Silk from financial sow’s ear

1048

World Soccer Magazine published a fascinating table at the bottom of an article on the respective financial might of Chelsea and Manchester City yesterday, detailing player spend and sales for current English Premier League clubs over the last 10 seasons.

Liverpool have an average net spend of £18.1m as they chase former glories while Manchester United, who stole Liverpool’s place at the top of the English pile, had only a marginally higher net spend of £18.6m.

Fifth on the list is Aston Villa, largely on the back of an attempt to take over the world during Martin O’Neill’s reign, spending a net average of £11.1m.

Most fascinating of all is that 11 of the 20 have a net average spend of less than £4m per season.  They spend big, but apart from the odd team spending some foreign country’s mineral wealth, they also sell big.

Bottom of the table of net biggest spenders in Everton, who sold £7.8m of talent more than they bought during the period.  Newcastle United are also in a surplus, thanks in part to their recently departed director of football, Joe Kinnear, who completed his service without spending a penny.

Crystal Palace clearly have an eye for a bargain.  They successfully negotiated a return to the Premier League, and then bought Joe Ledley as his Celtic contract ran down, with an average net spend of £722k.

The Silk from a Sow’s Ear prize has to go to Arsenal.  The last decade has not been generous to Arsenal, however, their average net spend is only £1.5m per season having sold £277m worth of talent.  Their business model is not right, i.e. they have not been able to compete with those who don’t seem to care if they break even, but they, more than any other club in Europe*, are primed for the Financial Fair Play era.

*apart from Celtic, of course.
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  1. Billy Bhoy I look at them both and niether really mean a thing to me. The MSPs(cross party) we have are an embarrassment and will continue to show this until September. I wouldn’t trust them to organise a day trip to Arthur’s Seat from Holyrood never mind create the infrastructure (which is not in place despite half hearted attempts to say so) required to go it alone. 10 Years time maybe if they start properly working at it now instead of throwing out a white paper which was allegedly dumbed down for it’s audience, nothing to do with the authors of course.

  2. eddieinkirkmichael on

    Steinreignedsupreme

     

     

    16:06 on

     

     

    Here’s the reply I got from the commonwealth games committee on safety of Iboke—

     

     

    Hi Edward

     

     

    Many thanks for your email and for highlighting your concerns.

     

     

    On receipt of your email I asked my colleagues in the Venue Management team to investigate further. I have subsequently been advised that on Saturday 11th January at the Rangers v East Fife football match, a steward noticed a piece of roof cladding had been partially detached on the Broamloan Stand of Ibrox Stadium and was moving about in the wind. The damage was assessed and as result 300 supporters were moved from the Broamloan Stand to adjacent areas. I can confirm that following the match repairs were carried out on the affected area and further checks were carried out on other parts of the stadium to ensure the safety of all the supporters.

     

     

    I should highlight that Glasgow 2014 must comply with primary legislation for the safety of spectators at all Venues and are working closely with Glasgow City Council Licensing and Rangers Football Club to ensure the safety of spectators and those working at this Venue. There is regular planned inspections and safety meetings to ensure due diligence in respect of safety and we are confident that this Venue will remain in good operational order for the Commonwealth Games and beyond.

     

     

    I hope this information is helpful, if I can be of any further assistance please do not hesitate to get in touch.

     

     

    Kind regards

     

     

     

     

    If we can be of any further assistance, you can get in touch by emailing the team at contactus@glasgow2014.com

  3. weet weet weet(GBWO) on

    !!bada bing!!

     

     

    Any info or thoughts on,if a yes vote would effect our works pension

     

     

    HH

  4. Good to see ex ref Willie Young in the ibrox directors box for the big game against Brechin. Paranoid?

  5. the battered bunnet

     

     

    16:20 on 4 February, 2014BadaAnd you’re well enough trained to extinguish the burning underwear :¬)

     

    I hope so i set up a company on leaving fire service,delivering Staff Fire Safety Training inc Extinguisher Training,and Fire Risk Assessments.Thanks for the opportunity for a shameless plug mate :)) HH

  6. weet weet weet(GBWO) on

    !!bada bing!!

