Rudkin

[filbertway]

49 minutes ago, coolhandfox said:

Enzo was saying at the end of the summer we had to move on players before bringing anyone in so I don't see why he would be surprised its the same now.

 

We have been the biggest spenders in the Championship this season and have the biggest wage bill.

 

I don't think he has much to complain about.

He probably overestimated our DOFs ability to shift players

[teblin]

I think this might be bit of a show to some extent. He said way before Xmas that it’s difficult as players will need to leave.

 

maybe trying to push some moves through.

[smudgerfox]

Of course we have to sell first.

 

We have far too many players. The summer was a start but really we needed to lose two or three more at least.
 

The keeper overload was exacerbated with the arrival of Mad Mats and has only been temporarily and partially relieved by the Iversen loan now.The Praet farce rolls to its utterly mundane conclusion (running down his contract before finally moving to Torino for free.)Thanks for the memories Dennis.
 

We could manage without one of Nacho/Daka. Souttar is completely surplus to requirements - even more so now when Ben Nelson is finally trusted to start - and of course we now have the return of Luke Chambers to deal with. Soumare and Viktor are still on our books. 

 

Loans don’t really solve anything long term. We (King Power) will have to accept the huge financial losses from the Brendan signings and just accept any offer we get for Praet, Ward, Nacho/Daka, Souttar, Soumare, Kristiansen, if we are to make any progress with squad building for the future.

[Ric Flair]

1 hour ago, Freeman's Wharfer said:

Rudkin’s inability to get unwanted players out of the door is hurting us again. 
 

If it’s not a big money departure of one or our best players, we’re horrendous at doing anything other than letting people walk for free or loans.

 

I refuse to believe that a decent DOF over the past few years couldn’t have got a fee and sorted out a swifter exit for the likes of Perez, Mendy, Benkovic, Ghezzal. We must have a reputation within the game now that LCFC won’t turn down a loan offer and make you take a player on a permanent if you really want them.

 

Praet, Ndidi and Iheanacho will all potentially walk from the club this summer with no fee in return. These are players that are current internationals for countries of relatively decent calibre in the international game (and not the first to go for nothing after Tielemans, Amartey and Soyuncu). If you believe no club in the whole of world football would have been willing to pay for them then you’re deluded.

 

A good DOF has agent contacts, links with clubs, pedigree and experience in the transfer market. We have the bloke who used to run the academy.

 

Clubs who cashed in on the Saudi gold rush in the summer didn’t just get lucky. They knew it was a possibility and had proactively built connections and relationships with the buyers. Rudkin probably doesn’t even know the country dialling code.

 

The biggest obstacle on this has been the wages we've paid players, that simply has to change and hopefully is. We had the double whammy of what may be a poor negotiator in getting unwanted players out but also paying them far more than the going rate and prospective buyers wouldn't match that and the transfer fee we wanted. We simply won't book a loss on the accounts for players, we'd rather let their contracts expire and work within the amortised budget we have each year.

 

King Power can have ambitions for us to be self sufficient all they like but they might want to consider internally what's possibly hampering this..... won't happen though. Rudkin is here until Top goes.

[Chelmofox]

1 hour ago, Freeman's Wharfer said:

Rudkin’s inability to get unwanted players out of the door is hurting us again. 
 

If it’s not a big money departure of one or our best players, we’re horrendous at doing anything other than letting people walk for free or loans.

 

I refuse to believe that a decent DOF over the past few years couldn’t have got a fee and sorted out a swifter exit for the likes of Perez, Mendy, Benkovic, Ghezzal. We must have a reputation within the game now that LCFC won’t turn down a loan offer and make you take a player on a permanent if you really want them.

 

Praet, Ndidi and Iheanacho will all potentially walk from the club this summer with no fee in return. These are players that are current internationals for countries of relatively decent calibre in the international game (and not the first to go for nothing after Tielemans, Amartey and Soyuncu). If you believe no club in the whole of world football would have been willing to pay for them then you’re deluded.

 

A good DOF has agent contacts, links with clubs, pedigree and experience in the transfer market. We have the bloke who used to run the academy.

 

Clubs who cashed in on the Saudi gold rush in the summer didn’t just get lucky. They knew it was a possibility and had proactively built connections and relationships with the buyers. Rudkin probably doesn’t even know the country dialling code.

