Sullivan On City.

[Murph]

http://soccernet.espn.go.com/news/story?id=809381&sec=england&cc=5739

West Ham co-owner David Sullivan has warned big-spending Manchester City that they will not necessarily achieve success as a result of their extensive financial investment in the first-team squad.

"Don't let anyone kid you, and we're not naive enough to believe it, that simply spending money on players will guarantee success, you have got to buy the right payers," Sullivan told Soccernet.

"Of course, the more money you have to throw at it, the more likely you are to be successful, but I don't see Manchester City walking away with the title this season, no matter how much money they spend. No, I don't. And the reasons are Chelsea and Manchester United. I still think those two clubs will finish above Manchester City. So, it would be a phenomenal season if Manchester City could finish above one of them. It would be terrific from their point of view to finish second, and that is a distinct possibility. But not first. Not yet.''

Sullivan, however, does admit that it is a tactic that has worked in the past, even if it is beyond the realms of possibility for his own club.

It will come [For Man City] with time and more money,'' he said. ''Again don't kid yourself, Manchester United have been buying the title for years, the amount they've spent on players. Jack Walker bought the title for Blackburn Rovers, and Roman Abramovich did it for Chelsea.

"Our aim at Upton Park is to make a big impact and we are very ambitious, but we came here with £110 million of debt at this club so it's far from an easy task, and we've put more of our money into it, David Gold and myself.

"It hasn't been easy to get the players we want, but we're getting there, and there is a great deal of excitement at the moment at Upton Park as the fans are eager to see where all the new arrivals might take their team. Our aim as owners, David and myself, is to bring fun and excitement to Upton Park."



I think that's a pretty fair assessment of our chances. I certainly don't think any of us expect us to run away with the league. And nice for someone in football to state what we all know about the rags buying their success, pity more people haven't got the balls to tell it like it is.

[Dronny]

Quite a rational viewpoint from the irrational, dwarf porn baron

[Bojinov's left foot]

Fair comment. Wonder if the Sunday Supplement will be as level headed.

[brite blu sky]

he is right of course, but right only in the sense of normal conventional wisdom. You can spend the money but it doesn't give you a team. However you can spend the money and it clicks and you have a team. So put yer bets on, fasten yer seatbelts and press go.

getting 4th would be an achievement and a good one
3rd would be excellent and is doable
2nd would be brilliant and a major achievement for City
the title would be out of this world

you have to look at what that means in terms of performances
3rd is possible with a fair number of slip ups during the season
1st and 2nd is hardly making a slip up at all for the whole season 4 or 5 defeats and 5 or 6 draws maximum

[Mark (Blue Army)]

''Again don't kid yourself, Manchester U***d have been buying the title for years, the amount they've spent on players.

Bacon face won't be happy with that comment.

[dario2739]

I know a lad who works for the Sport, says that Sullivan is as tight as a fishes arsehole!

[Rag_hater]

I'd say he is wrong.
We can buy the title and within the next year or so that will become evident.
I'm sure the majority of players we are buying now think that and as fans we have to set our sights at that level aswell.

[mcfc1632]

I expect us to be 1st - or at worst nudged out by Chelsea

[Crossie]

David,

We were 90 million in debt, we'd be more in debt than £110 million if we still had Frank running us.

So just because our owners are considerably richer than yaou, doesnt mean you need to be jealous and bitter

[walmai]

Quite a rational viewpoint from the irrational, dwarf porn baron

He may be an irrational, dwarf porn baron, but he's our awfully-dressed, irrational....

[walmai]

I expect us to be 1st - or at worst nudged out by Chelsea

I expect you to be top 3, but whether you can win it - which is certainly possible - comes down to something you can't buy: a siege mentality.

Should make for an interesting season ahead.

[brite blu sky]

I expect us to be 1st - or at worst nudged out by Chelsea

I expect you to be top 3, but whether you can win it - which is certainly possible - comes down to something you can't buy: a siege mentality.

Should make for an interesting season ahead.

you cant buy it.. but you can arrange for the press to help you instill it.. oh hang on

[DoomMerchant]

I'd say he is wrong.
We can buy the title and within the next year or so that will become evident.
I'm sure the majority of players we are buying now think that and as fans we have to set our sights at that level aswell.

did you even really read the article? Be honest.

cheers

[Rag_hater]

I'd say he is wrong.
We can buy the title and within the next year or so that will become evident.
I'm sure the majority of players we are buying now think that and as fans we have to set our sights at that level aswell.

did you even really read the article? Be honest.

cheers

Being honest.Yes.I've read it again now you have made a point out of it.The thing it says to me is that we can't win it ths year whereas I think we can and I think a lot of us fans have to start thinking we can as well instead of thinking top 4 will be a result.
We have a good enough side to do it.

[DoomMerchant]

I'd say he is wrong.
We can buy the title and within the next year or so that will become evident.
I'm sure the majority of players we are buying now think that and as fans we have to set our sights at that level aswell.

did you even really read the article? Be honest.

cheers

Being honest.Yes.I've read it again now you have made a point out of it.The thing it says to me is that we can't win it ths year whereas I think we can and I think a lot of us fans have to start thinking we can as well instead of thinking top 4 will be a result.
We have a good enough side to do it.

As a simple point of detective work you aren't the best liar on here. That was a compliment.

Cheers

[Dronny]

Quite a rational viewpoint from the irrational, dwarf porn baron

He may be an irrational, dwarf porn baron, but he's our awfully-dressed, irrational....

Not sure that I get your drift walmai!!



and



but not least, with a smattering of wtf

[walmai]

A smattering? lol.

he's alright really (so long as he's neither seen nor heard!)