Time to face reality......

[washsaint]

Seems incredible that some folks on here believe we should be challenging top 4. Ambition is great but it has to be tempered with reality........I would love to be making a $1 million a year...but it ain't going to happen.

 

My view on where we are at (FWIW) is:

 

1) With a capacity of some 32K (which we don't fill on a regular basis) we cannot compete with those clubs that get 40-50K+

2) We are not a global brand (yet) and can't attract the revenue the global brands such as Spurs, Liverpool, Arsenal, Man U, Man City and Chelsea can...so breaking top 6 would truly be an incredible achievement

3) We will not keep all our youngsters and good players: we can't offer salaries that the top clubs can. However, Ajax had a production line of youngsters that allowed the club to sell a few to build the team over time

4) People holding up NC leaving as a sign of our lack of ambition: he ignored the commercial aspects and was spending a lot of the Liebherrs money (not his own)

5) People have very short memories: saying we should trow a ton of (more) money to compete otherwise we lack ambition ignores the mistakes made by the blue few

6) MP is not irreplaceable: really hoping he will stay but I was gutted when Adkins was sacked yet we did not fall apart

7) We have had an incredible season: enjoy it because life is way too short to worry about what may/may not happen some time in the future

 

The future is bright: really looking forward to the likes of Reed, Sims, Stephens and co looking to make the breakthrough

[AussieDog]

I really don't think stadium capacity of an extra 10,000 makes that much of a difference. For the sake of an argument, let's assume tickets are £50

each. Ignoring cup games, that means an extra 10,000 per game is an extra £500,000 revenue. Over 19 games that is £9,500,000 per season.

 

Each position up the league is worth around £1,200,000 and each additional televised games is worth £750,000 (this season). So in rough terms, an extra 5 places and 5 televised games cancels that advantage out.

Everton were shown half a dozen more times than we were. Spurs were shown over a dozen times more.

Both Sunderland and Newcastle averaged over 40,000 but it hasn't really given them the edge over us (so far)

 

If we "fluked" 4th place one season, then even the qualifying rounds of the Champions League is worth in excess of £10,000,000

 

 

Our profile has raised significantly this year, so I would hope that would equate to more TV appearances next season. If we can raise Saints profile even further and attract decent amounts of sponsorship (no idea what the new sponsorship is worth, but it probably doesn't meet my expectations) PLUS get into the top 5/6 next season, then there's a chance we can kick on from there into that elusive Champions League spot.

 

Of course, we either need to keep our best players OR search out adequate/better replacements - but isn't that the goal of most clubs, and isn't that why we have a scouting network? It's sad to see "home grown" players leave, but it's always exciting when new players come in or through the ranks.

 

We seem to have generated positive publicity throughout the season with our style of play. Hopefully we've moved up the pecking order for some of the European talent when they look at teams they would like to play for in the Premier League. Of course money is a key factor, but the majority of players would much rather play in a winning team over a losing team. Assuming they don't get an offer from Arsenal, Chelsea, Utd, City or Liverpool (and they can't sign EVERYBODY although Chelsea would probably like to!), I think we would be seen favourably in comparison to all the others at this moment in time.

Of course, if we're seen to be selling all our current stars then players may think twice about coming in to replace them...

 

Oh I love the close season...it re-tints my rose coloured spectacles and re-fills my half-full glass to the brim ready for the next season!

[Frank's cousin]

)

 

 

 

Seems incredible that some folks on here believe we should be challenging top 4. Ambition is great but it has to be tempered with reality........I would love to be making a $1 million a year...but it ain't going to happen.

 

 

I don't think anyone has said we should be be consistently challenging top 4 or even top 6. What some have suggested us that our strategy of developing your talent and importantly giving it a chance, combined with some experienced players - with a manager who seems to be able to work with that set up and play a style that can surprise a few sides.... Means we might get a chance every few years to break into top 6 or even higher. There is a realistic expectation that this is not something easy or ever likely to be year on year, but so,etching where a lot of things would have to come together. The key is making sure we are in position to benefit when they do.

 

 

My view on where we are at (FWIW) is:

 

 

1) With a capacity of some 32K (which we don't fill on a regular basis) we cannot compete with those clubs that get 40-50K+

 

 

Not relevant until you you get to 55k plus really as indicated above, even at £50 a ticket etc... However, it can be a contributor to the status and way the club is viewed so can impact on attracting certain levels of talent...