 

We are still talking about it as if every other team just disposes of dead wood in the last x months of their contract willy nilly. Its not an uncommon place we find ourselves with here. And the fans are bloody fickle with this shit. Back in the summer, i was pleading for the club to dump Nacho when there we rumours of interest. Lots of fans saying he was 'going to score for fun', 'he just needs a run of games',  and the money it would cost to keep him outweighs the financial benefit of him running his contract down. Now look at where we are - he is running his contract down, playing appalling, and injured in the January window. Unless someone comes in completely desperate, how do you get rid? Saudi was littered with big name signings  - Nacho doesn't fit the bill, and we can see the wheels is already falling off the Saudi bandwagon. 

 

Praet isn't a current Belgian international btw. Sat on the bench a few times on early 2023 but hasn't featured properly for a long time. The only way we are disposing of him is a loan where some of the wages are covered. 

[Ric Flair]

Just now, Chelmofox said:

We are still talking about it as if every other team just disposes of dead wood in the last x months of their contract willy nilly. Its not an uncommon place we find ourselves with here. And the fans are bloody fickle with this shit. Back in the summer, i was pleading for the club to dump Nacho when there we rumours of interest. Lots of fans saying he was 'going to score for fun', 'he just needs a run of games',  and the money it would cost to keep him outweighs the financial benefit of him running his contract down. Now look at where we are - he is running his contract down, playing appalling, and injured in the January window. Unless someone comes in completely desperate, how do you get rid? Saudi was littered with big name signings  - Nacho doesn't fit the bill, and we can see the wheels is already falling off the Saudi bandwagon. 

 

Praet isn't a current Belgian international btw. Sat on the bench a few times on early 2023 but hasn't featured properly for a long time. The only way we are disposing of him is a loan where some of the wages are covered. 

The issue is we don't get rid of players we want to move on with more than a year left on their deals either. The way we operate, we're more open to selling for low fees in the final year of contracts but at that point players can sit out and make huge financial gains and teams aren't prepared to try and counteract that and it ultimately cost them more.

[coolhandfox]

1 hour ago, filbertway said:

He probably overestimated our DOFs ability to shift players

If he's shift Ward his a miracle worker.

[Chelmofox]

15 minutes ago, Ric Flair said:

The issue is we don't get rid of players we want to move on with more than a year left on their deals either. The way we operate, we're more open to selling for low fees in the final year of contracts but at that point players can sit out and make huge financial gains and teams aren't prepared to try and counteract that and it ultimately cost them more.

Oh im not saying there isn't an issue. I just don't buy into this assertion that every other DOF is dumping out final year contract deadwood as if its easy.  I'm not buying into the Saudi argument. Those who did that largely used big names and business relationships. We are already seeing Henderson and Fabinho want out because its naff (to name just 2), which will deter others doing the same.

 

We do have big issues with those brought in that 2021 window. Soumare and Daka came with large (relative to Leicester) fees and haven't performed to a level where we are going to recoup costs, and Vesty will go on a free. There could be hope for Daka in the medium term - we will see. 

 

Longer term there should be promise though. I think we are sat on a few players who could command a very good fee if we pushed. Mads, Fatawu (when we sign of course  ) KDH, Cannon and then long more term Alves, Sammy and Nelson could well get decent fees if we develop correctly and sell when the time is right. I like to think we have this potentially back on track with the next generation.

[volpeazzurro]

2 hours ago, filbertway said:

He probably overestimated our DOFs ability to shift players

You can't shift those that refuse to go but also, with some of them, would you want your club to buy them?

[Chelmofox]

2 hours ago, filbertway said:

He probably overestimated our DOFs ability to shift players

Enzo is far from an idiot. He knew full well we were a club who was paying large wages for players and relegation meant that incomings and outgoings was going to be a challenge. Like anyone who wants something from their business owners, he will behave in a way where he will try and get what he wants or try and prove a point (fair game imho), but he would have reconciled in his head the realism of the situation. Unless someone is willing to take those fringe players or those with 6 months left on their deals, they aren't magically going anywhere.

