I've been thinking about this a lot today. Probably too much, because @TrevorAylottsHeadband says, it's most likely just twitter journalist overstating things to up his engagement levels for the week. BUT...
As a supporter base (myself included), I've concluded that we've become so enamoured by the concept of The Model (TM) (because we've been good at it in spells in the relatively recent past) that we've lost sight of how shit it actually is on a base level. I mean, in terms of finding a way to play the existing, highly warped, shitty system in your favour as a lower league team, it's effective, and so certainly should be deployed in some way or another. But at its core, for fans of a lower league team, it's horrible.
In essence we've simply become Try Before They Buy scouting networks, and feeder clubs for the financially gargantuous. Work really hard and invest in unearthing gems, give them a quick bit of buffing, and then allow ourselves to be fed scraps in return.
And this is why I absolutely hate even the idea of Negru going before this transfer window is out. We wouldn't even have had the opportunity to enjoy watching him play or have our team benefit from his talents before shipping him out in the name of finances. It's bad enough when we only get one season out of them, but it's a necessary evil we have to face while acknowledging our place in the pecking order. But after less than half a dozen games? That can get in the bin.
It might be a boon for bolstering our revenue for wages bills in future seasons, but if we're going to flog off our exciting footballers at even the very first glimmer of a suggestion of the possibility of a tiny bit of cash before they've even played football, then what's the point in us even bothering having a big wage bill?
And what's even the point of us turning up week in week out? I want to watch good footballers play football well. Balancing the books is necessary, but it's not why I'm here. I don't want to see a protracted and effective spreadsheeting without any football - if I was, I'd just watch a Twitch streamer doing an OUFC season on Champ Manager.
Keep hold of him, let him make a massive contribution to a great season or two while watching his star rise and benefit financially at the appropriate time.
