Player costs - wages

Quite apart from the actual fees, we're putting ourselves on the hook for high and long term wages more than ever.

Any rebuilds (or any 'builds' or maintenance) at a high level are risky - it's good that we're looking to blend future potential (Tzolis, Sargent) with experience (lees Melou, Rashica). Hopefully this'll help hedge against potential losses in a way you can't if you always aim for 'proven' even if that's no guarantee anyway.

Years ago, there was an article suggesting that, on average, only half of transfers are regarded as 'successes' regardless of level. Good managers/setups only tend to up that to 60%, poor setups dip to 40%.

The margins between success and failure are pretty small and subject to the vagaries of luck too.

We're undercooked going into this season thanks mainly to the Covid outbreak. Other clubs will hit similar issues through the season too.

I'm hopeful, the new guys look nifty, but, as ever with Farketeams - it'll take time for them to settle, get the pace and gel.

PLM and Gilmour seem to have slotted in really quickly, I think Rashica and the two new incomings may take longer.

I've got high hopes for Dowell, Sorensen, Idah (and Plachetta looked decent in the wingback position). But it'll take some time for the new and the young guys to hit their stride/straps.

For me, watching them develop and bloom is what I enjoy most about watching the team these days - if they progress, the results will hopefully follow.

So yeah... Too many words, but hopefully the fans will give them the space, time and support to do so. It's in everyone's interests.

Posted By: Cardiff Canary, Aug 8, 10:40:57