Sorry but there is no world in which a League One club paying 2 million for Sam Smith is a good deal. At best it's a fair deal, at worst it will be Will Grigg at Sunderland all over again.
I don't think Will Grigg is a fair comparison, he isn't on the level Sam Smith is on now compared to when Sunderland signed him. He was already done. Only the money is comparative, not the individuals ability.
Sam Smith is the third highest rated striker in the league, only behind Kone and our Leaburn, is on 11 goals (4th highest, may finish top scorer) with just under half a season to go, can play a versatile role, in his prime years, and they've signed him from a league rival.
So there is a world where you can say it isn't, but on paper, in this transfer market*, that's a good signing.
Each to their own, I'd be buzzing if we signed Sam Smith, he'd walk into this team and be a great option for us 👍🏻
I would be too because he’s good for the level but I’d never expect us to spend £2m on him and make him the 7th most expensive player in the league’s history.
Will Grigg had scored 19 goals in this league the season before Sunderland bought him. He wasn’t getting much game time in the Championship so Wigan let him go. He was all but guaranteed to score goals at Sunderland as well.
To say he was already done when the three previous seasons at this level he had scored 20, 25 and 19 is a stretch I think. They bought high and they got stung.
Not guaranteed the same will happen with Wrexham but they are overpaying and they are taking a risk.
£2m if true for Sam Smith is is ridiculous sum for a 3rd division club to pay. The Jay Stanfield deal shouldn't be allowed to make such sums seem normal
Yes I want us to be competitive, but I don't blame our owners for not paying those sort of fees.
So if someone came in for Leaburn, what would you say is a fair price?
I'm talking about what a L1 team is willing to pay.
If Leaburn was to go, it wouldn't be to a L1 side.
We don't know that yet, and a few million isn't what it used to be.
It's unlikely he goes to a league1 club, but my point was, if Birmingham or Wrexham came in for Leaburn for a £3 million bid, I doubt you'd say it's ridiculous. Sam Smith holds a similar value to Reading that Miles does to us.
The fees spent in the championship are absurd now, that will only filter down to this league. There will be clubs who are ambitious (Birmingham, Huddersfield, Wrexham) who will want to keep up with this.
2 million for one of the best strikers in the league and arguably a promotion rivals best player, at 26 years old is a good deal. I'd be made up if that was us. Instead we are celebrating rectifying poor transfer decisions.
Unfortunately if you aren't willing to spend this kind of money, or at the very least big wages, you'll get left behind in modern football. It isn't 2012 anymore. That's about the going rate for a good striker and won't raise many eyebrows.
I'm not talking about the value of Smith , I'm talking about 3rd division clubs spending £2m on players, which is wrong, and why the finances of football are in such a mess.
I don't disagree that it's a mess, because if we were to go further, I think football in general is a mess when it comes to money. Prem money etc is absolutely absurd.
But it does filter down, and it isn't a big fee nowadays. I'd be more surprised if it was less. One million for instance would be a bargain for Sam Smith in this market.
It will be the 7th most expensive league one signing ever.
I don't feel like we can say big spending has been normalised in this league, because it's mostly just Brum, and they're just one team. Otherwise it's a big fee spent here or there, spread over the last decade.
Which ties in with what I said. If/when Smith signs, 5 of the most expensive 7 would have happened this season.
I think we will see a fair few multi million deals potentially as the years go on. Which is why I think in this current market, Smith is a good deal for Wrexham
Sorry but there is no world in which a League One club paying 2 million for Sam Smith is a good deal. At best it's a fair deal, at worst it will be Will Grigg at Sunderland all over again.
I don't think Will Grigg is a fair comparison, he isn't on the level Sam Smith is on now compared to when Sunderland signed him. He was already done. Only the money is comparative, not the individuals ability.
Sam Smith is the third highest rated striker in the league, only behind Kone and our Leaburn, is on 11 goals (4th highest, may finish top scorer) with just under half a season to go, can play a versatile role, in his prime years, and they've signed him from a league rival.
So there is a world where you can say it isn't, but on paper, in this transfer market*, that's a good signing.
Each to their own, I'd be buzzing if we signed Sam Smith, he'd walk into this team and be a great option for us 👍🏻
I would be too because he’s good for the level but I’d never expect us to spend £2m on him and make him the 7th most expensive player in the league’s history.
Will Grigg had scored 19 goals in this league the season before Sunderland bought him. He wasn’t getting much game time in the Championship so Wigan let him go. He was all but guaranteed to score goals at Sunderland as well.
