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Because you establish what sponsorship of the training ground is worth, or more specifically you have to prove (though I think it’s now the prem have to disprove) what something is worth. We know from the sale of Saint Maximin that this has a depressing effect. I don’t know how much sponsoring our current training ground is worth, but let’s say it’s not enough to meaningfully move the needle on transfers. Then we go to a new facility try to inflate the price and we have the ceiling of the old deal. APT is here until it’s not. Like I say, it’s best guess, but there will be a reason otherwise Sela would have just bunged some more in their deal for the training ground.

Because it's a obvious "quick win" to get might not be a budget booster as not well versed on what other sides get but the more we bring in the more better wages we can offer to talent we want to keep etc. Also even if it was 3m a year we have done without for 3 years so could have brought in 9/10m more. Maybe lumping training ground and kit sponsor under 1 company may attract a better sponsor fee.

Yeah, I don’t understand the obsession with the training sponsorship. It’s not of any significance.

Again we don't know, do you really think the owners are not going to accept revenue if it's there. I certainly think the owners know more than you about how to raise revenue. As for Gordon, he is Howe's number 1 left winger and is his preferred option for that position. That's an easy one and self serving explanatory really

Surely training ground sponsor is relative chicken feed? A flashy new training ground maybe yes. Yes, maybe a few million would be helpful before we get one in the meantime, if it was even that much. And do I get the concerns about slow movement on a new ground, but that's the worst I'd say about it. But if you're going to have a training ground sponsor of even a few million, you surely need a history of developing talent there that would appeal to a sponsor, something our previous shell club didn't have. So these are longer term things, I think, once we have more success and it's a credible sponsorship as we have to work on the basis that some version of ATP will exist for now at least, even if modified. We don't have assets to flip. We don't have a new stadium yet, and naming rights to our current one are all but worthless given it was actively damaging to Sports Direct, such that the next sponsor changed the name back. I wished they were faster with the stadium move / redevelopment and the training ground, but I also get why these things might not be fast. I'm as impatient as anyone else but it's crucial to get these right and not just do them for one summer window. Plus Gordon is shit on the right.

Ahh, I see you know your Ronan Keating well.

Wanna try being a Brit, we have to hate everyone. It's in the rules.

Norwegians love other Scandinavians! And rightly so.

Was going to say as a Finn that what similarities, but yea, we are Nordic but not Scandinavian

Regardless of APT we could have had deals no ? I can understand waiting a bit but at some point, before 2 yrs you'd think it would strike them they are losing money while they wait. Now it may be that the only bidders were companies that don't fit the profile they'd want, Sports Direct, Daily Mail etc who knows. Im just curious as to what it is and surprised others aren't. FWIW Im also curious as the why Eddie plays Barnes on the right when Gordon's also in the team. Guess I'd better not wonder about that as well eh ?

I'm warming to the idea. Maybe transfer desperation but I also feel like we're generally underrating him a bit.

Anyway, I hope we sign Elanga.

Why would it limit any further sponsor ? It would be either best they could get under APT or if that's done away with previous deals would be inconsequential anyway ?

Why so miserable?

Agreed, fast becoming a thing of the past tense

I wouldn’t consider either of these lads ‘grown men’ like. They’re early 20s and have played football all their lives

I want to see a reboot of The Bridge with Osula and Elanga in the main roles

That's a separate issue though. On paper we'd have a first-choice striker, an experienced back up and a prospect back up which is about right. Similar to the CM situation. On paper you've got the main three, two senior backups and a prospect which is about right too if you think two players per position. Need one or two of them gone before you can replace at the moment.

It’s not really an error as such, the website can’t not list him, that would be like announcing he’s leaving before they’re ready to announce it. They’ll just be adding new photos of everyone who was in the squad at the end of last season.

Only that as far as my contacts are concerned when I spoke to them a few days ago, Callum was definitely leaving. I assume that’s still the case, but don’t know for sure if anything’s changed. I guess it could have, but in my opinion it’s just an error on the website.

I wonder how much it’s that teams just can’t afford a failed signing? They would rather spend £50m on someone they know can do a job.

People really need to wise up like. Nothing has happened FFS. Please give it a rest.

Ken Bates still kicking about?

As a Norwegian i dont think i have ever heard of hating each other. Some friendly rivalry and banter but all Scandinavians connect easily because of similarities in language and culture👍🏽

It just feels to me like we're all shopping in the same small pool. Is it a lack of varied top talent that's available, PSR or something else.