Will we ever close the gap?

[Zippity]

Well, one of the first things we need to do before they inevitably introduce financial restrictions (and they will), is throw enprmous amounts of money into our Academy, our coaching setup and our scouting.

If we can either develop or identify players at the level of Livramento-like Brighton with a bigger budget then we'll be able to build a competitive squad without the need for doing a Chelsea or...well, any of the 'big 6' by spending 100's of millions per window. It doesn't preclude buying a big, marquee signing-in fact, it would allow us to concentrate on one or two key targets each window and surround the 'star' players with players of a much better quality than those they currently share the pitch with.

obviously a lot easier said than done and a few big ifs or buts...but, if any club is best placed to do it, it's us.

Mark my words, though; like i say, they'll be sitting around a table somewhere right now drafting legislation to only allow clubs to spend a certain percentage of their income on infrastructure and non-playing staff. They've shut the front door and locked it and now they'll be bolting the back door and checking all the windows are closed.

And there are landmines on the path.

etc

[ex_pat_magpie]

Well, one of the first things we need to do before they inevitably introduce financial restrictions (and they will), is throw enprmous amounts of money into our Academy, our coaching setup and our scouting.

If we can either develop or identify players at the level of Livramento-like Brighton with a bigger budget then we'll be able to build a competitive squad without the need for doing a Chelsea or...well, any of the 'big 6' by spending 100's of millions per window. It doesn't preclude buying a big, marquee signing-in fact, it would allow us to concentrate on one or two key targets each window and surround the 'star' players with players of a much better quality than those they currently share the pitch with.

obviously a lot easier said than done and a few big ifs or buts...but, if any club is best placed to do it, it's us.

Mark my words, though; like i say, they'll be sitting around a table somewhere right now drafting legislation to only allow clubs to spend a certain percentage of their income on infrastructure and non-playing staff. They've shut the front door and locked it and now they'll be bolting the back door and checking all the windows are closed.

And there are landmines on the path.

etc

This is the way forward, as Zip states. But look at this season's success from the academy compared to past years, this has saved a fortune both from not having to spend in the transfer market ( and look what this season's entry's from the academy will be worth in a couple of successful seasons in the Prem) to leaving funds to really get the best out of transfers.

As in Isac, Bruno and Tonali, just one or two of this quality per transfer window and with the input from the academy in 3/4 transfer windows we will have replaced more than a half of the current lesser players in the squad with the real quality of both top purchases and development from the up and coming players in the academy, and note, the academy input over the coming years will get better and better.

[toptoon]

I think we need to start putting rumours out about a legal challenge. Soon to be followed up by concrete action if things don’t improve. It’s clearly anti-competition in business.