They weren't doing that great, they were exactly the same level as us. I don't believe Europa league being a pull at all. However with these signings we are no longer the same level and when they get champions league this season they will continue to attract better players.
They finished 11 points ahead of us and were only 1 point off Arsenal. They're not on the same level of us - they're ahead. It's a harsh reality.
If real pull out of the bale deal. This will have Leeds written all over it.spend for success when the money isn't there. Slippery slopeif they don't click. go on Madrid tell bale he ain't worth the money and watch spuds shot themselves
Spurs do have a billionaire owner, they've recouped about £36m in player sales and take in to account their increased revenue and sponsorship deals. I do think Bale is as good as gone, but if not they'll be fine.
This is the point I wanted to make too. Last season they were in the Champions League mix right until the end, don't think we were ever there.
I hate saying it but it is true. Some people keep saying that Arsenal are not much stronger than us but even with their thin squad and 'poor' players, they finished 12 points ahead of us. However, I do think we will close the gap on them this season because (on paper) we're a more cohesive unit.
Don't forget, we had the sum total of 5 pts after 5 games at the start of last year (or was it less?) A better start this year, maybe a couple of "right" additions to the team and we'll be closer to the top 4..
When we started last season our squad was so thin the plan was just to hang on the best we could until January. Based on the second part of the season the gap is not so big.
As said by MITO the other day, Spurs have a strong squad but at the end of the day we can only influence two of their matches. Aslong as our squad is in good shape that's all I care about.
Liverpool are closing in on a £6m deal for Derby's 18-year-old midfielder Will Hughes after sending chief scout Dave Fellows to assess him in action for England Under-21s. This could be a good deal. This guy has a lot of potential and our youth team seems thinnest in midfield. Coates is injured so doubt he will move on this summer. Illori rumour is back up. Liverpool defender Sebastian Coates, 22, could be out for six months after suffering a knee injury on international duty with Uruguay - prompting the Reds to step up their pursuit of Sporting Lisbon's 20-year-old centre-back Tiago Ilori.
Hope we have a separate budget for youth/prospect signings. Think he's a good prospect (at least from what I've heard from Derby fans) but if we have a finite amount to spend around the £25M mark I'd be disappointed to see another £6M go on a prospect signing.
He does look a good prospect but I'd rather save the money for a player who will come straight in to the first eleven.
[video=youtube;BLOAK68FEMM]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BLOAK68FEMM[/video] He moves the ball well and looks confident. He may not be far from the first team now.
If he's going into the U21s and stuff and this is funded by a separate kitty to the main transfer budget then probably worth a shot. If BR wants him for the main squad I think we're focussing and going to be relying too much on youth now, we need a couple of early-mid 20s players, an AM and a CB with some experience, skill, speed and muscle who can get in the mix with the first team from the off.
We could end up being the main supply team to the future England team with the players we'll have if we get Hughes.
Certainly looks decent, but there's another chap in that YouTube clip, called Sterling, he looks decent Liked the through ball he played at around 1:10