 

 

2) We are not a global brand (yet) and can't attract the revenue the global brands such as Spurs, Liverpool, Arsenal, Man U, Man City and Chelsea can...so breaking top 6 would truly be an incredible achievement

 

 

Correct we are not a global brand and as a result do not have that level of income. However, we were 10-15 points away from a top 6 place. Yeas that is a big ask, as it gets tougher, but I suggest we have thrown away at least half that or more in games we should have won... But our squad depth and inexperience I think kicked in - but the potential is there, as witnessed by the interest in many if our players by CLubs - so it's not just about revenue

 

 

Beyer Leverkusen got to the CL final with a stadium that he'd 22k and a team mostly of homegrown players - yes it's easier to qualify than in the prem, but it's a good illustration of how a strategy like ours can give you that periodic success... The big clubs don't do it as they can buy it, the rest often don't either as they are often only interested in survival and so just go with experience - bringing through young talent quickly is not without it's risks etc... But for sides without the commercial revenue streams to buy in huge talent, it's the only way to realise any ambition above an also ran

 

 

3) We will not keep all our youngsters and good players: we can't offer salaries that the top clubs can. However, Ajax had a production line of youngsters that allowed the club to sell a few to build the team over time

 

 

Very True - the saddest aspect of all this is seeing our nurtured talent leave- but the key is in keeping it until it's 22/23 and not letting it go at 16-18 as we have in the past. We could not begrudge Adam at 25 a chance elsewhere, if we can not assure home of further progress, But if we could show him that the board recognises we are in one of those periods where we have the luck of a fair amount of talent tarter same time, we could progress some more in the feet 2 seasons- it's the 'we will never know what we could have gone on to achieve with this squad' resignation that is so depressing... Especially as it does not need to be so, if we do not let ourselves be bullied or held to ransom. We do that by.....

 

 

4) People holding up NC leaving as a sign of our lack of ambition: he ignored the commercial aspects and was spending a lot of the Liebherrs money (not his own)

 

 

let's put this one to bed. NC has only spent what Markus and KL have agreed to. The 33 million that was converted to equity. Everything else is from the club's revenue. It's why we have spread transfer payments in the normal way, and needed the BVI bridging loan to cover early season transfer costs prior to receiving SkY periodic payments.

 

Fair if enough he seemed not able to develop the commercial side... But let's be honest, we had ONE treason back in the prem... One season, the first being not that spectacular, so whet were folks expectations here's? 100mil sponsors, ignoring existing deals with aap3 etc? Sure he may have fecked up, And the biggest issue with his 'board of one approach' is that he did not delegate such things to others - we stayed up and began developing the academy, so not that unsuccessful in the most important areas.

 

i suspect that the disagreement with KL is twofold: 1. KL wanted involvement, we can speculate all we like about why and only she will know the real reasons. It is unlikely to be because she was worried about mad spending... We were not madly spending, and as the SFC group of companies are all Ltd, she has no personal liability to be worried about. If worried that his actions may devalue the business asset then she is naive, given what prem status and academy graduates had done for the value of her business... 2. I suspect NC wanted her to inject cash to fund the 30mil academy. Why do I suspect this? Because this would be allowed under FFP, and I think Cortese recognised we have potential with this crop, but therefore needed to ensure we could increase a few contracts and attract a couple more decent players if we were to progress again... So not an unrealistic rationale for a falling out and a parting of the ways...

 

 

 

 

 

5) People have very short memories: saying we should trow a ton of (more) money to compete otherwise we lack ambition ignores the mistakes made by the blue few

 

never the intention as the academy investment demonstrates, always sated we wanted to build with homegrown talent... But like all clubs that needs to be supplemented by a few additions. Our finance seems in good health... The issue I not about spending too much but about KL investing a bit more, sensibly in infrastructure... Which has benefits n asset value....IMHO....NC sbiggest problem is that his alleged unpleasantness has lost him a huge amount of support from fans and customers, but no denying his strategy etc is pretty sound.

 

 

6) MP is not irreplaceable: really hoping he will stay but I was gutted when Adkins was sacked yet we did not fall apart

 

no he is not, but finding someone else who can work as he does with younger players, and play the style we do is going to be VERY tough! why do you think there is interest in him from Spurs? Also these type of managers NEED Robards asurance that prize talent won't be sold at the first opportunity. Otherwise what is the point.... You can't build if talent is lost at 18

 

 

 

7) We have had an incredible season: enjoy it because life is way too short to worry about what may/may not happen some time in the future

 

Yep, fantastic season, and you are right, life is too short to worry about all this... Not that important in the grander scheme of things... But as we are on a football board, it tends to bring up these questions and and they are good distractions from insomnia ;-)

 

The future is bright: really looking forward to the likes of Reed, Sims, Stephens and co looking to make the breakthrough

 

Well it would be even brighter if this squad stayed together for another year or so... It's the realisation that this squad has not yet reached its full potential and probably now never will, that is the source of negativity.

