Jarramag88 posted this on the dark side's board: http://www.transferleague.co.uk/league-tables/2006-2011.html Makes interesting reading...
A wise old man once said there are 'Lies, damned lies and statistics'. What the table shows is a money spent. What it doesnt show is why. In 2006 we were a total shambles, having been relegated with then lowest record points in a EPL season. We had a poor team and a shambolic squad of second rate players who were totally out of their depth in the top flight. We appointed Roy Keane in 2006, in the aftermath of that humiliation and he had to turn things round quickly. Many fans say he wasted a lot of money but I disagree totally. What he did was win promotion at the first attempt when I truly feared another relegation and then kept us up in our first year back. He imploded as was always going to be the case but he had laid the foundations of a premiership club - admittedly at a cost. However, no one can deny that Bruce has been much better at the transfer game and his dealings have been terrific. If we isolated those figures for 2009 to 2011, I'd dare bet we would be in the black. What it doesnt show is many of those clubs spending less during this time had been established for years and had already spent a kings ransom getting there. They were then just adding 2 or 3 players while we needed to buy 8 or 9 every year. I'd hope that form now on we too can be more selective in transfer windows from here on in and maybe add 1 or 2 players a window and not the 8, 9 or 10 we are this window. Whatever the list, we have been a top flight club for the past 4 seasons and will have our 5th this term. I enter it under no apprehension that we will not be having a 6th. If that's what our spending has done for us, then its the first time in my life I can think that way. To be involved in a relegation battle in the past was a given for SAFC. Today, it is a huge disappointment if we are. Thats what this money has bought for us and why it has been very well spent indeed.
It's actually 'Lies, damned lies and statistics', but I think this massive spend over the last five years will come to fruition in the next five. And even if it doesn't, it's still more interesting than doing nothing in the market!
