I think that we can probably safely that that Operation Sell Alfredo is over.
In fairness, the Stenography Corps did their obedient best throughout this failed sales pitch.
As I had previously reported as no bids were forthcoming for the striker the Sevco High Command started to look around the squad for a replacement.
It is worth remembering just how much effort was put into getting a game-changing transfer fee for the Colombian.
Thankfully for the chaps in the Blue Room they had a player worth £22m in the squad.
It is just that no one had noticed until now.
Now I’m sure that Borna Barišić is a fine player and some clubs might be interested in acquiring his services.
However, one way to prevent bids coming in is to price a player out of a move.
That, in part, is what happened to poor Alfie.
However, most of the damage to the Morelos brand was self-inflicted.
His appalling disciplinary record could only be ignored for so long.
In the two matches against Celtic last December, he demonstrated why he was not the huge talent of back page legend.
He choked in the League Cup Final when faced with La Gran Muralla.
Then in the Glasgow derby match, Alfredo’s propensity to dive like a U Boat probably convinced any watching club to give the idea of buying him Das Boot.
His talent was not off the radar after all…
So if not Alfie then who?
At the RIFC AGM last year the Convict Chairman stated that the club had to start generating revenue from player trading.
Dear reader, it was one of those preciously rare occasions when Mr David Cunningham King was telling the truth!
Indeed, the need to generate monies from player sales was mentioned in the year-end accounts:
We draw attention to information in note 1 in the financial statements concerning the Group’s ability to continue as a going concern. In order to continue operations for the next 12 months the Group is dependent upon raising additional finance to cover projected cash shortfalls in season 2019/20. The precise level of funding required is uncertain as it is inherently dependent on a number of key variables, including the achievement of forecast football performance and player trading. As stated in note 1 the risk that key cash flows are not achieved as forecast , along with the absence of a binding debt facility for any shortfalls, indicate that a material uncertainty exists that may cast significant doubt on the Group’s ability to continue as a going concern.
Note that “player trading” is mentioned.
Therefore, if not Alfredo then another valuable asset must be unearthed from the squad.
If that isn’t possible then they just make it up.
Of course, they have the obedient assistance of the Stenography Corps to tell the Ibrox klanbase what riches Mr Gerrard has in his team.
It is just rather surprising that they are incapable of winning anything.
Strange that…
Unfortunately for Sevco, the folk who run other football clubs tend not to be that gullible, especially when tens of millions of pounds are being discussed.
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Charlie Greens earlier comment on Gerrard celebrating wildly into the camera like he’d won the Champions League again by beating us to 3 points was bang on. The expectancy level went up like a rocket amongst their fans , media , the lot of them . How’s it looking now? Great for us , but by God do they fkn hate it! What a turn around , but it’s not over – but wee Griff will sort that out.
They’re chucking figures around about their players – does our Mr Lennon do any such thing ?
They are a busted flush again.
Leigh Griffiths is more valuable than any player they have. Leigh is an on fire hat-trick hero. When was the last time Sevco had a hat trick?
Barisic is worth no more than £2.8m.
Less after 19th March.
King’s whole angle at Sevco was flipping players for big money. The global Market is wise to the Ibrox roadside market.
If there’s a rule (no third party ownership) then breaking it makes money. How many players are already owned by others by the percentage point?
Gilmour belonged to Chelsea at 14. Illegally as UEFA deemed.
If Dave King told me he was lying….. I wouldn’t believe him
You can’t polish a turd but you can throw glitter at it. Seems thats what Sevco supporters are doing. HH
Never did want to be in their gang…
Everyone knows the the Lisbon story about, before the game, Inter’s wily coach, Helenio Herrera, sat in the dugout which had been allotted to Celtic.
Stein told him, in his broad Scottish accent: “Naw, you’ll have to find another place” – and Herrera forlornly walked off to the Inter bench.
Gemmil has been quoted as saying that is the moment they knew, not only that they were entitled to be there but they could win.
Sometimes important events can come down to little things.
