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The Nielsen Wages Debate

By: David Peasgood
Date: 05/12/2000

The Nielsen Wages Debate

David Peasgood this week finds Bert and Fred are considering David Nielsen's alleged demands for a wage of £6,000 a week

Hear their views and YOU decide in our latest 'fishy' poll.

Bert & Fred

The Nielsen Wages Debate

FRED:
Well I know I'm old and everyone expects me to say six grand a week is ridiculous but somehow I think we should pay it.

BERT:
My God. You're senile as well then. He ain't worth that much and we can't afford it. Its about three players wages to us.

FRED:
No I disagree. six grand for Nielsen is more likely the difference between us staying up, or going down. That's worth a million and a half to Town.

BERT:
But he hasn't been that good.

FRED:
Agreed he stared like a train and has slowed down, but he's been marked tightly, that in turn has drawn opponents out the game, his pace has scared defences into tactical change and its all helped create chances for others. On top of that he is enthusiastic and it will rub off and grow on attendances in the new year.

BERT:
Its still a lot of cash on top of £425,000 to sign him on.

FRED:
Look at it as an investment. The lad could sell for twice that and more come the end of the season, with a few more goals behind him. Six grand for the next thirty weeks is 180,000 invested in an asset which could increase in value three times that. If you were a banker you'd jump at such an investment.

BERT:
Well I think we should just keep him on loan.

FRED:
He's on a Bosman and will go for nothing at the end of January. You'll be kicking yourself when he goes to somewhere like Birmingham and comes back here to haunt us and score. He's an investment we have a chance to make.

BERT:
If we had cash to spare I might see that but we haven't.

FRED:
Cash makes more cash and we should look at this as a chance not to make the same mistake as we did with Jack Lester. I bet young Jack is valued as at least a million pound player by Forest come the season end, and a three million player within two more years. He wanted about three grand a week and we said no. Look how we've missed out.

BERT:
Yeah but six grand a week. The other lads up for contract will want big bucks too. We could have a wages war on our hands.

FRED:
That will be down to the skills of the negotiators. There's ways of making 6 grand look less on paper. If we paid Nielsen 2 grand a week and his signing on fee was £545,000 you wouldn't mind. That's about what Ashcroft cost, but by the year end it's exactly the same total investment and I still say we'll recoup more than twice that if we sell him. He wants a big club and he will prove himself worthy. He will keep us up and that alone makes him worth it.

BERT:
I hope you're right, cos I somehow think that's what town will do.

Now for the vote...

Do you think Nielsen is worth £6,000 a week?

Strong yes
Weak yes
Neutral
Weak no
Strong no

Do you think his reputed signing on fee of £425,000 is reasonable?

Very reasonable
Reasonable
About right
Over the top
Outrageous

Do you think Nielsen's made a difference when he has played?

Yes both home and away
Yes (home only)
Yes (away only)
Neither home nor away
Haven't noticed

Who many extra bums on seats do you think Nielsen will add each home game?

None
1-100
100-200
200-500
500-1000
1000-2000
2000+

Would you sign Nielsen for 6 grand a week?

Strong yes
Weak yes
Neutral
Weak no
Strong no

Results

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