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Reply | In Advanced Talks With Edwards
at 15:00 28 Aug 2025
Thought the same about that comment, which really stuck out to me in that interview. Almost as if he’s like, I’m going to do it my way next game. |
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Reply | We’ve spent 20m in the last 2 summers
at 09:07 28 Aug 2025
Last years accounts show a transfer spend of 9m offset by 3m in incomings.
So the media-led values I took are conservative for last summer. Meaning someone cost more that the original values outlined. Likely Celar.
This summer we are well over 10m already. The accounts have to declare that also so we will see early next year then they are out.
Regardless, we’ve spent close to £20m or over it. That is a huge outlay for us in recent years. |
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Thread | We’ve spent 20m in the last 2 summers
at 23:33 27 Aug 2025
Since the FFP cycle eased last summer, it’s become clear the owners are significantly investing and continuing to back the club.
Not only are they covering millions in annual losses, but they are also now investing millions in transfer fees, alongside the millions previously provided for the fantastic training ground.
Last summer - 7-9m ?
Bennie - 250k
Morrison - 500k
Celar - 2.5m
Madsen - 3-4m
Varane - 1-1.5m
This summer - 11m+ ?
Dembele - 2.5m
Pearman - 250k
Mbengue - free
Poku - 900k
Adamson - 150k
Burrell - 1.3m
Kone - 2.75m
Saito - 2.8m
All those wondering how or if we will spend the Eze money? We’ve already spent the Eze money, and some.
Any further transfers eg. An Edwards, and it’s clear the owners are funding it, and as they did last summer.
It’s time for the staff and players to deliver. |
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Reply | In Advanced Talks With Edwards
at 23:31 27 Aug 2025
I’m not aware of any deal negotiated in the modern game that is based on the total sale price. No one signs that clause in this day and age, been tracking transfers for some years, and that clause appears nowhere other that in fan pub talk. |
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Reply | In Advanced Talks With Edwards
at 18:35 27 Aug 2025
But why is that a fly in the ointment here? In other words you are suggesting there is a problem of some kind we have to overcome.
There is no problem as far as I can see, since Pboro have zero say in any transfer from Saints. Profit sell on or otherwise.
They’ll get what they are given, and may get nothing. Like us with Armstrong, potentially. |
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Reply | In Advanced Talks With Edwards
at 15:39 27 Aug 2025
Why is it a fly in the ointment?
Peterborough have zero say on his subsequent transfer or his market value. Southampton may decide to flip him at the same price he was sold to them, assuming he is not in favour there, and/or unhappy.
In which case, Pboro get zero as most sell ons are profit-based. They’ve got no clout in any transfer dealing. |
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Thread | Ben Williams - Disasterclass?
at 12:50 25 Aug 2025
It’s been 3 pre-seasons now under Ben Williams and the pattern has become clear: We are underprepared, unfit, and riddled with injuries.
From his first summer with Ainsworth in July 2023 through to today, we’ve started seasons miles off the pace.
When Williams joined, he said:
“Football is the sixth sport I have worked in, and I believe coming from a different background and a different belief system will allow me to look at the organisation from a different perspective.”
That “different perspective” hasn’t helped us, it’s absolutely crippling us.
The reality is that Williams’ expertise comes from 9 years in cycling, where fitness is built slowly for endurance. Cycling training focuses on a “start low, build up slowly, peak at the end” model.
But football fitness is the opposite. It demands repeated sprints, agility, explosive power, and resilience. Not the steady output of an endurance athlete.
The evidence is everywhere
- Three pre-seasons running where we look unfit.
- An ever-growing injury list. Again.
- Early defeats that set the tone for failure.
Yet Williams has not only kept his job, he’s been promoted into a broader football operations role akin to DOF at many other clubs. It’s astonishing. He has no proven football background and no justification for greater influence.
Serious questions must be asked, and its surely time for the club to act, and replace Williams with someone who knows how to build footballers, not cyclists. |
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Reply | What went so wrong today?
at 19:05 23 Aug 2025
Field and Morgan were absolutely awful. And Dembele was giving the ball away for fun, which is fast becoming par for the course. So weak, and his first touch is erratic, or at least he does not / cannot protect the ball. Walsh cannot kick or find a pass, continuously kicking it straight to the opposition. They were my big four issues in that side today. And the fifth is the fact we are so undercooked in fitness, it is unreal. And Burrell very unconvincing for me so far. |
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Reply | Eze
at 10:04 19 Aug 2025
From Aiden Maguee, former sky reporter, on Twitter. “I was told by Les on the day of the transaction that the sell-on clause amounted to 20% of the profit. I have a whatsapp message to prove it.”
If I remember correctly, Lee Hoos at one of the fans forums, or maybe it was Les, confirmed this also. 20% sell on on profit.