Conversly Gerard lost all credibility and mystique for me when he screamed into the camera like a demented fan after defeating Celtic. It was a gut reactioon on both our parts but I am wondering if others felt the same because he has not had the same cache since. Perhaps the players also reacted but not in a good way. Could be that simple.
Inter had a Willy coach???
Oh, those continental types!
Mo, you are awful but…
From the Cambridge dictionary:
(of a person) intelligent, having a very good understanding of situations, possibilities, and people, and often willing to use tricks to achieve an aim:
a wily politician
Synonyms
clever disapproving
cunning
slick
tricky
See
It appears there is no structure to how they value their players, even the Ibrox cheerleader, wee Alex Rae, is unable to explain how this valuation was reached.
It would seem they rely on what Celtic sell their much more accomplished players for, then say if their player is worth that match, so is ours!!!!
Truly deluded!!!!
https://www.ibroxnoise.co.uk/2020/03/megamillions-bidding-war-set-to-target.html?m=1
If you want some Kool aid and the talking up of the new club from ibrox read Michael Gannon article in the daily radar today . Apparently the ibrox pitch is is in such a bad state that the German club can’t train on it because of the hard winter we have had . Funny that because there are no issues with the surface at Celtic park or Hampden and their both in Glasgow .Instead of calling out the ibrox club for penny pinching and having no money to spend on their pitch he put it down to a bad winter oh dear . Gannon also quotes Gerrard as the world famous player at this point in the article I gave up I thought I was reading a sevco fanzine. Once again another so called journalist trying to redeem himself with the Klan after having a go at them and their club just the other week .
Ah Scud, you’ve forgotten about the dark clouds that hangs permanently over Ipox. It plays havoc with the tumshie field. HH
Winter isnt even here yet we had a few days of snow and a bit rain as normal waith till the real snow and frost appears
So what you are saying Barcelona I’m not coming then
Hagi couldn’t get a regular game at Gent, thats why they moved him on.
He’s a luxury player who doesn’t contribute enough on a regular basis.
I doubt very much if there will be a spare £4/5m in the Ibrox kitty come the summer to spend on him.
The 9 IAR was always going to be the difficult one with Kingco all in which they will be unable to repeat next season as finance, or lack of, will hugely impact on any squad investment.
That black hole on Edmiston Drive hasn’t gone away nor is likely too anytime soon.
Anyone heard Alex Rae recently claiming big investment on the way?
I believe there’s something in one of the tabloids this morning about yet another share issue. A £20m investment and a boardroom reshuffle.
Wee Qwark will creaming his panties!!!
I would concur that Alfie’s original reported value of £50m or thereabouts has probably dropped to around 50p but I’m sure the interest in Barisic for £22m is genuine. Also, we mustn’t forget that Juventus were desperate to fork out £20m for Kamara during the January transfer window. The fact that TRFC knocked them back will only increase Juve’s determination to acquire this prize asset. I reckoned £30m to £40m should do it.
I read a headline in The Scotsman the other day stating that “The top clubs in Europe are interested in signing Rangers’ £20m star”. Further investigation revealed that this was Hagi whom, of course, Rangers* don’t own. However, I’m sure that they would be entitled to a development fee for improving this player in the half a dozen games he’s played for them. £5m would be fair.
Ach they’ll probably waive the development fee. They won’t need the money when Hector refunds them the £50m they never paid in the first place.
Barisic is probably the only player in their squad I’d even consider buying. But I’d say 4 or 5 million is a fairer assessment even before taking into account that in business you always lowball a desperate seller.
Phil; just the other day I had another look back at King’s tour de force at the AGM. Would bring a tear to a glass eye it would! Anyway, in his speech he mentioned that by mid March he would have taken care of another share issue and that he would be completely stepping away. I know that this will come as a surprise to some, but is it possible he was telling porkies about this?
If you buy stuff from Poundland you’re going to struggle to get a tenner for it on Ebay. Just sayin.
You could be onto something there! All sevco have to do is sell a 500ml bottle of hand sanitizer for £50 million, and offer up fat Alfie as a sweetener to close the sale!😂😂😂
Nothing like “tens of millions of pounds” to focus a Chairman or CEO’s mind. Especially when he’s signing the cheque and not banking it.