     

     

    Naw mate,was wondering if it was solely funded by scottish contributions or nationally

     

     

    HH

  7. Natknow supporting wee oscar

     

     

    Not making a point about the political debate, KK, but have to take exception to your last few words. There’s nothing irrational about being wary of the unknown. In fact the opposite is treu – its perfectly rational and part of our survival instinct. That’s why rational people drive at night time with their headlights on. :-)

     

     

    Rational people decide which road they are on and were they are going before turning key and switch the lights on my friend.I would debate Scotland is socially,economically and politically and.ideologically different from the Eton proxy that governs the Uk at the moment

     

    Ideologically i would say Thatcher could not break us.

     

    Labour are just confused now,after Bliar(what was aw that old n new Labour pash bout?) as they know they will never be in power if Scotland votes the way i hope.so those power hungry wee politicians whose screwed our economy as well as betraying their core vote now want the status quo well Alistair(o the 2tone heid)Darling does anyway and he played a fair role in bailing out the bankers.

     

     

    This is not a party political issue

     

     

    it is about gaining independence and making our own road

     

     

    Hail hail

  8. weet weet weet(gbwo)- i would have thought nation contributions,but it’s worth a thought big chap HH

  9. Papa John supports Wee Oscar plus The Dam 5 on

    !!Bada Bing!!

     

    Yae looken for An Instructor, on the Hook Ladder, those were the days my friend.

  10. Badda Bing No doubt wined and dined for services rendered. Funny how the refs you think are the worst you later see at ibrox Dallas Dougal and Willie Young.

  11. Help.chattin with a friend who supports our Glasgow rivals.The chat got back to 1971 league cup final when his team beat us at Hampden 4-1.

     

    I was sure i read on here that one of the Thistle scorers made the substitution to put on Albert Kidd against Hertz in 1986?

     

    anyone confirm?

     

     

    Hailhail

     

     

    itwullstoapmegreetinasaweaninsideCsC :-)

  12. traditionalist88 on

    ‘RFC Live Share Price’ tab is a premium service, anyone able to access for the most up to date info?

     

     

    HH

  13. Greenwells Glory on

    Hi Ghuys, Salve salve;- Sorry to say, this once peerless site has suffered from decaying standards and even more so with the advent of Fatty Arbuckle’s bum boys polluting it. Nationalism is always the trojan horse of racialists. Any of you putative citizens of the turnip republic, please do not waste your time trying to engae me in a debate over this, I have given tou the facts peruse or ignore them as you please.

     

    Greenwells.

     

    Cogito Ergo Sum.

     

    PS I look forward to the day this site returns to it’s roots.

  14. Papa John supports Wee Oscar plus The Dam 5 on

    !!Bada Bing!!

     

    Hingen the gether, nearly 13yrs since I was behind the Branch, stopped mentioning three score an ten, keeping well, hope all is well with you and your.

     

    Awerabest PJ

  15. Steinreignedsupreme on

    eddieinkirkmichael 16:22 on 4 February, 2014

     

     

    A typical press release – a lot of words stating the obvious and revealing nothing. What are they like?

     

     

    I think the Commonwealth Games committee made the decision to use Ibroke in good faith – but I doubt a penny has been spent on maintenance since then.

     

     

    By modern standards Ibroke is an old ground, as a result of the disaster the Huns redeveloped well before the Taylor report, and given the age of the stadium the place requires regular maintenance work.

     

     

    It’s a mounting bill alright and a real Albatross for Sevco, along with the training facility and the bill at Greggs.

  16. The shares have not been suspended and today is pretty much a normal day as far as RFC shares are concerned. Last trade was 10k @ 25p.

  17. Does anyone think John Brown could be our Craigs first signing in a gesture of reconcilliation wi tha tedz?

     

     

    :-)))

     

     

    opensupnoouniversesCSC lol

     

     

    enjoy your night Celts back to lurkin hh

  18. the long wait is over on

    traditionalist88

     

     

     

     

    16:42 on

     

     

    4 February, 2014

     

     

     

     

    ‘RFC Live Share Price’ tab is a premium service, anyone able to access for the most up to date info?

     

     

    HH

     

    ————-

     

     

    If Ah wis gonnae purchase a premium service on t’internet it widnae be that wan…

     

     

    ;-)

  19. traditionalist88 on

    the long wait is over

     

     

    Try your login details for other premium services you have, never know your luck;)

     

     

    HH

  20. An Tearmann

     

    16:42 on

     

    4 February, 2014

     

    Help.chattin with a friend who supports our Glasgow rivals.The chat got back to 1971 league cup final when his team beat us at Hampden 4-1.

