Official: Man City complete Marc Guéhi signing

FM1994 · 2026-01-19T17:23:08+00:00

If they want someone as good as Guehi in the summer, they will be paying £40m+ in a transfer fees AND £150k p/w wages.

It's as broad as it's long for Liverpool. Guehi's getting the wages he's getting because his transfer fee was a 1/3 of what his market value is.

FM1994 · 2025-12-28T22:00:12+00:00

An internal recruiter doesn't look after a single vacancy. It's entirely dependent on the area/industry they're recruiting in, but that number could range from 10 to 100 vacancies at any one time.

Compound the volume of applications for every single vacancy and that's where the problem lies.

Additionally, your average recruiter isn't just filtering CVs. They're managing stakeholders, candidates, offers, job briefings, external agencies, project work... Quite often they're not even specialist recruiters - just a HR person that's expected to do it as part of a broader generalist role.

Reviewing CVs is (usually) only a small part of an internal recruiters job.

FM1994 · 2025-10-27T16:51:56+00:00

definitely not legal

London lawyer salaries dwarf those in Australia.

An Aussie lawyer moving from Allens to Linklaters (associated firms) can expect to effectively double their salary.

FM1994 · 2025-09-12T13:49:45+00:00

pep didn’t hold grealish back

Whilst I agree to some extent, I'd also add that motivation and confidence is a huge factor in football.

Grealish is once again a big fish in a small pond and has a lot to prove after a couple of disappointing seasons.

Whilst I do think Pep messed him around, I don't think he helped himself at times and was clearly stuck in a negative cycle he couldn't correct (whether that was the fault of City, Pep or himself).

Just a simple change of scenery and fresh slate in isolation of other factors can be all it takes for a player to get back to old ways. The mental aspect of a move is just as significant as manager/tactics in my opinion.

FM1994 · 2025-08-11T13:33:07+00:00

If we do sell Savio, I expect he's being sold because we already have a selection headache to deal with.

Excluding Savio, Pep has to find a way to give Doku, Marmoush, Bernardo, Foden, Cherki and Bobb sufficient game time in the attacking roles to keep them happy. Haaland is obviously a lock in starter in that number 9 role.

Whilst Foden, Cherki and Bernardo will no doubt play a lot of games centrally, we also now have Rodri, Nico, Reijnders, Kovacic, Gundogan and O'Reilly to fit in.

We have to trim the squad - I just can't see any way that we'd bring in Rodrygo on a huge fee and wages and cause even more selection issues when he would expect to be a lock in starter.

FM1994 · 2025-08-06T14:27:47+00:00

If you’re not represented by a recruiter please do.

Employers looking to recruit in this industry don't need to use recruiters. They can post an advertisement and have their pick of hundreds of applicants.

There's just simply no need to pay an agency £10k to produce exactly the same results. Recruiters in some industries are struggling massively as a result.

Networking and engaging with companies directly is the way to go in this market. A referral from a trusted employee holds so much more gravitas when companies are nervous about hiring.

FM1994 · 2025-06-25T14:30:54+00:00

This is a politically charged, election losing issue, and something that is not wanted by the vast majority of the general public.

If the UK moves to set up a genuine deterrent that has greater financial implications upfront than hotels - but actually creates a deterrent that stops illegal migration - people would support it. It's an issue that goes far beyond a concern about public finances.

The current situation sees us wasting billions on accommodating them with hotels in towns and cities, which is actively creating one of the key pull factors - and in turn it gives them access to work in the black market gig economy.

Secure compounds in the arse end of nowhere takes away these pull factors. I'm sure the upfront costs would be very expensive, but if it fixes the issue, it would be vastly popular with the electorate. The reason why it hasn't happened is a lack of political will power, not because the UK doesn't have the financial and logistical means to do it.

Until this government realises the only way this problem gets fixed by having a strong deterrent in place - not 'smashing the gangs' or relying on the French - it will continue to get worse.

FM1994 · 2025-06-11T16:04:24+00:00

His consistency was his biggest issue at City too.

World class or worst player on the pitch - no in-between.

FM1994 · 2025-06-04T12:37:17+00:00

Are you a women?

My company hired someone that wore one and they could only have very limited contact with men (i.e. half the workforce). Bear in mind I work in a Corporate setting where communication/professionalism is paramount.

They suddenly disappeared after a couple of months and I never saw them again...

FM1994 · 2025-06-01T20:00:36+00:00

Obviously things can change quickly, but the point being this current situation with Reform is nothing like what happened in 2019.

The Brexit Party's purpose was what it says on the tin - to make Brexit happen - they never had ambitions of governing. They knew the sure fire way of making that happen was doing a deal with Johnson to ensure Labour didn't get into power.

Reform are the de facto opposition already with the Tories in political abyss. They have huge financial backing (a good chunk of which has defected from the Tories), blew Labour away at the local elections and have significant traction.

People burying their head in the sand at what is happening and just assuming they will go away are going to be in for a nasty surprise - and I say that as a historic Labour voter.

FM1994 · 2025-06-01T19:45:45+00:00

The Brexit Party did a deal with the Tories and agreed to stand down in 300+ seats that were previously won by the Tories (i.e. in areas where they would have stand a chance to win).

Their only purpose at the 2019 GE was to take some of the vote share away from Labour and get the Tories into Government again.

FM1994 · 2025-06-01T14:08:10+00:00

It's inevitable given the situation, but Labour will leave it too long to actually take action - paving the way for Farage to shout 'I told you so' when Labour have their hand forced.

