Summer 2022 - Transfer Talk

Who knows what the percentage of fans being apathetic towards Rupp is. In my world, there is negative feelings towards Rupp with some not going anymore due to RUPP.

Our decline does not repeating. But our owner, gets (what I perceive) as an easy ride and that has manifestoed itself onto the pitch. He is part of the team that is sinking this ship.

Does he care about my feelings or others. Probably not.

 

It would actually be interesting to know how many fans are no longer attending solely on the basis of not liking what has happened under Rupp.

Personally, I don't know of anyone who has stopped attending for that reason Dave

 

It's not difficult, just look at the average attendances since he took over. I get that it's not exact but it'll give you a pretty good estimate for how many have stopped attending.

 

A couple of marquee signings early doors will soon have the masses renewing their tickets. Re-signing can wait, and if they see what's coming through the door, they'll hopefully put pen to paper.

 

I won’t do it anymore. Loved seeing the my lads from my ex school but the footy is dire. I used to do a 6 hr round trip home matches.

 

IB, you know my settings. I hear a spectrum of views including those against Rupp

 

Doesn't mean to say they are all staying away just because of Rupp though.

I know of one fan who I worked with who has not been this season because of health issues and still nervous about Covid issues with crowds.

On the other side of the coin, I know of one new fan who got his first season ticket this season.

I don't think it is as cut and dried as some think for the reason for reduced attendances.

All that said an average of over 15000 this season is a fantastic effort.

I reckon we will sell more this summer, if I am right, that would be brilliant given the economic climate at the moment.

Just to be clear, I am not an apologist or defender of Rupp, we have clearly suffered an alarming decline in fortunes under his watch

 

I don’t think anyone hates Rupp or doesn’t go because of Rupp as a person, but his stewardship of the club and where it has taken us most definitely. One of my friends included unfortunately.

How I see it is if a pub is packed every week then the landlord leaves and a new landlord comes in gets cheaper drinks, cheaper staff leading to poor customer service and in general just doesn’t look after the place who is to blame a year down the line when there is 30% less custom?

Sure a group may talk about why they left, the beer is crap now or the bar staff were rude but who oversees it all and is fundamentally to blame? Simple the landlord. Fans might say they don’t go for reasons such as crap football, player who are poor and don’t play with passion or one manager after another but there is only one common denominator in all this. We have lost around 6,000 season tickets since 18/19 when the season before that we got to Wembley. If we were ending playoffs each season in league 1 like we were when Rupp unfortunately found us can anyone honestly say we’d have lost that many? If the answers no then that’s the answer to who to blame, sure some people will have moved away or sadly passed away etc. but no other club I have seen have such a percentage drop in season tickets over the last 4 years so it stands to reason there is more to it than just a lack of interest or whatever.

I wish Rupp well, but I don’t want him at this club. Even if we get promoted I’ll still be much happier once he sells. He should stick to something he is passionate about such as motor sport.

 

When its there in black and white…..wow

 

I would think the new owner of said pub would have had some form of back ground in the licenced trade, unfortunately for us Rupp hasn't any knowledge of running a football club having left that to Rahic, now in the hands Ryan who unfortunately some of his calls have hardly been a success.
With regards attendances I believe we have done well considering, take Stuarts first season out and its been regression season on season for the last 6/7 seasons, this season we have averaged 15,783 that is 62.8 % of our ground capacity.
I'd like to see an owner with more involvement and an owner who can see just what is achievable at Valley Parade with a little forward thinking, next season for me has to be a promotion season as a club we can't keep saying maybe next season, we have the right manager in place I'm sure he will do all he can with regards loans calling in a few favours from clubs he's served in the past, but a top player budget would help massively no more excuses, we have to "own the moment" and that for me has to be promotion.

 

I agree I hope Hughes and the new head of recruitment can turn around what has been a sinking ship, the pay on the gate tickets have been fantastic this year all things considered. Can’t help but wonder what our attendances could have been if we were challenging at the right end of the table. To put it into context we get more paying on at £20 a pop each game than the league leaders get as their whole gate, what might have been.

 

The reason is purely team performance. Most couldn’t care less who owns the club!

 

Ditto

 

MH hinting that we cannot afford to offer Jamie Walker a contract that would come close to matching his current Hearts contract and hoping that the attraction of playing regular football for us will persuade him to come permanently.

Interesting that we are currently paying a large percentage of his wages though making him one of the top earners.

I cannot see Jamie uprooting his family for a reduced income. Shame if I'm right, because Jamie is exactly the type of player needed for next season

 

I think if we had the calibre of Walker across the board we'd win the league hands down. A very expensive squad to assemble, but a squad that would hold its own in league one and push on, similarly to how Luton performed. The reality will probably be the players brought in will be good for league 2 (but may need replacing should we go up), with a smattering of loanees who will be looking to play in the championship 2 or 3 years from now.

If we could agree terms with Walker that wouldn't compromise the ability to bring in those loanees, then great. If we can't then we need to build a squad capable of getting out of this league next season and anticipate another 7 or 8 player turnover this time next year.

 

Wasn't sure where to post this, but there's an interesting interview with Hughes in inews that's worth a read.

https://inews.co.uk/sport/football/mark-hughes-interview-bradford-city-reputation-challenge-1602815

 

It would be nice to keep this thread on track. Maybe you lot arguing about Rupp can do so on private message

 

See James Norwood has been released by Ipswich. Wouldn't say no to this lad!

 

His stats look pretty impressive but I'd be amazed if he's dropping down to league two as I think he'll have plenty of interest from clubs in the division above. Especially on a free.