leffe186

Us and Everton would be the only ones with maybe a couple of players at most on 70K a week. The point is, nobody can pay the "going rate" if it's set by Man City, Chelsea, Arsenal and Man U. Even Liverpool have been paying silly money, although their FFP loophole deals will help them there. If 80Kpw is the true figure, then QPR are paying wages that even Spurs can't afford, and we actually have a pretty high turnover. But the top clubs are paying 100+ to strikers now, so 70/80 isn't outrageous (I realise how ridiculous 70/80k not being outrageous is). Defoe, Adebayor must be on that. Maybe even Dempsey. It's guesswork, but we don't think Defoe is on that. Certainly not Dempsey. Adebayor is supposed to be on (IIRC) 75Kpw or so, with a lump sum making up the wages to his Man City levels. Our turnover is miles ahead of yours, though, so you would have to cut your cloth accordingly. I mean, I don't think 80Kpw for Remy is completely insane in the current climate, but I presume it would make him your top earner (isn't Colo on something similar?). As somebody else suggested, there's the potential for unrest in the squad if an unproved player is coming in on those kinds of wages.

Cannonball dodged. Butterball dodged.

Us and Everton would be the only ones with maybe a couple of players at most on 70K a week. The point is, nobody can pay the "going rate" if it's set by Man City, Chelsea, Arsenal and Man U. Even Liverpool have been paying silly money, although their FFP loophole deals will help them there. If 80Kpw is the true figure, then QPR are paying wages that even Spurs can't afford, and we actually have a pretty high turnover.

You can say that about every other case. We reportedly couldn't give Ba, one of the top strikers in the country, the very reasonable 60/70k he wanted, now we can't compete with f***ing QPR for his replacement. It's the same story for transfer fees, where we are being massively outspent by most other Premiership clubs. Ashley's business model has its merits, but it's also holding us back massively when it comes to realising our potential. I doubt that's true. Misrepresenting the facts isn't going to help any. There you go sir: http://i.imgur.com/bBUiA.jpg That's transfer fees only though isn't it? You were mentioning wages in your first sentence. Does that figure still hold if you take those into account? What the f***, you bolded a section and outright questioned its validity. Now you change your question. I don't have a ready graph that takes wages into account no. What I do know is our wages to turnover is one of the lowest in the league at the moment, which isn't bad in itself but it is obviously hurting us when we can't even compete with QPR for wages or offer our top scorer the going rate for a top Premiership striker. I don't think anybody can argue with that really.. Oh right. I should have realised you only wanted to discuss transfer fees and NOT include other significant expenses like wages because you wanted to make a daft point using partial truths. My bad. Dude, you bolded a point and said he misrepresented the facts. He proved he didn't. Stop it . Either way, if Remy goes to QPR, it will be because they offer stupid wages. No other reason.

Fair play, I forgot exactly when it was they stopped finishing below us every season. Quite a while ago now! I couldn't remember this myself, so looked it up. 2003-4. That was the year Hoddle was sacked, and the next season was Santini, Jol and Arnesen and our complete revamping of the squad. Really didn't think that we'd been above you for so long.

It's all right lads. Remember: From Dean in Newcastle, via text: "No fan quite knows the emotional rollercoaster quite like a Newcastle fan!" Chris Lord on Twitter: "Erm.. Dean? I'm sure us Arsenal fans know it probably more."

http://25.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_m26luutpTj1qhjbxeo1_250.gif and then sees his payslip http://25.media.tumblr.com/8ce5d5fdeb08ab19098995477c43a78f/tumblr_mfib6u2HX31ry10fwo1_500.gif About time we got a Snape gif. More please.

Worked there for fifteen years, give or take. They did well to survive this long. I'm just glad that I got the chance to work in a proper record shop, there won't be many others who get that chance now. As for QPR, well I can't wait to see their accounts. Redknapp couldn't give a f*** about their wage bill, and fair enough, it's never been his job to worry about that. I actually thought Remy might be underwhelming, and that not getting him wouldn't be such a problem, as long as you have somebody else in the pipeline. There are still more than two weeks left in the window. A fair bit is going to depend upon your next couple of results. Dropping points against Reading might be a blessing in disguise - it would be brutally evident then that you need at least two sizeable signings. One up front, one at the back. Don't panic yet. Once again: I like you leffe. More like you needed on here. Well it's easy for me to say that tbh. My biggest worry is whether we get in a player (who we might not even need) to cement our push for the Champions League. My wife is a Villa fan, and she's completely screwed. You're somewhere in the middle.

