Ross Barkley

[Loz]

The only saving grace is that City have to be careful what they spend. That might not stop them trying to get him on the cheap by offering us sick note Rodwell back again.

Having said that....as Uefa don't actually have the balls to chuck the likes of City out of Europe anyway even if they do flout the rules, City may still spend big and just pay whatever fines come in knowing that they get the money back through CL revenue and increased advertising revenue. They might even be able to write the fine off against tax as an operating cost? In other words, I won't be surprised to see a £45m bid on the final day of the transfer window. Every tit that writes for the Daily Mail or works on Talk Sport will probably then be urging young Ross to leave Goodison to further his career and for the good of England etc. Hopefully, he will remember what happened to the likes of Jeffers and Barmby who found that the grass wasn't always greener.

 

[marty mcfly]

Barkley is better than those other players so saying look at them doesn't really apply.

Personally I think UEFA WILL kick City out if they flout FFP again. If they don't kick them out then they may force them to play all their European games with players who where in the squad for the previous season.

The people in charge of UEFA will want to protect the status of the big European teams like Barca, Real and Bayern.

Lets hope so anyway because FFP could be the best thing that's every happened to our club.

 

[Moomin]

Barkley is better than those other players so saying look at them doesn't really apply.

Personally I think UEFA WILL kick City out if they flout FFP again. If they don't kick them out then they may force them to play all their European games with players who where in the squad for the previous season.

The people in charge of UEFA will want to protect the status of the big European teams like Barca, Real and Bayern.

Lets hope so anyway because FFP could be the best thing that's every happened to our club.

I think its the worst, the elite clubs have protected themselves really from another Manchester City to happen.

FFP is a sham anyway, they can not police it and a bit of clever financial engineering will protect the clubs. Just at PSG and the so called restrictions they have, straight away the signing of Luiz for 50 million puts that to bed.

 

[TheCount]

They wont, mainly because no one will offer that right now for him.

I didn't say they would carlin. I'm saying that's what Bill and his cockney mates would accept

 

[The Other Blues]

Barkley is better than those other players so saying look at them doesn't really apply.

Personally I think UEFA WILL kick City out if they flout FFP again. If they don't kick them out then they may force them to play all their European games with players who where in the squad for the previous season.

The people in charge of UEFA will want to protect the status of the big European teams like Barca, Real and Bayern.

Lets hope so anyway because FFP could be the best thing that's every happened to our club.

Thankfully for City, this summer was the last time that UEFA were likely to be able to sanction us as our P&L at the end of next season will be incredibly healthy. In actual fact we passed FFP this summer also, only UEFA decided via pressure from the other PL clubs to shift the goalposts just enough to ensure they could slap us on the wrist. IF you look at the sanctions they aren't particularly heavy. The "net" spent we can have this summer of 49 million pounds is totally reasonable based on the squad we have. We have to have a wage freeze in terms of players registered in the CL, when in actual fact our wages have gone down consistently over the last 24 months as players on the stupid early Abu Dhabi contracts come off the wage bill, and the new contracts we are negotiating with players are on lower basic wages with an increase in performance related pay. Hence for example Nasri's new contract is actually 40k less a week than his original City contract. When you couple the decrease in the wage bill with the exponential growth of the club off the field, and you look at the turnover v. expenditure figures for last year and the projected figures for the forthcoming season, the picture is clear. City will be able to spend circa 100 million per summer from next summer without breaking a sweat with regards FFP.

It's an interesting point of view you have (that FFP is good for Everton). I'm not entirely sure how you've come to that conclusion. Yes, if you continue to punch well above your weight whilst not spending more than you earn, you are in a better position than clubs like QPR who have invested heavily and not gotten anywhere. However I'm curious as to how you'd view FFP if you slipped a little further down the table next season and needed investment. As glorious an ideal as it is to imagine a team of home grown youngsters mixed with clever signings for not much money to challenge the elite, the reality is that that is an almost impossible task. Especially when each time you develop a player of true quality, the pressure to sell becomes immense precisely because of the way your club is run.

Just to bring it back to RB. There's a bit of a contradiction in terms of the way he's viewed on here. On the one hand you guys pretty much all think that he's unsellable and City (or indeed anyone else) would need to pay 50 million pounds plus for him. Yet on the other you also all say that he can't demand 100k + a week and should be given a contract of 50k a week or something. C'mon, I don't buy that for a second. I rate the guy as much as all of you do. I think he's got it all and I think that it's not a case of potential with him, the talent is there for all to see already. Other than his decision making under pressure, I can't find a weakness to his game. On that basis, the fact he's on 15k a week is crazy. The fact his contract has less than 2 years to run is crazier. And the fact that Everton haven't managed to get him to commit to fresh terms should be worry regardless of whether City or anyone is interested this summer or not. If I were Kenwright I'd tell the kid and his agents to name their price on a new 5 year contract and I'd even give them a set buy out figure.

