Investment

[David Hodgson]

Lucas 6.75M, Leto 1.85M, Torres 20M + Garcia, Babel 11.5M, Benayoun 5M, Bunch of kids around 3M, potential another CB 6M.

 

Total spending : 54M

 

Gonzales 2.3M, Pongolle 2.7M, Bellamy 7.5M, Cisse 6M

 

Total Sales : 18.5M

 

Net spending 35.5M...

 

Skint my A$S

 

Or, as alternately been reported :

 

Lucas 5m (+ add ons) , Leto 2m, Torres 20m (not inc Garcia), Babbel 8m (+addons) Bennayoun 4.5m, kids 2m = 40.5m

 

Sold : Gonzales 3.5m, Pongolle 2.7m, Garcia 4m, Bellamy 7.5m, Cisse 6m = 23.7m

 

Netto = 17.2m

 

Either way, A sum we could have afforded without investment, given the cL money and the new TV deal.

 

....not that I think we're skint, no did the original poster, who was joking, but the spending levels to date are not yet an indication that G & H are prepared to invest heavily in the team from their own resources.

[yellow jumper]

but the spending levels to date are not yet an indication that G & H are prepared to invest heavily in the team from their own resources.

 

does that matter? surely the main thing is that we're able to build the stadium and compete for top players should the manager want them. how many clubs have genuine sugar daddies like abramovich? certainly not united or arsenal.

[Gilps]

Or, as alternately been reported :

 

Lucas 5m (+ add ons) , Leto 2m, Torres 20m (not inc Garcia), Babbel 8m (+addons) Bennayoun 4.5m, kids 2m = 40.5m

 

Sold : Gonzales 3.5m, Pongolle 2.7m, Garcia 4m, Bellamy 7.5m, Cisse 6m = 23.7m

 

Netto = 17.2m

 

Either way, A sum we could have afforded without investment, given the cL money and the new TV deal.

 

....not that I think we're skint, no did the original poster, who was joking, but the spending levels to date are not yet an indication that G & H are prepared to invest heavily in the team from their own resources.

 

Don't any of the deals for players we've sold include add ons? Seems a bit off to only include them on one side of the equation and use the headline figure on the other side.

[David Hodgson]

does that matter? surely the main thing is that we're able to build the stadium and compete for top players should the manager want them. how many clubs have genuine sugar daddies like abramovich? certainly not united or arsenal.

 

Of course it matters. If new owners aren't prepared to invest in the team (and I stress, I'm not saying that is the case) then what would be the point of having sold out in the first place (and please don't cite the stadium alone) ?

[anny road]

we wouldnt have bought Torres for £20m last summer

 

i dont give a flying s**** what anyone says

[Gary Gekkaloys]

Of course it matters. If new owners aren't prepared to invest in the team (and I stress, I'm not saying that is the case) then what would be the point of having sold out in the first place (and please don't cite the stadium alone) ?

 

Correct me if I'm wrong, but I thought that the previous administration felt that they couldn't maintain our previous levels of investment in the team and pay for the new stadium (the design and scope of which the new owners have apparently improved upon) - which is why they looked for investors/new owners?

[Ed-Zeppelin]

All this arguing about expenditure is difficult as noone really knows the financial situation currently.

 

I'd suggest the fact that the new owners have sanctioned a lot of new deals for big money and nearly equalled and well beaten our transfer record in one sumer is something that wouldn't have happened otherwise.

 

As long as Rafa is happy with the players he's been able to sign, which seems the case, and has also been able to get first top choices, which seems the case also on the whole, then who's to argue. Factor in the fact that the new owners are helpig get the stadium sorted and I'm more than happy. In many ways getting the stadium sorted is more valuable to us, certainly long term, than really throwing cash around now, assuming Rafa is happy with his players.

 

I also like the fact that we've gone out and bossed the market in a way we've not done for a while. We've haggled well both in buying and selling thus far.

 

As for transfers: Chiellini would be very nice and I'm still not sold on the idea of Heinze. I'd still like to be greedy and get another real winger in.

[Benitez]

It's bizarre that one or two are so desperate to be proven right in regards to them not investing.

 

Like Rafa would have commited 20 mill to his first significant signing of the summer, if he didn't know he'd have the funds. This is the exact problem of the last 3 years - he couldn't do this. Now he can. And he hasn't had to sell to buy. So something is different.

 

Why are people desperate to tot up net spend when the players sold are players that the club didn't need. Do they have to keep the likes of Cisse just to prove they can afford to spend and keep expensive flops on the books as well? It's a win win situation, we get rid of players who aren't wanted, and get better players in, isn't that how it works? And not selling to buy for once.

[Ginu]

After adding Torres, Lucas, Benayoun and Babel as forward options this summer, I feel we're still going to lack in goals from midfield this season. Torres is self-explanable, but Benayoun is more of a playmaker who gets assists, while Lucas and Babel may add to the tally from midfield but, in my opinion, wouldn't close the gap between us and the other top teams goals-wise this season. With Luis gone, we have Stevie, Lucas, Babel and to an extent Xabi and Benayoun. 4 out of 5 of those players aren't regular goal scorers (or at least at this stage in their development as the players we've brought in would show). I feel we need another contributor from midfield before the end of the summer.

[Ginu]

It's bizarre that one or two are so desperate to be proven right in regards to them not investing.

 

Like Rafa would have commited 20 mill to his first significant signing of the summer, if he didn't know he'd have the funds. This is the exact problem of the last 3 years - he couldn't do this. Now he can. And he hasn't had to sell to buy. So something is different.

