Agree with everything but the last point. Its all about money. Name the last club without a lot of it won the Champions League, or even the Premiership?
The aim I would have thought would be to somehow replicate what Wenger has achieved at Arsenal. Or at least use that model.Of the formerly established top 4 he's spent his money most wisely recruiting some very good players coupled with outstanding prospects. Though Wenger hasn't won a trophy in the past few years his teams are attractive to watch and always competitive. They are perennially in the top 4 which demonstrates a shrewdness that I hope Houllier can bring to the club. Given the money being doshed out by others Wenger has worked miracles spending relative to turnover. It's not easy but it can be done.
Quote from: toronto villa on September 12, 2010, 10:30:24 PMThe aim I would have thought would be to somehow replicate what Wenger has achieved at Arsenal. Or at least use that model.Of the formerly established top 4 he's spent his money most wisely recruiting some very good players coupled with outstanding prospects. Though Wenger hasn't won a trophy in the past few years his teams are attractive to watch and always competitive. They are perennially in the top 4 which demonstrates a shrewdness that I hope Houllier can bring to the club. Given the money being doshed out by others Wenger has worked miracles spending relative to turnover. It's not easy but it can be done.the problem here is that Wenger, like Ferguson, will have their legacies formulated by being at the right place at the right time. The latter because Man U had a great team of kids coming through many of whom went on to play international football, whilst Wenger came to Arsenal at the right time, when france, and French footballers, were the best, and knew which undervalued players to put together to make a great team.The management of both made it work, but they will never replicate that again.
Quote from: toronto villa on September 12, 2010, 10:30:24 PMThe aim I would have thought would be to somehow replicate what Wenger has achieved at Arsenal. Or at least use that model.Of the formerly established top 4 he's spent his money most wisely recruiting some very good players coupled with outstanding prospects. Though Wenger hasn't won a trophy in the past few years his teams are attractive to watch and always competitive. They are perennially in the top 4 which demonstrates a shrewdness that I hope Houllier can bring to the club. Given the money being doshed out by others Wenger has worked miracles spending relative to turnover. It's not easy but it can be done.I think very few clubs could get away with what Wenger has managed there, it's pretty unique.The London location helps too, when it comes to attracting promising young players from across the globe. Would a young Fabregas or Vela want to settle in Birmingham? Unlikely.A model we could more closely follow is that of the other North London lot. Casting the net wide, not afraid to take a punt on Championship players and trading at profit. Again the level of foreign player they can attract might be helped by the London factor, but as an overall model there might be more to draw from than the Arsenal one.
Quote from: peter w on September 12, 2010, 10:23:40 PMAgree with everything but the last point. Its all about money. Name the last club without a lot of it won the Champions League, or even the Premiership?Villareal have got to the latter stages of the CL.They have finance, but aren't traditionally one of the powerhouses in Spain and get very small gates.Wolfsburg and Hoffenheim aren't giants of the German game but have made significant strides in recent years. Again, yes, part of that progress is because of finance. But there are plenty more wealthy clubs in Germany, clubs traditionally much stronger. So good coaching, good management and team chemistry does have a role to play.Finance is important -and had we managed it in 2009/09 many would have pointed to the fact that we were one of the biggest spenders in Europe that year. But it isn't the be all and end all.
See I don't buy into the London argument as much when it comes to prospects from across Europe or other parts of the world. I think a chance to play in the PL at a big club is enticing enough for most. Even proven pros, given the right environment and offer can be acquired. Steve Bruce has convinced a number of very good players to come to Wigan and Sunderland. Middlesborough for a while had Juninho, Mendietta, Yakubu and Ravinelli. None of those are the most exciting places on the earth. We've just got to have a very good scouting system in various parts of the world. I would hope Houiller's experience in various football circles means he would get tipped off once in a while to the next big thing. One can hope anyway.
How many times did Gregory 'regularly' finish in the top five?
For me the saddest thing about all of this is that clubs like Villa aspire to get 4th place - not the title. I appreciate that the money does go a long way to deciding the top places however I agree with KevinGage that with astute coaching and a correct blend of hungry ambitious players (young and experienced) there is no reason a club cannot win the league.Again the preference to finish 4th rather than win one of the cups is a strange concept to me.Little and BFR had their failings and hence their departure,s however they did bring silverware to VP and made a few of us happy doing so.
Quote from: KevinGage on September 12, 2010, 10:33:15 PMQuote from: peter w on September 12, 2010, 10:23:40 PMAgree with everything but the last point. Its all about money. Name the last club without a lot of it won the Champions League, or even the Premiership?Villareal have got to the latter stages of the CL.They have finance, but aren't traditionally one of the powerhouses in Spain and get very small gates.Wolfsburg and Hoffenheim aren't giants of the German game but have made significant strides in recent years. Again, yes, part of that progress is because of finance. But there are plenty more wealthy clubs in Germany, clubs traditionally much stronger. So good coaching, good management and team chemistry does have a role to play.Finance is important -and had we managed it in 2009/09 many would have pointed to the fact that we were one of the biggest spenders in Europe that year. But it isn't the be all and end all.As far as I aware, by Premiership standards, Porto were not wealthy. I stand to be corrected though.