 

[Toffe3m4n]

"Former Everton and Manchester City defender Andy Hinchcliffe has been telling Sky Sports News Radio that Ross Barkley would find it hard to turn down a switch from Goodison to the Etihad."

Wtf Andy?!

 

[Blue Wiz]

I wonder what the hold up is with the contract situation, he gives off all the right sound about being a blue etc. Doesn't strike me to be a money grabber, and like Lukaku, age is on his side.

Didn't he want to switch agent or something and the old and the new are on throats as to who will get want when he signs a new contract?

 

[RaleighBlue]

Thankfully for City, this summer was the last time that UEFA were likely to be able to sanction us as our P&L at the end of next season will be incredibly healthy. In actual fact we passed FFP this summer also, only UEFA decided via pressure from the other PL clubs to shift the goalposts just enough to ensure they could slap us on the wrist. IF you look at the sanctions they aren't particularly heavy. The "net" spent we can have this summer of 49 million pounds is totally reasonable based on the squad we have. We have to have a wage freeze in terms of players registered in the CL, when in actual fact our wages have gone down consistently over the last 24 months as players on the stupid early Abu Dhabi contracts come off the wage bill, and the new contracts we are negotiating with players are on lower basic wages with an increase in performance related pay. Hence for example Nasri's new contract is actually 40k less a week than his original City contract. When you couple the decrease in the wage bill with the exponential growth of the club off the field, and you look at the turnover v. expenditure figures for last year and the projected figures for the forthcoming season, the picture is clear. City will be able to spend circa 100 million per summer from next summer without breaking a sweat with regards FFP.

It's an interesting point of view you have (that FFP is good for Everton). I'm not entirely sure how you've come to that conclusion. Yes, if you continue to punch well above your weight whilst not spending more than you earn, you are in a better position than clubs like QPR who have invested heavily and not gotten anywhere. However I'm curious as to how you'd view FFP if you slipped a little further down the table next season and needed investment. As glorious an ideal as it is to imagine a team of home grown youngsters mixed with clever signings for not much money to challenge the elite, the reality is that that is an almost impossible task. Especially when each time you develop a player of true quality, the pressure to sell becomes immense precisely because of the way your club is run.

Just to bring it back to RB. There's a bit of a contradiction in terms of the way he's viewed on here. On the one hand you guys pretty much all think that he's unsellable and City (or indeed anyone else) would need to pay 50 million pounds plus for him. Yet on the other you also all say that he can't demand 100k + a week and should be given a contract of 50k a week or something. C'mon, I don't buy that for a second. I rate the guy as much as all of you do. I think he's got it all and I think that it's not a case of potential with him, the talent is there for all to see already. Other than his decision making under pressure, I can't find a weakness to his game. On that basis, the fact he's on 15k a week is crazy. The fact his contract has less than 2 years to run is crazier. And the fact that Everton haven't managed to get him to commit to fresh terms should be worry regardless of whether City or anyone is interested this summer or not. If I were Kenwright I'd tell the kid and his agents to name their price on a new 5 year contract and I'd even give them a set buy out figure.

You make far too much sense.

My head is going directly in the sand.

(FFP is nonsense by the way; if they wanted to help smaller clubs they would institute a stringent squad limit - sorry Chelsea, no loaning out entire teams - and ideally a wage cap).

 

[Bob Latchford]

Thankfully for City, this summer was the last time that UEFA were likely to be able to sanction us as our P&L at the end of next season will be incredibly healthy. In actual fact we passed FFP this summer also, only UEFA decided via pressure from the other PL clubs to shift the goalposts just enough to ensure they could slap us on the wrist. IF you look at the sanctions they aren't particularly heavy. The "net" spent we can have this summer of 49 million pounds is totally reasonable based on the squad we have. We have to have a wage freeze in terms of players registered in the CL, when in actual fact our wages have gone down consistently over the last 24 months as players on the stupid early Abu Dhabi contracts come off the wage bill, and the new contracts we are negotiating with players are on lower basic wages with an increase in performance related pay. Hence for example Nasri's new contract is actually 40k less a week than his original City contract. When you couple the decrease in the wage bill with the exponential growth of the club off the field, and you look at the turnover v. expenditure figures for last year and the projected figures for the forthcoming season, the picture is clear. City will be able to spend circa 100 million per summer from next summer without breaking a sweat with regards FFP.

It's an interesting point of view you have (that FFP is good for Everton). I'm not entirely sure how you've come to that conclusion. Yes, if you continue to punch well above your weight whilst not spending more than you earn, you are in a better position than clubs like QPR who have invested heavily and not gotten anywhere. However I'm curious as to how you'd view FFP if you slipped a little further down the table next season and needed investment. As glorious an ideal as it is to imagine a team of home grown youngsters mixed with clever signings for not much money to challenge the elite, the reality is that that is an almost impossible task. Especially when each time you develop a player of true quality, the pressure to sell becomes immense precisely because of the way your club is run.

