The on topic thread 3.0

[AnEmptyChair]

I dunno, you were saying everyone who supports city should be embarrassed to do so. Maybe I got you wrong.

But this has been done to death on here so many times.

Well, yeah, I genuinely do think that they should be until they undergo a change of ownership.

And yeah, I absolutely wanted Levy to resign and Lewis to sell up after the Super League debacle and their appalling behavior during the peak of the pandemic trying to financially take advantage of fans, many of whom had lost their jobs.

And just because something has been done to death, doesn't mean it's not relevant and won't continue to be relevant for as long as it's happening. Human rights abuses don't just go away and the football club and their fans that tacitly endorse them should never be excused just because people are tired of hearing about it.

 

[Cruyff14]

Well, yeah, I genuinely do think that they should be until they undergo a change of ownership.

And yeah, I absolutely wanted Levy to resign and Lewis to sell up after the Super League debacle and their appalling behavior during the peak of the pandemic trying to financially take advantage of fans, many of whom had lost their jobs.

And just because something has been done to death, doesn't mean it's not relevant and won't continue to be relevant for as long as it's happening. Human rights abuses don't just go away and the football club and their fans that tacitly endorse them should never be excused just because people are tired of hearing about it.

Hope you don't watch the 2022 WC if you're so against human right abusers.

 

[AnEmptyChair]

Hope you don't watch the 2022 WC if you're so against human right abusers.

Indeed. It's an absolute travesty.

 

[Zidane98]

Is WR back?

 

[AnEmptyChair]

Is WR back?

haha nah, but I did used to post here a few years ago under my old account, kangaspurs.

 

[Zidane98]

haha nah, but I did used to post here a few years ago under my old account, kangaspurs.

Hey mate good to see you back. Best wishes for the season.

 

[TheGreatBarryB]

Well, yeah, I genuinely do think that they should be until they undergo a change of ownership.

So what about the poor punter who follows a club and that’s the main part of their life. Some supporters it’s massive, their house is decorated with team colours, their friends may be all through following the club…they love it!

Then there’s news their beloved club has been taken over. They raise their concern, write letters/petitions, but there’s nothing in their power to do anything about it. Totally out of their hands. Yet they should just give up their club that they’ve grown up with? Is throat pretty tough and unfair on that supporter

Spurs owner is an investment group isn’t it? Do they invest in only ethically conscious stocks? Or do they invest in companies that make weapons, associated with miners, nuclear waste, companies in countries that have human rights abuses etc? Fans supposed to analyse this as well?

 

[Zidane98]

So what about the poor punter who follows a club and that’s the main part of their life. Some supporters it’s massive, their house is decorated with team colours, their friends may be all through following the club…they love it!

Then there’s news their beloved club has been taken over. They raise their concern, write letters/petitions, but there’s nothing in their power to do anything about it. Totally out of their hands. Yet they should just give up their club that they’ve grown up with? Is throat pretty tough and unfair on that supporter

Spurs owner is an investment group isn’t it? Do they invest in only ethically conscious stocks? Or do they invest in companies that make weapons, associated with miners, nuclear waste, companies in countries that have human rights abuses etc? Fans supposed to analyse this as well?

Im agreeing here. Fans dont choose who owns their club so cant be blamed for supporting them. Ill be supporting Liverpool whoever owns it but would be truly against the Saudis buying it despite the clear financial advantages that would bring.

There is no reason however why fans cant support their club and speak out against the owners because Man City's ownership does some truly awful stuff. Some do in the media but generally end up labelled as Man Utd / Liverpool fans for speaking up.

 

[Art Vandelay_]

I dunno, you were saying everyone who supports city should be embarrassed to do so. Maybe I got you wrong.

But this has been done to death on here so many times.

Maybe it has been done to death but who cares. Seemingly only those whose club have done a deal with the devil to win a trophy.

When a grand club like Manchester United can’t sniff a title because - unlike the SAF era - where coaching was paramount, nowadays being a decent coach with a blank cheque means more than being a world class manager who improves his players. It is a joke.

