Of course owners should dictate transfer policy, inasmuch as they should have the final say on player purchases and contracts, having given the manager guidelines as to what will be acceptable. Briatore wanted to decide which players took to the pitch.
We went from one extreme to another. Managers will quite happily bankrupt a club if they are allowed, look at all the Redknapp clubs that have gone bust just after he left. Its like giving a kid the keys to an off licence.
Sorry i dont ge this? Southampton seem to be doing more than ok, Spuds are ok and even the Hammers are Prem...what is the point ? I think everyone knows your view on Harry mate.getting very boring you inserting it into EVERY post Do you have anything else intresting to say or worth reading?
Saints were within minutes of going out of business, no need to explain Portsmouth and I think even Bournemouth had problems after he left. Spurs are an exception because they had a chairman who wouldn't let him spend into oblivion.
In that neck of the woods, mighty Leeds would have more affection for Blaster Bates than Ken. Read about this colourful character here: http://www.independent.co.uk/news/obituaries/blaster-bates-415620.html
The training ground is not 'talk ' and if you think we've gone backwards since the days of administration and Briatore and his ilk you're crazy. The bigger picture here is a club striving to better itself and making mistakes on the way. That's not a bad place to be. As far as the finances go, you have to trust the money men know what they're doing.
Weve gone backwards in every conceivable way on the pitch and thats what its about. No point having a world class training ground when arseholes like redknapp dont even take training and will never bring a youth player through.
We got back in the prem despite briatore not because of him. Warnock got us up(I know briatore got him in and that was his one good decision) but even that promotion was the highly unlikely considering where we'd been.
I am confused by this view. If, as you're saying, we're an absolute shambles in every single football and commercial office within the club. We must therefore be the luckiest team to ever hold down fourth place.
Were an absolute shambles in every way on the pitch. You could say the same off the pitch until the debt is gone. Do you think Man U fans think they are a shambles or not? Do you think Barca fans would be happy qualifying for the europa league? Weve spent far, far more than anyone in the league and are 4th on a downwards spiral.
I disagree. It's just too much of a sweeping statesman to accept in full. I'll accept that we could be more positive, press more often, attack with pace and intent, and seek to play with a greater swagger. I'll accept that we have a lack of pace with two veteran centre backs. And I will concede that the plan to recruit experienced players came with an attached risk that there may be a higher risk of complacency and injury. Let's not forget that these are matters that test all football clubs. But if I accept that the team on the pitch is 'an absolute shambles' then I have to close my eyes and completely ignore the emergence of a young hungry striker in Charlie Austin that we've desired for years. Investment in a young, talented midfielder in Matt Philips that shows promise of development for the future. Recruitment of a young right back with an unassuming calm style of play in Danny Simpson. Retention of a mercurial midfielder through injury - a supporter's favourite - in Ali Faurlin. To name but a few.... But that's the off the field work. On the field, I see Joey Barton and Clint Hill - amongst others - representing the club with talent, desire and drive. No shambles evident in their play. So I'll accept that the on and off field affairs are not perfect. What club, other than Barcelona, could ever make such a claim. They are however far from being a total shambles.
Flyer, you seem to be in a very large minority on this topic! You have your view, and clear dislike for the manager; and a constant downbeat demeanour on the club and everything to do with it. Why not support Barca, or Southampton... Things will improve mate! Have a glass of sunshine and cheer the **** up!!
You've listed 3 players, all out injured at the moment coincidentally. We need at least 15 of that type and that should have been easily achievable considering the huge money we've blown. Its not just me, there are lots of posts about this being then worst team ever to watch, couple that with the most expensive by far then I stick by the shambles comment. We've never been in a worse position off the pitch or on it, even in the L1 days. That will continue to be the case until we stop bleeding money and have a team to be proud of. We've been voted then worst fans in the league, hardly surprising considering the tripe on offer.
I don't see your correlation between "the worst fans in the league" and the club/players. We can only be perceived the worst fans because of the way we behave as fans; we stay - the club/players change (hopefully for the better), we are still perceived the worst fans! As stated elsewhere, it might be more "fan like" to get behind the team and cheer on the/our club 'til the end of the season.
By worst, I meant singing and atmosphere over general behaviour. I think the lack of atmosphere reflects the awful games we've had to endure. Also, if we don't go up, our debt will hit a quarter of a billion, just think about that. That will take decades to pay back even if we are cl regulars with a new ground. I actually forgot the ground cost, that will push us well past the half billion mark and probably near a billion by the time its built.