To say he was already done when the three previous seasons at this level he had scored 20, 25 and 19 is a stretch I think. They bought high and they got stung.
Not guaranteed the same will happen with Wrexham but they are overpaying and they are taking a risk.
When I watched him before he moved to Sunderland, I didn't think he looked good anymore. Last two times I've watched Sam Smith he's looked good. That's the difference for me. Not just the goals, what they offer a team.
I still think using that as an argument every single time doesn't hold much weight. It's a bit of an extreme example.
Sunderland are a big club and had big ambitions. It didn't work out, that's football. It was still a sign of intent.
For the Will Grigg example of a club spending money and it not working out, I can list a load of examples of clubs who don't spend and stagnate.
Sorry but there is no world in which a League One club paying 2 million for Sam Smith is a good deal. At best it's a fair deal, at worst it will be Will Grigg at Sunderland all over again.
I don't think Will Grigg is a fair comparison, he isn't on the level Sam Smith is on now compared to when Sunderland signed him. He was already done. Only the money is comparative, not the individuals ability.
Sam Smith is the third highest rated striker in the league, only behind Kone and our Leaburn, is on 11 goals (4th highest, may finish top scorer) with just under half a season to go, can play a versatile role, in his prime years, and they've signed him from a league rival.
So there is a world where you can say it isn't, but on paper, in this transfer market*, that's a good signing.
Each to their own, I'd be buzzing if we signed Sam Smith, he'd walk into this team and be a great option for us 👍🏻
Real shame we didn't manage to get him ahead of Reading - if I remember rightly we tried but he wanted to go back there?
May and Smith with Leaburn to return from injury would have been a very good partnership last season.
Sorry but there is no world in which a League One club paying 2 million for Sam Smith is a good deal. At best it's a fair deal, at worst it will be Will Grigg at Sunderland all over again.
I don't think Will Grigg is a fair comparison, he isn't on the level Sam Smith is on now compared to when Sunderland signed him. He was already done. Only the money is comparative, not the individuals ability.
Sam Smith is the third highest rated striker in the league, only behind Kone and our Leaburn, is on 11 goals (4th highest, may finish top scorer) with just under half a season to go, can play a versatile role, in his prime years, and they've signed him from a league rival.
So there is a world where you can say it isn't, but on paper, in this transfer market*, that's a good signing.
Each to their own, I'd be buzzing if we signed Sam Smith, he'd walk into this team and be a great option for us 👍🏻
Real shame we didn't manage to get him ahead of Reading - if I remember rightly we tried but he wanted to go back there?
May and Smith with Leaburn to return from injury would have been a very good partnership last season.
Yeah it was us and Reading in for him. Which on on reflection is pretty mental that we couldn't lure a player over a club who have a Roland-eque ownership situation.
You're right though, May and Smith would have been a class front two, goals for days. Shame.
Sorry but there is no world in which a League One club paying 2 million for Sam Smith is a good deal. At best it's a fair deal, at worst it will be Will Grigg at Sunderland all over again.
I don't think Will Grigg is a fair comparison, he isn't on the level Sam Smith is on now compared to when Sunderland signed him. He was already done. Only the money is comparative, not the individuals ability.
Sam Smith is the third highest rated striker in the league, only behind Kone and our Leaburn, is on 11 goals (4th highest, may finish top scorer) with just under half a season to go, can play a versatile role, in his prime years, and they've signed him from a league rival.
So there is a world where you can say it isn't, but on paper, in this transfer market*, that's a good signing.
Each to their own, I'd be buzzing if we signed Sam Smith, he'd walk into this team and be a great option for us 👍🏻
Real shame we didn't manage to get him ahead of Reading - if I remember rightly we tried but he wanted to go back there?
May and Smith with Leaburn to return from injury would have been a very good partnership last season.
Yeah it was us and Reading in for him. Which on on reflection is pretty mental that we couldn't lure a player over a club who have a Roland-eque ownership situation.
You're right though, May and Smith would have been a class front two, goals for days. Shame.
He's a Reading fan right? Or came through the academy or something, sure that swayed it
Sorry but there is no world in which a League One club paying 2 million for Sam Smith is a good deal. At best it's a fair deal, at worst it will be Will Grigg at Sunderland all over again.
I don't think Will Grigg is a fair comparison, he isn't on the level Sam Smith is on now compared to when Sunderland signed him. He was already done. Only the money is comparative, not the individuals ability.
