Will Ashley take a punt in January or play 'safe'?

I read earlier that for the 13/14 season the TV revenue for our club could be up to £96m, a massive hike on where it is now (see below):

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Now, we know Mike is a gambler but I reckon if he were to put £15m-£20m (net) into the pot for January we would be certain to stay in the prem.

If we do nothing, or god forbid lose players we do run that risk.

Given the prize on offer do you think he'l; play safe and invest or take a risk that there are teams more worse off than us?

My hope and believe is in the latter.... but I've been wrong before.

 

Having had a brilliant last season, finishing fifth and qualifying for Europe, we could be forgiven for thinking that such achievements would be reason enough for Ashley to invest in the squad, so we could consolidate and push on. However, apart from some good young fringe players, we only signed one player who could be seen as first team quality in Vernon Anita.
There was so much that this season promised, and to be fair, we kept our team intact. But with the extra demands of Europe and factoring in the inevitable quota of injuries and suspensions, all of which it wouldn't take a genius to predict, we came up short through lack of investment and are paying the price for it now.
If Ashley would not back the team and its manager when they had achieved so much, l for one cannot see what would make him revert from his precious business plan now.
So l can envisage more of the make do and mend mentality, l hope to be proven wrong and can only pray that Ashley seeing how stretched the squad is, and the realisation that plummeting down the league does not make us attractive either from a televising matches or recruiting quality players point of view (would you join a club fighting relegation?) will look to secure his investment if nothing else.
Sadly, Ashley runs the club as a business, there is no room for sentiment, therefore as l have stated previously, l for one am waiting for Pardew to roll out the old tired statements about strengthening in January, then the ones about how we have strength in depth via the second string, then how we had one or two key targets, but.........
Even if Ashley does give Pardew a war chest to strengthen the squad, l can't see him being able to spend it, as no one with any quality would want to come into a struggling team, there is also the possibility of players wanting to leave, not sure if all of them would be up for the fight ? Easier to jump ship.

Wouldn't that be the ultimate irony, well you see Mike gave me plenty of funds,
Shows what a great guy he is, but we just couldn't buy anybody..... Never mind

 

History tells us Mike will be anything but extravagant! 2 at most which I believe should be a left winger/forward and centre back. Previously I wanted a left back so Santon moves over but Simpson has been fine, Raylor is still to come and Perch can fill in. With Ba not wanting to play wide, Sammy no where near ready and Fergie being a more midfielder than winger/forward, Marveaux not going to cut it, I think Pardew needs a left forward to go back to our most successful formation.

Ideally from my point of view ignoring the obvious budget restrictions, we'd bring in a left full back, a centre back, a left forward and another creative midfielder. Though I do think Abeid needs given a chance to fill Cabayes shoes but if they are not keen then maybe bring one in. Maybe we will utilise the loan market and write off some short term money? Highly unlikely though.

 

He will sell Ben Arfa and try the black jack game in the window and this time if he doesn't get lucky we are ****ed.

 

Our transfer windows follow something of a boom bust cycle. January 11 was a total nightmare, selling Carroll, and bringing nobody in, but we muddled through the season. Then we had a great summer 11, followed by a pretty good January 12 (although we needed a centre back desperately). It seems then that the board think they've done so well they can gamble again, and this summer it fell flat on its arse. So lets hope, as was the case with previous windows where gambles have failed, we make the most of January.

The chronicle fantasists and other keyboard warriors would have you believe our owner is a pure miser, but that simply isn't the case. Previous form would point to a decent window, a repeat of the debacle of the summer would not be good. We need 2 centre halves as Taylor and Williamson have been equally poor and exposed this season, although only 1 gets any flak.

We also need a striker/winger, for balance and some pace and we need to get a commitment either way off Ba. He's not bigger than the club, that said it could be he's perfectly happy here, and the manager is just too scared to upset him.

 

If he doesn't give Pardew a chance to bring in reinforcements, we are royally ****ed

 

the greatest username on not606 that..

 

Difference between Saylor and Willo though is one can perform when led by our captain, one is just limited in every department. Saylor hasn't had a good comeback from his injuries but I still think he is useful when you put Colo alongside and get a run of games. I do believe we need two though because Saylor and Colo are injury prone. Willo although a trier is playing a rung too high on the ladder. No chance of getting two in the window though.

Two will be the maximum I believe and to be honest I think that would be a fair show of commitment from the board. Its not football manager and we have to balance the books. I agree one should be a centre back and one a left sided forward/winger to balance the squad (Ba clearly isn't happy playing left despite it being better for the team - sometimes you just have to accept these things) and take the weight off Benni. I'd love a bid for Zaha or Ince but realistically I don't see it. Personally as I said the other day I'd consider a bid for Lee Chung Yong at Bolton who might be more in our price range. The only problem is we could do with someone who scores a few more.