Just to bring it back to RB. There's a bit of a contradiction in terms of the way he's viewed on here. On the one hand you guys pretty much all think that he's unsellable and City (or indeed anyone else) would need to pay 50 million pounds plus for him. Yet on the other you also all say that he can't demand 100k + a week and should be given a contract of 50k a week or something. C'mon, I don't buy that for a second. I rate the guy as much as all of you do. I think he's got it all and I think that it's not a case of potential with him, the talent is there for all to see already. Other than his decision making under pressure, I can't find a weakness to his game. On that basis, the fact he's on 15k a week is crazy. The fact his contract has less than 2 years to run is crazier. And the fact that Everton haven't managed to get him to commit to fresh terms should be worry regardless of whether City or anyone is interested this summer or not. If I were Kenwright I'd tell the kid and his agents to name their price on a new 5 year contract and I'd even give them a set buy out figure.

Few good points mate, but I do take exception with some of what you say.

Financial fair play is a joke and goes nowhere near to addressing what I and most others initially thought it would.

I can only guess how easy it is to be so analytical of how Everton is run from a position as a City supporter. I must say I am envious of the financial clout you guys have, however my admiration stops there. I'm surprised with your lack of empathy given your not so distant past.

With regards to Ross. Perhaps it is our mindset, as a poorly financially backed entity, that we think our home grown players should accept a certain amount per week for the honour of gracing our first team week in week out. (Something Barkley would struggle to do at City) Maybe our attitude would change given a billionaire owner. The fact is, based on what we have seen in the market for other English players, the selling price should be as much as we could get (maybe not 50m but definitely more than Shaw) and yes, morally the wages for a 19 year old who was only a squad player the season before last should be 15k per week with a rise to 50k a week maximum for a player of his age and experience being more than reasonable. (Youve already mentioned the ludicrous contracts given out after the Abu Dhabi take over)

Unfortunately the only thing pushing that up would be interest from one of the 'big boys' but if he needs reminded of the graveyard City has already been for young English up and comings and established players he need look no further than Sinclair, Johnston, Milner, Rodwell and even Lescott. That's not to say a move to another club would not work for him, i just hope he stays.

Again, no offence, i don't see that many City supporters about the place and the ones i do seem sound enough. After all, it's all about opinions.

 

[Zahre]

"Former Everton and Manchester City defender Andy Hinchcliffe has been telling Sky Sports News Radio that Ross Barkley would find it hard to turn down a switch from Goodison to the Etihad."

Wtf Andy?!

The thing about moving there though is look at Rodwell. In all fairness would ross be a starter for man city at present? Probably not. I would expect him to feature more than jack did but not as much as he would if he stayed with us. It's inevitable that if we don't make top four in the next two years he may well move on, but for now ross still has plenty of learning to do

 

[Lewisefc92]

If ross goes this summer it would be devastating. Raw talent and in my eyes irreplaceable weather its a fiver of 80 million. We need to build the team around are central players. Stones, Jimmy, Barkley and hopefully Lukaku.

 

[marty mcfly]

Moyes should have given him a longer contract and Martinez should have extended it before the start of last season. It was obvious from our pre-season games he was going to have a big season. Since then who knows, I suspect however it might have something to do with Kenwright around the time it was last talked about saying that no-one would have a buyout clause after the Fellaini incident. I think ultimately it will get done however.

As for FFP, with all due respect to other clubs we're much bigger than QPR or even yourselves although that's rapidly changing.

And by bigger I mean our history and our worldwide support. This helps us to attract young players when we can still afford them.

Clubs like A Madrid or even Dortmund show that you can still do it if you're smart in the transfer market but if clubs like Chelsea etc continue to Hoover up all the talent due to being able to offer them far better wages and then loan them out it makes it very difficult for us because that's the age where we could get them for a realistic fee.

 

[marty mcfly]

I've said it before but James Rodriguez and Paul Pogba are the two players that are similar to Ross in world football and the rumours are around 60m for both.

Ross might not have reached their level yet but he's a year younger and most importantly English.

 

[marty mcfly]

If ross goes this summer it would be devastating. Raw talent and in my eyes irreplaceable weather its a fiver of 80 million. We need to build the team around are central players. Stones, Jimmy, Barkley and hopefully Lukaku.

You hit the nail on the head. Once the top teams get those players they won't sell them because they're the players that win you things. Liverpool will find that out next season without Suarez.

City will struggle if Ageuro isn't fit and Toure leaves. It doesn't matter how much money is in the bank.

 

[Jxg]

I think its the worst, the elite clubs have protected themselves really from another Manchester City to happen.

FFP is a sham anyway, they can not police it and a bit of clever financial engineering will protect the clubs. Just at PSG and the so called restrictions they have, straight away the signing of Luiz for 50 million puts that to bed.

Agreed.

Spend £300m on your team and then go "right guys, from now on, nobody can come in and spend truckloads of cash on players like I did a year ago". You're now ahead of everyone else and they have no means of catching up.