate this season when we've only brought in a few players and with the huge TV deal this time out? 

That is rather worrying.

Although that will be their "worst case" I guess. They made a £6m profit last time in this league when predicting break even, because relegation meant no bonuses paid out.

So the £7m loss projection will presumably be a figure based on staying up and paying out bonuses, in 17th place or something, and not managing to shift any deadwood in January?

Perhaps selling Hooper for say £3m and finishing in 14th (more prize money) would mean the difference between £7m loss and break even?

 

[Canaryboy]

A projected £7m loss surely means that had we been successful in bringing in Dwight Gayle (for a rumoured £8m) we'd have accepted Bournemouth's offer of £7m for Grabban.

 

[Yellow Fever]

The £7m loss would be mainly down to bonuses paid for survival, so if that happens it'll outweigh the loss with the big money coming in. I think our play has developed hugely over the last 4 games and that makes me far more confident about the future.

 

[Baggie192]

I think you'll be safe If Swansea get rid of Monk I think they'll be in trouble. It will depend on what happens in the winter window though

 

[eatonparkboy]

I think you'll be safe If Swansea get rid of Monk I think they'll be in trouble. It will depend on what happens in the winter window though

And I personally I now question the nous of our management team to buy correctly. Quoting we nearly bought £10M defenders is meaningless. They didn't come and you just can't blame the inferiority complex that we are little Norwich. Who would have thought Cambiasso, despite his years, would go to Leicester?

They will sign if it is right for them.

 

[Baggie192]

And I personally I now question the nous of our management team to buy correctly. Quoting we nearly bought £10M defenders is meaningless. They didn't come and you just can't blame the inferiority complex that we are little Norwich. Who would have thought Cambiasso, despite his years, would go to Leicester?

They will sign if it is right for them.

That's the thing. I've said on here. Pulis for me is like sticking Needles in my eyes, BUT, he's picking up points from tough games. Berahino will likely go this window. He'll probably get the cash to replace him. Is it true that the director's gave themselves big payoff for getting back into the prem? The Money there to build the team, and you've got to plow it into the team in order to stay up. I would of thought your board would have learnt that from last time. Everton are going to be tough next week, mind you we've got Liverpool away. As you say the days of "Little Norwich" are over if you stump up the cash the players will come. That's the best thing about our Chairman. He decided when to stop yo-yoing and has been ruthless when it comes to keep us up.

 

[dj161]

great to see a non Norwich fans unbiased opinion on us, and I agree, the only way to get out of this 'little norwich' mentality is for the club to go against it and stump up the cash to keep us up, in the long run it can make the club a fortune, I'm not saying we should go out and spend £20m on ever player or anything like that, but we prob need to spend £20m-£30m in january, on a centre back, right back and forward, £8m-£10m a piece could be the difference in us staying up for another year, what we cant do is find ourselves falling behind the likes of Bournemouth and Sunderland when it comes to our transfer activity in january

 

[Canaryboy]

 but we prob need to spend £20m-£30m in january, on a centre back, right back and forward, £8m-£10m a piece could be the difference in us staying up for another year

If we are already projected to make a £5m loss this year despite selling Johnson for £6m then spending £20m to £30m this January could be a disaster. 

If we go down having made a £25m to £35m loss and then can't get rid of the players, that could put us back for years. Would just be a complete an utter gamble. 

We did recoup what we spent on Leroy Fer plus a bit extra (although got a bit lucky with that one, most clubs aren't mugs like QPR, he has failed medicals at three other clubs). 

But we've been stuck with Van Wolfswinkel on the payroll for 18 months and counting, so its not always as easy as just selling them on again.

I personally can't see us signing any big money players on permanent deals in January unless we get a couple of wins before the window, wouldn't surprise me if Alex Neil was limited to spending whatever he can raise by selling the likes of Lafferty and Hooper (or Jerome!).

Also, are any high profile big money players going to want to join us on a permanent deal whilst we hang just above the relegation zone?

 

[Baggie192]

great to see a non Norwich fans unbiased opinion on us, and I agree, the only way to get out of this 'little norwich' mentality is for the club to go against it and stump up the cash to keep us up, in the long run it can make the club a fortune, I'm not saying we should go out and spend £20m on ever player or anything like that, but we prob need to spend £20m-£30m in january, on a centre back, right back and forward, £8m-£10m a piece could be the difference in us staying up for another year, what we cant do is find ourselves falling behind the likes of Bournemouth and Sunderland when it comes to our transfer activity in january

It's not how much you spend, but, Spending the right money on the right player. Burton and Irvine spent £8m on Brown Ideye. Who is a good player. He just wasn't suited to the prem. Pulis bought Solomon Rondon for £12m and he's been a revelation. Over the year we've spent close to £33m but we're hard to beat. It's not brain surgery Pulis buys players who fit his system. If Berarhino goes He's already got targets. 1 more win and it's 21pts which will be the first time we'd have that this early.. The definition of Insanity is doing something over and over. Then expecting a different outcome. Norwiich seem to do this then blame The "little Norwich" tag. When in fact to out of the last 3 seasons have been in the Prem. Just spend wise and players will come