When a club sitting inside the top 10 on the money list struggles to hold onto its striker because Man City with 550m on the pitch and 350m of players on the bench need a flashy new toy to show off, then the game is gone.

Calling out the PSG, City, Chelsea of the world as being a major reason football is ****ed won’t stop. More and more fans across football are fed up with it.

It shouldn’t be a game where to succeed you need a blank cheque from a sugar daddy.

 

[moomba]

When a grand club like Manchester United can’t sniff a title because - unlike the SAF era - where coaching was paramount, nowadays being a decent coach with a blank cheque means more than being a world class manager who improves his players. It is a joke.

Their biggest achievement is convincing people that they aren't spending as much as anyone.

 

[chef]

Maybe it has been done to death but who cares. Seemingly only those whose club have done a deal with the devil to win a trophy.

When a grand club like Manchester United can’t sniff a title because - unlike the SAF era - where coaching was paramount, nowadays being a decent coach with a blank cheque means more than being a world class manager who improves his players. It is a joke.

When a club sitting inside the top 10 on the money list struggles to hold onto its striker because Man City with 550m on the pitch and 350m of players on the bench need a flashy new toy to show off, then the game is gone.

Calling out the PSG, City, Chelsea of the world as being a major reason football is f’ed won’t stop. More and more fans across football are fed up with it.

It shouldn’t be a game where to succeed you need a blank cheque from a sugar daddy.

And posters can do that and it's fine, as long as they are not being disrespectful or abusive to other posters. Go the hack and post the same old shit over again and again. But hate the clubs, not the fans.

I go for one of the have nots in the AFL so I know that pain. Wish we got given hundreds on millions by the government to convert our ground so we could make a fortune each home game instead of getting shafted and ripped off in the AFLs own ground.

These problems aren't exclusive to just the EPL. And neither are sugar daddies, the Dogs wouldn't be here with Peter Gordon saved my club many times and sunk millions of his own money into us.

 

[chef]

Their biggest achievement is convincing people that they aren't spending as much as anyone.

Yep. United spend as much as anyone.

 

[Bradesmaen]

Yep. United spend as much as anyone.

They haven't spent a cent in the last few years. Just lots of pounds instead.

 

[Frank Bunn]

Maybe it has been done to death but who cares. Seemingly only those whose club have done a deal with the devil to win a trophy.

When a grand club like Manchester United can’t sniff a title because - unlike the SAF era - where coaching was paramount, nowadays being a decent coach with a blank cheque means more than being a world class manager who improves his players. It is a joke.

This is a myth. Man U were the biggest spenders under SAF.

Roy Keane, Andy Cole, Van Nistelrooy, Rio Ferdinand were all signed for British record transfer fees.

Gary Pallister transfer broke the national record for a fee paid for a defender, as well as being the highest fee between British clubs.

Henning Berg was the joint-highest fee ever paid for a defender by a British club.

Fabien Barthez was a British record for a goalkeeper. As was David de Gea.

Juan Sebastián Verón was the most expensive transfer in English football at the time.

Ronaldo was the most expensive teenager in English football history. This was surpassed this next season by Wayne Rooney.

Jaap Stam was a new club record fee at the time. Dwight Yorke set a new record not long after. Dimitar Berbatov was a record signing, as was Juan Mata.

Since Fergie left Di María, Pogba, Maguire, Lukaku and Sancho have all been signed for huge amounts.

 

[Art Vandelay_]

Their biggest achievement is convincing people that they aren't spending as much as anyone.

Spending what you organically earn yourself is different than having a cheque written every transfer window.
Do you really think you organically overtook the commercial and global brand juggernaut that is United financially?

This is a myth. Man U were the biggest spenders under SAF.

Roy Keane, Andy Cole, Van Nistelrooy, Rio Ferdinand were all signed for British record transfer fees.

Gary Pallister transfer broke the national record for a fee paid for a defender, as well as being the highest fee between British clubs.

Henning Berg was the joint-highest fee ever paid for a defender by a British club.

Fabien Barthez was a British record for a goalkeeper. As was David de Gea.