[um pahars]

Agree with most of what OP is saying.

 

There's nowt wrong with tempering optimism with a dash of realism and at the same time being really proud of being the 6th/7th/8th/9th best team in the entire country.

[Dig Dig]

We have up to five players who could play for a top 4 side. We have three players going to a World Cup to play for England. A unique position for a modern day Saints and one we may not see again in a long long time. I'm not sure who is advocating spending 100's of M to get into the Champions League but rather, at least do all you can to retain what we have until we achieve something tangible ourselves. At a minimum, show some strength and don't look like we're about to roll over and have our belly tickled by however wants our top players.

[alpine_saint]

)

 

 

 

 

 

Well it would be even brighter if this squad stayed together for another year or so... It's the realisation that this squad has not yet reached its full potential and probably now never will, that is the source of negativity.

 

Yep.

 

We were a couple of players away from making the top 6 sweat; if Osvaldo had worked out and Ramirez has tried to earn hsi pay and justify his transfer fee (watch him be 100% for the WC), we might have done it this season.

 

I am gutted that the 5-year party is over (even if there were times I didnt enjoy). And I dont understand those making excuses or trying to rationalise its end.

 

NCs presence will be sorely missed this summer.

[Rasiak-9-]

There's certainly nothing wrong with what the OP is saying or even being pessimistic about Saints in general. You're allowed to think or feel whatever and however you want about the team you support.

 

The bizzare phenomenon however is posters who are incredibly pessimistic to the point of saying Saints are utterly incapable of ever finishing in the top four/top six and never ever will be, and then somehow still manage to complain about things as they are.

[Turkish]

Yep.

 

We were a couple of players away from making the top 6 sweat; if Osvaldo had worked out and Ramirez has tried to earn hsi pay and justify his transfer fee (watch him be 100% for the WC), we might have done it this season.

 

I am gutted that the 5-year party is over (even if there were times I didnt enjoy). And I dont understand those making excuses or trying to rationalise its end.

 

NCs presence will be sorely missed this summer.

 

Are you sure?

 

I hope you're right about NC, as given your comments anyone would be an improvement right?

 

http://www.saintsweb.co.uk/showthread.php?41043-We-dont-belong-in-the-PL

http://www.saintsweb.co.uk/showthread.php?23072-Different-Ownership-and-Managment-same-old-summer#.U3BrF3-9KSM

http://www.saintsweb.co.uk/showthread.php?23861-Brutally-honest-forget-its-me-posting-this-who-is-disappointed-in-our-transfers#.U3BrX3-9KSM

http://www.saintsweb.co.uk/showthread.php?45266-SFC-still-run-like-a-crappy-seaside-B-amp-B#.U3BrfX-9KSM

http://www.saintsweb.co.uk/showthread.php?46964-For-future-transfer-activity-lets-avoid-Serie-A#.U3BsOH-9KSM

Edited 12 May, 2014 by Turkish

[alpine_saint]

Are you sure?

 

I hope you're right about NC, as given your comments anyone would be an improvement right?

 

http://www.saintsweb.co.uk/showthread.php?41043-We-dont-belong-in-the-PL

http://www.saintsweb.co.uk/showthread.php?23072-Different-Ownership-and-Managment-same-old-summer#.U3BrF3-9KSM

http://www.saintsweb.co.uk/showthread.php?23861-Brutally-honest-forget-its-me-posting-this-who-is-disappointed-in-our-transfers#.U3BrX3-9KSM

http://www.saintsweb.co.uk/showthread.php?45266-SFC-still-run-like-a-crappy-seaside-B-amp-B#.U3BrfX-9KSM

 

Wow, you have time to dredge up 4 year-old threads ? Respect

 

And if you can only find 4 over 4 years, only one of which criticised NC and was borne out of frustration/impatience, I must thank you for demonstrating once-and-for-all that the notion of me being a WUM/troll is a myth.

[Frank's cousin]

There's certainly nothing wrong with what the OP is saying or even being pessimistic about Saints in general. You're allowed to think or feel whatever and however you want about the team you support.

