Matches w/e 21 Sept

[micls]

"Open the purse strings". Do people genuinely think there's a big pile of money somewhere that the club is holding back?! I wish! There's not, but if there were, I wouldnt be rushing to throw it at the team.

This years budget was significantly higher than it ever has even under FORAS. Trying to play catch up financially with a team with deep pockets like Dundalk, if they choose to flex those financial muscles, simply isn't going to happen.

[colonelwest]

"Open the purse strings". Do people genuinely think there's a big pile of money somewhere that the club is holding back?! I wish! There's not, but if there were, I wouldnt be rushing to throw it at the team.

This years budget was significantly higher than it ever has even under FORAS. Trying to play catch up financially with a team with deep pockets like Dundalk, if they choose to flex those financial muscles, simply isn't going to happen.

To be fair ye will be getting a decent sum from UEFA for this seasons CL qualification; unfortunately JC confirmed earlier in the season it was already included in the 2018 budget. Looking to next seasons budget for Cork that'll be a drop of around 550k of income down to guaranteed EL one round money so it'll be an interesting close season over the winter for Cork with regard to ins and outs with that and the JC/ style of play conversation going on too. Be interesting to see what Sadlier & McNamee do.

With regard to ourselves we're not throwing around Crowe or Byrne money around the league, our top earners wouldn't be on too much more than Corks. The difference for us this close season is we hopefully won't suffer the same turnover as previous years as we've got most of the lads tied up already; out of the first team we're potentially only going to lose Duffy depending on what offers he gets from across the water. The rest like Massey, Mountney & O'Donnell who are out of contract this winter are settled and will likely re-sign and even Benson is saying he's looking to sign long term after only signing a years extension to leave his options open last winter.

[micls]

I imagine the squad size/quality will be the main difference as well as attracting or holding onto top top players, especially scorers. But yeah, interesting time ahead for us.

[samhaydenjr]

"Open the purse strings". Do people genuinely think there's a big pile of money somewhere that the club is holding back?! I wish! There's not, but if there were, I wouldnt be rushing to throw it at the team.

This years budget was significantly higher than it ever has even under FORAS. Trying to play catch up financially with a team with deep pockets like Dundalk, if they choose to flex those financial muscles, simply isn't going to happen.


"Open the purse strings". Do people genuinely think there's a big pile of money somewhere that the club is holding back?! I wish! There's not, but if there were, I wouldnt be rushing to throw it at the team.

This years budget was significantly higher than it ever has even under FORAS. Trying to play catch up financially with a team with deep pockets like Dundalk, if they choose to flex those financial muscles, simply isn't going to happen.

When I say "open the purse strings", I don't mean City should be monitoring developments the Paul Pogba situation closely. And I don't want to be one of those whiny fans who demand that the club be put into financial peril just for the sake of short-term glory (especially given the club's history and particularly as I'm 3000 miles away) - the FORAS people seem to have done a terrific job putting City on a sound financial footing. But we seem to have plateaued a little this season, surrendering the title early and suffering four defeats in Europe, with only a quirk in the draw allowing us to walk away with 800k.

But what could City get for 200k? Maybe a couple of experienced players in the latter part of their careers who may still have enough to offer to propel City forward an extra round or two in Europe? After all, Larnaca's average domestic attendance is nearly 2000 less than City's (https://www.transfermarkt.com/first-division/besucherzahlen/wettbewerb/ZYP1/saison_id/2017 ) but they have invested in Spanish and other international players since 2014 and since then have reached the play-off round of the Europa League in the last two seasons and the group stage this season. Is it possible for City to emulate this?

That said, in the long run it's probably better for City to focus on developing young talent and paying good wages to keep the best prospects at the club longer

[micls]

Larnaca are backed by an investor. The crowds are irrelevant.

You can open the purse strings, but there's nothing left in the purse! It was spent this year.

[Ezeikial]

You can open the purse strings, but there's nothing left in the purse! It was spent this year.

When you consider what Cork got for their money this year, it is puzzling how they will fare with any budget cuts for next season.

I hear strong suggestions that last seasons marque signing is on 75k and is contracted to 2019. Many more of those under contract for next season have also not performed this year. It seems an impossible task to correct without new investment.

[White Horse]

"Open the purse strings". Do people genuinely think there's a big pile of money somewhere that the club is holding back?! I wish! There's not, but if there were, I wouldnt be rushing to throw it at the team.