 

Why are people desperate to tot up net spend when the players sold are players that the club didn't need. Do they have to keep the likes of Cisse just to prove they can afford to spend and keep expensive flops on the books as well? It's a win win situation, we get rid of players who aren't wanted, and get better players in, isn't that how it works? And not selling to buy for once.

 

It's the dumbest argument I've heard by people who don't have anything better to do than whine and complain.

[Rimbeux]

we wouldnt have bought Torres for £20m last summer

 

i dont give a flying s**** what anyone says

 

You may be right, it's also fair to say that we have £10m more than last season from domestic tv rights and £5m more from overseas rights to play with

[Kopfaithful]

You may be right, it's also fair to say that we have £10m more than last season from domestic tv rights and £5m more from overseas rights to play with

 

I think it's pretty fair to assume, last summer we'd have had to sell cisse and bellamy before we bought torres and for me there is the difference ... we are able to buy who we want and not be desperate to take the 1st offer for a player we don't want just because we're desperate for cash.

[Guest Finnan3]

we wouldnt have bought Torres for £20m last summer

 

i dont give a flying s**** what anyone says

 

Agree. You can say what you want about the amount spent. But the statement of intent is there for all to see this summer. Locking key players to long term deals - Gerrard, Carra, Xabi, Reina, new signings - Torres (don't want to hype him up but confident), Babel, a new stadium.

 

Contrast that to last summer.

 

As far as any of us are aware the only target we missed out on was Malouda. If even.

[Guest Doakes]

You may be right, it's also fair to say that we have £10m more than last season from domestic tv rights and £5m more from overseas rights to play with

Not necessarily all on transfers though. Some of it could already have been used to increase the wage budget at the club.

[RP]

I think it's pretty fair to assume, last summer we'd have had to sell cisse and bellamy before we bought torres and for me there is the difference ... we are able to buy who we want and not be desperate to take the 1st offer for a player we don't want just because we're desperate for cash.

 

 

I think that is exactly right.

[hideNseek]

I think it's pretty fair to assume, last summer we'd have had to sell cisse and bellamy before we bought torres and for me there is the difference ... we are able to buy who we want and not be desperate to take the 1st offer for a player we don't want just because we're desperate for cash.

 

Probably just me but I'm not seeing a lot of difference between selling Cisse and Bellamy after than before we brought, eitherway Torres money is covered. Like I said probably just me.

[Atticus Finch]

Probably just me but I'm not seeing a lot of difference between selling Cisse and Bellamy after than before we brought, eitherway Torres money is covered. Like I said probably just me.

 

We weren't guaranteed to sell them - the owners put up the money without the guaranteed income (although obviously it was likely).

 

For example, last year when Cisse broke his leg we couldn't sell him and it stuffed the budget so Moores had to buy Kuyt. We couldn't afford to buy without the money in first. This year if Cisse had done his leg we were able to cover it financially.

[hideNseek]

Agree not guarenteed, but certainly likely too.

 

Anyway none of it really matters if Rafa is happy as he's got what he wants which I assume is all we're all asking for.

[Gary Gekkaloys]

I think it's pretty fair to assume, last summer we'd have had to sell cisse and bellamy before we bought torres and for me there is the difference ... we are able to buy who we want and not be desperate to take the 1st offer for a player we don't want just because we're desperate for cash.

 

Rafa was unhappy with the speed with which our transfer dealings had been conducted in previous seasons, not just that we couldn't compete at the top end of the transfer market. Not being so reliant on having to sell players first undoubtedly helped in this regard. He now has the majority of his transfer dealings completed, rather than waiting until the final days of the transfer window.

[Bootle Buck]

The money has been made available and Rafa has built the squad he wants. All that remains is for Rafa to get the lads playing to their potential and in the best formation to be more efficient in the league. I would dearly love to see us come out the blocks like we mean business and still be in the hunt at Xmas.

[bobbyboulders]

...still be in the hunt at Xmas.

 

That would be nice...

[fyds]

After adding Torres, Lucas, Benayoun and Babel as forward options this summer, I feel we're still going to lack in goals from midfield this season. Torres is self-explanable, but Benayoun is more of a playmaker who gets assists, while Lucas and Babel may add to the tally from midfield but, in my opinion, wouldn't close the gap between us and the other top teams goals-wise this season. With Luis gone, we have Stevie, Lucas, Babel and to an extent Xabi and Benayoun. 4 out of 5 of those players aren't regular goal scorers (or at least at this stage in their development as the players we've brought in would show). I feel we need another contributor from midfield before the end of the summer.

I think in the scheme of things, with Babel and and Torres up front, possibly with Crouch/Voronin/Kuyt in support - the effect they could have on defences means more space and time will be opened up for the midfield - Gerrard, Riise, Pennant and Alonso in particular - to get forward more often and quicker and thereby have more chances on goal - more chances, more goals by default - how many more - well, we'll, have to see. Add Lucas to the mix and Benayoun - more possibilities, more chances, more goals again.

 

Torres and Babel will add speed to the attack, as well as a bit of trickery and guile - something we've occasionally lacked. It's that extra time and space that could make the difference - it's not as if our midfielders don't know how to shoot when the 'rare' opportunity arises.

[RP]

Probably just me but I'm not seeing a lot of difference between selling Cisse and Bellamy after than before we brought, eitherway Torres money is covered. Like I said probably just me.

 

I think you're right, it's just you.

 

 

There is a massive difference between the two scenarios.

[fyds]

Indeed - prior to selling, there is no guarantee you will sell at all - look what happened to Cisse last year.

[hideNseek]

there's of course no guarentee's but it was highly likely and if not Cisse and Bellamy possibly other players to offset some expenditure.