(04-07-2021, 04:13 PM)Johnnykayeengland Wrote:(04-07-2021, 11:40 AM)Birdman1811 Wrote: We were 2nd favourite to go up and had one of the largest wage bills in the league.We'd come 4th the previous season. We lost our 2 strikers, who were the reason we got so high. We had no manager.
It wasn't the remarkable job some say.
We certainly did some shrewd transfer business. Pereira, Grady and, whisper it, Sawyers made the difference.
I think from that start it was an impressive season. Even allowing for the tail off.
I don't think what the bookies say is relevant. But I agree, having the money, especially for wages certainly is.
Correct, whilst we had one of the biggest budgets in the division last season, I'm not sure ours was top 2. Whilst it was bigger than Brentford's I'd imagine Fulham in particular had a larger budget, and legacy fees / wages mean the likes of Stoke and Swansea were paying higher wage bills than we were... we also made c£30m in profit in player sales.
Going into that season the bulk of fans felt top 6 would be a stretch, with a fair few on here even reckoning we'd be in the bottom half, so we can't take away from the fact Slav did bloody well to take the club he inherited into the PL. Admittedly he has to carry the can for the total lack of intensity we returned from lockdown with that ALMOST cost us promotion, however we didn't win promotion just because we splashed the cash, we used our advantage to its fullest.
(04-07-2021, 04:54 PM)Birdman1811 Wrote:(04-07-2021, 04:13 PM)Johnnykayeengland Wrote:(04-07-2021, 11:40 AM)Birdman1811 Wrote: We were 2nd favourite to go up and had one of the largest wage bills in the league.We'd come 4th the previous season. We lost our 2 strikers, who were the reason we got so high. We had no manager.
It wasn't the remarkable job some say.
We certainly did some shrewd transfer business. Pereira, Grady and, whisper it, Sawyers made the difference.
I think from that start it was an impressive season. Even allowing for the tail off.
I don't think what the bookies say is relevant. But I agree, having the money, especially for wages certainly is.
We'd come 4th the previous season which was massive under achievement.
The way we finished last season for me said more than anything else.
Was it really? Norwich ran with a larger wage bill than we did that season, as did Swansea, Stoke and Villa... and the cumulative spending of the latter 2 was far more than we managed... after all, we made a decent profit on transfers that summer again.
We should, on paper have finished above both Leeds and Sheff U if it was purely based on financials, but then Villa and Stoke ought to have run away with the league with us, Norwich, Swansea and Frank Lampard's Derby County making up the playoffs.
Next season, due to the impact of COVID we will be one of the best off 2 sides (provided Watford and Norwich get promoted), and ideally we'll see B'mouth do it too given their external investment and possible player sales... Sheff U have lots of legacy transfer payments following their heavy spending in the last couple windows, however either Fulham or Newcastle will come down with far more money than us.
The issue for me will be whether we will have the nous to compete as there are some wily managers (Hughton, Warnock, McCarthy) who aren't usually far away from the top 6, some clubs with investment behind them (Stoke, Reading, Derby's new ownership) and some very canny operators (Barnsley, Brentford) who will be looking to erode any advantage our finances will give!