Top 4 Concerns Keegan

[Guest alex]

Soopafan tbh.

 

More Ultra I reckon.

Singing section on the upper deck?

[Park Life 71]

The Russians love a sing song.

[Tooj 17]

It seems at the moment that Ashley isn't anywhere near as ambitious as Abramovich. More sensible perhaps, but not as hardcore.

 

 

Abramovich loves football. He's spent millions in Russia setting up academies and getting kids playing the game, he helped CSKA to winning the UEFA cup, he was instumental in getting Hiddink in for the Russian national team, and then there's what he's done at Chelsea.

 

Ashley might be enjoying himself, but I think it's clear he has no interest in being so altruistic. It's just another gamble to Ashley if you ask me, far more of a plaything than Abramovich who loved the game long before coming to England. Ashley only worries that England didn't get into the Euro's because Umbro shirt sales won't get the normal summer boost.

 

Glad to have him here, but I don't think the comparisons are entirely accurate. Of course Abramovich's love of the game brings it's own problems, he has a strong opinion on the footballing direction of his club so you get situations like the Shevchenko purchase and Grant's coup d'etat for example.

 

Whilst I don't know whether or how much Abramovich loves the game, a lot of the work he has done in Russia has been because of political pressures on him. He simply couldn't be seen to be pumping millions into Chelsea while ignoring his homeland, he had to do something over there.

His main concern when he builds a new yacht is the plasma screens and how much footie he can consume from around the world. He really loves the game.

Been on his yacht like?

[Hadrian 0]

as much as mort and co would like us to belive , we didnt spend 30 million last summer , everyone around us did tho (some more).

again this summer everyone around us will spend about 50 million .

 

to me it sounds like kev's been told he's going to get enough cash to help us tread water , that was a nudge for ashley to say that if he's serious about a top 4 challange , then he better stick his hands deeper in his pockets .

 

they are trying to run this like a sustainable business , fair enough , but we need a major investment to get us rolling , 50million is not major in this league anymore , manu will spend that on their title winning team .

[ewerk 31557]

to me it sounds like kev's been told he's going to get enough cash to help us tread water , that was a nudge for ashley to say that if he's serious about a top 4 challange , then he better stick his hands deeper in his pockets .

 

Keegan claims that he hasn't been told how much he has got to spend and that he's discussing names rather than values.

 

http://www.chroniclelive.co.uk/nufc/newcas...72703-20867901/

[NJS 4446]

I work with a Blackburn fan and we were talking about this when the managers job was up for grabs in the context of level of ambition - this meant who we went for and how much we need to spend.

 

We agreed that the next level should be as Keegan says 5th - probably at around £50m imo. The next level of consistent top 4 would take another £50m and title winning another £50-100m after that. Obviously as Keegan rightly says our problem is who we can attract so that increases the money needed (though no guarantees).

 

I assume this simplistic target setting/costing is something Ashley needs to do first of all with himself to think about his committment and then with Wise/Keegan. I think this would be better than this "player by player" basis which has been mooted.

[Park Life 71]

It seems at the moment that Ashley isn't anywhere near as ambitious as Abramovich. More sensible perhaps, but not as hardcore.

 

 

Abramovich loves football. He's spent millions in Russia setting up academies and getting kids playing the game, he helped CSKA to winning the UEFA cup, he was instumental in getting Hiddink in for the Russian national team, and then there's what he's done at Chelsea.

 

Ashley might be enjoying himself, but I think it's clear he has no interest in being so altruistic. It's just another gamble to Ashley if you ask me, far more of a plaything than Abramovich who loved the game long before coming to England. Ashley only worries that England didn't get into the Euro's because Umbro shirt sales won't get the normal summer boost.

 

Glad to have him here, but I don't think the comparisons are entirely accurate. Of course Abramovich's love of the game brings it's own problems, he has a strong opinion on the footballing direction of his club so you get situations like the Shevchenko purchase and Grant's coup d'etat for example.

 

Whilst I don't know whether or how much Abramovich loves the game, a lot of the work he has done in Russia has been because of political pressures on him. He simply couldn't be seen to be pumping millions into Chelsea while ignoring his homeland, he had to do something over there.

His main concern when he builds a new yacht is the plasma screens and how much footie he can consume from around the world. He really loves the game.

Been on his yacht like?

 

No unfortunately. But a friend of mine here is doing the interior of his new one and was chatting in a somewhat alarmed manner about the need for so much plasma. I'd really like to meet him. He was here over xmas for a party for the company that builds/manages his boats. He was fleetingly glimpsed hunkered down in a side room watching Russan footie while the party went on around him.

[Happy Face 29]

as much as mort and co would like us to belive , we didnt spend 30 million last summer , everyone around us did tho (some more).

again this summer everyone around us will spend about 50 million .

