Parky

So other more appealing clubs are going to step aside? Most players in this range aren't seen to be the finished article for the most part, and therefore aren't pursued by a lot of other clubs. There is still a bit of a question mark with them for various reasons, for example being in smaller leagues. How many people were after the three I mentioned for instance? None of the top clubs made it really difficult for Tottenham to get Berbatov or Man City to get Elano did they? Adebayor himself wasn't exactly seen to be a world beater at the time either. So rather than chasing someone like Diego who would fall into your high price range, and who would attract attention from a lot of other clubs, we ought to look at players like Arshavin who doesn't have the reputation of Diego, but who looks like a quality player who could make an impact anyway, and perhaps surprise a lot of people like Elano has. It is up to our scouts to determine these kind of players though, which is not easy to be fair. How much were the 'scouting finds' like Obi Mikel, Eduardo, Walcott? Not sure I understand what you're saying here? Players who still are only potential at the time of purchase will in todays market cost between 10-15m. Players we need to compete (not just potential) will cost more.

Man Utd signed him for about £4 million. Better nip back to google mate.

So other more appealing clubs are going to step aside? Most players in this range aren't seen to be the finished article for the most part, and therefore aren't pursued by a lot of other clubs. There is still a bit of a question mark with them for various reasons, for example being in smaller leagues. How many people were after the three I mentioned for instance? None of the top clubs made it really difficult for Tottenham to get Berbatov or Man City to get Elano did they? Adebayor himself wasn't exactly seen to be a world beater at the time either. So rather than chasing someone like Diego who would fall into your high price range, and who would attract attention from a lot of other clubs, we ought to look at players like Arshavin who doesn't have the reputation of Diego, but who looks like a quality player who could make an impact anyway, and perhaps surprise a lot of people like Elano has. It is up to our scouts to determine these kind of players though, which is not easy to be fair. How much were the 'scouting finds' like Obi Mikel, Eduardo, Walcott? 14, 12 and 8 respectively Exactly.

So other more appealing clubs are going to step aside? Surely the same can be said about the £15m+ players? The point is if we're going to compete at the top table we are going to have to match spend and sometimes outbid.

So other more appealing clubs are going to step aside? Most players in this range aren't seen to be the finished article for the most part, and therefore aren't pursued by a lot of other clubs. There is still a bit of a question mark with them for various reasons, for example being in smaller leagues. How many people were after the three I mentioned for instance? None of the top clubs made it really difficult for Tottenham to get Berbatov or Man City to get Elano did they? Adebayor himself wasn't exactly seen to be a world beater at the time either. So rather than chasing someone like Diego who would fall into your high price range, and who would attract attention from a lot of other clubs, we ought to look at players like Arshavin who doesn't have the reputation of Diego, but who looks like a quality player who could make an impact anyway, and perhaps surprise a lot of people like Elano has. It is up to our scouts to determine these kind of players though, which is not easy to be fair. How much were the 'scouting finds' like Obi Mikel, Eduardo, Walcott?

Best be safe than sorry Baggy. You know as well as I do in the current market the 2/3 players of extreme quality we need won't come cheap and no end of delusion about scouting and what not is going to change that...

No one said Sammy Dice couldn't spot good players.

Who? Owen, Duff, Barton, Geremi....all players which havent shown a great deal of anything as of yet. Would like to see something which resembles a performance from any of the afore mentioned. I'm sorry fred I'm not going to bother ans that one.

So other more appealing clubs are going to step aside?

I don't know 600 BC...Who cares?

Who?

You meant 15 - 25m each. ....so it follows some might be 15m. Yes? Look at VDVaarts valuation or a top tier DM etc... No hiding from it we need to spend some cash, all this going round the houses about installing saunas and freezers and 30 technical staff won't make a jot of differance if there isn't quality on the park. Case closed. I think Mort/Ashley putting £75M into balancing the debt, specifying young talent as a priority and buying Tozer points in a direction away from Shepherds vanity trips to grab Owen or Rooney and have a parade for their arrival, a glorious to parade to celebrate our might, while hiding several skeletons in our safety deposit box. The last thing we need is to buy £15m+ players whose value would likely drop faster than you can say "Luque, Boumsong, Owen, Cort, Kluivert, Marcelino". I don't want to continue buying average players, but maybe that's just me. I think we've only spent £15m+ on 2 players in our history. And one of those is yet to achieve average status. We've had a lot more brilliant players than that though. Stop buying average players and return to making brilliant players. Fair points and to an extent I agree. The value of players has gone up massively since all the new TV deals HP. Yesterdays 10-15m player is todays 20-30m player. Get with it as a club or forget it. If you're (not you) going to forget it stop whinning about Smith, Sammy Dice, the ref, Diet coke or whatever....

You meant 15 - 25m each. ....so it follows some might be 15m. Yes? Look at VDVaarts valuation or a top tier DM etc... No hiding from it we need to spend some cash, all this going round the houses about installing saunas and freezers and 30 technical staff won't make a jot of differance if there isn't quality on the park. Case closed. I think Mort/Ashley putting £75M into balancing the debt, specifying young talent as a priority and buying Tozer points in a direction away from Shepherds vanity trips to grab Owen or Rooney and have a parade for their arrival, a glorious to parade to celebrate our might, while hiding several skeletons in our safety deposit box. The last thing we need is to buy £15m+ players whose value would likely drop faster than you can say "Luque, Boumsong, Owen, Cort, Kluivert, Marcelino". I don't want to continue buying average players, but maybe that's just me.