Juan Sebastián Verón was the most expensive transfer in English football at the time.

Ronaldo was the most expensive teenager in English football history. This was surpassed this next season by Wayne Rooney.

Jaap Stam was a new club record fee at the time. Dwight Yorke set a new record not long after. Dimitar Berbatov was a record signing, as was Juan Mata.

Since Fergie left Di María, Pogba, Maguire, Lukaku and Sancho have all been signed for huge amounts.

Bojan KantKick correct this foolish argument please. I can’t be arsed.

 

[moomba]

Spending what you organically earn yourself is different than having a cheque written every transfer window.
Do you really think you organically overtook the commercial and global brand juggernaut that is United financially?

We've never earned as much commercial or match day revenue as United. We have consistently earned more broadcasting income over the last decade though.

As for the rest, you'll believe what you believe, and it's not worth my time trying to convince you otherwise.

 

[Bojan KantKick]

This is a myth. Man U were the biggest spenders under SAF.

Roy Keane, Andy Cole, Van Nistelrooy, Rio Ferdinand were all signed for British record transfer fees.

Gary Pallister transfer broke the national record for a fee paid for a defender, as well as being the highest fee between British clubs.

Henning Berg was the joint-highest fee ever paid for a defender by a British club.

Fabien Barthez was a British record for a goalkeeper. As was David de Gea.

Juan Sebastián Verón was the most expensive transfer in English football at the time.

Ronaldo was the most expensive teenager in English football history. This was surpassed this next season by Wayne Rooney.

Jaap Stam was a new club record fee at the time. Dwight Yorke set a new record not long after. Dimitar Berbatov was a record signing, as was Juan Mata.

Since Fergie left Di María, Pogba, Maguire, Lukaku and Sancho have all been signed for huge amounts.

We weren't even close to the biggest spenders during Fergies time at the club. Unfortunately, I can't find the records from before the premier league started but from then on:

1992/93

The biggest spenders: Blackburn
The spend: £8.46m
The signings: Alan Shearer, Duncan Shearer, Kevin Gallacher, Frank Talia, Patrik Andersson, Stuart Ripley, Graeme Le Saux, Nicky Marker, Simon Ireland, Wayne Burnett, Henning Berg, Lee Makel, Tim Sherwood
The biggest signing: Alan Shearer (£3.4m, Southampton)
The finish: 4th

Manchester United won the inaugural Premier League title after a seasonal spend of £2.3m, comprised of fees for Eric Cantona (£1.2m), Dion Dublin (£1m) and the great Pat McGibbon (£100k). Blackburn, Tottenham (£4.7m), Liverpool (£4.4m) and Sheffield Wednesday (£2.4m) all spent more.

1993/94
The biggest spenders: Blackburn
The spend: £8.5m
The signings: Tim Flowers, David Batty, Ian Pearce, Paul Warhurst, Paul Harford, Andy Morrison
The biggest signing: David Batty (£2.75m, Leeds)
The finish: 2nd

Blackburn benefited from Jack Walker’s millions once more, although third-placed Newcastle (£5.1m) pushed them close. Rovers would have spent even more in summer 1993 had Manchester United not beaten them to the British-record signing of Roy Keane (£3.75m). That was the only signing Alex Ferguson’s champions made in their successful first title defence.

1994/95
The biggest spenders: Everton
The spend: £10.9m
The signings: Earl Barrett, Duncan Ferguson, David Burrows, Daniel Amokachi, Vinny Samways
The biggest signing: Duncan Ferguson (£4m, Rangers)
The finish: 15th

And you assumed Blackburn would complete this most obscure of hat-tricks. Kenny Dalglish spent £6.5m on Chris Sutton and Jeff Kenna to finally deliver the Premier League title to Ewood Park, but they were blown out of the water by Everton. The Toffees are proof that money does not guarantee success: they spent more than anyone in the 1994/95 season, only to finish 15th.

