Are we skint?

Pozzos probably think the squad is good enough to stay up and they're probably right.

Do they have enough money to pump into the club to take us to the next level? Probably not and even then is it worth it financially? Let's not forget they're probably looking at acquiring a 3rd club and that alone will take a fair £.

Don't really know much about FFP but does that have a factor in this as well?

 

Would you spend a lot of money if there was an unresolved multi million pound, multi jurisdiction tax/money laundering case hanging over your head?

 

Which is fair enough if true. But they should not be peddling the line that they believe we can be 'best of the rest' if they can't don't have the means to make it happen.

 

England cap imminent.

RoI will be off the scale.

 

Yes and this is the main point. The club are happy to act all billy big ******** about aiming for 7th and cart out Doucoure to say we can win things when the truth is, they are happy with the PL money.

Even Leventhal has gone into some sort of Pozzo defensive mode by tweeting out something about Chalobah back from injury and therefore everything is wonderful.

Might want to tell Gracia.

 

Bingo. Watford are the buffer. Don’t invest, fleece Everton, and fingers crossed and hope for 17th spot. Goldmine if that scenario plays out.

 

FFP isn't a thing in the EPL but if we do manage to qualify for Europe it is.

 

I was saying what had been reported! Clearly ********, like most transfer stories, but regardless we're not "skint".

 

These shrewd business men will be well aware of how to manipulate the clubs accounts to minimise the profit, and therefore minimise the tax bill.

They are swimming in cash, thanks to our club.

 

Yeah but then we're only bringing in the cash because of them. If they hadn't come along we'd still be floundering in the lower reaches of the Championship.

 

I agree with you, it's a mutually beneficial arrangement for sure. But I am sure they've got the means to splash out more than they do if they wanted to. Though if spending as much as they do is sufficient to see us finish 17th, then I can see why they arent throwing more money around. They arent WFC fans. We are an income stream, nothing more.

 

But what are the fans to any owners? What do you expect, Gino & Scott to come over to your house & give you a hug when you open the door?

I am sure we are more than just an income stream, gate receipts only make up very small % of income & I certainly don't believe they are the type of owners that just invest the bare minimum, so we can aim finish in 17th. I do believe player trading makes up a vast % of their overall income strategy & personally I don't see anything wrong with that.

In the 30+ years they've owned Udinese, there has never been any major fan rebellion. Maybe last year more than most as they were seriously threatened with relegation, but that is the a-typical fan reaction in those circumstances.

 

Relatively yes. Every club gets 100mil+ and the prices of players reflect that, so the only differentiating factor is the owner and size of the club. In that respect we are poor.

Look at the amounts Fulham and Wolves have spent by the end of the window. We can never compete.

 

I don't expect a hug or anything else off the owners. They'd probably charge me for one anyway. Equally, I wont be treating them like the saviours of WFC. They are businessmen who are making an absolute fortune from our club. Good for them! But that chap above seemed to suggest they were just getting by, well I wanted to challenge that view.

I'd prefer our club to be run by a passionate owner who was also a fan even if it meant being in the lower leagues, but I understand that will never happen again.

 

‘We Pozzos are very bankrupt x’ is almost a perfect anagram of ‘Yes we’re Bazz’s proxy, ok’

We got ‘em, lads. Pitchforks at the ready.

 

Fair play, that's an ideal world but I still much prefer what we've got today, experienced football owners who have run a football club & infrastructure successfully over a long period of time, rather than a wealthy/passionate fan.

There are too many horror stories, Mike Ashley, Simon Jordan,Mark Goldberg. Very rarely do they last the course long term. Can't really think of any. The only one I can think of currently is the Brighton guy but its not really a long enough time frame to make any sound judgements on. When/if they go down will be a test of how long he will stay.

 

Fair play, that's an ideal world but I still much prefer what we've got today, experienced football owners who have run a football club & infrastructure successfully over a long period of time, rather than a wealthy/passionate fan.

There are too many horror stories, Mike Ashley, Simon Jordan,Mark Goldberg. Very rarely do they last the course long term. Can't really think of any. The only one I can think of currently is the Brighton guy but its not really a long enough time frame to make any sound judgements on. When/if they go down will be a test of how long he will stay.

 

Since we've been in the Premiership, we've spent roughly £225m on players. That averages about £56m a season, not accounting for loan fees, or for what's spent today.

We've received roughly £121m in fees in that time as well, again not accounting for loan fees.

TV money has been between £90 - £110m in that time, and our wage bill is probably £60m a season now, maybe more?

