Just how do we compete on field and become challengers once again?

[Bluebonic]

Well said mate. I take great comfort in reading this as, I must admit, I was rather despondent this morning waking up reading the Jose/Man Utd bit.
I still don't see how we compete for honours by losing our top talent on a regular basis, especially if we remain a feeder club for the Premier League. If we could keep our best players and keep adding guns for a few summers I can visualise it.
But losing Stones and Lukaku in one hit?

I know what you mean regarding losing stars, but Spurs lost Bale and used the money as the catalyst for a new methodology, Southampton have lost an obscene number of good players, yet made Europe, Sevilla do the same every season? I think losing top players is almost inevitable unless you are one of the four world giants, but i think the teams mentioned have proven that provided the money can be reinvested wisely, it doesn't necessarily have to hamper progress? I think we had a good example ourselves with Rooney?

 

[kithnou]

I know what you mean regarding losing stars, but Spurs lost Bale and used the money as the catalyst for a new methodology, Southampton have lost an obscene number of good players, yet made Europe, Sevilla do the same every season? I think losing top players is almost inevitable unless you are one of the four world giants, but i think the teams mentioned have proven that provided the money can be reinvested wisely, it doesn't necessarily have to hamper progress? I think we had a good example ourselves with Rooney?

I'm talking will we compete for the title again on a regular basis mate. Not interested in an occasional cup or 6th place.
Losing Stones and Lukaku in one Summer?

 

[toffeejack]

That sexy OP asked the question referring to losing both Stones and Lukaku this summer.

yeah it's a fair question, but we do get it every year. I reckon a lot thought both would be off last summer too. Lukaku may very well leave ... but now we have the finances we can very well tell him to shut up and get his head down because he's under contract and we don't need the money.

I don't think stones will go, but with the amount we would get from both, we'd be looking at a near £200m transfer war chest anyway. we could build a top first XI and a top second XI with that.

I'm not one who overly worries about selling top players, if teams pay over the odds like we always see, you can always quickly imporve on them straight away, look at southampton, their squad gets better and better because teams overpay on their "decent" players.

 

[Cypher]

just because we've been watching the absurd amounts liverpool and man city spend on dross, doesn't mean it's not a lot of money. Those teams tend to spend £20m more than a player is actually worth - you can buy 5 top class players from europe with that amount, the kind of quality that would have us winning the league.

I didn't say it wasn't possible. I think you are right and our budget for each player would be around 20m with 20m left over to strengthen the squad. That's not impossible but it's still difficult. Both Spurs and Liverpool found that out when players were cheaper and if we do spend that then we will probably just like them have a couple of misses.

 

[kithnou]

yeah it's a fair question, but we do get it every year. I reckon a lot thought both would be off last summer too. Lukaku may very well leave ... but now we have the finances we can very well tell him to shut up and get his head down because he's under contract and we don't need the money.

I don't think stones will go, but with the amount we would get from both, we'd be looking at a near £200m transfer war chest anyway. we could build a top first XI and a top second XI with that.

I'm not one who overly worries about selling top players, if teams pay over the odds like we always see, you can always quickly imporve on them straight away, look at southampton, their squad gets better and better because teams overpay on their "decent" players.

Europa standard at best though with that policy. I still stick with my original thought.
You can't keep selling your best players and expect to challenge consistently for the title in the future.
There comes a time that as a club you need to stand for something and not be the wealthy clubs' female dog.
Mr Moshiri has big decisions to make.

 

[Caolam]

I don't know that we can replace Stonea, I'm not sure there is a centre half out there with his ability and longevity who we could attract, I hope we keep him.
Lukaku, while he is a top goal scorer, is a different matter. If he does go and we get the fee which is being talked about then I think we can replace him. Hopefully, if he goes, it is to PSG and not to a premiership club where he can come back to torment us.
£100 mill isn't enough to guarantee success but it is enough to bring if invested wisely. Let us not go out and buy 5 wingers and only play one.

 

[Bluebonic]

I'm talking will we compete for the title again on a regular basis mate. Not interested in an occasional cup or 6th place.
Losing Stones and Lukaku in one Summer?

Thats my point though Kith, in order to challenge for titles, we have to gain a winning mentality and get that mentality ingrained at board, dressing room and terrace level! We wont just win a title out of the blue, Leicesters feat wont be repeated for a hundred years! You dont develop that mentality in the team with players who want away! Best let them go, bleed their new clubs white for the highest possible fee and then start from scratch, year zero mate!

 

[kithnou]

Good discussion this everyone. Well done.
Thankfully the regular thread killers on GOT like @chicoazul have not descended it to farce yet...

 

[toffeejack]

I didn't say it wasn't possible. I think you are right and our budget for each player would be around 20m with 20m left over to strengthen the squad. That's not impossible but it's still difficult. Both Spurs and Liverpool found that out when players were cheaper and if we do spend that then we will probably just like them have a couple of misses.

spurs have underachieved spectacularly when you look at the names of the players they've bought - yet last season was their worst squad on paper in about a decade and their best season.

when they bought they didn't have a plan. they just bought a load of players for the same positions. Liverpool, well, they didn't do any scouting, they've literally just bought any flavour of the month from the premier league who's had a good couple of months - praise the lord we could never dream to be that bad with our transfer business.

i think a couple of misses is being kind with them haha

 

[toffeejack]

Europa standard at best though with that policy. I still stick with my original thought.
You can't keep selling your best players and expect to challenge consistently for the title in the future.
There comes a time that as a club you need to stand for something and not be the wealthy clubs' female dog.
Mr Moshiri has big decisions to make.

of course, but we should have higher expectations than soton - we have a wealthy owner now. Too early to debate title talks etc. but with the standard on show last season from the big boys, there's no reason we can't be a challenger within a decade, jsut look at how quickly city developed from nothing to regular favourites, the same for chelsea under abramovich.

 

[kithnou]

of course, but we should have higher expectations than soton - we have a wealthy owner now. Too early to debate title talks etc. but with the standard on show last season from the big boys, there's no reason we can't be a challenger within a decade, jsut look at how quickly city developed from nothing to regular favourites, the same for chelsea under abramovich.

Different bracket of spending power there mate.

 

[Blue Cheese]

To all the players next season.

 

[toffeejack]

Different bracket of spending power there mate.

chelsea yes, but city started off thaksin and then because of their growing popularity, sheik mansoor.

nothing to say that can't be possible. anyway, let's not get ahead of ourselves, i'll see our squad and manager at the start of the season compared to the other teams' business before saying what we can achieve this upcoming season. If leicester can do it, anything is now possible, we should should take great confidence from that, regardless of guardiola, mourinho and conte coming in.

 

[Joey66]

Get a team to play the Leicester way!

 

[Hong Kong Bluey]

We need to be fitter, we need more leaders on the pitch, we need a charismatic manager the players will love to follow, and also be [Poor language removed] scared of.
No coincidence for me that the best 2 teams this season are the fittest and can play full on pressing, kicking, gouging game for 100 mins.
Our lot just don't look fit enuff.