I'd been listening to commentators on the radio a while back and the general gist of the conversation was the wage levels of the various clubs who have won titles and trophies. In essence it was reckoned that the team who paid the highest wages won titles. It goes for the English clubs and those in Spain & Italy. By and large if you splash out on high wages you can expect to achieve a lot more (amazing eh?) Compare the salary cap Arsenal have and their lack of silverware for several years to the likes of Citeh, Chelsea and Utd and it seems obvious that you have to speculate to accumulate. The wage bill at those clubs far exceeds that of the Gooners. It can't be a coincidence that Harry Redtax forked out big wages at Spuds and ended up in the Champions League. Even back in the day Jack Walker's Blackburn paid its stars top dollar and then went on to win the League. Do we want to win the Premier League? All clubs want to get into this division but many are content to play their part without really troubling the top teams and keeping their fingers crossed they manage to stay up. I'm afraid I still suffer from small club syndrome, maybe after a few years staying up and a new stadium I'd be more comfortable with aiming higher but for now I'd rather not pay players a Kings ransom.
It's true in general but not completely accurate. If Arsenal had furnished their team with a bit of quality (within their wage structure) at any time within the last 8 years, they would have been well and truly up there. Wenger's ability to spot talent is exceptional but he can't put the finishing touches on a team to save his life. Another notable exeption would by the "you can't win anything with youngsters" Man U side - they wouldn't have been on anything more than enough to keep them happy (as new professionals) at United. I suppose the theme/point is youngsters being used to keep the expectations of incoming players at a minimum and then getting good players at a good age (without excessive egos) is the Rosetta stone of football management. That idea is better aspirationally than turning into the big players' cash cow.
The bigger we grow the more we will make the more we will spend who knows where it will end? So why not dream afterall Chelsea have done it and they are rubbish
I dont mind high wages as long as its a top player. Anyone who thinks SWP and Barton are worth 80k a week or Adebayor is woth 150k+ a week are out of their mind. Paying a fortune for mediocre players doesnt guarantee success.
Agree generally Money = Success. Not just in football, but also in politics... In 2008, Barack Obama raised some $779 million for his campaign, dwarfing the $384 million collected by Republican challenger John McCain. In George W. Bush’s two successful campaigns, he raised more funds than his opponent. The candidate who raises the most money doesn’t always win — Bob Dole’s campaign had a slight funding edge on Bill Clinton in 1996 — but money is obviously important. Having watched 'the Damned United' I'm not sure whether this was the case back in the 70s, but even then Cloughy was out spending Sam Longson's money faster than he was happy with. Anyone know whether Derby's success (and Forest's for that matter) was due to transfer fees and salaries??
Wages were normal in the 70s and 80s so that wasnt a factor, it was Sky who made sure that money was everything. Just look at the small clubs who finished 2nd or 3rd before the PL started. Usually the big teams still won but at least the small teams could compete. They cant now.
For me of course our aim must be to win the PL! It is not a realistic aim for this season or probably for a few more, and until we have a bigger stadium, nevertheless it has to be the goal for 5 years or so Otherwisde what are we in the PL for? Perhaps I have this view beacuse I because a QPR fan in the mid 70's and saw us become the best team in England, take 2nd place in the League, when we well deserved first, and then watched us go down hill ever since with only sporadic upturns without ever getting right back to the 76 level. So now in the next few years I want to see us get back to the very top and manage what we couldn't do back in 76, then stay there and go further (CL). We got aim for the top, and not be satisfied to be boring mid-table, otherwise I think we'll slide back down again sooner or later, as most unambitious mid- table teams do.
Other than trophies City and the Scum are accumulating nothing but debt. Over the long term it's not possible to compete with such hobby clubs whose owners provide unlimited funds with no expectation of a return. But that status is precarious of course. I for one am glad that Fernandez and co still appear to have commercial objectives while risking their very significant investment.
We will never win the PL in our lifetimes. The only small team to win the PL was Blackburn and that was only because they spent loads of money. Something we cant do if we want to play in Europe.
As much as I agree with Flyer you cannot de- invent or cap the biggest sports show in world football. You cannot have one without the other Even when I played I am getting 150 quid a week and some where on 600 and that was part time ... If you capped this league then money may be pumped into other sports Sad but it's all about the money I agree you can do a Norwich but how long can you stay at the top table but just being a normal club? It takes continuous investment and with our Asia plans we have to deliver I say again prepare yourselves for a racial change to what QPR means and once was ... It will not be the same again.... Money Location Image
I'd make the wages performance related..cap them low and the rest would come in bonuses. Pay all team - for Position in the league (finish\halfway), wins and maybe draws. Individuals - for clean sheets, goals scored assists etc. Give them all the potential of earning a lot but only pay if the club is successful so income equalling expenditure.
Carroll 35m, berbatov 31m, Darren bent 24m, Henderson 20m, downing 20m, robbie Keane 20m, jo 18m, Aquilani 17m, Damien duff 17m, bosingwa 16m, bentley 15m. 223 million worth of 'talent' right there. You think money buys success, try and win the league with that lot as a team! Nahh but it's a fair point. If you spend your riches well then yes, money will gain you success. If you go down the route of buying ****e like this bunch, well I think this group iv put up speak for themselves. Expect a shed load of wasted money!
Id love a Europe wide salary cap, then all the mercenaries will get their 200k a week in the UAE or SA and no one will care about them and then we can have a salary and ticket cap for the leagues in Europe. All transfer fees and wages must be made public too, its exactly how the NHL does it and everyone goes there apart from the few Russians who go to the KHL to make a bit more money.
Swans, your general point is obviously correct, you have to spend money well. Slightly disagree with adding berba to that list though! Seems a little unfair as he was PL top scorer in recent times.
Maybe yeah, but I think that was more to do with the team around him. His work rate is pretty poor so I don't think he would do so well in an average team. Also his age at when he was bought was very questionable. 31m you'd expect to see a young world class player imo. Similar circumstances - ish - rvp, one year remaining on his contract, 29 years old. Would you be happy to see your club fork out 30m on him? Assuming your not a man city with unlimited funds..
They managed it before FFP came in, we have no chance unless we spend hundreds of millions this year.