 

The bizzare phenomenon however is posters who are incredibly pessimistic to the point of saying Saints are utterly incapable of ever finishing in the top four/top six and never ever will be, and then somehow still manage to complain about things as they are.

 

Coupled with those who are so fragile of ego that they can't let the barmily (made up word?) optimistic just enjoy it for themselves etc... As scoring points off posters on a web forum, seems the highlight of their lives....

 

If we were an Ok side with a load of journeymen punching above their collective weight, I would say great, we are doing the very best we can within the constraints of our resources etc. that is fair enough. But we have seen enough of this squad to recognise when there is potential to do even better. It is the likelihood that instead of progress next season we will probably go from 8th to anywhere between 10-16, if this squad is broken up and MP replaced that is disappointing. UP, 6-9 every season would be great under normal circumstances, but a) this season has shown we could do more for a couple of years and B) chances are we won't be at that level given the perception that we will see major changes

[Turkish]

Wow, you have time to dredge up 4 year-old threads ? Respect

 

And if you can only find 4 over 4 years, only one of which criticised NC and was borne out of frustration/impatience, I must thank you for demonstrating once-and-for-all that the notion of me being a WUM/troll is a myth.

 

Took about 30 seconds. And there were plenty more, as well as the numerous rants on threads you over the years.

 

Bit odd you'll miss the guy who ran us like a crappv seaside b&b, a guy who other chairman see coming and how your now bemoaning us not being able to finish higher than 8th in a division we don't belong in. Or is that just 'frustration' too?

[Saint Charlie]

My issue isn't that we should look to spend lots of money we don't have. Its that there doesn't seem to be very clear direction at Board level ovdr what we do intend to aim for.

 

In addition, the statements from Krueger sound like the type given by clubs with financial difficulties who have to sell players. He has gone from saying no player the Manager wants to leave will do, to openly inviting offers and asking the fans to "respect" the fact that conversations with other clubs need to take place.

 

A team assembled over years can be dismantled very quickly indeed.

[Ohio Saint]

My issue isn't that we should look to spend lots of money we don't have. Its that there doesn't seem to be very clear direction at Board level ovdr what we do intend to aim for.

 

In addition, the statements from Krueger sound like the type given by clubs with financial difficulties who have to sell players. He has gone from saying no player the Manager wants to leave will do, to openly inviting offers and asking the fans to "respect" the fact that conversations with other clubs need to take place.

 

A team assembled over years can be dismantled very quickly indeed.

 

Different people express their intentions in different ways.

 

We are stuck with the task of waiting and watching. It's going to be a long hard summer.

[CB Fry]

Coupled with those who are so fragile of ego that they can't let the barmily (made up word?) optimistic just enjoy it for themselves etc... As scoring points off posters on a web forum, seems the highlight of their lives....

 

If we were an Ok side with a load of journeymen punching above their collective weight, I would say great, we are doing the very best we can within the constraints of our resources etc. that is fair enough. But we have seen enough of this squad to recognise when there is potential to do even better. It is the likelihood that instead of progress next season we will probably go from 8th to anywhere between 10-16, if this squad is broken up and MP replaced that is disappointing. UP, 6-9 every season would be great under normal circumstances, but a) this season has shown we could do more for a couple of years and B) chances are we won't be at that level given the perception that we will see major changes

 

Don't see you "enjoying" anything, Franko.

 

Just the repetitive low grizzling whine of a toddler who has just realised his favourite fairy story isn't real.

 

If your five month moan - a - thon is what you call "optimism" then I think you can keep it.

 

Keep sobbing, Franko.

[Wes Tender]

2) We are not a global brand (yet) and can't attract the revenue the global brands such as Spurs, Liverpool, Arsenal, Man U, Man City and Chelsea can...so breaking top 6 would truly be an incredible achievement

 

Is Spurs a global brand? I hadn't realised, as I don't see much evidence of it on my travels. I suspect that Everton has more of a following than them globally, although even then not in the same league as the others, but they don't get a mention for some reason.

[View From The Top]

Saints cannot compete with the ambitions, draw or financial muscle of the big clubs. Those thinking we can are, frankly, deluded.

[alpine_saint]

Took about 30 seconds. And there were plenty more, as well as the numerous rants on threads you over the years.

 

Bit odd you'll miss the guy who ran us like a crappv seaside b&b, a guy who other chairman see coming and how your now bemoaning us not being able to finish higher than 8th in a division we don't belong in. Or is that just 'frustration' too?

