If I flick a coin three times in a row there is a 1/8 chance I'll get 3 heads Nah but we've rebuilt the squad every single one of those three years. How players many have passed through since then about 40 or 50? For the first time in 4 or 5 years we have a fairly settled squad. A couple of injuries at the moment but decent enough players to fill in. I think it was evident from the Old Firm games in the second half of last season that our first team is now better than Rangers also, and Rangers have so not really improved on last season. I am more confident this season than in a long while and I think I have good reason to be.
Not arguing about the current squad it has been well built and its worthy of investing in. I believe that because only a few players are needed a sizeable outlay on these players should ensure we win the league which comes with a CL place not to do so could well be Strachans last year all over again.
whilst i agree that the suad we have built is good. And its nice we arent having to bring in 6 or 7 players again as we have done for the past 5 or 6 seasons, i also believe as before this is an oppotunity to build from a position of strength. We are better than the rangers sqaud at the minute - but not by much - and they are re-building - now it might work or might not work, however is trying to stay just ahead of Rangers good enough? We have a good base squad at the minute -with some very talented players. A wee bit of investment could guarantee the league title not just give us a good chance
Don't disagree with you that it would be great to send some money on quality players just looking at it from the whole clubs point & not just the playing side. Who would you buy? Keane was a realistic target - he went for approx £3m and probably got a 3 year contract at least living in LA. He would be a decent signing but is picking up more injuries due to his age and we would have to spend another £3m to replace him when he retires........which is what was happening under Strachan. Strachan signed decent players like Hartley, Robson etc who did a job but because of their age had no sell on value so we were forced to spend cash again on replacements. Ageing stars are not going to happen unless loan or free transfers are involved which leaves you with the foreign market where players are unpredictable & untested in British football & England where Nicky Maynard has a £5m price on his head & is unproven at a decent level, Hooper has been great but there are no guarentees. Personally I'd be suprised if we didn't go back for the lad from Bari who turned us down last year having not spent a penny on a keeper.
Our policy is to buy young players with talent and potential and bring them on as footballers. Just looking at the team now you've got the likes of Izzy, Kayal, Hooper and Ki who, I believe, have all added considerably to what we paid for them. Izzy cost 600k and would probably go for at least five tmes that if he was for sale and not injured.
The guy from Bari has virtually joined Portsmouth for 1.5 million , I would take a chance on Murphy of Motherwell who would fit into our style of play
Consider me surprised then We bid £1.5 and they said they wanted £2+ I read despite the fact they hadn't even paid for him yet! (according to some ****ey paper anyway)
Do you have to stick rigedly to the policy and never stary when starying for 1 or 2 players will make the differance that will win the league and deliver Cl money instead of for a forth year on the trot ****ing it up? I believe that we expect Rangers to go backward this year without Smith, Rangers expected that of us when O'Neil left and look what happened they finished 3rd.