[fuchsntf]

3 hours ago, Freeman's Wharfer said:

Rudkin’s inability to get unwanted players out of the door is hurting us again. 
 

If it’s not a big money departure of one or our best players, we’re horrendous at doing anything other than letting people walk for free or loans.

 

I refuse to believe that a decent DOF over the past few years couldn’t have got a fee and sorted out a swifter exit for the likes of Perez, Mendy, Benkovic, Ghezzal. We must have a reputation within the game now that LCFC won’t turn down a loan offer and make you take a player on a permanent if you really want them.

 

Praet, Ndidi and Iheanacho will all potentially walk from the club this summer with no fee in return. These are players that are current internationals for countries of relatively decent calibre in the international game (and not the first to go for nothing after Tielemans, Amartey and Soyuncu). If you believe no club in the whole of world football would have been willing to pay for them then you’re deluded.

 

A good DOF has agent contacts, links with clubs, pedigree and experience in the transfer market. We have the bloke who used to run the academy.

 

Clubs who cashed in on the Saudi gold rush in the summer didn’t just get lucky. They knew it was a possibility and had proactively built connections and relationships with the buyers. Rudkin probably doesn’t even know the country dialling code.

 

Makes one think dunnit…!!

[Staff]

4 hours ago, filbertway said:

He probably overestimated our DOFs ability to do anything at all

 

[HarryDee8]

What's the benefit of going up to the premier league. Is it £200m per team to go up? I'm guessing over a certain period

[Fox92]

On 13/01/2024 at 10:41, volpeazzurro said:

You can't shift those that refuse to go but also, with some of them, would you want your club to buy them?

Exactly. People seem to thing Rudkin can just make these players go. What club wants to pay for some of the shit we've got.

[Tommy G]

Shock horror the Rudkin criticism commences as we get jitters when we don't have players incoming.

 

This isn't football manager, we have a hardcore group of players that are tough to get rid of, a big squad etc. We are also 10 pts clear of 3rd, why the sudden panic - had we won at the weekend it's unlikely there would be any comments. I don't think its' complacency to say we won't go up, we need a max of 10 more wins. Enzo should get this team up with the current squad we have an reevaluate in the summer. 

 

Rudkin isn't without blame, but he had a stellar summer window by all accounts. Can't wait for the transfer window to shut tbh.

 

 

[Clever Fox]

I said we'd regret the passing of Vichai and so it's proving. He would have been decisive in decision making. Now we have a Board to go through before most things happen.

 

Yes Top is the Chairman of the Club but he still has a Board to answer too. Vichai could call the shots himself.

 

I'm sure he would have said get the deadwood out of the club ASAP even at a loss and we move on.

 

Think about it, If we dont get the fringe players out it seems we cant get new signings in. That could seriously jeopardise our promotion. Sadly, only time will tell.

[Tuna]

2 hours ago, Fox92 said:

Exactly. People seem to thing Rudkin can just make these players go. What club wants to pay for some of the shit we've got.

People think it's football manager, don't work like that.

[Plastik Man]

34 minutes ago, Clever Fox said:

I said we'd regret the passing of Vichai and so it's proving. He would have been decisive in decision making. Now we have a Board to go through before most things happen.

 

Yes Top is the Chairman of the Club but he still has a Board to answer too. Vichai could call the shots himself.

 

I'm sure he would have said get the deadwood out of the club ASAP even at a loss and we move on.

 

Think about it, If we dont get the fringe players out it seems we cant get new signings in. That could seriously jeopardise our promotion. Sadly, only time will tell.

The thing is you can't just cut your losses without considering the effect it has on FFP.

 

Just getting rid of deadwood would incur maximum loss on the investment and put us in a worse position re FFP.  Ideally you want some kind of financial return, even if it is only a loan with the other club paying part of the wages. 

 

Obviously the solution is try not to overpay for shite in the first place, but that doesn't solve the existing problem with earlier signings 

[Holly B]

1 hour ago, Plastik Man said:

The thing is you can't just cut your losses without considering the effect it has on FFP.

 

Just getting rid of deadwood would incur maximum loss on the investment and put us in a worse position re FFP.  Ideally you want some kind of financial return, even if it is only a loan with the other club paying part of the wages. 

