The money it costs to follow your club these days means that fans are, understandably, entitled. We can all see the team’s weaknesses and where we need to strengthen. With a shiny new stadium, this only amplifies our desire to be up there this season. It is expected that we will bring in all the necessary personnel in January to push for Europe. However, unfortunately, the truth is that we will fall short of our expectations and have to settle for a mid-table finish, which, in my view, is a decent improvement on the last few seasons.
Our inability to bring in the top players necessary to transform our fortunes has several reasons:
- At present, I think it’s too hard to attract the profile of player required to instantly improve us.
- Our scouting capabilities are lacking compared to other clubs.
- The team responsible for transfers makes some poor decisions, due to the above, and perhaps because they feel the weight of expectation on them.
The cost of assembling a squad capable of competing in the modern game is gargantuan. Only a handful of multi-billionaire owners—who often behave fraudulently by flagrantly flouting the rules—go unchecked and are allowed to dominate the transfer system at every level. Realistically, it is only these few who can deliver the game’s top trophies.
Alas, the rest of us must simply grab at small moments of joy: a great goal, a top-half finish, a semi-final trip to Wembley, etc.
It would take a supremely shrewd operator now to make a chink in the top flight of the elite. I believe it will only get worse. You will pay more and see less.
Merry Xmas, Blues.
Zat!