     

    I was sure i read on here that one of the Thistle scorers made the substitution to put on Albert Kidd against Hertz in 1986?

     

    anyone confirm?

     

     

    Hailhail

     

     

    itwullstoapmegreetinasaweaninsideCsC :-)

     

    ========================================================

     

    Don`t know if I understand the exact jist of that question, but, ironically, Archie Knox took off Tosh McKinlay for oor Albert that day. And Archie certainly did not score for Thistle on that day. Rae, Lawrie, McQuade and Bone were the scorers, with King Kenny, sorry, Dalglish scoring for us.

  21. the long wait is over on

    Trad 1888

     

     

    Ah wid but , inexplicably, ma eyesight’s not been so great recently…

  22. I see the Yessers have been busy today.

     

     

    Deriding Project Fear by telling you yeez will be mistaken for Protestants if you live under the rule of the Union Flag and you will be betraying the future children who have declared their putative voting intentions from the womb, bawsack and ether in which they are currently stored.

     

     

    I must ask Alanis if that is ironic.

     

     

    Of course, they are not Nats and will ditch the Royals, the pound and all other relics of prior union. So confident are they of these matters that they have left them out of the manifesto in case they scare the Royalists and Tories who want to vote SNP too.

     

     

    Are we going to disenfranchise the vast majority of Scots who want to keep the Queen, the currency and the Army in New Caledonia?

     

     

    67% of those intending to vote Yes want to keep a unified UK Army

     

    70% of those intending to vote Yes want to keep the pound.

     

    53% of Scots believe benefit payments are too high.

     

    47% of Scots are concerned by immigration trends and are increasingly eurosceptic.

     

    62% back the Yes campaign’s plan to keep the Queen.

     

     

     

    Vote Yes and get a left wing Scotland that contrasts with “Tory England”?

     

     

    More like, Vote Yes and get a pig in a poke. With or without lipstick.

     

     

    Herald Indy Ref Poll

  23. LiviBhoy - God bless wee Oscar on

    setting free the bears supports Res. 12 & Oscar Knox

     

     

    One step can only be taken at a time. That deal is on the table. Other changes can be made in the future.

     

    The beauty is that everyone can decide. It’s an open vote.

     

     

    LB

  24. Ah like whit The Fridge is Sayin..

     

     

    He liked playin wi’ Lee. He said that Lee wiz a Good Player.

     

     

    N..he …The Fridge… is Right in Tandem ,wi..Kojo’s WEY ..of Thinkin’… in making that Obseravation,

     

     

    Unusual, Ah admit.. but,,Nice tae Read..

     

     

     

     

    Yes..

     

     

    A Guid Big Yin..n ..A Guid ..Wee Yin.. is Ma Masterplan.. fur.. tae tak Care o Celtic’s

     

    Striking Problema,.

     

     

    Stokesy…is no Big.. But.. Neethur is he .. The Right Size o’ ..well.. WEENESS.

     

     

    Sammi,is Big.. but..He is Disnae Use that tae his Advantage.. At awe, At awe.

     

     

    So those Two ur No whit Kojo wid deem tae be … a very successful Couplin’

     

     

    Amido,is Big.. n.. Yes.. He Diz tak full advantage of his Stature..

     

     

    which.. Ah like,aloater..

     

     

    Amido, must come under Consideration.. fur a Wee Man.. Big Man Strikin’ Combo..

     

     

    Mebbe,he wull Hit it aff wi..oor Noo

     

     

    Pocket Dynamo.. Master Lee.

     

     

    Also.. the Fridge, being a Big yin, tae.. May be anither guy..that

     

    could Partner up wi ..oor .. Wee Jooker.

     

     

    That, remains tae be seen.

     

     

    Yep, Lee ..possesses The Goods that Kojo..Likey.

     

     

    He is Five Foot Seven..n One Hundred n Forty Three Pounds o

     

     

    Strikin’ Menace..

     

     

    this Kid .. Wull.. Burn up the Scottish League..

     

     

    He wull Dae.

     

     

    He has it awe..

