So close to being Top tier European Club

[Tucker]

Don't buy it
Build it.
Where's this proof
that building a squad
will only take you so far.
We are on the verge
and taking a short cut
across the field
could backfire nastily.

Is this some kind of haiku?

 

[mattyspurs]

Exactly.
Nobody else has tried it.
We have progressed to the verge
and are well ahead of the curve
in a very short space.
When we drop back to midtable
i accept its the wrong path.
Temporarily anyway.
In the meantime
enjoy, support and believe.
but especially enjoy
and stop looking over the hedge
for a pot of Sugar Daddy gold.
Where's the fun in that.

Oh Jimmy, you are so close, verge and curve so very nearly rhymed ?

 

[DogsOfWar]

Where's the proof that being "on the verge" is going to make us regular title winners/one of the European big five?

Number of clubs who have sustained winning titles by spending money? Several.

Number of clubs who have done it our way and after being on this verge of yours gone on to win titles/the CL over a period of time? (as suggested in the thread title) None.

There's your proof

Well, you did ask.

But they've sustained it by generating turnovers between 400-600 million.
We've just moved from 200 to 305, to 380 million in turnover.
Once the stadium is built and a full program of non-footballing events has taken place we should be looking at 500 million in turnover.

At this point we can judge Levy's willingness to spend (or not) but until then he just needs to be applauded for getting us into that position.

 

[gaffers]

but until then he just needs to be applauded for getting us into that position.[/QUOTE]

£600m in the red?

 

[Archibald&Crooks]

But they've sustained it by generating turnovers between 400-600 million.
We've just moved from 200 to 305, to 380 million in turnover.
Once the stadium is built and a full program of non-footballing events has taken place we should be looking at 500 million in turnover.

At this point we can judge Levy's willingness to spend (or not) but until then he just needs to be applauded for getting us into that position.

Nowhere in this thread have I criticised Nicknack.

 

[DogsOfWar]

Nowhere in this thread have I criticised Nicknack.

I don't think I said you had criticised levy, just that in order to spend we have to be in a position to do so and, in a year or two we will be.

Personally, I'm not sure he'll change his ways much in terms of purchasing policy but that's an argument for the future, for the present it's hard to argue with what he's done.

 

[DogsOfWar]

but until then he just needs to be applauded for getting us into that position.

£600m in the red?[/QUOTE]

Not a problem if it's manageable debt.
The stadium wasn't viable as just a football stadium, it's making it a multi-event stadium that will pay the bill.
The extra revenue created will pay it off within 5 years so we'll operate as a 400 million turnover football club (on a par with Arsenal, Liverpool and Chelsea) with 100 million or so going towards the bill.
But once paid off we'll be operating at 500 million a year (on a par with PSG and City).

Once we're there we'll know if Levy has an appetite for opening his wallet but until then we can't judge.

 

[Archibald&Crooks]

I don't think I said you had criticised levy, just that in order to spend we have to be in a position to do so and, in a year or two we will be.

Personally, I'm not sure he'll change his ways much in terms of purchasing policy but that's an argument for the future, for the present it's hard to argue with what he's done.

Then I'm confused, why quote my post? I said eventually we will have to spend I'm pretty sure I didn't suggest we should do it yesterday

 

[alexis]

This is intriguing. What do you see as the difference between City and Chelsea?

Richer owners

 

[gaffers]

in order to spend we have to be in a position to do so and, in a year or two we will be.

Really?

 

[gaffers]

£600m in the red?

Not a problem if it's manageable debt.
The stadium wasn't viable as just a football stadium, it's making it a multi-event stadium that will pay the bill.
The extra revenue created will pay it off within 5 years so we'll operate as a 400 million turnover football club (on a par with Arsenal, Liverpool and Chelsea) with 100 million or so going towards the bill.
But once paid off we'll be operating at 500 million a year (on a par with PSG and City).

Once we're there we'll know if Levy has an appetite for opening his wallet but until then we can't judge.[/QUOTE]

By which time the current players will be how old?

 

['O Zio]

This might be the most ridiculous thread on SC and, let's face it, there's some serious competition.

 

[coys200]

This might be the most ridiculous thread on SC and, let's face it, there's some serious competition.

Please explain why ? You clearly didn’t visit the stadium yesterday it will the best in Europe. Our training ground is acknowledged as best in UK. We have the most sought after manager in Europe. The World Cup golden boot winner and a host of players Real Madrid and Barcelona would want. So besides adding 4 or 5 quality players to the squad tell me exactly what else is preventing us sitting at the top table ? You are seriously underestimating the effect the stadium will have on how we are perceived.

 

['O Zio]

Please explain why ? You clearly didn’t visit the stadium yesterday it will the best in Europe. Our training ground is acknowledged as best in UK. We have the most sought after manager in Europe. The World Cup golden boot winner and a host of players Real Madrid and Barcelona would want. So besides adding 4 or 5 quality players to the squad tell me exactly what else is preventing us sitting at the top table ? You are seriously underestimating the effect the stadium will have on how we are perceived.

Because if it was just that easy then surely everyone would be doing it. I'm as excited as anyone about the new stadium and really pleased with the outstanding infrastructure that we've got now that should set us up well for the future, but the idea that we just go and buy 3 or 4 players and all of a sudden we're talked about in the same breath as Barcelona, Real Madrid etc. is just laughable. They're storied clubs that have spent decades at the top of the sport and achieved glory on the highest stage over and over again, seeing legend after legend walk through their door. You don't just build a stadium and then buy a couple of players and all of a sudden you're up there. That's just complete and utter nonsense.

