sadoldgit

I really don't think they would have said anything about Clyne if they really didn't think they thought he would defo be off. It seems like he waws hedging his bets to see what was on the table for him. As for Toby, apparently the club didn't know of his wish to go to Spuds until Monday. Unless Reed can get himself a decent crystal ball I don't see what else he can do? And as for buying replacements before players leave, isn't that what happened with Soares?

Every club has its share of deluded and arrogant fans. Just look at this forum!

Do you read Alpine Saint's posts on TSW and do you consider yourself incompetent as a result?

If we had had a deeper squad last season who knows what would have happened. If we had had a bit more luck through injuries and suspensions. If. If. If. We came close no doubt about that but to sustain that challenge we need to spend more and that is the problem with all clubs our size. Do you go for it and put the club at financial risk or do you go for sustainable growth. We have chosen the latter option which means more frustration in terms of competing but, hopefully, it also means no more shenanigans like a few years ago. It is gutting to miss out on the likes of Toby but if it means living within our means and no more trips to the lower divisions then I can live with that.

Makes sense otherwise you would have more of a feeding frenzy close season.

And do we get TV money in one hit or is that phased over the season?

Serious question. Does anyone know how the transfer money is paid? A whopping cheque straight away or phased payments over a period of time?

Less spend or buying fewer players?

match

stark

clarkson

I don't know if it is true but I saw somewhere that we trumped Spuds offer but AM just blanked us. Given that Toby said it was his dream come true I think we can assume that his heart was set on Spuds.

I agree. This has been a soap opera from start to finish. Glad it is finally over and we can look for someone who wants to be here.

Yep, they will need to provide an armed guard for anyone going on holiday within striking distance of the nutters from IS.

So you bury one bit of bad news with another?

Are you suggesting we should bring him back? By the way, the thread needs a name change.

What if they refused and insisted on 4 year contracts? What if they had been like Osvaldo and we had been stuck with them? It is all conjecture.

How? AM clearly knew that his value had risen after a decent season in the Prem. From the minute the season closed they were after more money for him. None of know the full details about what went on. Until we do is there any point in trying to attach blame?

I was born and spent the first 10 years of my life in S London. I worked for most of my life in London. I now live in rural Kent and would not go back to London for any money. Not to live or work anyway. But plenty of people like it so what do I know. Other than it is overcrowded, overpriced, dirty and full of nobs.

To read some of the posts on here you would think that the Board are deliberately selling players. It happens everywhere - look at the Sterling situation at Liverpool for example. If there is a hint of bigger wages they are out of the door.

Every summer? Seriously? Re selling to competitors - I am not sure that it makes the slightest bit of difference. These teams will buy quality players whoever are selling them. I don't buy the conspiracy theory that these clubs are trying to weaken us by buying from us. As long as we do well the bigger clubs who pay bigger wages will always look to plunder our better players - as we do to other teams.

You have previous though don't you....with the Scots for example?

Is it a meaningless statement? It seems to mean something to players when they are looking to move on. We do the same ourselves and get annoyed when someone choses a club that we perceive ourselves as bigger than.

This is the problem though. We don't know what he was on before, what we were paying him, what we were prepared to pay him or what Spurs offered him. Perhaps he was on a high wage with AM and perhaps they did subsidise his wages? One thing is for sure. AM didn't want to keep him - for whatever reason.

So Spurs aren't a bigger club and don't pay higher wages?