You are right.... i should think of the lowest denomination! ;-) Seriously though, I went for speed to answer the question as I was delving into some pretty complex data and trying to make sense of it for a client.
Burnley, Watford, Wolves, Southampton, Norwich, Brighton, Brentford, teams in Serie A, the Bundesliga, Ligue 1. Teams that get promoted this season. Teams that get relegated this season. Championship teams who start splashing the cash with a new owner chasing the dream next year. The Premier League have just broken all kinds of records on spending. Plus the landscape could look a lot different in 12 months depending on how things go.
I didn't realise at the time it was a copy and paste. It was only where names were bunched together and then a '+1', where it wasn't crystal clear if the '+1' was for all the names before it or just for that name. Using Ctrl, , and V, I probably lost 90 seconds of my life cutting it differently. The bold and italics was just my OCD on layout and clarity during a work day.
I was thinking he was more at the level of a Stoke, Brum, Blackburn, Reading, Swansea... which is obviously where the money has dried up He's a very solid step and fetch it and extremely good in the air, and a threat at set pieces at the other end, I think he'd have to have a very good couple of months under a more expansive style to attract the clubs you listed, but then I'd envisage the fee might be a bit more if they were attracted. I do think it's him or Styles (maybe both) that are most likely to be courted in January though. But who knows. They could fall away, they could get injured, so many uncontrollable variables.
Exactly. Which is why I listed them in Crown Jewels order. If there is a case where the formula is currently 'currentVALUE=High_but_contractLENGTH=Decreasing' such as Helik, then get them extended now so we avoid the situation that used to bite us so badly. That middle ground of 'saleable asset plus decent remaining contract' should be the next sweet spot we aim for in the evolution of the method.
Some of the teams you mentioned are the same level as us now. Or at least on a similar playing field. Helik’s ability on the ball is underrated as he’s proving so far this season. With the current tactic to play out from the back he’s looked really comfortable and classy. For a bottom six Premier League team, or a team that goes up, he’s be a great asset at a reasonable price to call upon. I can only see his value increasing this season - but sadly that then means nothing if he only has 12 months left on his contract.
Just on a complete tangent... We did another of our walks at the weekend which ran from Waterloo to Vauxhall, and essentially we were aiming for Mother Kellys if it was quiet. On the way, we passed a place called the Jolly Gardeners on Black Prince Road bang on midday. Not a soul inside or out. Last time we did this walk was a few years ago and I remembered this place looking quite scruffy, so it had clearly had a tart up. Anyway, it was pretty decent, a decent range of london beers. So good we decided to have lunch which was really quite good (though given its the first time we've eaten out anywhere for 18 months, they could maybe have served us anything and it been welcome!). We actually sat just inside by a set of doors they'd left open. There were tables on the street and what seemed an extremely busy built up beer garden, but given the spacing of the tables, we thought just by the door was best. We then ventured onto Mother Kellys which wasn't too busy, again, a few people outdoors and I think one other group inside, right at the opposite end, so we again sat just inside but by the open doors overlooking the open ground. Had a distanced chat with the bartender and he said they'd really struggled and it was touch and go if they were going to reopen. Really sad to hear but very thankful they've managed to keep going. Might have to try and do the walk again, though I suspect it will get trickier to manage as the weather gets colder and more people sit indoors. Thought I'd share with you.
He's probably one good performance on the international stage away from being a PL cert, come the next 'big shop' in January.
That's the point though, that many of the clubs who would have taken him, aren't now in a position to. We can look at in two ways. If less offers come forth, it's easier to retain, and we have a better chance on the pitch as players get their experience with us. So thats a positive, for the fans at least. But the longer they stay without renewing, the more their value dwindles. And if we increase their contracts and wages, we need to find income to balance that out. Finding the balance may well be more difficult going forward but I suspect January and next summer will be more telling as to whether we're having a temporary blip at championship level, or if insanity will return again. Given what Wednesday, Wigan and Ipswich are spending, it may well be the latter.
But I wouldn't have listed those clubs as possible destinations for Helik anyway. I think we probably differ on where his next career move takes him, and to me that's playing in one of the top division's in Europe. He's got Brighton/Burnley/Brentford/Southampton written all over him in my opinion. He's as good as the lad Brentford signed from Celtic (who's a top defender).