 

to me it sounds like kev's been told he's going to get enough cash to help us tread water , that was a nudge for ashley to say that if he's serious about a top 4 challange , then he better stick his hands deeper in his pockets .

 

they are trying to run this like a sustainable business , fair enough , but we need a major investment to get us rolling , 50million is not major in this league anymore , manu will spend that on their title winning team .

 

 

“Providing the owner backs me – and I’ve no proof of that yet, but no doubts he will – I can get three or four players in and if I can do that – and we have luck and no injuries to key, key players – then we might be able to win the ‘second league’ in the Premiership.”

 

http://www.journallive.co.uk/nufc/newcastl...61634-20865971/

[Hadrian 0]

as much as mort and co would like us to belive , we didnt spend 30 million last summer , everyone around us did tho (some more).

again this summer everyone around us will spend about 50 million .

 

to me it sounds like kev's been told he's going to get enough cash to help us tread water , that was a nudge for ashley to say that if he's serious about a top 4 challange , then he better stick his hands deeper in his pockets .

 

they are trying to run this like a sustainable business , fair enough , but we need a major investment to get us rolling , 50million is not major in this league anymore , manu will spend that on their title winning team .

 

 

“Providing the owner backs me – and I’ve no proof of that yet, but no doubts he will – I can get three or four players in and if I can do that – and we have luck and no injuries to key, key players – then we might be able to win the ‘second league’ in the Premiership.”

 

http://www.journallive.co.uk/nufc/newcastl...61634-20865971/

 

 

to me that reads like he's pushing for a larger investment , he's pretty sure we are going to get enough for the 3-4 players , and with that he can make a challange on the teams in 10th to 5th . if ashley wants more than that he needs to rethink how much he's investing . thats how i take that anyway .

seems like he's a fair idea of what he's getting .

[Park Life 71]

as much as mort and co would like us to belive , we didnt spend 30 million last summer , everyone around us did tho (some more).

again this summer everyone around us will spend about 50 million .

 

to me it sounds like kev's been told he's going to get enough cash to help us tread water , that was a nudge for ashley to say that if he's serious about a top 4 challange , then he better stick his hands deeper in his pockets .

 

they are trying to run this like a sustainable business , fair enough , but we need a major investment to get us rolling , 50million is not major in this league anymore , manu will spend that on their title winning team .

 

 

“Providing the owner backs me – and I’ve no proof of that yet, but no doubts he will – I can get three or four players in and if I can do that – and we have luck and no injuries to key, key players – then we might be able to win the ‘second league’ in the Premiership.”

 

http://www.journallive.co.uk/nufc/newcastl...61634-20865971/

 

 

to me that reads like he's pushing for a larger investment , he's pretty sure we are going to get enough for the 3-4 players , and with that he can make a challange on the teams in 10th to 5th . if ashley wants more than that he needs to rethink how much he's investing . thats how i take that anyway .

seems like he's a fair idea of what he's getting .

 

I'm guessing the net spend will be around £30-£40m.

[NJS 4446]

I'm guessing the net spend will be around £30-£40m.

 

I agree and fear that's not enough - Villa, City etc will be spending that imo.

[Asprilla 96]

It seems at the moment that Ashley isn't anywhere near as ambitious as Abramovich. More sensible perhaps, but not as hardcore.

 

 

Abramovich loves football. He's spent millions in Russia setting up academies and getting kids playing the game, he helped CSKA to winning the UEFA cup, he was instumental in getting Hiddink in for the Russian national team, and then there's what he's done at Chelsea.

 

Ashley might be enjoying himself, but I think it's clear he has no interest in being so altruistic. It's just another gamble to Ashley if you ask me, far more of a plaything than Abramovich who loved the game long before coming to England. Ashley only worries that England didn't get into the Euro's because Umbro shirt sales won't get the normal summer boost.

 

Glad to have him here, but I don't think the comparisons are entirely accurate. Of course Abramovich's love of the game brings it's own problems, he has a strong opinion on the footballing direction of his club so you get situations like the Shevchenko purchase and Grant's coup d'etat for example.

 

 

Excellent appraisal of Roman.

 

 

Yep, that's a cracking post. I just feel a little sorry for Keegan in a way. Ok, I know he's being paid very handsomely and all that but I can't help thinking he had unfinished business here.

 

Having already come second I can see why he's a little deflated that it's incredibly unlikely he'll surpass that in what is in effect, his last job.

[Happy Face 29]

as much as mort and co would like us to belive , we didnt spend 30 million last summer , everyone around us did tho (some more).

again this summer everyone around us will spend about 50 million .

 

to me it sounds like kev's been told he's going to get enough cash to help us tread water , that was a nudge for ashley to say that if he's serious about a top 4 challange , then he better stick his hands deeper in his pockets .

