...but how much of the wickham cash did we reinvest in the squad!!?

Don't get me wrong I think Cressie is a fantastic player and has a bright future, but what happened to we want to push for PL this season, without the likes of creswell that will not happen, younger players will feed off him and become decent players themselves and then we can push for Play Offs, we will no where near be able to replace his standards and drive, and the money we get for him will disappear before our very eyes. MM is desperate for money in my opinion, its just that hes putting on a brave face! You will not get it Mick! FACT!

Exactly keanish and that was my point. I remember at the time clegg saying that the money would be invested in the football club, not the team or squad. Told ya everything ya needed to know....

Financial fair play rules - All football clubs are equal (some are more equal than others)

Sorry but I don't think that Cresswell is that good. Decent going forward but his defending leaves a lot to be desired.

Mings will be OK once he comes back from injury.

If the club gets offered £3m to £4m for him I would snap the paying clubs hand off.

Sorry but he will not cut it in the premiership!

Disagree floridaboy. I don't think mings is anywhere near ready yet. We don't conceded much down the left hand side these days and that's testament to cresswell.

Don't want him to go but if we get 4 mil meaning we can secure another 3 or 4 quality players immediately for the good of the squad, it would be hard to turn down.

Why is everyone on this forum so negative. Yes we've only won one out of four games, but 2 of these were away to reading and QPR, and only narrow losses. Not like we've been dominated either. I'm sure everyone has their opinions on who should play, but theres a reason Mick's the manager, not anyone here. Why can't we just show some positivity and get behind the club and players, that's going to do a lot more for keeping players and getting results than moaning. The fans are probably driving everyone away, next victim being the boyhood blue Loach. It's pathetic

But if we get a really good price for Cresswell, will Mick still only buy 1 player though to keep to the squad of 20 outfield that he wants?
It would be good to know if he wants 20 because he wants a small, close group, or if thats all we can only afford.

I personally dont have too much problem with this, if the price is between 3-4 million pounds and Mick has guarantees that all will be re-invested into the team. Potentially this could secure the services of Stearman and Sharp but we still need a creative midfielder and (i hate to say it) a new GK. You could also throw in 1 or even 2 wingers. So a new team it is haha. I dont think we are a million miles away, but we need just a little bit of quality to separate this extremely tight Championship from 1 goal losses to wins. The basis for a solid squad is there, now a couple of quality signings and we could be right up there. COYB

Get DJ ,Sharp or Wickham on loan , we need goals and need them now ,need the impact DJ and Bullard did on their loan spells to get the season going

ericgates - sorry I didn't make myself clear, in my mind I see a 3-5-2 as three centre backs, three central midfielders, two wingers and two strikers. The whole point of a 3-5-2 is to keep it solid in the middle whilst having pace on the wings.

Kept quiet recently because not been able to watch team so don't feel I should comment. However have long felt Mick must have at least two more quality targets in mind (creative midfielder and goal machine (e.g. Sharp) waiting for the end of transfer window to pounce ......or we're really in the crap as the additions have not been good enough, players like JET and Martin have been replaced by inferiors and a season of big Mick's dull hoofball is on the cards.

Well that's him leaving the club, sooner or later .... and I fear it will be sooner.

What worries me is how many on here think we will get the money to spend on the squad. I truly fear it will be "invested" elsewhere. MM has said he is happy to go with what he has and has heaped praise on Mings. As far as the directors are concerned it'll be a case of playing Mings and getting in a second-rate loanee if he gets injured or proves not to be ready yet.

Sorry for the pessimistic outlook, and I'm sure I'll get plenty of minus ratings for my opinions, but that is how I see the situation.

I fear now we will do little better than mid table this season.

I think too many people are panicking at the moment. Mick performed a minor miracle last year in turning this club round and had it not been for him we would be languishing in the third tier and some are already questioning between the lines his credentials as a manager - this is quite absurd. The wave of optimism of a couple of weeks or so ago was also stimulated further by the announcement of academy one status. Two hard facts supporters have got to get used to. Young players make mistakes and will have occasional lapse in form - after one or two indifferent games people are already questioning whether Luke Hyam is a Championship Player!!! This young lad was a revelation at times last year so we must quell this negative attitude to some of blips in form of our younger players. Early on last season many suggested Tommy Smith was not a Championship player!!!!!! I do though believe it is difficult to get out of this very strong league with too many youngsters in the side but part of the the new policy will be to sell players if we don't get back to the premiership and an income of 3-4 million a year would be a sizeable shot in the arm to the clubs finances. I think we should all get used to releasing one of our prize assets each year as long as it doesn't weaken the team. There were 14 points separating top six and bottom three at the end of last season so now all those head in the cloud fans have had their reality check I would suggest a good season's barometer would be for the first two thirds of the season to stay within 5 or 6 points of the play off zone ready for a late run and to always remain 8 or 9 points off the relegation zone.

Hang on a minute, there is a big difference between "Eyeing" a player and a club actually "Making a bid and having it accepted". MM has already said no club has bid for him so
How is this a story? zzzzzz

Surco - Wickham on loan. Do me a favour.
A young Daryl Murphy is all he is, and we should be thankful we got rid for £8m. Even his 1st goal in ages for U21s was on a plate for him. By all accounts, he was no better on loan at Sheff Wed.
It's goals we need - urgently!

If Cresswell does go I wonder how much will be reinvested in the squad? going by we've experienced this summer I should think only a percentage of it!

What ever we get for Cresswell MM wont have any of it to spend. It will all go to swell the coffers of our wonderful chairman. If we owned the ground that would have been sold by now

MM trying to drum up some trade by constantly touting him as the best left back in the league! Trouble is will he be allowed to spend any of it?

madness. why are we selling our best player? and the only really good purchase we have made for the last ten years. think of all the failures we have thrown money at... and another thing, MM and his players did a good job last season so why the hurry to get rid of so many and start again, again. wouldnt it have made more sense to play them this season?

I think the fact that this can happen after the season has started is an absolute outrage and unsettles players and teams. If we are going to have a transfer window, lets have one a year during the summer break and do not allow any more than say 4 loan players per team per season. The player 'merry-go-round' has done nothing to allow teams to build a settled squad and build for the future, players should be more loyal and committed to teams!

Irrespective of whether Cressy goes or stays (and I really hope he stays) I think we need at least a couple of loan players to boost the squad. I know the word "loan" spreads fear amongst the faithful but to have to rely on the current squad for the whole season would be a little risky I think. A young striker and winger with a lot to prove to their parent clubs would boost the desire within the squad to prove themselves and keep their places. if Cressy did go then we all hope that the money generated would be reinvested in the squad, but lets not forget, the club does owe ME a lot of money (72 million ish!)

Worcesterblue, JET and Martin?? Been replaced by inferior players?? What exactly did either of those two do while here to merit that? I'm an Ireland fan also and they both remind me of Aiden McGeady - plenty of promise but absolutely zero, zilch, zippo, didly squat end-product.

I agree that Cressy is one of our best players, but with PL teams knocking we can only hold on so long before the player himself gets unsettled. If we get a good offer over £4m we should accept and move on. I also agree we could probably do with a couple of good loanees - a striker and a play maker.