1995/96
The biggest spenders: Newcastle
The spend: £24.5m
The signings: Shaka Hislop, Les Ferdinand, David Batty, David Ginola, Warren Barton, Darren Huckerby, Faustino Asprilla
The biggest signing: Faustino Asprilla (£6.7m, Parma)
The finish: 2nd

Faustino Asprilla arrived in February 1996 and infamously (did not) cost the Magpies the title, while Les Ferdinand (£4m) and David Ginola (£2.5m) also joined the party. Everton (£11.9m) splashed the cash again, this time finishing sixth, while Arsenal (£12.25m) and Liverpool (£13m) came fifth and third respectively. Manchester United signed two players all season, both goalkeepers in Nick Culkin and Tony Coton. Wimbledon (£125k) were the only club to spend less (£750k) than the champions.

1996/97
The biggest spenders: Newcastle
The spend: £17.5m
The signings: Alan Shearer, Des Hamilton
The biggest signing: Alan Shearer (£15m, Blackburn)
The finish: 2nd

Only two players joined as Newcastle attempted to make the final step from runners-up to champions, but one of them was the most expensive in the world. A five-year-old Mohamed Salah scoffed and raised an eyebrow at Shearer’s return of 25 Premier League goals as the Magpies again missed out to Manchester United (£7.6m), who spent less than Aston Villa (£12.7m) and relegated Middlesbrough (£11.2m).

1997/98
The biggest spenders: Newcastle
The spend: £24.65m
The signings: Paddy Kelly, Shay Given, Temuri Ketsbaia, Jon Dahl Tomasson, Stuart Pearce, Alessandro Pistone, Brian Pinas, John Barnes, Ian Rush, Carlos Gonzalez, Ralf Keidel, Paul Dalglish, David Terrier, Andreas Andersson, Andy Griffin, Gary Speed, James Coppinger, Paul Robinson, Stephen Glass, Nikos Dabizas
The biggest signing: Gary Speed (£5.5m, Everton)
The finish: 13th

That’s a lot of players. It’s also a lot of money. Newcastle used to be so fun when it came to transfers. Arsenal pushed them closest in that respect, spending £16.75m en route to their first Premier League title. And we have no truck with net spend on this list…

1998/99
The biggest spenders: Manchester United
The spend: £29.35m
The signings: Jaap Stam, Russell Best, Jesper Blomqvist, John O’Shea, Dwight Yorke, Bojan Djordjic
The biggest signing: Dwight Yorke (£12.6m, Aston Villa)
The finish: 1st

Finally. It took until the seventh season of Premier League football for the campaign’s highest spenders to emerge as (treble) champions. Newcastle (£27.55m) obviously spent all of the money again, only to finish 13th again. Neat trick.

1999/2000
The biggest spenders: Liverpool
The spend: £35.9m
The signings: Sami Hyypiä, Titi Camara, Sander Westerveld, Stéphane Henchoz, Dietmar Hamann, Vladimír Šmicer, Emile Heskey, Erik Meijer, Jon Newby
The biggest signing: Emile Heskey (£11m, Leicester)
The finish: 4th

After going briefly transfer-mad the previous season, champions Manchester United (£10m) scaled their business back considerably. Coventry (£16.45m) spent more.

2000/01
The biggest spenders: Leeds
The spend: £48.7m
The signings: Olivier Dacourt, Mark Viduka, Dominic Matteo, Jacob Burns, Rio Ferdinand, Robbie Keane
The biggest signing: Rio Ferdinand (£18m, West Ham)
The finish: 4th

Arsenal spent £35m to finish second, while Chelsea stumped up a bill of £34.1m to come sixth. A world-record fee for a defender of £18m could not lift Leeds any higher than fourth, 12 points behind Manchester United. The Red Devils spent £8.7m on Fabien Barthez in May 2000, and nothing more.

2001/02
The biggest spenders: Manchester United
The spend: £58.6m
The signings: Roy Carroll, Ruud van Nistelrooy, Juan Sebastián Verón, Laurent Blanc, Diego Forlán, Luke Steele
The biggest signing: Juan Sebastián Verón (£29.1m, Lazio)
The finish: 3rd

Manchester United spent more money than anyone, but Arsenal (£29.15m) won the Premier League title. Who came second behind United in terms of money spent? Fulham (£32.3m), obviously.