This years budget was significantly higher than it ever has even under FORAS. Trying to play catch up financially with a team with deep pockets like Dundalk, if they choose to flex those financial muscles, simply isn't going to happen.


You are making very sensible points. Cork don't have the cash reserves or the availability of cash from investors as Dundalk have. Winning the league this year was a necessity for Cork, which is why they maxed the budget.

The problem for them is that the manager spent poorly.

As a fan owned club with a history of financial recklessness, Cork will quite sensibly cut their cloth to measure and agree a sensible budget. Moving on dead wood who are contracted for next season is a potential problem and a drain on the budget. However, it needs to be done.

Cork's hope is that Dundalk will spend poorly and that the American owners will foist players on Dundalk that are not suitable to the LOI. There is nothing preventing Caulfield from building up a team like the one he had in 2014-2016. You never know, another nugget like Maguire may come along again and change everything.

[micls]

When you consider what Cork got for their money this year, it is puzzling how they will fare with any budget cuts for next season.

I hear strong suggestions that last seasons marque signing is on 75k and is contracted to 2019. Many more of those under contract for next season have also not performed this year. It seems an impossible task to correct without new investment.

Ah yes 'strong suggestions'. They're rarely accurate and given the size of our squad I would doubt it to be honest. We know the wage bill, so if one player was on that I'm not sure how we'd have signed the amount of players we've signed. But who knows. The budget is the managers to do as he will with. It's not worked out this year and it'l be smaller next year as a result. That's the nature of it.

There certainly won't be new investment, so it's a rebuild project. He's done it before, hopefully he can do it again. But no doubt it'l be incredibly challenging. Interesting times ahead.

[Nesta99]

When you consider what Cork got for their money this year, it is puzzling how they will fare with any budget cuts for next season.

I hear strong suggestions that last seasons marque signing is on 75k and is contracted to 2019. Many more of those under contract for next season have also not performed this year. It seems an impossible task to correct without new investment.

Its all in the presentation, people will baulk at the suggestion that a player is on anything like 75k per year but saying a marquee player is on 1300-1500 per week and that seems more acceptable. Not saying this is the case but it's not beyond possible either for a former EPL player and Irish international.

[micls]

Its all in the presentation, people will baulk at the suggestion that a player is on anything like 75k per year but saying a marquee player is on 1300-1500 per week and that seems more acceptable. Not saying this is the case but it's not beyond possible either for a former EPL player and Irish international.

I'd imagine it's Sadlier or shep he's talking about, not Delaney. With Delaney it's a big different, he was moving home anyway and he contacted us, rather than us trying to entice him.

[Ezeikial]

Ah yes 'strong suggestions'. They're rarely accurate and given the size of our squad I would doubt it to be honest. We know the wage bill, so if one player was on that I'm not sure how we'd have signed the amount of players we've signed. But who knows. The budget is the managers to do as he will with. It's not worked out this year and it'l be smaller next year as a result. That's the nature of it.

There certainly won't be new investment, so it's a rebuild project. He's done it before, hopefully he can do it again. But no doubt it'l be incredibly challenging. Interesting times ahead.

Whatever about speculating on what individual contracts are worth, the reality of it is that there are a quite a few of the retained players who have seriously underwhelmed this season - McNulty, Kane, Bennett, Barry, Cummins, and Delaney are among them. Some of those are likely to have significant contracts.

It's going to be a heck of a task to successfully re-build and improve the squad with a lower budget while also paying (or paying off) the weak links in this 2019 contracted list


Mark McNulty (2019)
Danny Kane (2019)
Alan Bennett (2019)
Aaron Barry (2019)
Gearoid Morrissey (2019)
Conor McCormack (2019)
Graham Cummins (2019)
Damien Delaney (2019)
Ronan Coughlan (2019)
Karl Sheppard (2019)
Conor McCarthy (2019)
Colm Horgan (2019)
Cian Murphy (2019)
Garry Buckley (2019)
Seán McLoughlin (2019)

[Scrufil]

Just from the single Division era, the following had no League wins in an entire season: YMCA 1921-22, Jacobs 1929-30, Bray Unknowns 1941-42 & Bohemians 1959-60. Haven't checked Shields, Cups, and other confrontations.


Kilkenny City in the 1994–95 First Division, no wins, just 2 draws

This does not fill me with confidence. Out of that lot only Bohemian FC is still in the top flight.