Worked there for fifteen years, give or take. They did well to survive this long. I'm just glad that I got the chance to work in a proper record shop, there won't be many others who get that chance now. As for QPR, well I can't wait to see their accounts. Redknapp couldn't give a fuck about their wage bill, and fair enough, it's never been his job to worry about that. I actually thought Remy might be underwhelming, and that not getting him wouldn't be such a problem, as long as you have somebody else in the pipeline. There are still more than two weeks left in the window. A fair bit is going to depend upon your next couple of results. Dropping points against Reading might be a blessing in disguise - it would be brutally evident then that you need at least two sizeable signings. One up front, one at the back. Don't panic yet.

And therein lies the hypocrisy as far as Man U is concerned. They have been in a position to dominate domestic football for decades through outside (loan) investment in much the same way as the new oil rich clubs do, yet they now want to reel those in. Arsenal is a different kettle of fish altogether, what with trying to live within its means (stadium investment excluded). The fact Man U supports their FFP proposal harms them more than it serves them iyam. well tbh no Man U haven't typically been a debt heavy club, its only with the Glazers dumping the cost of buying Man U for themselves onto Man U itself that created the ridiculous debt, hell in 2004 David Gill said that debt is the road to ruin (his tune has changed since then). The reason they dominated is simply the ridiculous income they generate. I can see the upsides of FFP in stopping the likes of City and Chelsea however theres the other side of the coin in the likes of Fulham who have gotten a fair bit of money in from Al Fayed but are hardly City or Chelseaesque. That's the thing though, it's not the other side of the coin. It's the same side. We need to choose whether we want clubs to work within their means, or let them pay whatever they want to, funded by their owners. There's no right or wrong, just how we individuals want the game to go. Anyone who thinks that we should let teams spend whatever they want can have no complaints about QPR trying to gazump you over Remy, for example.

I completely agree with the first part, apart from one thing. You mention Villa, yet they are against the agreement. Coincidentally, or not, they are owned by a billionaire American, who started throwing money at the club but held back when FFP was confirmed. It would suit them if he could just keep throwing money at them. Fulham too. There are other reasons for his arguments, though. It is true that there is the danger of giving Man U and Arsenal an advantage, but frankly I'd rather that than the obscenities that are Man City and Chelsea. More importantly, his own team, West Ham, would be more likely to break into the upper echelons if they were allowed to tout round for billionaires. Particularly those who might be attracted by, say, a nice cheap massive high-profile venue? It's self-interest, from every side.

Well, yes and no. Lest we forget, Martin Samuel is a West Ham fan, and states: "West Ham United could soon move to the Olympic Stadium, with a genuine chance for expansion. Why would they vote to limit their possibilities simply to ensure the success of an established few? Why would any club with potential, from Aston Villa, to Sunderland or Southampton? Maybe it’s the Arsenal-headed paper reeling them in." Ironically (pun intended), West Ham would actually be more likely to prosper, having been handed a cheap stadium and the opportunity to increase their turnover. The question is whether we think such lottery wins (like Chelsea and Man City) are fair dos, or whether we want clubs to generate their own money (with the likelihood that Man U and Arsenal, but also Spurs and Newcastle will be on top in perpetuity). All CL clubs have a ridiculous advantage, sure, but City and Chelsea's is even more ridiculous. Without the comedy money spent by those two, I'd have expected the CL money to be spread around rather more too. Last year being an obvious example. As a Spurs fan, obviously I'd be in favour. If everyone had been forced to live within their means, there's a good chance we'd have qualified for the last half-a-dozen Champions Leagues. As a football fan, it might be less clear-cut, but I'd still like to feel that clubs are not run at a loss.

I'm old, me.

At least AVB went for it second half at Highbury.

