Another way of looking at things. Even with Bale last season we didn't make the CL despite a record number of points did we so will we make the CL with him next season? Maybe maybe not? I have felt for a while that even with Bale we might have to rely on the other teams weakening a bit eg City with a new coach so in transition and Utd without Ferguson might let us in. These are all maybes I know. Maybe with the other teams weakened we might have a better chance if we keep Bale but I don't want players with so much speculation about their futures at Spurs and the same goes for coaches. So let's take the money and try again with new players. I repeat without RVP Arsenal made the CL.
I sat on a bench in Barcelona once. On las ramblas. Very pleasant it was too. Spurs close to signing Guarin from Inter to replace Parker the Mirror claims (amongst other things!!) http://www.mirror.co.uk/sport/football/transfer-news/transfer-gossip-gareth-bale-holds-1949578
Surely you can see that he said our player left to sit on the bench. The shirt he is wearing is not really important. Shall we save the petty disputes until the next time you score an invalid goal against us, or rightly have your captain sent off. You know, important things.
The idea of PSG and Real getting into a bidding war over Bale is pretty confusing. Don't want him to go but the fee could end up being absolutely ridiculous. Son Heung-Min has signed for Leverkusen for €10m, by the way. Pretty cheap.
I agree with a lot of what you are saying Thor. For a club like us 100 million or that sort of money is too good to turn down. Where else is this stadium money going to come from otherwise? Obviously dream scenario would be keep Bale add a few more quality players and get the new stadium. Without the new stadium we are never really going to compete with the big boys on a consistent basis. It's a horrible thought that West Ham could be generating more match day revenue than us soon.
I've seen this said elsewhere and I'm not sure how it's supposed to happen. They're struggling to sell their tickets now and they're cheaper than ours. They may be able to draw in larger crowds by lowering the prices, but then their revenue per head will fall.
without bale, we'd have to significantly improve the team in other areas, as he single handedly won us about 15-20 points last season. Therefore, with the money, none of it would actually be able to go towards the new stadium, as it'd cost us a fortune to assemble a good enough team with match winners and game changers, to deal with a full season without him. Too many of our players are not good enough for a top 4 challenge and without bale, we'd have been significantly worse off last season. Then there's the wage situation. surely a massive chunk of this money would have to be used to cover the wages? with top quality replacements comes massive earnings. - the money would soon be gone. AVB looks like he's started the process of changing us for the better, with our record points tally and a successful campaign where he was left with many holes in the squad. If we lose him as well, I would fear for us. it'd be back to square 1 and another transition period. For those wondering where the stadium is going to come from, the money is obviously coming from somewhere, or otherwise we wouldn't be getting one! we clearly don't need to destroy what little top quality we have left in order to grow.
PnP on the West Ham greater revenue I don't think they would all the time and maybe not over the entire season but they certainly could be bringing in more money for the big matches. I know it doesn't mean more success (Sunderland as an example) but it does give you more of a chance especially with the supposed fair play rules coming in. Roo I really hope you are right. I don't want us to sell Bale not one bit but I also think money like that for our club is too good to turn down. I'm hoping perhaps Joe Lewis' legacy will be to bankroll the "Joe Lewis stadium"! Considering he supposedly has $4.2 billion dollars burning a hole in his back pocket is it too much to ask?!
Where's SOS?! He was clearly being serious when he said that he's not getting involved in the transfer thread this summer! I didn't think he'd be able to stay away...
Chelsea have signed Schurlle for £18m...,. So I say put a sneaky £7m bid for Demba Ba who must surely be behind Schurlle Torres and Lukaku now? Or even a £15m Torres bid if Mourinho prefers to keep Ba?? Either of them would be great signings and I feel both would be plausible as clearly he wasn't happy with his strike force if he's spent £18m on a new striker so I'm sure they'd let one leave. Would prefer Lukaku but can't see them selling him or loaning him to a rival.