No deals are based on full fee in reality, certainly not these days, and Raheem Sterling’s wasn’t either. That was also 20% of profit. Which had a low initial fee (circa 1m) and gives the impression it was full sale. But it was 20% of 49 million profit = 9.8m. “Nearly 10m” was reported at the time. |
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Reply | Julien Stephan - Word of warning
at 21:29 18 Aug 2025
Great post.
I’ve been wondering when the talk might begin about Williams’ new role. Head of Sporting Operations.
Which simply means Head of Football Operations. And a title and role that some clubs have instead of Director of Football.
I am sure that he is fully qualified for this role and significantly expanded remit… |
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Reply | Julien Stephan - Word of warning
at 21:12 18 Aug 2025
Just seen this. Completely in line with my post above. Cycling and football are completely different sports. And Williams has no expertise in football. And it is showing.. |
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Reply | Julien Stephan - Word of warning
at 21:00 18 Aug 2025
Ben Williams appears to be deploying a common fitness strategy seen in cycling - where his expertise lies. Slow build, Progressive overload, and pacing strategy is all classic cycling and endurance-based fitness.
The problem is we are a football club with completely different fitness and performance needs. Some of the fitness strategies we are deploying are unheard of in football. |
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Reply | Madsen and Field midfield
at 12:57 17 Aug 2025
Vested interest is a figure of speech. It’s not to be taken literally.
And he most definitely does have a vested interest in playing Madsen. Big money signings get preference of those who are not; it happens time and again in football.
Their fees and their success need to be justified. The problem is when you buy a dud, or the wromg fit. It’s very obvious what is going on, it’s been going on for some time. The first 20 games last season, Madsen as a number 8, until Marti went against Nourry and sidelined Madsen. Now Marti is gone, Madsen is back in a 2-man, playing 8. The role they announced when they bought him. |
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Reply | Eze
at 11:38 17 Aug 2025
Agreed. A firm no from me also. |
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Reply | Madsen and Field midfield
at 09:07 17 Aug 2025
Field was not in the squad. There was a few changes of positions. A couple of which looks a lot like this season…
Colback played left back.
Dembele left wing. Chair number 10. Ashby right wing.
Madsen and Varane in a 2-man CM. |
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Reply | Madsen and Field midfield
at 08:47 17 Aug 2025
I think it’s become pretty obvious Nourry is influencing Stephans picks, and to some degree, I agree, especially with the insistence on bringing through young players. But it gets too much when you have a further vested interest on big money singings - as their failure is your failure.
For all those saying “oh not every signing works out”, that only makes sense with low risk signings, but it doesn’t for marquee signings. From CEO/DOF perspective - and owner perspective - and CV perspective, you cannot just put a collective 6m in the bin (along with Celar) otherwise it really doesn’t reflect well on you and questions will be asked by those supplying the money, and the industry as a whole.
Chief amongst them Madsen, who was was eventually sidelined under Marti - and I suspect that was another ill-fated interaction with Marti and Nourry. Cifuentes saying “I just can’t pick him for the sake of our / his own sanity” and Nourry saying “play him, he needs time to adjust and come good”.
When Marti had left in the final game, Madsen actually was played as part of a 2-man CM at Sunderland… that was a key sign and signal of what was to come this season in the first two games so far.
Problem is, any sane football individual knows you cannot play Madsen as part of a midfield two. So, it becomes obvious that Nourry is pulling many strings. Madsen is a conundrum that the club need to sort out, whilst a good player in his own right, he simply doesn’t fit anywhere across the midfield, including at 10, because off the ball, he has no legs and no press. |
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Reply | Madsen and Field midfield
at 22:33 16 Aug 2025
Thing is, if you put field at 6, we don’t / can’t play out. Which is fine in an Ainsworth side, but doesn’t work in our club model. So he can only play 8, and he isn’t great at that role. His number 8 position will increasingly come under threat of competition, as Varane has taken the number 6 position. Suspect Morgan will be favoured at some point. Morgan and Varane is a promising partnership as suggested last season on the few occasions they paired up. |
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Reply | Madsen and Field midfield
at 22:19 16 Aug 2025
The trouble is Madsen cannot play in the 10 position / or any advanced midfield position because he is slow as a turtle and cannot therefore press. It’s not an option in a side that is meant to be high energy, high intensity pressing from the front. You need legs, stamina, and pace across the first 10 yards. He’s got none of that. Meaning he can only play in a flat midfield 3. And we don’t play that way… |
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Reply | Eze
at 20:53 16 Aug 2025
Most clauses are profit, not full sale.
Sterling was profit, it’s just his fee was so low (circa 1m), and sold for 50m, we banked nearly 10m, based on the profit. (20% of 49m is nearly 10m which is what we received as sell on) [Post edited 16 Aug 20:54]
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