     

     

    Speed.. Skill.. .. He is Wit we used tae Call..

     

     

    A Wee Jooker, when Ah wiz A wee Bhoy.

     

     

     

     

    Noo, Ah don’t suppose any o you guys hiv evah met ..a “WEE JOOKER”

     

     

    Unless.. You too… Hiv evah Played.. the Kid’s Game..

     

     

    O’… Re-Leaval…

     

     

    Ah think that is How ye spell it.. But, when Ah played it..

     

    The idea o’ Spellin’ it..nevah came up..

     

     

    Yes, a wee..Jooker.. could be a Heidache tae Catch..

     

     

    N sure enuff.. He wid Come barrellin past the Den Watcher..

     

    Evadin his Futile.. Attempts tae Stoap him..

     

     

    n.. Help Ma Boab..

     

     

    The Wee Jooker.. Managed tae..

     

    get past the Watcher…

     

     

    n.. Shouting.. “Re leaval”.. Gleefully ..

     

     

    awe the Guys who wur Prisoners of the Den..

     

     

    Scattered..n Escaped.

     

     

    Whit a Dooner. Awfy dishearten’ it wiz..

     

     

    Noo we hid tae go oot.. an Try.. Catch them ,awe again.

     

     

    A real Bummer,it wiz,so it wiz.

     

     

    n.. Young Lee. Fits that description tae a “T”

     

     

    He IS .. A wee Jooker.,.

     

     

    So wiz Jinky..so ye know jist whit ..LEE .. KIn bring tae the Team

     

     

    Fur a weee Jooker..kin . Stoap oan a Dime.. Then, Start at the Drap o’ a Participle..

     

     

    leaving the big Shamblin’ Opponent.. Mighty Flummoxed n Perplexed..

     

     

    An.. Scamper doon the Park..like a Grey Hound

     

    Yep

     

     

    Ah am lookin Forward tae watching …Lee.

     

     

    n if ye hivnae a Clue aboot whit Ah am talkin’ aboot..

     

     

    Dinna Despair, Compadres..

     

     

    Fur..

     

     

    efter ,ye hiv seen Lee,play… in A Few Games..

     

     

    Ye wull get the Idea..

     

     

    Jist ..whit a Wee Jooker.. Is..

     

     

    n.. Ye wull become a Believer..like ..Kojo..

     

     

     

    That Wee Jookers….. ur ..

     

     

    Worth… thur weight in.. Smarties.

     

     

    Kojo

     

    Still,Laughin’

  25. Prince Charles has been a ‘real tonic’ after his visit to the flooded Somerset Levels today.

     

     

    That’s fine then.

     

     

    King Canute eat your heart out.

     

     

    HH!!

  26. Emerald Bee

     

    FTC/16/2013 HMRC Murray Group

     

    Management Ltd

     

    28/01/2013 19 July 2013

     

    Edinburgh Tribunal Centre,

     

    George House, 126 George

     

    Street, Edinburgh EH2 4HH

     

     

    24 February to 21 March

     

    2014

     

    Edinburgh Tribunal Centre,

     

    George House, 126 George

     

    Street, Edinburgh EH2 4HH

     

    Directions (in private)

     

     

     

     

     

    Substantive

     

    Directions

     

    FTC/15/2013 HMRC Murray Group

     

    Holdings Ltd

     

    28/01/2013 19 July 2013

     

    Edinburgh Tribunal Centre,

     

    George House, 126 George

     

    Street, Edinburgh EH2 4HH

     

     

    24 February to 21 March

     

    2014

     

    Edinburgh Tribunal Centre,

     

    George House, 126 George

     

    Street, Edinburgh EH2 4HH

     

     

    Directions (in private)

     

     

     

     

     

    Substantive

     

    Directions

  27. eddieinkirkmichael on

    http://sport.stv.tv/football/clubs/celtic/262735-celtic-cleared-by-spfl-over-fans-display-of-h-banner-at-aberdeen-match/

     

     

    “The SPFL found that the banner was offensive and breached the SPFL’s Rules. However, Celtic FC were able to demonstrate that they had taken all reasonably practicable steps to prevent the banner being displayed at Celtic Park. As a result, it was determined that there was no evidence of any breach of the SPFL’s Rules by Celtic FC.”