Skrilla
Just doesn't shut up
- Joined
- Feb 17, 2012
- Messages
- 17,350
- Reaction score
- 19,161
First and foremost, I know people will point out the continually rising ticket prices and the lack of quality football that has been on offer for the last two years. No complaints from me there, it hasn't been up to the standard we'd come to expect under Nuno, and it certainly hasn't been justified. I will precursor this by saying I don't think they've gotten everything right, but that doesn't mean they've also gotten everything wrong, or deserve the stick to the extent they're currently getting e.g. 'Fosun out' threads and similar sentiments across social media(s).
I don't mean to turn this into a "remember where we came from" thread, but it was hard to envision the club being much more than an eternally yo-yo'ing club before the takeover in 2016 that transformed us. I keep seeing people moaning about lack of investment this summer, while continually ignoring the fact we're faced with genuine Financial Fair Play problems that restrict continued outside investment - £46m losses in 2021/22, and £80m~ losses in 2022/23, leaving us in a very awkward position this year trying to stay under the permitted £105m rolling three-year losses with a continually mounting amortisation bill and the coaching staff being on a considerable salary.
We spent the best part of £200 million last season if you include Cunha and Traore's obligations to buy. We were forced to do this summer's shopping in January to keep us up. We can expect more, but we can also be realistic to the type of club we are. Finishing 7th in consecutive seasons in this era of the 'Big Six' is about as good as it's likely to get, and hopefully in the long run we can get back to those dizzying heights of European away days, but consistently achieving midtable in the Premier League is more of a regression to the mean rather than an actual decline.
We haven't spent anything yet this summer, but this squad is hardly the car crash some have made it out to be. We could use a little more strength in depth in certain areas, and we have a month to address that, but we have some serious quality across the pitch. Fans have been crying out for Fabio Silva to get his chance this season, and it looks like he will. Nunes, Cunha, Gomes, and Kilman are as promising a spine as we've arguably ever had. Neto has had his first injury-free preseason in three years. Big Sasa is finally healthy.
I think we need to give them the benefit of the doubt, and let them right their wrongs, they deserve that much before we start calling for their heads.
I don't mean to turn this into a "remember where we came from" thread, but it was hard to envision the club being much more than an eternally yo-yo'ing club before the takeover in 2016 that transformed us. I keep seeing people moaning about lack of investment this summer, while continually ignoring the fact we're faced with genuine Financial Fair Play problems that restrict continued outside investment - £46m losses in 2021/22, and £80m~ losses in 2022/23, leaving us in a very awkward position this year trying to stay under the permitted £105m rolling three-year losses with a continually mounting amortisation bill and the coaching staff being on a considerable salary.
We spent the best part of £200 million last season if you include Cunha and Traore's obligations to buy. We were forced to do this summer's shopping in January to keep us up. We can expect more, but we can also be realistic to the type of club we are. Finishing 7th in consecutive seasons in this era of the 'Big Six' is about as good as it's likely to get, and hopefully in the long run we can get back to those dizzying heights of European away days, but consistently achieving midtable in the Premier League is more of a regression to the mean rather than an actual decline.
We haven't spent anything yet this summer, but this squad is hardly the car crash some have made it out to be. We could use a little more strength in depth in certain areas, and we have a month to address that, but we have some serious quality across the pitch. Fans have been crying out for Fabio Silva to get his chance this season, and it looks like he will. Nunes, Cunha, Gomes, and Kilman are as promising a spine as we've arguably ever had. Neto has had his first injury-free preseason in three years. Big Sasa is finally healthy.
I think we need to give them the benefit of the doubt, and let them right their wrongs, they deserve that much before we start calling for their heads.