I did answer the question. Like I said, he has to try and bring in those 1-2 'Top, Top quality' players. If he doesn't try then it will be a failure. Whether he can or not is not entirely dependent on him though.
Imo keeping up wih the leaders enough too make them think about us until at least christmas would constitute moving forward and is realistic. This transfer window is a key one for us. Since the move to the Emirates our net spend on transfers has been £9m, we can spend many times that this time and with sales aand getting rid of th deadwood can free up a lot of money that is being wasted. We can buy top quality fot the players we replace for the first time in years. Personally I'd prefer a £50m striker than half that and use the rest spread over the team. My minimum expectation is a comfortable 4th place.
Construction started in 2004. Transfer league actually has us making a profit on transfers from 2003 onwards. http://www.transferleague.co.uk/
I got the £9M net from a comment made on Sky at half time during the Newcastle game, but other than that cant verify it.
It is probably correct, but it is probably the number taken from when the stadium was completed. I was just saying that if you go back to when it began, it is an even more striking number.
The article title is REALISTIC expectations. How is overtaking at least one team already above when all of them will probably spend more than us being realistic? Ok, they are all having new managers coming in but I still think youre setting yourself up to be disappointed.
Putting together a serious title challenge is my main expectation. But really my expectations will change over the course of the Summer, depending on wether Wenger will actually spend or not. People need to remeber the money is available - If we dont spend it on the squad it was the managers decision. Wenger has to bring in some proven top quality players.
I don't think any club can "realistically expect" to win a trophy this next year. Liverpool and United have been the only two clubs in that position at any time in my lifetime, and with SAF leaving there is doubt about whether United can continue. But I think the spirit of the thread is such that expectation, should perhaps be read as "realistic chance" as opposed to some kind of certainty.
I agree with 87, but rather than win the FA Cup I'd put up with losing valiantly to a better team. If you must die, die well, don't lose to a naf team leagues below because the players were useless & the manager tactically inept on the night.
To a point. But people have to realise that buying players, especially top quality players isn't like popping down to Tesco to pick one off the shelf. There are a multitude of variables at play, the intentions of the buying club, the opinions of the selling club, the agent, the player, personal terms, the list goes on. The manager could try his hardest, make several bids and still fail to land the players he wants. So it's not entirely his decision, he is just part of the bigger equation.
Well, I suspect we are going to buy players, because we need to fill the gaps in the team, but how much we spend will depend on who is available, and what other clubs want which players. And we are very unlikely to be in a position the truly know that. In any case, I doubt there will be much decided before July. Most clubs haven't decided which players are for sale yet, and even if they have, they are going to wait for some of the new managers to get settled, before they strike a deal with anyone, for serious money. They might be missing out.
With the money at our disposal to make new signings, and with the improvement this team has made in the second half of the year, I don't see why those expectations aren't realistic. If City go buy 11 new players, it'll take time for them to gel 2gether on the pitch, and also to adapt to a new system and coach, the same with Chelsea. As United have shown, you don't need to go out and buy everyone, what you need is a good solid team that improves over time, and then you inject that team with additional quality, that's what we have the potential for at the moment. We have a good solid team that's improving, as seen from the second half of the year, now all they need is that injection of some more quality. Chelsea spent over 40 million more than us last season, only to end up 2 points above us with a goal difference of plus 1, so them spending more doesn't automatically mean them running away from us, if we do things correctly in this transfer market, then I can see us ending up above either Chelsea or City (who only finished 5 points above us).
What is? That we have money available?? ..no that's a fact that has been confirmed by manager and chief executive.
No - I think it was more that there are other reasons for not spending it, than because of a Manager's decision. I mean, if Wenger finds a player he likes for 5M, he doesn't have to pay 30M for him. Spending lots of money isn't the benchmark we should really be looking at.
I think this is just making excuses though.(It's pre-prepraing a defence for another fruitless Summer) This is all part of the mangers job. If Wenger is incapable or just unwilling to sign TOP players anymore then he's no longer the right man for the Job. There are plenty of managers around who can. IMO we will see this Summer wether Wenger still has what it takes.