Sam Smith is the third highest rated striker in the league, only behind Kone and our Leaburn, is on 11 goals (4th highest, may finish top scorer) with just under half a season to go, can play a versatile role, in his prime years, and they've signed him from a league rival.
So there is a world where you can say it isn't, but on paper, in this transfer market*, that's a good signing.
Each to their own, I'd be buzzing if we signed Sam Smith, he'd walk into this team and be a great option for us 👍🏻
Real shame we didn't manage to get him ahead of Reading - if I remember rightly we tried but he wanted to go back there?
May and Smith with Leaburn to return from injury would have been a very good partnership last season.
Yeah it was us and Reading in for him. Which on on reflection is pretty mental that we couldn't lure a player over a club who have a Roland-eque ownership situation.
You're right though, May and Smith would have been a class front two, goals for days. Shame.
He's a Reading fan right? Or came through the academy or something, sure that swayed it
Yup came through their academy. Completely understandable him going back there.
Sorry but there is no world in which a League One club paying 2 million for Sam Smith is a good deal. At best it's a fair deal, at worst it will be Will Grigg at Sunderland all over again.
I don't think Will Grigg is a fair comparison, he isn't on the level Sam Smith is on now compared to when Sunderland signed him. He was already done. Only the money is comparative, not the individuals ability.
Sam Smith is the third highest rated striker in the league, only behind Kone and our Leaburn, is on 11 goals (4th highest, may finish top scorer) with just under half a season to go, can play a versatile role, in his prime years, and they've signed him from a league rival.
So there is a world where you can say it isn't, but on paper, in this transfer market*, that's a good signing.
Each to their own, I'd be buzzing if we signed Sam Smith, he'd walk into this team and be a great option for us 👍🏻
Real shame we didn't manage to get him ahead of Reading - if I remember rightly we tried but he wanted to go back there?
May and Smith with Leaburn to return from injury would have been a very good partnership last season.
Yeah it was us and Reading in for him. Which on on reflection is pretty mental that we couldn't lure a player over a club who have a Roland-eque ownership situation.
You're right though, May and Smith would have been a class front two, goals for days. Shame.
He's a Reading fan right? Or came through the academy or something, sure that swayed it
A Reading fan that's now leaving when his club could be up shit creek. I doubt him being a Reading fan had much sway in the matter.
I'd more so look at us in that instance. Players go where the money is first. We didn't beat Readings offer at the time by the sounds of things, it is what it is, again.
Sorry but there is no world in which a League One club paying 2 million for Sam Smith is a good deal. At best it's a fair deal, at worst it will be Will Grigg at Sunderland all over again.
I don't think Will Grigg is a fair comparison, he isn't on the level Sam Smith is on now compared to when Sunderland signed him. He was already done. Only the money is comparative, not the individuals ability.
Sam Smith is the third highest rated striker in the league, only behind Kone and our Leaburn, is on 11 goals (4th highest, may finish top scorer) with just under half a season to go, can play a versatile role, in his prime years, and they've signed him from a league rival.
So there is a world where you can say it isn't, but on paper, in this transfer market*, that's a good signing.
Each to their own, I'd be buzzing if we signed Sam Smith, he'd walk into this team and be a great option for us 👍🏻
Real shame we didn't manage to get him ahead of Reading - if I remember rightly we tried but he wanted to go back there?
May and Smith with Leaburn to return from injury would have been a very good partnership last season.
Yeah it was us and Reading in for him. Which on on reflection is pretty mental that we couldn't lure a player over a club who have a Roland-eque ownership situation.
You're right though, May and Smith would have been a class front two, goals for days. Shame.
He's a Reading fan right? Or came through the academy or something, sure that swayed it
A Reading fan that's now leaving when his club could be up shit creek. I doubt him being a Reading fan had much sway in the matter.
I'd more so look at us in that instance. Players go where the money is first. We didn't beat Readings offer at the time by the sounds of things, it is what it is, again.
Or he's giving the club £2m to keep it afloat while the owner doesn't invest any money into it, can spin it either way. Plenty of players do follow the money, plenty of players like the idea of being nearer family
Sorry but there is no world in which a League One club paying 2 million for Sam Smith is a good deal. At best it's a fair deal, at worst it will be Will Grigg at Sunderland all over again.
I don't think Will Grigg is a fair comparison, he isn't on the level Sam Smith is on now compared to when Sunderland signed him. He was already done. Only the money is comparative, not the individuals ability.
Sam Smith is the third highest rated striker in the league, only behind Kone and our Leaburn, is on 11 goals (4th highest, may finish top scorer) with just under half a season to go, can play a versatile role, in his prime years, and they've signed him from a league rival.