2002/03
The biggest spenders: Manchester United
The spend: £30.6m
The signings: Rio Ferdinand, Ricardo
The biggest signing: Rio Ferdinand (£29.1m)
The finish: 1st

Manchester United spent £30.6m to finish first. Manchester City spent £30.25m to finish ninth.

2003/04
The biggest spenders: Chelsea
The spend: £121.5m
The signings: Jürgen Macho, Marco Ambrosio, Glen Johnson, Geremi, Wayne Bridge, Damien Duff, Joe Cole, Juan Sebastián Verón, Adrian Mutu, Alexey Smertin, Hernán Crespo, Neil Sullivan, Claude Makélélé, Scott Parker
The biggest signing: Damien Duff (£17m, Blackburn)
The finish: 2nd

Oh look, Chelsea have some money. Arsenal invincibled their way to the title off the back of a £1.75m summer spend – although they spent a further £10.5m on José Antonio Reyes in January and £3m on Robin van Persie in April.

2004/05
The biggest spenders: Chelsea
The spend: £94.45m
The signings: Paulo Ferreira, Petr Čech, Arjen Robben, Mateja Kežman, Didier Drogba, Tiago, Ricardo Carvalho, Nuno Morais, Jiří Jarošík
The biggest signing: Didier Drogba (£24m, Marseille)
The finish: 1st

If at first you don’t quite succeed, spend another metric sh*t ton and employ a better manager.

2005/06
The biggest spenders: Chelsea
The spend: £54.4m
The signings: Asier del Horno, Lassana Diarra, Shaun Wright-Phillips, Michael Essien, Maniche
The biggest signing: Michael Essien (£24.4m, Lyon)
The finish: 1st

Liverpool celebrated becoming European champions in the most frugal way possible: by spending £27.35m, and making Peter Crouch (£7m) their most expensive buy of the summer. Newcastle enjoyed some ’90s nostalgia by parting with £38.3m.

2006/07
The biggest spenders: Chelsea
The spend: £56.5m
The signings: Michael Ballack, Salomon Kalou, Andriy Shevchenko, John Obi Mikel, Khalid Boulahrouz, Ashley Cole
The biggest signing: Andriy Shevchenko (£30.8m)
The finish: 2nd

Chelsea definitely spent more money than 18 Premier League clubs in 2006/07. But no-one has a bloody clue how much Pards spent on Carlos Tevez and Javier Mascherano at West Ham. Champions Man United? They just bought a Michael Carrick and that was enough.

2007/08
The biggest spenders: Liverpool
The spend: £69.3m
The signings: Andriy Voronin, Yossi Benayoun, Fernando Torres, Ryan Babel, Lucas, Charles Itandje, Krisztián Németh, Nikolay Mihaylov, Emiliano Insúa, Ryan Crowther, Sebastián Leto, Damien Plessis, Martin Škrtel, Javier Mascherano
The biggest signing: Fernando Torres (£20m, Atletico Madrid)
The finish: 4th

On only three occasions have Liverpool been the highest spenders in a single Premier League season. Tottenham (£57.5m) also loosened the purse strings a little, while Manchester United won the title and Champions League on the back of a £51.8m squad investment.

2008/09
The biggest spenders: Manchester City
The spend: £119.35m
The signings: Jô, Tal Ben Haim, Vincent Kompany, Shaun Wright-Phillips, Pablo Zabaleta, Gláuber, Robinho, Wayne Bridge, Craig Bellamy, Nigel de Jong, Shay Given
The biggest signing: Robinho (£32.5m, Real Madrid)
The finish: 10th

With Liverpool (£38.3m), Manchester United (£37.75m), Arsenal (£32.5m) and Chelsea (£24.6m) all electing to leave the transfer window ajar, Manchester City decided to sneak in. The aforementioned quartet obviously comprised the top four, while City finished tenth.

