15 Jul 2014 14:26:06
Before we all spend Tottenham's money this summer, let's review the financial situation of the top 6 clubs at the end of the 2012/13 season.

The good news: our debt fell slightly to £55m. With the opening of the first phase of the Northumberland Park Development last season it might have fallen even further since then.

The bad news: Man City has a smaller debt than ours. How can that be?

The worse news: Tottenham is still the 6th biggest club with a turnover of £147m, but this has declined slightly in each of the past two years and the gap with the top 5 is increasing.

In 2013, Liverpool earned £59m more than us while the top 4 all earned between £100m and £200m more. With Champions League football next season, Liverpool look set to race away as well.

Match day revenue was a factor. United got £76m more than us, Arsenal £60m more and Chelsea £38m more. Liverpool and Man City both got slightly more. If we can fill the new stadium that could make a difference of at least £50m a year.

The most troubling element is commercial revenue. We lagged behind Chelsea and Liverpool but actually made slightly more than Arsenal. They are still locked into some bad deals that were needed to fund the Emirates and their position will quickly improve as these deals expire.

However, the real eye-opener is United. They earned £98m more than us and this will massively increase when the new Adidas deal kicks in. It's worth £75m a year for the next 10 years. That one deal is equivalent to 50% of our total revenue.

Man City also made £88m more than us from commercial deals and this is the major reason their total revenue has raced past ours.

That is what we have to compete with.

1.) 15 Jul 2014
All the above teams have invested in big name players & have had sufficent backing along with marketing etc.

We missed the boat under Harry. We needed 2 quality signings & we could have been getting CL football on a regular basis but the club didn't see that. now we've fallen behind.

2.) 15 Jul 2014
Well put km.
So if we can not compete with the big money buys at the moment we need to look at our youth and scouting structure as it's non existent
Benteleb the recent noticeable one only because Tim was trying to make a point

Then there is the kid that went to qpr on load. Sorry forgot him name.
Apart from that over the last few seasons the hasn't really been anyone knocking on the door of the 1st team.
Falque we sent him on loan is he coming back or?

3.) 15 Jul 2014
15 Jul 2014 17:01:27
mr g both carroll and townsend went on loan to qpr we also have harry kane, jake livermore, that have all come tru the youth team hopefully will be better now as well with the restructure and the new training ground well help we will see results but its goona take time won't happen over night.

4.) 15 Jul 2014
Sorry Paul, but jake and Harry aren't really good examples, not bad players but not good enough for top 6

5.) 15 Jul 2014
Agreed, both pony & the training ground not a good example, it still has a goal at either end & covered in grass.
The club need to push for bigger name signings take some risk, if we have to pay 150k a week for 2 players then so be it. I'm not talking about signing 11 players on that salary. then we have a chance of CL or at least in the mix of it.

I just pray mopo gets Soldado buzzing, I feel he will get goals with the ball on the deck fast flowing football, whipped in crosses with pace. & a f'ing LB

6.) 15 Jul 2014
I'm a bit concerned. I can't see any left back being signed apart from Ben Davies. Now that looks unlikely. The top four clubs seem to want all of our targets.

7.) 15 Jul 2014
15 Jul 2014 19:40:20
Some interesting figures KM, and although it shows that we finish where we supposedly "belong", IMO it offers little else. Teams every year overachieve, why can't we? My point being money isn't everything and those who use it as an excuse are bitter. Interesting read though.
Our youth has been more of a success than many give it credit. Paul made a great call with 3 players and got shot down (unsurprisingly by Davo) even though his suggestions are valid.
Ok they may not seem good enough but with the right coach who knows? If worst case scenario is we need to sell, then surely them atleast being Epl quality means Spurs make a good amount of money on this player (Livermore - 8mill) which goes towards a new player. Selling our youth players in the business world would be considered 100% profit would it not? As a business man surely you know this Davo?
Lastly it makes me laugh that Kane isn't good enough because his style is basic or some rubbish (although it works) but Soldado just isn't being played to his strengths. Even though shouldn't he be playing to ours? Do we really change for one player?

8.) 15 Jul 2014
Sorry 1985, no disrespect to those players but you can't polish a turd! No manager in the world could turn them into top 6 players as it has to be there to start with! Can't think of any other major success's from our youth policy unless you count Obika, 23 years old and still being loaned out to lower league teams . They seem to be there but not there, Coulabilly, the next drogba, for one . Why don't our youth players make the next step up? Bostock, another example! What are we doing wrong in the youth set up?
As for Soldado, we brought him knowing his strengths and how to play to them . Funny enough that's how we used to play, fast attacking football with good balls into the box, until AVB and then TS destroyed that!

9.) 15 Jul 2014
15 Jul 2014 21:36:52
Yes you can, isn't that not exactly what mopo did at Southampton? Is that not the reason we believe he was signed? He wasn't the big name everybody was crying out for but he has exactly what we're looking for. Can he handle the pressure is the only question for me.
Our youth players haven't got a chance with us changing managers repeatedly. They are constantly trying to impress a new manager. The fans don't exactly help with the so called "support" they recieve.
Well if rumours are to be believed Soldado wasn't AVB's choice, maybe for that reason. IMO a great striker will adapt to his surroundings and still get goals. But I don't doubt he has it and he should come good. But let's look at it another way, how about saying we play to Kane's strengths? Couldn't someone argue the same that he'd then come good? My Let's give credit where credit is due, neither have really proven to have earnt much yet. Lastly Davo, how long can Soldado be a poor player before you'll concede he's a flop? Would you say you've given Kane the same amount of time?