So there is a world where you can say it isn't, but on paper, in this transfer market*, that's a good signing.
Each to their own, I'd be buzzing if we signed Sam Smith, he'd walk into this team and be a great option for us 👍🏻
Real shame we didn't manage to get him ahead of Reading - if I remember rightly we tried but he wanted to go back there?
May and Smith with Leaburn to return from injury would have been a very good partnership last season.
Yeah it was us and Reading in for him. Which on on reflection is pretty mental that we couldn't lure a player over a club who have a Roland-eque ownership situation.
You're right though, May and Smith would have been a class front two, goals for days. Shame.
He's a Reading fan right? Or came through the academy or something, sure that swayed it
A Reading fan that's now leaving when his club could be up shit creek. I doubt him being a Reading fan had much sway in the matter.
I'd more so look at us in that instance. Players go where the money is first. We didn't beat Readings offer at the time by the sounds of things, it is what it is, again.
Or he's giving the club £2m to keep it afloat while the owner doesn't invest any money into it, can spin it either way. Plenty of players do follow the money, plenty of players like the idea of being nearer family
Their owner is the wealthiest in this league. 2 million isn't going to "keep it afloat". It's a case of sabotage at that club.
He's gone because their owner is an asset stripper and Sam Smith has been offered a better wage deal by Wrexham.
That's the more likely scenario, and that's from Reading fans I've actually spoke with, not just made guesses that put our club in a better light.
Sorry but there is no world in which a League One club paying 2 million for Sam Smith is a good deal. At best it's a fair deal, at worst it will be Will Grigg at Sunderland all over again.
I don't think Will Grigg is a fair comparison, he isn't on the level Sam Smith is on now compared to when Sunderland signed him. He was already done. Only the money is comparative, not the individuals ability.
Sam Smith is the third highest rated striker in the league, only behind Kone and our Leaburn, is on 11 goals (4th highest, may finish top scorer) with just under half a season to go, can play a versatile role, in his prime years, and they've signed him from a league rival.
So there is a world where you can say it isn't, but on paper, in this transfer market*, that's a good signing.
Each to their own, I'd be buzzing if we signed Sam Smith, he'd walk into this team and be a great option for us 👍🏻
Real shame we didn't manage to get him ahead of Reading - if I remember rightly we tried but he wanted to go back there?
May and Smith with Leaburn to return from injury would have been a very good partnership last season.
Yeah it was us and Reading in for him. Which on on reflection is pretty mental that we couldn't lure a player over a club who have a Roland-eque ownership situation.
You're right though, May and Smith would have been a class front two, goals for days. Shame.
He's a Reading fan right? Or came through the academy or something, sure that swayed it
A Reading fan that's now leaving when his club could be up shit creek. I doubt him being a Reading fan had much sway in the matter.
I'd more so look at us in that instance. Players go where the money is first. We didn't beat Readings offer at the time by the sounds of things, it is what it is, again.
Or he's giving the club £2m to keep it afloat while the owner doesn't invest any money into it, can spin it either way. Plenty of players do follow the money, plenty of players like the idea of being nearer family
Their owner is the wealthiest in this league. 2 million isn't going to "keep it afloat". It's a case of sabotage at that club.
He's gone because their owner is an asset stripper and Sam Smith has been offered a better wage deal by Wrexham.
That's the more likely scenario, and that's from Reading fans I've actually spoke with, not just made guesses that put our club in a better light.
Given he's not putting any money into the club and the only thing keeping them afloat was the Olise money I think it will go a long way! Your owner can be as rich as you like but if he isn't funding it at all you need to sell your assets. That's also coming from Reading fans, would be pointless to argue something like this on an assumption
Pull your finger out Charlton, why the hell aren't we offering a 35 year old striker £15k p/w? Seems prudent and in keeping with our general strategy if you ask me
The Club can confirm that forward Sam Smith has completed a transfer to League One side Wrexham for an undisclosed fee.
Whilst the club was not actively seeking to sell Sam, the significant offer payable by Wrexham will help support the essential short-term finances required to run the club.
One positive thing (for us) is that this significantly weakens Reading. Wrexham are out of reach anyway but Stockport & Reading both losing key players in the window is very helpful
One positive thing (for us) is that this significantly weakens Reading. Wrexham are out of reach anyway but Stockport & Reading both losing key players in the window is very helpful
Wrexham are 9 points ahead of Charlton. We have a game in hand (Crawley) over them and they have to play us, so in theory we can narrow that gap to just 3 points with just two of the 19 remaining games we have to play
If we were about to spend £2m on a player from Reading I’d much rather it be Tyler Bindon. Massive centre half and only 20 years old, bags of potential.
