Has anyone seen Money Ball with Brad Pitt as the GM who took a small budget Baseball team all the way to the final game of the playoffs against very high budget opposition. Although he was very successful in breaking down results per pound/dollar he was heavily criticised for ruining the game, even though he was very very successful. I seems to me that TP is operating in a similar manner, which can been seen in his purchases and the charachters that remain at Stoke.
It is my perception that he almost dislikes high profile players at has often been quoted using the "champagne Charlie" phrase and is trying to prove a point. To be fair to the man he is to certain degree achieving this by keeping our heads just above water. Some of you may laugh (and whilst I dont expect anyone to believe me I am not making this up), but a comment was said to me once by a gentleman that that was/is very close to TP that he has an issue with the power of money and the value of players to an overall season result. Based on this comment it could be argued that he has issues with players who are viewed as having more value becuase of what they are paid which brings him back to another of his favourite comments "of no one is bigger than THIS CLUB" - Its just a pity that he doesnt look in the mirror and listen to his own words!