 

they are trying to run this like a sustainable business , fair enough , but we need a major investment to get us rolling , 50million is not major in this league anymore , manu will spend that on their title winning team .

 

 

“Providing the owner backs me – and I’ve no proof of that yet, but no doubts he will – I can get three or four players in and if I can do that – and we have luck and no injuries to key, key players – then we might be able to win the ‘second league’ in the Premiership.”

 

http://www.journallive.co.uk/nufc/newcastl...61634-20865971/

 

 

to me that reads like he's pushing for a larger investment , he's pretty sure we are going to get enough for the 3-4 players , and with that he can make a challange on the teams in 10th to 5th . if ashley wants more than that he needs to rethink how much he's investing . thats how i take that anyway .

seems like he's a fair idea of what he's getting .

 

 

Reads to me like all the money in the world wouldn't be enough to break into the top 4, but with the full backing of the chairman (which he expects), we could possibly come fifth.

 

When Abramovich took over Chelsea (already in 4th place) it still took them two years to win anything.

 

Ashley taking on a club in 14th can provide all the money he's asked for, but it won't have us challenging for another few years.

[Hadrian 0]

I'm guessing the net spend will be around £30-£40m.

 

I agree and fear that's not enough - Villa, City etc will be spending that imo.

 

 

that's no investment tho is it , its just using the tv money like every other club will be .

lets face it , we were the only team tobe beaten by derby . if everyone else spends 50 mill , and we spend 50 mill , there is little chance of us moving forward .

[Guest alex]

Everyone won't spend £50m though.

[Happy Face 29]

I'm guessing the net spend will be around £30-£40m.

 

I agree and fear that's not enough - Villa, City etc will be spending that imo.

 

 

that's no investment tho is it , its just using the tv money like every other club will be .

lets face it , we were the only team tobe beaten by derby . if everyone else spends 50 mill , and we spend 50 mill , there is little chance of us moving forward .

 

With Keegan in charge from the start, this squad would have been competing with Portsmouth, Blackburn, Villa and Everton. Matching their investment will ensure we do so next year and put ourselves in a position to bid for top class players and really spend big.

 

I honestly believe we're better off spending about as much as we did last year, anything more and we're throwing money at average players because no-one with ability and ambition should be attracted to us right now.

[NJS 4446]

I'm guessing the net spend will be around £30-£40m.

 

I agree and fear that's not enough - Villa, City etc will be spending that imo.

 

 

that's no investment tho is it , its just using the tv money like every other club will be .

lets face it , we were the only team tobe beaten by derby . if everyone else spends 50 mill , and we spend 50 mill , there is little chance of us moving forward .

 

That's my reading as well - so far Ashley seems reluctant to live up to the fantasy billionaire owner which debt clearing aside is disappointing.

 

I do however think that this squad we have now is better than 13th so the bootstrap investment needed might not be as much as it appears on the surface - in terms of quality I don't think theres much bewteen us and Villa, Pompey etc which means similar investment would only bring a scrap whereas I want to be "clearly" fifth.

[Guest alex]

I'm guessing the net spend will be around £30-£40m.

 

I agree and fear that's not enough - Villa, City etc will be spending that imo.

 

 

that's no investment tho is it , its just using the tv money like every other club will be .

lets face it , we were the only team tobe beaten by derby . if everyone else spends 50 mill , and we spend 50 mill , there is little chance of us moving forward .

 

With Keegan in charge from the start, this squad would have been competing with Portsmouth, Blackburn, Villa and Everton. Matching their investment will ensure we do so next year and put ourselves in a position to bid for top class players and really spend big.

 

I honestly believe we're better off spending about as much as we did last year, anything more and we're throwing money at average players because no-one with ability and ambition should be attracted to us right now.

The man talks sense.

[Hadrian 0]

Everyone won't spend £50m though.

 

id bet manu do for starters , and they are gonna win the league .

 

manu,lpool,city, sunderland 50m+

chelski 100m (i hope not)

villa,pompy,arsenal,everton 30-50m .

 

thats the least of what will get spent by those teams i reckon.

 

other clubs are not going to stand still why we try and push on , and the top 10 are definately going to spend this year , half are pushing for uefa spots , the rest champ league spots .

the first lot of tv money last season was just the start of it . the thing that convinces me is man utd constant spending , they dont ever want to stand still , and without major investment they will never be caught . every step forward we take they take one aswell .

we could afford to spend extra transfer money and take it back out of the club over a 5 year perior , and take two steps this year .

Edited May 6, 2008 by Hadrian

[Guest alex]

Everyone won't spend £50m though.

 

id bet manu do for starters , and they are gonna win the league .