Arsenals youth and scouting system is amazing not the spend. They cashed in on Henry last year which has made the net spend look small, but I seem to remember they bought a few players. Eduardo, Sanga etc... As I said you want to wait 10 yrs and have a clone of Wenger handy be my guest.

You meant 15 - 25m each. ....so it follows some might be 15m. Yes? Look at VDVaarts valuation or a top tier DM etc... No hiding from it we need to spend some cash, all this going round the houses about installing saunas and freezers and 30 technical staff won't make a jot of differance if there isn't quality on the park. Case closed.

We have a bid: £50m. Well that's a start.

Very defeatist and highly dissapointing contribution. They won't all be 25m pound players will they? You don't think we have a right to compete fair enough. ....and no HP Roeder wasn't the answer.

Fair point. ie the money is not showing on the pitch?

We're a long way behind. Spurs fig is offset by the sale of Carrick (They have been spending sig sums) if it's net your on about? You've £30+ million and will spend in Jan and again in the summer. Pompey and West Ham aren't going to stop and wait for us to catch up. Yes the fig looks big, but in reality it's what is needed imo.

Obviously gutted about not winning best WUM 2007. Our nearest rivals may be spending more but I dont think any of them have been transformed by signing one, never mind 3 or 4 15 - 25m players. How many times has Wegner bought 15 - 25m pound players? Ok put your feet up you've got a 10 yr wait. These are big numbers. Spend or forget it.

YOu spent £31m last summer and it looks like the spree will continue in Jan.

...if we really want to compete in the top 6. Our near rivals (never mind the top 4) Man C, Villa, Pompey, West Ham and Spurs have started to outspend us over the last couple of seasons or so. Quality players goes a long way to giving the whole side confidence and three or four of such players will transform the side. Players who will ultimately cost between 15 - 25m each. Now the squad is filling out a bit we have recruited some better defenders we really should start buying some quality. The chips are down in the Premier League like never before imo. Discuss. The Premier League's £530m player binge By James Andrews September 04 2007 Premier League clubs spent a record £530 million on players this summer, as new owners, new television money and new stadiums saw teams reach for the cheque books to sign the best talent. This is 61% - or £330 million – more than last summer and dwarfs the spending of other leagues, figures from accountancy firm Deloitte show. "This summer's transfer spending by English clubs has beaten all previous records," said Deloitte's Paul Rawnsley. Who spent what? There were 12 top-flight clubs who spent more than £20 million on players. The top spenders were champions Manchester United at £51 million, followed by Liverpool (£50 million) and Tottenham Hotspur (£40 million). Newly-promoted Sunderland were fourth on the list with a £35 million outlay as Roy Keane spent big to try and avoid relegation. Overseas, only Real Madrid, Barcelona and Athletico Madrid kept pace with the Premier League's top clubs. Real Madrid spent £80 million – the most in Europe – while Barcelona and Athletico Madrid both splashed £50 million on new players. Alan Switzer, director in the Sports Business Group at Deloitte, added: "Looking further afield, it comes as no surprise to see Real Madrid and Barcelona spending at least as much as their English rivals on transfers, given that they have the highest revenues in world football in 2005-06. "Broadcast revenues are again the key to explaining the high transfer spending by the two giants of Spanish football, who unlike their Premier League counterparts can sell their own broadcast rights. "Both clubs have signed new deals which will generate significant increases in broadcast revenues for each club, to around £100 million per season from 2008-09 - around twice the highest amount that a Premier League club is likely to receive." But overall the German, Italian, French and Spanish leagues combined spent £60 million less than the English Premier League. Money for nothing Fears that this massive outlay on players will be passed on to fans might not be justified, however, as new owners and new television rights will cover much of the cost. "Premier League clubs will receive around £300 million of extra broadcast payments during the 2007/08 season the [£280 net] increase in transfer spending is not a surprise," Deloitte's Rawnsley commented. According to the annual Football Finance Study by accountancy firm Deloitte, the new bumper TV deal with Sky and rival broadcaster Setanta will see the Premier League’s 20 clubs generate a staggering £1.7 billion turnover next season, with operating profits of £290 million. "English clubs will continue to lead the world financially," said Alan Switzer, director in the Sports Business Group at Deloitte. "Whilst the players will be the main financial beneficiaries from the new TV deals, English clubs will continue to invest in their stadia and youth facilities, which is a vital element of a successful business strategy. "Over 15% of revenue generated by Premier League clubs since 1992/93 – over £1.7 billion - has been invested in facilities; the ‘shop window’ for the game. The contrast to facilities in countries like Italy is now stark."

Mort and Ashley are more interested in balancing the books in the short term and to build the playing side medium/long term. That is clear in nearly every utterance from Mort. Time will tell.

Years of practice?

I thought near the end yesterday when he cuts inside on the edge of the box he was shaping to shoot (with his right)...Passed to Kazenga instead who to my horror...Rolls it to Nicky ''the rugby'' Butt who balooned it. A couple of years ago Owen would have taken the shot I'm certain.