Teasy

What makes it possible for us and not possible for Everton though? Their fan base is large enough, they have a decent amount of cash (granted it may turn out we have LOTS more, but I'll believe it when I see it,) and as far as the current squad goes player-for-player we simply don't compare. I'd say it's either possible for both or impossible for both. Its possible, just not very likely. IMO to push on from that kind of position you need big money and Everton aren't anywhere near us when it comes to generating cash. Just take a look at revenues for Newcastle and Everton based on the 2006/2007 season. Newcastle - £88 million Everton - £51 million Everton finished 6th that season, we finished 13th, yet we weren't that far from doubling there revenue. I just think that if we finished in a Champions League place we'd be massive financially (we're 16th in world Football now finishing below mid table most of the time in recent years) while Everton would still be below were we are now financially. Of course that doesn't mean they couldn't push on, as I said I just think that when you get into the top 4 you really need big money to have a real chance to move on from there and challenge, and IMO we'd generate that kind of money while Everton wouldn't.

Takes one to know one

I'd say that to crack the top 4 means to get in there for a sustained period, for instance two to three seasons. IMO Everton don't have what it takes to do that, they could finish in the top four for a season, but not actually crack it. I honestly think only two clubs have the potential to crack it and that's us and the Spuds. We have the greatest potential to push on from there as well IMO if we did crack it. If we're just talking about who has the best chance of finishing in the top four next season, then I'd say Everton and Villa simply due to where they finished last season, but after the transfer window everything could be very different.

You must be one of those people who randomly take one persons side in a discussion you aren't part of and know nothing about I'm not calling him a closest Spurs fan because of anything he's said in this thread you numpty By the way just to be exact, nobody agreed with me, I agreed with NE5. "that other people see what I see with you and the Spuds" So that's not someone else agreeing with you? And where did I say anything about what you've said in this thread, other than the fact you're talking s****? I was just being pedantic, since its all the rage here, NE5 said something, I agreed with him. This is getting stupid but.. here goes.. I didn't say that you said anything about what I'd said in this thread

You must be one of those people who randomly take one persons side in a discussion you aren't part of and know nothing about I'm not calling him a closest Spurs fan because of anything he's said in this thread you numpty I'm also not seriously saying that I think he owns a Spurs top and watches there games.. I'm winding the bloke up because for some reason he loves to defend them, who knows why.. By the way just to be exact, nobody agreed with me, I agreed with NE5.

Sounds to me like Gomis, unless there's another player being touted as the new Drogba.. If Pullis thinks he's not better then what they have already then Stoke are in massive trouble next season!

This country won't be much different to most countries outside Spain, in that alot of people will never have heard of the man and players will know of him but not see him as anything amazing. I'm not underestimating him and I didn't say anything about how Sevilla played did I? And I certainly don't remember saying I'm not interested in general Football I knew who Ramos was well before he came to England, but you and I aren't everyone, we aren't the general Football fan. What I am saying is that the hype over how world renowned Ramos is, is well, bollocks IMO

Didn't say I hadn't heard of him did I?.. I just think its hilarious how certain people bang on about how high profile and well known throughout the universe Ramos is.. its bollocks. Yes he's a reasonably well known manager amongst hardcore Football fans and players, but he's no world renowed manager. Keegans probably still a more famous person, even though he's won less as a manager. If I was an Avril Lavigne fan, rather then just really fancying the f*** out of her, then I'd be much happier with that then being a Spurs fan I just thought it was pretty funny that other people see what I see with you and the Spuds

Are those all the reasons for you being a closet fan? You just keep flying that Spurs flag man! By the way, Ramos is so overated by certain people on here, I'd bet the general Football fan and most of the players in this country, and no doubt most countries outside Spain, had never heard of the bloke before he was linked with Spurs.

Nonesense to be honest, did people say this kind of thing about the Woodgate deal?.. nope. This has nothing to do with looking for excuses as far as I can see. It seems pretty obvious that something strange went on with the Modric deal. Even the player admits that he didn't decide to go to Spurs, he's quoted as saying that he was phoned and told the deal had all been done and that he was suprised but happy to be moving to England.. How could he be suprised if he was any part of negotiations? Obviously he wasn't, so then ask yourself this question. Since the owner of the player/club was in charge of all negotiations why would he choose to sell that player to a club that offered a lower fee and lower wages? Because he loves the player so much he just wants the best for him even if it means losing money and thought Spurs was the best place for him?... mackems.gif Then there's all the stories of Modric celebrating his move to Newcastle with quotes from friends about him looking forward to coming. Seems to me he knew of the deal with us and thought he was signing for us until he was called with the news that he was going to Spurs. Don't get me wrong, I doubt he lost sleep over it. But its just so obvious from everything that happened that not only did Modric not choose where he would end up but that Spurs offered something more then money to get him. Definitely

28 goals in 32 games for Stuttgart this season and 6 in 9 starts for Germany! Yes please

We can't really conclude that the Spuds are 'going after their business better' then us. They're in the Uefa Cup next season and have the Carling Cup this season, so our negotiators are at a disadvantage straight away. We're clearly willing to spend and we're going after good players, that's the most important thing to me at this point. That certainly doesn't equal just sitting around talking about transfers AFAICS nor does it make me worry about false dawns. What would worry me is if we hadn't made any firm offers for good players yet, if all we were seeing is interest in bargain basement or pie in the sky like last season. I'm not denying that the Spuds have an advantage this summer, I just think you were going overboard with the negativity.

They're building a serious challenge by being linked with loads of players in the News of the World? Ermm, Woodgate, Modric..? Woodgate was in January and we offered just as much for Modric. Seems so far we've both been willing to spend the same cash, we're hardly just talking about it are we.. We're putting in firm offers for players and sooner or later this window we'll get the players we're after. Basically my point is people are getting carried away with the usual Spuds rumour hype more then ever this season. So far they look to have signed one player, while they're rumoured to be signing 700. But people need to step back and realise they haven't signed anyone at this point, nobody has, relax the window isn't even open yet.

What's his situation exactly? Has he been made available at that price or is that just a guess?

They're building a serious challenge by being linked with loads of players in the News of the World?

As I said, a lot of what they've spent has become debt (£30 million in debt by the 2006/7 season from 0 debt a couple of years prior), the rest has come from there much improved turnover due to finishing 5th twice and playing European Football (plus the new sponsorship).

Thet've done very well over the last few seasons which has pushed there revenue up. Plus they've started piling a decent amount of debt onto the club (they were debt free a year or so ago apparently). Then again this transfer is just a rumour, really we're dealing in who's rumoured transfers are more expensive here

If they pay £15 million for Ashton they've well and truly lost it IMO..

Dear me..

Ok I'll rephrase that, poor players for the money (very poor in some cases). I'd definitely add Solano to that at £2.7 million as well.

One very good signing doesn't make up for 5 or 6 bad ones.. If a club keeps going with that kind of record they'd be ruined. But never mind, Spurs are the best run club in the world after all according to some on here. Despite wasting s*** loads of money on poor players.

Actually I think I might have spelled it wrong as well.. so I wouldn't say I'm much of a fan (I liked one of the movies though).

snake priskin ? Snake Pliskin..

TBH, if any player in the summer is left with the choice between us and them I would be shocked if they chose us. If they did they would only be motivated by money and that's hardly the type of player we need. You've got to be taking the piss..

All good on FM. You didnt highlight Kompany, probably the best out of the lot of them in FM (Van Der Vaart always plays s****). Van Der Vaart was probably the best player I've ever signed in Football Manager, over 30 goals and 30 assists every season, won me the league almost by himself