10.) 15 Jul 2014
1985, Kane has had chances for spurs & other clubs I'm sorry he won't be a top 4 team striker. He went to other clubs & sat on the bench, these managers watch him on a daily basis! So if he had all the talent you say he has he should be in the starting 11.
Kane should be on the level that Sturridge, Ramsey, Sterling, the list is endless.
On the other hand Soldado has produced I know not in this country yet but never the less he has, you do also need to play a certain way for players to get the best out of them - Liverpool done it for Torres.

11.) 15 Jul 2014
15 Jul 2014 22:54:50
Sorry Dr, I obviously didn't make it clear that I don't see Kane as a top striker or that he's going to be. My comparisons were just to point out Soldado can play awful and still get the support our fans should offer whereas, for us atleast Kane hadn't done much wrong in comparison to Soldado but he's treated as if he's not good enough. It doesn't make sense to me. Surely they should both get tarnished with the same brush, no?
Kane could well easily become a late bloomer, why not he still has time on his hands whereas if Soldado doesn't perform yet again this year then we gained nothing from him whilst his time at THFC. Do you understand what I'm trying to say? Do you agree/disagree?
I don't doubt that, of course every player would benefit from the game being played to the way they like but my point is simply the player should be good enough to atleast adapt to a different style. Especially a player with the reputation of Soldado. All that said I believe nobody really performed that well last year and if mopo can get the best out of what we got then roll on start of the season.

12.) 16 Jul 2014
1985, yes let's play to their strengths . One is a proven international striker who likes to play the way we like to play, fast attacking football . The other is a young player, who hasn't cut it at lower league clubs on loan, who needs a long ball hit to him out of defence . I know who I would rather have in my team .
You then say you can polish a turd because Mopo did at Southampton . Who exactly was that? He had a group of young players that were good, and needed guidance, along with a few others that made up the team .
Another thing, when a new manager comes in, players that are any good get sniffed at where other teams hope to cash in on uncertainty in the squad . If our youngsters were that good than Arry would have been sniffing around . He hasn't even showed any interest in Carroll and he had him there all season . Lastly, going on your views about giving even more chances to crap players, should we now play Obika up front with Kane and would you pay to watch such drivel?

13.) 16 Jul 2014
Sorry 1985, one other thing . Time is something the players and the team don't have . That's why they go on loan to get experience with other teams . If These players couldn't cut it there, how do you expect our supporters, who spend massive amounts of money every year, to wait and see how they turn out . Yes it's harsh, but that's life! So if you want us to be a mid table team, trying out youngsters then selling them on whilst others get further away from us, then let's go your way and spend time and money polishing turds! I am not stupid and I know we can't spend what the others are spending, but if we could spend 30/40 million on 3/4 players, that would make the difference . Simmo named 4 that would make the difference above, and we could probably afford that . We might have spent 100 million last year, but most of that was from the sale of Bale . If Levy thinks we don't know that, then he must think we are mugs!

14.) 16 Jul 2014
1985, I understand perfectly, but you have to face facts mate, he's been out on loan at lower leagues & still didn't make the grade, Leicester, Norwich, Orient. We are a club that's trying to progress & I'm sorry but with this type of player this ain't going to happen.
I know what your saying about Soldado but in all honestly he is a proven goal scorer however yet to do it for us. If he doesn't start to bang them in this season I'm sure the fans won't be so nice. I still think we need to buy a CF anyway because Ade, Soldado & your mate KANE :-) doesn't fill me with much confidence
1985 - A good bit of banter though mate. I hope Harry does bang goals in but you've already stated you can't see him as a top striker.

15.) 16 Jul 2014
16 Jul 2014 19:31:18
Davo, Dr I did start a post I lost and I cba to re-write so I'll just say that clearly you don't understand my point as it seems you both still think I'm trying to convince you both that Kane is good enough, in fact I'm just saying that both have been poor and both should either be criticised or given time.

Davo the turd I'm referring to is lambert, his record is extremely poor if you take away last year. Mopo got the best out of him, who's to say the youngsters would've developed without him there?

Davo, you claim we don't have time to see if Kane turns out to be good enough but your willing to give Soldado that time, understand yet?

Dr I agree if we go into next season with our current strikers we may aswell write this season off right now.

Agreed Dr good banter, here's to hoping they both start banging the goals in. Especially my mate Kane lol.

16.) 17 Jul 2014
1985, Soldado has proved he can do it at the highest level, Kane has proved he can't do it at the lower levels . Who would I wait for, no contest!

17.) 17 Jul 2014
17 Jul 2014 19:13:07
Davo, both have proved they can't do it in the Epl so what difference does it make that he was a hit in a different country? Please explain in what way that benefits us? I'm going to mention a name for you to consider my point. Diego Forlan, I await your reply!