The biggest spenders: Manchester City
The spend: £125.5m
The signings: Gareth Barry, Roque Santa Cruz, Stuart Taylor, Carlos Tevez, Emmanuel Adebayor, Kolo Touré, Sylvinho, Joleon Lescott, Patrick Vieira, Adam Johnson
The biggest signing: Carlos Tevez (£25.5m, MSI)
The finish: 5th

Manchester City broke the £100m barrier for the second season running. The next closest club in terms of seasonal transfer spend were Aston Villa (£35m), followed by Sunderland (£34.5m). And just look at them now. Chelsea spent £26m on their way to the title, £18m of which went on Yuri Zhirkov.

2010/11
The biggest spenders: Manchester City
The spend: £152m
The signings: Jérôme Boateng, Yaya Touré, David Silva, Aleksandar Kolarov, Mario Balotelli, James Milner, Edin Džeko
The biggest signing: Edin Džeko (£27m, Wolfsburg)
The finish: 3rd

Chelsea spent £100.8m in an attempt to defend their Premier League title. Manchester United spent £23.8m to wrestle it from their grasp. To repeat: money doesn’t guarantee success.

2011/12
The biggest spenders: Chelsea
The spend: £79.2m
The signings: Thibaut Courtois, Oriol Romeu, Romelu Lukaku, Juan Mata, Ulises Davila, Raul Meireles, Sam Hutchinson, Kenneth Omeruo, Gary Cahill, Lucas Piazon, Patrick Bamford, Kevin de Bruyne
The biggest signing: Juan Mata (£23.5m, Valencia)
The finish: 6th

It may have delivered an underwhelming Premier League season, but the consolation was a Champions League title and FA Cup. Manchester City won the title with a £76m spend.

2012/13
The biggest spenders: Chelsea
The spend: £86.1m
The signings: Lamisha Musonda, Charly Musonda, Tika Musonda, Andreas Christensen, Marko Marin, Eden Hazard, Thorgan Hazard, Oscar, César Azpilicueta, Victor Moses, Wallace, Demba Ba
The biggest signing: Eden Hazard (£32m, Lille)
The finish: 3rd

A similar spend, another European trophy, and a slightly improved Premier League finish. All thanks to Rafael Benitez.

2013/14
The biggest spenders: Tottenham
The spend: £109m
The signings: Paulinho, Nacer Chadli, Roberto Soldado, Étienne Capoue, Vlad Chiricheș, Christian Eriksen, Érik Lamela
The biggest signing: Érik Lamela (£30m, Roma)
The finish: 6th

“Look at Tottenham … [when] you spend over £100m you’d expect to be challenging for the league.” Brendan’s words, not ours. Tottenham outspent Chelsea by a mere £500k, but neither could keep the pace of Manchester City (£90.9m) or Liverpool (£44.8m).

2014/15
The biggest spenders: Manchester United
The spend: £147.2m
The signings: Ander Herrera, Luke Shaw, Vanja Milinković-Savić, Marcos Rojo, Ángel di María, Daley Blind, Timothy Fosu-Mensah, Víctor Valdés, Sadiq El Fitouri
The biggest signing: Ángel di María (£59.7m, Real Madrid)
The finish: 4th

“Look at Tottenham…[when] you spend over £100m you’d expect to be challenging for the league.” Brendan’s words, not ours. Liverpool (£117m) might have expected more than sixth place. Manchester United (£147.2m) were the only club to spend more, and soared into fourth. Chelsea’s £108.6m spend delivered a title.

2015/16
The biggest spenders: Manchester City
The spend: £149.6m
The signings: Kevin de Bruyne, Raheem Sterling, Nicolás Otamendi, Patrick Roberts, Fabian Delph, Enes Ünal, Anthony Caceres, Florian Lejeune, Rubén Sobrino, Luke Brattan
The biggest signing: Kevin de Bruyne (£55m, Wolfsburg)
The finish: 4th

Look at those City players. And yet, it’s almost like money does not guarantee success. Leicester? They spent less than £45m.