If Gino's making a mint out of the club, I'd love to know where he's finding the money to do so

 

We can compete. With new investment. I love the Pozzo Family and what they have done for us. They aren't without criticism, even if it's hard to say so for fear of being called ungrateful. I love them for saving us and what they have given us. But the cold, hard reality is that with every year that passes, the stark decision comes clearer - go back down a league where we can financially compete, or spend/find the money to help us compete and achieve their stated goals in this league. Or sell to someone who does. I agree that they do a good job of somehow finding a middle-ground at present but the window to do that each season is getting smaller and smaller and I think soon wont even exist. The fact we aren't even matching the amounts that Burnley can spend is worrying to me as they are no bigger or richer than ourselves. And they haven't sold a player for £45m.

 

TV money in 2017 alone was £109 million.

 

It was £74m (2015), £102m (2016), £106m (2017)

Not sure about this season

 

They've made far more TV money than that. £84.4m last season alone. It goes up incrementally so lets say £70m the season before that and £65m in our debut season....

 

Yeah I didn't phrase that well. I was trying to say that's the amount we've received each season. However looking at the figures it wasn't as much as that

 

I don’t see why there is all the doom and gloom. People have short memories. Before the Pozzos we operated in pretty much the same way, but we were just fishing in a much more depressing pond for players. Didn’t the Pozzos not buy us because of our scouting/youth structure being most similar to their own? Wasn’t is us or Charlton?

Apart from the Vialli season and the moment of madness with Ellington, when have we ever splashed the cash? We’ve always scrabbled around in the bargain basement bin for lower league rough diamonds etc.

If the Pozzos had never bought us I’d be amazed if we we would still be in the Championship, we’d never be able to compete with some of the fees clubs in that league pay now.

 

Agreed, in 1880 we didn't have a club and would never have taken Livermore on loan.

 

I’m getting pretty bored of being told where we’d be without the Pozzo’s. I know. We all know. It doesn’t mean we have short memories at all.

We can criticise the transfer strategy all the same.

 

Look at how far we've come etc.

But yeah, not sure what the doom and gloom is about, we'll stay up very comfortably (like the last few years) but it'll be a pretty boring season. It's a long game for Pozzo and Co - keeping us up = £££ and that's all they really need/want.

 

Look at how far we've come etc.

But yeah, not sure what the doom and gloom is about, we'll stay up very comfortably (like the last few years) but it'll be a pretty boring season. It's a long game for Pozzo and Co - keeping us up = £££ and that's all they really need/want.[/QUOTE]

You & Burnsy are made for each other, if you hurry up I don't think he's got married yet!

Critiquing & moaning at any given opportunity. Slowly turning into Man U fans. Always wanting more & criticising wherever & whenever it's possible, then with the caveat of "i'm pleased what they've done for us, but"

Seems like you would prefer us to go down so Pozzo loses money?? predicting a boring season, when it hasn't even started...go play on your Fifa & moan at that will you.

 

When the Pozzos arrived on the scene, our very average, at best bunch of players where in a very respectable position in the championship, due to the excellent leadership of Mr Dyche.
I agree, I doubt if we would have been able to hang on to him, and I would be surprised if we would now still be in the Championship.
I think the Pozzos are doing ok. with the means at their disposal.
I still hope we have time to sign a decent striker though.
Would be pleased with Emiliano Sala.

 

This is the same complacent attitude Pozzo has. We do not have a squad which stays up comfortably imo.

Obvious impotence up front not addressed.
Centre backs unimproved with woeful cover behind Kabasele and Cathcart.
A ridiculous inability to get players match fit and recovery times far longer than other clubs.
Delefeou and Doucoure with zero pre season minutes
Cleverly out for months
Cholobah no pre season minutes and who knows if he will actually return effectively.

If I had to pick a position now I’d bet on 20th. 30% driven by poor summer recruitment, 70% by the consistent dreadful performance by the club in terms of fitness and injuries.

We are staring into the abyss this season.

 

What’s apparent is you like referencing my name even when I’m not in a conversation with you.

You claim people being disillusioned and stating that fact is boring.

Well I find it equally as boring reading Your replies where you feel the need to show how level headed you are at every opportunity. Difference is, I don’t feel the need to challenge you on it every time. Just let people express how they feel for crying out loud.

 

lol complete opposite.

No doom and gloom in my eyes because we'll stay up comfortably like the last couple of seasons, it'll be relatively boring as we'll probably be floating around near the bottom but never really in much danger. It's a long game with Pozzo, staying up in the Prem equals more money and that's all they require for the time being - eventually we'll push on to a top 10/Europa Cup position after a few more season and a few more hundred mill in the bank.

Also, Burnsy wishes he married me.

 

I'm no better. Just moaning at the moaners. Sorry for mentioning you, don't take it personally. You are probably one of the most level headed on here & perhaps the most committed by posting the day after your stag do.