 

manu,lpool,city, sunderland 50m+

chelski 100m (i hope not)

villa,pompy,arsenal,everton 30-50m .

 

thats the least of what will get spent by those teams i reckon.

 

other clubs are not going to stand still why we try and push on , and the top 10 are definately going to spend this year , half are pushing for uefa spots , the rest champ league spots .

the first lot of tv money last season was just the start of it .

On the contrary I'd say it was about the most they'll spend. I'd bet on most of those spending less.

[Hadrian 0]

Everyone won't spend £50m though.

 

id bet manu do for starters , and they are gonna win the league .

 

manu,lpool,city, sunderland 50m+

chelski 100m (i hope not)

villa,pompy,arsenal,everton 30-50m .

 

thats the least of what will get spent by those teams i reckon.

 

other clubs are not going to stand still why we try and push on , and the top 10 are definately going to spend this year , half are pushing for uefa spots , the rest champ league spots .

the first lot of tv money last season was just the start of it .

On the contrary I'd say it was about the most they'll spend. I'd bet on most of those spending less.

 

when manu are setting benchmarks of 20mill for promosing (unproven) teenages , i cant see how those team who want to push on could spend anything less than the sums i mentioned .

we got a good look at how easy 50mill is wasted thanks to old keaneo last summer .

[Park Life 71]

Everyone won't spend £50m though.

 

id bet manu do for starters , and they are gonna win the league .

 

manu,lpool,city, sunderland 50m+

chelski 100m (i hope not)

villa,pompy,arsenal,everton 30-50m .

 

thats the least of what will get spent by those teams i reckon.

 

other clubs are not going to stand still why we try and push on , and the top 10 are definately going to spend this year , half are pushing for uefa spots , the rest champ league spots .

the first lot of tv money last season was just the start of it . the thing that convinces me is man utd constant spending , they dont ever want to stand still , and without major investment they will never be caught . every step forward we take they take one aswell .

we could afford to spend extra transfer money and take it back out of the club over a 5 year perior , and take two steps this year .

 

 

To make a quantum change we need to spend around £100m, but that is if we can attract enough quality as HP says.

[Guest alex]

Everyone won't spend £50m though.

 

id bet manu do for starters , and they are gonna win the league .

 

manu,lpool,city, sunderland 50m+

chelski 100m (i hope not)

villa,pompy,arsenal,everton 30-50m .

 

thats the least of what will get spent by those teams i reckon.

 

other clubs are not going to stand still why we try and push on , and the top 10 are definately going to spend this year , half are pushing for uefa spots , the rest champ league spots .

the first lot of tv money last season was just the start of it .

On the contrary I'd say it was about the most they'll spend. I'd bet on most of those spending less.

 

when manu are setting benchmarks of 20mill for promosing (unproven) teenages , i cant see how those team who want to push on could spend anything less than the sums i mentioned .

we got a good look at how easy 50mill is wasted thanks to old keaneo last summer .

I don't get your point about Keane. Surely that's a reason not to spend £50m+ at this stage in Keegan's reign. And Man Utd (and Chelsea for that matter) aren't comparable to the other teams in terms of what they can spend, who they can attract etc.

You may be right and we'll see Villa and Everton etc. going beserk this summer but somehow I doubt it.

[Fop 1]

I'm guessing the net spend will be around £30-£40m.

 

I agree and fear that's not enough - Villa, City etc will be spending that imo.

 

 

that's no investment tho is it , its just using the tv money like every other club will be .

lets face it , we were the only team tobe beaten by derby . if everyone else spends 50 mill , and we spend 50 mill , there is little chance of us moving forward .

 

With Keegan in charge from the start, this squad would have been competing with Portsmouth, Blackburn, Villa and Everton. Matching their investment will ensure we do so next year and put ourselves in a position to bid for top class players and really spend big.

 

I honestly believe we're better off spending about as much as we did last year, anything more and we're throwing money at average players because no-one with ability and ambition should be attracted to us right now.

I think you are right.

[Guest alex]

I'm guessing the net spend will be around £30-£40m.

 

I agree and fear that's not enough - Villa, City etc will be spending that imo.

 

 

that's no investment tho is it , its just using the tv money like every other club will be .

lets face it , we were the only team tobe beaten by derby . if everyone else spends 50 mill , and we spend 50 mill , there is little chance of us moving forward .

 

With Keegan in charge from the start, this squad would have been competing with Portsmouth, Blackburn, Villa and Everton. Matching their investment will ensure we do so next year and put ourselves in a position to bid for top class players and really spend big.

 

I honestly believe we're better off spending about as much as we did last year, anything more and we're throwing money at average players because no-one with ability and ambition should be attracted to us right now.

I think you are right.

Shush. Adults are talking.