Good job. I'm guessing there are some pretty tough kids/dads down in Saafend. Used to play the odd game out East - although the areas closer to London are much tougher. Funnily enough its not too bad, as soon as you go toward Basildon though. The kids are fine but the parents are just mental. Yeah, that sounds about right. Off topic here, but I have very fond memories of Southend as a little kid. We used to get a red doubledecker bus down to go swimming in the sea pool. Red Bus Rover awaydays or something. Took the edge off when I found out that was where Ian Dury got polio, but there you go. Reckon it's my natural cynicism but when you live in a certain place you tend to get bored with it, the Seafront is all it really has. Its ok. Ok just about sums the place up tbh. Ian Dury, legendary story at school about him and the polio. But it was a different swimming pool every time Oh don't get me wrong, wouldn't want to live there Naah, I know what you mean. I've lived all over the place, stops you getting bored. I love where we live right now, but ironically my wife wants to move to the UK. I might just take her to Grays, or to see my family in Sheerness, to cure her. Sheerness, my Aunt lived there, makes Southend look like Dubai I'd like to put together a sort of anti-tourist tour of GB. Sheerness would be there, plus Silvertown, Redcar, Sellafield. All places I went to as a kid btw, thanks to a Dad who was into industrial archaeology *sigh*. I've worked all over the GB, i have a few corkers. I think one of the grimmest was Blackburn, it was like death. I'm living there atm and can confirm it's the dullest, most miserable place I've been to. It really is. I see your Blackburn, and raise you Cumbernauld.

Still only 1-0 though. All set up for a Suarez special.

Good job. I'm guessing there are some pretty tough kids/dads down in Saafend. Used to play the odd game out East - although the areas closer to London are much tougher. Funnily enough its not too bad, as soon as you go toward Basildon though. The kids are fine but the parents are just mental. Yeah, that sounds about right. Off topic here, but I have very fond memories of Southend as a little kid. We used to get a red doubledecker bus down to go swimming in the sea pool. Red Bus Rover awaydays or something. Took the edge off when I found out that was where Ian Dury got polio, but there you go. Reckon it's my natural cynicism but when you live in a certain place you tend to get bored with it, the Seafront is all it really has. Its ok. Ok just about sums the place up tbh. Ian Dury, legendary story at school about him and the polio. But it was a different swimming pool every time Oh don't get me wrong, wouldn't want to live there Naah, I know what you mean. I've lived all over the place, stops you getting bored. I love where we live right now, but ironically my wife wants to move to the UK. I might just take her to Grays, or to see my family in Sheerness, to cure her. Sheerness, my Aunt lived there, makes Southend look like Dubai I'd like to put together a sort of anti-tourist tour of GB. Sheerness would be there, plus Silvertown, Redcar, Sellafield. All places I went to as a kid btw, thanks to a Dad who was into industrial archaeology *sigh*.

Good job. I'm guessing there are some pretty tough kids/dads down in Saafend. Used to play the odd game out East - although the areas closer to London are much tougher. Funnily enough its not too bad, as soon as you go toward Basildon though. The kids are fine but the parents are just mental. Yeah, that sounds about right. Off topic here, but I have very fond memories of Southend as a little kid. We used to get a red doubledecker bus down to go swimming in the sea pool. Red Bus Rover awaydays or something. Took the edge off when I found out that was where Ian Dury got polio, but there you go. Reckon it's my natural cynicism but when you live in a certain place you tend to get bored with it, the Seafront is all it really has. Its ok. Ok just about sums the place up tbh. Ian Dury, legendary story at school about him and the polio. But it was a different swimming pool every time Oh don't get me wrong, wouldn't want to live there Naah, I know what you mean. I've lived all over the place, stops you getting bored. I love where we live right now, but ironically my wife wants to move to the UK. I might just take her to Grays, or to see my family in Sheerness, to cure her.

Good job. I'm guessing there are some pretty tough kids/dads down in Saafend. Used to play the odd game out East - although the areas closer to London are much tougher. Funnily enough its not too bad, as soon as you go toward Basildon though. The kids are fine but the parents are just mental. Yeah, that sounds about right. Off topic here, but I have very fond memories of Southend as a little kid. We used to get a red doubledecker bus down to go swimming in the sea pool. Red Bus Rover awaydays or something. Took the edge off when I found out that was where Ian Dury got polio, but there you go.

Get out. Make your own race a bit interesting .

Good job. I'm guessing there are some pretty tough kids/dads down in Saafend. Used to play the odd game out East - although the areas closer to London are much tougher.

Not to mention a bit of pace, something we lack. Anyway apparently in £s this is 8.7m. So basically if we did get the full 7.5m from Ba, Ashley only spent 1.2m on Remy. So that's all right, then? Everyone's a winner?

You see, I look at those games and I'm actually pretty confident that's how it will play out. You'll be OK. Villa are massively in the shit, however.

I always blamed poor refereeing tbh I presume you doled out some cards? Good man.