I know Eires a bit of a pessimist but for the last couple of seasons we have been shopping in ghe same store as Southampton, Brighton, Palace, Burnley, Watford, Fulham etc. this window we were trying to shop for players AC Milan, Man Utd, Liverpool were shopping for. I think thats progress. Cody Gakpo is a marquee signing and if it were not for Van Gaal he would be here now we are always said to be looking at the same players as the Palace, Everton, Saints crowd so it was a nice change this time even though it didnt come off
We can all look in Harrods shop window, we can even walk through the doors and come out claiming we were trying to shop there. Read up on Cody Gakpo he was all set to join Man U until a week ago. They never put an offer in despite talking to the players agent. Liverpool Nunez £67.5m how’s that the same shop window? He was never set to come here, Van Gaal never told him not to come here. Here is what Cody said in an interview yesterday after thinking he was set to join Man United then realising they’d dropped interest. “From my side, it was also a bit last minute because I was looking at United and then I have to choose a different club. It all felt like a bit of a rush. Plus, it wasn’t nice for PSV because it was so last minute.’ ‘I spoke to the national team coach [Van Gaal] and asked for his advice. His advice was clear, that I should follow my feelings, but that a transfer in a World Cup year is such a transition, going from club to club. It’s not ideal for a player, and I agreed with him.
I think ground development is key for us if we are to transition from a big club with potential to be huge into a huge club mixing with the biggest clubs in the world. It's a balancing act. We have to stay in the PL and collect monies whilst getting the money to upgrade the stadium to 55000/60000. In 5 years time I'd like us to be in the PL with a bigger capacity ground. That will set the club on a real strong foundation for the next few decades. We could finally put the Ridsdale era behind us and dine at the top table again.
If we reach what would be our 8th consecutive season in the PL then I’d really hope to be challenging the positions 4th to 8th kind of area. An FA Cup would be nice too, I agree with Emu we need that capacity increase to generate more income. This is my optimistic trying to remain grounded view, what would I genuinely be happy with… Radz selling to some filthy reach owner who wants to rival Man City, transfer windows where we sign £80m players, European Champions League Glory and our reserves being good enough to do a cup double
That balancing act is exactly the point if nobody filthy rich wants to take the club. Have you seen Milkyboy’s shiny new avatar? Great work
So in 5 years, we've won a trophy, qualified for Europe, paid for a new improved stadium and are owned by one of the richest people in the world? That's you're grounded view? That would be unbelievable to me!
No first part is my optimistic grounded view, new stadium and pushing for 8th to 4th. Eire asked 5 years from now, that would hopefully be our 8th year back in the PL. A cup would be nice yes but over the next 5 years it would be nice to get past the QF stage at least a couple of times. Ground developed not new ground?
Perhaps worth pointing out that if we did develop the ground that for the next decade or so we'd likely be under quite severe financial pressure to pay for the bloody thing. Arsenal went through a similar process but now seem to be out the other side.
Correct on the Arsenal thing but Spurs managed it with no obvious negative impact. It’ll be difficult to attract new generations of fans if they can’t get into a game
Yep there's no doubt that we need a higher capacity (subject to being a PL club). It's also probably the case that those of us of a certain vintage would be unlikely to see much benefit in terms of it making us a more successful club and even then we'd never be in the same financial league of Man City, Scum and now Newcastle Just my opinion of course and that's why some fans would just prefer Qatari or similar owners to level the playing field.
Suppose we all know it’ll never be a level playing field. I’m sure the majority of the Newcastle fans are a lot happier now than at anytime during Ashley’s reign though
Well my vote was for mid table PL and honestly I'd be very happy with that for the next 5 years. It's also probably the best we can hope for and any stadium expansion is likely to come somewhere between years 5-10 judging by how we've conducted our transfer business this summer. We're skint and as supporters we all know it but it won't stop all the big talk eminating from ER. Anyway let's just survive this season as it's still a distinct possibility that we'll struggle again.
My wish, as I said before, is for no relegation anxiety, mid to lower mid table finish and a couple of entertaining cup runs where we can give it a bit of a go.
So much negativity, this forum ages me it really does. Why can’t we just build a 100,000 seat stadium and keep on winning trophies like Spurs do? It’s just come to me, silly Marcos
The only team to ever come third in a two horse race, love Spurs. Always make me feel better about being a Leeds fan even on a cloudy day
it would take more than a penny to drop....have you got a loose 200.000.000 to invest, give it to me ill do it for you