This is great to hear. I actually had a look around Google Maps when you mentioned the walk to Vauxhall and Mother Kelly's to see if any pubs stood out, and the Jolly Gardeners was a website I was on. But not knowing enough about the pub I didn't want to recommend it in case it was an absolute flop. I knew it looked more appealing and in-keeping with what you might like than a couple of the overpriced Young's Pubs in that area. Glad you're managing to find the odd bit of solace within this worrying time.
There's a few we'll make a loss on there. If you take out the Crown Jewels it weakens the squad drastically. I wouldn't be selling any unless we have decent replacements lined up. Halme, Schmidt, Thomas, Christie Davies, Kane, Simoes won't get a look in under Schopp. Unless the next head coach wants a look at them or they miraculously hit form. They aren't even squad players.
Seems it got taken over in April and done quite a nice job without going over the top. The last time we did this walk we found a barge that served alcohol and you had a view right down the Thames towards parliament, and was obviously outdoors. We didn't make it that far to know if it still exists or not. There are far too many Youngs' about sadly. My nearest pub is now one and I just wont go in it now (not that I'd be able anyway). East Dulwich Tavern was our more regular haunt before finding BBNO. By the way... i see they are setting up a huge place at Morden Wharf, so we might have to see if there is some way to get there. Think our next challenge is to find a good sunday lunch where there are no people! We're actually off to Monmouth for a few days from Friday, another middle of nowhere place, then another place in mid wales towards the end of the month. So we are managing to find tucked away places where we can wander and be away from people. People are resilient and adaptable, so we'll be fine. but thanks for the kind words.
Great boozer. An old friend of mine used to run it a few years ago so had many an afternoon/early evening in there.
It had its ups and downs to be honest (but we have lived here for 15 years now). There was a spell where they got a really good mix of beers, then they started pushing the volden stuff and the core increased while the variables decreased. When we first moved, The Bishop was the top dog, but that was largely before the craft revolution (Budvar was your only choice) and was very much based on the quality of the food. After a few years EDT upped its game and is still probably the best (though my view is obviously 18 months out of date). Cherry Tree was good under Redcombe initially and then Youngs wrecked it. Though its still very popular, but it is very close to the station and the nearest to the football ground. Flying Pig was very good (on goose green) but that met a slow demise and vanished a few years ago. So the best option now is over in Nunhead at The Beer Shop. Hop Burns and Black isn't bad, and that run of shops has increased their outdoor seating area, but not enough where we'd give it a go. Quite a few good places (well, were) when you take into account Peckham Rye, Nunhead, Herne Hill and Camberwell.
Stormbird was always regarded as the best beer pub in that neck of the woods. Obviously far from ideal for you at the moment as they don't have an outside from memory, but assume you frequented previously? An old school Irish pub across the road as well? Have a love/hate relationship with HB and Black despite never having been there and don't know Flying Pig at all.
Yes, Stormbird is very good and was always a destination if we went "over the hill". A very busy stretch though and no real outdoor space. Same with the Pigeon (Anspach and Hobday) a few doors up which we'd go in then onto Stormbird. We'd probably go every two weeks. Same with Beer Shop and then BBNO, we'd go in the week. We'd not been in the one opposite. Can't recall the name. We looked in once, but got the feeling it was a regulars sort of place. The Tiger further round was ok. You've also got Camberwell Arms (that was pretty foodie rather than beery) and Son of Camberwell thats quite tucked away, another Antic that was really shabby chic (so shabby you might change the second word). There was also one called The Bear heading to the Oval but that closed as the whole building above got renovated and never reopened... sadly vacant. Phoenix at Denmark Hill has had ups and downs too but can drop on some decent stuff there on occasion. The Flying Pig was the end unit on the stretch of Hop Burns and Black just at the side of the kids playground on Goose Green. Served decent food, but the beer selection was really quite broad and generally brewers from further afield than London. The end started when the landlord ramped up the rent (went up by nearly double) so they increased prices. Footfall dropped. Choice dropped. Price went up again. Footfall dropped even more. Game over. As for Hop Burns and Black... we've bought a few cans from there down the years, but as a place to drink, it doesn't quite work, even less so now.