 

[vegassd]

Please explain why ? You clearly didn’t visit the stadium yesterday it will the best in Europe. Our training ground is acknowledged as best in UK. We have the most sought after manager in Europe. The World Cup golden boot winner and a host of players Real Madrid and Barcelona would want. So besides adding 4 or 5 quality players to the squad tell me exactly what else is preventing us sitting at the top table ? You are seriously underestimating the effect the stadium will have on how we are perceived.

Because you are framing your point in a scenario of a super-rich investor buying the club, sprinkling a tiny bit of fairy dust on the playing staff, then us becoming the next super club. I'm sure that you're motivation is a good one but your scenario is pretty fantastical.

If all we need is £200m (for arguments sake) then the increased revenue that the new stadium will bring should be enough to cover that. Levy's financial approach has always been to spend within our means, so as our means increase so does our spending. No need for a sugar daddy.

Where people will take umbrage with you is when you say stuff like "if Levy sat down and did these numbers". It looks like you are making an assumption that Levy is not doing financial assessments/predictions in relation to our club, which is obviously not correct. The old phrase "if it were easy everybody would be doing it" springs to mind.

I think what you're saying about the end goal is all bang on. We are very close to reaching that elite level in terms of playing potential at least. There is still something of a mental edge that we need to prove as well but I can't see any concrete evidence that we don't have it.

 

[coys200]

Because you are framing your point in a scenario of a super-rich investor buying the club, sprinkling a tiny bit of fairy dust on the playing staff, then us becoming the next super club. I'm sure that you're motivation is a good one but your scenario is pretty fantastical.

If all we need is £200m (for arguments sake) then the increased revenue that the new stadium will bring should be enough to cover that. Levy's financial approach has always been to spend within our means, so as our means increase so does our spending. No need for a sugar daddy.

Where people will take umbrage with you is when you say stuff like "if Levy sat down and did these numbers". It looks like you are making an assumption that Levy is not doing financial assessments/predictions in relation to our club, which is obviously not correct. The old phrase "if it were easy everybody would be doing it" springs to mind.

I think what you're saying about the end goal is all bang on. We are very close to reaching that elite level in terms of playing potential at least. There is still something of a mental edge that we need to prove as well but I can't see any concrete evidence that we don't have it.

I’m obviously not saying we can claim to be a club like Real Madrid Or Barcelona without first winning major trophies. People are just totally missing my point. Clearly anyone can not be within touching distance of the top table. Take say Everton who you could actually compare to us 10 years ago. But if mega oil money rocked up tomorrow they’d still need a new training complex a new stadium 80% new squad and likely a new manager. Where as we need very little. Is it as simple as 4 or 5 top draw players ?yeah it could very well be. Obviously it’s no guarantee but it’s certainly a very real possibility. If you look at it like a jigsaw there’s very little missing. I’ve no idea why people think this is such an unrealistic scenario. If I was saying it about Everton or West Ham then fair enough. As long as we have the mindset that we are little old Tottenham the longer that reality will continue.

 

[Shadydan]

I’m obviously not saying we can claim to be a club like Real Madrid Or Barcelona without first winning major trophies. People are just totally missing my point. Clearly anyone can not be within touching distance of the top table. Take say Everton who you could actually compare to us 10 years ago. But if mega oil money rocked up tomorrow they’d still need a new training complex a new stadium 80% new squad and likely a new manager. Where as we need very little. Is it as simple as 4 or 5 top draw players ?yeah it could very well be. Obviously it’s no guarantee but it’s certainly a very real possibility. If you look at it like a jigsaw there’s very little missing. I’ve no idea why people think this is such an unrealistic scenario. If I was saying it about Everton or West Ham then fair enough. As long as we have the mindset that we are little old Tottenham the longer that reality will continue.

We just need to continue what we are doing, we are on course to become a bigger club, it requires patience but we're getting there. No need for an investor to step in as that will change the whole entire setup of the club and IMO destabilise a lot of things at the club that you probably haven't taken into account.

If it ain't broke don't fix it...

 

[Archibald&Crooks]

As long as we have the mindset that we are little old Tottenham the longer that reality will continue.

This 'mindset' stuff that you keep going on about is just in your head, something you've dreamed up to use to explain why people don't "get it". It's got nothing to do with wether or not people don't understand exactly what you mean, think your scenario would work, could work or is pie in the sky.

I'm also as sure as one can be, that if a few people on an Internet forum think something, it will have absolutely no effect on our growth as a club. I've spent years thinking Levy is a metrosexual dwarf megalomaniac and it hasn't done the club any harm

 

[Lilbaz]

I’m obviously not saying we can claim to be a club like Real Madrid Or Barcelona without first winning major trophies. People are just totally missing my point. Clearly anyone can not be within touching distance of the top table. Take say Everton who you could actually compare to us 10 years ago. But if mega oil money rocked up tomorrow they’d still need a new training complex a new stadium 80% new squad and likely a new manager. Where as we need very little. Is it as simple as 4 or 5 top draw players ?yeah it could very well be. Obviously it’s no guarantee but it’s certainly a very real possibility. If you look at it like a jigsaw there’s very little missing. I’ve no idea why people think this is such an unrealistic scenario. If I was saying it about Everton or West Ham then fair enough. As long as we have the mindset that we are little old Tottenham the longer that reality will continue.

Which 4 or 5 players? How much would they cost? Will they come to us? Will they make us better than city?

We are a good team no one is arguing that. We are just saying winning regular trophies will make us an elite club. Everything else is just trying to get us there.

 

[dagraham]

Man City have spent shit loads and have won 3 league titles in the last 7 years..... and yet even Pep recognises that they are not on the same level yet as the likes of Mardrid, Barca etc.

Think about that for a minute.

Even if we spend £200m and won the league and became serious contenders ( and I’m sure bigger investment would give us a good chance), we wouldn’t be an elite club.

So right now, I’m afraid, no we are not close at all.