Wouldn’t happen because he’s going up a league at minimum if he does move.
Worth noting that when Sunderland signed Will Grigg, it was after they had lost top scorer Josh Maja earlier in the window to Bordeaux for a significant fee, so it wasn't a cherry on the cake signing, but a direct replacement.
Pull your finger out Charlton, why the hell aren't we offering a 35 year old striker £15k p/w? Seems prudent and in keeping with our general strategy if you ask me
Bit of a dramatic post when no one has even said that or even implied it. I just shared what Wrexham have done.
It does clear up another myth about squad size though. I think Wrexham have 10 more players on their books or so than us, with a higher wage bill, yet they're still spending transfer fees and spending 15k a week on one player.
So much for all the theories behind budgets and squad sizes. "Trim the squad" was the repeated phrase. More waffle.
Fair play Wrexham, National League in 22/23, and now in a genuine promotion race to the championship two seasons later and spending some serious cash.
You sign good players when they become available, that's what our greatest manager did.
£600k for a club captain that has league 1 experience, can play multiple positions and is in his mid 20s is a no brainer.
You need to prepare for form, competition, fatigue. He'd have been an excellent signing. We still don't know if Small is going to sign which would leave a vacancy in our back 5 and a lack of competition.
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Will Grigg had scored 19 goals in this league the season before Sunderland bought him. He wasn’t getting much game time in the Championship so Wigan let him go. He was all but guaranteed to score goals at Sunderland as well.
To say he was already done when the three previous seasons at this level he had scored 20, 25 and 19 is a stretch I think. They bought high and they got stung.
Not guaranteed the same will happen with Wrexham but they are overpaying and they are taking a risk.
Lincoln sign striker Joe Gardner on loan from Nottingham Forest
I think we will see a fair few multi million deals potentially as the years go on. Which is why I think in this current market, Smith is a good deal for Wrexham
I still think using that as an argument every single time doesn't hold much weight. It's a bit of an extreme example.
Sunderland are a big club and had big ambitions. It didn't work out, that's football. It was still a sign of intent.
For the Will Grigg example of a club spending money and it not working out, I can list a load of examples of clubs who don't spend and stagnate.
May and Smith with Leaburn to return from injury would have been a very good partnership last season.
You're right though, May and Smith would have been a class front two, goals for days. Shame.
Yup came through their academy. Completely understandable him going back there.
I'd more so look at us in that instance. Players go where the money is first. We didn't beat Readings offer at the time by the sounds of things, it is what it is, again.
Confirmed.
https://x.com/TurfCastPodcast/status/1885342495128555844?t=vhyKx6LujFHvNyPMfvMeYw&s=19
He's gone because their owner is an asset stripper and Sam Smith has been offered a better wage deal by Wrexham.
That's the more likely scenario, and that's from Reading fans I've actually spoke with, not just made guesses that put our club in a better light.
The Club can confirm that forward Sam Smith has completed a transfer to League One side Wrexham for an undisclosed fee.
https://x.com/StevenageFC/status/1885359013833171285?t=R_aSFlzepU5NWVjgqfAO2w&s=19
Believe that makes us now the only club to have not signed a player? Or one of two
It does clear up another myth about squad size though. I think Wrexham have 10 more players on their books or so than us, with a higher wage bill, yet they're still spending transfer fees and spending 15k a week on one player.
So much for all the theories behind budgets and squad sizes. "Trim the squad" was the repeated phrase. More waffle.
Fair play Wrexham, National League in 22/23, and now in a genuine promotion race to the championship two seasons later and spending some serious cash.
So other than Reading, who have an owner who hates them more than Roland hates us, has signed a player.
🚨 BREAKING: Wigan Athletic are expected to make one more permanent signing before the Monday deadline.
https://x.com/WAFCVision/status/1885440469896732856?t=VRKJAMa1jW_j46OihjRduA&s=19
Would have still loved him back here, he'd be tailor made for that back 3. If not a very good versatile option.
£600k for a club captain that has league 1 experience, can play multiple positions and is in his mid 20s is a no brainer.
You need to prepare for form, competition, fatigue. He'd have been an excellent signing. We still don't know if Small is going to sign which would leave a vacancy in our back 5 and a lack of competition.
Fair play to them, good pick up.