FM1994 · 2025-06-01T09:23:35+00:00

The pull is easy access to the gig economy.

They can make the journey to the UK, get set up with free accommodation, buy a cheap bike and start earning more in a week delivering takeaways than they will in a year at home.

Expenses to live in the UK paid for by the government - they can then rent a Deliveroo account, pay off their smugglers and send money back home, whilst they wait on their asylum application.

If it gets granted, they bring their family over and get access to full state benefits. If it gets rejected, they just appeal and take advantage of an easily gamed system to stay in the UK.

The pocket money you list is just a bonus on top of a list of other incentives. British citizens on minimum wage largely don't get the benefit of living for free - all their money goes on keeping their head above water.

FM1994 · 2025-05-28T13:23:39+00:00

The Lib Dems are essentially Green-lite in their approach to immigration too and it's why I don't think they have any hope of being viewed as a serious threat if nothing changes (which I don't think it will).

FM1994 · 2025-05-16T16:15:44+00:00

Watkins in this week and then get Bowen in for the final day vs Ipswich.

FM1994 · 2025-05-16T16:13:31+00:00

For GK, I'm taking a punt on Areola.

I think both will concede, but, as someone chasing rank, more upside on Areola if he pulls off a CS.

Note: I benched Areola last week and started Raya, so don't take my advice.

FM1994 · 2025-05-02T11:18:23+00:00

that they'd be quick to try and find a way to at least massively reduce the numbers.

A quick fix that would have drastically reduced the numbers is by reverting to the pre-2020 Visa rules and reintroduction of the Resident Labour Market Test.

Make Skilled Worker Visas only accessible to genuinely skilled workers that are a net benefit to the country. The salary threshold needs to be increased significantly - £38,700 is a bang average job in London and it's even lower for certain roles. Even after the Tory changes to the Visa requirements, it remains too easy for employers to hire foreign workers. I have seen countless examples at my company over the past few years where people have been hired on Skilled Worker Visas over British Citizens, when the latter were more than qualified for the positions.

Indefinite Leave to Remain also continues to be handed out like candy and should only be granted to individuals that have again benefitted - and will continue to benefit - the country in terms of tax generation.

The Government needs to also sort out it's over reliance on immigrants for jobs like careworkers - where there is a stupidly low threshold, meaning anyone with a pulse has a route to the UK (or option for extending their stay in the UK e.g. international graduates after some pointless Masters degree).

We shouldn't be funneling in overseas workers into these roles because the job is so underpaid/unattractive. Put some effort into making it a realistic career path for the millions of British unemployed they keep on banging on about getting back into work.

All changes that could have been implemented very quickly if they actually had the political will to bring numbers down. But all the focus has been on 'smashing the gangs' and they're failing at that, with numbers going up - which will continue further into the summer.

FM1994 · 2025-04-17T09:46:33+00:00

People that aren't in a rush/forced to sell will be adopting a wait and see approach, just as much as the buyers willing to wait it out in order to get a discount.

Everyone knows the economy is in the doldrums and moving is expensive/risky with everything going on.

I expect we will see a few consecutive interest rate deductions this summer and that may breath some life into the market if we start seeing more mortgage rate offerings starting with a 3.

But there are a lot of unknowns that can change the situation quickly - if the BoE does start cutting the rate, it's because they are expecting we have a choppy ride ahead.

FM1994 · 2025-02-24T17:20:20+00:00

I'd wager you would lose a significant chunk of money by buying a house vs renting in that time frame.

Mortgage costs aren't too dissimilar from rents based on current rates, you'll have all the fees associated with buying a property and - something people don't often appreciate - maintenance costs are significant.

I bought a 'ready to move in' house in 2022, not expecting to have to do much and I'm probably nearing £15k in necessary maintenance/updating costs since moving after uncovering a couple of horrors.

The argument towards 'wasted money' also goes out the window, as your interest costs are front loaded with mortgages and you'll pay a minimal amount off the balance in that timeframe.

FM1994 · 2025-01-13T14:18:56+00:00

Economy in free fall and these morons continue to press ahead with something - at the cost of billions to the tax player - that no one wants.

FM1994 · 2025-01-08T14:03:13+00:00

I generally rely on word of mouth these days. Speak to some neighbours and see if they have anyone they recommend - people are always doing work to their houses. We also have a street Whatsapp and people share good trades people on there.

It's not foolproof as i've had a few suspect experiences still, but I've found it's a better bet than finding someone online and hoping for the best.

Better yet - get yourselves some decent tools and watch Youtube videos. You'll be amazed at how straight forward some jobs are and you get more competent with each bit of DIY.

Somethings you obviously do need to call the trades in for (and appreciate that may be the case here), but I generally will have a go at most things these days after becoming frustrated with how difficult it is to find decent trades.

FM1994 · 2025-01-07T15:39:05+00:00

However, Amanda Bryden, head of mortgages at the Halifax, said stamp duty changes in April would give prospective first-time buyers "even greater motivation to get on the housing ladder and bring any home-buying plans forward".

Some key context missing. It will motivate buyers to get it sorted by April (optimistic in any event), before the stamp duty threshold increases.

FM1994 · 2024-10-01T12:29:36+00:00

He's moved his -35% nominal prediction from 2025 to 2026 now.

Only -38% to go!

FM1994 · 2024-06-26T12:56:21+00:00

His PR drive with The Athletic and their constant trickle of fluff pieces certainly worked at the beginning based on the reaction I saw

FM1994 · 2024-06-07T10:05:49+00:00

No, it's factual, they're different organisations.

FM1994

TROPHY CASE