Shows you a lot wrong with the PL right now that Tonali wanted to go to Spurs and that they could afford that sort of money. Last season was obviously a bit of a stinker for us, but in the last few years we've (finally) won a cup and been in the CL twice. Basically the CL season have knackered us both times because we can't generate the money to make the squad larger. We've got (maybe the less said the better...) some of the richest owners in the world, have been upwardly mobile and because of the weirdness of the financial rules, we're somehow getting picked apart by a team who have been 17th two years running. We've just had to agree to a punishment with UEFA over spending too, because the PL and UEFA rules don't marry up.
We have spending power because of how cheap we’ve been for years despite such high revenues. And even with the two poor seasons, we’ve been in Europe like 18 out of 21 years. Newcastle has been relegated twice during that stretch.
Some other reporters confirming Spurs have Kroupi as their top attacking target. Interesting though, apparently we’d bring him in to play LW, not in the middle.
And now you're arbitrarily protected from the likes of Newcastle and Villa, because when any of the teams who didn't have that money before run up the table, they can't capitalise on it. You basically have to fight against the odds for years to drag your overall revenue up. It's just insulated the teams who already had deep pockets.
I don’t disagree with your overall point, the rules definitely make it harder for some clubs. But the part about fighting against the odds to drag your overall revenue up…I’d argue that’s what Spurs have done to some extent. It’s true we started from a healthier position, but the years of selling in order to buy, the lower wages compared to what we could have been offering, and the investment we put into the stadium and grounds have all put the club in a position to spend this way. And I’d also add, we will have a good amount of outgoing players this summer. The net spending won’t be as bonkers as it looks now. The big change is the wage structure. We’ve been holding back there for so long.
Really think you're in for a rock bottom type season? I thought GON has shown some promise tactically, he was very unlucky to be jilted by Bournemoith.
It will really depend on the signings we make, lots of names being floated around but nothing has happened yet. If can get a decent start then we might do well, but its tough as the gap widens each year and now Wolves and West Ham are gone its tougher to see another settled team having a disaster. Never know though!
Apparently we pulled out because we felt the valuation of £10m was too high. You win some, you lose some, but again PL spending is crazy.
United missing out on Fernandes and the crazy PL prices quoted I really hope they’re Bouaddi. Think we could offer him more game time than any other top club, possibly Mazraoui can put in a word. Wanted him back in January.
Everton are signing Leeds' first choice goalkeeper to be our back-up goalkeeper. There's tiers to this game.
Leao to Spurs seems to have a little smoke. This one I’m a little nervous about because of the personality or work-rate concerns said about him. Not sure how true or exaggerated any of that stuff is. But he’s a great talent. This is one I wouldn’t want to overpay like we did for the midfielders, but I’d be down for the move if it is lower risk. We lack goalscorers. He’s a goal scoring winger. Could be a nice addition.
I see Bayern have tied down Brown and Saibari already. Leagues ahead of the rest in Germany because they're the most savvy.