 

Better the devil-you-know, dude.

[corky morris]

We have always been a selling club, nothing has changed.

If as reported ManUre are willing to pay £100k a week then we simply can't compete & I'm not sure we ever will.

Winning the PL has cost Man City over £1bn!!!

[Special K]

Is Spurs a global brand? I hadn't realised, as I don't see much evidence of it on my travels. I suspect that Everton has more of a following than them globally, although even then not in the same league as the others, but they don't get a mention for some reason.

 

IMHO we are still a long way behind both Spurs and Everton. They finished 13 and 16 points ahead of us and that's with Spurs taking on a Europa Cup campaign too. That is a lot of points to make up and a gap that would require a substantial amount of money to bridge, which is something we don't appear to have now. Whilst Everton may struggle with a Europa campaign next season, both United and Spurs should be stronger next season. If the top 4 recruit, which they will, then the divide will get bigger and more difficult to aspire too. We don't look as though we are going to delve too deep into our pockets and may well only spend what we recoup in sales along with a few million to try and consolodate. But i'd be chuffed with another season like this one, with maybe a better cup run!

[Wes Tender]

IMHO we are still a long way behind both Spurs and Everton. They finished 13 and 16 points ahead of us and that's with Spurs taking on a Europa Cup campaign too. That is a lot of points to make up and a gap that would require a substantial amount of money to bridge, which is something we don't appear to have now. Whilst Everton may struggle with a Europa campaign next season, both United and Spurs should be stronger next season. If the top 4 recruit, which they will, then the divide will get bigger and more difficult to aspire too. We don't look as though we are going to delve too deep into our pockets and may well only spend what we recoup in sales along with a few million to try and consolodate. But i'd be chuffed with another season like this one, with maybe a better cup run!

 

My post asked whether Spurs was a Global brand and I suggested that perhaps Everton had more credence in that department than Spurs. Whether we can overtake either in the next few years is entirely a different debate.

[Viking Warrior]

wasnt the five year plan to get back to the premiership for this season and then to stay in it for this season and then moving on from their towards qualifying for Europe. Did we not achieve getting back to the premiership i year earlier than expected?

 

If this is the case we would have been embarking on a new 5 year plan anyway

[Patrick Bateman]

We have always been a selling club, nothing has changed.

If as reported ManUre are willing to pay £100k a week then we simply can't compete & I'm not sure we ever will.

Winning the PL has cost Man City over £1bn!!!

 

With only Joe Hart who is English (heck, even British) in their team and ONE goal out of 102 scored by an Englishman (Milner). It's why I think it's a shame Liverpool didn't get the title - them winning the league would have been as much of a 'fluke' as Saints finishing top 6, in my view.

 

Over the season, we probably had only 3 matches we 'should have won' (Spurs home, Villa home, Sunderland home) - that extra 9 points would have only moved us up to 7th. Who knows, keep the squad, get more lucky with injuries, add a goalie, centre back and 2 forward players and we might scrape top 6 in a fluke season. But it'll cost to get the quality in those 4 players that we need rather than just average squad players.

[angelman]

Seems incredible that some folks on here believe we should be challenging top 4. Ambition is great but it has to be tempered with reality........I would love to be making a $1 million a year...but it ain't going to happen.

 

So what's the point of competing then, if there is no chance of winning? PL is boring, predictable as to who fills the top 6 or 7 spots. Let's face it, it's 4+3+the rest. I've enjoyed this season, but my enthusiasm for PL football is fast waning. The rich get richer, and who cares about the rest? It's ridiculous also that the PL, us included, get so much money to the detriment of lower leagues and grass roots. First thing I would like to do is slap a 5% surcharge (hell, why not make it 10%?) on any player signed from overseas and hope that so much money stops leaving the English game to benefit other leagues.

[Baird of the land]

Everton have shown you don't have to have an endless stream of money to compete with the big boys

I'd like us to have a plan to emulate them.

Just throwing our hands up and selling all our good players on the cheap, whilst settling down for a relegation scrap or utter mediocrity is unfathomable imo.

[corky morris]

Everton have shown you don't have to have an endless stream of money to compete with the big boys

I'd like us to have a plan to emulate them.

Just throwing our hands up and selling all our good players on the cheap, whilst settling down for a relegation scrap or utter mediocrity is unfathomable imo.

 

Everton sold Fellaini, but loaned Barry & Lukaku. They also have been in the PL for a lot longer than us.

