:LONG POST ALERT: If you want Man City to win league, how old are you?

[Guinness Guzzler]

Originally Posted by GypsyBlackCat

It's the only way teams can compete with MUFC. MUFC used every possible way to generate revenue plus they peaked when the PL and CL was begin. That helped Utd to become a globel brand on par with Real Madrid, the Yankees and Chicago Bulls. No one could touch Utd in the finance stakes. How could any other team in the Premier League compete with that. No way City could.

Anyway spending sheds loads of cash doesn't guarantee success.

Well it doesnt guarantee that you'll constantly win things but it looks like Chelsea and Man City could both, in the space of a few years, suddenly start winning things due solely to a massive injection of cash. Aye this year Chelsea are a bit shit in the league (might win the CL like) but they've managed to buy a few titles, Man City might buy one this year, they'll both end up winning more cups etc than they would otherwise have done. Of course it doesnt guarantee success, but it certainly doesn't harm and without spending shed loads no club who are outside the current "elite" will actually win the title, so I'd say its a pretty vital component, you might scrape 4th without much spend, but you'll be a mile off winning the title

[Cappuccino Kid]

Originally Posted by Guinness Guzzler

Aye but I dont think clubs should be allowed to just have a massive initial outlay to boost them up the league structure- teams should have to operate profitably purely on footballing revenue. When that happens (which I realise probably never will again) then you'll have a real sport where a team can realistically hope to move their way up the ladder by operating sensibly, investing in youth, marketing themselves well etc. For now its still just a wallet measuring contest regardless of whether some of the clubs eventually become self sufficient

It wouldn't be competitive at all because Manchester United would basically be unchallenged and win everything.

[Dinnar]

Originally Posted by Cappuccino Kid

What do you suggest then? Just let Man Utd win everything forever more because they are the biggest benefactors of the commercialisation of the Premier League?

Man United are still playing the youth players from their golden generation.

[Dangly Ham]

As a neutral I was glad that City won yesterday as it meant the last few games are a little more exciting and there is now alot more emphasis on our game with United on the final day.

[Guinness Guzzler]

Originally Posted by Cappuccino Kid

It wouldn't be competitive at all because Manchester United would basically be unchallenged and win everything.

For a while they'd dominate, but Ferguson will go, a new manager might not buy well, other teams might market themselves effectively, attract sponsors, invest in a youth system which starts to bring through quality players. In time Manchester United would slip, and everyone could hope their club is ran well enough to slowly make their way up the league in a sustainable manner through good management from top to bottom

[Dogbark]

I'm not particularly bothered. But this net spending comparison is very misleading. This mostly just shows the depreciation of assets.

If you spend 20 million on a player and then sell him for the same amount, your net spend is zero. But you had to have had the 20 million in the first place!

[Guinness Guzzler]

Originally Posted by Dogbark

I'm not particularly bothered. But this net spending comparison is very misleading. This mostly just shows the depreciation of assets.

If you spend 20 million on a player and then sell him for the same amount, your net spend is zero. But you had to have had the 20 million in the first place!

Agree with that- net spend isn't as important as people like to suggest. If you have a team of pub players and spend £50 million on two players, you'll have a high net spend but still a pretty shit team with a total squad value of, well, around £50 million. If you have a 25 man squad full of £10 million pound players and every so often you sell one and buy another you could end up with a net spend of near £0. Looking at net spend, you could argue if they finished equal in the league that the manager of the second lot is doing better due to low net spend but manager one has done it with a squad value of £50m and manager two has done it with a squad value of £250m. Trouble is its hard to accurately assess squad value like.

[mart]

Define a sky boy then... I wan't Man City to win the league.

[UaeExile]

I want Man city to win for two reasons.

1. I think they play good football. I'm not bothered that they've bought it, the same could be said about any club when they are taken over by a billionaire...

2. This has nothing to do with football. The UAE are huge investors in the UK. The fact that Mansour and Khaldoon travel to Manchester to fill their footballing boots means we are able to pitch other business to them an strengthen the relationship between the two countries.

Fuck football. Think infrastructure, defence contracts, hospitals, rail systems, schools etc. Thats why I want City to win.

[Billy The Kid]

I want city to win the league cos I put a lump on them when they went 9/2 I'm 30