Well yes - but actually using the club being debt free as a stick to beat them with is

Ridiculous. Would we rather the club died just so we could chase the dream, or something?

My problem with these owners has always been:

1. Their football decisions

2. The way they've persistently talked the club down: not raised its profile, but lowered it

But it's quite impossible for us to be as successful as we were during the late 80s/early 90s without an owner with insanely deep pockets: and Financial Fair Play essentially precludes that now anyway.

Wigan won the FA Cup, with an owner whose money meant they could spend about two divisions above where they should naturally be. Fulham reached a European final, with an owner whose money meant they could spend about two divisions above where they should naturally be. Portsmouth won the FA Cup and bankrupted themselves in the process. 105 grand a week for Sol Campbell? An ownership saga involving Balkan criminals and gangsters? Sorry, but one FA Cup isn't worth all THAT.

Should we have nonetheless been considerably more successful than we have been since 1995? I'd say so, yes - but everything is relative. Look at both Sheffield clubs, or Leeds, or Forest. Or even, a division above ourselves, at Villa or Newcastle. We have plenty to criticise - but quite a lot to be grateful for too overall.

Posted By: thebigfeller, Jan 24, 21:12:31