I don't want to be in a relegation scrap, I don't like accepting we can't compete over a season to win the league. On a game by game basis we can beat anyone. We don't have the squad depth.

I also don't think the PL is all it's cracked up to be.

Bottom line is being realistic. Optimistic yes, but also realistic!

[AussieDog]

Some might argue that we should/could have beaten spurs home and away, and if that had happened there would have been 1 point between us...so not that big a gap. At the end of the day, our lack of depth cost us between 2 or 3 league positions. Maybe next season we might utilize the loan system to our advantage although if we do, I hope it's minimal and only to allow an academy player more time to progress in to the first team (maybe as a replacement for either shaw or lallana to allow targett or jwp If we lose them)

 

Sent from my Nexus 5 using Tapatalk

[waggy]

Every club is a 'selling' club in that ALL players have a value. We are no different to Manure, L'pool, Arsenal, et al in that respect. Some seem to see it as a weakness of the board, well there aint jack that the board can do if a player wants to leave, 'cos eventually he'll go. Like it or not the club will find a level at which it is comfortable with operating costs, ambition etc. Some will like it others won't, that's football, that's supporting SFC, that's what I've learnt over the past 57 years.

[Turkish]

Better the devil-you-know, dude.

 

Sorry, so are you now saying we weren't run like a seaside B&B, that our transfer activity was actually fine and not the shambles you made out it was, that other chairmen didn't see NC coming and that pretty much everything you posted from Aug 2009-Jan 2014 was a load of bo*llocks?

[channonwindmill]

Better the devil-you-know, dude.

 

By that logic we'll stick with Ramirez and Osvaldo as well shall we?

[St.JonB]

Every club is a 'selling' club in that ALL players have a value. We are no different to Manure, L'pool, Arsenal, et al in that respect. Some seem to see it as a weakness of the board, well there aint jack that the board can do if a player wants to leave, 'cos eventually he'll go. Like it or not the club will find a level at which it is comfortable with operating costs, ambition etc. Some will like it others won't, that's football, that's supporting SFC, that's what I've learnt over the past 57 years.

 

Great post. And one I think the majority of our fans agree and understand.

 

 

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[um pahars]

Everton have shown you don't have to have an endless stream of money to compete with the big boys

I'd like us to have a plan to emulate them.

Just throwing our hands up and selling all our good players on the cheap, whilst settling down for a relegation scrap or utter mediocrity is unfathomable imo.

 

Over the last 20 years, Everton's average league position has been about 11th.

 

Even over the last 10 seasons, which have been more successful, they've averaged about 8th.

 

And that's a team which such a pedigree and history.

 

As with almost every other team over the years, they have been raided losing the likes of Fellani, Arteta, Lescott, Rooney & Rodwell (who were both Evertonians).

[Bucks Saint]

He has gone from saying no player the Manager wants to leave will do, to openly inviting offers and asking the fans to "respect" the fact that conversations with other clubs need to take place.

 

Your interpetation. Mine is that "respect the conversations" etc is "be realistic, other clubs are bound to express an interest in our players, because they have done so well, so some offers are likely". Not the same thing as selling

[Dig Dig]

Your interpetation. Mine is that "respect the conversations" etc is "be realistic, other clubs are bound to express an interest in our players, because they have done so well, so some offers are likely". Not the same thing as selling

 

When you overlay it all with the financial comments, it's clear we are very open to selling players.

[Bucks Saint]

When you overlay it all with the financial comments, it's clear we are very open to selling players.

 

Yep but Ossie, Ramirez, Yoshida, Jos all count dont they? Not the same as selling people Mopo wants to keep

[Dig Dig]

Yep but Ossie, Ramirez, Yoshida, Jos all count dont they? Not the same as selling people Mopo wants to keep

 

They wouldn't need to justify or prepare fans for the sales of those players.

[Baird of the land]

Over the last 20 years, Everton's average league position has been about 11th.

 

Even over the last 10 seasons, which have been more successful, they've averaged about 8th.

 

And that's a team which such a pedigree and history.

 

As with almost every other team over the years, they have been raided losing the likes of Fellani, Arteta, Lescott, Rooney & Rodwell (who were both Evertonians).

 

Over the ten years they've lost a key player every couple of years. Losing multiple people this summer would be completely different.

[Bucks Saint]

They wouldn't need to justify or prepare fans for the sales of those players.

 

As i said, my view is he was preparing fans for interest in the best players.