The Bitter Truth?

[Özim]

But if we didn’t pay dross players so much we’d be able to pay out bigger wages to the players that haven’t actually earned the right to command that sort of fee. It’s not even just dross player – Wilshere, Gibbs and Ramsey shouldn’t be on big contracts. £85k a week for Wilshere is a joke. We offered that to him whilst he was still crocked. We have no idea if he’ll ever reach that potential and if he doesn’t, we’re stuck paying that out. We doll out the money too early and it’s based on potential instead of actual performances. Out of the three players mentioned, say it’s only Ramsey that delivers on the pitch and when his next contract is due. Say he feels he deserves a lot more but we can’t pay because the wage bill is bloated and players on high wages that haven’t fulfilled their potential are still on the books and difficult to shift? The ‘dross’ we paid money out to originally all had potential. Djourou, Denilson, Beny, Diaby….all had moments where we thought they be great in the future.

Also, I think it’s time we stopped using other clubs finances as an excuse to why he have want away players. It’s the lack of progress, poor polices and management that eventually grinds the players down and they leave. We haven’t had a player that’s coveted by the whole of Europe in a long time. Cesc and the whole Barca saga was the last I recall and he left because he knew Arsenal had taken him as far as he could go. The other clubs are taking advantage of our situation and it’s never a case of us having player that clubs just want to throw money at.

Totally agree, we have a horrible way of overpaying players who've done nothing, we've got a host of crocks we keep on our books and constantly offer new contracts too, we bring in unheard of kids and overpay them, we overpay players like Wilshere who's repuation is based on a handful of games, it has to stop. I don't mind us paying top class proven players big money as they have shown what they can do but not players who have potential because 90% of the time they never reach their potential.

[Özim]

I don't think Everton are better than us either, I do however think tactically they are superior and that they do have a better strikerforce (albeit on loan).

They got a pasting in the Merseyside derby albeit by a side I do think are better than us Liverpool, what I will say is for a side on their budget and with their finances they've done very well, we should be miles better than them and the gap should be much bigger between us and them.

[Letters]

There's a clear gap in terms of attack.

They've scored fewer goals than us It's not that clear.

[Herbert_Chapman's_Zombie]

Totally agree, we have a horrible way of overpaying players who've done nothing, we've got a host of crocks we keep on our books and constantly offer new contracts too, we bring in unheard of kids and overpay them, we overpay players like Wilshere who's repuation is based on a handful of games, it has to stop. I don't mind us paying top class proven players big money as they have shown what they can do but not players who have potential because 90% of the time they never reach their potential.

Yes too much money was paid to dross like Chamakh, Bendtner, Denilson, Squillaci etc but the vast majority of our wage bill now is taken up paying Ramsey, Wilshere and Walcott to keep them away from city and Chelsea. There is still wastage with Bendtner and Podolski but it will still stretch us to the limit even without them.

[Herbert_Chapman's_Zombie]

They've scored fewer goals than us It's not that clear.

Weve scored more goals from midfield, and our midfield when fully fit is better than ours

[Power n Glory]

Yes too much money was paid to dross like Chamakh, Bendtner, Denilson, Squillaci etc but the vast majority of our wage bill now is taken up paying Ramsey, Wilshere and Walcott to keep them away from city and Chelsea. There is still wastage with Bendtner and Podolski but it will still stretch us to the limit even without them.

You don’t get it. The money we’ve given Ramsey, Wilshere and Walcott isn’t the thing that’s stopping them from going to Chelsea or City. None of the three would even get into the City and Chelsea squad. They don’t want them and if they did, the chump change we’re offering wouldn’t sway them to stay.

[Herbert_Chapman's_Zombie]

You don’t get it. The money we’ve given Ramsey, Wilshere and Walcott isn’t the thing that’s stopping them from going to Chelsea or City. None of the three would even get into the City and Chelsea squad. They don’t want them and if they did, the chump change we’re offering wouldn’t sway them to stay.

Nonsense, players care about money nothing else...you can't be motivated by football more than money when such an obscene amount is thrown at them. If Chelsea or city were prepared to play Wilshere or Ramsey 200k a week they'd be gone no matter how seldomly they got played. And anyone claiming they'd do different is lying to themselves.

[Power n Glory]

Nonsense, players care about money nothing else...you can't be motivated by football more than money when such an obscene amount is thrown at them. If Chelsea or city were prepared to play Wilshere or Ramsey 200k a week they'd be gone no matter how seldomly they got played. And anyone claiming they'd do different is lying to themselves.

You still don’t get it. It’s boarding on paranoia. This perceived threat from big clubs looking to poach our players is non-existent. We’re not batting off bids from clubs left right and centre like we used to because we have no outstanding candidates. Wilshere, Ramsey and Walcott can’t get into Chelsea or City’s teams. There is no threat from them. We don’t have to pre-empt any bids with inflated wages because that bid isn’t coming unless they perform on the field. Even if that day were to come, what we’re currently paying won’t keep them if they wanted out. And if they wanted out, it wouldn’t be down to the wages. Also, you’ve already said those clubs can’t bid £200k for players because of FFP. These players haven’t done enough to warrant bids from rival clubs or done enough to the extent we’re we need to sweat about what they’re paid.

[Power n Glory]

Totally agree, we have a horrible way of overpaying players who've done nothing, we've got a host of crocks we keep on our books and constantly offer new contracts too, we bring in unheard of kids and overpay them, we overpay players like Wilshere who's repuation is based on a handful of games, it has to stop. I don't mind us paying top class proven players big money as they have shown what they can do but not players who have potential because 90% of the time they never reach their potential.

It’s maddening. We just create the rod for our own backs. It stops us from signing more important players and just pushes these players closer to a wage bracket we’re uncomfortable with so when it comes to renewals, he hesitate to offer anything more. Absolutley mental policy.

[Letters]

Weve scored more goals from midfield, and our midfield when fully fit is better than ours

http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/...on/top-scorers

http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/...al/top-scorers

Doesn't seem much in it tbh, their top scorer has the same number of league goals as Giroud.