2016/17
The biggest spenders: Manchester City
The spend: £171.5m
The signings: Ilkay Gündoğan, Nolito, Oleksandr Zinchenko, Leroy Sané, Marlos Moreno, John Stones, Claudio Bravo, Gabriel Jesus
The biggest signing: John Stones (£47.5m, Everton)
The finish: 3rd

“This season it’s very important to understand that it’s not always about who spends more money who wins,” said Antonio Conte. Chelsea taught the Manchester clubs a lesson, winning the title after spending a pittance (£117.2m) in comparison to City and United (£145.3m).

2017/18
The biggest spenders: Manchester City
The spend: £278.7m
The signings: Bernardo Silva, Ederson, Kyle Walker, Douglas Luiz, Danilo, Benjamin Mendy, Olarenwaju Kayode, Aymeric Laporte, Jack Harrison
The biggest signing: Aymeric Laporte (£57m, Athletic Bilbao)
The finish: 1st

The three biggest spenders in the Premier League that season were Manchester City, Chelsea (£237.9m) and Everton (£197.6m). That is truly the most mixed of bags. It was only the fifth season out of 26 in which the club that spent the most money won the title. Go figure.

2018/19
The biggest spenders: Liverpool, kind of
The spend: £165.45m
The signings: Naby Keita, Fabinho, Xherdan Shaqiri, Alisson
The biggest signing: Alisson (£56m, Roma)
The finish: 2nd

There is an asterisk, with Chelsea’s £186.1m spend including the £57.5m January signing of Christian Pulisic, who did not actually join the club until the summer of 2019. Leicester (£102.6m) also make the podium, but Liverpool pretty much bridged a 25-point gap to Manchester City (£70.25m) with some quite ridiculous money. Obviously, net spend blah blah blah.

2019/20
The biggest spenders: Manchester United
The spend: £192.6m
The signings: Harry Maguire, Aaron Wan-Bissaka, Bruno Fernandes, Daniel James
The biggest signing: Harry Maguire (£80m, Leicester City)
The finish: 3rd

For the first time in five years, Manchester United were the biggest spenders – with a very similar result. Champions Liverpool (who did nothing of financial note until January) actually spent less than every club barring Norwich City and Crystal Palace. That Aston Villa (£143.19m) are fourth on the spending list should be a source of embarrassment.

2020/21
The biggest spenders: Chelsea
The spend: £222.5m
The signings: Hakim Ziyech, Timo Werner, Ben Chilwell, Thiago Silva, Kai Havertz, Edouard Mendy
The biggest signing: Kai Havertz (£72m, Bayer Leverkusen)
The finish: Likely 3rd or 4th

Frank Lampard paid with his job after failing to mount anything close to a title challenge with title challenge money while Manchester City cruised to the title on a modest spend of £160m. Leeds and Aston Villa both spent more than Arsenal, Manchester United or Liverpool.

 

[Bojan KantKick]

Also, one would expect club record fees to be broken over time due to inflation.

 

[Fwoy]

 

[Magma]

****ing hell some of those absolute no names and flops we brought in. luke brattan ffs ricky olarenshaw kayode

 

[chef]

We weren't even close to the biggest spenders during Fergies time at the club. Unfortunately, I can't find the records from before the premier league started but from then on:.

I guess with Fergie being the GOAT manager you didn't need to be.

Would be interesting to compare the net spends of clubs since them. Here's the last 5 years.

Man City leapfrog Liverpool in net spend table with January splurge

Forget the league table, it's all about the Premier League net spend table. And neither Man City nor Liverpool are in top five.

www.football365.com

 

[DBAH0]

 

[RossFC]

View attachment 1208236

5 season tickets at West Ham is the same value as 1 PSG game apparently.

 

[DBAH0]

5 season tickets at West Ham is the same value as 1 PSG game apparently.

Sounds about right.

On another note, I remember when Ipswich were in the Premier League last, they were the 4th highest for season tickets IIRC...

 

[Cruyff14]

View attachment 1208236

****ing farcical we are charging that much when we are ****ing junk. ****ing joke of a club.