 

Obviously the solution is try not to overpay for shite in the first place, but that doesn't solve the existing problem with earlier signings 

Well put but unfortunately some of our fans just don’t get it no matter how many times FFP is explained to them

[Pita]

If Ruskin was any good he would have sorted out players moving on well before January 

[Plastik Man]

32 minutes ago, Pita said:

If Ruskin was any good he would have sorted out players moving on well before January 

and still have had time to publish his volumes on Modern Painters!

[jayfox26]

4 hours ago, Fox92 said:

Exactly. People seem to thing Rudkin can just make these players go. What club wants to pay for some of the shit we've got.

Yes it does seem that Rudkin is made a scapegoat. Whilst he's not blameless as he is the one who sanctions the transfers/contracts, the shit we can't shift was all signed under Rodgers and his best mate Congerton. Lessons need to be learnt in our future transfer business but i don't think its as easy as to say Rudkin is useless at getting rid of players. Of course we could try and get rid of them for next to nothing, but some of them may still have outstanding payments, so we'd need to ensure that we cover that cost at a minimum. As for Danny Ward, we'd have more chance of digging up Frank Worthington and selling him than getting any money for Ward. 

[CosbehFox]

You can debate Jon’s correct position as a scapegoat or not but there are 3 major problem areas where there’s evidence he’s messed up. 
 

1. The wage bill - quite evident that we’ve been overpaying players for their relevant quality 

 

2. Turning down decent offers last summer in particular for the likes of Soumare. 
 

3. The gate keeping of the academy towards his mates 

[Freeman's Wharfer]

People are saying that it’s harder than it might look, so let’s have a look a couple of other clubs who have to be careful around FFP and what they managed to get done this summer…

 

Southampton’s player sales for a fee:

 

Ward-Prowse (West Ham)

Tella (Bauer Leverkusen)

Djenepo (Standard Liege)

Nlandulu (Bolton)

Chauke (Burton Albion)

Orsic (Trabzonspor)

Diallo (Al-Duhail)

Livramento (Newcastle)

Salisu (Monaco)

Lavia (Chelsea)

Olaigbe (Cercle Brugge)

Bycroft (Swindon Town)

 

12 players shifted for a fee. Not all superstars that were cherry-picked. Many that will have been on decent wages and who were brought in for significant fees. Sold to all corners of the globe and all

levels of the English football pyramid. 
 

Now let’s look at Everton:

 

Price (Standard Liege)

Nkounkou (Saint Etienne)

Kean (Juventus)

Simms (Coventry)

Samuels-Smith (Chelsea)

Cannon (Leicester)

Iwobi (Fulham)

Gray (Al-Ettifaq)

 

8 players sold for a fee. Again, sold around Europe and lower down the English pyramid. A nice fee in there from the Saudi gold rush to boot.

 

Now let’s look at ourselves…

 

We sold 5 (Maddison, Barnes, Castagne, Hirst and Odunze) for a fee. Three out of five I’d have been able to find a buyer for myself. Four out of five were sold to clubs in the English pyramid.

 

So what is it about Leicester City that means we struggle to sell where other clubs don’t? How come

we are unable to do business on the continent or in the Middle East? Why can other clubs shift players they don’t want, or need, for a fee, whereas we can only sell our coveted assets or release players on free transfers?

 

Those of you who say it’s not like Football Manager are right. It requires a little black book of contacts. It requires a network. It requires favours from old friends and proactivity to get out and make connections before clubs even realise they have a need for a player.

 

Is Mr Rudkin doing that? Did he build those agent and club connections when he was running the academy? Was he out in the market making things happen during the Thailand PR tour this summer or sat next to Top at functions and meaningless games like some sort of glorified Executive Assistant?

 

You might want to cut him some slack. But until I’m told different than it’s his remit and his job to get players out of the door in a beneficial manner, I’ll continue to point the finger and demand a little more for the good

of the club.

 

 

 

[Guest glasgowfox]

I don't really understand how it works guys tbh.  Surely Rudkin cannot make all of these decisions on his own?  I get he is the Head but would think there has to be a meeting of minds over contracts, wages, transfers and acceptable fees for players...I very much doubt if he decided to get rid of for example KDH he would not be able to make that decision himself and it be carried through which I guess is the same with everything else he does or does not do.